23 replies to this topic

[Kanatta Jing]

Light mech hunters is a role that is apparently supposed to be in the game.

Now it has been a big part of the game in the past. That is basically what streak cats were and are. Quickdraws also fill this function rather admirably when they aren't pretending to be jump snipers.

But this is supposed to be a role favoured by Mediums. But a mobile turret like the blackjack is ill suited to the task, as is the LRM skirmisher the Trebuchet. This leaves the Hunchback and the Centurion. Specifically the Centurion D.

Of course I haven't seen very many D's around.

Remember, it could be a Conquest match, the last two enemies could be ECM spiders, and you might already be behind on points. Failure to be able to hunt lights can and does cost matches.

Cents and Hunchs chasing light mechs off of cap points. Apparently it is a thing that they are supposed to do.

[Kaspirikay]

because not enough missile points for streak

[Devil Fox]

Wait until you see a 84kph Victor running across the field chewing light's and mediums up... I can't wait for some mobile firepower again that has staying power. The problem is the current meta means that if you run anything lighter then a heavy that doesn't run over 130+kph, you're just wasted tonnage and tend to be one/two shot because most builds need to reduce survivability for similar alpha strike capacity.

Basically role warfare is dead due to the current meta and module usage.

[Mystere]

My 89 KPH Pretty Baby with 2 PPCs and 3 SSRM2s worked very well as a light hunter, especially during the heyday of the ECM-packing Raven 3Ls.

[Ryokens leap]

Been having a blast light scout hunting with a Dragon 1n, BAP, seismic, target decay, erppc, lrg laser, 2x ssrm2, full armour with extra points on back and a 330xl for 100kph. Great for RTB when being capped and fast enough to get back in the fight.

[FupDup]

Here's one of the best light hunters: Light Hunter


But in all seriousness, you shouldn't ask for light hunting as a role until lights in general have a role beyond capping and dying. Otherwise, there's nothing to hunt.

[Deathlike]

It was tons of fun running a really really fast Cent-D to scare the crap outta lights. ASRMs are great... except the current state of HSR/netcode would make it less than viable. I ran Cent-Ds just fine in the nerfed era... but it was inconsistent due to lack of HSR (now affected by HSR and poo for netcode).

[LordBraxton]

Deathlike, on 07 July 2013 - 09:05 AM, said:

It was tons of fun running a really really fast Cent-D to scare the crap outta lights. ASRMs are great... except the current state of HSR/netcode would make it less than viable. I ran Cent-Ds just fine in the nerfed era... but it was inconsistent due to lack of HSR (now affected by HSR and poo for netcode).

speedy centurions and trebuchets would still be viable if SRMS did 2.5 damage

it was their ability to get behind the enemy and open up their rear armor in a single salvo that made being so huge and vulnerable worthwhile

with seismic around though?

there is no more sneaking

[Deathlike]

LordBraxton, on 07 July 2013 - 09:12 AM, said:

speedy centurions and trebuchets would still be viable if SRMS did 2.5 damage

it was their ability to get behind the enemy and open up their rear armor in a single salvo that made being so huge and vulnerable worthwhile

with seismic around though?

there is no more sneaking

I don't think it was ever that good at doing that (I'm not saying it is impossible, but my playstyle never really lent to that... I assumed everyone could see me more or less).

[FunkyFritter]

As it stands scouting isn't significant enough to be worth a team slot, meaning lights have to run in close and engage at some point. Good aim and positioning is more than enough to kill lights when they come to you, no need to hunt them down.

[Aaron45]

Kanatta Jing, on 07 July 2013 - 02:46 AM, said:

Light mech hunters is a role that is apparently supposed to be in the game.

Now it has been a big part of the game in the past. That is basically what streak cats were and are. Quickdraws also fill this function rather admirably when they aren't pretending to be jump snipers.

But this is supposed to be a role favoured by Mediums. But a mobile turret like the blackjack is ill suited to the task, as is the LRM skirmisher the Trebuchet. This leaves the Hunchback and the Centurion. Specifically the Centurion D.

Of course I haven't seen very many D's around.

Remember, it could be a Conquest match, the last two enemies could be ECM spiders, and you might already be behind on points. Failure to be able to hunt lights can and does cost matches.

Cents and Hunchs chasing light mechs off of cap points. Apparently it is a thing that they are supposed to do.

Now mediums tend to carry ppc. I dont know that reason, maybe they think they are only good with ppc´s? or are they habited to ppcs from their heavy assault mechs too much? dunno

[Foxfire]

Honestly, the best light hunters I've seen have been Jenners(how I've set mine up since closed beta)... and Hunchback.. i think it is the 4P? Whichever the laser boat is with a max engines and loaded up with tons small pulse or the like.

The Cent as a light hunter has always been lackluster, IMO, because so much of the arsenal is concentrated on the arm.

I do think that an SRM buff will give other builds more viability(Trebs, for example)... but right now the role of light hunters is really limited to the Jenner, the laser boat.... with the Quickdraw making a passable attempt as a light hunter/killer.

[PEEFsmash]

Light hunters are a non-existent role because even isolated heavies and assaults can beat lights 1v1, and snipers can "hunt" lights from 600+meters aka one-shotting. If all you want to do is chase lights off cap, a base defense big or streak light can do it just fine. No reason to waste tonnage for the sole purpose of fighting a lighter and, in this metagame, relatively unimportant mech class.

Edited by PEEFsmash, 07 July 2013 - 09:27 AM.

[Foxfire]

Eh... a good light hunter can be a good harasser. It just takes an adjustment in strategy.

[LordBraxton]

Deathlike, on 07 July 2013 - 09:15 AM, said:

I don't think it was ever that good at doing that (I'm not saying it is impossible, but my playstyle never really lent to that... I assumed everyone could see me more or less).

I was always amazed, game after game, how oblivious people are untill you open fire.

I would run along behind a group of enemies, holding my fire, for long stretches of time, waiting for one to become isolated.

then you just walk up (as in point blank), and let rip with 3 SRM6s and some Mlas

it would be enough to take them down in 2 hits, sometimes they would hesitate JUST long enough to let you get both hits in, otherwise you just fire and fade, leaving them confused, and with orange internals exposed all over their back

now I call it the seismic test

skirt wide, come up from behind, and at 400 or 200 somebody suddenly whips around to see who is flanking.

needless to say I adjusted my strategy (aka I run my highlander and cataphract)

Edited by LordBraxton, 07 July 2013 - 10:19 AM.

[Screech]

At this point a light hunter should be another light or slapping on a couple SSRM on your mech. Anything else is such a waste of tonnage for your team.

[Foxfire]

Yeah, the trick to being a light pilot is picking your battles. Your battles depends on the maps, your mech, the circumstances..

You can't run around willy nilly like you could in the days of lag shield.. but a well timed strike or a good bit of baiting can easily turn the tide of battle, even with the sniping meta of today.

[HansBlix WMD]

Foxfire, on 07 July 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

Yeah, the trick to being a light pilot is picking your battles. Your battles depends on the maps, your mech, the circumstances..

You can't run around willy nilly like you could in the days of lag shield.. but a well timed strike or a good bit of baiting can easily turn the tide of battle, even with the sniping meta of today.

And by picking your battles you mean hiding until the 10 minute "snipe each other with ppc and gauss" phase is over, then run around for 10 seconds before you get legged by a ppcwarrior. Yeah lights have no role so why bother hunting them.

[Foxfire]

HansBlix WMD, on 07 July 2013 - 12:16 PM, said:

And by picking your battles you mean hiding until the 10 minute "snipe each other with ppc and gauss" phase is over, then run around for 10 seconds before you get legged by a ppcwarrior. Yeah lights have no role so why bother hunting them.

Nope.. it means picking the right time to dart in, get the attention of the PPC snipers, then pulling back and doing enough to make sure you keep their attention.

oh.. and if you get one alone.. that is a great time to take them down.

[HansBlix WMD]

Foxfire, on 07 July 2013 - 12:22 PM, said:

get the attention of the PPC snipers, then pulling back and doing enough to make sure you keep their attention.

I think you misspelled "get one-shot by PPC snipers."