5 replies to this topic

[Lazy Eye]

Mediums do not work as 'Light Hunters' because:

• They are larger and slower than light 'mechs.
  
• They don't have the armour or firepower of heavier 'mechs, but are the same size.
  
• Laser streaming (or Lights are just too damned small).

A spider is approximately the same size as a Hunchback's LEG: it is 25% of the size, but 60% of the mass.

Because of the streaming effect of lasers, combined with the high speed and small size of the light 'mechs, it's extremely difficult to use lasers to kill light 'mechs; you need to use LRMs, S-SRMs, larger ACs and PPCs in order to do this effectively.

You can mount all these weapons on bigger 'mechs and in reality, it's easy enough to get the range you need to be able to target light 'mechs - why bother using mediums when you can use a heavy/assault and a bit of skill?

The size difference between lights & mediums is important, because it affects the relative firepower. That is, firepower is a combination of damage and accuracy; a light is relatively more accurate against a medium than the other way round, because the light is smaller (assuming equal skill of pilot).

Sorry, but size DOES matter.

Suggestions:

• Make light 'mechs larger i.e. the same size as medium 'mechs, only slightly skinnier in the arms and legs.
  
• Reduce the streaming time on medium lasers from 1 second to 0.25 seconds or less. This would not only make medium lasers more effective against the small 'mechs, it would also improve the ability of light 'mechs to hit & run.
  
• Give light 'mechs a role OTHER than ninjaing assault 'mechs in the back; make them able to so something that means they don't need to expose themselves to fire from big 'mechs so that they actively have to be hunted.
  
• Restrict engine sizes to the 'tonnage multiple'. More radical, but it would mean that you're putting a more drastic cost on speed improvements - a 70 ton 'phract could only increase speed by going from a 280 to a 350 (can't put in bigger, because of the 400 maximum).

[Wintersdark]

I dunno, I have no trouble at all using Large Lasers to carve lights up into bite sized pieces. Mediums are just fine as light hunters, as far as that goes. Hell, my best light hunting mech is my Flame, with 4LL's and a XL350. Slices them right up, and at 104kph it's fast enough to stick with a light long enough. A 150kph light CAN get away, if he runs directly away (and eats a lot of fire to his back) or he can bob and weave and not get away. Technically a heavy, granted, but it's really pretty much a big medium.

Mind you, I think Mediums are kind of sad in MWO, and have been for a very long time. Not enough armor to stand up to the heavy alphas that Assaults and bigger heavies can dish, not enough speed to stay out of the line of fire. Though really, that's starting to apply to many Heavies as well (except the AC40 jags and whatnot).

[Funky Bacon]

Hitting a light mech is not really the problem. getting your shots to register is.

But it's true that the size of lights and mediums does matter a bit.

[Lazy Eye]

Interesting.

I'm not the one who said there was a problem: http://mwomercs.com/...ng-as-a-tactic/

You'll note that the OP is staff...


Flame is a heavy, not a medium. Q.E.D.

I play in the UK, so my ping is generally in the 100-140 region, perhaps this is why it's such a problem for me. Killing spiders with medium lasers is impossible.

[Ryokens leap]

I absolutely love hunting lights, so much so I've put BAP and SSRMs on all my Dragons. This plus seismic and a big honkin engine = super fun, I almost giggle out loud when our base gets capped and I get to run back and see what Santa left under the tree for me!

[Typhoon Storm 2142]

Lazy Eye, on 04 July 2013 - 11:18 AM, said:

Mediums do not work as 'Light Hunters' because:

• They are larger and slower than light 'mechs.
  
• They don't have the armour or firepower of heavier 'mechs, but are the same size.
  
• Laser streaming (or Lights are just too damned small).

A spider is approximately the same size as a Hunchback's LEG: it is 25% of the size, but 60% of the mass.

Your whole post is full of flaws and false facts.

1. So what? Yes, mediums are larger and slower. And they still are the best light hunters because they are still fast enough.
2. So what? Yes, they have less armor and weapons than heavier 'Mechs. But they're still stronger than lights.
3. So what? You just need to aim the lasers at the target for 2 seconds. Still working.

Maybe your real problem is...you can't hit moving targets.

Quote

A spider is approximately the same size as a Hunchback's LEG: it is 25% of the size, but 60% of the mass.

This is not true.



You think LRMs are one of the best ways to kill a light 'Mech? No, buddy...LRMs are the worst weapon against them. Followed by ACs, Gauss and SRM. The best weapons against lights are Lasers, PPCs and SSRM.

Quote

...why bother using mediums when you can use a heavy/assault and a bit of skill?

Because a Blackjack with 1 AC10 and 4-6 ML does about the same damage as a Jaeger with 1 Gauss and 2 PPCs.

I don't think any of your suggestions really does something good, other than breaking the game or making it less fun.

Edited by Typhoon Storm 2142, 05 July 2013 - 12:53 AM.