78 replies to this topic

[Kanatta Jing]

I want my 3rd lance, where I cram all my Lone Wolves, to be Cicada's.

[neodym]

4x Jenner..... never runs out of ammo,jump jets/jump snipe speedy enough to dictate the fight distance,small and agile enough to evade shots,stronger than all lights + cicada

I have that trailer map in my head,so much cover and hills,the small jumping assassin will own in this map,or K2,but it isnt that fast


on open,flat map,with low ammount of cover.... 4x Atlas... more armor,more firepower = win

Edited by neodym, 10 May 2012 - 01:57 AM.

[Woodstock]

What criteria are we deciding this on?

Who can kill everyone?

Who can capture the base?

Build Value?

tonnage?

Personally I would like a more mobile force of:

Raven x 1
Centurion x 2
Atlas x 1 (But I would swap the Atlas for a Longbow LGB-7V)

Everything has LRMs to take advantage of the ravens EWAR abilities ... the main force is fast and mobile and hits hard.

But With so few mechs ... how can we balance the forces?

[Pvt Dancer]

I use to love putting a good short range mech to guard my LRM mechs, so I could see a really good LRM based lace be a Centurion, 2-3 Catapults and a Dragon as an alternative.

Classic matches were put together based on tonnage, and then later with BV due to 'lost tech' and clan tech being introduced. It could be safe to say that having a max BV+Tonnage will limit 'dream teams'. This will make experienced light pilots valuable as it saves space for more bigger mechs. I would love to see the occational 'Lyran Scout Lance' of assaults and heavies vs assaults and heavies matches, light mech furballs, and medium mayham matches. I personally don't like the idea of picking mechs for maps (you get way to specialized mechs then), but I would love to be able what BV+Tonnage matches I could join if they have different tiers in that reguard.

[Rhavin]

This is what I like, could be modifyed some I reckon, grouped based mostly on speed since if your left behind or get too far ahead, your useless in a team fight.

Lance 1 2x catapult/ raven/ centurion. This lance is pure firesupport. Centurion holding the line for the Cat's till Lance 2 or 3 can get there in case of CQC. Naturally the raven is not meant to engage, scout and assist with its electronic's. Downside is once this lance run's out of missles its pretty much done, If the raven survives it can rendevous with lance 3, the Centurion meets the Assault group and use's its ac/10+med lasers, cat's can draw fire once ammo's done and misdirect.

For the Assault lance, Never forget the Awesome/ Atlas pairing, while the Atlas takes the heat getting there (fireing his LRM 20 the entire way) the Awesome sends heat downrange from a distance with his PPC's. By the time the Atlas is there hes fighting a heavily crippled lance, one shotting whats left with the rest of his arsenal. Add a Swayback and Jenner for a brutal though (mostly) slow moving lance. While devestating this lance can't do anything together fast(other than leave piles of soon to be rusting metal behind it), the jenner is fast enough to push out and scout targets, attempt to draw opposing mechs into ambushs and watch everyones backside and flanks. It should not engage unless pushed to do so. You could drop the Awesome and bring another Atlas, I would work real closely with the other 2 Lances in this case.

Raven/3x Grand Dragon, this is the Mixed support/rapid response/scout/scout killer lance. This lance has alot to do and with its mix of Weapons/High speed they can do it. Narc Beacons and LRM's and PPC's abound in this combo, and it gets real brutal as the Grands cross the ridge use the PPC's to take care of what those LRM's opened up. Whats nice is that the Dragon's can keep up with the Raven as they have the same speed. This lance can MOVE! Fall back quickly to provide close quarters support to the support squads Centurion? Check. Head off a flanking enemy? Check. Provide Fire support both indirect and direct? Check. Ambush? Check. Work with the above 2 lance's and I think competition could be smoked on any terrain that isn't too urban in its design.

[Flawless]

Lance 1: Awesome, Dragon, Cicada, Catapult.
Lance 2: Centurion x 2 Catapult x 2
Lance 3: Hunchback x 2 Catapult K2 x 2

Edited by Flawless, 10 May 2012 - 04:09 AM.

[SideSt3p]

For my playstyle in previous games I'll try to stick with something Medium/Heavy, incredibly mobile with an ability to strike fast and hard and then pull back.

Not much to choose from in that description ATM but we'll just have to wait and see...

I don't think there's an "overall" best combo though. Player skill will always trump tech choices IMO. A bad pilot in an Atlas is still just a bad pilot in a slow lumbering machine.

[Brandon Heat]

I hate this Atlas Lance Systems... I dont need `em

[Claw55]

3 Catapult C1s, 1 Raven with a Narc.

[Alexander Fury]

4 Atlases: Otherwise known as a Lyran Recon Lance

Kanatta Jing, on 10 May 2012 - 01:18 AM, said:

I want my 3rd lance, where I cram all my Lone Wolves, to be Cicada's.

Wow, 4 Cicadas, thats a wopping 8 med lasers. Almost as much firepower as 1 Clan Blackhawk. Impresive!

[WraithTR1]

Working together as a company:

Lance 1: Commano, Raven, Jenner, Cicada
Lance 2: 2 Catapult, Centurion, Dragon
Lance 3: Atlas, 2 Awesome, Hunchback

A single lance operating alone:

Raven, Centurion, Dragon, Awesome

Edited by WraithTR1, 10 May 2012 - 07:11 AM.

[Loose]

For flexibility's sake:

Cicada
Centurion x2
Catapult

Plus, I just think it would be fun.

If they ever add the Trebuchet I'd swap that for the C-pult, make this a true medium lance.

[Alexander Fury]

Serious Lance Formation:

1x Raven (with Narc)
1x Centurion
1x Catapult
1x Awesome

[LackofCertainty]

Lance 1: Brawlers.
4x Atlases.
Take advantage of their primary weapon (the ac 20) and use the rest of their weapon suite to support the team when they're out of their depth.

Lance 2: Fire Support.
4x Atlases
Take advantage of their primary weapon (the LRM-20) and use the rest of their weapon suite to support the team when they're out of their depth.

Lance 3: Scouting/Information Warfare.
4x Atlas (preferably the K3 variant for jump jets)
Take advantage of their immense jump jet based mobility, and terrorize the enemy by repeatedly rocketing their 100 tons into the sky and making the ground rumble wherever they touch down.

/sarcasm

I'd probably like something along the lines of:

Lance 1: Brawlers/Fatties
Atlas, Hunchback, Swayback, Maybe Centurion as the last slot?

Lance 2: Heavy Fire support
Catapult, PPC variant Catapult, Awesome, Last slot would be a mechlab'ed long rang Atlas. (drop the AC 20 for an LBX 10 or AC 5, SRM becomes another big LRM)
(I really want some more mechs that fit into a pure heavy fire support role)

Lance 3: Scout/Mobile assault force
Jenner, Dragon, Cicada UAC-5 variant, Commando

This is my current dream team with the mechs avaiable. I really feel like we're lacking a ballistics heavy fire support mech atm. I know everyone loves their PPC's but I'd like at least one big gunship-mech that can hold it's trigger down till it's ammo bins are empty. Lets get some LBX 10's in here, darnit!


P.S.

Victor Morson, on 09 May 2012 - 11:50 PM, said:

I will outrange you with my AC2s and-
We'll catch up. Then 38 PPCs. 39 if we stick one on a Raven.

How are you going to catch up when every mech on my team is as fast or faster than yours? Hell, a good number of mechs in the game can backpeddle faster than 2/3rds of your team? I'm a big fan of the awesome, but unless you're cheating/sacrificing a -lot- of armor the enemy team will be able to run circles around your "awesome" team. (pun definitely intended)

Also, since your entire team is made up of giant snails, your raven is faced with a difficult choice. Either A: Sit inside your 2 lances of awesomes, so it's protected. B: Scout properly, but be vulnerable, because your team has no manuverability to get in there and help.

Also, Also, what do your awesomes do when they run into an urban environment? Devs have suggested that they might be implementing minimum range for PPC's. Your PPC's turn into giant, overheating liabilities if there's any sort of close quarters. Unless I guess the devs implemented destructible buildings without letting anyone know, then you could just level the city, I guess.

Edited by LackofCertainty, 10 May 2012 - 08:39 AM.

[Major Tom]

It is so hard to theory-craft without knowing the mission objectives. Like they say, "When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail". Try rolling 12 atlas's into my base, and it will be very easy to evade them and cap the atlas base. I don't think there will be any way to get around having a good mix of mechs and skills.

[colatruck]

Lance 1:
1 Dragon
1 Raven
2 Catapults

Raven acts as the main scout lighting targets up for the catapults while dragon helps out wherever if can with its high speed. (can act as a sort of secondary scout if nessesary)

Lance 2:
1 Jenner
2 Hunchbacks
1 Awesome

Hunchbacks close in and make use of their AC 20s with the Awesome backing them up from afar while Jenner scouts/ looking for precision shots from behind

Lance 3:
1 Dragon
2 Atlases
1 Awesome

the 2 Atlases stay together absolutly demolishing anything in their path with the Awesome staying further back softening them up. Dragon harasses anything trying to run away/ leads enemies into the Atlases

[Garth Erlam]

Skirmish: Raven, Jenner, Cicada, Dragon
Anvil: 2x Hunchback, Centurion, Atlas
Hammer: 2x Awesome, 2X Catapult

Raven tags targets, Jenners and Cicadas play with their food while the Dragon pelts from behind, prevents flanks. Anvil Lance moves in line-abrest, preventing 'Mechs from engaging the rear of Skirmish. Hammer Lance (Catas) take on marked targets, Awesome's take out flankers and entrenched enemies.

Option 2:
Skirmish: 2x Commando, 2x Jenner
Anvil: 2x Hunchback, 2x Catapult K2
Hammer: 2x Centurion, 2x Dragon

Skirmish forces the enemy to engage, and pulls them off to the side as much as possible. Jenners flank behind to pick off rear armour while Commandos shred off armour with their missile salvos. Anvil Hunchbacks block for the Catapult K2's, forcing any 'Mechs chasing Skirmish Lance to seek cover. While this is happening the Dragons of Hammer circle behind the enemy, joining the Jenners in rear-armour melting from afar, while the Centurions move in to clean up.

The key to this option is speed and encirclement - Skirmishers force the engagement on the left, Anvil prevents forward movement, Hammer completes the circle and eliminates any remaining 'Mechs. Matches move very fast with this option, often catching the enemy off-guard as they are advancing.

[Major Tom]

Garth Erlam, on 10 May 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

Skirmish: Raven, Jenner, Cicada, Dragon
Anvil: 2x Hunchback, Centurion, Atlas
Hammer: 2x Awesome, 2X Catapult

Raven tags targets, Jenners and Cicadas play with their food while the Dragon pelts from behind, prevents flanks. Anvil Lance moves in line-abrest, preventing 'Mechs from engaging the rear of Skirmish. Hammer Lance (Catas) take on marked targets, Awesome's take out flankers and entrenched enemies.

I thought about this as well, going with a lance theme (scout, assault, etc), but my biggest concernt is "information warfare". Will your scout lance be able to provide information for your Assault (hammer) lance? Or will you be better served by having a scout in each lance?

[Garth Erlam]

Yes - though not as much. The idea is that the Lances move so quickly that the information is useless by the time they get it, because they're already there. This strategy does not work on extremely well co-ordinated foes, but is great for a quick surprise win. If you needed to win a `best of three`- this would be a good first round. For Option 2 anyway.
For option 1, the loss of the Raven is a big deal, hense the other 'Mechs are there to harass, drawing attention away from it.

[Zervziel]

Scout lance: 1 raven, 2 jenners, 1 commando.
Fast attack: 2 jenners, 2 commandos
Support lance: 1 raven, 3 catapults
Brawlers/close range support: 2 Centurions, 1 Hunchback, 1 Dragon
Mixed support: 2 Catapults, 2 Awesomes
Atlas can be put anywhere due to the range of it's weapons and armor except for the lances that must remain mobile.