16 replies to this topic

[TruePoindexter]

Reference Build:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9ba9ff1c1e29def

I'm sure some people won't be thrilled to see this one I had intended originally to do more videos on heavier mechs (Jagermechs and Highlanders) but with the shift in meta I felt it was important to finally do a light mech video. For better or worse right now the RVN-3L is one of the strongest lights and will remain potent after some changes in the future.

Feedback is appreciated and if you would like to see more builds and other videos make sure to like/subscribe to me on youtube!

[Cubivorre]

This is pretty much the oldest 3L build in the book since ECM. But kudos on posting for posterity's sake.

Edited by Cubivorre, 10 May 2013 - 02:34 AM.

[Cybermech]

jenner is way better when it comes to the strongest light mech.
raven only advantage is the ECM part that is it.

Nice video and ty

[Kommisar]

The Jenner can mount a bigger Alpha, sure. But to be honest, running around in my Spider, I am much more scared of running into a Raven 3L than a Jenner. The Jenner has to hit me with those lasers. I have a chance to dance, run and jump to make him miss. With the 3L... it's a count down clock until the Streaks kill me. My only hope is to use a really big piece of terrain to get distance (not a lot of these) or I keep sustained PPC fire on him to cancel his ECM and allow my ECM to shield me.

With BAP coming, the last trick will no longer work. The 3L will be able to target other ECM with streaks while maintaining his immunity to locks. (Side note: this will be the only significant tactical change to the BAP buff. That, and X-5s with streaks and BAP)

I'm not saying this is an absolute truth. Pilot skill still matters. But the "Standard" 3L build is the dominate one in the light vs light combat world. Any other light build has to work harder, play better, and get lucky to have a chance. The 3L just has to keep lock.

[TruePoindexter]

Cubivorre, on 10 May 2013 - 02:33 AM, said:

This is pretty much the oldest 3L build in the book since ECM. But kudos on posting for posterity's sake.

Haha well I say as much in the video I see a surprising number of really bad 3Ls so I thought it would be worthwhile regardless.

Cybermech, on 10 May 2013 - 02:48 AM, said:

jenner is way better when it comes to the strongest light mech.
raven only advantage is the ECM part that is it.

Nice video and ty

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

I think the JR7-F is the stronger all around light. The direct firepower is more useful than 2 SSRM2 for hitting larger targets. At least for now though the 3L is the king of the light hunters.

Kommisar, on 10 May 2013 - 07:44 AM, said:

The Jenner can mount a bigger Alpha, sure. But to be honest, running around in my Spider, I am much more scared of running into a Raven 3L than a Jenner. The Jenner has to hit me with those lasers. I have a chance to dance, run and jump to make him miss. With the 3L... it's a count down clock until the Streaks kill me. My only hope is to use a really big piece of terrain to get distance (not a lot of these) or I keep sustained PPC fire on him to cancel his ECM and allow my ECM to shield me.

With BAP coming, the last trick will no longer work. The 3L will be able to target other ECM with streaks while maintaining his immunity to locks. (Side note: this will be the only significant tactical change to the BAP buff. That, and X-5s with streaks and BAP)

I'm not saying this is an absolute truth. Pilot skill still matters. But the "Standard" 3L build is the dominate one in the light vs light combat world. Any other light build has to work harder, play better, and get lucky to have a chance. The 3L just has to keep lock.

*nods* much of piloting the 3L in light vs light fighting is keeping the lock. I actually chose not to include some 1 vs 2/3 light fights because it seemed like the enemy just couldn't keep a missile lock.

[TruePoindexter]

Random fun fact - youtube keeps sending me messages that my video is unstable (shaky) and needs to be stabilized.

Raven cockpits are apparently very shaky places

[Ramien]

Am I the only 3L pilot that still keeps the TAG instead of the 3rd ML? I know LRMs are still a bit weak, but there's plenty of people who still carry them, and I like to help out - and if it surprises an incoming ECM user, so much the better.

[TruePoindexter]

Ramien, on 11 May 2013 - 12:10 PM, said:

Am I the only 3L pilot that still keeps the TAG instead of the 3rd ML? I know LRMs are still a bit weak, but there's plenty of people who still carry them, and I like to help out - and if it surprises an incoming ECM user, so much the better.

I used to back when I first got my Raven. Ran 2 MPL 2 SSRM2 TAG ECM BAP. Scout in every sense of the word. It helped a lot when ECM was new and LRMs were still powerful.

[Kommisar]

My problem with TAG in one of my light mechs is that to get it to work I have to stay "On Target". That is not healthy for a light mech.

Sure, if I am ninja'ed up behind the enemy and they don't notice me, it can work. Otherwise, you have to keep that beam on the target the whole flight in. And LRMs are slow. Especially at appreciable distances. So, you are left holding a lock, in extreme danger of getting alpha'ed into scrap all for a wee bit of missile damage flying in.

I do run TAG a lot on my assault mechs. Especially my Awesomes and Stalker. They can survive keeping that lock a lot better.

[TruePoindexter]

Kommisar, on 13 May 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

My problem with TAG in one of my light mechs is that to get it to work I have to stay "On Target". That is not healthy for a light mech.

Sure, if I am ninja'ed up behind the enemy and they don't notice me, it can work. Otherwise, you have to keep that beam on the target the whole flight in. And LRMs are slow. Especially at appreciable distances. So, you are left holding a lock, in extreme danger of getting alpha'ed into scrap all for a wee bit of missile damage flying in.

I do run TAG a lot on my assault mechs. Especially my Awesomes and Stalker. They can survive keeping that lock a lot better.

Yeah especially when you consider TAG used to have a substantially shorter range. Currently there's just not much point in it.

[Ramien]

Kommisar, on 13 May 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

My problem with TAG in one of my light mechs is that to get it to work I have to stay "On Target". That is not healthy for a light mech.

Sure, if I am ninja'ed up behind the enemy and they don't notice me, it can work. Otherwise, you have to keep that beam on the target the whole flight in. And LRMs are slow. Especially at appreciable distances. So, you are left holding a lock, in extreme danger of getting alpha'ed into scrap all for a wee bit of missile damage flying in.

I do run TAG a lot on my assault mechs. Especially my Awesomes and Stalker. They can survive keeping that lock a lot better.

I find if I can avoid the initial notice and keep the enemy at about 700m(ECM helps with that a lot), I can tag long enough for the other 'mechs on my side to get a lock and at least one volley off - and by that time, they've usually gotten close enough they can keep their own locks, or I can at least keep the lock through LOS and spot that way. That and keeping it on whenever I'm fighting makes it a little easier for any friendly LRMs to target whatever I'm fighting, whether they're ecm-protected or not.

[Ramien]

I have an additional 3L question, and this seemed like the best place to ask: What's the optimal use of the ECM suite? I've found myself lately staying with the group if they don't have the ECM -equipped atlas to help avoid early missle launches, and peeking over a ridge or around a corner just enough to TAG if I don't get noticed among the bigger boys, and then separating once I can see an opening to exploit. I'm not looking to pad my damage numbers as much as be the best asset to the group I can be, and was wondering if this was the best way to do that.

[coolcook007]

Wow. Nothing new. Mainstream build since it has ECM.

[TruePoindexter]

Ramien, on 14 May 2013 - 02:22 PM, said:

I find if I can avoid the initial notice and keep the enemy at about 700m(ECM helps with that a lot), I can tag long enough for the other 'mechs on my side to get a lock and at least one volley off - and by that time, they've usually gotten close enough they can keep their own locks, or I can at least keep the lock through LOS and spot that way. That and keeping it on whenever I'm fighting makes it a little easier for any friendly LRMs to target whatever I'm fighting, whether they're ecm-protected or not.

*nods* It takes some work. Definitely not for the feint of heart. Right now though I'm not convinced it's worth that much effort.

Ramien, on 15 May 2013 - 01:39 PM, said:

I have an additional 3L question, and this seemed like the best place to ask: What's the optimal use of the ECM suite? I've found myself lately staying with the group if they don't have the ECM -equipped atlas to help avoid early missle launches, and peeking over a ridge or around a corner just enough to TAG if I don't get noticed among the bigger boys, and then separating once I can see an opening to exploit. I'm not looking to pad my damage numbers as much as be the best asset to the group I can be, and was wondering if this was the best way to do that.

I find it's situational really. Sometimes you want to stick with your team to provide them cover. Sometimes you want to range out and scout.

Regarding Assault:
Generally scouting at the beginning is more important than providing ECM cover on larger maps as you can contribute more to your team by finding the enemy than simply making your team harder to target. Alpine and Tourmaline are good cases for scouting. Conversely on smaller maps where you can find enemies quickly you're better off assisting your team with ECM cover and intercepting enemy scouts. The primary role I feel for the RVN-3L is to intercept and destroy other enemy fast mechs as few can do that job better.

Regarding Conquest:
Almost always you are better serving your team to leave them and capture nodes at the start. Once the fight has begun and you've made a few caps you can decide on engaging the enemy or continuing to cap.

As always general rules are made to be broken

coolcook007, on 15 May 2013 - 02:10 PM, said:

Wow. Nothing new. Mainstream build since it has ECM.

I say as much in the video. My videos are aimed at the general/new players who may not be aware of the current trends/meta. Did you enjoy the video though?

I also have a build you might be interested in. I'm calling it "Crazy hella OP Raven of DOOM!!!!111"
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d1d6c479295b4af

Edited by TruePoindexter, 15 May 2013 - 04:04 PM.

[Kommisar]

I'm with TruePoindexter is saying that the best role of the Raven 3L is the "ground" superiority fighter. It has the armor of a 35 ton mech (most in the light range), enough speed to stay on just about any other mech, and the ECM / Streak combo that cores right through other lights. To stick with the air force metaphor here, it is best served going out, hunting down, and killing the other teams light mechs. Especially on Conquest maps.

The best place to find and kill those lights on a Conquest map, is by going out to the caps yourself.

Just remember, the 3L is nasty, but not auto-win when out numbered. If there are other lights, stick with them.

[-Muta-]

I love my little Spider with all my heart but honestly ravens scare the **** out of me...

So I bought and mastered a 3L!

[Tahuti]

Huginn (Odin's Raven - Thought)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...941c2b9891a55a8

No intresting Raven builds here... Let's give it a change.
I mastered the 3L on this set and had a good time playing. In early parts of the game I mainly use the ER LL, then TAG and fire LRM5s. Mainly using it for the psychological effect "INCOMING MISSLES" keeping the PPC and LRM boats from peeking. At close combat the Medium Laser and SSRM launcher is handy. The build has not got much heat problems.
Use it in the classic Raven support and battle overview style and you will make 300dmg per match or more. It is also a excellent practice mech to use 5 weapon groups.

Tahuti Out.

Edited by Tahuti, 18 June 2013 - 02:35 AM.