- Scattering at the start and everyone going different ways to collect data.
- Use ultra-fast mechs (140 kph+)-- the more durable the better.
- Never engage the enemy and kite them whenever possible.
- Calling in the enemy drop ship as fast as possible.
- On Protect missions you continue to collect data points rather than find the enemy drop-zone. Deny the enemy the last few points as they will usually split up to try to gather more data points.
- On Gather, two allies charge the drop-zone in the last 25 seconds (after hiding near the drop-zone) and the other remaining allies continue to gather.
- Escaping with data is paramount, be prepared to hide should the enemy guard remaining data nodes -- waiting until the drop ship comes in automatically at the 3 minute mark.
- Do not stick together. The enemy will usually, by luck alone, find one of you. That person is effectively removed from gathering while kiting the enemy but does a more important job of denying the enemy the ability to collect by leading the enemy back towards areas that the allies have already collected from.
Why this method? The clanners are only wanting to bring high-alpha mediums to the matches because -- well they are clanners and still stuck on the "By lore clans HAVE to be superior" mentality (OK there is more to it than that including a lack of diversity). Clan mechs, outfitted as an SRM boat, ER-SMPL boats or S-SRM boats are a tough fight because of their assault-level alphas.. The OutCollect method is designed to render their firepower useless. It is effective when trying to bring up the scouting level of a planet prior or during 12-man FP and with competent players (most of this was done with pugs) getting more than 13 data points is common.
I have been using this method, whenever I get agreeable players and have kept track of the data-node scores and game-time. Over the course of 30 games (15 gather and 15 protect) (over almost two weeks):
Total possible nodes on gather: 300
Data nodes collected in gather: 202 (67% of nodes)
Average game time : 5:11
Total possible nodes on protect: 300
Data nodes collected in Protect: 167 (56%)
Data nodes enemy collected: 129 (43%)
Average game time: 5:37
Data nodes gained(net): 73 ( + 12%)
If you constantly run this methodology the clans will consistently gather less intel than you and, in the scheme of FP, you will win. We have even run this way against cheetahs on the other side and out gathered them however, Jenner IICs pose a problem due to their speed and firepower On the positive side, the Jenner IICs, by not having the quirks of the IS mechs are slightly squishy and ECM will usually allow IS mechs to have the initiative. The basic point being, if clanners want to alpha the crap out of everything, then, don't give them the opportunity -- in lore the IS is crafty, sneaky, dirty and resourceful so why not be that way in game?
Now I didn't keep track of the games where we played the "Skittle" method, however, my gut-feeling is that we usually came up even in regards to data nodes gains or losses. As an addendum, I have been able to beat the clans in straight-up brawls with a decent 4-man who is using the proper mechs, however, the Out Gather method is easy to implement with less prepared groups and could easily (until PGI screwed up the team-chat feature in the loading screen) be organized before the drop.
Edited by nehebkau, 20 May 2016 - 09:15 AM.