12 replies to this topic

[Fauss]

the A1 is the most worthless PoS mech I makes me rage at how horrible it is

[Nauht]

You're new so you're forgiven for not understanding the A1 fields the cheesiest configs of any cat.

[Pater Mors]

2x LRM15 4x SSRM = Not worthless.

6x SSRM = Not worthless.

6x SRM6 = Not worthless.

[Dagger6T6]

[Escef]

Pater Mors, on 18 June 2013 - 08:03 PM, said:

2x LRM15 4x SSRM = Not worthless.

6x SSRM = Not worthless.

6x SRM6 = Not worthless.

Back when SRMs were doing excessive damage due to errors with how splash damage was handled, the 36SRM A1 Cat was a fearsome beast. Especially as this was before Alpine and Tourmaline were introduced. It isn't nearly so deadly now, mostly because SRMs were over-nerfed.

The StreakCat was big before ECM, so I hear, and the SRM nerf did not help it any. I've seen a couple lately, but they don't much impress me. Though I wager it makes an impressive scout hunter.

[627]

StreakCat is still the best scout hunter. Lets see what the ssrm-changes will do to it but for now you have a good run in a match with it.

And the mixed build lrm/srm/ssrm can be fun, too.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Dagger6T6, on 18 June 2013 - 08:16 PM, said:

Haters gonna hate

The A1 Catapult is fun. It is a good SRM platform, and ESPECIALLY a good SSRM platform. Streaks (w/ BAP) is a light mechs worst nightmare.

The A1 is also a good LRM platform for fire support. You can even mix and match SRMs and LRMs.

It is a tricky build, but nothing that can't be effective.

[Ragnar Darkmane]

Escef, on 18 June 2013 - 10:41 PM, said:

The StreakCat was big before ECM, so I hear, and the SRM nerf did not help it any. I've seen a couple lately, but they don't much impress me. Though I wager it makes an impressive scout hunter.

The StreakCat in combination with BAP to negate ECM still works. However 20 damage per volley is not that impressive against anything that is not a light, basically the firepower of 4 MLs with almost half the range against ECM targets. And -80m range against the rest.

[Fauss]

my problem I guess is that the lrms seem pointless, if I don't have a direct LoS the whole missile flight I lose lock and the missiles are wasted. I have the BAP and just put artemis system on it but my missiles mostly hit nothing. doing all Short range missles I die fast in brawler range

[Ragnar Darkmane]

Fauss, on 19 June 2013 - 11:47 AM, said:

my problem I guess is that the lrms seem pointless, if I don't have a direct LoS the whole missile flight I lose lock and the missiles are wasted. I have the BAP and just put artemis system on it but my missiles mostly hit nothing. doing all Short range missles I die fast in brawler range

There are some tricks to using LRM.
First off don't fire your LRMs just because you got a target box and you aquired a lock on a target you don't see. Wait a moment. Chances are high that either your team mate that spotted (especially if it is a light) ran away from the target or lost line of sight (lights without 360* spot module are a good example if they use hit and run and simply run past their target to get to safety) or that you are targeting an ECM mech (or someone under an ECM bubble) that was hit by PPC (stops ECM effect for 4 seconds) and will be under the ECM bubble long before your missiles get even close to hitting him. A single target 500+ m away is always a risky target because chances are high you will lose lock in a moment. Stop firing more missiles immediately if you see that your target is trying to move behind cover where your LRMs can't hit him or you will definitely lose your lock. You'll just waste valuable missiles.

Usually it is better to not fire your missiles (unless you got 800+ missiles in your mech) and wait for a target that you will surely hit. Best targets are: Someone with a team member right beside him. If the lock is still there after 5-8 seconds and the mechs aren't moving like mad, chances are high that these two are having a brawl and are looking straight at each other for quite some time. Also if there are more than 2 of your mechs close to an enemy fire away like mad. Chances are extremly high that one of your buddies will look at the target and keep a lock all the time.

It also usually helps to remind your team to press R to lock an enemy all the time even if they got no SSRMs or LRMs. Just tell them you got multiple LRMs. Locking is something people tend to forget in the heat of the fight if they are not using target seeking missiles themselves. And ALWAYS take a TAG with you if you got at least 2 15x LRMs and try to get a direct line of sight whenever it is safe and keep the TAG on the target (put it on some easy to hold button like the left or right mouse button) and go back behind cover and switch to indirect fire if you see that your target is a sniper mech (more than 1 PPC/ ER LL or gauss and so on) and starts firing at you. You will deal damage like mad. And even though it sounds stupid: Stop shooting missiles if you don't get a red reticule/target cross or your missiles are hitting rocks/walls.

Others will surely be able to give you more tips.

Edited by Ragnar Darkmane, 19 June 2013 - 04:06 PM.

[Dagger6T6]

wait wait!! hooooooold up... are you saying that LRMs are not a "lock, fire, win" weapon and that LRMs actually have optimal conditions which can maximize your hit to target potential, which is akin to... dare I say it... requiring skill to use them?


but for real, the advice in the post above is golden

Edited by Dagger6T6, 19 June 2013 - 01:31 PM.

[Ragnar Darkmane]

Dagger6T6, on 19 June 2013 - 01:27 PM, said:

wait wait!! hooooooold up... are you saying that LRMs are not a "lock, fire, win" weapon and that LRMs actually have optimal conditions which can maximize your hit to target potential, which is akin to... dare I say it... requiring skill to use them?

Yep. Even though a total noob will do some damage with dumb fire ("dumb" according to the literal meaning) that noob will still be more dangerous to your team and deal more damage if he uses PPC instead (or simply runs AC20/40 and stupidly tries to get to close range and manages to do that) and gets a line of sight. Dealing damage with LRMs is easy. Dealing damage that actually leaves an impact on the game (or that deals more than 120 damage the whole match) takes knowledge, skill or insane luck (for example an enemy that disconnects in open field and you got a line of sight. Although you can easily get damage points then with even with even WORSE weapons and such things rarely happen).

Edited by Ragnar Darkmane, 19 June 2013 - 01:35 PM.

[Pater Mors]

Escef, on 18 June 2013 - 10:41 PM, said:

Back when SRMs were doing excessive damage due to errors with how splash damage was handled, the 36SRM A1 Cat was a fearsome beast. Especially as this was before Alpine and Tourmaline were introduced. It isn't nearly so deadly now, mostly because SRMs were over-nerfed.

The StreakCat was big before ECM, so I hear, and the SRM nerf did not help it any. I've seen a couple lately, but they don't much impress me. Though I wager it makes an impressive scout hunter.

That is all totally, true. My point was just to say that the A1 is by no means worthless.