40 replies to this topic

[Hexy Smexy]

So far, thanks for all your input, guys! It's nice waking up in the morning and seeing so many posts =)

I have my Raven 3L maxed atm as far as my Pilot Tree goes (with an extra 25000 XP that I can't do anything with atm), but I guess I need to waste the C-Bills that I don't have on the other two ravens to make it matter?

Actually, I lied. I have an XL295, not an XL290, so that's a plus. I'm at 136.6kph at top speed.

Yes I have my ECM on because it's the best thing about the 3L and that was stressed to me before I bought it

I've done the Typical build as well, and the STRKS didn't feel like they did enough of anything, though it could be my poor ability to lock on in crazy up close battles.


As a whole, I started staying back more and I think it helped. I had some pretty good games, one of which I did 260ish damage with my ERLL. I guess for now I have to do the amazingly long grind of getting two more Ravens? Seriously, is there a better way to get C-Bills? Cause it's like pulling teeth...

[scJazz]

Get Premium Time and the teeth pulling becomes 1/3rd faster!

You do get one free day. To claim it turn off Adblockers... click Download top right corner of this window... click download... cancel... you should see Redeem free day in bottom right.

Stupid stunt you can try...

There is a positive tendency for people to go "SQUIRREL!!!" and focus/move toward the first thing they see. You could turn off your ECM so you are visible, find the enemy force, then turn and drag them back to your Team. The results are amusing! I haven't tried it with an ECM mech though so... whelp... YMMV! This is great for Maps like Canyon Network and Caustic Valley where the two teams might completely miss each other.

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

This is your role as a Scout, to perform Reconnaissance:

A mission undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area. Also called RECON.

Not to engage in combat alone or in the role of a scout, your should return to the formation to fight.

[mailin]

A couple of things. Johhny Reb, you NEED to get the ammo out of your legs. Also, I think the ER LL on a Raven is a fad. I have all the lights mastered . . . actually thinking on it I have everything mastered except three chassis, so, the standard loadout on a Raven 3L is a 295xl, 3 mlas and 2 streaks. My variant has 2 mlas, a TAG, and 2 streaks with two tons of ammo. As soon as you can these are the modules you will want in no particular order: seismic sensor, cap accelerator, target decay, and sensor range (and get the advanced varieties as soon as you can). A Raven has missile slots, use them. Plain and simple. Some people drop regular srms in them, which doesn't work too well for lights. Without missiles you are hurting yourself. I think those players who do a lot of damage in the 3Ls with ER LL or PPC builds are primarily using them to snipe and work on heavies and assaults. I say this because I tear up ER LL and PPC 3Ls with my lights and cicadas. Also these build are hot, which means you run the risk of shutting down. A shut down light is a dead light. Keep weapons that have fast recycle times and are cool to fire on a light. If you want to try messing around with an exotic build, do it after you have the 3L mastered, not before.

[Voivode]

The build you have on your 3L is actually a much better build for the Raven 2X. Since you'll likely be trying that one soon in your quest to elite, toss 2ERLL and 2ML on it with the max engine and give it a whirl. Solid build.

When fighting lights (especially spiders) aim for the legs.

Edited by Voivode, 26 September 2013 - 07:13 AM.

[danneskold]

I run in a jenner - and I can spot newb light pilots a mile away. When you die, get in the cockpit of another light, and watch how they move.

1 - I used to use SSRM in my D before the hit changes, I now no longer like the SSRM, and despite the hit issues, use SRM.

2 - while some us LL at high levels, I find the ML to be MUCH better. In most cases, the ML will hit what you need - remember, it can hit to 540, given, its less damage.

3- movement. You dont stand and fight. if they are larger mechs, you make a swipe and move on unless they are heavily damaged. dont run straight at them, and dont get in their face - use the range on your ML when you can. And WEAVE! If you are escaping, your path away is a random zigzag!

4 - speed. you have to push speed up. You will need other variants, lights will not shine until you get speed tweak. You need to be 150+ kph. If you arent, you cant get away from me. If you dont weave, I run behind you and blow our your back armor - easy kill.

I should add, JJ are a big bonus, esp now with the changes to the climb rate on hills for mechs. I hit a hill, and I power climb it with my JJ, to keep speed up. It is one of the best maneuvers for escape. Based on this, I take the Jenner every day over the raven, IMO. The spider generally lacks firepower compared to the raven and jenner, and the commando lacks JJ.

5 - pecking - dont always go for the kill. If you see a mech with an armorless leg, or arm - tear it off (unless no arm mounted weapons). Look for open side torsos too - if an XL is in there, you might bag the kill.

Light progression goes something like this:
1) wow I am fast, and invincible!
2) not invincible, terribly vulnerable - cant I strap some more armor on this?? how can I kill anything?
3) HOLY @#$@# I am flying with my hair on fire shooting everything and die in a fireball!
4) A calmness settles, everything slows down - you have speed, and use it necessary - you shoot a target not looking at you, and watch his reaction - if none - shoot again - repeat. Use weapon range, kill the weak - streak in to kill those trying to protect themselves from the fight - pick at the lone heavy mech.....some matches are still bad, and some are magic.

PEEF noted it in his video - light on light duels usually end up taking both lights out piratically. One may kill the other, but both will take crippling damage, making you very vulnerable to any hits after. It is always best to not fight alone if you can help it.

Edited by danneskold, 26 September 2013 - 07:45 AM.

[Sadistic Savior]

Werewolf486, on 26 September 2013 - 04:29 AM, said:

This is your role as a Scout, to perform Reconnaissance:

A mission undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area. Also called RECON.

Not to engage in combat alone or in the role of a scout, your should return to the formation to fight.

This.

If you are looking to brawl, you need to get rid of that light mech. That's not what they are designed to do. At best, you can support heavier mechs in a group. If you get bored doing Recon or Scouting or Spotting or Capping, Light mechs of any kind are not for you.

[Nick Makiaveli]

Werewolf486, on 26 September 2013 - 04:29 AM, said:

This is your role as a Scout, to perform Reconnaissance:

A mission undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area. Also called RECON.

Not to engage in combat alone or in the role of a scout, your should return to the formation to fight.

Sadistic Savior, on 26 September 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

This.

If you are looking to brawl, you need to get rid of that light mech. That's not what they are designed to do. At best, you can support heavier mechs in a group. If you get bored doing Recon or Scouting or Spotting or Capping, Light mechs of any kind are not for you.

In a team environment, sure. In a PUG, this all goes out the window.

I mean who are you scouting for? Is there anyone who will listen or respond? Even scJazz's idea of dragging them back to the group (mind you I have much respect for the Jazzman) is insane in a PUG. Who's to say the group will be there when you get back? Or even notice there are 5 mechs behind them and thus stop all trying to get the kill shot on the lone mech in front of them?

If you aren't enjoying playing, then yea it's a grind to get c-bills. I think one thing that will hurt you in the long run is at one point you said "I sold everything I didn't need". You only get 1/2 back, and if down the road you find yourself needing a SL or a LRM10, then you have to buy it at full price instead of just pulling it out of your armory. I've sold two engines and that was because one was common as dirt and you get it or better in just about every light mech, and the other was a dupe and didn't really feel the need to keep two. But I've never sold a weapon or heat sink etc.

Add to that, play the trial mechs. The XP will be there if you ever buy the mech down the road, and you can try different builds out while earning some c-bills.

One last thing, spectating is a great way to learn but if you don't see any good light mech pilots (or a heavy getting chewed up by one) then quit the match and run another mech. Earn some money while you wait for you main mech to be available. Also Ravens are cheap, comparably speaking, so buy a second and as soon as you can get the 3rd. At least get the x2 XP every day if possibly and you will knock out the skills fairly quick. You need 3 mechs with Elite, so to save c-bills I suggest doing it in the Ravens, that way if you move to say Jenners or Commandos you will only need to Basic three variants before eliting the one(s) you want to keep.

[Sadistic Savior]

Nick Makiaveli, on 26 September 2013 - 07:52 AM, said:

In a team environment, sure. In a PUG, this all goes out the window.

I mean who are you scouting for?

I personally have found scouts immensely useful in PUGs...especially on annoyingly large and barren maps like Alpine. They usually double as spotters too. I have no idea why they do it and I am sure there are few rewards. But they are definitely an asset.

I ghost-scout after I die a lot of times. I will telegraph enemy positions to my team as I scroll through my still-living teammates. Giving grid positions and mech types to everyone else.

Quote

If you aren't enjoying playing, then yea it's a grind to get c-bills. I think one thing that will hurt you in the long run is at one point you said "I sold everything I didn't need".

The point of the game is to have fun playing it. CBills are simply a means to that end. If you do not enjoy the mechs you are playing, dump them and get something else. It is not like they are earning you interest or anything.

Quote

You only get 1/2 back, and if down the road you find yourself needing a SL or a LRM10, then you have to buy it at full price instead of just pulling it out of your armory.

At worst, any weapon takes me about 5 to 8 games to buy, brand new. The only annoyingly expensive thing to buy really is Double Heat Sinks.

There is no point in eliting in a mech you do not enjoy playing. From what the OP is saying, nothing that mech was actually designed for is stuff he likes to do. So, IMO, he should get rid of it and buy a mech designed for stuff he likes to do.

Light pilots can definitely brawl and make kills. But it is hard...you have to be skilled at evading. Unless you enjoy the challenge of this (and some people do), it is pointless to try to brawl lone wolf in a light mech. Get a heavy for that.

[Hexy Smexy]

I'm currently working on my Raven 2x and I don't like it, but I need the XP sadly. I might like it more if I could put my XL295 in it, but that's not possible. However, I'm runing 2ML, TAG, and an LRM10 with 2 tons of ammo and maxed armor. I figure, since the stock engine blows and it's not worth me investing money into it, I might as well just sit back and paint some targets.

On the whole, I have switched back to 3ML/2STRK and it's been working out well enough, especially since I have the weight for a BAP as well. It's still annoying trying to get a lock on lights while skirmishing, but it did win me a 1v1 kill against a Jenner when I finally did get the lock. That was nice.

As for playing, I've been running at 40-60% speed with the group (just PUG cause I haven't done TS or anything yet) and covering them with my ECM. Then I break off and run at 100% when it looks good. I have been thinking about dropping a ML for a TAG as someone pointed out. Not sure how much it will help. In theory, it will make the STRKs better, right?

[Nick Makiaveli]

Sadistic Savior, on 26 September 2013 - 08:26 AM, said:

I personally have found scouts immensely useful in PUGs...especially on annoyingly large and barren maps like Alpine. They usually double as spotters too. I have no idea why they do it and I am sure there are few rewards. But they are definitely an asset.

I ghost-scout after I die a lot of times. I will telegraph enemy positions to my team as I scroll through my still-living teammates. Giving grid positions and mech types to everyone else.


The point of the game is to have fun playing it. CBills are simply a means to that end. If you do not enjoy the mechs you are playing, dump them and get something else. It is not like they are earning you interest or anything.


At worst, any weapon takes me about 5 to 8 games to buy, brand new. The only annoyingly expensive thing to buy really is Double Heat Sinks.

There is no point in eliting in a mech you do not enjoy playing. From what the OP is saying, nothing that mech was actually designed for is stuff he likes to do. So, IMO, he should get rid of it and buy a mech designed for stuff he likes to do.

Light pilots can definitely brawl and make kills. But it is hard...you have to be skilled at evading. Unless you enjoy the challenge of this (and some people do), it is pointless to try to brawl lone wolf in a light mech. Get a heavy for that.

For the most part I agree with you. Technically, to get Elite on a different chassis in the same class, you will have to buy 3 variants etc and so not much point in eliting the first chassis you play with. The only reason I have to do so is they generally play the same, have similar hard points and all that. So yea you are right, but I think there may be a small advantage to it anyway.

Hexy Smexy, on 26 September 2013 - 09:01 AM, said:

I'm currently working on my Raven 2x and I don't like it, but I need the XP sadly. I might like it more if I could put my XL295 in it, but that's not possible. However, I'm runing 2ML, TAG, and an LRM10 with 2 tons of ammo and maxed armor. I figure, since the stock engine blows and it's not worth me investing money into it, I might as well just sit back and paint some targets.

On the whole, I have switched back to 3ML/2STRK and it's been working out well enough, especially since I have the weight for a BAP as well. It's still annoying trying to get a lock on lights while skirmishing, but it did win me a 1v1 kill against a Jenner when I finally did get the lock. That was nice.

As for playing, I've been running at 40-60% speed with the group (just PUG cause I haven't done TS or anything yet) and covering them with my ECM. Then I break off and run at 100% when it looks good. I have been thinking about dropping a ML for a TAG as someone pointed out. Not sure how much it will help. In theory, it will make the STRKs better, right?

Never used TAG with Streaks, and not sure they work together. Be hard to keep it on a light long enough for the SSRMs to hit if it did help.

Try it one way for a few matches, then swap and run a few more. I recommend setting it to just Assault so that you can focus mostly on one type of match.

[Hexy Smexy]

I just want to give an update and thanks to everyone here!

I've really fallen into a groove with my Raven 3L and I would go so far as to say I think I'm actually becomong good. I did my day's premium time and let's just say I got my full day's worth out of it, which turned out to be on and off for about 22 hours wherein I earned over 6 mil in c-bills.

During that time, I think I found my playstyle, which is sort of like a jouster. My setup is 3ML, SRM6, SRM2 with ECM and an XL295 engine. Also during that time, I elited myself and got my speed tweek, which puts me at a very comfortable 150.2kph. Funny enough, I had enough XP to buy all of the elite perks with enough leftover to get master if I wanted to grind the time (I don't). Now, as for my style, like I siad, I'm more of a jouster and prefer to hit and run. I can play the circle game, but I prefer to take a gambit and stop moving briefly, sometimes even moving backwards, quick swing in on my opponent and get a drop with my 8 SRMs before taking off again. Usually I'll take a little bit of damage from it, but they just overshoot and I just get grazed while they eat a full blast. It's kind of a dirty trick really because no one sees it coming.

As for my scores, well I've been doing a lot better. I mean, A LOT better. Usually, my damage per match is 250+ often reaching 350 or more. One game I did 1076! Now, that was largely a fluke because it ended with me vs an Atlas who only had a single ML and LRMs, so he really coudln't touch me while I burned through him as best I could. I tried to take a screenshot, but it came up as a black screen. Last game I did 386 damage, 1001 xp, and 113k C-Bills.

All in all, I feel very confident in my little Raven and feel like I owe you all a lot of gratitude.

For that, THANK YOU ALL! =)

[Krivvan]

Lights can be very good combat mechs. They're just far more flexible.

If you want any more help, just look up some videos and streams from other light players

What a combat-oriented light looks like (hooray for more shameless plug opportunities):

Edited by Krivvan, 29 September 2013 - 12:35 AM.

[Johnny Reb]

mailin, on 26 September 2013 - 07:04 AM, said:

A couple of things. Johhny Reb, you NEED to get the ammo out of your legs. Also, I think the ER LL on a Raven is a fad. I have all the lights mastered . . . actually thinking on it I have everything mastered except three chassis, so, the standard loadout on a Raven 3L is a 295xl, 3 mlas and 2 streaks. My variant has 2 mlas, a TAG, and 2 streaks with two tons of ammo. As soon as you can these are the modules you will want in no particular order: seismic sensor, cap accelerator, target decay, and sensor range (and get the advanced varieties as soon as you can). A Raven has missile slots, use them. Plain and simple. Some people drop regular srms in them, which doesn't work too well for lights. Without missiles you are hurting yourself. I think those players who do a lot of damage in the 3Ls with ER LL or PPC builds are primarily using them to snipe and work on heavies and assaults. I say this because I tear up ER LL and PPC 3Ls with my lights and cicadas. Also these build are hot, which means you run the risk of shutting down. A shut down light is a dead light. Keep weapons that have fast recycle times and are cool to fire on a light. If you want to try messing around with an exotic build, do it after you have the 3L mastered, not before.

You are prolly right, havent run that raven in 7 months, noted, need to prolly change alot on it. Not gonna run it any time soon.

[Bront]

Light mech tips (Stuff I gave for a Jenner and back in 8 man groups, but hold true to you as well)

--
Tips on not getting hit.

1) Never stand still.
2) Never run in a strait line.
3) Hit and run when you're alone. You can circle the slow assaults, but a good assault pilot only needs 1-2 shots to take out a leg or torso if they hit.
4) Chaos is your shield. Let the other mechs take your shots, and join in and harrass your opponents. If they target you, run and avoid the hits (and let larget mechs take them out with rear shots).
5) Cap stuff. In conquest, it's not unusual for a team to lose to a lone light mech who was wise about capping early and often.. In assault, a base cap can get you a sneaky win, or pull some of their mechs away from the fight.
6) Lights can swam, take advantage of it. Grouping up with 2-3 lights you can give you a huge advantage in tactical flexabilty.
7) There's no shame in the 0 damage game if you helped the team win. Ignore folks who whinge about capping. Without capping, there's no point in mechs under 60 tons most of the time.

Remember, you're in a light mech, not an assault mech. Adjust your expectations accordingly. For me, I find I rarely get kills in my Jenner other than the occasional light, mop up, lucky shot, or Atlas (I'd swear half my kills are Atlasses, it's probably closer to 20-25%), but it's rare I don't have at least 5 assists and 100 points of damage, and if I've done some capping, distracted some bigger mechs or kept the little ones off my team's heavier mechs, I've filled my role, and if our team (PUGS) isn't particularly incompitent or we're not up against a superiorly coordinated team, we tend to win.
---

Now for something new. Tips on making money in a light:
1) Play on Conquest. Conquest tends to make more money, even in a loss. As a light, you have a slight advantage in conquest, and in your particular case, ECM gives you an extra advantage.
2) Try to touch as many mechs as you can with your weapons. Don't sacrifice a kill or go hunting for that last assist, but creating chaos as a light is a good thing, so brushing 3-4 mechs in a run though before they can draw a bead on you is a useful disruptive tactic.
3) Leg mechs. Useful to slow down lights, but often works against larger mechs. That said, back shots that get you kills don't hurt either. Legging mechs tends to give you more salvage if you win, as well as component destruction bonuses, and occasional an ammo explosion to pad your damage.
4) Play clean up. Many experienced pilots will leave near-dead mechs alone to focus on a larger threat. Those are the mechs you can prey on as a light. Mechs running to save their lives, simply running in fear, or are otherwise useless. Don't ignore larger threats, but don't let that mech with no torso armor live to flank you either.
5) Don't worry about surviving. Sure, you want to live another day, but K/D ratio means nothing. Watching is a good way to learn, but there's no reason you can't queue up a trial mech or another mech you own and drop again (in fact, it's recommended by the Devs). The Champion Jenner build there now isn't bad and should play similar to your Raven, or you can try the Cent or Atlas which are both functional builds. Or even try the Dragon if you're looking for a challenge. So don't do the run and shut down, and if you're the only mech left and you can't win, go out in a blaze of glory.

Save up for 2 more ravens. You have an engine you can use in them now, and once you get your Elites, you can get speed tweak and double basics. That will help a lot.

[Bront]

Hexy Smexy, on 28 September 2013 - 12:59 PM, said:

. I tried to take a screenshot, but it came up as a black screen. Last game I did 386 damage, 1001 xp, and 113k C-Bills.

Screen shots are saved in the game directory Program Files (x86)/Piranah Games/MechWarrior Online/USER/Screenshots or something like that.

[Tesunie]

Sometimes it can also be how you play the mech, as much as the loadout. I have a Raven (just bought it after snagging my brothers account filled with Ravens to test) that I call my "Carrion Eater". It is rigged with an ALRM15, 2 med lasers and 2 MGs. The idea of the mech is to use LRMs to support and open wholes in armor. Once a gap is made in armor, use my speed and rush in with MGs and lasers blazing and rip them apart. It's a mech designed to see combat later in the match and to take advantages of injured opponents. My catch phrase with it has been "I'm a Raven, I feast on the dead and dieing". Been having good luck with it. Other people will tell me how bad the build is. To each their own.

My best advice I can give anyone, for any mech, is to experiment with different weapons, loadouts and tactics. The more you experiment and explode, the better pilot you will be later on. Anything can go. The key is to have fun while doing so.

Edit:
Carrion Raven's best score I've screened on this computer. (Have better with my brother's computer.)
http://i92.photobuck...eenShot0019.jpg
If used right, any mech loadout can be deadly. Just have to find what works for you.

Edit of Edit:
Stats run as current with new Raven:
Matches: 13
Kills: 11
Deaths: 11
Damage done: 2,328
Damage average per match: 180
Loadout:
LRM 15 (Now with Artemis) with 2 tons ammo.
2 Med Lasers
2 Machine Guns with 1 ton ammo.
Endo Steel
First few matches with stock engine, upgraded to a 220 XL engine (had one laying around), intended engine is max.
No skills done yet.
Standard armor (for now).
Double Heat Sinks (From second match on).

To be honest, my build by a lot of people's standards is considered subpar. However, I find it a blast to play, and a different style compared to most light mech loadouts. I depend upon the team to help me, as much as I help the team. I hang back using the LRMs and hiding, then once I see that people are hurt, I rush in distract/eat at internals. If it gets too hot, I just run away again. Hardest thing I have is a light duel, but seen as I normally run with the group it doesn't happen often.

Edited by Tesunie, 29 September 2013 - 08:55 AM.

[mailin]

Hexy Smexy, on 26 September 2013 - 09:01 AM, said:

On the whole, I have switched back to 3ML/2STRK and it's been working out well enough, especially since I have the weight for a BAP as well. It's still annoying trying to get a lock on lights while skirmishing, but it did win me a 1v1 kill against a Jenner when I finally did get the lock. That was nice.

As for playing, I've been running at 40-60% speed with the group (just PUG cause I haven't done TS or anything yet) and covering them with my ECM. Then I break off and run at 100% when it looks good. I have been thinking about dropping a ML for a TAG as someone pointed out. Not sure how much it will help. In theory, it will make the STRKs better, right?

Good job on the Jenner kill. They can be tough little customers. You don't need a BAP if you have ECM. If you really want to keep it it's up to you, but there may be better uses for the weight. It's a great decision to run with the pack and cover them under your ECM. Once they've engaged, find isolated and/or wounded enemies and swoop in. Sounds like you're doing it right. Keep up the good work. Also, if you notice that everybody is engaged and there's a light giving your team trouble, maybe hurry to the enemy base and cap a bit. Either wait until one enemy shows up and take him out, or if you see two or more heading back to base, run away and lead them on a merry chase. This can turn the tide of battle because those three enemies chasing you aren't damaging your friendlies any more.

[Hexy Smexy]

Thanks for the Screenshot info. Here's that game I mentioned:


Like I said, it was mostly a fluke because their last mech was an Atlas with LRMs and a single Medium Laser remaining.

I have tried a bunch of different layouts, trust me. I had fun with LRMs for awhile, I've done the ERLL, I've done STRKS, but the SRMs are doing well for me at the moment. If you lead right with them, you can get a lot of damage out when you launch 8 rockets =)

[Tesunie]

Good to hear, and OH MY GOODNESS! That damage total. Nice.