ShadowMasterCM
Lieutenant
Reged: 12/07/05
Posts: 495
Loc: New York
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Starter Donation Package
#150943 - 06/18/08 01:38 PM (74.74.248.205)
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Quote:
The starter donation package includes a lance of light mechs (stinger, locust, wasp and commando), 4 skilled pilots (4/4) with above average skill multipliers (to help them skill down faster) and $50 million. You must be level 3 or lower to use this option, and it is only allowed once in each empire.
DP: 20
Lets break down the 'value' of this Starter Kit.
If you speak with players in chat, some will tell you that this is NOT worth the purchase price. I will try to present you with the facts and approximate values of each of the items so that you can decide for yourself if it is indeed a good value for you.
First off, the lance of mechs. First point to consider, is how difficult it is to get a mech at the lower levels. I played for almost 6 months before I even saw my first mech. With in a few months I actually got to control one in a battle of a faction mates war. Playing with the neighbor kid toys is fun, but we all want to have one of our very own. The average cost of the cheapest mechs is around $40 Million. It takes forever to build funds up to $40 Million and still try to do anything else with your empire.
Now the mechs in this kit are all Light Class Mechs. With that being said, they are likely going to have little armor, and a few select weapons. There are really designed for recon and taking on small groups of Light or Medium Vehichles. They can also be used to support a Tank Battalion. When the enemy units close in on your LRM Batt, the Light Mech can close in on them, and fire weapons from cover, or if possible, even run up and kick the enemy units. Running at max speed will make it very difficult for the enemy tanks to hit them. These mechs are NOT designed to HD as a solo attack force to take a Main City from an enemy target.
Another option for the Light Mechs in this kit, is they can be used as trainer units for your empire as it grows to higher levels. When you have the starter mech attain a certain pilot/ gunner skill, and it has some Reputation from its kills, then its probably time to swap that pilot out into a bigger, meaner mech.
Now, for the exact Mechs you get with the kit...
LCT-1V Starter Mech 1 OK 0.00 486 4 / 4
STG-3G Starter Mech 2 OK 0.00 429 4 / 4
WSP-1D Starter Mech 3 OK 0.00 354 4 / 4
COM-3A Starter Mech 4 OK 0.00 411 4 / 4
These 4 mechs are the same standard mech that you can purchase from either the 'market' or with DP, with one MAJOR EXCEPTION...these 'Starter' mechs come with a bonus of 0 SP used. So if you were concerned with SP / OMT issues, you need not worry any more.
Now lets look at each of the units...
Commando - Light [25 ton]Movement: 6/9/0 [not Jump Capable]
Cost: Instant Mech DP - 4 / Average Market NevCash $40 Mil +/-
Hands: Yes [Capable of Physical Attacks like 'Punch']
Heat: Low to Moderate [Need to control heat to prevent ShutDown / AmmoBoom]
Sensors: 2/3/2/1 [Can spot enemy units first]
Variants: COM-2D and COM-3A
The COM-2D has slightly more armor, but slightly less powerful weapons than the COM-3A.
Locust - Light [20 ton]
Cost: Instant Mech DP - 3 / Average Market NevCash $20 to $40 Mil [Player Adjusted]
Movement: 8/12/0 [not Jump Capable]
Hands: No [Can't do 'Punch' or 'Push' attacks]
Heat: None [no chance of ShutDown / AmmoBoom]
Sensors: 2/5/2/0 [Can spot enemy units]
Variants: LCT-1E / LCT-1M / LCT-1V / LCT-3V and LCT-GW [Player Made]
There are 4 'NASI' varients [no longer available from the market], and 1 'Player Made' varient.
Stinger - Light [20 ton]
Cost: Instant Mech DP - 1 to 3 Average MArket NevCash $20 to $40 Mil [Player Adjusted]
Movement: 6/9/6(3) [Jump Capable]
Hands: Yes [Can use 'Punch' and 'Push' attacks]
Heat: None to Low [Low chance of ShutDown / AmmoBoom]
Sensors: 2/5/1/0 [Can spot enemy units]
Variants: STG-3G / STG-NV [Player Made] / STG-TS [Player Made]
There is only 1 'NASI' variant [no longer available from the Market] and 2 'Player Made' variants, one of which swapped Jump Jets for an LRM weapon.
Wasp - Light [20 ton]
Cost: Instant Mech DP - 2 / Average Market NevCash $20 to $40 Mil [Player Adjusted]
Movement: 6/9/6 [Jump Capable]
Hands: Yes [Can use 'Punch' and 'Push' attacks]
Heat: None to Low [Low chance of ShutDown / AmmoBoom]
Sensors: 3/3/2/0 [Can spot enemy units]
Variants: WSP-1D / WSP-1L / WSP-1W / WSP-DSP and WSP-LA [Player Made]
There are 4 'NASI' variants [no longer available from the Market] and 1 'Player Made' variant]
So the cost to purchase this lance with DP would be 12 DP no matter what variant of the mech you got.
Next item included in the kit is 4 skilled pilots [4/4]. It also mentions "above average skill multipliers" come with each pilot. The actual pilots do in fact come with 1 multi skill booster on Pilot and Gunner skills, and they are in fact 4 skill in both Pilot and Gunner.
Pvt. Soldier 35644241 Starter Mech 1 (4 / 4) 0.00 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 4 (1) / 4 (1)
Pvt. Soldier 35644241 Starter Mech 2 (4 / 4) 0.00 8 (0) / 8 (1) / 8 (1) / 4 (1) / 4 (1)
Pvt. Soldier 35644241 Starter Mech 3 (4 / 4) 0.00 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 4 (1) / 4 (1)
Pvt. Soldier 35644241 Starter Mech 4 (4 / 4) 0.00 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 8 (0) / 4 (1) / 4 (1)
Note: One of my pilots actually came with multi's on VehWeap and Driver as well, but I will assume that was a fluke or random luck...so do not assume that you will get those as well.
So these Starter Pilots appear to be a special mix between Skilled and Elite Soldiers, with an approximate value of 2 DP each. The Starter Kit includes a set of 4, one for each mech, so this is worth 8 DP.
Next item included in the Starter Kit is $50 Million NevCash. The 'Additional Funds' option on the Donation page was recently adjusted to 1 DP for $20 Million NevCash. The previous exchange rate was 1 DP for $10 Million. So the older value for the cash with the Starter Kit was 5 DP, where now the new adjusted option reduces that value to 2.5 DP.
Keep in mind that the 'Additional Funds' and the $50 Mil from the Starter Kit are not restricted by your empires Transfer Caps. These funds are placed into your empire 100% and will not impact your transfer caps.
Now many players will tell you that $50 Million is not a lot of cash. At higher levels, or if you are very war active, no its not. However, if you currently have less than $1 Million, or are a member of the Noob Faction, or no faction at all, then you can not receive Cash Transfers from any empire, no matter what other deals you make to exchange your DP. For the player not ready to move from Noob Isle / Noob Faction, this 'instant' cash option is worth its weight in gold.
So all total, in DP vlaue, the Starter Kit is worth 22.5 DP [12 + 8 + 2.5]. It used to be worth 25 DP, before the Additional Funds option was adjusted. Either way, it still offers a savings compared to if these items were purchased seperately.
DP is awarded to you when you send 'donations' directly to Neveron. So for $20 USD, you would get 20 DP, plus 5 bonus DP. This would supply you with enuff DP to purchase a Starter Kit, and then you will still have 5 DP remaining.
You can also purchase DP and get additional bonus DP if you donate thru a DP Pool run by other players. If you donated that same $20 USD, you would usually have transaction fees cost you $.88, which would net you 38 DP. This would allow you to purchase the Starter Kit, instantly get a lance of Mechs, with 4/4 multi'd Soldiers, and $50 Million instant NevCash, and still leave you with 18 DP to do with as you wish.
So the question you need to ask yourself, is what exactly are you getting for your 20 DP. The option to instantly get $50 Mil for most is enuff to buy the kit. Instant mechs, even if they are Lights, is another reason to consider purchasing it with your DP. There are other options for using your DP, but I will not discuss that in this thread. Stop into Irc Chat and I will be happy to go over that option with you so that you can consider all your options before you make your purchase. Most people want instant gratification, and so the Starter Kit is one way to definately get that.
Edited by ShadowMasterCM (08/14/08 10:11 PM)
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buc
Sergeant
Reged: 08/12/05
Posts: 156
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Re: Starter Donation Package
[Re: ShadowMasterCM]
#151250 - 07/14/08 02:26 AM (125.237.151.203)
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A well thought a nicely put article SM.
Regardless of whether someone chooses to use this option, IRC is the lifeblood of nev so get in there and become part of the community.
buc`
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