24 replies to this topic

[Straygo]

Hey everyone

i pose a question and open discussion about the nature of gameplay as a light and their place on the battlefield. It is my opinion (and should be taken as such) that l;ights in the game currently arent in a good spot.

Why take a light mech over popular builds like the 6 ppc stalker, or the ppc/ppc/gauss highlander, or the duall ac-20 jager? Hell even the blackjack i run has better luck in game, and i run ppcs in it.

Feel free to give your opinion on the matter. Id like to hear from light pilots and how they are feeling.

Thank you

[LordDante]

fun and honor will never get out of fashion Never.
ask urself what takes more skill pressing the left mouse button and boom the enemy explodes OR weaving through the enemys, strike and fade, shoot jump turnarround mid air and shoot again then land and be gone to come back from another direction to drive those big bad alpha monsters into overheat ... ohh so sweet is the life of a scout.

the way of the chosen may be a stony one but the reward is more a simple mind ( PUSH THA LEFT BUTTON ) can imagine. its not about the points its about the game and why u play it.

Edited by LordDante, 03 June 2013 - 10:48 PM.

[Gryse]

Lights feel less like scouts, more as moving targets( in the hands of less experienced players) or paper cannon scrappers(in the hands of experienced players). Neither of these feel like their intended role from when Beta launched. it seems like your spot assist XP has diminished (or I'm just having trouble getting it) and many matches favor a kill rather than capture strategy, which slightly diminished their role for objectives. In a straight fight with an Assault Mech, unless they get close, the light should lose due to superior fire power if both pilots have similar skills. but up close the only Mechs that should stand a chance scrapping it up with a light, are other simularly fast mechs. Just my thoughts.

[Jock Blaine]

I am not certain about your spot xp being diminished. However, due to ECM (yeah, there it is again, I still disapprove of the current implementation) it has become a lot harder to actually get the spot bonus. I can run out and call targets for my team, but I can't spot as long as there is enemy ECM in the vicinity since you can't target. And no, BAP doesn't help for this since 150m is way to close for a scout, especially if you have to remain that close for missiles to land.
Still, you can be a valuable addition to your team, although you don't get rewarded for it. (yes, ECM broke information warfare). I do like how HSR has removed the lag shield. It makes it harder, but it rewards skill. And punished stupid mistakes: finding yourself between the enemy without cover gets you killed impressively fast. Hey, part of the game. That'll teach you not to make stupid mistakes.
So, what do you do as a light: Scout. Tell your team where to expect the enemy. Hunt other lights that try the same. Defend the base against other fast mechs. Cap the enemy base. Have fun. Shooting the backs of enemy assaults and disappear before they are turned around. Annoy the heck out of them. If that is your play style: have fun. If you want big and stompy to kill others, a light is the wrong choice. Move on to a heavy or an assault. I feel that the roles are fairly well defined now, with the possible exception of the mediums, but since I am not a medium pilot I might be totally wrong there.

Edited by Jock Blaine, 03 June 2013 - 11:26 PM.

[FunkyFritter]

Never underestimate the ability to pick your battles. An optimized assault may be the strongest thing on the map, but you're still screwed the moment you find yourself facing 2 opponents who know what they're doing. A Jenner might get crushed by a Stalker in a fair fight, but the Jenner moves fast enough to hold back until the Stalker is close to overheating and missing armor.

Light mechs may not be ideal in public matches because you can't rely on your teammates to hold back when they're outgunned, but at least they have a role. Personally I pity the medium pilots who are still outgunned but lack the speed to make up for it.

[MonkeyCheese]

This thread again?

Same old I prefer big fat push one button launch ppcs/srm/lrm/whateverthehypecurrentlyis and I win everything smaller and faster than me is stupid and disadvantages the team and you should not drive it....

Seriously people get some balls and find something new to cry about

[Theodor Kling]

I love my Commandos.. the lowest of the lowest ( until the Flea hits ) .. but running around, TAGing people , driving PPC Stalkers and many a Jaegermech insane.. sure against some of the better pilots I see no land. .but that is not because lights are bad, that's just me moving too predictable.
And although public groups have their teamply problems, I frequently make an impact.. not pointwise, for that you need heavy hitters. But even a single light running around in the enemies formation can cause enough distraction for the big guys to bring the destruction without worrying too much about return fire. And if they get return fire that means I am ignored and can chew away at peoples back armour..
The only bad thing about lights for me atm is the worthlessnes of SRMs.

[Vassago Rain]

FunkyFritter, on 03 June 2013 - 11:42 PM, said:

Never underestimate the ability to pick your battles. An optimized assault may be the strongest thing on the map, but you're still screwed the moment you find yourself facing 2 opponents who know what they're doing. A Jenner might get crushed by a Stalker in a fair fight, but the Jenner moves fast enough to hold back until the Stalker is close to overheating and missing armor.

Light mechs may not be ideal in public matches because you can't rely on your teammates to hold back when they're outgunned, but at least they have a role. Personally I pity the medium pilots who are still outgunned but lack the speed to make up for it.

Catapults can almost reach 90 kmph. 50 more doesn't let you outrun them fast enough to 'pick your battles,' and you don't have the guns to fight them.

That's just lights compared to a very common heavy mech. A HEAVY MECH. It was better when you could rush in and blow them up with a commando.

Even with SRM buffed damage, the improved hit registration would make your light pop in the first volley. They need to add a points value for all mechs already.

[JP Josh]

i had to change most of my play-styles with the lights when i came back just friday... that said i have adapted the only play style i didn't change is my heavy and assault hunter.... the er ppc ecm commando.

the goal is simple avoid the enemy team and only fire on them when they are more than 600 meters out... or if your team desperately needs a distraction.

for some reason the other team goes squiirrle and trys to kill this mech first before any other if you let them see you.

on a finale note beware of enemy counter scouts they will hunt you down and eat you.

Edited by JP Josh, 04 June 2013 - 12:31 AM.

[Gryse]

Jock Blaine, on 03 June 2013 - 11:25 PM, said:

I am not certain about your spot xp being diminished.

Yah, I don't mean to say that the Reward has been diminished, but more like what you say about the ability to target in the current build of ECM diminishes the ability to get this reward. Though that shouldn't be your goal in the mech, it does help drive the Mech role of the scout to new pilots trying out the lights, Leads them into the role rather than simply saying, "here, you are faster now, go get them" which many rookie pilots exibit.

[627]

Were you ever in a game where you stomped 7 of your enemies with ease (because everyone and his mom got assaults and heavies) only loosing to one little spider or jenner who not only outcaps you but take one lonely big boy after another out?

I don't want to reduce light role on this, but it's a part. Game modes we have are crap, but we have no others. So play it, cap it, harass with lights split the enemy.

So much to do für lights and mediums. You won't get rich but it's helluva fun ride

[LordDante]

its like this

Edited by LordDante, 04 June 2013 - 07:27 AM.

[CancR]

Light's current role is to take a light that can what call of duty fans think ecm should be, and to load out on what call of dutyplayers think streaks should be to hit the call of duty combo of easy mode.

[zraven7]

I do think that, pugging, the role of the light mech may not be where it should I do feel, however, that with voice chat, they can be invaluable. Being able to scout the enemy advance and provide direct-sight intel can be invaluable.

[Whompity]

I enjoy my light mechs the most of all of them. ECM helps a lot, but the Jenners are still a blast too. Flank and backstab, then run away: rinse/repeat.

[DerSpecht]

I noticed that noone uses ravens anymore. Most light i see when playing is 3ML + 3SL jenners or ERPPC spiders.

I took out my 3L for a few rides and it was no fun. Even running at 150kp/h while zig zagging like mad doesnt help. if you encounter enything at distance it can alpha you or your legs. below you can harass until some other enemy comes into alpha range.

Put the raven into the garage again.

Edited by DerSpecht, 04 June 2013 - 08:07 AM.

[Joseph Mallan]

LordDante, on 03 June 2013 - 10:40 PM, said:

fun and honor will never get out of fashion Never.
ask urself what takes more skill pressing the left mouse button and boom the enemy explodes OR weaving through the enemys, strike and fade, shoot jump turnarround mid air and shoot again then land and be gone to come back from another direction to drive those big bad alpha monsters into overheat ... ohh so sweet is the life of a scout.

the way of the chosen may be a stony one but the reward is more a simple mind ( PUSH THA LEFT BUTTON ) can imagine. its not about the points its about the game and why u play it.

There is something to the Weaving damage and discord in the enemy lines. There is a perverse satisfaction to being able to snake your way through the enemy while dealing damage, But in the end I am a
HULK SMASH!
player. There is a very orgasmic feeling when I one shot a light or medium Mech to death and they tumble lifelessly to a halt.

Edited by Joseph Mallan, 04 June 2013 - 08:11 AM.

[stjobe]

Joseph Mallan, on 04 June 2013 - 08:10 AM, said:

very orgasmic feeling

Please Joe, TMI... TMI!

... although I will admit to feelings on the same general note when a heavy or assault falls to my light 'mech's guns.

[Joseph Mallan]

stjobe, on 04 June 2013 - 08:17 AM, said:

... although I will admit to feelings on the same general note when a heavy or assault falls to my light 'mech's guns.

I can only imagine the Oh Face when it happens Jobe

[Hammertrial]

To make the enemy and friendly team rage when you base cap.