What do you want next? (Equipment.) Part 1

[maxgamingtech]

We want to do a series of community polls, to get a feel of what on our roadmap is important to you. To start we want to get an idea of what equipment you want next.

Currently on the development roadmap there are several equipment features that we want to implement. This is your change to chime in and let us know whats most important to you. If its not on our list, please suggest!

- New engines. Provide a variety on the current base engines that have more variation on its functions including: Overload dispensation, Energy, and Drive Power.

- Update to jump jets. there are a couple things we plan to do:
- change jump jets to consume its own fuel source, instead of main energy.
- add additional jump jet that is a continuous burst for X seconds and has limited fires.

- Cloaking Device. A feature much loved and hated in Lore: Invasion was the cloaking device. In the new version we plan on having a device that has a very similar FX as the Predator cloak. It will drain energy and disengage automatically if weapons are fired.

- Target Laser improvement. Attach the use of the targeting lasers to a new LARB round which can be guided to a laz'd target from the device. Also a potential feature could also we used for a airstrike.

- EMP device. Would be used to cause havok with any mech in its radius's electronic systems, including HUD, targeting computers, etc....

This isn't all the equipment we have designs around but are the ones that are currently on our roadmap. Want one of these next? Or do you have some other super cool ideas?

NOTE: THIS IS A DISCUSSION FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ONLY, ITEMS MAY OR MAY NOT BE INITIATE

[coldsteel666]

maybe different types as in wheeled and more maps?

[maxgamingtech]

@coldsteel666 - we will release a new map with each patch, we just released a new mission and will release another this weekend.

[Trash Panda With A Dream]

I'd really like to see the Cloaking Device but... I think I may be the only one XD

[Redmund]

id enjoy being able to jump jet on the ground, so you can boost quickly as a recon/assault unit without risking hurting your legs. i think the more mobility you can give the better the game will be, so its less 'pointing a gun at each other and hoping your dps outweighs his'.

itd be cool to be able to change your leg type, like in armored core, where you have crab legs, treads, bird-type legs (reverse knees), etc.

more emphasis on overloading your opponent as a strategy would also be cool.

ill be happy with any additions tho :)

[DeMyztikX]

I'd like some "On-Death" equipment. Like an item that speeds up the detonation or your core, larger blast, etc. Or an item that's a rocket pod that shoots off on a radius around you. to disperse people sitting on your head or really close to you.
I've mentioned the boosting along the ground, that would be really fun.
Wheeled and tracked chassis would be cool.
I'll think of more.

[Roguetrooperz]

Really need to work on Mech movement seems a tad to fast/jerky also look at Tired and Tracked chassis maybe?

[Redmund]

Originally posted by Roguetrooper:

Really need to work on Mech movement seems a tad to fast/jerky also look at Tired and Tracked chassis maybe?

please tell me you mean the animations, because personally i think the game is kinda slow atm. the turn speed for the cockpit also seems slow to me. unless youre playing switchblade with almost no weapons your mech moves so slow theres really not much manuevering to be done. I always thought the movement system of Armored Core 3 was ideal, i understand this is a different type of mech game but if it gets any slower i think itll only add to the current style of 'point and fire at your opponent and hope he misses or has less dps'. i always loved the crab leg type in ac3 as well, if you do different type of chassis itd be awesome to see that added too!

[mutexer (MGT)]

I would say our game is closer to starsiege. Faster than mechwarrior but not as fast as armored core.

[Redmund]

Originally posted by mutexer:

I would say our game is closer to starsiege. Faster than mechwarrior but not as fast as armored core.

I would totally agree. While ill always say that armored core 3 was the pinnacle of mech games so far (at least for me), i definitely appreciate the pace of your game. It allows for more formations, strategies, and better teamwork. AC3 was more of a single-unit mech game. I would never suggest trying to copy ac3 just because i loved it so much, although the game will always shape my views on the 'standards' for mech movement. at the very least, the jump jets on the ground would help speed up and emphasize the positioning battle, it might also make the difficulty level of hitting recon-type mechs with manual aim or dumb rockets much too hard, unless of course you make the light mechs much more frail than they currently are.

I have a few more ideas for weapons i think would be cool, not necessarily for the new patch but something to consider for the future.

Artillery/Long Range Mechs

Ive always loved artillery in general, ever since i played Total Annihilation and would turtle until i could get the giant cannons. There are some good long range weapons in the game right now, but it would certainly be amazing to have a dedicated chassis type for a long range assault type mech. I cant remember the name of the weapon right now but theres the one long range cannon that has 10 ammo to it, and while its great at long range, if you fire it close range, the shell will bounce off the enemy mech and either explode next to them, or too far away. itd be neat to see the shell explode with splash damage, so if you fire it too close to your opponent you get hit in the crossfire. maybe a long range targeting system/radar upgrade for the top cockpit spot?

A shoulder mounted cannon with extreme range but super low accuracy would fit this mold well. Of course, the devs might not find this appealing but there seems to be no extremely short range mechs (again, like in ac3, the shotgun type weapons, laser swords, that kinda thing. not suggesting you add laser swords, although i wouldnt oppose it xD), so an even longer range option would be cool. maybe supplement this idea with a crab leg chassis or mech, with a 'deploy' mode where you cannot move while in long range firing mode, similar to seige tanks in starcraft.

Different Types of Missles / Countermeasure options

Theres currently from my understanding two types of missiles, homing and dumb missles. theres a couple more types that would be cool to see.

1. Clusterbombs
A weapon that you aim by firing into the air above your opponents, with a slow launch movement and trajectory speed, so your opponents can see it coming and get out of the way if theyre quick enough, Upon exploding this missile type rains down many bombs and or missles onto your opponents. most likely shoulder mount as the AoE damage would be too much to allow onto the more minor parts of the chassis.

2. Heat or Overload Missles
Simple concept, a extremely low damage and low accuracy missle whose sole purpose is to add to the overload of your opponent.

3. Large Missles/Nuke Type missles.
A type of missle with low ammo amounts, low accuracy, low launch speed and extreme damage and AoE effects. Heavy mech only. Giant missles not only would look cool (think the v2 missle launchers in Red Alert, but not that big ahaha) but they could help scare the absolute crap out of your opponent.

4. Distraction missles
A type of missle meant for defeating missle countermeasures. these would do no damage but be able to draw the fire of the countermeasure anti-missles. This would add balance to go against coutnermeasures with the drawback being using battle points and a slot just to do so.

Shotguns/Close Range weapons

Again, im just suggesting things. I love the switchblade, i highly enjoy the speedier mechs. However the low amount of battle points allowed doesnt really allow you to do any sort of real DPS atm. These would go hand in hand with making the recon type mechs more frail.

1. Shotgun
Standard shotgun, massive damage in close while tertiary at best at range. This would allow you, if you can get close enough to a heavy mech without being decimated, do quick and efficient damage. Pretty standard, medium ammo amounts, low accuracy, medium to high damage in close.

2. Plasma Ball Cannon
This ones a stretch. But something like a small ball of plasma that moves slow but does massive damage on impact. think slower than the large missles, and can dissapate at range. In close the splash damage would also hurt you, so this kind of weapon would take alot of skill to use. low ammo, high damage, incredibly slow speed, large AoE, dissapates on long range.

3. Short range jamming equipment
Something like a short stun in the immediate area around the mech. This would also freeze the mech using it, making close clusters of units a bad idea vs an opponent with one of these weapons. has locktime, meaning if deployed the mech using it and the mechs around it cannot fire or move for a certain amount of time, maybe 5-10 seconds? 30 seems too much


Sorry for the long post. When i post more than 200 words in the blade symphony gamemode testing group the devs dont read it, maybe you guys will, maybe you wont. im a huge mech game nerd, clearly, but i have a huge passion for all things robot. If i think of more things i will make sure to let you guys know. Im loving the game so far, active devs, listening to the community....this is a dream come true, to be involved in any capacity in a mech games development, even if its minute, is so much fun! thanks for reading

-Redmund

[maxgamingtech]

Thanks for great feedback @Redmund , just a note, the speed of your mech relies alot on how you equip it. On Sunday I saw alot of slow Abolishers with alot of missiles. I was able to overcome them finally by a fast yet well equipped Viper which I used to out maneuver the bigger mechs and frankly take out their legs.

In turn, someone with a smartly outfitted Switchblade can do something similar as happened to be a couple weeks ago. Took them a bit longer but they were able to take me down as I could not keep them in my sights.

[Roguetrooperz]

Hey guys to clairffy it is more the actually movement animation it feels a tad jerky/to fast even in the heavier mechs.

[Redmund]

Originally posted by maxgamingtech:

Thanks for great feedback @Redmund , just a note, the speed of your mech relies alot on how you equip it. On Sunday I saw alot of slow Abolishers with alot of missiles. I was able to overcome them finally by a fast yet well equipped Viper which I used to out maneuver the bigger mechs and frankly take out their legs.

In turn, someone with a smartly outfitted Switchblade can do something similar as happened to be a couple weeks ago. Took them a bit longer but they were able to take me down as I could not keep them in my sights.

no problem, id be thinking of ideas for weapons/features anyways simply because its tons of fun. admittedly i havent played against human opponents yet so i really shouldnt speak on balance. i just cant help myself sometimes.

[quantum_jak]

Things that I think would be cool additions to the game or gameplay tweaks that would enhance the game:

1. A spider mech variant
2. Slightly more punch from all weapon types
3. Gauss cannon
4. EMP based weapon
5. Corrosive weapon
6. Some type of entangling device that limits opponent's mobility for a short time.
7. Sticky bombs/grenades
8. Electronics scrambler/radar jammer
9. Giant shield attachment

[Redmund]

Originally posted by quantum_jak:

Things that I think would be cool additions to the game or gameplay tweaks that would enhance the game:

1. A spider mech variant
2. Slightly more punch from all weapon types
3. Gauss cannon
4. EMP based weapon
5. Corrosive weapon
6. Some type of entangling device that limits opponent's mobility for a short time.
7. Sticky bombs/grenades
8. Electronics scrambler/radar jammer
9. Giant shield attachment

the spider mech i totally agree with. i loved the crab legs in ac3.

what exactly do you mean by gauss cannon?

they have armor that you can attach to the arms but a shield device would be pretty sweet, especially if it was directional, like only being able to defend your front or back or something.

radar upgrades would be cool, like the command mechs in chrome hounds

[Roguetrooperz]

Also have you thought about Qaud Mechs if you need screenies yell and i can show!