8 replies to this topic

[Nefczi]

Hey guys!

Wanted to ask how do you set those two options from the topic.

I was had and arm lock "on" at first. but after a while I noticed that Arm lock limites you greatly especially with mechs that have arms.
With arm lock off i can now hit enemies that are higher or lower than me. In many cases it was impossible to do with arm lock on.
Also hitting those pesky light mechs running around on steroids is easier now as you arent limited only wth torso twist speed(and legs).

The dowside of turning arm lock off is that I get confused sometimes in the heat of the battle and fire my arm weapons when my torso "reticle" is pointed at enemy which leads to a miss.
Im new to the game so Im still learning. Hopefully I will get a better hang of it.

If it comes to throttle decay, Im not sure what to do with that. So far I had it "on".
Turned it off today and tried it in testing grounds. Setting certain speed and focusing only on turning legs and torso without having to hold "W" all day long is nice. But you get additional key(full stop) that you have to rely on. Also peaking over the hill is more tricky withthout throttle decay.
I got used to throttle decay so much that turning it off makes things a bit counter-intuitive for me. Not sure if i should leave it "on" or take time to get used to playing without it.

So what are your thoughts about this guys? What has more adventages in your opinion, setting those options on "or" "off"? How do you setup them yourself?

[Nexus Omega]

There is an Arm-Lock key (like Free look), for when you need to align your cross-hairs. (Wish it was a toggle) Other wise Arm-Lock off is best.

With Throttle decay, I run it off, If you like it on, you can use the numlock number keys to set throttle to a % of max 0/10/20 etc. if you re-bind those keys it may work for you

[Redshift2k5]

Turning off arm lock is very important; you've already listed the reasons why (shootig up/down slopes, shooting faster mechs that circle you). However, there are also other options; With arm-lock on, you can hold the shift key to temporarily disable arm lock, allowing you to make those angled arm shots sometimes but otherwise leaving the arms in line.

Throttle decay off is the intended way for a Battlemech to move, you're supposed to set your throttle to the speed you want to free up your controls for other functions. Note that there are also more throttle controls you may not be aware of, specifically the numpad. Numpad numbers set a specific speed (5 sets 50%) and there are other numpad throttle functions as well.

[Taxxian]

I dont use Arm lock, but alway Throttle Decay.

How it works:

W: Set Throttle to Maximum
S: Standard (Throttle Decay applies here)

So W makes me go full speed even after releasing the key, tipping S makes me stop and holding S makes me go backwards.
How to reach different speeds?

I set my MouseWheel to StepThrottle-UP and -DOWN to fine tune my speed after tipping W or S.

Works like a charm :-)

[Dalziel Hasek Davion]

There have been a few threads on this topic and different people have different preferences - influenced by their history with the game, controller preferences and the 'Mechs they pilot.

I started with a Stalker - no arms - and got very used to having arm lock on. Even now I pilot 'Mechs with arms, I seldom switch it off - only doing so (using the LEFT SHIFT key) when I need to hit something above, below or orbiting me. This is not a purist position - but it is effective.

I have throttle decay on and use the NumPad as "cruise control" - for escorting slower fatties, giving my fingers a rest when travelling across Alpine or Tourmaline or sneaking below seismic "radar". During a battle, however, I appreciate the additional nuanced control that throttle decay offers.

[zraven7]

Having arm lock "off" really can seriously improve your game. However, it can be a little weird when you have weapon groups that combine arm and torso weapons. Most people would tell you to simply not group your weapons that way, but it's not always possible. I have to deal with this with one of my Trebuchets, as I have an SRM6 on an arm and on a Torso shot. I personally have my arm-lock button set to default, which is shift, and ,my pinky rests there. When I go to fire my SRM weapon grouping, I briefly hold shift, fire, then release shift. This allows me to take advantage of my other weapon group, my medium lasers, being on my arms, and having a wider field of fire.

It takes some getting used to, but it works great for me.

[DEMAX51]

zraven7, on 05 July 2013 - 04:37 AM, said:

Having arm lock "off" really can seriously improve your game. However, it can be a little weird when you have weapon groups that combine arm and torso weapons. Most people would tell you to simply not group your weapons that way, but it's not always possible. I have to deal with this with one of my Trebuchets, as I have an SRM6 on an arm and on a Torso shot. I personally have my arm-lock button set to default, which is shift, and ,my pinky rests there. When I go to fire my SRM weapon grouping, I briefly hold shift, fire, then release shift. This allows me to take advantage of my other weapon group, my medium lasers, being on my arms, and having a wider field of fire.

It takes some getting used to, but it works great for me.

Exactly how I roll, too. Leaving arm lock off and only using it when you need to will give you much more freedom than leaving it on all the time.

Regarding throttle decay, I personally do not use it, but I started playing this game well before that feature had been implemented. That said, I don't see any advantage inherent to either using it or not. Pretty much just personal preference.

[Koniving]

Nefczi, on 05 July 2013 - 01:57 AM, said:

So what are your thoughts about this guys? What has more adventages in your opinion, setting those options on "or" "off"? How do you setup them yourself?

I typically keep Armlock off. I also use CTRL to independently and very precisely control the arms while still hitting a second target with the torso weapons.

For example in an Atlas using the torso weapons (namely SRMs and ballistics) is pretty fruitless against lights and it turns your strong side away from heavier enemies. Instead, I put the torso crosshair "+" on the enemy and fire away while using Left CTRL to aim my arm crosshair "o" on the enemy light to scare it away or try to leg it. Lasers work best against lights anyway if you can't focus all your attention on them.

Now when I want precision damage, I will press Shift which then locks my arms and torso together giving me that pinpoint hit. Byebye cockpit.

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Throttle decay I always have off out of preference. But regardless of how its set using this guy here, I can set my speed and be done with it.



At the moment I can only comfortably use the throttle control. I use the two linked buttons under my fingers to turn, and with a control like this I can vary my speed to better evade enemy PPC shots when using a light or medium mech. See AC/20s coming in, REVERSE for the faster stop! Whoosh, it flies by! Jerk it forward! Yippie Ky Yay MF! The digital/analog control over my turning also allows me to adjust my turning speed instead of doing full speed all the time, allowing me to better control my torso aim while tracking and shooting other targets with my arms.

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Overall, the toughest assault mechs are those that can deal with multiple threats simultaneously without ever exposing their weak sides. They're the ones with Armlock off but know when to Shift it into gear, and with throttle decay off because they need their hands free to handle other matters such as override (O - press before you overheat), soft-start and standby (P -- use Standby to rapidly cool but you are vulnerable during this never do it in the open), toggling chain and group fire (backspace - important when you need to ride 95% and higher but can't risk ever shutting down or overriding), and so much more (such as using LCTRL to throw your arm in the way of an incoming PPC blast going for your side torso when you know you can't twist fast enough).

[Cest7]

Don't use throttle decay.

I use arm lock for pinpoint alphas on mechs with torso+arm weps, I hold Shift to lock it it.