9 replies to this topic

[Matteo319]

Hello I recently started playing MWO and for my first mech I Decided to buy a CPLT-A1. I've fiddled around a bit and decided to load it with nothing but LRM launchers. So my question is after I fire do my missiles maintain a lock or do they lose it if i lose mine mid flight, also I've noticed that my reticle will flash red after i fire is that the game confirming a hit?

Edited by Matteo319, 31 August 2013 - 12:41 PM.

[Typatty]

You must maintain the lock. If you lose the lock, your LRMs will not continue to aim towards the mech you fired them at. Keep in mind that your LRMs will only be guided if you fire them after you've already locked on.

However, if you locked on and fired, and you lose the lock, you can make your LRMs guided again mid-flight if you regain the lock before they've landed.

Your reticle flashing red means you've hit a mech with at least one of the missiles.

[scJazz]

If you lose LOS for 2 seconds your LRMs will go dumb. If you reacquire lock and/or get lock from someone elses lock they will get smart again.

You can fire LRMs using someone elses Lock but this is really tricky since it is impossible to know if they will hold the lock long enough for your missiles to hit.

Yes the flashing red crosshair means you hit.

Somewhat obligatory since I am obsessed with the Catapult A1. 576 matches (2 Days 5.5 Hours of actual game time)

My Catapult A1
CPLT-A1 SmartCat

Edited by scJazz, 31 August 2013 - 12:53 PM.

[Matteo319]

Thanks i thought that might be the case but i wasn't sure.

[Matteo319]

scJazz, on 31 August 2013 - 12:46 PM, said:

If you lose LOS for 2 seconds your LRMs will go dumb. If you reacquire lock and/or get lock from someone elses lock they will get smart again.

You can fire LRMs using someone elses Lock but this is really tricky since it is impossible to know if they will hold the lock long enough for your missiles to hit.

Yes the flashing red crosshair means you hit.

Yeah the reason why i ask is because i tend to use other peoples lock but they keep losing them which is made worse because i tend to fire close to the extremes of my missile range and it can take a while to hit.

[Koniving]

Matteo319, on 31 August 2013 - 12:50 PM, said:

Yeah the reason why i ask is because i tend to use other peoples lock but they keep losing them which is made worse because i tend to fire close to the extremes of my missile range and it can take a while to hit.

It happens a lot. What I like are enemies that sit still next to an ECM mech and think they can't be hurt.

You can dumbfire your LRMs very accurately, too.

What you do is you aim where you want the LRMs to go and simply fire. People cry "hacks" so much when you keep getting them reliably like this, and it's like "Seriously you're standing still. That ECM won't save you from me if you can't even move."

[scJazz]

Matteo319, on 31 August 2013 - 12:50 PM, said:

Yeah the reason why i ask is because i tend to use other peoples lock but they keep losing them which is made worse because i tend to fire close to the extremes of my missile range and it can take a while to hit.

I've been thinking throughout today about writing a New Players guide for LRM use and evasion.

I keep bumping up against the fact that there is an Art to it.

Koniving, on 31 August 2013 - 12:55 PM, said:

It happens a lot. What I like are enemies that sit still next to an ECM mech and think they can't be hurt.

You can dumbfire your LRMs very accurately, too.

What you do is you aim where you want the LRMs to go and simply fire. People cry "hacks" so much when you keep getting them reliably like this, and it's like "Seriously you're standing still. That ECM won't save you from me if you can't even move."

I had a very detailed exchange of ideas (mass LRM fire) with an Atlas DDC who thought ECM = impervious to LRM fire today. He even complained about hacking just as you said when I shot him in the face twice while closing to BAP range with dumb fired LRMs.

[Liquid Leopard]

scJazz, on 31 August 2013 - 12:46 PM, said:

If you lose LOS for 2 seconds your LRMs will go dumb. If you reacquire lock and/or get lock from someone elses lock they will get smart again.

You can fire LRMs using someone elses Lock but this is really tricky since it is impossible to know if they will hold the lock long enough for your missiles to hit.

Yes the flashing red crosshair means you hit.

^ What they said. This is why using LRMs takes a little bit of skill.
If you're depending on teammates who have detected the enemy, you lose the lock when they lose their lock. So, scouts who are spastically running around enemy team aren't good spotters.

If you get line-of-sight for yourself, you still lose the lock if the enemy goes behind cover.

Also, your missiles aren't smart enough to avoid most obstacles, so you can waste a lot of missiles on the side of a building, or a crystal spire.

You can maintain your missile lock better with the "Target Decay" module, which costs zillions of C-Bills...But, I think it was worth it.

In case no one has mentioned it to you, LRMs have a minimum range of 180m. If you fire at closer range, or if the target closes that distance while the missiles are in flight, they'll bounce like nerf darts.

That maximum range of 1000m is also not negotiable. Once they've flown 1000, they self-destruct. (Hint: Don't fire at a Spider that's 900m out and running away from you! )

Also, arming a mech with nothing but LRMs is a big risk. You lose a lot of effectiveness if the enemy has ECM, and you're completely disarmed if they get too close, or if you run out of ammo. I highly recommend carrying an SRM launcher or 2.
If I owned an A1, I might try this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...661eea1f6ba4686

...and, welcome to the game!

Edited by Liquid Leopard, 31 August 2013 - 01:02 PM.

[Matteo319]

Thanks for all the advice i just had a game and my damage went up alot just by knowing to be more selective of my targets.

[LiegeOfThePit]

Another thing to keep in mind is when you target a player, look at the weapons on the top right, if it has ams it's not a good idea to shoot him. Also not a good idea to fire at light mechs. One last tip try to have the target in you line of sight, but don't get too close. if you can't see him he could be behind cover, making you waste your LRM's.