31 replies to this topic

[Dimento Graven]

I use two firing groups. It's not always based on arm vs torso locations either. Typically I have lasers in one group and ballistics/missles in another.

You got someone you can head shot? Ballistics to the head, followed up by lasers, boom, dead enemy mech...

[Lostdragon]

I try to keep it to 2-3 weapon groups. I have mouse 1 and 2 mapped to groups 1 and 2. Middle mouse button toggles chainfire and back button is alpha. Here is how my main rides are set up:

Ilya:
Group 1: 3x UAC5
Group 2: 3x SL

I chainfire the UACs until I get close then I switch that off and blast with all three.

CTF 3D

Group 1: Gauss (on the right arm)
Group 2: 2x ERPPC (torso mounted)

I pretty much never have to chain fire these. I fire the groups independently but usually in quick succession.

AWS 8R

Group 1: 4x SRM6 w/ Artemis
Group 2: 2x LL ( arm mounted)

I usually group fire the missiles but on some hot maps I need to switch them to chainfire.

AWS 9M

Group 1: ERPPC (arm)
Group 2: 2x ERPPC (torso)
Group 3: 3x SSRM
Group 4: SL (head)

This is the one case where I have 4 groups but I rarely use the SL. I only put it on because I had a spare half ton.

Edited by Lostdragon, 26 April 2013 - 07:08 AM.

[Bobzilla]

Usually 3, max 4 as my mouse only has 5 buttons and i like the zoom on the mouse, if i could use the wheel to zoom i could have 5

[blinkin]

two, but only because my good trackball with 4 buttons broke. before when i had the buttons i needed, i had an atlas with 4 weapon groups and it tore most other mechs apart.

[EyeOne]

This is typically what I use.

Group 1: Arm Lasers
Group 2: Torso Lasers (Or just doubled group 1 if I only have lasers in one place)
Group 3: Auto Canons (or whatever my "main gun" is)
Group 4: LRMs or SRMs (I never mix LRMs and SRMs anyway)

[Kraven Kor]

Some examples:

4x LL Cataphract or 4x PPC or similar: Group 1 - Chain fire. Group 2 - Alpha, then 4 and 5 are on the thumb - 4 for both left guns, 5 for both right.

Standard Brawler Atlas: Group 1 is the AC/20. Group 2 is Arm Lasers on Chain fire. Group 4 is SRM's on alpha, Group 5 is SRM's on chain.

Centurion: Group 1 is the right arm gun (if any) or the torso lasers if not. Group 2 is the torso lasers if I have an arm cannon, SRM's if not. Group 4 is the SRM's on chain fire, Group 5 is the SRM's on alpha.

[Owlfeathers]

Three, plus Q for alpha strikes. For my usual dual ERPPC Raven I have ERPPC#1 on left click, #2 on right click, and alpha strike on both Q and the side button. For all my other mechs, I have left click as left side weapons, right side on right click, alpha strike on Q, and either all arm mounted weapons or all long range weapons on the side mouse button.

[Morang]

Depends on loadout.

Usually at least 2 for long range/heavy hitters and close-in backups (I try to have later in arms). Can be more - for example, if I can't run all my close-in weapons without overheating - then I have "cooldown" group as well, which can be fired without increasing the heat. So mostly 2-3.

TAG is always present in all groups and always have at least one where only the TAG is present, so it can be used stealthy.

I always fill all the columns in weapon group table, so I won't accidentally switch to "empty" group (if I have two different groups, each will be listed 3 times, if 3 different groups - each will be listed twice). I usually don't have "alpha strike" weapon group as its use is situative and it has separate key anyway.

As I currently run light mechs, I dont have "right" of "left" weapon groups, as I won't be in the situation when I'm slowly peaking round the corner.

[Coughlin]

on my 4xLL Cataphract, I have 5.
1: Shoulder lasers fire. These are higher and are used for poking from the other side of a ridge.
2: Arms, classed here for the same reason one is classed, they are lower.
3: Left LLs.
4: Right LL
5: Alpha strike

[Gremlich Johns]

I usually have between 2 and 4, depending on my loadout. One button is always an alpha. (I use a JS)

[Victor Morson]

I run simple, high synergy designs.

I voted 6.

To briefly explain why, let me list my groupings on my Cataphract:

1 - Gauss
2 - PPC + ER PPC
3 - Small Lasers
4 - Gauss + ER PPC (Extreme range shot)
5 - Gauss + ER PPC + 2 Smalls (Maximum close range alpha)
6 - Gauss + PPC (Low heat strike)

Typically, I will use 1-2 90% of the match. I use 3 when I get into a controlled close range range (You would be surprised how many killing blows two smalls can land on a target that just ate an alpha).

Then 4 works great at border range without wasting heat on poor PPC falloff; 5 gives exceptional close range punch (esp if you arm lock toggle first) and 6 gives me an option when I'm running hot, but need another shot.

For all arm-mounted attacks, I just manually combo fire (1+3 for example).

I tend to optimize my other 'mechs like that as well. My motto is that I want high synergy weapons that can be in general operated on a maximum of 2 groups, then set the other groups for situational fire. If you are one of those people who likes to mix ER PPCs with PPCs, you really need to manage your groups with equal detail to get the most out of it.

Edited by Victor Morson, 27 April 2013 - 11:15 PM.

[Escef]

Krazy Kat, on 25 April 2013 - 04:37 PM, said:

I already have a problem with hitting t instead of r and sending a message like this, "wwwwwwaaaaddddwwwwssss"

Remap it. I remapped targeting to TAB (because that's where it was in CoH and MW3), and I'm quite happy with it.

As for weapon groups, I have 3 buttons on my mouse, so I rarely go over 3. On those few occasions when I have, I put IDF in a group that I trigger from the keyboard, I'm usually not in a rush if I'm lobbing LRMs.