Solving the MAX equation

[EVILPIG]

I have always felt that perhaps the biggest mistake with MAXes is that they can duel wield. If MAXes could not duel wield, weaponry for them could probably be balanced better. We'd see less specializing and more diversity.

Thoughts?

*EDIT I am not proposing that MAXes have 1 weapon, but that each arm must have a different class of weapon. AI-AV-AA I see how I didn't sufficiently word it the first time. I phrased it as such because during development the plan for the concept of "Dual Wield" for MAXes was that it was an ability you had to cert into.

[Sardus]

I think I'd rather give more incentive to use two different weapons at once. You always see people using the same two guns. The game actually punishes you for trying to diversify and mix.

[Cromation]

I personally enjoy using two seperate MAX anti infantry weapons on my MAX. Usually one with a large clip and one with a smaller clip so that I am constantly laying down fire. One is reloading and the other is still firing. If I used the same 2 weapons I would have to time when to use my 2nd gun which in the heat of battle I rather just hold down the trigger.

[MaxDamage]

Originally Posted by Sardus

I think I'd rather give more incentive to use two different weapons at once. You always see people using the same two guns. The game actually punishes you for trying to diversify and mix.

I think this is arguable. A pounder and chaingun are pretty viable now. There was a significant buff to pounders in this patch that I am amazed more people haven't cheered/raged over.
A single pounder arm with a chaingun gives you a respectable chance to take down a small squad of infantry and still solid damage for taking down a sunderer.

[Koadster]

Originally Posted by Sardus

I think I'd rather give more incentive to use two different weapons at once. You always see people using the same two guns. The game actually punishes you for trying to diversify and mix.

I use the M1 and Mercy so that they compliment their strengths and counter thier weaknesses... With different type.. Whats the point of 1 cycler 1 burster.. You half your AA DPS, your AI DPS while still there (burster can kill inf nicely) its not as effective as 2 cyclers.

1 Burster and 1 pounder. You just gimped yourself hard.

[Whiteagle]

Originally Posted by Koadster

I use the M1 and Mercy so that they compliment their strengths and counter thier weaknesses... With different type.. Whats the point of 1 cycler 1 burster.. You half your AA DPS, your AI DPS while still there (burster can kill inf nicely) its not as effective as 2 cyclers.

1 Burster and 1 pounder. You just gimped yourself hard.

Well this is why I'd get a Fracture for my LEFT arm first; You'd be able to combine it with your Pounder or Burster!

...Not as effective as double Fracture I know, but at least it can be used with both.

[maradine]

People like to specialize. I don't see that as a fault of the ability to dual-wield. Indeed, single-wielding would yield the opposite of what you ask for, since each MAX can now by definition do only one thing.

[Sardus]

Only if I can sucker punch people with my other fist.

[Sentrosi]

About a month after release I took about two weeks to play with the MAXes. I thought that the Burster/Chain-gun combination was really worthwhile in defensive situations. But with the recent buff to the Pounder, I'm going to have to rethink that option along with perhaps the new variants.

I liked the diversity of the MAXes. People need to think outside the box sometimes.

[CraazyCanuck]

There would have to be something else added or an existing element buffed to make it worthwhile to use then. With only one weapon capability, you'd either buff the power of the individual weapons to give some sort of incentive or buff defensive/special abilities further. Otherwise not much point in running as one, as the HA would be a better choice.

Edit: Unless ofcourse by dual wield you mean wielding two identical weapons. If they can not be the same or of the same classification then yes diversity would only improve. You may see that happen anyways once the new weapons get pushed through. Nebula and flamethrower perhaps or Rocketlauncher and something else, but as Maradine stated. There will always be those that would rather be really good at one scenario, instead of being ok across multiple scenarios. And with the abundant accessibility of terminals and sundy's most people will simply switch out their loadout to fit the needs of that particular situation.

[EVILPIG]

Originally Posted by CraazyCanuck

There would have to be something else added or an existing element buffed to make it worthwhile to use then. With only one weapon capability, you'd either buff the power of the individual weapons to give some sort of incentive or buff defensive/special abilities further. Otherwise not much point in running as one, as the HA would be a better choice.

Edit: Unless ofcourse by dual wield you mean wielding two identical weapons. If they can not be the same or of the same classification then yes diversity would only improve. You may see that happen anyways once the new weapons get pushed through. Nebula and flamethrower perhaps or Rocketlauncher and something else, but as Maradine stated. There will always be those that would rather be really good at one scenario, instead of being ok across multiple scenarios.

I would imagine individual weapons would be buffed, or I mean, balanced.

Also, it would mean not allowing two of the same class of weapon. So, you could have one AI, AV, or AA and another of a different type.

[psijaka]

No; against this idea.

I've experimented by running with Scat cannon + Falcon lately, but this combo just doesn't cut it; the weapons are too dissimilar to be really effective together. Falcon deadly at medium range; Scattercannon at close range. And they have different fire rates.

People should be allowed to specialise if they wish; preventing them from doing so would be a poor way of solving balance problems, and will just put people off MAX.

[EVILPIG]

Originally Posted by psijaka

No; against this idea.

I've experimented by running with Scat cannon + Falcon lately, but this combo just doesn't cut it; the weapons are too dissimilar to be really effective together. Falcon deadly at medium range; Scattercannon at close range. And they have different fire rates.

People should be allowed to specialise if they wish; preventing them from doing so would be a poor way of solving balance problems, and will just put people off MAX.

You didn't catch that the weapons would need to be buffed/rebalanced.

[psijaka]

I did. But I think that this is the wrong way to go about balancing the MAXes.

The biggest imbalance is in the shotguns v machine guns, which are impossible to balance satisfactorily. But there is a blindingly obvious solution - let the TR and VS have a MAX shotgun, and let the NC have a machine gun. Job done.

[DeltaGun]

What does Dual-Wield effect? It just the power of one main gun divided by two.