December 17 Patch #6 news - Mech Fans

We're happy to announce MechWarrior Online's final patch for the 2013 year! With a new map, new game mode, and other goodies, we've got quite a substantial patch lined up. Login and head on over to the Redeem Page for 7 Days of free Premium Time when you use the code "HAPPYHOLIDAYS". Just our way of saying seasons greetings; we hope you like the latest patch!

Clan Collections have been revealed and are now available for pre-order. Check out all the Collections at Mwomercs.com

Put on your moon boots, HPG Manifold is the newest world to defend! This map features a HyperPulse Generator which offers a good mix of open battles and tight corners. It's more of a planet than a moon, but don't let that stop you from blasting up this desolate landscape.

Wolverine & Griffin will automatically become available to those who purchased the Sabre Reinforcement promotion upon first login after the patch.

If you're still in the reading mood, check out MWO Lead Designer Paul Inouye's thoughts on Clan Technology, and President Russ Bullock's Command Chair post detailing the State of the Inner Sphere.

Today, Thunderbolt becomes available for MC and C-Bills!

The giving season is upon us and your Mech deserves a present too! With Hula Girl in the festive spirit, you can now grab a variety of holiday-themed cockpit items from the MechLab!
Brighten up your cockpit with some lights, gifts, snow-globes and holly! These jingles are only available during the holiday season.

Don't forget to submit an entry for the Pimp My Mech Contest, which lasts until January 6, 2014.

With this patch you'll notice music during start and end-of-round screens and the MechLab, and lots more that you can see in the Patch Notes below.

Seasons greetings from everyone here at MechWarrior Online, we'll see you in 2014 with more Mech-blasting action.

Developer Update & Patch Notes:

Greetings MechWarriors,

Well it’s the last patch of 2013! And it’s a big one!

Saber pack is in the wild! Wolverines and Griffins are preparing for battle as we speak!

Phoenix pack introduced our first 55 ton Medium ‘Mech and with the Saber pack we just doubled down. Enjoy responsibly.

The New map; HPG Manifold Is generating a hyper pulse in my cardiovascular system. Remember, in space, no one can hear you scream… unless you use VoIP. Move carefully and cover your sectors it’s going to be raining metal and lasers. Is that music I hear? Yes it is!
New Game mode: Skirmish! Many have asked for this mode and now it is here! I have to admit the thing I am most excited about is more new spawns!

Thunderbolt is out there for C-Bills and MC and all his Patterns are available for MC as well. Snowfall is the new pattern of the month and will help you blend in on those maps with snow falling.

See you on the battlefield MechWarriors!
Matt Newman

Content

New Game Mode - Skirmish

Skirmish is the first step toward the evolving game modes that will make up part of Community Warfare. In this mode, both teams battle it out in a last man standing scenario. There are no longer bases to capture, or resources to collect. This is epitome of which team can destroy the other team first. Which team has the ultimate co-ordination and striking capabilities to dominate the other team? Get online and into Skirmish mode to find out!

• Winning conditions:
  • Destroy all enemy 'Mechs
  • On time out most kills wins

New Map - HPG Manifold

This ‘A’ Station HyperPulse Generator is located on the only rocky planet in a tri-body system and is facilitated by a massive complex encircling the main array.
Because of the planet’s thin atmospheric density (of only ~25,000-75,000 atoms/cm3 at 263˚K and 25-100 rads of 8000 keV radiation), the complex must be fully shielded and self-sustaining.
The planets remoteness necessitates the conglomerate to also maintain a vast sensor array, house cargo & battlemech stations, fuel bunkers, warehouse facilities, living quarters and hangar bays.
Although destroying the facility would be a crippling blow, for the victors it is deemed far too valuable and therefore appropriation is the preferred strategy.

New Mechs

Thunderbolt TDR-5S

• Tonnage: 65
• Engine: 260 Standard
  • Top Speed: 64.8 kph
  • Max Engine Rating: 315
• Torso Movement:
  • 90 degrees to each side.
  • 20 degrees up and down.
• Arm Movement:Armor: 416 (Standard)
  • 20 degrees to each side.
  • 30 degrees up and down.
• Internal Structure: Standard
• Weapons & Equipment:
  • Left Arm: Machine Gun x2
  • Left Torso: Medium Laser x3
  • Right Torso: LRM 15, SRM 2
  • Right Arm: Large Laser
• Hardpoints:
  • Left Arm: 2 Ballistic
  • Left Torso: 3 Energy
  • Right Torso: 2 Missile, 1 AMS
  • Right Arm: 1 Energy
• Heat Sinks: 15 Single
• Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)
• ECM Capable?: No
• Module Slots: 2
• Movement Archetype: Medium

Thunderbolt TDR-5SS

• Tonnage: 65
• Engine: 260 Standard
  • Top Speed: 64.8 kph
  • Max Engine Rating: 315
• Torso Movement:
  • 90 degrees to each side.
  • 20 degrees up and down.
• Arm Movement:Armor: 416 (Standard)
  • 20 degrees to each side.
  • 30 degrees up and down.
• Internal Structure: Standard
• Weapons & Equipment:
  • Left Torso: Medium Laser x3, SRM 6
  • Right Torso: Flamer
  • Right Arm: PPC
• Hardpoints:
  • Left Torso: 3 Energy, 1 Missile
  • Right Torso: 2 Energy, 1 AMS
  • Right Arm: 2 Energy
• Heat Sinks: 21 Single
• Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)
• ECM Capable?: No
• Module Slots: 2
• Movement Archetype: Medium

Thunderbolt TDR-9SE

• Tonnage: 65
• Engine: 260 Standard
  • Top Speed: 64.8 kph
  • Max Engine Rating: 315
• Torso Movement:
  • 90 degrees to each side.
  • 20 degrees up and down.
• Arm Movement:Armor: 422 (Standard)
  • 20 degrees to each side.
  • 30 degrees up and down.
• Internal Structure: Standard
• Weapons & Equipment:
  • Left Torso: Medium Laser x3, LRM 10
  • Right Arm: Large Pulse Laser
• Hardpoints:
  • Left Torso: 3 Energy, 2 Missile
  • Right Torso: 1 AMS
  • Right Arm: 2 Energy
• Heat Sinks: 15 Double
• Jump Jets: 4 (4 Max)
• ECM Capable?: No
• Module Slots: 2
• Movement Archetype: Medium

Sabre Reinforcement BattleMech Details (expand the spoiler)

New Camo Skin

• New Snowfall skin available.

Gameplay

• Music added to the Front End. (Can be disabled in options)
• Music added to the 'Mech startup sequence.
• Victory and Defeat music added.

Bug Fixes

• HSR improvement - Reduced possible desyncs that would occur for projectile weapons -- especially for connections with variable latency.
• Fixed an issue where some parts of the terrain had seams or holes, particularly on Low Spec.
• Fixed an issue where Vsync wasn't working when users played in Window or Full Screen Window mode.

We thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you on the battlefield!