16 replies to this topic

[TYHBoom]

I have been following MWO for a while. I got a beta invite way back when and played it a bit but largely got caught up in other games and real life activities. I started playing again recently and this time putting a little more effort into learning the game.

I picked up my first mech (CN9-A) and fiddled with the build enough to come up with something I am comfortable with. After several frustrating days of learning I managed to figure out how to survive past the initial 5 minutes of combat and last into the end game. Getting a better understanding of torso twisting to spread out damage and a better flight or flight drive. Also I went from doing 100-200 damage a round to a consistent 350+ (Hugging cover and the AC/5 works wonders). Best of all occassionally I can help my team win the game.

I am still grinding through matches to earn enough for my first heavy (Thinking Jager JM6-S or CTF-1X). I even bothered to change my faction allignment profile picture! Still not sure about investing real money into this game yet. I thought about it during beta and again when the phoenix package was announced. But personally I am not thrilled with the progress of the game's development from Beta onwards.

So with that said, have I made it past newbie status? What is next in learning and mastering? (Don't say make more forum posts)

Edited by TYHBoom, 21 October 2013 - 05:21 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Don't know that there really is one at this point.

I considered myself past "Newb" (which is a lot friendlier than "N00b" in my books) when I felt I had a good enough grasp of the mechanics to help others in the new player part of the forum...

If you feel you have reason to believe you know how to take care of yourself in the matches, I wouldn't worry about people calling you names though - there are several truly skilled players that run builds that would get me or you mocked for even thinking about.

Having said that... 3-400damage a match?
Wish I was that good with my 9-A (nice choice on a first mech by the way )

Other than the AC5 what do you have on it?
Do you have the other 2 Centurion?

I also wouldn't feel bad about finding stuff that you don't know about - even those high level players keep finding new stuff


PS
I would mark "Newb" as someone who is simply... well... new
Whereas "N00b" would be an insulting term.
But I have met people who feel the opposite is true.

[Phlinger]

You can consider yourself beyond new when you found a playstyle that works for you and allows you have fun, but also remember no longer how 'veteran' you are, there is something you can learn every game.

Your consistent numbers would tell me you are a foe worthy of me paying very close attention to your movements because one wrong turn and I could get cored, just don't let it go to your head

[Eaerie]

I have been playing a while now and I still spectate when I die and learn new things quite often, build idea, strats, movements. You should learn a bit every match or at a minimum every couple just by watching people play. Then decide if you can incorperate what you ahve seen into your play book if moves. I still tweek my builds every few matchs just to try new variations to see if by chance they work better for me.

As for no longer being a newb, I would say when you are comfortable with your playstyle and you are contributing effectivly to your team. Occasionaly you and/or your team will get rolled. It happens no matter what, take it in stride but that doesnt make you a newb or a bad player. Maybe a bad desision on your part, guessed wrong or a half million other things got you into a bad spot you couldnt get out of.

My only complaint is do not try to shoehorn a build into a mech that just isnt built for it. Example an Atlas trying to boat LRM's. I dont mind having LRM's on them but use them as you close in and make your presence felt, not hide behind the little 50ton mechs. Just my opinion.

[mailin]

I agree with what has been already said. I'd like to add that when you feel comfortable driving a mech well is when you're no longer a new player. When you don't struggle with your weapon groups and know enough about your systems to not freak out when you start taking damage. Or, if you're running a mech with ECM, when you are able to effortlessly switch between disrupt and counter and back again at the appropriate times.

[ORCRiST]

I would say one is beyond 'n00b' status once you've chosen a chassis, and have reached the 'Master" achievement in your favorite variant and have learned and unlocked the advanced modules. By then one should be very familiar with weapon systems, load outs, heat management, etc. Just my $.02.

[TYHBoom]

Shar Wolf, on 21 October 2013 - 05:29 PM, said:

Having said that... 3-400damage a match?
Wish I was that good with my 9-A (nice choice on a first mech by the way )

Other than the AC5 what do you have on it?
Do you have the other 2 Centurion?

Right now I am rolling with:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...11d2b5f1788891f

This fits my current style which is a skirmisher / flanking fire. Armor keeps me alive. I mostly try and stay at a decent range during initial contact flinging AC5 rounds from cover. As the fight moves into closer quarters I can start opening up with lasers and SSRMs more. I prefer SSRM because they are good for hitting quick lights and have a high hit percentage for clear shots. The sweetspot distance for my fighting style on this mech is between 200-350m. Any closer I tend to get in trouble or am in trouble. Longer range, I am just flinging AC5s as harassment.


I realize reading other builds there are much more efficient and higher DPS ways to go. But like everyone is saying, we are all still learning this thing. Builds are tricky to balance out.
This is still my first mech only. I thought about buying the other variants so I could attempt to get the elite pilots skills. But part of me wants to try a different weight class. It took a while for me to get comfortable with the CN9 platform and although it has paid off now, I wouldn't mind trying something else.

ORCRiST, on 21 October 2013 - 06:22 PM, said:

I would say one is beyond 'n00b' status once you've chosen a chassis, and have reached the 'Master" achievement in your favorite variant and have learned and unlocked the advanced modules. By then one should be very familiar with weapon systems, load outs, heat management, etc. Just my $.02.

I will mark that off as a very very stretch goal mostly because it requires getting several variants of a particular mech and I haven't yet settled on which one to invest heavily in yet.

[Alaskan Nobody]

<a href="http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=7&l=663963c78c35a9f8503cb2a39053594f2d11c5a2">CN9-A</a>

Was the most effective build I developed
I preferred to keep the LRMs for suppression and indirect fire potential for maps like Canyon, Forest Colony, or portions of River City.

If you don't mind dropping to a single LRM5 you can stick the AC10 back on it
Or change the LRM for an SRM4.... or a pair of 2s... or drop a ton of ammo or something for a 6.....

Not a big fan of SRM on my Cent though -- doesn't feel quite right for some reason, and there's to many times where I get hit by ECM to go without a Beagle for me to run SSRM without that extra 1.5 tons taking up precious weight....

It's a good mech though... so many potential builds XD

If you like it I would recommend the D and AL as well.

They are almost identical to the A, but with more potential speed, and less ammo-dependency respectively.

(Having said that I am a dedicated Centurion Pilot: I even like my Yenlo - even though it is FAR less flexible than the others)

Edit: typo

Edited by Shar Wolf, 21 October 2013 - 08:02 PM.

[mailin]

To the OP, and not completely on topic, I'd like to strongly encourage you to get two more Cent variants. At the very least you want to be able to get speed tweak on the one you have, which isn't possible without the other Cents. Also, if you get all of the elite skills for a particular variant, the basics become doubled for that variant. Both very compelling reasons to fill out those pilot skill trees a bit more.

[Delchev]

TYHBoom, on 21 October 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

Right now I am rolling with:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...11d2b5f1788891f

This fits my current style which is a skirmisher / flanking fire. Armor keeps me alive. I mostly try and stay at a decent range during initial contact flinging AC5 rounds from cover. As the fight moves into closer quarters I can start opening up with lasers and SSRMs more. I prefer SSRM because they are good for hitting quick lights and have a high hit percentage for clear shots. The sweetspot distance for my fighting style on this mech is between 200-350m. Any closer I tend to get in trouble or am in trouble. Longer range, I am just flinging AC5s as harassment.

Your choice of engine is not ideal though. Remove one heat sink and CASE and you can fit in STD250, which fully utilizes double internal engine heat sinks. You will have slightly better cooling and slightly better speed for no sacrifices (remove ammo from torso to legs) and head. It is not worth buying STD250 just to very slightly improve the build. Just for future consideration.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ef875687f23207b

[Kiiyor]

You are no longer new when Wispsy claims your life?

[Mycrus]

TYHBoom, on 21 October 2013 - 05:20 PM, said:

and a better flight or flight drive.

Consequently that is the only way you play a locust...

[Itsalrightwithme]

If I may extrapolate, it sounds to me you are going through a midlife crisis of sorts, and you are wondering how you can continue to grow. One good way is to pick a role that you dislike, or one that annoys you the most, and learn it. Even if you continue to hate it, you'll be able to deal with an enemy in that role more efficiently.

I went from a medium brawler HBK pilot to a LRM heavy/assault pilot to a scout pilot to an assault brawler pilot to a jumpsniper to a skirmisher and now back as a light pilot. There are times I really hated what I was pushing myself to do, but variety keeps up the fun factor and I think I have grown quite a lot as a pilot because I can guess how other pilots think.

[Rascula]

Itsalrightwithme, on 22 October 2013 - 03:51 AM, said:

If I may extrapolate, it sounds to me you are going through a midlife crisis of sorts, and you are wondering how you can continue to grow. One good way is to pick a role that you dislike, or one that annoys you the most, and learn it. Even if you continue to hate it, you'll be able to deal with an enemy in that role more efficiently.

On a similar note in order to allow myself to drive <or even own> an Atlas, I forced myself to master all my Awesomes first.... I may just be a ********* though..

<sigh>.. I cant type Masochi*t then...oh wel hopefully this will work.

Edited by Rascula, 22 October 2013 - 04:13 AM.

[Modo44]

When you start bitching about noobies yourself. That is when you are not one anymore.

Edited by Modo44, 22 October 2013 - 04:15 AM.

[AA Yeti]

I think finding a group to drop with besides just rolling solo or "pugging" is a next great step. Coordinating with a team is tricky and takes a lot of practice for anyone who isn't a natural at it (I.E. Myself).

If that doesn't appeal to you then learning the various other roles will help to increase your skill as a pilot overall. Knowing how an LRM boat works will make you more effective at countering it, etc etc.

[King Arthur IV]

well apparently after 20-25 games match maker throws you in with the big boys. so your not new.

im going to put a stamp on it and say if you have done 200 games, you should be past noob. you could still be really bad but your not new. 10 game/day = 1-2 hours of gaming (obviously some of us play way more) but it comes out to 20ish days of playing.

if new is associated with being good or bad then thats different cause iv seen some people playing for a whole year now and sill suck.