Balance Ramblings in 0.2.0

[Darocia]

Hey guys. I couldn't see anything specifically like this posted, so apologies if it already has been.

Loving most of the new things in the patch, but some adjustments/additions have made it a little odd. Before I talk about them, just want to say that they're nothing to do with LRMs/Longtoms; I'm not really fussed about this, sometimes it's a bit of a shock to die suddenly, but oh well, doesn't ruin my fun .

So, it's basically to do with the new mechs, the Osiris and the Novacat. This is now basically all I buy. Which may seem odd perhaps, but let me explain (this may be obvious? ). I'm not sure how the Osiris (30t if I'm correct), can mount a 15t AC20 (if I'm correct), along with reasonable armour, 3 small beams, jump jets, MASC... but it seems to be far and away the most potent starting mech (short to mid range admittedly). And then the problem gets worse, because I usually make enough money (give or take donations from clan mates (which is obviously trivial mid-combat now)) from the first or second Osiris to buy a Novacat. I know their speed/armour isn't too high, but with the buff to the Clan ERPPC (and it's heat creation, aim throwing-off ability, and the fact that its range is far higher than 900m (bug?)), it's just so powerful.

And as much as I do buy other mechs, Vultures/Shadowcats/Atlases, if I'm feeling a bit funky or the money is not quite right, in general, the Novacat more or less seems the most successful at gaining me points/kills, which is ultimately what we're all after right? So I'm not really sure what I'm saying here; maybe wondering about relative costs etc of mechs, maybe asking you to nerf the mechs I play with so I go back to what I used to use... I'm not sure!

Anyway, thoughts, insults?

[DFDelta]

Yes the Osiris may seem strong, but it has one mayor disadvantage. Arm armor.
The AC20 is strong but I have won almost all my encounters with AC-Osiris by ripping of the AC with 2 or 3 good shots (or even one if I'm in the Gauss-Uller). Without the AC its practically defenseless.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Those are powerful mechs indeed.  I haven't found the erppc to be as much fun to pilot as the elbl variants though.  I've also heard that the AC20 is a single shell vs the UAC20 of the scat which fires two shells.  That makes it a bit more in line with a light mech.  That being said I just found out last night the osiris can twist 180 or more degrees and that's sick too.

I'll have to reconsider the effect of the ppc on piloting though and perhaps work on chain firing more.

Good anecdotal report and enjoy this iteration of the game before they change it =)

Light mechs are always going to have big weapons on them though or they become fairly obsolete in the game progression fairly quickly.  Let's face it.  Small lasers don't do much damage and neither do LBX5s

[Darocia]

Those are powerful mechs indeed.  I haven't found the erppc to be as much fun to pilot as the elbl variants though.  I've also heard that the AC20 is a single shell vs the UAC20 of the scat which fires two shells.  That makes it a lot weaker on paper than it ought to be.  That being said I just found out last night the osiris can twist 180 or more degrees and that's sick too.

I'll have to reconsider the effect of the ppc on piloting though and perhaps work on chain firing more.

Good anecdotal report and enjoy this iteration of the game before they change it =)

I completely agree. Chain firing 4 PPCs is devastating from a defensive point of view. I also agree about the beam lasers. I would normally always choose the accurate laser option, and try and take down specific parts of a mech. The problem is, the PPC does so much splash-damage, that I barely have to aim accurately. I hit the middle of the torso, and the mech will go down probably just as fast as me cutting of a piece with accurate lasers, yet also causes loads of heat build up, throws their aim off, and is much easier \o/.

DFDelta:

Yes, I agree with this too. But it's not an easy target to hit at 120kph+. But you're right, against a competent foe, certainly less devastating.

[Jiminyjetson]

The Osiris hits 160kph with MASC engaged. One hundred and sixty. That's a 160kph mech with a 360 degree torso twist and an AC20 (and a ton of spare ammo)

As a hit-and-run mech, my success/kill rate with the Osiris compared to using an Uller/Owens  pre-patch is shockingly high. While the AC20 is fairly easy to destroy with a good couple of hits, actually hitting that target when it's circling you at 160kph is a lot harder than it sounds,  especially in a heavier mech.

Anyway, thoughts, insults?

Your head is as fat as it is square.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

I always like the 2elbl osiris for BA hunting.

[sgnl05]

The Osiris hits 160kph with MASC engaged. One hundred and sixty. That's a 160kph mech with a 360 degree torso twist and an AC20 (and a ton of spare ammo)

Don't forget the jump jets!

[~SJ~ Xarg Talasko]

Osiris B has made my light 'Mech choice a no brainer. Osiris B, Osiris B, possibly a third Osiris B, then something BIG. Its a VERY nice light 'Mech. I have to say though, I'd love to see 1-3 more medium 'Mechs, at the moment it is a very restricted bracket, which forces me often to look at tanks instead (heresy!). Looking at the buy menu, we currently have

Light 'Mechs: 6
Uller, Raven, Osiris, Puma, Cougar, Owens.

Medium 'Mechs: 3
Hollander, Shadowcat, Bushwacker.

Heavy 'Mechs: 6
Madcat, Vulture, Nova Cat, Catapult, Warhammer, Thanatos.

Assault 'Mechs: 4
Madcat MKII, Atlas, Awesome, Mauler.

I don't mind the rest of the assault 'mechs coming in a bit late, a good chunk of the playerbase doesn't get those per game, due to rank/cbill etc. However, only 3 mediums to choose from is a bit limiting, especially when the brackets before AND after, (light and heavy) both contain 6 choices.

Any word on new medium 'mechs to fill out the pre-assault roster? Maybe a new aero asset as well, since unless I'm blind, there are still only Hawkmoth/Sulla/Shiva to choose from?

[=KoS= Eldragon]

Yes, I too would really like to see another medium mech or two. especially because it is all most players will achieve in a game. Hopefully in the next content update.

With the current C-bill/rank system, you don't see many light mechs that cost more than 49,000 c-bills. It seems like most players who hit the WR rank go straight for the Hollander, skipping over the Cougar, Puma, and a few of the Raven variants.

Why the Raven C costs more than AC20 Osiris and the Gauss Uller I don't really understand. I would like to see a PPC equipped mech available at rank 1.

[Darocia]

Yeah, I agree on the medium line-up expansion. Certainly in this patch, I seem to skip to quickly from Light to Heavy/Assault. Maybe the prices could scale non-linearly to make Heavy/Assault a rarity rather than commonplace, then fill out the gap with a variety of mediums?

[~SJ~ Amarus]

Id love to see the Stormcrow as an addition to the medium bracket, along with maybe the Shadow Hawk...I miss the old guys alot   With all that I mean to say that I also believe that the medium bracket is undermeched

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

The AC20 osiris is the definition of the hunter/killer config mech (ie fast enough to pace any light/med mech and has 1 large weapon for killing power).

As far as the Raven C being more expensive, remember it's packing a very strong electronics package

# C3
# BAP
# GECM

These give it unparalleled scouting abilities.

Light mechs tend to fall in one of the 3 categories:
Scout - packs electronic packages that allow them find the early and relays that information to their team.  Also acts as a spotter for artillery.
Hunter/Killer - deployed to act as a fast strike force, mostly used to remove enemy scouts from the field but also popular as a flanking unit.
Light Support - boast long range weapons to supplement the scouts general lack of firepower.  Used for harassing tactics against heavier units.

Even when the mechlab comes out, most people will unconsciously create their variants in one of these roles.

[=KoS= Eldragon]

The AC20 osiris is the definition of the hunter/killer config mech (ie fast enough to pace any light/med mech and has 1 large weapon for killing power).

As far as the Raven C being more expensive, remember it's packing a very strong electronics package

# C3
# BAP
# GECM

These give it unparalleled scouting abilities.

I agree the Raven C has a nice electronics package. Its just seems to me that: C3+BAP+GECM+PCC should cost less than AC20+JJ.

Taking a look at the prices of the light mechs on the Wiki page leaves me scratching my head.

Its going to be a long time before the devs really have the prices balanced out. And I'm ok with that.

I just hope to see a few more light mechs/vehicles as it was in the 0.1.1 release. Poor Cougars and Puma need loving pilots to adopt them.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

I disagree about the AC20 costing more.  C3 with BAP is a god like assist for Long Toms and Arrow 4 launchers which is huge mid to end game.  Mostly heavy and assaults can take the AC20 pretty easily.  Oh one more thing, the Raven C has AMS and the Osiris doesn't.

[warmachine79]

I think Uller B will own the AC20 Osiris.