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Joseph Mallan, on 21 May 2013 - 07:33 AM, said:
I would like to also Kyone, But to my reading you have the Brawls an the Brawl-nots. With a few players in between who will use either strategy when appropriate.
There is the fallacy most people get themselves into. Polarization, extreme fitting for one or another "role". But if you look at most BT/TT, most mechs have a spread of ranges, with focus being to the role they support. This is why LRM Catapults have medium lasers, they are fitted to a role, long range indirect fire, but also have some medium/short range direct fire weapons.
Now, most long range weapons can be used short ranged, with the exceptions of the PPC and LRM. Extreme fitting, all LRM or all PPC, will leave you basically defenseless within 180 and 90 meters respectively.
-Gauss, AC2, AC5, UAC5, ERPPC, and ERLL, and can be used at all ranges. Direct fire.
-LRM can be used long to mid range, indirect fire
-AC10, LBX-10, LL , LPL mid to short range
-AC20, MG, ML, MPL, Flamer, SL, SPL, SRM, and SSRM, short range only. Direct fire (you have to keep lock on SSRMs, so I consider then direct fire).
Now, I know the rule as well as any (EVE vet) the extreme condition becomes the norm. Hi-alpha pinpoint damage is the "easiest" way to fight. But it has it's weakness, hi heat, frequent shutdowns, unable to sustain fire in a brawl situation. Yes, a long range sniper can brawl also, but not as effectively as someone set up for it. And it gets boring fast, for both sides.
I never "boat". My preference is to sort of snipe, I actually like to be at range supporting a brawler, like 400-600 away, shooting someone focused on engaging with a team mate. But the unvarying law of Assaults is that something will get close to you, most times you are the slowest on the field, and teammates, especially pugging, will not always be there to help.
One of my Stalker builds has an ERPPC, 4 med lasers, 2 srm4, 2srm6. I have long range, mid range, and short range covered, with most of my damage loaded at short range. All the weapons can be used at short range at all times, and it has a 60 alpha, 30 of which is SRM, and 20 of it the med lasers.
Another is 2 ERLL, 4 med lasers, 2 srm6, which has more damage loaded to long range, but again usable at short, 56 alpha.
And the Misery, 2 ERPPC, 1 Gauss, 2 med lasers, with most of the damage long range capable, still all usuable at short, but with only 45 alpha. I use this against poptarters and snipers all the time, with good success.
None of the mechs are fitted for only 1 range profile, and they are all usable at all ranges. Interesting enough, the one with most of it's damage long range capable has the lowest alpha of the 3 I use. It can brawl when it has to brawl, but in a brawl, I'd rather have the first one.
The point here is that only having 1 range profile limits you. Weight you damage to one side or the other, but always have some capability at ALL ranges. Ok, the long range boated poptarter will still do more damage to you then the other way around, but his whole premise is to avoid taking damage. As soon as he starts taking damage, he's going to have to change position, stay down, whatever, and you have suppressed him from doing damage,
If you like to brawl, fit 1 long range weapon that is short range capable, even 2. It will not effect your short range capability, and you'll be able to vary you tactics to your situation. The key is versatility.
Edited by Lupus Aurelius, 21 May 2013 - 09:53 AM.
