11 replies to this topic

[Kay Oss]

Not entirely sure this is the right place to put this, but here goes.

I am not understanding how, since HSR has been implemented, that I have gone from feeling like a reasonably good player to a feeling like a useless noob. It's like nobody misses anymore, and nearly everybody is carrying enough firepower to take me out in 2-3 shots. I feel like I personally have gotten little to no aiming improvement but that nobody ever misses me now. I know some of my frustration has to do with the fact that everybody is in PPC-n-Gauss-mania, but not all of it. Maybe because I had a really low ping before I was at an advantage? But now that HSR is implemented on most weapons that advantage is gone?

Whatever the problem is, I just cannot enjoy the game anymore, no matter how much I want to. I love to dakka, pew and stomp, but I get to do so little of it before I get dead... I may have to just take a hiatus for a little while and see what balancing happens over the next couple months, because this is too much like an online FPS which has never been a genre that I enjoyed.

I know this is more of a vent than a question, but I am just sad to not be able to enjoy a game that has so much potential.

BTW: I usually play lights and heavies, no meds or assaults.

[Vrekgar]

Its because everyone is toting around high alpha weapons optimized for a high alphastrike setup. With HSR your getting smacked more consistently, more accurately, and with incredibly high alphas.

At this point if you dont like it and are not willing to mount them in return and turn yourself into a sniper then you have 3 options.

Play and ignore it, hope it goes away.

Play and complain about it, hope it goes away.

Dont play. Wait until the devs fix it and then start playing again.

[King Arthur IV]

team focus fire burst damage (high alpha) is the fastest way to bring a mech down. to make things worse its also all pinpoint damage regardless of the location of your weapons.

i havent found a way around this problem yet because i also run builds like this.

[RainbowToh]

Doesnt matter if it is high alpha or whatever. The point is that all those 200 ping (or higher, poor souls) folks are now hitting you OP, whereas before they cant hit for **** without crazy leading of the crosshair, e.g, like leading 1cm ahead with lasers LOL. I know im one of them hahaha

Now with HSR, everybody can hit everybody reasonably. And this pinpoint accuracy has created its own issue/metagame balance. Combined with high alpha, even double armor wouldnt last very long.

Edited by RainbowToh, 27 April 2013 - 12:42 AM.

[Lefty Lucy]

If OP is in fact a decent shot, his Elo is probably a bit higher. Since aiming is not a high-level skill in this game (mechs are relatively slow compared to targets in most FPS games), you don't have to go very high up in Elo to fight against mostly good shots.

[Kay Oss]

I did dust of the old assaults and tried out a couple high alpha builds and found a bit of relief when I could hang with the big boys. Perhaps my ELO had gotten a little higher and I have been playing with more skilled players. I may also be facing more coordinated premade groups than I used to putting me at a disadvantage since I am playing solo.

Part of what happens to the meta when people hit more is that lifespans get shorter which means mistakes get more costly. I may be seeing some of that happening to me as well. I hope that this effect gets toned down in the near future.

[Kiiyor]

I think everyone was spoiled as far as survivability goes before HSR. Lights could prance across the battlefield with impunity. Fast mediums were destroyers of worlds. Shooting and learning where to aim off was a game of battleship.

People are maybe struggling to adapt because this is almost a whole new game with HSR. I've had to throw away all my old piloting techniques, as using cover and breaking off engagements when things start to go pear shaped are more important than torso twisting for keeping you alive. Torso twisting is even less useful now that people are able to place more accurate shots.

HSR has let us ping challenged players get a taste of how the low ping players play.

PGI have also stated in the past that they would do a full weapon pass after HSR was rolled out for all weapon systems.

[TehSBGX]

I haven't really noticed much since I have moderate 40-ish ping. Although all the guys with High Ping must be grateful.

[FrostCollar]

Well, I've found the Cicada build with PPCs is actually useful now and when I pilot lights I feel much less useful than before. Before HSR if you closed with an enemy you had a significantly better chance of dodging all their shots. Now half the enemy team can kill you in 1-2 alphas and you have to be much more cautious in general.

I do feel bad for mediums, though. When you're too light to carry heavy pinpoint firepower and too large and slow to have a good chance of dodging that firepower you're left in a pretty tough spot.

On the other hand though, ECM hasn't been much of a problem when both teams are packing so many PPCs

[80Bit]

I have sub 100 ping typically but I definitely notice HSR improved my ability to land shots. Leading targets now feels natural instead of a guessing game.

The current high alpha play is definitely changing things. 81 KPH in my Hunchback used to feel survivable, now if I am out of cover for more than 3 seconds I get parts blown off.

But don't give up hope yet. HSR is a big game changer and I really expect PGI to adjust things. They have specifically stated that they watch for what effect new features have on the performance of weapons, and will adjust accordingly.

And remember that most light mechs have an artificial speed cap as well. In the future you will have a little more speed to avoid the new, more accurate shots.

[FrostCollar]

80Bit, on 27 April 2013 - 05:28 PM, said:

But don't give up hope yet. HSR is a big game changer and I really expect PGI to adjust things. They have specifically stated that they watch for what effect new features have on the performance of weapons, and will adjust accordingly.

Probably in two months, should patterns hold.

80Bit, on 27 April 2013 - 05:28 PM, said:

And remember that most light mechs have an artificial speed cap as well. In the future you will have a little more speed to avoid the new, more accurate shots.

Only some. This also doesn't benefit mediums, which have been hit pretty hard by the current meta.

[80Bit]

FrostCollar, on 27 April 2013 - 06:14 PM, said:

Only some. This also doesn't benefit mediums, which have been hit pretty hard by the current meta.

Very true. I would love it if they upped engine sized for Mediums a bit too, though with huge engines only the energy boats (swayback) have enough tonnage for a decent weapon load out. Mediums are in a bad spot and I don't see a way out without significant changes to game dynamics, such as bonus "tallents" exclusive equipment, etc. And I don't see that happening.