Light Mech/ harder start?

[kstanb]

How difficult would it be to mod this game to have a harder start?

I am thinking I would like to replace the starting Vindicator and Shadow Hawk for some lower end models light models like a Jenner and a Commando

 

[Stefan Amaris Jr]

Kiva mentioned in chat on one of the streams that originally the starting lance had a Commando and Panther instead of the Vindicator and Shadow Hawk, but proved quite difficult in testing. I'd check the modding section as people have already tried different starting lances, a lighter lance would be a nice way to spice up the early game.

 

[kstanb]

and/ or maybe make the 1st mission a bit easier by not fielding that Shadow Hawk; replacing it with an urban mech or something

With the game starting with mediums, we really miss the "look and feel" of the light mechs;

 

[kstanb]

Is there a modding section? I can't find it

 

[ajac]

Hell make it a locust LOL personally want the start to change. Go through training and what not then missions before the story then the story.

 

[Stefan Amaris Jr]

Is there a modding section? I can't find it

On this forum it's the 'Fan fiction, art and creations' subforum above, some people have been posting about their mods there. If you can't find what you want then it's worth checking out the modding community for this game on Reddit. I think changing the starting lance is a simple edit in the JSONs, at least from what I recall reading somewhere.

 

[Blastoid]

There is a folder in the data files called simgameconstants. The simgameconstants.json has a spot where it defines the mechs of the starting lance, including your player mech. They are pretty easy to find as you will see the vindicator, shadow hawk etc. Just make sure if you change them to put in the right mechdef names. you can find those in the "mech" data folder. I simply copied the file name (minus the .json) from this folder into simgameconstants.json. This should do the trick.
I am writing a AAR report for the campaign in the fan creation subfolder (Blastoid Stalkers) if you want to see how it is going for me. So far it has made the biggest difference on the early campaign. My firepower is similar but my armor and mobility (I have an Urbie) are compromised.

 

[kstanb]

It worked!!!
Thanks a lot; I thought something was wrong because the 2 intro missions went with Blackjack; but as soon as "3 years after" started, I had my downgraded lance:
- Panther
- Commando 1B
- Urban Mech
- Spider
plus a spare Locust
what do you think?

I will check your AAR; I don't think it will be too much of an issue; after all AI is a one-trick pony.. it will always attack ant-like; so you are always in advantage

 

[Clovermite]

Oh that sounds like it could be fun!

I'd love to start with a Jenner - I love Jenners.

 

[Blastoid]

It worked!!!
Thanks a lot; I thought something was wrong because the 2 intro missions went with Blackjack; but as soon as "3 years after" started, I had my downgraded lance:
- Panther
- Commando 1B
- Urban Mech
- Spider
plus a spare Locust
what do you think?

I will check your AAR; I don't think it will be too much of an issue; after all AI is a one-trick pony.. it will always attack ant-like; so you are always in advantage

Sounds good a little tougher than what I did (I kept the BJ). Have fun.

 

[Havamal]

Has anyone done 4x (5x) Locusts yet?

 

[elfiwolfe]

Um.. this sounds very tempting. Almost an idea for 3 or 4 different starts to the campaign.. or DLC for more campaign or just a pure mercenary operation.

 

[kstanb]

I did it!
finished the 1st mission

It was not that bad actually, I had 3 "heavy hitter" light mechs + 1 scout; which meant that as long as I kept the enemy at range; I was able to punch them with an AC10, a PPC and a Large laser. Also, with all my mechs at tactical advantage, it was not that hard to beat the Shadow Hawk as it had to pass the gauntlet of 3 big guns before it even shot back; and of course I kept distance to avoid its powerful melee attack

Not surprisingly, the Spider ended quite beaten, as its job was to dodge attacks and bring the bring the enemy to my kill zones
the commando also ended with some damage, the urban mech came home with only one round left... I have done much worst in previous games with the standard lance

 

[kstanb]

Has anyone done 4x (5x) Locusts yet?

Maybe with lots of luck and many reloadings

 

[Havamal]

Maybe with lots of luck and many reloadings

Just give it time...

 

[Purity the Kitty]

Starting with the Jenner is cute, nice little throwback to Mechwarrior 1.

 

[MagnusEffect]

There is a folder in the data files called simgameconstants. The simgameconstants.json has a spot where it defines the mechs of the starting lance, including your player mech. They are pretty easy to find as you will see the vindicator, shadow hawk etc. Just make sure if you change them to put in the right mechdef names. you can find those in the "mech" data folder. I simply copied the file name (minus the .json) from this folder into simgameconstants.json. This should do the trick.
I am writing a AAR report for the campaign in the fan creation subfolder (Blastoid Stalkers) if you want to see how it is going for me. So far it has made the biggest difference on the early campaign. My firepower is similar but my armor and mobility (I have an Urbie) are compromised.

Would you mind providing the file pathway for us amateurs that suck at finding this stuff?

 

[BunglingLummox]

It worked!!!
Thanks a lot; I thought something was wrong because the 2 intro missions went with Blackjack; but as soon as "3 years after" started, I had my downgraded lance:
- Panther
- Commando 1B
- Urban Mech
- Spider
plus a spare Locust
what do you think?

That is almost exactly what I did on launch day, except I had a COM-2D instead of -1B. It makes the early game all kinds of dicey, and your first mediums start to feel like real achievements. The UrbanMech is actually really good for tanking with Bulwark until you get some proper mechs together, but if I were you I'd drop the extra heat sink for more ammo at the first opportunity.

 

[kstanb]

My rationale for using the 1B was that I needed a longer range lance; hence the large laser. I found the commando too feeble to be at short range;

I love the Urban Mech!!! after 1st mission, I replaced the short laser for a medium (again focusing on fighting at range) and took out the heat sink and raplace it with armor, as very seldom I have run out of ammo in the early missions

 

[Dheran]

Couple of points on messing with the starting lance:

• Making it lighter means you have to grind more to move with the story, it doesn't increase the difficulty that much and only in the beginning until you start the snowball running. It makes the early battles more interesting though.
• Panther for Vindicator is a sidegrade rather that downgrade. 80% of time Vindicator was shooting only PPC in my case, as LRM5 damage is negligible.
• Getting an Urbie is an upgrade at the beginning - it's the only light that can mount AC/20 if I'm not mistaken. You could start with Hunchback and it would have the same result.

If you want to have a challenge, it would be better to start with 2 Spiders and all 3 variants of Locust and try from there to grind through other lights.

I wonder though if you can mod the story missions to give you less loot as result. E.g. instead of full Centurion you get 2 parts of it. And instead of the Highlander you get some equipment from it (e.g. the rifle and a couple of heat sinks). Also decrease the C-Bills you get from the story mission, so that you need to do contracts to run the company. That would make the game a little more challenging.