Desynching PPCs and Gauss won't bother me at all. While I often played 2 PPCs and a Gauss, they are always set in separate groups, first mouse button for Gauss, second for 2 PPCs. Somehow I always find I get more kills, better performance in a game that way.
While 6 PPC Stalkers are ridiculous, 4 PPC Stalkers --- using chained fire --- are still very good but you really cannot fault them for that. In general, Stalkers are just very good at what they do at the hands of a good pilot whether its a PPC sniper, an LRM boat or a brawler with lasers and SRMs.
As for medium mech buffs, it does appear that fortunately they are looking at things. I wish they would be more specific, as to include reducing or fixing hitboxes, improving agility and reducing mech scales. I wish they would include fixes on that major flop of a Kintaro.
It is good that they are paying attention to the Awesome. For me, fixing old mechs is as good as bringing a new one in.
I like what I hear about the new maps. Terra Therma quite frankly blows. Its a map suitable for an RPG, not a shooter.
I am always quite prepared for changes in the meta, and in fact, the meta has been gradually changing, one that involves a lot more SRM brawling and closer fighting. That's like turning full circle before the era of PPC dominance. I switched my Cataphract 2X for example, from 2 PPC and Gauss (yes, in separate groups), to 2 PPCs and 2 SRM6s. PPCs have been removed from my Highlanders and Victors; I call them Splatlanders now for a reason. I am having an absolute blast and my kills have improved, but best yet, it has given me the confidence even to take on brawling Stalkers and Atlases one on one, and still win. The design approach in my mechs lately is that for a given total damage, a greater proportion of that damage should be balanced or shifted to non energy weapons (missiles and ballistics). If for say, my Highlander does 69 damage, only 18 of that damage is only from energy weapons (2 LLAS), the remainder is from 3 SRM6 batteries and a Gauss rifle. This allows me to deal with an increasing number of hot maps in rotation, and cooler mechs means higher damage output over time in a brawl.
if you are still sticking to 2 PPC and a Gauss, I think the problem can't be blamed on the game, but you need to start experimenting and trying out new combinations.
Edited by Anjian, 12 August 2013 - 06:17 PM.