Mechwarrior Online

[Hoax]

When?

Before people jump in saying how it fixed 6 PPCs stalkers or more "LOL You just want 4 PPCs again LOL!" I would like to remind people of all the reasons Ghost Heat is the single worst game design element ever committed to a game:

Absolutely no UI. No indicators as to Ghost Heat limitations, when it kicks in, how much it has kicked in, etc. are given to players outside of that small hardcore handful of us that read the forums and/or spend time in Smurfy's. This is while they try to appeal to a casual demographic, no less.

Rewards Macros and External Programs. Due to reason #1, the half-second timer isn't even indicated to the player so they know when it is safe to fire again. Thus most good players running boated weapons turn to macros to time it for them, while more casual players lose damage by trying to count it in their head, risking firing too early and cooking themselves.

Many weapons nerf'ed that weren't problems. 9 MedLas? Not a problem. 4 Large Lasers? Not a problem. 4 AC/2? Not worth noting. Yet, these were all implemented hard and fast and have not been tweaked once.
Completely illogical linking. 1x LRM20 3x LRM10 = 4x LRM20 Ghost Heat for 50 missiles. 2x LRM20 2x LRM5 = 0 Ghost Heat for 50 missiles. The list continues. Should ER Large and Large Pulse really be linked together?

It's massively overly complicated. I know where the limits start and learned all the bizarre linkage rules, like how LRM5s are exempt, Streaks don't count towards a limit, how LPL and ER Large share a pool, etc. But then we get to the actual heat calculation which.. God help you. All most of us deal with is "Over X = Bad." But there is no rhyme, reason, or clarity at any given time as to why some ghost heat is so much worse than others, without complicated charts from the developer (that made things even worse) and large tables of numbers that actually at least show us some results (3rd party fanbase).

Most of all, it didn't really work. What ultimately killed the PPC boat was fixing the XML data file for the PPCs. 4 PPC Stalkers - which were far better than 6 - continued until the day that happened, as did the general PPC Meta. There was a sharp drop in boat builds after Ghost Heat arrived but almost all of them were by people who didn't understand the rules for it and overcompensated with horrible builds. Twin AC/20 builds remain popular and pinpoint damage wasn't impacted in the slightest, just different weapons were used for it.

I could go on and on with examples and problems but there have been probably 2,000 pages devoted to why Ghost Heat is seriously the worst thing ever. It should have been vetted by all the programmers along the way and it should have been shutdown at the meeting the idea was brought up. Ghost Heat is probably the reason so much hate got poured directly onto one person, because that person is either both blind to the reaction or too stubborn to listen.

I'd really like to play this game again..

[Falconeer]

Wolverine from next week's patch in the new map.




And the Griffin.




EDIT: fixed links.

[Samprimary]

I do have to say that yeah, the moment in which I was reading the "green chalkboard" explanation for Ghost Heat was among the most surreal I've had in gaming-related stuff.

The ABSOLUTE most surreal moment is something I can't even really talk about yet but will someday. One of my coworkers already did, anyway, so, yeah.

[Merusk]

I just realized I haven't logged-in in almost 2 months and I can't pinpoint why.  I think the continual presence of "melt your core in .5 seconds with pinpoint damage" group play in my solo PUG experience is the reason.  I think I'm just going to uninstall.

[Falconeer]

They say the new hitbox-thong fix is helping a bit with that, about 10% more damage ends up in the legs instead of the CT.

Anyway, the game needs new match modes, and Community Warfare. Everything else is secondary. Hard not to be bored after more than a year with the same thing over and over and over and over and over.

[Merusk]

I'd agree if I weren't still playing World of Tanks on a regular basis after two years.

[Falconeer]

Anyway, next Tuesday's patch is bringing two new 'mechs, a new map, and for the first time in a year A NEW GAME MODE: SKIRMISH! (which is nothing more than Assault without bases to cap).

[Sir T]

(which is nothing more than Assault without bases to cap).

Woo bloody hoo.

[eldaec]

I just realized I haven't logged-in in almost 2 months and I can't pinpoint why.  I think the continual presence of "melt your core in .5 seconds with pinpoint damage" group play in my solo PUG experience is the reason.  I think I'm just going to uninstall.

Compared to any other fps 18 months after launch I still find MWO positively forgiving.

But it is just an fps, even more so than WoT.

[Falconeer]

One of the things I like about MWO as an FPS over some other First Person Shooters is that it doesn't punish you by killing you in a split second, it punishes you by torturing your eyes and ears with painful destruction, screenshake and an overall intense feeling of being in danger and helpless. To each their own, but there aren't many games where I felt that I really didn't want to take damage because I was aware it was going to be almost physically painful (unless you turn down your volume, of course). I am also pretty sure that's why many people hate it, at least some of the people I know.

[Sir T]

I tried Battlefiend   a couple of years ago and it was basically one shot dying over and over inexplicably for me and fairly obvious cheating all over the place. Gee the tank shot me around a corner while its turret was pointed in the other direction oookaaay. MWO is far more tactical, and at least gives you time to get your ass into cover if you are under fire, though the aimbots are a bit annoying. At least I assume those guys that can knock 70 points off my center torso instantly from half the map away are using aimbots.

I also enjoy the visceral thump thump thump of your feet and the rhythmic screen shake when you are moving around.

[eldaec]

One of the things I like about MWO as an FPS over some other First Person Shooters is that it doesn't punish you by killing you in a split second, it punishes you by torturing your eyes and ears with painful destruction, screenshake and an overall intense feeling of being in danger and helpless. To each their own, but there aren't many games where I felt that I really didn't want to take damage because I was aware it was going to be almost physically painful (unless you turn down your volume, of course). I am also pretty sure that's why many people hate it, at least some of the people I know.

I'd agree, and add that when I die I usually feel it is my own damn fault either for running too far from the group, or because I spent too long in the open trying to get another shot in.

The coring thing stopped bothering me long ago. If no one is shooting anything except your CT, fit an XL engine to anything except an atlas, stop putting so much armour on your damn legs, and use the space to fit more guns.

[Shannow]

Pretty much what eldeac said.  Once I really started playing the game I got less annoyed with the coring issue.  Realized it happens to everyone.  If I don't want to get shot I have to stop wandering off on my own or getting greedy for another shot.

That and pack dual ac20s..

[Falconeer]

Cockpit view preview from the Griffin.



And cockpit preview of the Wolverine.



I like that they are slightly getting more and more unique with the new models, and sligthly more refined.

[Shannow]

Griffin is hawt

[Zetleft]

The Clans are coming in June. 

Oh joy I've never liked the clans and I doubt they have any idea how to balance any of that.  500 bucks for a shiny limited edition gold mech wow.  I'm glad I rarely play this game anymore. 

[Falconeer]

I made a thread about it. Anyway, they should be sent to prison for the 500$ crap, but I would call that "The Roberts Effect". Now that the Star Citizen Cult opened the gate, we'll see more and more of this.

[Shannow]

I am going to enjoy killing dickweed clanners with IS mechs and the total of 60 dollars that I put into this game.

[satael]

Become a Gold Khan member.
Own the most exclusive.

Extremely Rare
Limited Edition
Gold Skinned Clan Mech
$500

If I wasn't such a battlemech fan I'd be uninstalling the game right now without waiting to see how the community warfare turns out.

[Sir T]

Yeah, I bought the overlord pack, but fuck that. IF they come out in June I'll enjoy crushing their dreams. The only Clan mech I would be in any way interested in is the Mad Cat, the rest can jump in a fire.

I am kind of regretting not getting the saber pack with the overlord pack, as I love the Griffin, but I'll buy it with C-Bills.

[Merusk]

I made a thread about it. Anyway, they should be sent to prison for the 500$ crap, but I would call that "The Roberts Effect". Now that the Star Citizen Cult opened the gate, we'll see more and more of this.

Yep, as I'd said would happen years ago when microtrans first started happening.  The next step will be that you HAVE to spend a minimum of money to be competitive, because folks will only shell-out big bucks for so long without requiring they are able to faceroll after spending so much.  Maybe not these particular games, but it's in the near future.

[Shannow]

I think we've been down that path before though with other games where players got really pissed off with the play to win mechanics.

Frankly I don't give a fuck if they offer a mech that'll give you a blowjob for $1000. If someone dumbass wants to buy it, good on him. Maybe it'll go to hiring better coders. They aren't forcing me to buy shit. I paid for a founders package and considering the time I've spent on game now, I got my money's worth. I can also kick most mechs ass in game. So who cares..:)

[Sir T]

I was in a game just now where some clown was boasting he had 12 gold mechs. My response "If you spent $3000 on this game you need help" literally had the whole map laughing in chat.

And then there are the "do you think buying the clan package is a good idea?" which turns into them justifying their purchase.

They have made a mint on this already. Reminds me on when people were spending thousands to get the Jemhidar attack ship in STO

[Sir T]

[Sir T]

This has been fastest growing thread in MWO history.

http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/144745-clan-collections-feedback/

Its worth a read if you want some quality Its rrrraaaaAAAAGEE.

[Falconeer]

I tried to read it but it's impossible. 288 pages in 48 hours, no way.

[Sir T]

Works out at about a post every 30 seconds on average. And as I was typing this the I just got an email to buy the clan collections. Er... nope :D

[Falconeer]

HPG Manifold - New Map video.

[Shannow]

Kinda looks like a Hawken map..:P

Ok that was bitchy, looks nice.

If PGI were smart (haha yes I know) they'd up the chance of this map happening in the random generator for a few days. Mind you, going on PGI's coding skill they'd probably have to implement a patch to do something that simple..;P~

[Falconeer]

Well, there's a surprise with the new map. It's in space, so no sounds. Kind of. It is really interesting though, such a new experience.

[Sir T]

Gosh, there's music! in the game!!! 

[Shannow]

They must be feeling the backlash, just got an email with 7 days of free premium time...(which I wont say no to)

Need a new mech set to work on. I have a founders Atlas, 2 CDAs, 2 Jagermechs, an Ilya and a QKD all elited. What next?
Don't like LRMs/Missiles much. Wouldn't mind an assault but can't stand how slow my Atlas is. Should I start some lights?

[Zaljerem]

7 days of free premium time, use code HAPPYHOLIDAYS at mwomercs.com/redeem

[Falconeer]

Yeah, and a Christmas doll. I guess it's their way to do a "Come back and see what changed for 7 days!" sort of thing, which is not a terrible idea considering the new map. Everyone who has ever had an account should get an email.

[Samprimary]

what do i do if my entire library of mechs vanished, the game hard crashes my computer 5 minutes into any match, and i can't buy new mechs