35 replies to this topic

[stjobe]

Scouting... There's simply no incentive for it at the moment.

The game rewards you lavishly for doing damage and killing, but for doing scout things? Stingy, almost frugal:
Spotting bonus: 25 XP + 2,500 CB once for each enemy.
TAG/Narc bonus: 25 XP + 2,500 CB once for each enemy.
Capping: 50 XP once, and 50 CB per resource point.

Meanwhile, every point of damage you do is 25 CB, and you get silly amounts of XP/CB for killing. It can actually reward you twice; once for the kill, and once again if it was a Saviour or Defensive kill - and you get the full 150 XP every time (and you get them for assists too).

Once the game starts rewarding scouting properly, you might see more people doing it.

As for the best 'mech to do it in; I kitted my SDR-5V out as a Scout: 255XL, 12 JJs, 1xML, TAG, BAP, Extended Sensor Range II + Target Info Gathering modules. It works well as a Scout, but it sure doesn't pay well.

Edited by stjobe, 14 April 2013 - 12:19 PM.

[BoPop]

i'd have to say the 5v w/it's 4 module slot, fully loaded sensor package w/bap, it's speed and jump jets make it great for this role. can even mount an ERLL and draw attention when needed, then float down the backside of a cliff taking no damage. when i run mine i like to get high and behind them, close enough to target them. just targeting them plays mind games.

[Deathlike]

What they need is a "mech spotted" bonus. If you spot a mech, you get some free XP (not a lot, maybe 5 to 10XP) and every unknown mech that is spotted nets you XP.

If you haven't spotted a mech in a while (dunno how much time, maybe 60+ seconds?), you can keep getting the bonus for spotting mechs that usually have moved out of position and/or you're trying to chase/find the lone light mech. This might make scouting worthwhile.

[Zerberus]

FrostCollar, on 13 April 2013 - 04:33 PM, said:

None of the above. All mechs have to put damage on the enemy sometime. Perhaps if the games were balanced by tonnage or BV only that would work, but in a game with only eight players on each side a team can't afford to sacrifice the combat capability of one mech to have it scout and do nothing else.

Spoken like a true Lyran *raises beer stein*

No atlas, no vote. Or rather, a vote for "other"

Edited by Zerberus, 14 April 2013 - 12:26 PM.

[BoPop]

stjobe, on 14 April 2013 - 12:18 PM, said:

Scouting... There's simply no incentive for it at the moment.

Once the game starts rewarding scouting properly, you might see more people doing it.

As for the best 'mech to do it in; I kitted my SDR-5V out as a Scout: 255XL, 12 JJs, 1xML, TAG, BAP, Extended Sensor Range II + Target Info Gathering modules. It works well as a Scout, but it sure doesn't pay well.

sad and true. i feel your pain. i wish it at least rewarded more cbills. and ideally for the pilot 8man w/voip makes the 5v that much more helpful. otherwise ya have to type, blech.

[FrostCollar]

Zerberus, on 14 April 2013 - 12:25 PM, said:

Spoken like a true Lyran *raises beer stein*

No atlas, no vote.

Don't forget - the Lyrans do have their own light recon mech. It's called the Zeus.

[Zerberus]

^^ Very true, the rumble seat is ideal for scouting. One drives while the other makes coffe on the exhaust lines.

[stjobe]

FrostCollar, on 14 April 2013 - 12:28 PM, said:

Don't forget - the Lyrans do have their own light recon mech. It's called the Zeus.

Is that a Banshee on the left there?

[FrostCollar]

stjobe, on 14 April 2013 - 12:33 PM, said:

Is that a Banshee on the left there?

Looks like Garth's favorite 95 tonner to me.

[Deathlike]

Do we really need more Steiner scout lances?

[Zyllos]

The RVN-3L is suppose to be the premiere scouting mech.

[Nathan Foxbane]

I actually use the Cicada 3M for this purpose more because I do not pilot lights than because it excels at the task. Dedicated scout build using a stock engine, endo, FF, DHS, and max armor. ECM, BAP and TAG for the electronics loadout, and 3 Medium Lasers for defense.

Quick note: Owens does not see the field of battle for another couple years, are you thinking the Jenner that we currently have from which the Owens descends OP?

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 14 April 2013 - 01:32 PM.

[aniviron]

Because there is a 150kph speed cap, anything that can hit 150 is as good of a scout as anything else that can also do it. The only other things that even factor in are ECM and jump jets, which means RVN-3L or SDR-5D.

That said, there should never be a pure scout mech. Your team needs your damage. Help them out after getting info.

[Muffinator]

I think the Spider 5D would work well. I have a build on paper with an XL225, ER large laser, ECM, BAP, TAG & 5JJ. Not sure if a standard LL would be better but I can see situations on Alpine etc where you might want to take long range pot shots. Or it might be better not to have such an offensive angle and just take 2 ML and the biggest XL you can fit?

[Oppresor]

Nathan Foxbane, on 14 April 2013 - 01:31 PM, said:

I actually use the Cicada 3M for this purpose more because I do not pilot lights than because it excels at the task. Dedicated scout build using a stock engine, endo, FF, DHS, and max armor. ECM, BAP and TAG for the electronics loadout, and 3 Medium Lasers for defense.

Quick note: Owens does not see the field of battle for another couple years, are you thinking the Jenner that we currently have from which the Owens descends OP?

Hi Nathan
No I do actually mean the Owens, I used to use one in MW3 so knew it was Recon. Descending from the Jenner, itself probably one of the most feared units in MWO, I figured that I should include it in the poll. I can see your rational for using the Cicada, its stronger than a light but not as restrictive as an Assault.

Muffinator, on 14 April 2013 - 05:20 PM, said:

I think the Spider 5D would work well. I have a build on paper with an XL225, ER large laser, ECM, BAP, TAG & 5JJ. Not sure if a standard LL would be better but I can see situations on Alpine etc where you might want to take long range pot shots. Or it might be better not to have such an offensive angle and just take 2 ML and the biggest XL you can fit?

Hi Muffinator
I went for the Spider 5K, mine is almost totally defensive as it carries an AMS along with the BAP. I had tried to stay true to the concept of a Recon only, but in the end fitted a ML for self protection.

Your layout is very interesting because it appeals to the Sniper in me; what ever you do don't ditch the ER, it's second only to a ERPPC in the sniper role. Incidentally, I have seen a Spider fitted with an ERPPC in action; I figure He or She must have striped virtually all the armour off to stay within weight, but, OMG the thing walked all over a Jenner.

[Livewyr]

Strucker, on 13 April 2013 - 05:05 PM, said:

Spider 5D, jump jets, ECM, enough said.

Fixed it.