GG: Welcome Rod to The Galaxy Gathering studio. Can I offer
you a drink from the wet bar before we get started?
Rod: Sure can. I'll have some more of that fine scotch. I
need it after fighting Dr Okee's mechs
GG: *Pours two large glasses of Scotch and hands one to Rod*
GG: For the record what is your name, player ID, clan you
fought with this last CW and what medal did you win?
Rod: Thanks for the scotch John. My name is Rod Skilton, Mech Pilot ID 899155. I fought out this last war with Xeon
and we scored a Silver medal this time around.
GG: Did your team perform like you expected this war?
Rod: I think the team did a great job. We had some serious
competition dropping down into our division and that made getting a gold a
greater challenge. Ultimately, we couldn't overcome that. They fought very well
and I think strategically, and they won the gold in the end. *takes a swig of his drink*
GG: This war every clan needed a SRB specialist to get in
the game. We have had a required spec now for the last two wars. Do you feel
this requirement improves or takes away from Clan Wars?
Rod: Look, I'm dead keen on having specialists. It mixes it
up and can make a big difference. But having said that, it can also limit the
way some clans play. I experienced it a bit this Clan War where no one came up
against my SRB. Unlike this fine scotch, that seems to be all gone by the way,
the specialists aren't to everyone's taste. I prefer them and would like to see
a Clan War where everyone was required to have one. We just might see a very
different result if no one could rely on just their unlimited brute strength.
GG: The pilots who ran the required SRB spec this war earned
(2) 2X upgrade kits. Does this extra prizing improve Clan Wars and should be
continued?
Rod: Yeah, I'm not sure. I was damn happy to get them for
running my regular SRB spec this Clan War, but I don't know that it's had a
great impact. If you look at all the clans that went to war, you'd think they'd
be full of SRB specs, but that just wasn't the case. Not in my experience
anyway. I do like the reward though. A little thanks goes a long way. Big
thanks like a shiny new engine, or shield, or even an experimental bit of kit
might be a good reward too. So to answer your question, yeah, I think the
prizes have improved the Clan Wars and definitely should be continued. Now how
about some more of that rewarding scotch John.
*holds his empty glass out to John*
GG: *Takes the empty glass and exchanges it for a full one*
GG: How hard was the Raid for your team?
Rod: Thanks. *raises his glass in salute, mumbles something
about lost friends, then drinks half*
Rod: We hit some tough patches in there, especially towards
the end. The last 1500 were brutal. But we got through them in the end. The
salvage was a bit hit and miss. I managed to salvage an Antithesis and a
Frigis, along with the pile of extra weapons and kit, so I was pretty chuffed
with that. But I was one of the lucky ones. Some scored a mech, while others
were only able to find some weapons and equipment. I'm seeing fewer pilots
wanting to raid though. The rewards are pretty poor when you don't salvage a
mech out of it and that gets pilots down.
GG: Yeah, the clan chat can get a bit down when not many
find a mech at the end of the raid.
GG: Are the Raid Prizes this war useful for your team or do
you just sell most of it for needed Niodes?
Rod: Any salvage is better than no salvage, I always say.
You just have to weigh up the costs and if it's worth the trouble. For those
that hit the raid, anything they got was useful. Either as kit in the cupboard,
gear on board, or as resources for getting the gear you desperately need.
Rod: Seeing we're talkin about what we need, how about some
more of that excellent scotch *cracks a big wide grin*
GG: *Passes over another full glass and a full bottle to
take home*
GG: As you like this so much here is a bottle for you to
enjoy in the down time until the next war.
GG: What is your favorite mech that you own and why?
Rod: Awesome John. Thanks for that.
Rod: Favourite Mech huh? That's a tough one. I love the
Nephilax 'cause it represents the culmination of some really hard work winning
them. The Keradon was a stalwart of mine for a while and I love their look.
Like a big cat from Old Terra. it would be easy to say my Fext, Boreas, or any
of the other BFMs due to their massive weapon and equipment load outs. But for
me,my favourite is the Smilodon. When I was rookie, I saw a few of these in
opponents line ups and loved them. Then once I got my hands on a couple of
these fearful beasties, I knew they'd be a part of my active hangar for a long
time. They're the kind of mech that you can turn to anything. You're not tied
down to any particular type of weapon system and the high critical hit
capability is nothing to be sneezed at. I think they're one of the best mid to
high range mechs around.
GG: The "Smiley" has a soft place in my warriors
heart as well *Grin*
GG: What is your favorite thing about Clan Wars?
Rod: Teamwork. It's the best time the clan pulls together
and really communicate well. We all do our own thing between the Clan Wars so
when another threat to the galaxy comes along, it's good to get together and
kick some heads. In a co-ordinated kind of way. The Dragon clans communicate
very well and that makes the Clan Wars and the raiding after so much more a of
a good experience.
GG: *Notices Rod's glass is getting low and slides another
full one over* Teamwork for the win *Smile*
GG: In your opinion, what needs to be fixed to make Clan
Wars better?
Rod: *smiles and picks up the glass* Good team work there
John.
Rod: Fundamental change John. Fundamental change is what's
needed. And it's in two areas.
Rod: Firstly, It's not the Clan Wars that are the issue.
It's the structure of who can pilot what and when. It's the one thing that has
driven young pilots to pack up and go farming, or rescuing pets, or god forbid,
and forgive me for saying this, but crushers of damn candy. The light Mechs are
where we learn our craft. We learn about weapon management, equipment buffs and
bonuses, but we also learn where to go to get the skill upgrade. Once we have a
few of them under our belt, then we think we can pilot anything. They're too
easy to get and too easy to take advantage of. As a young pilot I was always
amazed at what some pilots could bring to the field. Mechs that were way above
their pay grade, but all legitimate due to the insidious skill upgrade. And
like everyone else, I became one of them. There needs to be some greater level
of regulation on the Mechs you can field. Maybe you should only be able to
field five or so levels above your current pay grade, so there is incentive to
move up. Even me at my level should be restricted as to what Mechs I can field.
But it's a fundamental change that's needed. And the issue of camping won't
resolve until that occurs.
Rod: Secondly... *has a good drink of his scotch*
Rod: Secondly, Clan War prizes need to be altered. The gap
between the elite payers and the lower levels gets greater and greater every
Clan War and the structure of the prizes expands that widening gulf. It's
simple maths. if you provide greater rewards for higher levels than for the
lower levels, then it makes it virtually impossible for the lower levels to
ever catch up and fight at the same level. The only way to move up is for some
player to retire.
Rod: If you want new blood and keep new blood, then there
has to be fundamental change.
GG: That was some good input for Nick and the team. Let's
hope they take a look at it and talk it over. I know this has been coming up
for conversations among the pilots for the last few wars.
GG: Before we wrap this up is there anything you would like
to add?
Rod: I'm looking forward to seeing what the galaxy will
throw at us next. In the meantime, I'm going to keep my eye on the gateways not
working correctly. It could be a serious issue, especially with all those sword
Mechs that have started to appear. I was down in Cogwerk space just recently
and ran in to a heap of them. I'm a bit worried about that Ambrose Cogsmith
character as well. There's something fishy going on.
GG: Yes, there have been a few reports of this new mech
showing up and the portals acting strange. Time will tell what the universe has
in store for us Mech Jockeys.
GG: Thanks for stopping by and talking with me today Rod. I
was a pleasure as always. I look forward to the next time.
Rod: Thanks John, and thanks for the scotch. Cheers *drinks
the rest of the scotch in his glass*