I think you guys are missing the most(?) important part - HBS has actually made a 'Mech that's not in MWO already - AND it's one of my all-time favourites! 
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I think it is too early to make that assumption until we know more. It could be procedurally generated missions around narrative short stories.
We should know more soon to know for sure.
At the very least, the product description explicitly states that the mercenary missions are procedurally generated. What isn't clear is whether the narrative will be as well.
I think you guys are missing the most(?) important part - HBS has actually made a 'Mech that's not in MWO already - AND it's one of my all-time favourites!
It's a thing of beauty!
Interesting that it doesn't seem to have a hand on the hatchet arm. It looks like the hatchet is instead an extension of the arm itself. It's an interesting idea (especially because I am assuming the hatchet is always installed...although I could be wrong).
Yep, that weapons loadout does not match any TT Hatchetman, all the missile packing variants (Combine sword-packing 5K and the post-Jihad refresh 7S) carry theirs in the right torso in place of the AC.
Please add a way to Fire pilots if they dont do as told!
Glitch been skinnydipping in the Zero-G pool even after I've told her to stop it!
Glitch been skinnydipping in the Zero-G pool even after I've told her to stop it!
So, play it on PC? Whats the difference?
Oh, I had Linux (Redhat) since the 90ies. I got tired long ago to port games or run win system on a Virtual windows (on my linux).
Windows 10 is the first OS from Microsoft which I call an actual operating system
. So no need for my linux systems anymore, to keep track of what my PC is up to!
I was promised to release a linux version since the first announcement was made. Half a year later still no word.So, play it on PC? Whats the difference?
Oh, I had Linux (Redhat) since the 90ies. I got tired long ago to port games or run win system on a Virtual windows (on my linux).
Windows 10 is the first OS from Microsoft which I call an actual operating system
Interesting! Especially the multi-step missions. Also new biome and new 'Mechs, although I still have to find an Urbie in the campaign map
Looking forward to hear more news!
Looking forward to hear more news!
So, my first question is whether the flashpoints et al are something that slots into the current campaign/sandbox or whether they are a "fresh start."
(I am assuming the former, as I get the impression that this is more like a typical Paradox incremental expansion, rather than something that's like, a old-style full extra campaign or whatnot (like you would possibly expect for something, like say, a 4th Succession War (or much further down the line Clan invasion) thing.)
My second... Let's say "issue" though, that might be overstating it rather a lot, is that, if the DLC is coming as additions to the main campaign/sandbox, that as we get more and more Mechs (as we would expect to do), getting the new ones is likely to be increasingly a grind at the mercy of the RNG. I say this as i'm coming towards the end of my first campaign run, just one AWS-8T part from having all of 'em and doing what I suspect are the last story missions, and I've found I've had about enough. (Yes, I'm probably a bit in the minority, but I don't deal well with sandboxes unless they are pretty goal-orientated (e.g. Witcher 3).)
(What I'm sort of saying is "yay new toys!" but not so much if I have to spend ten hours grinding RNG to get one that I might not use more than a few times.)
I'm not sure what - aside from providing places to maybe buy the new mechs from or getting 'em from story rewards, what you could do to address that issue, but it is one worth noting. I mean, aside from these mission types that will supposedly encourage the use of light mechs and such, in the late/post-campaign sandbox, a hatchetman (or, as I had not thought before by beloved Raven if it ever makes an appearance) is going to be a bit overwhelmed by all the assaults, so one can see one might be doing loads of missions, finally getting one and going "well, probably not going to use that much."
Though I suppose - I don't know how missions actually generate the OpFors - you might be able to tailor it so that the new mission types have a different weighting of what enemy forces get generated, such that if you play the new type, you're more likely to get the newer Mechs. Maybe?
(A whole new story campaign as a different merc comapny or whatever would presumably allow you to have a different mix of mechs, but that's a big and significant and different thing.)
Now, let's be clear: I'm not against the idea of some or all of the expansions being like the campaign and adding into the sandbox, but between that and (for those of us not playing Crazy!Hard difficulties) the pilots skill caps and such), I can see it might get difficult to balance for sort of post-campaign sandbox stuff. For other PDX games, this is sort of less of an issue, because you can vary your starting conditions (play a different nation), whereas at the moment - not unreasonably, because story campaign - we sort of only have the one. (And I am the sort of person for whom "do it all again, but harder" is not something that holds any particular interest.)
I am curious as to how HBS will handle this, because BT is in a interesting sort of position being between a story-based RTS-style campaign and a PDX grand strat and I don't think I have personally played a game that hits this particular spot before.
Now, all that SAID, I will be very likely getting Flashpoint, as by November, I'll have had enough of a break I'll be ready to play some more BT.
(I am assuming the former, as I get the impression that this is more like a typical Paradox incremental expansion, rather than something that's like, a old-style full extra campaign or whatnot (like you would possibly expect for something, like say, a 4th Succession War (or much further down the line Clan invasion) thing.)
My second... Let's say "issue" though, that might be overstating it rather a lot, is that, if the DLC is coming as additions to the main campaign/sandbox, that as we get more and more Mechs (as we would expect to do), getting the new ones is likely to be increasingly a grind at the mercy of the RNG. I say this as i'm coming towards the end of my first campaign run, just one AWS-8T part from having all of 'em and doing what I suspect are the last story missions, and I've found I've had about enough. (Yes, I'm probably a bit in the minority, but I don't deal well with sandboxes unless they are pretty goal-orientated (e.g. Witcher 3).)
(What I'm sort of saying is "yay new toys!" but not so much if I have to spend ten hours grinding RNG to get one that I might not use more than a few times.)
I'm not sure what - aside from providing places to maybe buy the new mechs from or getting 'em from story rewards, what you could do to address that issue, but it is one worth noting. I mean, aside from these mission types that will supposedly encourage the use of light mechs and such, in the late/post-campaign sandbox, a hatchetman (or, as I had not thought before by beloved Raven if it ever makes an appearance) is going to be a bit overwhelmed by all the assaults, so one can see one might be doing loads of missions, finally getting one and going "well, probably not going to use that much."
Though I suppose - I don't know how missions actually generate the OpFors - you might be able to tailor it so that the new mission types have a different weighting of what enemy forces get generated, such that if you play the new type, you're more likely to get the newer Mechs. Maybe?
(A whole new story campaign as a different merc comapny or whatever would presumably allow you to have a different mix of mechs, but that's a big and significant and different thing.)
Now, let's be clear: I'm not against the idea of some or all of the expansions being like the campaign and adding into the sandbox, but between that and (for those of us not playing Crazy!Hard difficulties) the pilots skill caps and such), I can see it might get difficult to balance for sort of post-campaign sandbox stuff. For other PDX games, this is sort of less of an issue, because you can vary your starting conditions (play a different nation), whereas at the moment - not unreasonably, because story campaign - we sort of only have the one. (And I am the sort of person for whom "do it all again, but harder" is not something that holds any particular interest.)
I am curious as to how HBS will handle this, because BT is in a interesting sort of position being between a story-based RTS-style campaign and a PDX grand strat and I don't think I have personally played a game that hits this particular spot before.
Now, all that SAID, I will be very likely getting Flashpoint, as by November, I'll have had enough of a break I'll be ready to play some more BT.
We received an initial update in May that the Linux support is still being worked on and not ready for launch...
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/battletech-whats-next.1094890/
and received an additional update at the end of June that it is still being worked on and that they hope to have some more info to share on that soon...
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...ech-update-1-1-release-notes-updated.1106661/
So, although I understand your frustration (I'd be bummed too if I had to wait that long while others were playing), it hasn't been a half year with no word.
Yes, that true. But it doesnt answer my question. Why not play the game, instead of waiting?
Because a portion of us backed it purely on it coming on Linux, some of us use Linux because we believe it suits our needs better than Windows or MacOS. We are still not only waiting for the Linux release, but also on any word when we might see it. Plus the Expansion seems to only have specs for Mac and Windows, which is a little worrying IMHO.So, play it on PC? Whats the difference?
Oh, I had Linux (Redhat) since the 90ies. I got tired long ago to port games or run win system on a Virtual windows (on my linux).
Windows 10 is the first OS from Microsoft which I call an actual operating system
Ok, THAT is a reason. You can play it, but you dont feel like it cause you wanted pure linux?
Sucks and I understand.
Still, the solution to wanting to play on pc, is available.
I don't own a Windows License and don't want one. I wouldn't say I'm happy to wait per say, but it's only a game, and life will go one without it. But there is a principal at work, if you back a game that promises to deliver on a certain platform, it's polite to keep those backers, for whom that platform was the deciding factor to back your game, in the loop. HBS hasn't really followed through on that. The fact that you can't understand why someone might want their promised game on the promised system seems particularly obtuse.