11 replies to this topic

[BootHands]

EG Tag Laser. Doesn't make heat, doesn't have ammo, needs to be on constantly to be useful. Is there a way to goggle it so that I'm not just stuck holding down 2 on my Razer all game?

[mailin]

Some people have written a macro that does this, but I don't know how to do it. Honestly, do you really want a 750m long red laser pointing out that everyone can use to find your mech all the time? I know I don't, which is why I hold down the button when it's needed and release the button when it's not.

[Hammerfinn]

When I did this, I didn't use a macro. I taped a roll of dimes to my keyboard. :-D

Though, as mailin points out, it's probably a bad idea since it's a little red line that screams HERE I AM SHOOT ME I HAVE LRMS.

[Aym]

Assign it to all 6 weapons groups and either write a macro to keep one of them firing or... well, I use a logitech g-13 so I have fingers readily available to hold down a weapon group button to fire the TAG.

[DEMAX51]

Kind of an odd work-around that doesn't involve the use of a macro, but I've noticed that if you hold down the fire button for tag and keep it held down while you ALT-TAB out of the game, then release that fire button before you ALT-TAB back into the game, your TAG will continue to fire without pressing the button.

I still don't recommend doing it though, because, as other's have said, it does give away your location.

Edited by DEMAX51, 06 June 2013 - 12:02 PM.

[Koniving]

The tag laser can be seen by the naked eye, highlights in thermal, and is also very visible in night vision. Wherever you point, you advertise yourself out past 750 meters. Matches have been won and lost due to the almighty broadcast of the tag laser telling everyone exactly where to point their weapons long before the other side knew what was waiting for them.

If you're next to someone who has tag on all the time... move away. Wherever he or she goes, doom is soon to follow.

[The Jerol]

Interesting point, Koniving!

I just started trying my hand at a TAG-enhanced missile boat (Stalker 5S) and have been running it with a macro that always keeps TAG on (there is one referenced on this forum that uses a program called "Autohotkey", btw, if you are interested). I get shot a LOT in this mech... Hehe... Now I know why!

Think I'll try it without the "always on" macro and see how I fare (or better yet without TAG altogether, as I haven't seen that big of an advantage to it -- granted I'm a newb).


TJ

[Koniving]

The Jerol, on 06 June 2013 - 10:32 PM, said:

(there is one referenced on this forum that uses a program called "Autohotkey", btw, if you are interested). I get shot a LOT in this mech... Hehe... Now I know why!
Think I'll try it without the "always on" macro and see how I fare (or better yet without TAG altogether, as I haven't seen that big of an advantage to it -- granted I'm a newb).
TJ

Actually got help remapping the macro key in here, then posted scripts for two very interesting builds. Still have to put vids up for the shotgun, MG, AC/2 DD.

Tested macros with energy weapons per someone's request. My results are here.

Spoiler

Small pulse lasers, small lasers, flamers. (SPLs had a few hangups. Flamers took the brunt of the time as I spliced in the macro version with firing all non-stop. Results are interesting.)

Medium lasers through standard PPCs.

Edited by Koniving, 06 June 2013 - 10:46 PM.

[Rushin Roulette]

You dont actually need a macro for the 4P medium laser boat. The medium lasers fire for 1 second and have a recharge of 4 seconds (3 seconds after firing has finished), so you have a continuous stream of lasers with no damage-down time until you overheat if they are in groups of 4.

To fire continuously with the 9 lasers you just have to split the arm and torso lasers into 2 groups and activate chainfire for those 2 groups (Left and right mouse button for me). The head laser is backup for if you need just that little bit more damage and I have a separate weapon group just for the arm lasers incase a light gets too close. A final weapon group for all weapons at once for if I need an alphashot.

Edited by Rushin Roulette, 06 June 2013 - 11:41 PM.

[Koniving]

Rushin Roulette, on 06 June 2013 - 11:40 PM, said:

You dont actually need a macro for the 4P medium laser boat.

I'm aware. The point is someone asked me to test and see if there 'is' a benefit. Which there is if you use 5 PPCs to pump out 30 back to back shots before blowing up, want a flashy useless flamer rig, or like to create interesting firing patterns. At the very beginning of the first video, I happen to start out already chainfire.

Edited by Koniving, 07 June 2013 - 09:08 AM.

[Hammerfinn]

The Jerol, on 06 June 2013 - 10:32 PM, said:

Think I'll try it without the "always on" macro and see how I fare (or better yet without TAG altogether, as I haven't seen that big of an advantage to it -- granted I'm a newb).

TAG it still awesome. I'd keep it, but just shoot it at guys you have LOS on. It can light up an ECM target and let you lock onto them. It increases tracking and grouping for your missiles. I makes almost all of your missiles hit CT on the target you have painted. I'd still take it, it just is a bit tricky to figure out at first.

[DEMAX51]

Keep in mind, too, that you only really need to have the TAG hitting somebody under the following conditions:

If they're ECM shielded, you have to keep them TAGged in order to maintain lock, so you have to paint them during the entire flight of the missiles

If they're NOT ECM shielded, you really only have to paint them with TAG right as you're getting lock on them to make the lock happen faster, and then again right before the missiles land, to get them to focus tighter on the CT. - you don't need to keep the target painted the entire time.