12 replies to this topic

[Doctor Proctor]

Every time I'm on River City, regardless of which base I spawn at, the first thing I do is run to the edge of our base area and look across to the enemy base. This lets me know which way they're going (upper or lower). It even works on River City Night as long as you're using regular vision since you can see them silhouetted against the lights.

Why is this such a difficult tactic for so many others to understand though? So many times I've dropped with a team that instantly decides to start off in one direction, such as lower, while I'm yelling in chat that the other team has chose the opposite direction and will cap if we don't meet them. Sometimes they turn back and there's a nice brawl, but most of the time once they've gone off in one direction they won't turn back, and then both teams end up going straight to each other's bases relatively unopposed and start sitting on the caps.

PLEASE start paying attention to where the other team is heading and act accordingly. Or if they're lollygagging at their base, at least listen when someone tells you that they've gone the opposite direction that you're going and turn around. Otherwise, we all end up with paltry 50k CBill or less payouts at the end of the match.

[Sephlock]

Doctor Proctor, on 23 August 2013 - 11:41 AM, said:

Every time I'm on River City, regardless of which base I spawn at, the first thing I do is run to the edge of our base area and look across to the enemy base..

But with gauss rounds.

[Doctor Proctor]

Sephlock, on 23 August 2013 - 12:41 PM, said:

But with gauss rounds.

Actually happens less than you would think. Of course, that's why I always make sure cover is nearby when I do this, just in case they start shooting. At most, you might get tagged wtih some long range shot at half damage, unless you stand there like a fool while their entire team snipes you.

[Lord Perversor]

Doctor Proctor, on 23 August 2013 - 11:41 AM, said:

Every time I'm on River City, regardless of which base I spawn at, the first thing I do is run to the edge of our base area and look across to the enemy base. This lets me know which way they're going (upper or lower). It even works on River City Night as long as you're using regular vision since you can see them silhouetted against the lights.

Why is this such a difficult tactic for so many others to understand though? So many times I've dropped with a team that instantly decides to start off in one direction, such as lower, while I'm yelling in chat that the other team has chose the opposite direction and will cap if we don't meet them. Sometimes they turn back and there's a nice brawl, but most of the time once they've gone off in one direction they won't turn back, and then both teams end up going straight to each other's bases relatively unopposed and start sitting on the caps.

PLEASE start paying attention to where the other team is heading and act accordingly. Or if they're lollygagging at their base, at least listen when someone tells you that they've gone the opposite direction that you're going and turn around. Otherwise, we all end up with paltry 50k CBill or less payouts at the end of the match.

Know your feelings, i feel the very same everytime i bother to do a check, but Halas most of the ppl love the Conga/*********** mentality.

That's why i resorted to ignore base defense unless i see a minimum of 2-3 mechs returning since i'm movil enough to return in time

[Hauser]

You can control the flow of pugs a little bit.

At the start of the game people will follow the first thing that moves. Just like a little duck. So if you walk in a direction at about 60kph to 80 kph people will follow you. If you go faster then that the distance will become too big too fast and they'll follow some one else. Once people start following slow down to about 50kph to avoid leaving the assault mechs behind.

After that people will be attracted to the nearest red triangle they can see in front of them. If you keep targets locked that are on the edge of the enemy team the pugs may actually execute a flanking manoeuvre.

Typing out a motivation + suggestion helps too. For example on Alpine: "They've got a light pack, 5 light mechs going north" "Lets stay in F10 and defend the base".

Unfortunately, more often then not it doesn't work which is most frustrating.

Edited by Hauser, 24 August 2013 - 02:04 AM.

[Navy Sixes]

I'd like to know who thinks its a good idea to take command of the unit and (spawning from the base in D2) order them to defend C2? The only mechs that have any luck are the brawlers, but by the time they can do anything, everything else has been whittled down. Once a few lights get behind you, forget it. The enemy will get there about the same time you do, only they'll have the high ground and your field of fire and maneuverability will be severely restricted by the buildings. It's like marching up to the enemies walls and saying "defend this position!"

[Sephlock]

[Bront]

The fact that the map is small enough to do this is annoying.

I personally don't because my render range generally prevents me on my poor PC.

[Timuroslav]

It has a lot of different problems, despite being one of the prettiest maps.

-[1] It was the first map so people have a predetermined Idea on how to play it (Not that I agree with the meta)
-[2] Currently, Scouts are not scouting, so finding enemy coordinates is a hassle. The Result is the average P.U.G. taking the safe route
-[3] The Map is really small, so there's less forgiveness/reaction time to the enemy's plan.
-[4] Both Bases are within Direct Fire Artillery range. This means that people will almost always take the safe route, behind citadel, and the Launch pad people will always go Upper
-[5] Hive Mind. People are used to playing a certain way and this developed because Scouts did not scout but instead brawled, the Consequence was the average PUG going Epsi on Alpine and cycling Right on River City.

There's a lot of ways to fix this problem. Most them rely on the player base
My suggestions are. Scouting as the O.P. stated by giving coordinates and mechs.
the other is team coordination.

It's really up to the individual to prevent Hive Mind.
But the Map does need to be Expanded....badly

Edited by Timuroslav, 29 August 2013 - 09:36 AM.

[JeepStuff]

Hauser, on 24 August 2013 - 02:00 AM, said:

You can control the flow of pugs a little bit.

At the start of the game people will follow the first thing that moves. Just like a little duck. So if you walk in a direction at about 60kph to 80 kph people will follow you. If you go faster then that the distance will become too big too fast and they'll follow some one else.

<snip>

After that people will be attracted to the nearest red triangle they can see in front of them.

<snip>

Ahh that's so funny. And sad. And true.

I'll take the conga line over the roach scatter any day of the week, though.

[Justy Starflare]

You play your way I'll play my way. Just because my way is different does not mean I don't know how to play.

[Clydewinder]

step one should be to fire off a UAV right in front of enemy base

[Cybertek]

The problem is they need better incentives for people to scout, tag, and help pinpoint targets. The conga line of hive mind will always be in this game though. You always succeed when you bring bigger numbers against one. Main problem is not easy communication between players. I mostly play Catapult-A1 and bring a lot of Missiles, I like the hive mind and conga cause I know if I have a few friends that have visual with the target my missiles will keep a better lock than if I see a target and only one mech is near it. So few resources to waste. I personally never buy the consumable modules cause at 40k a piece or whatever they are I don't find my ROI worth it. I don't even know but do you get spotting points for every mech you detech with a UAV? Lol as a LRM missile boat I am always attracted to the nearest red triangle, for a few reasons. 1. Closest Threat (Hello!!!) 2. Shorter response time to incoming missiles. River City is my favorite though, would love if it were expanded a little bit even up behind the dam a little would be nice. The funny thing about "Taking command" of a unit is I never follow that **** anyways. I am not your little robot slave, if you want to defend great for you. I never spend time capping or trying to get resources capped. I find targets and blast them, why??? because they give you C Bills, a lot more. I honestly could care less if the team wins or looses C Bills the same either way. Only way to improve that is to drop some mechs, as long as dropping mechs gets me more C Bills that is what I will do.