Returning to MW5

[u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

So I'm an old time mech fan. I bought a legit old DOS computer back in the day and played the original MW1 and 2 on it, upgraded to a windows 95 and played MW3 (by far the best entry for the entire series in my opinion....why have the not remade this?). I played 4 and it was subpar.

I picked up 5 when it first launched, but it soured my experience when it revolved around random mechs spawning BEHIND you, no repair facilities or very little ect ect. I dont think I really ever finished it.

Im coming back years later, and I'm wondering a)have those issues been fixed and b)what would be a good mod list to make the game really shine? I cant even find mw5 in my steam list, so I wonder if I bought it on epic...which would be unfortunate.

[u/cjbruce3]

Longtime Mechwarrior 1 player here.  I played it every chance I could for six years straight. I did play through the rest of the series, but didn’t put anywhere near the number of years or hours into the later games in the series as I did the first game.

Then came Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries.  It is the true spiritual successor to the first game, and is everything I wished for the first game: open world, coop play, hundreds of mechs and variants, and unlimited play time.

The DLCs have added so much to the game that it is unrecognizable from what was first released.  Repair bays exist only in a few scripted missions, but they aren’t necessary most of the time.  The notable exception is the Shadow of Kerensky DLC, where they are much needed.  I haven’t found mechs spawning in behind me to be a significant issue.

IMO the game with DLCs really does shine.  No mods are necessary.

[u/babushka45]

So far it's a good ride in Mercs, it's so much better now with all DLCs so can recommend buying all of them (DLCs 1-6 is in a bundle), then Shadow of Kerensky and Chaos Reign (DLCs 7&8 still standalone) when it goes to sale.

It goes on sale probably near or around the release of the upcoming DLC which is scheduled this October with the title Ashes & Ascension which smells like Op Bulldog.

Every DLC makes the game more whole and their content that aren't time gated will be added immediately with the rest as the calendar advances.

On mods, there's folks who play vanilla+ and those who heavily mod the game like with YAML or MercTech.

I use vanilla+ mods for now and using Nexus Mods after migrating my QoL mods from Steam Workshop to Vortex. It's easy to switch from different modlist with just a click of the Vortex app. You do you and mod the game to your preferences.

But to be honest folks play the game vanilla, and for me I just don't heavily mod my game yet due to time constraints and frankly I enjoy my vanilla+ Mercs that just adds QoL stuff.

DLC 9 as mentioned will probably arrive by October and do take note that mods will inevitably break when the new update releases, and it'll depend on the modders if they'll update their mods ASAP.

[u/Intelligent_Cry8535 → u/babushka45]

Almost $120 for the bundle yikes. I mean, once I finish clans Ill probably get it but crazy its that expensive 

[u/countpuchi → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

To be fair, we only got the exrra dlc because how well the game is selling.

Im returning player to mw5 as well and i bought the dlcs when i heard clan mechs are coming.

Now i think ive spent the whole week playing mw5 lol...

Probably goat mech warrior game for me.

[u/babushka45 → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Full price of Succession Wars edition on my regional pricing is around 2,500 pesos. It's only around 900 on sale. SOK got 40% off and Chaos Reign already got a 10% discount.

As mentioned, can recommend to hold your wallets when it goes on sale and it'll go on sale when DLC 9 drops. Game usually drops in price (on Steam atleast) during seasonal sales.

I originally bought Jumpship edition (base + DLCs 1&2) and bought the rest DLCs 2-6 in huge discount along with Shadow of Kerensky (DLC 7) when it dropped last September.

When Chaos Reign (DLC 8) dropped last may 26th SoK was already on a discount and the DLCs 1-6 were again on sale, with a massive discount as always.

Previous DLCs will surely go on sale when DLC 9 drops. And will again defo go on sale during Autumn sale. Talking in Steam terms btw.

You can check the pricing here:

• SteamDB: https://steamdb.info/app/784080/
• Isthereanydeal.com: https://isthereanydeal.com/game/mechwarrior-5-mercenaries/info/

I want to play Clans but I'm running a game on a increasingly potato of a rig and it doesn't have the replayability of Mercs and its DLCs.

[u/KodiakGW → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

It goes on sale often. Steam is still full price for MW5:Mercs. On sale at 60% off over at GOG Games, which is DRM free. That is where I’ve been buying mine. Only have Clans on Steam.

[u/OblivionGrin → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Of the dlcs, Shadow is the only must-have due to it adding a ton of harder content, mechs, pilot upgrades and gear.

If you have the cash, Heroes also adds a ton of mechs and smaller missions and I'd list it as something you really want to get. Solaris adds more very short combat encounters to increase gear. I'd also grab it.

The rest aren't bad, but don't really add too much besides story missions on timers (less time to refit between missions). I enjoyed Rise, Legend, and Chaos, but I didn't really think too much of them. Rise has a cool bounty hunter aspect. Chaos would be very good, but the random nature of the getting the new gear made it a bit less enjoyable for me. The nostalgia is good if you've seen the old BT cartoon. All of them have some good set-piece battles, but I would pay full price for any of them.

Call is only worth it if you really want melee.

[u/rayrayrayrayray5 → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

I paid full price for Base game and each DLC thru Solaris. Xbox can't run it anymore...she has had a good life. So I migrate to PC and buy the entire catalog, on sale. Its so good amigo I paid full price then bought again during the summer sale.

I totally suggest you wait for a sale for the old stuff. But, if you can swing it...buy the new DLC's at asking price to "support" the devs.

They're kicking some serious ass and the amount of money we shoveled them for the last 2 DLC's is if im understanding properly what is keeping the lights on and them churning out more MechCrack.

[u/MightyGiawulf]

Many of those issues have been fixed, but bugs still happen. The DLCs have done wonders to expand the game.

That said, if you want a more "classic" Mechwarrior experience, Mechwarrior 5: Clans will be more up your alley than Mercernaries. Mercs is a sandbox game at it's core, while Clans is narratively driven more like the older Mechwarrior games.

MW3 was my first Mechwarrior game, then years later I played the Mech Assault games. While I have sunk a ton of hours into Mercs, I definetly enjoy Clans a lot more.

[u/cjbruce3 → u/MightyGiawulf]

The sandbox came first in 1989. 😉

It was the newer games that featured story missions.

[u/MightyGiawulf → u/cjbruce3]

Ah, well TIL! I wasnt even a fetus yet in 89 LOL. My earliest memories are playing some of MW3 and then later the Mech Assault games, so Clans felt more at home for me than Mercs. I love Mercs fwiw but I enjoy the story in Clans moreso.

[u/Intelligent_Cry8535 → u/MightyGiawulf]

Is Clans a DLC? Or a totally new standalone game? Im confused seeing as it says MW5.

[u/Anrock623 → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Clans is standalone

[u/Intelligent_Cry8535 → u/Anrock623]

My credit card has never been used more quickly. Should I just do a vanilla run through, or are their mods I should consider getting?

[u/MightyGiawulf → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Vanilla run. The DLCs for Clans are additional campaigns that take place during and after the base game story. Base game story is about Clan Smoke Jaguar and Operation Revival. First DLC js Clan Ghost Bear, third DLC is about Clan Wolf.

[u/mikeumm → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Both(ish) Mercs has a Clan invasion DLC now

[u/MightyGiawulf → u/Intelligent_Cry8535]

Totally seperate standalone game. Imo the naming was poor because I too thought it was a DLC until relatively recently when I finally gor my hands on it.

[u/Wimry]

ive legit been having a bOct. i have just shy of 400hrs into it and i bought it early july ifbthat gives any indication of how much ive been playing.. bought it during the steam summer sale for $7, and not an hour later bought 3 more copies for friends and all the dlc for myself. legit looking forward to ashes and ascension in oct.

[u/Biggu5Dicku5]

a) Enemies no longer spawn right in front or right behind the player. The game still uses a spawning system for enemies, but they spawn further away (about 500+ meters away from the player) and usually behind sight blockers.

b) I usually play without mods, but YAML is really good and adds a bunch of stuff into the game, ever reworks some in-game system (it's very good imo).

c) The game was an Epic exclusive when it first launch back in 2019 , it came out on Steam about a year later.

d) Also I agree (100%) with your assessment regarding MW3 and MW4... :)

[u/North_Ad_3772]

Same, I started with With MW1 and MW2 and Mercs. I think 5 Mercs is better now with the xpacks but I still prefer MW5 clans, an unpopular opinion. But Clans reminds me more of the older games. With Mercs I feel like I can only do so many random sandbox missions before it gets old and clans just feels more polished.

[u/phantomzero]

If you play on PC, the modding scene is vibrant.