Does every separate mech build really need its own sub-forum?

To me, it seems unnecessary, and in fact just splits up similar discussion.

For instance, look at the Jenner forums, and how few threads there are in each sub-forum:
http://www.uobgaming.com/forumdisplay.php?166-Jenner

What if someone is looking for the most ideal Jenner build for their play style, or wants to browse all the builds that's worked best for them? There's nowhere for them to make a thread where everyone would see it, and there's no central forum for them to look at everything.

I suggest that instead of having a sub-forum for each separate build, each mech has just one forum. If we still need a permanent spot for a discussing a specific build, we can just make a sticky thread for them.

 

Each variant has a set of hardpoints unique to itself and does not cross over to other variants. A good example of this is the Cataphract variants. The 1X has 5 Energy hardpoints and 1 Ballistic hardpoint whereas the 2X has 1 Ballistic, 3 Energy, and 2 Missile hardpoints. Then there's the 3D which has 2 Ballistic and 4 Energy hardpoints and also supports JJs whereas the 4X has 2 Energy, 4 Ballistic, and 1 Missile hardpoint.

I believe this was the reasoning for each mech to have variant subforums so you weren't having to filter through the Cataphract forum to find a 2X build if most people are piloting 1X or 3D builds.

 

Indeed if there were many topics but there are not so you would not be filtering. Scamming over aprox 6 topics if you merge them is not much and they still have the variant the topic is about in the title. I agree with Scream a subforum for each variant is not necessary.

 

I actually like the separate forums myself. It makes it very easy to check out builds others have been using for the mech variant you are interested in.

 

This has been something that has bugged me for months but frankly didn't mind working around. Each separate sub-forum for each chassis splits up discussion too much and is something of a pain to navigate through in my opinion, especially if you keep tabs on multiple variants of different mechs. A sub-forum for each mech weight bracket (Light, Medium, Heavy, Assault) should be plenty sufficient for keeping things organized. As for the separate pinned threads for each mech variant they are no longer needed. Just pin a thread with information from Ohmwrecker's guides, or easier still, just link people over to the guides on the MWO General forums here.

To avoid needless duplication of loadout threads for the same mech, a single pinned topic for each mech of each sub-forum containing popular builds for that mech would simplify things. Provided the builds listed in the pinned mech build threads are kept semi-up-to-date and are written in a clean, clear format it should reduce thread duplication. We could also designate Skjaldborg members regarded as experienced with particular chassis to write, compile, or otherwise manage these pinned build threads, possibly including chassis and build-specific piloting tips as well. For example, see Araara's guide to Jenners.

• MWO Forum
  
  General MWO Discussion
  
  

  Map Discussion and Strategy Sub-Forum
  Lore Sub-Forum
  Tournaments Sub-Forum​

  
  General Mech Discussion​
  (Pinned Ohmwrecker's Guides Thread)
  

  
  Light Sub-Forum
  (Pinned Commando, Jenner, Raven Popular Build / Piloting Guide Threads)
  Medium Sub-Forum
  (Pinned Cicada, Centurion, Hunchback Popular Build / Piloting Guide Threads)
  Heavy Sub-Forum
  (Pinned Catapult, Cataphract, Dragon Popular Build / Piloting Guide Threads)
  Assault Sub-Forum
  (Pinned Awesome, Atlas Popular Build / Piloting Guide Threads)​

With the low traffic of Pilot Skills and Weapons and Equipment forums I figured they would be best folded into General MWO Discussion, or their subjects be largely resolved by the Ohmwrecker's Guides Pinned Thread.

EDIT: An additional sub-forum for the MWO Meta-game might be required in the near future, and may later require its own separate forum depending on how deep it turns out to be.

 

I like the split of discussion by chassis. Talking about the Atlas D is very different to talking about the Atlas DC, K, or RS.

Something I would like, perhaps, would be a top level for general discussion of the mech as a whole - with the option to then go in to the sub forums for discussing variant specific builds. Similarly, an area to discuss assaults as a whole, rather than just a specific mech, would be useful.

I understand that this may lead to some parts of the forum being under-used, but I don't see the problem with that as it would equate to better navigation and appropriate thread finding.

+1 vote for don't merge.

 

Also, I'm not sure that a thread of pinned popular builds would be a good idea. Every patch renders previous best practice null and void...

 

I think it's fine how it is.

 

I like the tags, they are spiffy, but I think the separate forums were much simpler and clear, now you have to scroll up and down, and through the pages to find the builds for a certain mech. I think it makes build comparison much more time consuming. Hopefully a "Search by Tag" hack is in the works.

 

Yeah, know what you mean exactly, especially when you have to keep adding new forums. Been there done that duty myself.

 

Finished reorganizing the Heavy forum, I can get the Assaults done as soon as you get the prefixes set up.

 

Just a tip for others, if you set your default numbers of threads shown per page to 40 in your general settings, it really cuts down on the page turning needed and makes it much easier to browse the mech/build forums. Makes it very easy to take advantage of the tags.

 

Prefixes now added for Assaults and all mechs with confirmed variants listed.

 

We don't have any prefix for the Misery

 

I need to get prefixes for the Blackjacks as well, both are on my to-do list.

 

New prefixes now added