52 replies to this topic

[Huntsman]

People like to say that the gauss is a "skill" weapon now, but the fact is that the charge delay creates complications that are largely out of the control of the shooter, and costing the user titanic amounts of damage output throughout the match.

The issue, for the most part, revolves around cover fire. A large part of most matches is two teams firing and maneuvering around cover. How many times have you missed the opportunity to take a shot with the new gauss because the timing simply failed to line up from when you spotted the target to when you started to charge the gauss to when the target was back behind cover? Occasionally, to expand upon the frustration of this occurrence, a second target will pop out a moment later, but by the time you've oriented on him you've lost the charge, and by the time you've charged again, this guy is back under cover.

I understand that the gauss is a "sniper weapon," but unless you're sniping from somewhere like the radio tower on Alpine where you can just rain death with impunity onto targets who are devoid of cover, the gauss rifle is simply costing you damage due to these timing issues that are largely out of the control of the shooter, and I see no reason to take a weapon that suffers from such a liability when I can use autocannons that, while they suffer some deficiencies compared to the gauss rifle at long range, fire when you need them to, which is in balance, a far more important asset.

Edited by Huntsman, 27 September 2013 - 05:48 AM.

[Joseph Mallan]

CravenMadness, on 27 September 2013 - 05:20 AM, said:

Meh, you people bitching about gauss are just too used to how it used to work.

Took out dual gauss on a brand spanking new jager S the other night, nothing unlocked at all on it, and was regularly doing over 500 damage a game, wasn't getting any kills but that's because I wasn't tunnel visioning on one mech at a time until it was dead, I'd fire and move and get a new target.

Only real complaint I have is that the weapon charges down too quickly, I tried to get around that by having both gauss linked to two groups, so I could hold mouse 1 to charge, and my mode of thinking was that I could then hit mouse 2 to fire once the charge sound confirmed it. ... Didn't work.

Missed a good couple of potential kill shots on lights crossing my firing lane because I had the weapon charged, was zeroing in on a leg or ct, and went to fire only to hear the downcharge right as I released the 'charge' button.

Again things like this is why it is not a good nerf for a sniper's weapon. I am complaining as the reason for the Nerf, not the Nerf itself. Sure its semantics but as I said, it offends the retired mass murder in me.

[DaZur]

Joseph Mallan, on 27 September 2013 - 06:10 AM, said:

Again things like this is why it is not a good nerf for a sniper's weapon. I am complaining as the reason for the Nerf, not the Nerf itself. Sure its semantics but as I said, it offends the retired mass murder in me.

Retired "Paid" mass-murder... (albeit not paid enough imho)

[Joseph Mallan]

Considering back then working at 7/11 or McD was about equal to what I was paid... , it wasn't a fair wage.

Edited by Joseph Mallan, 27 September 2013 - 07:51 AM.

[DaZur]

Joseph Mallan, on 27 September 2013 - 07:25 AM, said:

Considering back the working at 7/11 or McD was about equal to what I was paid... , it wasn't a fair wage.

But.. but...but... You got a free snazzy uniform(s), free housing, free exersize programs, free healthcare, free food (and all the ice cream you can eat!) and you got to go to exotic locations, meet interesting people and assist them with a government-run euthanasia program!

Beats the hell out of a free slurpee or meal discounts any day!

[Justy Starflare]

After several runs on training grounds I got
used to the new charge up mechanic then
off to the pugs I went. It took some getting
used to firing at live moving targets, but still
not as good with it as I'd like to be due to my
very limited amount of time at home. I did
notice I did much better using the gauss on
my misery or my atlas rs(c) then any of my
Highlanders, not completely sure why but
I do believe it has something to do with
placement locations. I do like the new
feature because it takes away from the
cookie cutter cheese builds and gets variety
back into the game. Battletech is not about
how many of the same weapon I can cram
onto a frame ( even tho there are a few that
do) its a game about pealing the armor off
layers at a time exposing the internals before
the kill. In my opinion if you're one of those
instant gratification kind of players maybe
this game isn't for you.

[Joseph Mallan]

DaZur, on 27 September 2013 - 07:44 AM, said:

But.. but...but... You got a free snazzy uniform(s), free housing, free exersize programs, free healthcare, free food (and all the ice cream you can eat!) and you got to go to exotic locations, meet interesting people and assist them with a government-run euthanasia program!

Beats the hell out of a free slurpee or meal discounts any day!

And the knowledge that I could die in less than 1.8 seconds once the feces hit the horizontal impeller! And tat once I did so about 1/3 of my country's populace would hate me for breathing... Yeah, good times!

But the trigger delay is still not a good mechanic if we are using it as a Sniper's weapon.

Edited by Joseph Mallan, 27 September 2013 - 07:54 AM.

[DaZur]

Joseph Mallan, on 27 September 2013 - 07:54 AM, said:

And the knowledge that I could die in less than 1.8 seconds once the feces hit the horizontal impeller! And tat once I did so about 1/3 of my country's populace would hate me for breathing... Yeah, good times!

But the trigger delay is still not a good mechanic if we are using it as a Sniper's weapon.

1/3 of the country's populace hating you?... We'd have to use working at Taco Bell for a similar hatred equivalency.

[Corpsecandle]

Out of curiosity, does anyone who likes (or tolerates) the new charge mechanic roll with just one Gauss?

[AlmightyAeng]

Corpsecandle, on 27 September 2013 - 08:24 AM, said:

Out of curiosity, does anyone who likes (or tolerates) the new charge mechanic roll with just one Gauss?

See my previous reply above. Yes, and it can be used to good effect. It's just not as easy as it used to be.

[Joseph Mallan]

Corpsecandle, on 27 September 2013 - 08:24 AM, said:

Out of curiosity, does anyone who likes (or tolerates) the new charge mechanic roll with just one Gauss?

I don't care for the Mechanic but use a single Gauss.

[Almond Brown]

What about a mechanic that applies the current Charge Timer, only when the Rifle is between Min. range and the 660m Long range bracket and beyond that, there is no Charge Timer applied.

That way, from 661m out to 1980m it becomes just a Point and Shoot weapon? Then players just need check range to confirm the mode the Rifle will operate in.

Not sure about coding, or if it may be to complex for many like now apparently, of course but could be a good compromise.

Edited by Almond Brown, 27 September 2013 - 08:49 AM.

[JigglyMoobs]

Corpsecandle, on 27 September 2013 - 08:24 AM, said:

Out of curiosity, does anyone who likes (or tolerates) the new charge mechanic roll with just one Gauss?

No. I love dual gauss, but a single gauss is not viable in the current meta.

[keith]

JigglyMoobs, on 27 September 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

No. I love dual gauss, but a single gauss is not viable in the current meta.

these are the type of thoughts that got ppc buffed in CB. then pgi nerfed everything around ppcs but ppc themselves untill around a month ago. i do agree, dual guass fine. single no use. but it has such a unquie system......

[Coralld]

I use a single Gauss and do well with it on my Hunchback and Victor.

[Corvus Antaka]

Single gauss is viable. On a Blackjack. Gauss is more specialized now, harder to use, and easiest to use when focused on as the primary gun, hence good dual gauss use.

But it works just as well single, it just takes more practice, piloting skill and attention.

It's no heat, fastest flight time and powerful punch are all still very powerful.

atlas isnt really a gauss mech anyhow. I've found on the Victor though or even the orion it works very well for me.

[Fyrerock]

The gauss was a weapon that anyone could use, and a great starter weapon for a new person to learn some aiming skills, now it has been nerfed for the majority of players, but it is still viable for the people that they wanted to effect in the first place, just like the PPC/ERPPC

[A Man In A Can]

Joseph Mallan, on 27 September 2013 - 06:10 AM, said:

Again things like this is why it is not a good nerf for a sniper's weapon. I am complaining as the reason for the Nerf, not the Nerf itself. Sure its semantics but as I said, it offends the retired mass murder in me.

Let's all just agree it's just another example of PGI's poor word choices when it comes to explaining stuff.

It is a good weapon if you want to do high pinpoint damage at range, with virtually no heat (making it perfect for Therma), without drawing much attention to your location, that is not very good for snap shots, or dps, and is simply okay in a brawl. It does however require that you practice a lot.

Edited by CYBRN4CR, 28 September 2013 - 07:58 PM.

[Devils Advocate]

It has to be unique because it fits into any build that has the weight for it. You can have multiple PPCs and, as an assault, just throw a Gauss on if you have the space because you know it wont generate any heat. It's "free" if you can afford the weight since you don't have to manage it after you install it. The penalty for using the weapon now is being required to think and line up a shot with it before you fire it, and if that doesn't suit your style or your build, don't use it. I never want to see it go back to being a point and click weapon... we already have ACs for that.

[OneEyed Jack]

Devils Advocate, on 29 September 2013 - 01:32 PM, said:

It has to be unique because it fits into any build that has the weight for it. You can have multiple PPCs and, as an assault, just throw a Gauss on if you have the space because you know it wont generate any heat. It's "free" if you can afford the weight since you don't have to manage it after you install it.

Claiming it's "free" if you can afford to spend ~20% of your mech's entire tonnage (counting ammo), or more, on it is playing rather fast and loose with the English language.