Maxes and low magazine size

[Beerbeer]

This is one mechanic that is just boring and not engaging for me, the low magazine size of most maxes.

I hate comparing things to ps1, but those maxes were more fun because you can spam them really well. Sounds noobish, but that's actually a fun part if the game. It's engaging. Constantly reloading and running back to a terminal is boring, for me at least.

Raise the magazine size, raise rof, lower damage and add more ammo.

[MrBloodworth]

Cant you cert to carry more? Are there not variants of the arm guns that have more ammo?

[MaxDamage]

You can increase magazine sizes by 50% by buying 500point certs (for each arm), except for AV arm which has no perks/certs, on TR MAXes.

[MrBloodworth]

Well, there you go.

Constantly reloading and running back to a terminal is boring, for me at least.

Make friends with an Engi?

[Beerbeer]

Having an engineer in tow isn't always feasible or reliable.

Notwithstanding that it's probably even more boring and unengaging being that engineer.



Actually, this brings up an interesting thought:

They wanted to make this game simpler and more fun, yet they balance a lot of the game around a class role that really isn't. Ironic. I'm sure there are some that enjoy running around doing nothing but feeding people, but they have to be the exception and not the rule.

[MrBloodworth]

Having an engineer in tow isn't always feasible or reliable.

Notwithstanding that it's probably even more boring and unengaging being that engineer.

You need better friends.

[Beerbeer]

It has nothing to do with friends. Re-read my amended thread.

[MrBloodworth]

You seem to think Engineers only drop ammo, in order to justify a request to circumvent an option already available. That's your flaw. Also, Friends.

When I pull a MAX, I inform my Squad/Platoon. The engineers come. Simple.

[Beerbeer]

Well, it's good you have friends willing to do that. What I'm saying is those people are rather rare, generally speaking, at least on a consistent basis.

I personally can't blame them as I don't find that role fun or engaging either, in facts it's rather boring and mundane. Necessary? Yes? But that goes back to the irony of my statement.

[MrBloodworth]

What I'm saying is those people are rather rare

They are not. I have no idea what you are talking about now. Only thing I am getting is you do not like to have to rely on others in any form. My mini-map is continually filled with the little ammo pack icons.

Will there be occasions you will not have an engi near you? Sure.

The inference that Engineer is boring and no one plays them is just flat out wrong.

[Beerbeer]

I don't believe it is wrong to infer that. I find it boring and mundane, I'm probably not far off assuming that there are many others that do as well when it comes to "important" aspect of that class.

Would you play an entire session in that role? Ugh. No thanks.

[Tooterfish]

I think what Blood is trying to say is that, by design, the Max is not intended to be as effective in lone wolf capacity. If you had somebody working with you, but not necessarily leashed to you like the Heavy-Medic combo in TF2, you would always have an ammo store close by. Personally, if I was in your squad and you mentioned that you go through ammo in a matter of a couple short minutes, I would make it a point to keep you close by - not just for the free XP, but also to feel cooperative.

The trouble with engineers, as I'm sure you will agree, is that they're not very cohesive when it comes to Max's. They run around with the repair tool all day like there's an XP gold rush going on, and will typically only drop ammo for groups of people, or in areas that appear to be a good recovery points for infantry (higher XP gain per ammo). Unfortunately, that explains why there's often a Max in the middle of them, probably not there by choice but necessity.

And, it is worth noting from an experienced Engineer, when I drop a precious ammo box for a stranger's Max, the Max fills up and runs off into the sunset (what a waste of an ammo box).

[MrBloodworth]

I don't believe it is wrong to infer that. I find it boring and mundane, I'm probably not far off assuming that there are many others that do as well when it comes to "important" aspect of that class.

Would you play an entire session in that role? Ugh. No thanks.

Wut?

They have a gun.
They can repair things.
They have a deploy-able turret.
They have mines.
They have grenades.
They can drop ammo.


Who the hell only runs around dropping ammo?


As a MAX, you can only shoot things, normally one type of thing.


EDIT: Thanks Tooterfish.

[Beerbeer]

Just because you're not in a cohesive squad or outfit, doesn't mean you're a lone wolf. I think that term is used incorrectly a lot.

I'm always cognizant of my fellow "teammates" in my immediate vicinity and try to interpret what they're doing and adjust accordingly.

However, I'm just saying that the entire engineer resupply thing kind of goes against the principles they laid out when they envisioned this remake, IMO.

If anything, some outfits and squads do the complete opposite and are belligerent to other aspects that are important, but just not part of their clique's immediate goal.

[Juryrig]

Having an engineer in tow isn't always feasible or reliable.

Notwithstanding that it's probably even more boring and unengaging being that engineer.



Actually, this brings up an interesting thought:

They wanted to make this game simpler and more fun, yet they balance a lot of the game around a class role that really isn't. Ironic. I'm sure there are some that enjoy running around doing nothing but feeding people, but they have to be the exception and not the rule.

I am that person. I really, genuinely enjoy making sure the Maxes are repaired and ammo'd up. And running from firefight to firefight making sure everyone has ammo to hand. And their vehicles are repaired.

People, huh? Who'd a thunk it.

[Beerbeer]

I wouldn't doubt that at all.

[Tooterfish]

Beer, are you in an outfit?

[Juryrig]

The trouble with engineers, as I'm sure you will agree, is that they're not very cohesive when it comes to Max's. They run around with the repair tool all day like there's an XP gold rush going on, and will typically only drop ammo for groups of people, or in areas that appear to be a good recovery points for infantry (higher XP gain per ammo). Unfortunately, that explains why there's often a Max in the middle of them, probably not there by choice but necessity.

Lone snipers are always very appreciative of an ammo pack dropped behind them.

And, it is worth noting from an experienced Engineer, when I drop a precious ammo box for a stranger's Max, the Max fills up and runs off into the sunset (what a waste of an ammo box).

My pet peeve is the ones at about 10% health, shouting for repair, who seem to think that the Engie gun is instant and run back into battle the instance you've clicked off the first bar of repair.

If I'm going to fix it for you, for heaven's sake take care of it this time!

*edited to add a disclaimer* I've never even spawned a Max, so I have no comment at all on the original thrust of the thread. When I'm not playing as an Engie, I DO get frustrated with running low on ammo if I find myself in a smaller outpost defence/skirmish and no-one is dropping ammo packs. At which point, you can guess what I do when I then get killed....

[MrBloodworth]

Just because you're not in a cohesive squad or outfit, doesn't mean you're a lone wolf.

uhhh....

[Chaff]

.
The Cert-Cost to upgrade a Max's Ammo Capacity is Steep indeed. Burster capacity in each arm can be doubled - but it's 500 Certs per hand.

Overall Ammo Capacity of your max can be ramped up, but it will take a while to earn those certs. Esspecially if you start out as a Max, with little more than a Burster/AI combo.

Maxes are an entire different Breed when they run in packs - especially AA (with an Engie). A Medic would be nice as well. But damn, get 4 Max with Dbl-Burster setups & ammo capacity is a non-factor if you have an Engie with them. Pure pownage any Pilot would hate to fly over.
.

[Beerbeer]

I think we're making a mountain out of a mole hill.

These are my own personal thoughts and opinions, nothing more. I don't presume I'm right, nor expect anything to come about from it. I can appreciate how you see things, I just happen to view them differently, that is all.

[MrBloodworth]

If you want constant ammo replenish, there is only one answer.

[Ruffdog]

I think a better situation would be a more gradual magazine buff with smaller amounts of certs needed, like vehicle weapons' capacity. I'll probably cert a great many things before I get that 50% lump upgrade for 500 certs.

[bpostal]

One thing that I've found that works for me is if I need suppressing or sustained fire is to fire one arm, wait a couple seconds then fire the other. This automatically staggers the reload times so that I'm always able to put lead down range. As for the ammo capacity overall I agree an engineer is needed, not an increased carrying capacity.

[Dragonskin]

When I play engineer in large fire fights I follow MAXes around like a lost puppy. I want them all ammo'd up and repaired. Yea its exp for me, but that means they keep killing which means we will might eventually cap the objective and we all get more exp. It's a mutual benefit for the MAX user and myself.. win/win.

[Ghoest9]

the idea is that Maxes are supposed to be supported by engineers.


Maxes have enough ammo to clear a room but if they are working as an artillery platform they are supposed to have support.

[Timealude]

isnt there a cert that makes the magazines for the guns bigger?

[oosik]

This is one mechanic that is just boring and not engaging for me, the low magazine size of most maxes.

I hate comparing things to ps1, but those maxes were more fun because you can spam them really well. Sounds noobish, but that's actually a fun part if the game. It's engaging. Constantly reloading and running back to a terminal is boring, for me at least.

Raise the magazine size, raise rof, lower damage and add more ammo.

500 certs to raise magazine size by 50 percent (each arm), another few hundred to raise ammo storage capacity by 30 percent or so for every max combo. My tr mercy ai maxs and burster max both have this and although I still run out of ammo, it is much more bearable. Often enough in a big battle there are ammo pods all over the place. It is the pits when the ammo bug hits though and you can't replenish. With only 1 arm having the increased magazine size, it is in some ways better than two with the same mag size since you are always firing on a continuous basis. Has helped in a number of occasions.

[Fear The Amish]

do any of you realize the RIDICULOUS amount of xp an engie gets when it pairs with a max? its like 20-30 xp per repair tick alone. Then add squad ammo and everything else, i don't understand why we don't have engies fighting over max's.

[Wahooo]

Maxes essentially require an Engi to be effective. Not hard to find for most tasks, i've done both, if my FPS takes a crap and i'm running around <15 frames I engi/med whichever is less represented or depending on the number of maxes around (I play TR so there are plenty of times we have no maxes in the zerg at all).

Plenty rewarding it can be a constant support XP ticking away AMS plus ammo packs, plus repair ticks? Just comes rolling in.

[Kail]

I personally can't blame them as I don't find that role fun or engaging either, in facts it's rather boring and mundane. Necessary? Yes? But that goes back to the irony of my statement.

Engineer is one my favorite classes. I really like the Pulsar-C, in extended fights I never have to worry about running out of ammo, and at major facilities I can repair generators that we aren't able to stabilize in time. And getting a turret in prime position repaired while dodging snipers can be a lot of fun.

Not to mention dropping an ammo pack in a good location == a lot of free experience.

Edit:
As far as MAX weapons go, there's one AI variant that has extended clip, and of course the certs for extra magazine size on AA and AI weapons (although some people have reported not getting a 50% increase with at least one burster's arm).

[Frotang]

U gotta save up certs man, ive recently spent the 1k to unlock both scat extended mags and while i love being able to throw 24 shots out before reloading I still run out of ammo. Engi is essential if no terminal is nearby. Trick is to spam the hell out of /re chat and proximity voice. If i see an engi i will follow them chirping their name until they take notice and assist me. Usually they listen when they hear their name and the words "i will kill u now if u dont drop ammo" so far i haven't had to tk anybody so it seems to work.

What pisses me off is when i have 0 ammo and am spamming V 4 and prox chat, and the engineer I finally run across sees im missing 4 bars of health so he reps me up and then runs away. Ammo always takes precedence over repairs. Give me the ammo to protect myself and i'm fine bc i can regenerate

[Qwan]

I believe you can cert for the magazine size, at one point in time it was bugged, I was looking to upgrade the magazine size for my nebulas and it said, for 500 certs I could get 6 more rounds added to my magazine, I was like WTF LOL, but i later found out it was a bug and that it should have said 50% more ammo. I hope I get it one day :)

[Beerbeer]

Actually, ps1 maxes had no reload come to think of it? I can't remember.

In any case, the NC max is the absolute worse. Shoot a few times then reload, it's really not fun. I can understand balance issues, but up magazine size, increase ROF, LOWER damage and increase base ammo.

Even certed magazine size seems paltry to me. The certed amount should be the base amount IMO.