Quoting: Joseph Hewitt
I ask again, can you give some specific examples?
For example, Luna II and Vadel are quite alike in game for me. Both are just good multi-purpose mechas with in-built software that provides boost to MV and TR. Their base armaments are different but they're about kicking ass at mid-to-long range and finishing things with melee weapon.
Differences more noticeable in the beginning as Luna is a lil bit more about melee than Vadel, yet after some playing, player changes armaments, maybe 'engineer' in and out a part or two and we have basically the same thing. Well, then probably it's alright, after all - we shouldn't restrict players overly just because we want this or that mecha to work this and that way, yet it's still too easy to change things. It's good that in case of hi-tech mechas, they're rare enough that player doesn't see how alike they are that easily. Also, I guess I must take into consideration that if they are to be top machines, they should be decent at everything at the very least. Still, for example let's give Vadel slightly worse melee weapon and Luna some short-to-mid range assault machinegun while putting some more armor on it and we have mechas of two different styles - great gunner in case of Vadel and Luna - short-range assault menace.
Quoting: Joseph Hewitt
How different do you think the different frames should be?
Maybe by making mecha parts have greater impact on mecha's functionality. Average sensors working just averagely, without any bonus or much of any penalty and being basic element of all standard military mechas. Good mechas getting slightly better sensors, yet only those used as long-range support like artillery or snipers should get really great ones. Armors (equipment) should offer greater protection but also slow down mecha considerably. In-built plating as well should be more noticeable.
Maybe specialized robots should also have some integral weapon more often and less mounting points. And I am quite sure that every mecha which isn't of very old class or civilian type and is not made to be expendable grunt should have at least crappy computer even if it wouldn't allow other software than one providing a bonus of symbolic value at best. It may not be much but surely would help me get rid of impression like 'Hey! It's Haiho but with more and bigger guns!'
Mechas which were made for particular task should excel at this task, but be unfitting for another. Artillery being averagely armored, very slow, pucking quite a punch with decent accuracy and powerful are-effect weapons like rockets, snipers would be more concentrated on single targets and probably would put slightly more in MV as they cannot just bomb the map and must seek targets. Both powerful but if something melee-oritented takes them up close - they either will have to get a luck point-blank shot or they will turn into scrap after a couple of hits.
And so on, and so on.
Sure, there should still be general purpose mechas which function depends entirely on their weapon so they will be decent well-rounded machines.. just not let every mecha turn into such. It's a thing for engineers to tinker with Pixie (one of those few mechas that aren't fit for every style of fighting) if they plan to turn it into heavily armored melee fighter (which probably would mean that they will have to rebuild it more than modify).
Quoting: Joseph Hewitt
Several "trooper" mecha of the same type, a support mecha or two (possibly of the same type as the trooper, with upgraded weapons), a scout and a command mecha would make a nice unit. Irregulars such as the Privateers and the pirate fleets could continue to use the old mecha selection routine.
Would be just great. I forgot that there are rag-tag organizations after all and surely those should just show up in rather random and mixed groups.
