11 replies to this topic

[Krivvan]

I figured I'd post this here if it helps any player get an idea of what playing Firestarters is like or if anyone is able to pick up any tips from it.

Version for those who have it blocked

Full version non-sped-up

Edited by Krivvan, 29 January 2015 - 10:59 AM.

[Tarogato]

Btw, what's your profile stats for the three variants?

edit: on Kriwan, to clarify

Edited by Tarogato, 29 January 2015 - 11:01 AM.

[Krivvan]

Tarogato, on 29 January 2015 - 10:59 AM, said:

Btw, what's your profile stats for the three variants?

It's not exact since I played a few more hours worth of games from what was in the video, but it's close to what it was.

[Tarogato]

Interesting. I love numbers.

S : 3.8 w/l ... 4.5 k/d ... 433.3 dmg ... 1793.2 xp ... 10.15 min/match
A : 2.8 w/l ... 4.1 k/d ... 505.6 dmg ... 2031.4 xp ... 10.31 min/match
H : 2.2 w/l ... 3.4 k/d ... 470.6 dmg ... 1752.3 xp ... 10.78 min/match

The S got more wins and more kills, hands down, with the shortest matches and median sample size and median rewards.
The A got the most damage and biggest rewards.
The H was just ... meh.

[Krivvan]

Tarogato, on 29 January 2015 - 11:36 AM, said:

H : 2.2 w/l ... 3.4 k/d ... 470.6 dmg ... 1752.3 xp ... 10.78 min/match

The H was just ... meh.

I actually like the H the most funny enough. It's just that it's more capable of staying useful in most games and will perform consistently, but you aren't as likely to get absolutely killer games in one. I play all the trial Firestarter-S games at the start as if I was running an H.

The H is also by far my best Light to run in CW matches where I'm always up against superior firepower. It's thousands of damage and double digit kills with the H in CW, but not the case with the A or S.

Also, the games recorded were all in the context of solo queue, where it's much safer for an A or S to run in without 100% complete information. If I know there's a strong full group on the other team I'd prefer the H or S.

My w/l on my primary account is 5.97 for the H, with a k/d of 3.63, which is actually the highest of my Firestarters (I spent the most time on the H, the others are filled with games of where I was still learning them and doing awful).

Edited by Krivvan, 29 January 2015 - 11:46 AM.

[Tarogato]

You just changed my mind again, then. Because after seeing these numbers which are about as empirically accurate as MWO performance can get, I thought, "bah, maybe it's time to sell that H that I have collecting dust in the corner because its time will never come"

But yeah, thanks for the insight. I'll take it out for a few more spins and see how she handles. Never thought to bring it to CW, I figured the leg-nibbling power of the A was better suited, plus I use it for solo generator runs and it usually gets the job done. Hmmm.

Edited by Tarogato, 29 January 2015 - 11:48 AM.

[Krivvan]

Tarogato, on 29 January 2015 - 11:47 AM, said:

But yeah, thanks for the insight. I'll take it out for a few more spins and see how she handles. Never thought to bring it to CW, I figured the leg-nibbling power of the A was better suited, plus I use it for solo generator runs and it usually gets the job done. Hmmm.

It will shine more on defense on both maps. Boreal because you have a lot of places to dive in and out of cover from the front and sides, and Sulphur because you can scout out into lanes and do a bit of poking without being in as much risk as the A or S. It isn't great for solo gen runs or gen rushes in general, but solo gen runs usually don't win games (killing the gens doesn't matter as much if your team can never make it to Omega) and the only important factor for a light gen rush is DPS anyways.

For attack I tend to prefer running my heavier mechs at least until a solid position is held.

[DEMAX51]

Krivvan, on 29 January 2015 - 11:50 AM, said:

It will shine more on defense on both maps. Boreal because you have a lot of places to dive in and out of cover from the front and sides, and Sulphur because you can scout out into lanes and do a bit of poking without being in as much risk as the A or S. It isn't great for solo gen runs or gen rushes in general, but solo gen runs usually don't win games (killing the gens doesn't matter as much if your team can never make it to Omega) and the only important factor for a light gen rush is DPS anyways.

For attack I tend to prefer running my heavier mechs at least until a solid position is held.

I will say one thing for attacking with it though - the added range lets you shoot generators from angels/behind cover (for instance, you can put shots on Omega from the little crevice where O-Gen 3 is located on Sulphurous if you have some medium-range weapons). This can sometimes let you get several good shots off on Omega before the enemy realizes where you are. You can't do that as well with the -S or -A.

Edited by DEMAX51, 29 January 2015 - 12:02 PM.

[Nori Silverrage]

This is cool. I'm trying to master the Firestarters and will be sure to watch this. What're your builds for the 3 you picked?
Would you say they got a lot easier to pilot once you got them elited (I only have two with basics so far).

Lastly is more of a general light question. I play with arms unlocked as I'm sure most players who have been playing for a bit do and I'm having a rough time getting used to the fact that 1/3 of the firestarters weapons are in the non articulated torsos. So when I get a bit flustered in a fight, I fire both the arms and the torsos (have it setup left mouse for arms, right for torsos) and I tend to get confused by the lasers that are firing from the arms vs the toros. Guessing I just need to practice more, but I'm wondering if anyway has some suggestions?

I don't have as much of a issues with this on larger mechs as they tend to be moving a lot slower...

[Krivvan]

Nori Silverrage, on 29 January 2015 - 12:30 PM, said:

This is cool. I'm trying to master the Firestarters and will be sure to watch this. What're your builds for the 3 you picked?
Would you say they got a lot easier to pilot once you got them elited (I only have two with basics so far).

Lastly is more of a general light question. I play with arms unlocked as I'm sure most players who have been playing for a bit do and I'm having a rough time getting used to the fact that 1/3 of the firestarters weapons are in the non articulated torsos. So when I get a bit flustered in a fight, I fire both the arms and the torsos (have it setup left mouse for arms, right for torsos) and I tend to get confused by the lasers that are firing from the arms vs the toros. Guessing I just need to practice more, but I'm wondering if anyway has some suggestions?

My builds are similar to what's on MetaMechs. I'm more recently running the "Torso-Centric" version of the FS9-S for the extra jump jet, but I only started a couple days ago so I don't have a strong opinion about that one beyond liking it.

Also, as for the arms, the general advice is to arm lock for your shots where you need to get all the damage in. When you're in a position that you can only use your arms, you just fire your arm lasers. Everything else in regards to that is practice and getting used to it. I'm still not as familiar with Firestarters as I was with Jenners so I even fire both by accident now and then.

Edited by Krivvan, 29 January 2015 - 01:57 PM.

[BUDFORCE]

Krivvan, thank you for this topic.

I really respect your opinions when it comes to light mechs which I would say I have the least experience it when it comes to MWO.

One of the few people on this forum who I believe truely knows what they are talking about.

Also when it comes to the three firestarters (kinda following on from my other topic) I think I am also leaning towards the H being the one I prefer to use also.

[GLaDOSauR]

I adore Firestarters. I'm pretty new but I've already fallen in love with mine. Don't remember what variant it is but it came stock with 2 small lasers, 1 large laser and 2 flamers. Why I love it so much? Took down a mad-dog. That's right. I, a noob, in my flimsy light, took out a clan heavy and won. Here's how. It was the Alpine peaks map and we were losing horribly. I saw the mad-dog coming around one of the buildings at our base. Deciding to go out with a bang I charge him head on. I could use my flamers eternally on that map because of the heat sink buffs in the cold so I kept a continous wave of flame on his cockpit. Randomely firing the rest of my weapons I shut down. Only to realize that he had too! When I started up I alpha striked and killed him. I was laughing my head off. Granted, I did lose my left arm, leg, and torso. While plunging everything but my right leg into critical...I still won! w00t! Anyhoo. My whole long ramble indicates that firestarters rule. Buy one. We still lost the match btw. I died from an AC5 round to the chest while pecking away with my large laser from behind a building.