419 replies to this topic

[Stringburka]

It's interesting seeing all the people who claim "don't change the splatcat, bad players just have to learn how to adjust tactics and everything will be fine, it has drawbacks".

So, if it's just about tactics, there should be no issue limiting the splatcat to a 200 engine, decreasing torso twist to that of a stalker and doubling the reload time of SRM's? Right? Because they'll just adjust their tactics and there'll be no issues?

If it doesn't matter, why oppose a change?

[Dreepa]

Cool, so if the splatcat is fine, it means I am an uber player!

I ll go with that!

[JoeKano]

I chose a Splat cat to get my third catapult happening for mastery. Its a hell of thing to have to pilot, you lose your arms your done, you have to find a way to sneak up to opponents to get it happening, sometimes you just have to cross an open space and you know some jump sniper with his thermal tweak stuff is all set up waiting for you...its not that easy being a splat cat you know if your opponents do their job right identify you and mark you.

No single thing in this game is a rock. Nothing can stand in isolation and win win win. Its a team game, and you have to work with something else. A splat cat needs someone to divert attention whilst it closes, ECM needs opposing ECM to be countered, or needs to counter it whilst finding a way not to get locked up by missiles whilst its doing it. LRM's need someone to spot the enemy keep the locks and drive away ecm carrying light harassers.

Get over yourself and start figuring out how you can integrate what you like to do in the team.

[Yokaiko]

Stringburka, on 28 February 2013 - 03:41 AM, said:

It's interesting seeing all the people who claim "don't change the splatcat, bad players just have to learn how to adjust tactics and everything will be fine, it has drawbacks".

So, if it's just about tactics, there should be no issue limiting the splatcat to a 200 engine, decreasing torso twist to that of a stalker and doubling the reload time of SRM's? Right? Because they'll just adjust their tactics and there'll be no issues?

If it doesn't matter, why oppose a change?

People would just drive stalkers then. So its effectively removing a chassis from the game.

I still get a giggle out of people whining about people boats a mech that ONLY has missile slots. Cracks me up.

[Nash]

MWO is a team based game. So if you encounter a splatcat you should tell this your team. If at least 2 mechs (and be it only a single spider with 2 med lasers) concentrate their fire on that splatcat or it's ears the splatcat is going to be a very sadcat.

Each medium laser has a bigger weapon range than a SRM and it also has the advantage that it doesn't need any ammunition and if you miss you can readjust it to the target you are aiming at. The SRM is fire and forget and so most times the splatcat has to get very close to you to be effective...

Sure if there is more than 1 splatcat it could be annoying but since the alpine peaks map I did encounter less splatcats than before.

[PlzDie]

Malora Sidewinder, on 28 February 2013 - 01:37 AM, said:

streak cats were only good when lagshield was an actual thing and streaks had insane smoke/cockpit rock, effectively blinding the person you were fighting.

totally unfair, unfun mech and i'm glad it's gone. it's the only mech in the game that i ever had a problem with.

Agreed that is why I did not run my Streak Cat during the smoke\cockpit rock stage, I ran it before then mostly to kill lights.

[JimSuperBleeder]

HJ JoeKano, on 28 February 2013 - 04:09 AM, said:

I chose a Splat cat to get my third catapult happening for mastery. Its a hell of thing to have to pilot, you lose your arms your done, you have to find a way to sneak up to opponents to get it happening, sometimes you just have to cross an open space and you know some jump sniper with his thermal tweak stuff is all set up waiting for you...its not that easy being a splat cat you know if your opponents do their job right identify you and mark you.

No single thing in this game is a rock. Nothing can stand in isolation and win win win. Its a team game, and you have to work with something else. A splat cat needs someone to divert attention whilst it closes, ECM needs opposing ECM to be countered, or needs to counter it whilst finding a way not to get locked up by missiles whilst its doing it. LRM's need someone to spot the enemy keep the locks and drive away ecm carrying light harassers.

Get over yourself and start figuring out how you can integrate what you like to do in the team.

I'm most vulnerable moving into strike position. I'm separated from my team and if I get spotted I gotta run or die fighting and hope my team advances while they are busy with me. As long as someone is keeping an eye on the flanks and alert their team; you can make quick work of an A1.

Stringburka, on 28 February 2013 - 03:41 AM, said:

It's interesting seeing all the people who claim "don't change the splatcat, bad players just have to learn how to adjust tactics and everything will be fine, it has drawbacks".

So, if it's just about tactics, there should be no issue limiting the splatcat to a 200 engine, decreasing torso twist to that of a stalker and doubling the reload time of SRM's? Right? Because they'll just adjust their tactics and there'll be no issues?

If it doesn't matter, why oppose a change?

I already have contingency plans.

[Thunder Lips Express]

God I'm getting so sick of you cry babies stating that everything is ruining the game because your wrong.... all of you. there are always going to be builds that are more effective then others and pilots with varying skills, let alone specific maps which will determine a mechs effectiveness. splatcat is very effective on caustic valley because of the open space but give me anything with jump jets and I can beat any splatcat one on one, give me my raven with streaks out my atlas and I have a good chance. stop making stupid posts all the time about how something is better then what you do, either build one yourself or build something to counter it. how bad are they on alpine? how bad are they at range? how slow do their missiles move?

[Dreepa]

Ecliptor, on 28 February 2013 - 08:20 AM, said:

splatcat is very effective on caustic valley because of the open space

[Terror Teddy]

Dreepa, on 28 February 2013 - 12:44 PM, said:

My reaction as well. 24 heat per X6 SRM alpha on Caustic that has wide open spaces so you can run at full speed and avoid the clusters of SRM.

[Zerstorer Stallin]

Ecliptor, on 28 February 2013 - 08:20 AM, said:

God I'm getting so sick of you cry babies stating that everything is ruining the game because your wrong.... all of you. there are always going to be builds that are more effective then others and pilots with varying skills, let alone specific maps which will determine a mechs effectiveness. splatcat is very effective on caustic valley because of the open space but give me anything with jump jets and I can beat any splatcat one on one, give me my raven with streaks out my atlas and I have a good chance. stop making stupid posts all the time about how something is better then what you do, either build one yourself or build something to counter it. how bad are they on alpine? how bad are they at range? how slow do their missiles move?

So your counter and uberness is because your in a raven 3L? Classic!

[Bilbo]

Zerstorer Stallin, on 28 February 2013 - 12:49 PM, said:

So your counter and uberness is because your in a raven 3L? Classic!

My conter to SRM6 cats is to shoot them in the face, no matter what I'm piloting. It is generally quite effective. They tend not to like it and turn away, which allows me to continue shooting them while they cannot shoot back.

[Daggett]

Voidcrafter, on 28 February 2013 - 02:41 AM, said:

But lets be honest here - what is this build helping with?
Does it makes you a better player? Does it helps you get better aim? Better understanding of teamplay, strategy, game mechanics? Does it help your imagination? What does it teach the new players?

Though i agree with you on several things you wrote about stats-obsession and about taking each challenge the game throws at you, i disagree here.

As i stated before, the splatcat is by default no easy mode. You need to learn many things to be able transform the splatcat into the i-win-button.

Driving a splatcat does indeed make you a better player if you are able to reflect your mistakes and how to deduce solutions to prevent those mistakes in the future.

• You have to learn to 'read' the match to know when and where to strike. When it is correct to stay behind that atlas and brawl, and when it is better to stray of and flank them.
  
• You learn to aim at fast mechs which can be adopted to any other weapon.
  
• You learn to read your team. Are they able to distract the enemy or do they hesitate because of LRMS/snipers which could encourage you to sneak around and cause the distraction by yourself so they can charge?
  
• You learn when to use that jumpjets. And when jumping makes you an easy kill.
  
• You learn to use jump jets to leave the firing arc of mechs without arm actuators
  
• You learn what the optimum range for SRMs is to converge at one point instead of spreading too far
  
• You learn how to torso twist to spread damage done to you.
  
• You learn the exact moment to shoot your missiles to full effect. Sometimes you better wait a few secs instead of instant shooting whenever possible.
  
• You learn to lead moving targets
  
• You learn that the game has a undocumented 'open missile doors'-key
  
• You learn to manage heat
  
• You learn to stay hidden and how to flank. And when not to flank
  
• You learn to not fire too early when approaching an enemy from behind.
  
• You learn when to NOT approach an enemy from behind at all, even if it is very tempting
  
• You learn when to chase a target and when not to chase it (Watch ParasiteX's video on when to not chase a mech in a splatcat )
  
• (!) You learn how to beat the splatcat because you see directly how other players kill you.

What does it teach to new players?

• It teaches them to not stray around alone unless they are really fast.
  
• It teaches them proper threat-assessment
  
• It teaches them to help other players who are fighting strong threats because they know they are the next victim if they don't help
  
• It teaches them that lights are not invulnerable and that they can't just circle anything
  
• It teaches them that even an atlas has to be cautious and watch his back
  
• It teaches them the need to aim for weak spots
  
• It teaches them that LRM boating and sniping from their own base far away from their team is much more risky than staying by their group
  
• It teaches them to torso twist to spread the srm-damage over all locations
  
• It teaches them the value of scouting before walking over that ridge or around that corner/hill

I could continue both lists, but i guess you see my point.


The splatcat is no easy mode which contributes nothing to the game. Whoever thinks that will fail driving one to it's full potential.

I don't say however that the splatcat is totally fair or not frustrating to fight against.
And i agree to the OP when he says that Mechwarrior should be about long-lasting mechs that can take a punch instead of popping instantly

But i also admit that driving a splatcat is pure fun when you know what you are doing and are able to implement smarter tactics than just rushing in, kill something and then die...
Therefore i will drive it and splat mechs all over the map as long as i can:
http://www.youtube.c...vj0gc58#t=3m41s

Edited by Daggett, 28 February 2013 - 02:36 PM.

[JimSuperBleeder]

Daggett, on 28 February 2013 - 01:17 PM, said:

Though i agree with you on several things you wrote like stats-obsession and about taking each challenge the game throws at you, i disagree here.

As i stated before, the splatcat is by default no easy mode. You need to learn many things to be able transform the splatcat into the i-win-button.

Driving a splatcat does indeed make you a better player if you are able to reflect your mistakes and how to deduce solutions to prevent those mistakes in the future.

• You have to learn to 'read' the match to know when and where to strike. When it is correct to stay behind that atlas and brawl, and when it is better to stray of and flank them.
  
• You learn to aim at fast mechs which can be adopted to any other weapon.
  
• You learn to read your team. Are they able to distract the enemy or do they hesitate because of LRMS/snipers which could encourage you to sneak around and cause the distraction by yourself so they can charge?
  
• You learn when to use that jumpjets. And when jumping makes you an easy kill.
  
• You learn to use jump jets to leave the firing arc of mechs without arm actuators
  
• You learn what the optimum range for SRMs is to converge at one point instead of spreading too far
  
• You learn how to torso twist to spread damage done to you.
  
• You learn the exact moment to shoot your missiles to full effect. Sometimes you better wait a few secs instead of instant shooting whenever possible.
  
• You learn to lead moving targets
  
• You learn that the game has a undocumented 'open missile doors'-key
  
• You learn to manage heat
  
• You learn to stay hidden and how to flank. And when not to flank
  
• You learn to not fire too early when approaching an enemy from behind.
  
• You learn when to NOT approach an enemy from behind at all, even if it is very tempting
  
• You learn when to chase a target and when not to chase it (Watch ParasiteX's video on when to not chase a mech in a splatcat )
  
• (!) You learn how to beat the splatcat because you see directly how other players kill you.

What does it teach to new players?

• It teaches them to not stray around alone unless they are really fast.
  
• It teaches them proper threat-assessment
  
• It teaches them to help other players who are fighting strong threats because they know they are the next victim if they don't help
  
• It teaches them that lights are not invulnerable and that they can't just circle anything
  
• It teaches them that even an atlas has to be cautious and watch his back
  
• It teaches them the need to aim for weak spots
  
• It teaches them that LRM boating and sniping from their own base far away from their team is much more risky than staying by their group
  
• It teaches them to torso twist to spread the srm-damage over all locations
  
• It teaches them the value of scouting before walking over that ridge or around that corner/hill

I could continue both lists, but i guess you see my point.


The splatcat is no easy mode which contributes nothing to the game. Whoever thinks that will fail driving one to it's full potential.

I don't say however that the splatcat is totally fair or not frustrating to fight against.
And i agree to the OP when he says that Mechwarrior should be about long-lasting mechs that can take a punch instead of popping instantly

But i also admit that driving a splatcat is pure fun when you know what you are doing and are able to implement smarter tactics than just rushing in, kill something and then die...
Therefore i will drive it and splat mechs all over the map as long as i can:
http://www.youtube.c...vj0gc58#t=3m41s

I'm in love!

[Garbagecan]

I like wine with my cheese.

[CMGrendel]

I never approach a Cat until I know what it's carrying. If it's not shooting LRMs or lasers or gauss at me, I'm going to stay more than 150m from one. Same goes for Stalkers.

[Stringburka]

Yokaiko, on 28 February 2013 - 04:38 AM, said:

So its effectively removing a chassis from the game.

Nahhhh, there's drawbacks to stalkers! they don't have 6 missile slots and cant turn arms vertically! it's just about TACTICS man, there can't be no imbalance, it's just about tactics!

[GumbyC2C]

If the goal is to make MWO a simulation of tabletop Battletech, then the fix is easy. In tabletop, a SplatCat would be moderately effective, but not the death machine that it is in MWO. In tabletop, the SRM damage would be a lot more spread out and it would take a lot of salvos to kill anything other than lights. So MWO should mimic that IMHO. Personally, I don't mind them too much. I sniped one out and killed it dead today with a Spider using an ER Lg Laser. I just kept the range advantage. But close in, the SRM's are a lot more effective in MWO than BT and that should not be the case.

[Lykaon]

Vermaxx, on 25 February 2013 - 11:30 AM, said:

The ^&$*ING radar lets you know what a mech is carrying before you charge it. USE IT, stop charging Missile Box Eared Cats before figuring out what is in them.

What cave have you been in.

ECM prevents critical data from being transmittied.

You can not even lock onto a target until it is within 25% of your maximum sensor range.
This means that if ECM is covering a Splatcat you will not know it is a splatcat until it is within 200m of you.
The typical Spatcat maves at 80KPH or more and we know SRMs have a range of 270m (more effective at 90m) not much time to kill it is there?

So the math says you only have a point when there is no ECM cover and the Splatcat was stupid enough to not approach under cover.

[silentD11]

Topics like this only prove some people are only going to be happy when we get stuck with stock builds and will continue to scream and bite the pillow till then.