In the last couple of weeks, I have built a new thing: a new mod (or something integrated in vonMissions in the end) that addresses negotiations, faction standing, and the feeling of actually being a mercenary company in Battletech. And attached to this post is now a preview mod download for you and all supporters!
Download vonMercs 0.1 Mechwarrior 5 Mod Preview:
- Load order is 100 > above vonBiomes, to override if there is an overlap currently due to layout and design optimizations done before in vB.
- May conflict with other salvage or contract-related mods, so please make sure to not have any other overriding this
When playing my Mechwarrior 5 sessions, I always have the impression that things by design are sandbox-technical. Sometimes more like spreadsheets than leading a Merc Company in Battletech. Don't get me wrong - I love Mechwarrior 5, but the level of agency for the player could be further improved, in my opinion.
vonMercs Preview Mod: all about Faction Standing, Negotiations and being part of the Battletech universe
The goal of the new mod (or becoming part of vonMissions) is to give the player more agency, have better options for mercenary company handling, and make the universe feel a little bit more alive.
New Contract Negotiations for Shares
As a first result, I have expanded on the Faction Standing mechanism, which originally has an impact on available negotiation points, but not much beyond that. Also imagine you are negotiating a contract - you can ask for more, or give in and reduce your outcomes. And if you ask for more, your opponent will probably think a little bit less of you, or vice versa.
This is what the new mod preview does. You can now negotiate the mission contracts, asking for more shares, but that reduces your faction standing. Or give away points to increase your standing.
I have built a deeper system into that: if your current standing is too low, you cannot ask for more. Also, there is a horizontal bar showing a "Negotiation Mood": you have a limited total of button clicks per mission, which is calculated on your faction standing. People who don't like you so much will not accept many requests.
Also, when asking for more shares, there is a dice roll based on your standing, so it gets harder to obtain the extra share when the faction standing is lower.
Post-Mission Salvage Points for Faction Standing
After a mission, there are two new buttons that allow ou to either "buy" more shares for faction standing (if you have a positive one), or give away salvage shares to improve your faciton stnading.
The costs here per point are lower (currently -3 faction standing), since a negotiation share in the contract screen gives you more shares for a -10 spending.
See the Mod in Action on my latest game stream!
I have play-tested the new system yesterday in a live stream on my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-mei_X2s54 - if you want to see it in action, please jump to minute 7 and 20 seconds, there it is on screen the first time:
Also please be invited to subscribe if you have a YouTube account! Thanks!;)
More vonMercs/vonMissions Mod features incoming
There is already more in the mod preview: if you reach a high faction standing, you will get something - it is not much now, but a basis for further cool new features, and if things work out well: a whole new layer for you handling your Mercenary Unit in the Battletech universe.
And a vonHUD 14.5 Update
And one more thing: vonHUD needed a fix for the visual effects for the integrated Zoom (Cross Overlays, Vignetting) and for the "Heat Pain FX" (Pilot conscious red-out, heat disturbance FX..) after the DLC8 and vonBiomes Update. Here it is, brand new vonHUD with the effects working again. Hurray!
Download vonHUD 14.5:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vonseiten/posts/new-mw5-mod-for-166032746?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
And soon on Nexus and Steam too.
Thanks for all your ongoing support, it is suuuper helpful, especially in current times. Big love and all the best from heatwave-ridden Vienna!