Chrome Hounds 360

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:59 pm

I shot an e-mail to my step-brother to try to get him to pick this up. He certainly likes more action than my heavy gunner mech provides, but he'd probably love the soldier or sniper role. Plus he enjoys planning out a mission before it's run, so that whole part should be up his alley.

I can see this game being crazy with full groups. The fact that you are fighting over a persistant map is icing on the cake. And the fact that you come back as a little soldier after you're killed is pretty cool too.

I'm also going to try designing a new logo for our squad that is more in-line with our name. Also, have you guys put your number on your mech at all? I plastered my number all over mine.

Off line I tried all but the defender and commander types. I like the scout a lot also, it's kind of fun to go zipping around to ID the enemy bases.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:17 pm

The more talk about this game there is here, the more I am intrigued. I have never had an interest in any mech game, but as you talk about planning missions before-hand, clearly defined roles among the mechs, the persistent battlefield, and other things, the mech stuff sounds like less and less of a barrier. There is something a little tiresome in spending a lot of time online and never firing a shot, as I have done plenty of times in the GR games, but this whole planning and command element sounds like it could be a breath of fesh air.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:53 pm

If you could play Crimson Skies and convince yourself you were flying a 'plane,' you can probably play Chrome Hounds and convince yourself you are manning a 'tank.'

Another key aspect of planning is your Hound's design. You need to pick a load-out that compliments your role, the situation, and your tactics. I find myself making many designs to cover many eventualities. It's definitely a good tinkering game.

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:27 pm

Zep -

In the very least, do the same thing I told some people with interest at OS to do: rent it.

Web's right, it's a love or hate game. Rent it, you may fall in love with it, or play one squad game with us and hate it.

I am going to compare this to Rainbow Six on the PC, with all of the pre-match options for routes to take and plans to execute. Except in this game, it's other humans you are cooperating with, changing equipment with, and playing against.

It also has a Battlefield 2 PC element to it, when one of your players has a Commander mech, they can see enemy mechs in the Network Area, and have to tell the other players.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:30 pm

I agree thats its a definite love it or hate it type game, so a rental is certainly the way to go. I like mech games, and after reading the descriptions I knew it would be right up my alley to I picked it right up.

The planning stage is a lot like R6 on the PC. Last night we were discussing tactical options, and Web was changing waypoints on the fly. We were going over our avenues of advance, what to do if communications got severed, and what loadouts would be the best for the situation (not only is there terrain to deal with, but also weather). The fact that you then carry out your plan at the controls of a 50 ton howitzer with legs is just icing on the cake.

You can customize (and save) a mech for any specific occasion, from Webs spikey command mech, to my faster walking heavy mech (not the biggest of guns, but fast enough to get to the enemy base and start pummeling it), and everything in between.

I loaded up a new logo for the squad, if you like it cool, if not feel free to change to the old one or another new one.

Unfortunately I most likely won't be on this evening, so you guys may be on your own.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:15 pm

This sounds like it deserves at least a rental.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:18 am

Have you guys been on lately? I wasn't on last night as I was finishing up a song, but now that it's done I plan on hopping online tonight. After reading some more about the game I have a few updates to my mechs to do. I discovered the advantages of radiators, and also that I can use a spacer to move one of my guns out of the way so I can put some armor on the back of one of my mechs. Cool, cool game.

I may even pick up the strategy guide for it also. Any of you guys have it?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:26 am

Last night was the first time since I got it that I wasn't on. My kids were sick and I was up with them the whole night.

Assuming I can stay awake, I'll be there!

Spacers weigh enough to make you consider their usage carefully on light to medium Hounds. Often you'll be giving up weapon space that you can use. I've slapped a radiator on my Defender, but haven't yet noticed too much of difference.

I'd like to try and get in some sniper play. I've yet to use one, and people have been saying they are relatively underpowered.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:27 am

Oh, and I flipped through the strategy guide. IMO, it wasn't worth the $17. Mostly maps of the online battlefields.

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:33 pm

I'll be on tonight when I see you guys. Any idea on a time?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:06 pm

I'm usually on starting between 10:30 - 11:30 EDT. The only obstacle to this tonight would be if my son is still sick. Then I may not be on at all. Other squad members (at least two) can still welcome new members, though, and play togther if I don't happen to be there.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:12 pm

For me it will also most likely be around 10PM. Depends on if my wife's dancing show is on tonight. If not possibly earlier. Hopefully we can get a few more members from here to join in, we need a bigger squad!

I'll have to take a look at the guide, as I'm a sucker for maps I may still dig it (must have been that tactical reconnaissance training in the Navy).

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:14 pm

I forgot to tell you that I liked your new squad logo design, Grant. Thanks!

We should probably come up with a squad camo/color scheme as well.

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:42 pm

I have the game on Gamefly right now... Did you need some field fodder? I don't know if I'll play tonight or tomorrow, have to get a little practice in.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:53 pm

Hop on anytime, Fish. Joining the squad is the easiest way to link up with buddies. No biggie if you end up disliking it, we'll just punt you!

Play a few of the story mode missions, then come right in. The 'action' part of the game is pretty easy to get into. It's the tactics, teamwork, role duties, and especially the Hound design possibilities that get a little more detailed.

A warning, though...It's not THAT easy to get gamerpoints for this...

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:49 pm

webdanzer wrote: A warning, though...It's not THAT easy to get gamerpoints for this...

You mean I have to try to play for the enjoyment of the game? Whoa... I better send this game back then...I can get Madden by the end of the week...

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:03 pm

Fshguy wrote:
webdanzer wrote: A warning, though...It's not THAT easy to get gamerpoints for this...

You mean I have to try to play for the enjoyment of the game? Whoa... I better send this game back then...I can get Madden by the end of the week...

Enjoyment my arse. We play to win...

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:19 pm

Millennium wrote:Enjoyment my arse. We play to win...

Long live Sal Kari! Or at least until one of the other countries pays us better...

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:58 pm

So is picking a country like picking a faction in an MMO or something? I've read briefly about the game, and put it in my queue by word of mouth?

Perhaps I should read this entire thread before asking, I suppose, come to think of it...

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:10 pm

TCrouch wrote:So is picking a country like picking a faction in an MMO or something? I've read briefly about the game, and put it in my queue by word of mouth?

Perhaps I should read this entire thread before asking, I suppose, come to think of it...

Yes, you pick one of the 3 countries and fight for them unless yours gets obliterated. At that point you can defect to one of the others, or do guerilla fights to regain your capital. Your squad can switch countires, but I think there is a delay or something so you can't keep hopping around.

The war itself runs for 2 months or until it gets a winner, then it resets. As you win battles you will slowly regain ground (or take the enemies ground, depending on where you're fighting). Theres something like 111 maps in the war, with all types of terrain; desert, farmland, swamp, mountains, snow, rain, fog, night... each match is a different experience and keeps the game fresh.

Our squad is currently alligned with Sal Kari, which is the desert dwellers (basically the middle east in the alternate history terms of the game).

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:17 pm

Yeah, we're in Sal Kar to start, but I'm sure our merc company will see battle fighting for all sides at one time or another. You are limited to one switch every two weeks, though, with an additional defection allowed when/if your country is beaten.

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:06 pm

I actually have a decent question:

Am I seeing things, or does the online component shop change available components as time changes? Is it just the 'superior' parts shop (the one you have to enter the lottery for), or does the normal parts shop change as well?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:23 pm

I believe you get more/different parts to choose from depending on your country's various budgets. All those donation reports you have to wade through upon logging in, though annoying, are actually helping to get you some new parts!

So as a squad, donating money to your country helps in the war effort.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:47 am

After reading the Chromehounds forums, apparantly last night sometime in one of Sal Kari's areas a special mission popped up, where the other countries had to take out a special weapon. It seems the special weapon was some type of super mech that was 5 times bigger than a regular mech and was laying waste to full squads.

Sucks to be the other guys...

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:41 am

I had no idea there were special missions. That is awesome!

I played around with being a sniper yesterday, really the last role with which I needed to tinker. Hardly useless, as I've seen posted on some forums. They ARE a support class, so you need to use them in larger teams and they have a hard time doing either of the things that you can do to win a match (Destroy all the other hounds or destroy the enemy HQ) by themselves, but damn if they can't do a great job of:

A) Finding the enemy a long ways off using their long range sights
B) Using long range weaponry to either soften up the enemies for their big guy teammates, or
C) Using their accurate weaponry to take out enemy weaponry, or wheels, etc...critical shots that can cripple the combat ability of the plodding heavier Hounds before they engage with like units on your squad.

These things can easily help swing the battle in your favor, though it will be very rarely the Sniper itself delivering any of the finishing blows.

It's very cool to see how squad composition and tactics change depending on the size of the squad.

I'm also encouraged that I saw a bunch of guys playing this yesterday, and I know at least one of them (Terry) had good first impressions.

I'll bump the thread announcing tonight's game a little later.