MWO 2015 Wishlist - Bringing the Game to the next Level!? [Idea Collection]

As someone who doesn't have a lot of time to game.... A much more efficient UI would be my biggest wish. I don't have time to wade through the 40 odd mechs I have searching for said module, xl300 engine and weaponry to reconfigure a desired mech for competitive play, and I don't have the time to grind to get c-bills enough to buy duplicates. By the time I am done setting up I have no time to sit in queue for 15 minutes or more waiting to drop, much less play the game once I do. Asset management should not be a chore.
Savable configurations
An asset management system
A mechlab that allows for theory crafting and drop in design...... why don't we have this yet?!!!! I mean really... come.... on!

Story driven content... Wouldn't it be nice to actually have something to play once PGI closes up shop.
Melee combat, though that could be cheesy if handled poorly.

 

Well, we DO have the mwo-smurfy site where you can theorycraft, but I guess implementing it would also kinda be nice...

Edit: That just popped an idea in my head! WHAT IF we could CHOOSE where are weapons are MOUNTED??? (In already available slots of course, not going to mount a gauss rifle on the shoulder of a BNC-LM heheheh) but you would be able to on a mech that has those hardpoints open, and when installing the weapons it's shown where the weapons could be mounted.

 

I live smurfy... he is a god here for good reason, because he supplies us with what PGI has not... which is my point exactly. He built something elegant with all the trimmings. In game we have a clunky mess.

 

1. Storydriven Content
   >> Nah, this is not rpg/mmo, and definitely not single player game. **Updating the CW in a story format**, however, would be lovely. Story fluff would be great. story driven mission takes too much effort to create, effort that can be used into making more useful things.
   
2. In-depth Tutorial Mode
   >> Don't care much, would not help us. The useful things in this game cannot be taught in a Tutorial mode. Instead they should pair newbies to voluntier (or voluntier groups, heard they have a somewhat helpfulpet gamer group called something along the lines of No butts No Panties [since name is banned for reasons] , or something out there called mechspecs I think) that would help them with a buddy system. Maybe pair a small sibko of newbies to an old player. That way they can be guided. Some mmo use such system, with interesting results.
   
3. More Faction Levels Rewards
   >> They already said there will be titles and decals, I thinkt that is good enough. Don't want awards to affect gameplay. So no special weapons/mechs/quirk/module and stuff like that. Small cbills discount in things though, that may be a decent idea.
   
4. Unified "Play Now" Button
   >> Not sure how this would work, maybe a good idea.
   
5. Better UI
   >> Hell yes. A usable UI , and an import/export format.
   
6. More Weapon Systems
   >> Yes. MRM, melee weapons, heavy MG and artillery cannons.
   
7. Melee Combat
   >> As above. YES YES YES. So that YLW can finally be YLW.
   
8. Solaris
   >> Free for all!! Super Mech Brothers Me!!
   
9. Maps 2.0 (Environmental, Destructible Objects, Infantery etc.)
   >> No. The thing can be laggy as is.
   
10. Salvage
    >> Not needed. Don't make things more complicated as is. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. This complicate things alot for newbies and those with no battletech knowledge. As much as I love the stories knowing things like that should not be requirement to enjoy the game. Keeping it as cbills is good enough.

 

1. Storydriven Content
   Nah, that's what the books are for.
2. In-depth Tutorial Mode
   Will help the newbies and might actually retain some of them. Might be a lever to get rid of 3PV.
3. More Faction Levels Rewards
   As eni said. As long as it doesn't become a balance changer
4. Unified "Play Now" Button
   What is that?
5. Better UI
   Duh!
6. More Weapon Systems
   According to the timeline we have most of the existing ones don't we?
7. Melee Combat
   Please no! Too many brawls end up like big group hugs. I don't fancy one of the huggers having an axe whilst I only have 6 .50 cals and 2 flashlights,...
8. Solaris
   Split the queues even more? Not sure,...
9. Maps 2.0 (Environmental, Destructible Objects, Infantery etc.)
   Yes, please.
10. Salvage
    YES, PLEASE! And a dropping economy like we had in early beta or WoT,...

 

Solaris is probably not going to split the queue much, since it takes a really small amount of players. I think if I remember right the biggest Solaris game is like 8 mech (or is it 12?) Either way it would be quck to launch, with no teams, and quick to end (since it should be a really small map). Also, you can open Solaris only a few days per week only.

From what we know about PGI, any economy related stuff would be shit... don't risk it people.
PGI is better at doing it as a mech fps type simulation, and that is how the game is evolved into, and evolving along. So keep it on the path and enhance it. There has been enough big bumpy things already.

 

Agreed. A nice FFA mode in MWO would really be nice, with the certain tiers (Light, Medium, etc.) having certain C-Bill rewards, not just depending on kills, but what position you end up in.

 

Just checking if we're on the same page. With the statement I meant to, for example, make it more expensive to take a DWF to the field as compared to the a LCT.
Not that I want the prohibiting repair and rearm costs that exist in WoT, but something to balance out the drop queue and discourage 2k missile spammers ;-)

I do agree that there are more pressing things on the table, this one is a minor thing that, however, has been on my list for awhile.

 

Picked 2 as there are some weird omissions. For me the weakest area of the game is the way it handles new players... it shoves them gleefully into a meat grinder with no preparation and then leaves them to suffer. Some manage to crawl out and survive... the others will never be back.

A better UI and tutorial would immensely help them so thinking of the game as a whole that would be my pick.

Personally - more/updated maps, new mechs and a better UI (the ability to import/export fits, search/filter chassis, a toggle for only ammo/modules for weapons I've mounted etc).

 

Problem with R&R cost is that it is a massive pain for new players, and won't hurt the older ones a bit (there are few mechs and equipments we do not have). Also it encourages buying cbills... PGI won't mind that, but I would hate the p2w aspact of it, especially when it comes to newer players.

That, also it does encourage farming builds. There used to be quite a bit of those around. I mean it is no fun facing those (unrepaired)TDK running around with minimal engine and armor, and only an ML.
I have to say I had my share of farming way back when R&R is in place and I am a newbie... it is the way to get cbills at the time. that, and I would definitely do it again, if anything like that is enforced... probably would be able to loot more even due to the better min/maxing skills.
The thing is, do you want loads of these mech running around? cause they would be out there, if R&R is enforced.

Happy to see that thing go, really. It is a good aspact on the oldschool mechwarrior versions, but opens up way too many problem than it is worth.

 

Single Player mode with various difficulty levels would allow newbies to be introduced to the game sans meat grinder. It would probably help retention.

 

Necromance "Dead-Eye" for a Tutorial Mode !!!

You are right, but some content based on the Lore to motivate the CW Mode. Newbies don't get any good Lore-Info about the Factions, their Goals, etc. There is practically no Lore-Info at all in the game.

What about a simple CW Coop-Mode for 4-12 Men groups? Somehow a mini-Campaign reusing the given Maps. It could be some simple Waves after Waves of Mech for the start. But well, this would require Bots with acceptable A.I. Forget it.

 

It would also help those of us that don't have the time to wait in queue, but need a quick fix of MechWarrior action before the wife starts complaining that you're not spending enough time with her.... on another note, it might help keep skill level from dropping to dismal levels for the same said persons... maybe.

 

1) pls create good maps (currently in existence: zero)
2) Melee combat? ------->

sorry but no ground breaking - but needed - changes discernible in 2015

3) Ui 2.5 or 3.0 would be awesome because the current one regularly scares away potentially good, new players: seen it, been there.

 

Issue
Currently, CW is difficult to balance with multiple planet queues and more or less coordinated teams. A solo or small group gets mixed in as fillers for pure numerical reasons, there have been many games where novices face off with very experienced troops.

Solution
1, We start rating planets as high, mid or low ELO in the background based on current players fighting and when a player or team looks at a planet, they will see a "danger rating" which is a calculation on relative ELO on the players, groups and team totals. The "danger rating" would only give you three types of signals relative to you as a single player or your current groups ELO. Something like easy, nomal and challenging,

If you as a new guy looks at a planet full of Lords and Aces, you would get challenging. If he looks at a low ELO planet, he would get "normal". There would be no easy anywhere.

If a maxed ELO player looks at a planet where Lords and Aces war, he would get normal. Almost anywhere else it'd be easy.

This allows the player to make a informed decision and prevents dissatisfaction. It is also more immersive as it signals hotspots and fierce fighting. If a player chooses to play in a lower danger rating he helps increase that and in time it will show a new danger rating for all to see, so it is selfregulating too.


2, We create a ingame Faction Bulletin Board where company leaders can put up a notice (text can be stored and recalled) that they are looking for players to form a temporary drop and add him as friend. Thus text can contain some general data like age, skill, mood, TS3 details, recruitment, etc.

This is a minor change and only needs a BB with some limits (post only remains as long as leader is online). Together with the VOIP, this allows players to form groups that fit each taste easier. Since it utilizes the friend/faction function it doesn't require new things coded to group up.

 

Not sure on number 1 as most players would just pick the "easy" content to farm rewards. Plus who determines rankings? Also has the disadvantage of splitting the queue three ways.

Number 2 is brilliant - even forgetting VOIP the advert could give TS/Mumble details, or a notification of them if you responded to the advert, mech requirements, languages spoken etc.

 

Tutorial for the new players both for gameplay and the menues with skills upgrade etc.
Fix the current maps hitboxes and make some new ones.
And get some smurfy style mechlab ingame and i would like to see a import/exports from web smurfy so you can build them anywhere.

Oh and performance fixes for basically everything ingame.

 

The core issue is keeping low and high players happy, IMHO. Mid ELO players can carry a low team or contribute in a high ELO as I see it. It's far from ideal but there is no real split, just a visualization so we know what to expect. That can help with dissatisfaction. I believe we loose a lot of players to poor experiences from getting stomped. It's more about expectations then actual splitting of queues.

Thank you, I am planning to type this up in the feature suggestion section of the main forum. The ingame client is the one place we know everyone looks, hence centralizing information and making it easily available makes sense. There could be multiple BB pages too. Recruitment, casual drops, friend finding, etc. It should also feature the MWO news flow in abbreviated form and would be a perfect place for RPG elements in future. Headhunting, challenges, contest announcements, streams, etc.

I also agree with everything Hitman just posted.

 

Put it in simple points:
1) better designed maps. (in terms of structure and map design, not things like graphics and destructable things)
2) some lobby things to get players to go together, for more interactions. (bulletin boards, "news announcements" scrollbar from groups in normal UI, vvet/newbie training pairing, etc)
3) better ways to match players into games. (different ELO, groups and PUGs)

I think the above really covers the important points without getting too complicated.

On the side note:
I would like them to fixupdate old 1.0 beta models. There are a few models that are still stuck in old mode where equipments are not reflected.
There are works of the graphics team, so probably won't affect gameplay development much.
I don't mind them making a new hero for those chassis while they are at it I guess, some incentive for them to work on the model.