Keeping to a Character Avatar Centric Game

[Hamilton]

I would like to read of your opinions of what you would like to see put into use to keep FOA a Character Avatar Centric Game.  That is, the importance or center of attention of the game is with the character and not with the Mech.

For example:
I would like to be able to get out of my Mech anywhere in the world.  Crawl up a hill to peek to see what is out there.  Since I am a character, I can't be detected by radar.  My Mech does not disappear when I get out either, it stays there, ready for me to get back in.  The only place I can park my Mech and have it disappear is in a Mech Hanger Bay.
(Ok, that was long example, but hopes it get the question across)

[Malice42]

To me, I could give less of a crap about "Getting out of my mech" in the world.
As long as you have the ability to get out and enter buildings, then you will appease the avatar centric playerbase.

Even if you feel the need to provide for "Avatar Movement" in the world, unless it proves some important purpose, it can be defined as fluff and added in with later patches if ever.

This is a Mech PvP game, not a Mech/FPS Hybrid, yes?

Whatever makes gameplay the most fun. 

[Cavadus]

I agree with Hamilton about the important of exiting the mech at any time, anywhere, under and circumstances.

I'm also a huge fan of the non-combat audience that was so prevalent in preCU SWG.  I always played a combat toon throughout my time with the game but I really, really enjoyed the breath of fresh air the entertainer community could provide.

I remember the huge cantina crawls, the outdoor concerts in Theed next to the river or out at Vreni Island.  The plays that guilds would put on in the Bela Vista theater.  I even sat through an entire production of "Julius Caesar" in the Theed theater one time.

I also loved fishing!  I could spend hours out at the Imperial Oasis just fishing in a pair flip flops and khaki cutoffs.  I loved stuff like that to balance out the enormous and time consuming base defenses that took place every night.  Or the huge furballs in deep space that used to break out.  Oh how I loved my TIE Bomber.  Everyone went small and quick but I went with the TIE Bomber so I could cruise around at 1500 kph (yes, as fast as most POBs) and just do strafing runs on A-Wings with my twin Mark IV Proton missiles.  I usually destroyed more ships than most aggressor or oppressor pilots.

Not sure any of that really has any place in FoA though.  Seems a bit too combat oriented for any of that jazz IMO.

At any rate, if you want to keep the emphasis on the avatar and not the vehicle then you need important and/or entertaining things to do outside of them.  I suggest what all SWG players pleaded for: casinos.  Let us gamble!

[KC_Render]

I agree with Hamiltons Idea as well, not like I will be exiting my mech unless all scanners read zero contacts however.  But I like the idea of getting out anywhere and at anytime.  Fishing (once terraforming is complete or near it) Walking around in my mech hangar, walking up to the central computer telling my fabricator to tweak this, with portions of that design (ex. reverse engineering), walking into the corporate office and seeing two players duke it out over a really good contract (not to death, but to unconsiousness) Walking into a nuetral bar, getting into a fist fight with the guy that blew up my buddy yesterday.  And one of my personal faves, walking into the "black ops" area and posting a bounty on little griefers and those who would say Pwn.

[WyvernSting]

Ham, this is my first post to the forums and I want to start by thanking you for dedicating time to a severely neglected genre!!  As a casual-to-serious CBT, MechWarrior , and Macross fan for the last 20 years, I have been waiting for something like this to come along.  I was talking with a buddy of mine yesterday that WoW has lost it's glimmer, D&D (with the recent declaration of 4th edition) had lost its heart, and d20 games in general had just grown stale -- the HERO system is what we both agreed would be the answer.  To find that you're merging the HERO system AND the mecha genre is a true breath of fresh air.  Let me know how I can help!!

...For example:
I would like to be able to get out of my Mech anywhere in the world.  Crawl up a hill to peek to see what is out there... 

First let's look at your example to answer the larger question.  You are proposing that, while on the field of battle (read=not in a hanger) you would willingly exit your mech for recon purposes.  Um, I see two concerns right off -- and I apologize that my terminology will most likely not be FoA-specific since this is my first day as a member of the community.  First, I can't conceive of a good reason why a pilot would leave his 20-100 ton rig in order to put human "eyes on target".  I can only assume that technology will ALWAYS trump the spotter abilities of the human body on the battle field.  Second, by leaving the mech the pilot essentially puts the mech in a "shutdown" mode making it an easy kill for the enemy.  Even a Locust who comes upon a Battlemaster sans pilot can put the larger mech down with aimed shots in short order.

Personally, I won't be playing this game for avatar quests -- rather, I want to strap on a 75 ton assault mech and go thump the opposition!  I can appreciate that avatar elements will make FoA a significantly more robust MMO but it should not take precident over mech-based play.

my 2 cents.

WyvernSting
-- Recovering WoW Raid Guild Leader --

[Hamilton]

Welcome aboard.

Perhaps reading this short story of mine, may help to explain things, such as why would some one ever want to leave their Mech?
The Challange


For the HERO System, I think I'll post up some rules and with Mech combat for player review for acceptance.  After all there is nothing to be kept secretive by using the HERO System.

[Cavadus]

I think Hamilton is trying to express the ability of leaving a mech, not the necessity of it.  While there may be very few situations where a pilot would willingly leave a mech just having the ability would be more in line with the type of game they seem to be making (a sandbox).

And I can think of two examples why one would leave a vehicle.  Ejection is the most obvious but my RL job is a 19D Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army.  My current unit is light cavalry so we're on HMMWVs.  Our teams are five guys per vehicles: driver, commander, gunner, two dismounts.  We routinely drop people off at predetermined locations to setup what we call "observation posts."  These OPs are used to monitor avenues of approach that enemy forces may use when they travel.

Another example would be stealth applications.  Perhaps you need to call for fire.  It's much easier to remain undetected if you just approach on foot, laze the target, and then bug out.

Anyways, none of that really matters though.  It's just nitpicking.  I think the simple answer is that if you feel there is no reason for you to ever exit your mech then by all means, don't ever exit your mech.  It's not like just having the ability forces you to do anything you wouldn't want to do.  By not having the ability to exit a mech you're forcing a particular gameplay on the players.

[WyvernSting]

I read the novella, Ham.  All I can say is, "...The computer system of this mech was outdated, actually almost obsolete. "  Sounds like the noob was baked before he left the hanger.   I should modify my original post to read that I can see "almost" no reason for a pilot to sally forth from his rig.

Cheers.

[Ikusa]

Another valid reason to hop out of your Mech would be (if it would be implemented that is) is to repair your Mech in the field.  I'll use the BF2142 example of playing an Engineer and rolling through Verdun Conquest in a Walker.  Every so often pesky infantry try to blow you up (so after you dispatch of 'em) you hop out, hope no one jacks your ride, use your Engineer tool and get yourself all patched up.

Also, something that Ikavadas said has given my something to think over:

My current unit is light cavalry so we're on HMMWVs.  Our teams are five guys per vehicles: driver, commander, gunner, two dismounts.  We routinely drop people off at predetermined locations to setup what we call "observation posts."  These OPs are used to monitor avenues of approach that enemy forces may use when they travel.

And I'm wondering now, will there be Mechs requiring more than one pilot?  Using BF2142 as an example again, you have the Pilot and the Gunner seats.  In that case, one of us would always be hopping out to set or remove motion mines or help take a control point.  It might be an interesting way to get people working together instead of working against each other if multi-player Mechs came about

[Hamilton]

Thanks Ikavadas for your service.

And yes, the idea is that getting out of a Mech would be up for the player.  The possibility exists if the player so chooses.  With that short story, the pilot could have just stayed inside and waited until the Ground Sensors were clear of any enemy activity before resuming the mission again.  But no, he had to get out...


Multi-player crewed Mechs are planned for us, up to three man crews maximum.  Passengers are possible, but will not be able to fight.  There won't be any moving or walking around inside such units, as they are tight compartments.  Any crew member will be able to control the duties of another crew member if needed, from their own station.  Three Man Crews are normally reserved for command units; having a Pilot, Gunner and Commander.  The Commander will be busy communicating with other players for orders.  The Gunner is generally assigned with turreted or arm mounted weapons, while Pilots would be for movement and Main Body fixed weapons.

[veshire]

I am so looking forward to being able to do this....it will bring a different play style for a mmorpg.

[Impulsebooks]

I like the idea of being able to get out of my mech anywhere. I like the freedom of it--doesn't mean I will exercise the ability, but knowing I can if i want is a big plus.

Someone mentioned ejecting. I always assumed this would be in... its got to be in. Especially if our clones have a limited lifespan etc.

Avatar centric... ask anyone who tried Eve and quit after the free month whether they liked being a spaceship. The anser is no. Tey all want to be able to run around space stations etc.

In a mech game I always see myself as the pilot, not the mech.The mech is my mount or weapon. Its not ME.
 

[ejaret]

I like the idea of being able to get out of my mech anywhere. I like the freedom of it--doesn't mean I will exercise the ability, but knowing I can if i want is a big plus.

Someone mentioned ejecting. I always assumed this would be in... its got to be in. Especially if our clones have a limited lifespan etc.

Avatar centric... ask anyone who tried Eve and quit after the free month whether they liked being a spaceship. The anser is no. Tey all want to be able to run around space stations etc.

In a mech game I always see myself as the pilot, not the mech.The mech is my mount or weapon. Its not ME.
 

Eve isnt a game for everyone but your conclusion that people didnt stay past the free month  due to being a "spaceship" is erroneous. It is a slower paced,more strategic game than most players are used to. There is no powerleveling to max level in a week,twinking your toon with purchased game currency and running amok.

As far as keeping it character centric vs mech centric i think as long as the skills rest with the character you will be fine. Only just started looking into the game so i havent discovered much about the mechanics or gameplay as of yet. If you are able to use or own different mechs for different missions/tasks etc. i think players will identify with their char vs any one mech.

[Cavadus]

Eve isnt a game for everyone but your conclusion that people didnt stay past the free month  due to being a "spaceship" is erroneous. It is a slower paced,more strategic game than most players are used to. There is no powerleveling to max level in a week,twinking your toon with purchased game currency and running amok.

It's not an erroneous observation; it's spot on.  Being forever stuck in a ship is exactly why I've never been able to play EVE longer than a week a pop.  I love how the skill system works.  I love the slower nature.  I love the customizability of the ships.  I love the sheer freedom of action in the game.  I hate staring at a ship 24/7.

Maybe I'm just a bit jaded coming from SWG which was basically two games rolled into one (an MMORPG on the ground, real time simulator in space) but the fact I was "spaceship" and not a "person" really got old for me.  Earth & Beyond suffered from this also but it wasn't so bad because I could always dock at a station and socialize and I think that's what it all boils down to.

I play MMOs primarily for the combat but just as equally important to me is the social nature of the game.  I love meeting people.  Hanging out in seedy locations.  Talking about the fiction of the game.  Gambling.  I love all that stuff and to me it's very important that I balance my regular combat gameplay with social activities like that.  Again, probably a side effect of being jaded with SWG back in the day but after that game I simply require diverse gameplay like that to maintain my interest or keep me logged in the game for hour #2+.

[Agamemnon]

Just a quick note and true story. Eve is the only MMORPG game that I fell asleep in RL at the keyboard playing.

Yes, I was mining.