How do I try a new Mech Loadout before buying the new gear?

[GreenOne]

Is there a trial mode/firing range where I can test my potential new equipment. Might be falce memories, but I think I could load some testing map in like 2012.

[Scanz]

build up mechs then click testing grounds at home screen

[GreenOne]

It won't let me go to home screen without actually purchasing and saving. Not speaking of trying non-owned mechs. And what I want is being able to try mechs and custom loadouts before buying the neccesary items themselves.

[Htom Sirveaux]

If you attempt to leave the mech bay before purchasing the gear you have loaded it asks if you wish to save the changes. If you select no it reverts back to its loadout before changes.

In short, You can test run after you purchase but not test before. This is something I have wanted to see for a while. It can be expensive to experiment and find you dislike a certain weapon.

[GreenOne]

Yea, to me it's like some obvious must have QoL feature. I don't get why it wouldn't be here, could actually boost the MC sales, on top of being more convenient for players.

[Maj_Cyric]

Originally posted by GreenFlame:

It won't let me go to home screen without actually purchasing and saving. Not speaking of trying non-owned mechs. And what I want is being able to try mechs and custom loadouts before buying the neccesary items themselves.

You just have to use http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab and then do the math for the heat scale/management for whatever build you make like the rest of us...

If you don't know the math formula for how Heat scaling works then here are two links for you...

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bmIEjECA6IbWRm92vmylZNv2QYVc5gXO7CT9jMITOrM/edit#slide=id.g6d3a0f35d_11527

http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/127904-heat-scale-the-maths/

[Htom Sirveaux]

I'm fairly certain it has been suggested before but I have no idea if there is a plan to add it, they had a reason why they havent or don't intend to. Ill dig on the official forums to see if I find anything.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Originally posted by Maj_Cyric:

Originally posted by GreenFlame:

It won't let me go to home screen without actually purchasing and saving. Not speaking of trying non-owned mechs. And what I want is being able to try mechs and custom loadouts before buying the neccesary items themselves.

You just have to use http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab and then do the math for the heat scale/management for whatever build you make like the rest of us...

If you don't know the math formula for how Heat scaling works then here are two links for you...

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bmIEjECA6IbWRm92vmylZNv2QYVc5gXO7CT9jMITOrM/edit#slide=id.g6d3a0f35d_11527

http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/127904-heat-scale-the-maths/

I don't think its a matter of the math. For me I have found I simply do not play well with certain weapon systems on certain mechs. Hardpoint position is also a factor though not as much. The only weapon I literally never use is gauss because I'm terrible with it even after 3 years lol.

[GreenOne]

It'd simply let you get a feel for it and see if you like it.

[Maj_Cyric]

Gauss rifles don't really gen any heat so they aren't a weapon that would cause a mech to overheat... My advice is on how to manage weapons that gen heat.. and will teach you how to group your weapons and chain fire them so you don't gen so much heat you shutdown or core yourself.. like how to use 6 Large lasers without shutting down

[Htom Sirveaux]

Originally posted by GreenFlame:

It'd simply let you get a feel for it and see if you like it.

Did some digging. Its been suggested since closed beta but I have not seen a dev comment on the subject.

I don't just see this as useful for loadouts. It would be nice to try a chassis before you plunk down mc/c-bills, with a configuration you like. I understand the trial mechs are meant to cover this to an extent. Its more of an "in a perfect world" type of scenario.

[GreenOne]

Well, maybe I want stuff chassis with my own loadout or maybe I want to get a feel for how my idea will work out, so I'd say it's useful for both. Furthermore, all it'd take is pretty much a button that'd lead into testing grounds, there is no new mechanic to implement, nor any complex code. Maybe they think it'd hurt sales.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Originally posted by GreenFlame:

Well, maybe I want stuff chassis with my own loadout or maybe I want to get a feel for how my idea will work out, so I'd say it's useful for both. Furthermore, all it'd take is pretty much a button that'd lead into testing grounds, there is no new mechanic to implement, nor any complex code. Maybe they think it'd hurt sales.

There is no guarantee its as simple as adding a button. Considering it asks you to save your configuration (which takes a few moments) I suspect its not that simple. How complex is only a guess by the players. And why is just speculation.

Could just as easily be that they are planning to add it but its very much on the back burner to more important features. With no comment from then in 3 years on the subject (that i could find anyway) it is unlikely to be any time soon if at all.

[GreenOne]

Given that all you need otherwise is to save the build via purchasing and then run testing grounds, all the code is here, you at best need to call same functions except that you don't pay for the build and don't obtain the components. Sure it needs some code, but it's pretty simple copy paste of a few functions, according to my programming experience.

[Htom Sirveaux]

It would also have to accurately revert the saved state to previous configuration and hopefully not be subject to exploits. In theory it sounds simple but without underlying knowledge of whats under the hood we can still only speculate.

Thought exercise: If it were that simple why not add it in 3 years? To my knowledge it was never even on the PTR. Is it because it will negatively impact spending? Left in 'as is' to be a c-bill sink? Limitation with the current coding that makes it more difficult than suspected? Not enough community demand?

I personally don't think its a spending issue. People might be more inclined to buy an MC chassis if they could test drive it (you can currently configure mechs in the mech lab before purchase oddly enough) with their loadout. I know I wouldn't have purchased a couple of the chassis I did If this were an option. I bought them because I liked the idea of a loadout which turned out I didn't like the way it played.

The c-bill sink is definitely a possibility. They have used that phrase on a few occasions for things like modules and consumables.

My (admittedly) brief research on the topic shows posts from 2012, 2013 and 2015. Though not very many so possibly not a ton of demand?

Ive already stated my thoughts on the coding. While I'm not amazingly well versed in the subject I know enough that simple is not always as simple as it sounds without knowledge of the base code and function calls. People thought rear-view cameras should be easy and demanded them for a long time. Turns out this was not the case and ultimately not possible with the current engine. With all my time gaming and minor code dabbling I try not to assume anything about a potential feature.

With no comments from PGI I stand by my statement that all we can do is speculate. Though I would still like to see it in game or a definitive answer on the subject.

[Instinkt]

that feature would just be great... I've spend quite some money on ♥♥♥♥♥♥ builds this way (especially for chaning artemis, endosteel, etc, which costs cbills for EVERY switch...wtf)