35 replies to this topic

[Zarlaren]

Kills / Death 65 / 407
Kill / Death Ratio 0.16

I need help no matter what mech I buy or what equipment I get I get blasted down as if I'm using aluminum foil armor. I need some tips on how to stay alive right now I need some help for my Victor 9B. Some help is apreciated.

[Simbacca]

What role is your Victor-9B? Brawler? Ranged? Multi-Role? Light/Medium Hunter-Killer?

My Victor-9B Build is Multi-Role but with good brawling power.
1 AC20 with 4 tons ammo
1 Large Pulse Laser
1 Medium Laser
1 LRM20 with Artemis with 3 tons ammo
1 AMS with 1 ton ammo.
XL325 Engine
12 Double Heak Sinks
No Jump Jets
Endo-Steel Structure
Maxed out torso armour and increased armour to arms.

Where possible, I like to keep my Victor close to other assaults or heavies. My LRMs permit fire support, and my guns can deal with what comes at the lance. Furthermore, the increased speed permits better manoeuvrability for repositioning - though the larger engine comes at the cost of losing the jump jets.


EDIT: As to why I use an XL engine in an Assault mech - I operate under the doctrine of bringing superior firepower and mobility to defeat my foes before they can exploit the XL vulnerability.

I have 30 mechs in my collection. Only 3 of them run Standard Engines.


EDIT 2: Endo-Structure part of mech load out.

Edited by Simbacca, 25 August 2013 - 04:50 PM.

[Plonky]

Zarla, on 25 August 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

Kills / Death 65 / 407
Kill / Death Ratio 0.16

I need help no matter what mech I buy or what equipment I get I get blasted down as if I'm using aluminum foil armor. I need some tips on how to stay alive right now I need some help for my Victor 9B. Some help is apreciated.

It's difficult to give you advice without watching you play. I've written a bunch of guides, which I'll link below:

New player guide - http://mwomercs.com/...yers-pps-guide/
Mech roles in combat - http://mwomercs.com/...mbat-pps-guide/
How to flank - http://mwomercs.com/...65#entry2597165
Combat, what to do and why - http://mwomercs.com/...20#entry2576620

Hope these help.

[Darwins Dog]

As a general recommendation I would say that you should try avoiding the heavy fighting until you get the hang of moving, shooting, etc. I don't mean hiding in a cave and powering down, but stay just back from the main action. Try not to be the first over a ridge or around a corner. Focus on getting in a few good shots and then getting away before the enemy returns fire. When I first started I would get killed constantly because I wanted the glory of killing the enemy. I'd over-extend, and get myself into a bad position. I see a lot of other players do the same. As you get used to the flow of battle you will start to have a sense of when you can engage safely, and when you should fall back.

[Liquid Leopard]

Zarla, on 25 August 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

Kills / Death 65 / 407
Kill / Death Ratio 0.16

That was my K/D ratio when I was playing at 11 frames per second. I could hit the broad side of a barn if I walked into the barn. I didn't realize it, but having such a crappy frame rate actually made it harder to hold a missile lock on a target. It was that bad. I played nearly 1000 games with that frame rate (or worse), so my stats will just be permanently bad.

Do you know what frame rate you're getting when you play? How are your weapon stats? I have an accuracy around 60% for most of my weapons, but I know some people that had an accuracy over 90% after playing for a week.

Also...what Darwin's Dog said... Let some newer newbs go first, and play Rambo. Don't be the first to peek over a ridge or around a corner. Don't chase an enemy mech around a corner, because he's probably leading you back to his friends. To some extent you have to go forth and find the enemy, but there also comes a point where you have to let the enemy come around the corner where you and your teammates are waiting for them.

Edited by Liquid Leopard, 25 August 2013 - 02:57 PM.

[Zarlaren]

Simbacca, on 25 August 2013 - 01:58 PM, said:

What role is your Victor-9B? Brawler? Ranged? Multi-Role? Light/Medium Hunter-Killer?

My Victor-9B Build is Multi-Role but with good brawling power.
1 AC20 with 4 tons ammo
1 Large Pulse Laser
1 Medium Laser
1 LRM20 with Artemis with 3 tons ammo
1 AMS with 1 ton ammo.
XL325 Engine
12 Double Heak Sinks
No Jump Jets
Maxed out torso armour and increased armour to arms.

Where possible, I like to keep my Victor close to other assaults or heavies. My LRMs permit fire support, and my guns can deal with what comes at the lance. Furthermore, the increased speed permits better manoeuvrability for repositioning - though the larger engine comes at the cost of losing the jump jets.


EDIT: As to why I use an XL engine in an Assault mech - I operate under the doctrine of bringing superior firepower and mobility to defeat my foes before they can exploit the XL vulnerability.

I have 30 mechs in my collection. Only 3 of them run Standard Engines.

Alright i'll try this combo thank you. I know the XL vulnerability that was why I switched out of XL to Standard but then i'm heavier and can't put as much on. I tried FF armor and Endo Steel skeleton but it takes up alot of slots too.

[Simbacca]

Zarla, on 25 August 2013 - 02:47 PM, said:

Alright i'll try this combo thank you. I know the XL vulnerability that was why I switched out of XL to Standard but then i'm heavier and can't put as much on. I tried FF armor and Endo Steel skeleton but it takes up alot of slots too.

I forgot to mention the build uses Endo-Steel

Personally, I only use both ES and FF for Light Mechs.

[Zordicron]

Pretty rough sounds like, but sounds like you enjoy the game enough to keep pushing forward.

Framerate might be a concern, you can check it in game by pressing F9 I think. Most people will tell you somewhere in the 20's is good enough to play decently. So if you are below that, maybe reduce graphics settings, or worst case upgrade your GPU card.

Otherwise, could be playstyle. Do you overheat a lot? Do you put ammo in the legs or side torsos? Do you run lasers, ballistics, missiles, combination? Gauss rifles a lot(they blow up)

Do you use BAP to help with ECM mechs? If you die and are not sure why, maybe you are getting pelted by "hidden" ECM mechs. Battle awareness is not everyones forte', but thats not the end of the world, you just need to adjust a bit and make sure you hang out with some team mate pals to help you out.

Otherwise others have some good advice: slow down and hang out with the team, let someone else go in front and let the scouts scout. If you are cresting ridges or trying to jump snipe, you are probably taking a lot of fire without returning much.


oh one last thing, K/D ratio is not like some kind of magic defining stat. In fact, I find it to be pretty much worthless. Do you have fun? Are you doing OK dmg numbers, helping your team, etc? Honestly I value dmg and assists like 10,000% more then K/D ratio, but I can understand it is nice to see it in the positive and can be a downer to see it get so low. I was at .45 when I owned like 2 phracts(4X took me FOREVER to figure a loadout, and not really a friendly mech to learn on) but eventually I got the hang of things, and now mine is in the green. EVEN IF IT ISNT in the green for you, if you have fun, then who gives a **** what the K/D ratio is. Interact with your team, pew pew and dakka dakka and stompy robots, and drop again if you get blasted.

Oh one other thing, if you find yourself blasted early, spectate someone. Or a couple people in a match. Watch how people move, how they use cover and who they target etc. Yo can tell when someone knows what they are doing a bit and when someone is doing the rambo march into doom. You can learn a lot just by seeing how other people do stuff, and what happens to them when they do it. If you see them wrecking it, pay attention to how they are moving, what they waited for before engaging, who they are shooting etc. If you see someone getting really blasted, pay attention to where they are moving(probably way in the open) who they are targeting, what they are doing.

All else: drop in with a teamspeak group, ask for advice etc from them. Most MWO players that care enough to actually talk will be friendly. Most of us old farts just like battletech and mechwarrior and want to pew pew in stomping robots anyway, and dont really care who has elite skillz for t3h killz.

[Modo44]

Unlock the arms, and lower your mouse sensitivity in the game options (better aim). Equip every mech with Double Heatsinks (less overheating), and Endo Steel (more tonnage for weapons). Put on maximum armor (stock mechs have weak armor). Unless capping, stick with friendly mechs of similar speed (less chance of getting singled out by a light hit squad). Always hide behind stuff when not firing/going somewhere (less chance of being focused by enemy snipers/LRM boats, or getting spotted at all).

As for builds, I recommend looking at the many threads for specific mechs (use the search function). You will find lots of good ideas there for any playstyle.

Edited by Modo44, 25 August 2013 - 08:48 PM.

[Johnny Marek Summers]

Advice that another new player got was, go to the training grounds and just run around in it. Of course that was because he was having problems with manuevering. However it is good advice. You can explore the maps without having someone shooting at you. Familiarity with the maps and learning how to use terrain to your advantage can help a lot.

Another thing you have to realize is that you only score a kill if your shot was the one to finish your oponent. That is how a light can 'kill steal' by being the one to get the last shot even if it was a single point of damage with a small laser or machine guns.

[JigglyMoobs]

Why not watch some pod casts?

eg:

This way you can see how people who are reasonably good at this game play, communicate, etc.

[Simbacca]

Eldagore, on 25 August 2013 - 08:30 PM, said:

Otherwise, could be playstyle. Do you overheat a lot? Do you put ammo in the legs or side torsos? Do you run lasers, ballistics, missiles, combination? Gauss rifles a lot(they blow up)

Do you use BAP to help with ECM mechs? If you die and are not sure why, maybe you are getting pelted by "hidden" ECM mechs. Battle awareness is not everyones forte', but thats not the end of the world, you just need to adjust a bit and make sure you hang out with some team mate pals to help you out.

There is nothing wrong putting ammo in the legs, except for light and fast mechs - in which those cases everyone aims for the legs.

Another thing that has to be remembered is that your sensors only cover a 120 degree forward arc. If there are no friendlies in your rear, you have a sensor gap. Situational depending it is sometimes a good thing to do a "Crazy Ivan" - rotate your torso to the rear to have a quick look behind.

[Johnny Marek Summers]

You might also want to remember that you are in an assault class mech, but the low fat version. You might want to allow heavier assaults be your stalking horse, if there are any.

Maybe try to flank the enemy (and I don't mean breaking off from the group) by attacking from the side or even from behind when your target is engaged with someone else.

Above all else just tell yourself, you are not a tank. You are a scrapper with mix of speed and damage who can take a hit (just not multiple alphas).

[L Y N X]

Johnny Marek Summers, on 25 August 2013 - 08:47 PM, said:

{snip}
Another thing you have to realize is that you only score a kill if your shot was the one to finish your oponent. That is how a light can 'kill steal' by being the one to get the last shot even if it was a single point of damage with a small laser or machine guns.

In team matches, there is no such thing as kill stealling... understand the where and why the term came into being... in RPG MMO's random players would go around and finish off a MOB (NPC monster) that someone did most of the damage to. That random player would than get the rewards for the kill. in a team game such as MWO specifically, it is a team effort even if your teammate is some random player in a PUG. The assist currently earns more Cbills and the Kill for the stat is earned by the last damage that kills the mech as you say. it is not a solo effort but a team effort. If the light in your example cherry-picks a kill, then it is still a team effort, but I think cherry picking kill shots is a more accurate way of describing it than misusing terminology.

[mailin]

Also, after you die, don't exit the match. Instead spectate and switch players until you find someone running a similar mech/loadout and watch how they do it. It's amazing how much you'll see that you simply miss in the heat of the moment. Every weapon and mech has its strengths and weaknesses. Learn these for your enemies and use their weaknesses against them while trying to avoid playing to their strengths. Don't worry, your KDR will get better. For the longest time mine was below 1 but it has become rather respectable now. Also, you don't need to use TeamSpeak, but I do suggest you try to make in game friends who do respectable damage and who use team chat. This will usually tell you what kind of players they are. Once you have some friends, try to drop with them as often as possible. They will help you stay alive.

[Johnny Marek Summers]

Actually I did know the terminology, it's why I put the words in single quotes. I understand that this is a team game and team effort counts. I just want to point out to the OP that the kill part of the kill/death ratio stat is focused on that last bit of damage.

However there ARE people who focus on the stat, and so will try to get the last shot for the 'honor' of the kill and adding it to their stat. Or they aren't going for stat padding and just manage to get the last shot but someone else might call it 'kill stealing' simply because they won't get the kill credit, even if they get the assist credit, because they are focused on the stat.


EDIT: added a bit to hopefully clarify my pov

Edited by Johnny Marek Summers, 26 August 2013 - 12:50 PM.

[DegeneratePervert]

VTR-9B

Here's an incredibly durable Victor build. It should let you get a handle on the basics of the game, like the utilization of your power weapons (AC/20), your backups (Medium Lasers), and your anti-light weaponry (streaks). Remember to stick with the blob for the most part, and never be the first into the fray.

[L Y N X]

Anyone who calls it kill stealing in a team match is simply wrong.  There is no kill stealing in MWO.  It is a team effort or a lack of team effort.

It is a a solo kill or a team effort kill, well there can also be a Teamkill which arguably could be called a kill steal, but does not fit what you are trying to convey.

Edited by 7ynx, 27 August 2013 - 08:31 AM.

[Dawnstealer]

Victor is one of the few mechs that can actually run an XL without a big drop in their survivability. I'm guessing you're dying because you're hitting the main body of the enemy formation before your teammates.

One problem with an XL engine, and the Victor in general, is that you'll tend to move a bit faster than your contemporaries (Stalker, Highlander, Atlas). This is a problem because without those bigger guys to suck up (and deal out) the damage, YOU are the biggest target around.

By now, people also know the kind of weapons the Victor can pack. While it's not the hardest hitter in the game, it can (and usually does) pack an AC20 or Gauss and that's not the kind of thing you can ignore for long.

My advice?

Hang back a little. Stick with the big boys and don't feel bad about sticking to the back of that group. Once the fight is engaged, and your enemy is getting tunnel vision, THAT'S when you use your superior speed and maneuverability to get to the flanks and the rear and to pick out the weak ones.

[Zarlaren]

Eldagore, on 25 August 2013 - 08:30 PM, said:

Pretty rough sounds like, but sounds like you enjoy the game enough to keep pushing forward.

Framerate might be a concern, you can check it in game by pressing F9 I think. Most people will tell you somewhere in the 20's is good enough to play decently. So if you are below that, maybe reduce graphics settings, or worst case upgrade your GPU card.

Otherwise, could be playstyle. Do you overheat a lot? Do you put ammo in the legs or side torsos? Do you run lasers, ballistics, missiles, combination? Gauss rifles a lot(they blow up)

Do you use BAP to help with ECM mechs? If you die and are not sure why, maybe you are getting pelted by "hidden" ECM mechs. Battle awareness is not everyones forte', but thats not the end of the world, you just need to adjust a bit and make sure you hang out with some team mate pals to help you out.

Otherwise others have some good advice: slow down and hang out with the team, let someone else go in front and let the scouts scout. If you are cresting ridges or trying to jump snipe, you are probably taking a lot of fire without returning much.


oh one last thing, K/D ratio is not like some kind of magic defining stat. In fact, I find it to be pretty much worthless. Do you have fun? Are you doing OK dmg numbers, helping your team, etc? Honestly I value dmg and assists like 10,000% more then K/D ratio, but I can understand it is nice to see it in the positive and can be a downer to see it get so low. I was at .45 when I owned like 2 phracts(4X took me FOREVER to figure a loadout, and not really a friendly mech to learn on) but eventually I got the hang of things, and now mine is in the green. EVEN IF IT ISNT in the green for you, if you have fun, then who gives a **** what the K/D ratio is. Interact with your team, pew pew and dakka dakka and stompy robots, and drop again if you get blasted.

Oh one other thing, if you find yourself blasted early, spectate someone. Or a couple people in a match. Watch how people move, how they use cover and who they target etc. Yo can tell when someone knows what they are doing a bit and when someone is doing the rambo march into doom. You can learn a lot just by seeing how other people do stuff, and what happens to them when they do it. If you see them wrecking it, pay attention to how they are moving, what they waited for before engaging, who they are shooting etc. If you see someone getting really blasted, pay attention to where they are moving(probably way in the open) who they are targeting, what they are doing.

All else: drop in with a teamspeak group, ask for advice etc from them. Most MWO players that care enough to actually talk will be friendly. Most of us old farts just like battletech and mechwarrior and want to pew pew in stomping robots anyway, and dont really care who has elite skillz for t3h killz.

I've tried alot of things even my own creative builds that possibly doesn't make sense to alot of players. I have alot of fun but it is frusterating that a new player as myself gets pitted against old vets that knows how to turn your mech to swiss metal in seconds. I'm getting better in terms of hitting and aiming but still taking alot of fire and go down fast. I'm now trying to not be the solo hero that can rush things as I used too which is helping alot.