Sell me on the Season Pass

[BARBOSA (Aries)]

Hi!

I´m in doubt between buying only flashpoint or going for the season pass.

The reason is i expect story in anything i buy (as much as i love battletech i wouldn´t have bought the pre-kickstarter skirmish game HBS had) and i already feel like i´m jumping in the dark with the procedural nature of flashpoint story content.

So, anyone know if we can expect at least new "flashpoint-like" story content in the upcoming 2 DLCs? Even better, is there hope for a real campaign (like the restoration, even if shorter) in those DLCs?

Because urban warfare seems like will add only game mechanics, and i didn´t found out anything about the next one...

Thanks

 

[Nichino]

HBS said that their plan is to keep making more flashpoints, creating an episodic slew of short stories. This FlashPoint expansion was mainly about creating the framework for telling short stories. So on a spectrum of "generic contract" to "the main campaign story", these first handcrafted short story flashpoints are closer to "contract" than "campaign", but they plan to create even deeper stories that are more like mini-campaigns using the FlashPoint framework. Plans can change, but they said they are not planning a big campaign like the main one in the near future.

So I would guess/speculate, that the next two expacs (urban and unknown) will be more flashpoints that are even richer in story, but no big campaign until maybe a 4th or later expac.

And to be fair / reiterate, the flashpoints in the FlashPoint expac are short stories with new dialog and all contain a decision point in which your choice dictates which direction the story goes and thus which mission(s) you do (and don't do) next.

 

[Critter667]

We simply know very little about the urban expansion. Up until this week, we didn't even know the name of concept as far as I know. So existence of a story line is unknown.

That said, it would most likely be more than game mechanics. Battletech was the first box set and introduced just mechs to us. Citytech was a sequel box set and included rules for city maps, vehicles, and infantry.

We have vehicles but an urban expanse would include many city maps or method of generating the dense urban landscapes procedurally so we could have true urban warfare. These maps would be a place for mobile and jump-capable mechs an opportunity to really shine. An Atlas may be able to smach through one building a turn, but a spider could leap 8 streets over and cause much havok.

So to me,the potential for such city fighting and a reason to have more light jumpers is enough.

As for story, who knows but it woukd not impact me either way as i am a mech fanboy.

 

[mjbroekman]

Flashpoints: $20.
Additional DLC: probably $20/each
3 DLC == $60.

Season Pass: $40.

Sold!

 

[ThatGuyMontag]

From the store page:

"Here's just a few examples of the many new stories and challenges you'll face as a mercenary commander in Flashpoint:
-> Extracurricular Activities - The petty squabbling of political rivals takes a deadly turn when civilians are caught in the crossfire. Will you escort them to safety at the risk of your MechWarriors and their 'Mechs… even if they can't pay?
-> Criminal Minds - The routine capture of a criminal syndicate’s warehouse uncovers the resting place of an ancient BattleMech. Will you share this information with your employer or keep the ‘Mech for yourself?
-> Headhunting - The Zhao twins are a thorn in the side of your employer and it’s time to terminate their command. But when their forces are routed and the siblings flee in two directions you’ll need to choose which commander - and which unique salvage - you’ll pursue. "

They're saying the extra story content in turn makes up around 30 hours of content, which is roughly the same amount as we were estimated to get in the base game. These stories also have the benefit of including at least one major choice with a consequence.

Sure, the season pass is a bit of a gamble in that you're not *guaranteed* to get new story content after that, but the pitch for the expansion roadmap since day 1 has been that the base game is Battletech: the Movie and the expansions are Battletech: the Series. A sensible bet is that further expansions will be built around the same rough model: a major mechanic, some mechs, new biomes and more episodic story content a lot like the stuff mentioned above.

That said, I don't think just buying Flashpoint and waiting to see what's in the next expansions would be a straightforwardly stupid move. The difference in price ultimately is just going to be a couple of quid and you may feel that it's worth it just in case the next expansions aren't worth the money. My personal position is that the base game is so good, and HBS's track record so strong, that I'm happy taking a punt: for me spending on the Season Pass is as much about investing in the company and this IP going forward as it is about getting more content.

I already know more than a few people in the same boat as me on that, both in real life and on the forums.

 

[Amechwarrior]

You save $20 with the Season Pass vs. buying each pack alone if you buy it before the 26th. I suspect it won't be on sale very often and this is probably the best chance to get the packs at $13.33 each instead of $16.66 for the full price Pass or the full $20 individually.

While we don't know any real facts about the Urban Warfare and 3rd pack, I think it's safe to assume the flashpoint contract system being premiered in the first pack sets up the kind of short story telling future packs would use. I wouldn't be surprised if the Urban Warfare pack came with a number of urban themed flashpoint contracts and the same for whatever becomes of the future 3rd pack.

 

[Jade_Rook]

We don't know what will be in the second and third expansions. The Season Pass says that the Urban Warfare expansion will include "new 'Mechs and mechanics." Judging by the price of the Season Pass, I expect that the scale of the other expansions will be similar to that of Flashpoints.

 

[Mugdorna]

Im similarly unsure about the content of "expansion" 2 and 3. But Flashpoint is curently Eur 17.99 while the season pass is 39.99.
Even if the next 2 are of equal content to Flashpoint then its a good deal monetarily.
I backed HBS on kickstarter about 3 years ago and Ive gotten good value for my $50 back in 2015.
Thus Im willing to invest similar for continued play (290 hours played so far)

I am hoping that Urban Warfare and #3 have more than 3 new mechs in them. Maybe the introduction of the Flashpoint mechanics were that bulk of this 1st 'expansion'

As a comparison I recently bought TW;Warhammer II on sale for Eur 39.99, I was unsure about doing so but the discount tipped me over. My thinking was that I hve gotten enough hours from the 1st game and wasnt sure did I really need the 2nd.

 

[scJazz]

I am hoping that Urban Warfare and #3 have more than 3 new mechs in them. Maybe the introduction of the Flashpoint mechanics were that bulk of this 1st 'expansion'.

FLASHPOINT will include the first HBS created Mech Model. Considering the investment of time and energy it would seem to follow that a core team is now in place to make more and it has the practice to do so. It seems reasonable then to conclude with a "6 month" release model for future DLCs than 1 new HBS model will be released in each.

 

[Jamey]

We know that there is 30 hours of story content in Flashpoint.

We know that HBS has always done right by its fans who kickstarted, so they are likely to do right by us with a season pass.

We know that the season pass is $40 versus an estimated cost for the DLCs separately is $60.

For me, that is enough to buy the Season Pass. For others, the value proposition might be different.

 

[Masoz]

I don't know enough about the upcoming dlc to warrant buying the season pass. It's also a looong way away. That's why I'm passing up on it.

I don't mind paying a little more down the road if and when I do end up buying it all anyway.

 

[eclecticbibliophile]

Pre-ordering digital goods is a bad idea in general. Actual money in your pocket right now is worth more than a potential future discount; even if you are absolutely sure you're going to buy the dlc, it's better to save your money until then. Since you aren't sure you're going to want the dlc, don't buy the season pass.

 

[stjobe]

Pre-ordering digital goods is a bad idea in general. Actual money in your pocket right now is worth more than a potential future discount; even if you are absolutely sure you're going to buy the dlc, it's better to save your money until then. Since you aren't sure you're going to want the dlc, don't buy the season pass.

While that might be your opinion, it doesn't hold for everyone and every digital good. I know I'll be buying the DLCs (all of them, even the ones after these three initial ones), so why not take the discount on the first three right now and save $20?

 

[Amechwarrior]

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-localization-beta-and-linux-release.1124593/

A positive side effect of buying the DLC. The sales of the DLC will be what keeps HBS working on the game and updating the core code to support the new content. If you want long running support and updates, they need to keep the lights on. While this doesn't address the OP's need for more story content, his experience with the base game will continue to improve as long as HBS finds it profitable to keep working on it. What could address the need for story content is another side effect, modder made stories using the flashpoint editor. But that's not really an official feature.

 

[eclecticbibliophile]

While that might be your opinion, it doesn't hold for everyone and every digital good. I know I'll be buying the DLCs (all of them, even the ones after these three initial ones), so why not take the discount on the first three right now and save $20?

You aren't saving any money, because the dlc don't have price tags yet. You are buying a promise that they will charge more than what you're giving them. If that's how you want to spend your money, more power to you! It is an investment.
I was simply pointing out that, from a purely economic sense, liquid assets are more valuable than investments. Because no matter how sure they investment is, the future is unpredictable.

 

[ronhatch]

You aren't saving any money, because the dlc don't have price tags yet.

It's worth noting that the graphic on the Season Pass page clearly states "$60 worth of expansions", so claiming that the DLCs don't have price tags yet is only true in the most pedantic way possible.

 

[eclecticbibliophile]

It's worth noting that the graphic on the Season Pass page clearly states "$60 worth of expansions", so claiming that the DLCs don't have price tags yet is only true in the most pedantic way possible.

"You are buying a promise that they will charge more than what you're giving them. If that's how you want to spend your money, more power to you"

 

[ronhatch]

"You are buying a promise that they will charge more than what you're giving them. If that's how you want to spend your money, more power to you"

That's a very strange way of looking at it... but you do you.

 

[ThatGuyMontag]

Pre-ordering digital goods is a bad idea in general. Actual money in your pocket right now is worth more than a potential future discount; even if you are absolutely sure you're going to buy the dlc, it's better to save your money until then. Since you aren't sure you're going to want the dlc, don't buy the season pass.

Sure, this is the kind of logic they teach you in undergraduate economics and which underpins the general equilibrium theory orthodoxy in that discipline. On the other hand, that's not really how people spend money outside of theoretical models and the empirical data tends to support the idea that the models are probably dangerous over-idealised: there's a reason Daniel Kahneman has a Nobel Prize in Economics (sic). Given there's also a strong link between equilibrium models and the counter-productive spending models that have decimated demand and led to the Great Recession (via Alberto Alesina on this point in particular) we should be really careful about over-applying the models to the real world.

That said, you're completely right: people should just follow their gut here, especially because the numbers aren't exactly world changing. If you want to follow that logic in your spending I really can't say it's the wrong choice. The only time I'll ever *actually* challenge you on that decision is if you believe that these models apply to economies more broadly, but you haven't really done so here, so more power to you mate.

 

[eclecticbibliophile]

The only time I'll ever *actually* challenge you on that decision is if you believe that these models apply to economies more broadly, but you haven't really done so here, so more power to you mate.

Yeah, this really only applies to pre-ordering games and such; if there's a limited number of an actual physical thing that you want, reserving it makes sense.
Pre-ordering a season pass is like backing a kickstarter, in that you need to keep in mind that you might end up disappointed.