4
I’m an experienced player. I’m definitely not an expert progamer. But I managed to master 24 mechs so far - including 3 Commandos and 3 Jenners. I know the tactics, I know the loadouts, I know the maps. I’m ok at piloting and aiming. So much about me.
Just yesterday, after having piloted Heavies and Mediums exclusively for many weeks now, I decided to have some fun with my good old Commandos again I always loved to pilot so much.
First: COM-2D. Used to be easy-mode – but lots of fun therefore. ECM, 3x SSRM2, MLas. I knew SSRMs got nerfed recently but since I rarely ever use those, I had no idea how bad they got nerfed. I failed horribly. 3 matches with less than 100 damage, 1 match with 360 damage after having fired 2 full stacks of ammo combined with good piloting and good use of my laser. Ouch.
But what changed?
SSRMS: Let’s face it. SSRMs definitely were way too powerful. An easy-mode weapon shouldn’t be a killer weapon. Too much damage was applied to CTs too fast. Therefore I was completely fine with the first nerf, damage reduction. That was needed. But still some exotic mech variants like the Streakcats were able to get several kills each match coring enemy mechs using SSRMs. Then came the second nerf, missile spread. When I first read about it I thought: Yeah, that’s perfect. An auto-aim weapon should have a wide spread with no option to blast distinctive body parts away. But now after having tested the actual SSRM implementation myself, I must say: Keep the spread but increase the damage! If this weapon can’t be used to kill enemies (which is good), it should at least be a viable option for beginners to apply some serious but wide spread damage. Right now SSRMs are completely useless. Having fired 2 full stacks of ammo at an enemy light mech, I would at least expect the arms to be blown off. SSRMs already have a higher weight than SRMs which sadly is irrelevant to heavier mechs but a factor to be considered for light mechs.
After this experience I refitted my COM-2D to 2x SRM4 and a MLas but switched to my COM-TDK for the next few matches without playing the 2D any more. But I doubt the new loadout will shine, since the arms get blown off way too fast as I was about to experience with my TDK.
My TDK is maxed out, using 4x Mlas, AMS and going over140 KPH. Without much of a surprise I could finally manage to kill something again. But it was way harder than it used to be. Why?
Spiders: Those darn things are just bugged. They are fast and agile, jumping all the time. I’m fine with that. But even when they’re running in straight lines from you or standing still, they hardly take any damage. Many players have complained about this in the forums before – devs, do something about it!
Hit detection/weapon accuracy: An AC40 Jager instantly got me killed last night because I was running up to him in a straight line. My fault. That’s a perfect example for bad piloting using a Light. The next few matches I tried to use more cover and approach my enemies in diagonal lines. But to my surprise this didn’t help much. I repeatedly got sniped by PPCs, Gauss, AC20s,LLas,… running at full speed (140 KPH). While hit detection and HSR seems to be irrelevant to Spiders and a few high ping players, I as a low ping Commando pilot get a good beating.
Especially PPCs got a heavy hit with the nerf-bat recently. And the heat penalty for boating really reduced the PPC sniping. Playing Heavies or Mediums myself, this really helped. But for Light mechs, which have considerably less armor, this is still a topic. In my opinion the the heat-nerf was too much. Lowering the heat penalties but adding an accuracy nerf would maybe help the Lights, too and not make PPCs obsolete against other weight classes. Or maybe re-introduce a firing delay for PPCs and Gauss? Not sure how to solve this. But with the next patch the PPCs will have their base heat increased once again. In my opinion PGI has a tendency of hitting too hard with the nerf bat lately.
Right now Jenners seem to work fine. They are hard hitting and agile but die after several well aimed shots. Spiders are pesky nuisances. And most Ravens and Commandos can be considered free kills. Except the 3L which is still almost OK, the other Ravens and all the Commandos deal low damage and can be taken out quite fast. I always have to laugh getting attacked by RVN-2X when piloting my Heavies.
================================================
TL;DR version:
SSRMs: Keep the spread but increase the damage! If this weapon can’t be used to kill enemies (which is good), it should at least be a viable option for beginners to apply some serious but wide spread damage to enemy mechs.
Hit detection: While hit detection and HSR seems to be irrelevant to Spiders and a few high ping players, I as a low ping Commando pilot get a good beating. Commandos die laughably fast these days.
Spiders: Those darn things are just bugged. Fix them already!
Heat penalty for boating: Lowering the heat penalties but adding an accuracy nerf would maybe help the Lights, too and not make PPCs obsolete against other weight classes.
================================================
See you on the battlefield!
- Garry
Edited by Garrond, 31 July 2013 - 11:57 PM.
