10 replies to this topic

[Mcchuggernaut]

I'm a new player who has only been playing for a few months, and am really enjoying the game, however I have a few questions I haven't gotten satisfactory answers to, and would like a little help from the pros. Today I was circled by 2 light mechs of the same kind (Jenners) in my Stalker. One of them made the mistake of standing still for a second, I alpha'd him, and I killed him in one clean shot (I have an extremely powerful alpha setup. It cores most lights in one direct hit). The other kept circling, and although It looked like I hit him directly with 3 alphas and multiple glancing blows, he took almost no damage and cut me apart. I was told this is due to lag, and that a fast moving light isn't actually where it appears to be. Is this so? If it is, how do I counter this? I'm not going to whine and complain, since that fixes nothing. Instead, I would like to figure out how to deal with this issue for the next inevitable time I am in that situation. Any tips and/or advice about this?

[BookWyrm]

Yes, sometimes, other times you did not hit what you thought you hit or your damage was spread to different parts of the mech (Light mechs can take a little bit of damage too!). Either way, it's a known issue that is being worked upon and something as old and profligate as internet gaming itself.

[Mcchuggernaut]

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for a solution like "lead your target by X amount when it's moving Y fast to make sure your shot actually connects instead of just looking like it did." I'm just surprised it seems to be such a wide margin of error. At least you say it's being worked on. When fighting lights I already know to walk backwards, keep a wall to your back if possible, go for patient, well-aimed alphas instead of worthlessly trying to pick at a light and waste most of your shots, to turn in the opposite direction a light is circling you in, and to stay near someone so you always have a buddy to shoot them while they try to get behind you. It seems hard enough to deal with them already without them pulling the quantum uncertainty principle trick on you, lol.

[BookWyrm]

I'd try to give advice but it seems to be different for every player and situation. Personally, I don't notice any issues, I'm not sure if I have a great connection or if my brain just tunes it out because I'm used to the lead time.

[-Natural Selection-]

Some of it is the lack of a ping cap, or regional servers. Some is due to a buggy hsr on spyders at this time. Might have to fire a couple times to see if they are a little in front or behind where you are aiming. You are normally very close but just a little off. Usually sweeping a laser at legs on lights is the best take down or way to guage where to fire an alpha.

Edited by Dozier, 20 August 2013 - 07:29 PM.

[Mcchuggernaut]

Does laser sweeping the legs actually work? I thought that it did too little damage because their legs move fast enough that the laser actually doesn't contact them long enough to do more than a fraction of the damage the lasers would do when held on a target? I run a Stalker with 6 medium lasers and 4 srm6, and my tactic has been to lead them slightly with the missliles and fire them all in one burst. IF it connects that's usually enough to either discourage any more harassment, or disable them. When I catch one not paying attention and fire the lasers and missiles all in one shot and actually hit a light with both the missiles and a full and sustained laser burst, they pretty much always cease to exist instantly. Should I go with pulse lasers since they deliver their damage in a quicker burst, thereby making the time I'm actually on them with lasers count more? Should I be using Streak SRMs instead since the lock-on might make up for the positioning being off?

[-Natural Selection-]

Yea, mis-worded or didnt really get out what I meant. (sorry bout that) I will sweep the legs to kinda judge how far off they are, then try to focus. I do use pulse lasers on my Jenner and it does do the best job (laser wise) at taking a leg out.

easiest way to takedown "PERSONALLY"
Raven = legs
Jenner = CT
Commando = whatever you hit 1st
Spyder = whatever the hell takes damage

[Mcchuggernaut]

Haha, I feel ya on the Spiders. A tip on the ravens: They have a very easy headshot for some reason. Let them think your not paying attention for a second so they stand still, then swing around, sight on that big glaring bulls-eye of a cockpit window they have, and let loose all the fury you can pinpoint unload. Half the time, they drop right there. I have even played possum before on a light by backing into a wall so they couldn't core me from behind very fast, and pretending to "give up" or go AFK. The normal light pilot will stand still to take better aim, and that's when you do the ol' "wake up and give him a face full of alpha strike". Hey, if you can't hit em', fool em' into standing still.

[Shazarad]

A player on the forums wishing not to whine but to improve? The sky IS falling.

For real though, congrats to you for your positive attitude. And yes, do lead lights just slightly. Lasers are most reliable for this because they can be dragged across the mech. These issues have been around since Closed Beta, but has improved dramatically since then.

[Mcchuggernaut]

Thanks for the compliment! I have learned from a long and illustrious lifetime of gaming that getting frustrated just gets you killed, and a better use of your time is calm study of what your doing wrong and watching the pros. I started a few months back with trial mechs and getting my arse whupped every game, and now I have a positive K/D with the mech I built. Still a negative K/D overall because of my first few months of learning, but at this rate I'll be showing good overall stats soon. I think I can say I have just about learned to brawl with the best of them. Had a 5 kill game yesterday.

[Modo44]

I tend to focus on the light legs. The amount of firepower on an assault can do major damage even if only a fraction of that hits. Backed up by some streaks after recent changes, legging stuff is relatively easy regardless of HSR issues.