Game Types!

Today I am going to talk (ramble) about various types of game play. There are many servers out there, mission play to brawler servers. At any given time, you can see 3 to 5 ‘Battle’ servers, more than 20 ‘Team Battle’ servers, 1 or 2 ‘Mission Play’ servers and a few ‘Custom’ battle types that are almost always ‘Team Battle’ with a map that was created using the custom undefined setting. Every once in a while you see ‘Destruction’ or ‘Team Destruction’ servers listed as well. Most of you know what each of these are, but I will give you some descriptions and details so you can decide for yourself what type of server to play in.

Lets start with a ‘Battle’ game type. This is basically a ‘Solaris’ type fight with from 2 to 24 players (depending on the server settings). Most of the maps used here are arena maps, but not always. Players in this type of fight are basically on their own with no team mates to help them. Yes, there are ‘short term’ deals made to help wipe out one or more players, but when it comes down to it, its every man for himself. I have played in a few of these types fights and I have played where there are waves and with respawn. I like the ‘waves’ version because it gives you a winner for each round. The scoring is not only based on kills but also on points. Smaller mech rack up more point against larger mechs and different types of weapons also rake in the points. In this type of fighting, it is possible to have the most points in the battle and never get a kill. Its not likely, but it could happen. I personally don’t care for the points, I think it should be based on kills first, then point if there is a tie, but each server may have its own set of rules.

Depending on the server settings or rules, you may encounter lots of brawlers on a ‘Battle’ server. Brawlers kill pretty fast and the because a lot of the maps are arena types, the whole thing is geared more towards brawling. These are fun to go in a get a few kills in and get your frustrations of the day out on some poor pilot that is doing the same thing. That’s not to say that all ‘Battle’ games are brawl fests, no sir, there are just as man that use range tactics as well as brawlers if it is in the rules of the game or server.

Team Battle is one of my favourites. In this type of match, people split off into (typically) two (roughly) even numbered teams and the basic objective is to seek out the other team and destroy them before they do the same to you. You will find a wide variety, probably the biggest selection, of maps in this type of fighting. You will also see the biggest variety of mech configs used for this. Each map is different, whether it be a hot map, a cold map, hilly, or flat, with or without water, buildings or trees, well, you get the idea, the possibilities are endless. People build a mech config based on what the map is and the settings. Lets say you were going to play on Alpine Pro. The server settings for this round(s) are night time with the weather on (snow) but default visibility and normal radar. Many pilots will choose their favourite range config and try to take the enemy team out at range. Now lets say the map is the same but there is no radar. You might still see a lot of range configs, but you will see some brawlers too because the radar setting will let you sneak right up to the enemy and stat blasting without them knowing you were there until you fired!.

Pilot must work as a team here to win this type of battle. They need to cover each other and protect one another or they wont last long. Yeah, it may come down to a one on one battle, but if the rest of the team hadn’t killed the other guys, it could be 1 v 4 or something.

Team battle can be played in waves, or just one wave (always fun) or respawn so that once you die you come back and fight some more (also fun) Scoring can be by waves, by kills or by points. I like the waves version but all of them are fun.

Mission play is up next. This is also one of my favourites. Mission play is set up similar to team battle except the map dictates the mission. Typically, one team will defend some objective(s) while the other team tries to destroy those objectives. You can also try to kill the other team to win as well. Mission play is almost always played in waves and most maps have a pre-set time limit in which to accomplish the objectives. This runs anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes depending on the map.

In mission play you will see a wide variety of mechs and configs. You see everything from brawlers to long range snipers including some fast base destroyer mechs loaded with HRL (heavy rocket launchers) or Arty Strikes. Team work is essential in this type of play as well. If you don’t help out when the base is under fire, it wont stand up long. on the other hand, if you don’t act as a decoy and draw lots of attention, you base destroyer mech will never make it. You gotta take out the turrets on most maps to have a chance to kill the base. Doing so reveals where you are (more or less) and the defenders soon start hunting for you.

Destruction and Team Destruction are pretty much the same as Battle and Team Battle except there is no score. Only kills are registered and that is the scoreboard. Most kills win unless you are playing so that you must have won the most waves. Yes, it is possible to have the most kills and not the most waves, but this doesn’t happen very often.

There are other types of games out there. Mech Racing is very popular and has it own, unique set of maps. Yes, it is just what it sounds like, a bunch of mechs racing around a map for three laps trying to survive or finish the race. The maps have turrets and mines and each racer CAN have weapons. I have never played this but it sounds like a hoot! Hell, I would like to watch one or two some time.

Capture the Flag is another team oriented game. Each team has a flag and they must retrieve their flags and bring it to base to score points. The other team is trying to do the same while trying to keep you from moving your flag. Speed and fire power as well as accuracy rule the playing field here. Its fun to watch a Dasher scoot along carrying its flag towards the goal and then see a Daishi blow it away in one or two shots.

King of the hill is another game type that made into MW4. This game is a lot of fun and almost always is played in respawn mode. Maps are some that generally have a hill or some central location pre designated as the ‘spot’. Your objective is to get to that spot and keep other out of it. You get points for the how long you stay in that spot with no others there. Speed and firepower are the keys here. You have to have firepower to keep others off the ‘hill’ but you have to get to it! This is a fun and exciting game type.

McRugby is another game that some of the folks came up and again it has its own set of maps. I have never played McRugby or even seen it played so anything I say here would simply be speculation. I have played real rugby and it’s a damn fun game. I understand from some of the folks who have played McRugby that it sis more or less like real rugby. I would be interested in watching a game to see how it is played.

Mech Warrior offers lot of different types of game play. I am sure that you can find one to suit your tastes. One thing they all have in common is that whatever the game type, it involves you in a mech blowing up stuff. IF you like that then half the battle is over. Find a server and go online today. Blow something up (mech wise that is)!

Hope to see you on line!!

Vettie out…