MWO Crusader preorders announced

[martian]

Preorders will start later this week.

[PyreLight]

Looks absolutely stunning and I can't believe it's over two years since last time we got a new mech chassis. I'll be preordering this for sure.

Happy to see Mechwarrior 5 and Online getting this love from the teams at PGI.

[Cyc]

So now the guessing game begin. If they stick to old school standard pack means at least three variants, add-on could add two more, and then a Hero.

CDR-3R is a given, and likely 5M but what beyond that? Lot of non-lore players want the 8S without realising how much that will be compromised in the conversion, where 5K (more lasers) does make sense.

[martian]

So now the guessing game begin. If they stick to old school standard pack means at least three variants, add-on could add two more, and then a Hero.

I hope that PGI will publish the Crusader preorder soon.

CDR-3R is a given, and likely 5M but what beyond that? Lot of non-lore players want the 8S without realising how much that will be compromised in the conversion, where 5K (more lasers) does make sense.

Not many players run stock builds in MWO.

Crusader is going to compete against Roughneck and Catapult:

• Roughneck and Catapult can run energy/missile loadouts, not identical but similar as the possible Crusader loadout,
• On top of that, both Roughneck and Catapult can equip the heaviest ballistic weapons in side torsos.
• Crusader with its ballistic hardpoints in arms would have to use much narrower selection of ballistic weapons. You do not see too many IV-Fours running with ACs in arms, do you?
• So either you give Crusader ballistic hardpoint(s) in side torso, or you can expect Crusader to have limited viability in the game and possibly limited sales.

[Maingunnery]

Maybe it will get the bonuses to run like an effective SRM/MRM boat?

[martian]

Maybe it will get the bonuses to run like an effective SRM/MRM boat?

Perhaps. We do not know.

[Cyc]

Any variant with missile hardpoint inflation of the torsos over the arms likely to see increased popularity.

[Deadborder]

My immediate thought is the CRD-8S for a Torso Ballistic and Jump Jets

[martian]

My immediate thought is the CRD-8S for a Torso Ballistic and Jump Jets

There is one big problem with CRD-8S: Its Heavy Gauss Rifle is split between it side torso and its center torso. You can not do that in MechWarrior Online.

Thus, it would require either adjusting the -8S variant or creating a new "Piranha" variant.

[Deadborder]

There is one big problem with CRD-8S: Its Heavy Gauss Rifle is split between it side torso and its center torso. You can not do that in MechWarrior Online.

Thus, it would require either adjusting the -8S variant or creating a new "Piranha" variant.

Poo bum fart, you're right. So much for that idea.

Maybe the 3L or 5M for jump jets then?

[martian]

Poo bum fart, you're right. So much for that idea.

That is why I think that PGI will have to create some variant with ballistic hardpoint(s) in side torso, mimicking CRD-8S.

Maybe the 3L or 5M for jump jets then?

I think that Crusader with JJs is a safe bet.

Usually PGI offers at least one modern 3050 variant with advanced equipment. I think that CRD-5M would fit - it has DHS, XL engine, Streak SRMs, AMS, CASE and those JJs.

They did it with MAD-5M Marauder or SHD-5M Shadow Hawk.

[Deadborder]

Other ideas coming to my mind

The CRD-6D could offer both jump jets and a larger engine cap

The CRD-7L for the ECM hardpoint

[martian]

Other ideas coming to my mind

The CRD-6D could offer both jump jets and a larger engine cap

The CRD-7L for the ECM hardpoint

There are some interesting canon variants and PGI can offer their own homegrown models too.

All what we can do is to wait. The official preorder announcement should be out soon, hopefully in a day or two.   :)

[martian]

 Upcoming Crusader variants:

Crusader Preorder will be up tomorrow.

Here are some letters and numbers to read while you wait!
    CDR-3R
    CDR-5K
    CDR-5M
    CDR-6T
    CDR-7L

Check the details:

    CDR-3R - the standard model with a pair of LRM-15, a pair of SRM-6s, a pair of MLs, a pair of MGs
    CDR-5K - modern Drac model with MRM-30s in arms, 2* MPLs in center torso, 1 ML in LT, 1 ML in RT, jump-capable
    CDR-5M - modern Marik jump-capable model
    CDR-6T - modern Davion model with 14 energy hardpoints, jump jets and high engine cap (325-rating default, so 390-rating max?)
    CDR-7L - Stealth Liao model (i.e. ECM-equipped); lower engine cap with jump jets

Unfortunately, it seems that CRD-8S with the high ballistic hardpoint did not make it.    :'(

[Cyc]

Moving the leg SRMs to the torso a "minor" change, being unable to do 8S without XL engine would either mean dramatic reduction in speed or loss of too many other weapons for that Heavy Gauss.

[martian]

Moving the leg SRMs to the torso a "minor" change, being unable to do 8S without XL engine would either mean dramatic reduction in speed or loss of too many other weapons for that Heavy Gauss.

The HGR itself is absolutely immaterial. If you have the right hardpoint, you can try various builds. If you do not have that hardpoint, you are out of luck.

[Cyc]

True, but outside the Hero PGI clearly want to avoid any P variants in part because of ensure maximum MechDad sales and there isn't any other to do it.

[Wrangler]

I'd be soley interested in the 5K & the standard Crusader.

[Cyc]

Crael is a bit of a boring hero given no Claws.

[Middcore]

Crael is a bit of a boring hero given no Claws.

Especially at the same time MW5 is breaking new ground for melee combat. I understand it isn't going to happen in MWO because they're different engines (and PGI would manage to make it a balance disaster anyway) but it still looks shabby.

[Cyc]

spikes as boltons makes senses but already so many Crusaders are going to be SRMed that without claws Creal not going to be as unique as tabletop one is.

[martian]

Crael is a bit of a boring hero given no Claws.

spikes as boltons makes senses but already so many Crusaders are going to be SRMed that without claws Creal not going to be as unique as tabletop one is.

Crusader Hero "Crael"

Interesting facts:

• The BattleTech original sports four SRM-6s: LT/RT/LL/RL. So the MWO version should have four missile hardpoints in torso (2 in LT, 2 in RT)
• Additional armament is the usual pair of MLs and MGs in arms.
• The BattleTech original sports Claws. So the MWO version could possibly come with the special geometry or with Bolt-ons. Also, if the Crusader makes it to MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, this "Crael" Hero variant could have stronger Melee attacks in that game.
• You can see the special Hero livery.

[Maingunnery]

Depending upon the quirks I might go for that Hero.
I really want a proper IS SRM or MRM boat.

[Cyc]

And live - https://mwomercs.com/crusader

Old school pricing,

[martian]

I really want a proper IS SRM or MRM boat.

So what do you think about the Crusader?

Depending upon the quirks I might go for that Hero.

It seems that the Hero 'Mech is dedicated brawler with lasers, missiles and TEN MACHINE GUNS!   ;D

[Deadborder]

Not the character I was expecting for the Hero 'Mech, but I'll take it

[Maingunnery]

So what do you think about the Crusader?

It seems that the Hero 'Mech is dedicated brawler with lasers, missiles and TEN MACHINE GUNS!   ;D

Most versions seem to have plenty of Missile hardpoints, and with the Hero it seems they have glued a Piranha to the Crusader (very nasty).

[Wrangler]

Most versions seem to have plenty of Missile hardpoints, and with the Hero it seems they have glued a Piranha to the Crusader (very nasty).

10 machine guns on slow heavy mech makes zero sense to me other than one-vs-one solaris match.

[martian]

10 machine guns on slow heavy mech makes zero sense to me other than one-vs-one solaris match.

The same 'Mech can perform differently in different Tiers. I can imagine "Crael" being viable in T4 or T5, but I am not sure how useful it will be in T1 games.    :(

[MarauderD]

I'm happy for the MWO community that there is a new mech, and it is one of the classics.  Enjoy all.  I think I'm probably going to pass as I haven't played much in years, but it is a good addition.

I wonder after all these years, how many $70 purchases PGI is going to get on this pack.  I would guess not many, but we shall see.