yeshim

played 5 quick matches yesterday and 3 today, in four of those eight matches I had our friendly alien ***-kicker or ship-to-ground connector instantly suicide and disconnect.

after the second time in 3 games on the second day I just logged off in disgust.

That is a 50% rate of matches being instantly destroyed over the course of two days.

I'm just losing the drive to want play this game when I know there is a very good chance that any match I get into will be lopsided because of botting douches, I hope something gets done about this soon.

The best and easiest way to go about it that I can see is to completely remove the big lump sum you get for just participating in a match and instead increase the money generation on actually contributing with damage, spotting etc.

Let's theorycraft a bit while we all sit around staring at the taunting "Pending" Icon. You are given free reins of putting together a mech force for fighting an unknown enemy in an unknown location. How would you do it?

Basically plan for a "guild/clan/mercorp/whatever" match on a random map, you have no idea what to expect, you just have to make something that works as well as possible in as many situations as possible.

Let's assume a drop limit of an even 1000 tons and an unlimited number of mechs as long as they fit in the tonnage limit.


Personally I would split the force into 3 teams,1 group of heavies, 1 group of mixed assaults/heavies and 1 lighter group

the light group would consist of:
2 lights that can keep away yet still close very fast to harass with SRM's and lasers when the enemy is distracted (many light mechs can fill this role)
2 slower mediums with a bit of punch to them (along the lines of a Clint upgunned to AC/10 but downscaled engine)
1 heavy long range direct fire sniper matching the speed of the mediums (not sure what would fit this role well, something like a Dragon using long range ballistic weaponry but I'd prefer it to be more toward the upper end of heavies instead of a 60 tonner)

These will be the most mobile group that will likely make first contact, 2 lights and some heavier backup that will try to stick close to them to the best of their abilities
Estimated tonnage: at or just above 200


the heavy group would have 1 heavy LRM fire support (catapult or similar)
3 long range direct fire sniper heavies (probably the same kind as the one used to cover the light group, I'm looking for the same properties in these)
1 close range brawler heavy (AC/20 with some LRM's while closing or for use when closing is not a good or feasible option)
This is the most balanced multirole group, attack, defend, support either of the other 2 groups when needed or go for a separate objective, they could do most things.
Estimated tonnage: 350ish


the heavy/assault group would consist of 2 long range direct fire capable assaults (thinking of something like Gunslingers )
2 more heavies of the same kind as used in the other groups
1 medium range focused heavy to move ahead of the rest when the situation calls for it.

This is the long-range big guns group, no more explanation of their role should be neccessary
Estimated tonnage: just under or at 400

total estimated tonnage: a bit under 1000 with a nice and even 5/5/5 mech split among the groups.


How would YOU do this? How do you think and what kind of mech and role combinations do you value the most?