Elementals piloting mechs tanks and planes oh my!

[Wootin1987]

So yeah why is it like that? If anything shouldn't be a player class for specific fields? Or is this only temporary for the beta?

[13th Fear]

Basically the devs didn't see any value in adding infantry to the game, as they would be mostly useless, so instead the basic unit is a battle suit.  I don't know if they plan on changing the appearance to a pilot later on or not.

[Stahlseele]

I still don't know why we don't simply make the Windows of Mechs, Tanks and Jets one way mirrored so one can see out but not in . .

[13th Fear]

If it means that we are piloting giant mechs and blowing each other up sooner, rather than later, I can easily put up with battle suits driving mechs... It's really such a minor game design choice that affects very little except a bit of immersion into the game.

[Masakari]

It doesn't affect anything about the game, it just looks silly.

[Stahlseele]

My idea would make Mechs, Elementals and Jets look as if they were wearing Mirrored Shades O.o
Quite silly too neh? ^^

[TuRbOlAg]

I think it looks fine.  Like a battle ready survival suit in case of ejection.  Sure it's not canon, but not everything has to be.

[13th Fear]

I think it looks fine.  Like a battle ready survival suit in case of ejection.  Sure it's not canon, but not everything has to be.

Of course everything must be canon!  How in the world could we possible enjoy the game in the slightest unless it is exactly as intended by the original information???!!!!

/sarcasm

[Wootin1987]

I still object. The game is beautiful looking, but the fact that there is no infantry soldiers, pilots, or any other human class in the matter kills the fact that it's a hit and miss for "realism" in the CBT world... I would like to see it that way for mods in the future. For example; I always dreamed of playing the game like the intro to MW3 infantry and light mechs vs a limited number of opposing enemy mechs, objective would be the same as the intro I'd love to be a foot soldier with a armor piercing rocket launcher hiding inside a urban building. That would be a rush XD

[13th Fear]

Based on the sheer size of the maps, and of course the sheer size of the mechs, I could see infantry becoming obsolete pretty quickly on most maps.

[KorJax]

Or is this only temporary for the beta?

Pretty much, atleast to my understanding.

Minor stuff like actually modeling a pilot model that has no effect on gameplay at all and is only noticeable if you get right up on a cockpit (far away or at a funny angle you'll just see a reflection), just isn't exactly a high priority for the moment.

[(TLL)Highlander]

Hey in my opinion its better than other MW games. In MW4 cockpits where just seen as pretty much black paint on the front of mechs:

I think its fine for now, only thing better would be shaded/mirrored glass (ferro-plast whatever its called) so the pilot isnt visible or an actual pilot. I think it might also looks a little less silly with a longinus in the seat because it looks more human-like, but i would know  

Edit: Meant to be image not link

[AoP]

I'm surprised that this question keeps coming up as it has been answered numerous times, even several times just in the past few weeks.

There will be a dedicated pilot model for vehicles that allow looking into the cockpit from the outside. This might possibly be done in the beta, but it's not likely - as Korjax said, there are still tasks of higher priority. It's purely cosmetics anyways though - the second you bail out of your vehicle, you're in your factions battlearmor. Lack of realism? Maybe, but it comes at the cost of a significantly better and more fun gaming experience.

The lack of dedicated non-BA - "infantry soldiers, pilots, or any other human class" - has been explained since we announced it more than a year ago:
- there will be a maximum of 32 players per servers - or 16 players per side, so the only situation where infantry could possibly pose a threat to armored vehicles and in particular Mechs - when they're able to get together and attack in masses - will *never* occur;
- considering the sheer size of our maps, infantry without any means of travelling fast without depending on allies would basically be immobile. In the time it takes them to travel from A to B and B to C, the fight - and maybe half the round - would be over;
- considering the firepower of every other combatant on the battlefield, unarmored infantry would be nothing more than clay pigeons in terms of self defense;

We don't believe that anyone seriously could consider these situations to be enjoyable. Yes, it might sound unconventional, it might appear to destroy realism... but based on the playtests we've been holding for months now, we have no reason to question this approach just for a second. We'd like to invite all those who don't believe in our approach to try it out for themselves after the game has been released. We'd be more than surprised to hear if you wouldn't appreciate the life-saving extras BA have over fragile human bodies.

Short version
Pilot model in transparent cockpits: yes, at some point.
Non-BA infantry: no, not likely at all and not on our agenda at this time.

[Diablo48]

I fully understand where you are coming from with this, although if you ever decide to add different BA types it might work to make armored jump infantry an option which would restrict your weapon payload and drastically cut your armor, but using the jump packs you could keep mobility on par with the BA, and the lack of armor would make infantry completely invisible to radar no matter what the 'Mech or vehicle did.  If you add good optical camouflage, it could result in a usable option for players who value stealth either to enter battle undetected or to slip out of combat after ejecting.

[CHHš Firestorm]

The only problem I have with piloting 'mechs as a BA, is that I think people will be more likely to bail out of their 'mechs before they go critical rather than fight up to the last second. It makes sense when you think about it: why stay in your 'mech and most likely die when you can jump out when it is damaged and then run off or fight them in a BA. Someone on another thread said it's like having to kill your enemy twice. Plus, (I'm not sure if this is possible in LL) if you destroy the weapons on someone's 'mech, now they can just jump out and escape or attack you with a second, smaller 'mech. I don't know, maybe it is more "fun" this way, but I would prefer to have pilots, at least. Like (I hate to admit that it did something right) MechAssault 2.

I completely understand, though, that it would be extra work that's not exactly necessary. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all ya'lls hard work on this mod, and I hope it re-vitalizes the MechWarrior franchise. Just putting in my two cents.