u/GamerGriffin548

My last post didn't really convey the ideas I have properly. So Imma gonna do it again. Simplified... but expanded. :3

Apparently my ideas are too "spreadsheet-like" and overboard. My ideas fit more to BattleTech (the Hairbrained Schemes game from 2018), as thats more its realm, where as, MechWarrior is about quickly getting into a fight and being on the frontlines blowing shit up.

Now, I want to defend myself first and say, I fucking hate spreadsheet games, but I like options that add depth to my games too, even if it means being a menu or talking to a NPC for just a little longer. It has to be done just right too and present my options cleanly.

So, what I'm originally asking for is more depth to company management, reputation systems, and value of currency. These systems are very underutilized/non-existent and is you just making numbers go up. I have no love for such basic systems like this anymore, as video games have been doing this for 20+ years. What is the harm in getting involved with a system with a personality? Make it feel little more alive and aware. (You don't need a spreadsheet, just memory retention and reading comprehension.)

Example: Want to do a defense/security job for a faction? The game looks at your past missions and sees that the last job like this you did ended with extensive damage and casualties of personnel to the facility. It was the same faction as well. You recieve a diminished contract in return with added objectives that will grant you reputation instead of money.

We can go even further...

Extreme example: Want to do a defense/security job for a faction? The game looks at your past missions and sees that the last job like this you did ended with extensive damage and casualties of personnel to the facility from your own weapons and actions. It was even the same faction as well. Your reputation proceeds YOU to be reckless asshole, and therefore gives you a altered contract that gives you bonus objectives to avoid a certain amount personal damage to the facility. You utterly fuck it, and not only fail your bonus objective but lose the base entirely. The faction is appalled by your work, but your combat performance was good enough that instead of reporting your work to the MRB immediately you are given a near suicidal mission (a raiding mission) to repay your debts and earn your way back into their good graces. You choose not to and bail the system. You have now angered this faction and you get blacklisted by them for the forseeable future. You lose reputation with the MRB, and the game move on to your next terrible adventure.

(Now this isn't as impossible as it sounds, but with the correct types of systems tied to an AI its manageable. Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 has an AI that monitored player status to know what threats or items to throw at them to make it easier or harder at the drop of a hat. That was 2008 and 2009 when they released. Its possible to make AI systems like this again, and all we would need it to do is just monitor player actions in conjuction to what the faction likes and dislikes.)

You don't need spreadsheets, just a well designed system to hide the annoying little numbers. You just might have to read a little more and remember things.

This is all in my head and a fun little thought expirement. Also, I don't care if PGI, to you, is "incapable" to do these types of things. Use your imaginations for what COULD be some good ideas for future titles. Stop being so pessimistic and unleash that inner child that dreams, okay?

Until my next silly post. Peace out, mechwarriors.

Hardly anything is like MechWarrior, a fun mindless game about destroying robots, getting money, getting salvage, making more robots, and then repeating. Simplicity of what a game should do for many - provide an outlet. A time killer.

Though this simplicity stagnates the franchise. It provides gaps to expand, which fracture the formula the franchise relies on. How to fill in gaps without filling it in too much? Easy - expand the formula.

Right now, MW5 is a revolving formula that goes in a neat little circle. This cyclical nature is good, but deviation isn't a bad thing so long as you got into another revolving pattern. A very active formula of revolving devation sounds much better (like little circles all connected to each other).

First change: Let our companies form bonds with in-game entities/factions.

Seeing bars fill up with points and getting near pointless discountes at markets is all rather old school. Give us actual relationships that change the dynamic.

• Special missions that only a trusted merc units to handle for them.
• Sign a contract with them and get special access to military procurement yet be forced to do missions they send you on for however long the contract demands.
• Do wrong by them, and get blacklisted... or get hunted down for a time. Maybe pay them to get back in their good graces.
• Take part in faction-lead invasions that steal whole systems, that even reshape their borders. Or take your own system world by world for yourself, a spur the faction into dealing with you.

Second change: Manage more than a lance, give me the whole damn company.

You don't have to be confined to just you and three bumbling AI and some rather pointless airstrikes. Before you deploy, you can select more support options to buy or use if available. Maybe you'd like some Thunderbolt missiles or Arrow IV launchers to have on hand. Or pay some local talent/faction to send in some supporting mechs, tanks, and/or infantry. Airdrops that provide ammo or repairs, maybe even new mech(s) if you lost any on mission.

There are boundless possibilites when you can command an actual company. Let me have options both on and off the field that I have available to me. Maybe I don't feel like doing the dirty work all the time, and I can command my troops from HQ. Option to send people or entire lances on assignment that can earn passive income, salvage, or reputation.

Third change: Money, salvage, and consquence

I often end up with great sums of money that trivialize the game. Lets change that.

• You can now own multiple Leopard Dropships and even Union-class Dropships along with the personnel. You have to pay for damages or destruction of any during combat or invasions.
• You can own bases on planets or even the planet itself. Build up the bases for company support bonuses or make a purpose for that planet to earn income/salvage/reputation off it.
• Taxes or penalties will be imposed on you per region and faction. Paying or not paying effects reputation and what jobs are available. Pirates will just fight you or take your stuff if you dont give into their demands.
• You can be sued for destruction of civilian areas, pilots can be arrested while on leave, payoff bounty hunters, turn enemy mercs/pirates to fight for you by outbidding the competition, and pay governments under the table for secrets or turning a blind eye to illegal activities.

Which to salvage?

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