11 replies to this topic

[Leadpaintchips]

hey, was wondering if there was any advice for anyone trying to get into the heavy scene, looking to start a thread along the lines of this. Just a listing that helps out anyone trying to get into the heavy scene.

[Hex Pallett]

The problem is different Heavy chassis vary greatly from each other. We have high-speed flanker Dragon and Quickdraw, Jager and 'pult for mid-range DPS, 'phract for brawler and Orion that is basically an Assault.

You gotta figure out what you wanna do first.

[Kjudoon]

Helmstif, on 03 October 2013 - 12:15 PM, said:

The problem is different Heavy chassis vary greatly from each other. We have high-speed flanker Dragon and Quickdraw, Jager and 'pult for mid-range DPS, 'phract for brawler and Orion that is basically an Assault.

You gotta figure out what you wanna do first.

emphasis mine...


This is the money quote. I just traded in my Dragon for a Jager and I have some regrets but others things I love.

I loved the dragon's speed, but that's because I like being able to move in and out quickly. The problem was the hardpoints numbers and location left me not doing a whole lot. Even as a cross between an LRM boat and sniper, I was doing between 50-125 damage a round and getting snuffed 75% of the time due to light armor issues and lack of target support. I got so frustrated with getting my LB10X blasted off in the first few minutes of any real fighting, and only a paltry 10LRMs per volley to do damage. Then being left with a pair of MGs to bail my butt out with. Sure I carried lots of ammo, but I never found the right mix.

My Jager I made into more of a missile boat with x2 LRM10s, SRM6s, MGs and MLs. I upped my armor way up, but I move so darn slow and my torso twist are driving me nuts. So my Jager isn't going to come into it's own till I find a way to get an XL engine in there to increase speed.

My next mech I think I'm going to try is going to be a Trebuchet (yes it's a Medium) and see what I can concoct in the form of a heavy LRM scout. Fire and maneuver. Fire and maneuver. THen when I have the credits enough, buy the XL engine and make improvements to the Jager.

Know yourself and build accordingly.

[Kreepindeth]

I had a similar experience with the dragon, im just not good enough yet for its style of play, could never be light enough on my feet to do it justice.

I traded for a cataphract 1x which im happy with, seems like i can take a few more hits. running a pretty much standard kinda sniperish build with a 300xl and a ERPPC instead of the normal one and DHS.

[Shaftronics]

It really depends. Some builds are capable of pushing the boundaries a little. For example, the Firebrand is capable of this.

FIREBRAND

Runs fast at a blistering 93 km/h with Speed Tweak. Hits hard at medium range and just when they get close, you can pepper them with 4 MLs and 2 MGs to punish them, perhaps adding pinpoint PPC shots as heat allows.

[Phlinger]

IMO Heavies are the most versatile of mechs. They can have speed, just not over 100kph normally. They can have armor and they can have firepower. I look at heavies as an advancement from Mediums. When you play the mediums and learn the ropes of what they can do and finally decide you need more, you move to heavies. Lights and Assaults take different approaches to how they work and I have the utmost respect for lights that do a good job, you can really tell when a light pilot has some experience.

IN MW4 and MW4 Mercs, I always played a Summoner/Thor, I was my favorite mech and still is. The ability to put such a versatile array of weapons, engine and JJ's on that sucker, simply astounding. When I develop a Mech in MWO I think back to TT days and decide what I would like my role to be, then I tweak and adjust until I get the perfect(In my eyes) mix of what i want to accomplish. None of this Jack of all trades stuff. If I want a fast striker, I go with a Quickdraw, Dragon, K2 or a Jager. If I want heavy firepower, I go with Jager, K2, Orion or Cataphract. If I want to be moving with the main group, Orion, AC/10 Jager or Cataphract.

I guess I could break it down the way I see it, but some of it will sound pretentious, because it's really just my opinion in a sea of opinions, right? But here it goes anyway....

Dragons. They can move fast, and you had better be moving fast, but these mechs are the ones that should be moving into position after the lights soften up the target or start capping the base to allow the lights to continue on with their job and have several bodies holding the areas they just worked to win. If they get set on by the enemy, fall back and pick at the target until the Assaults and Hunchbacks get in place. A Kintaro paired with a Dragon is a lethal combo.

Quickdraw. These mechs are laser, missle boats. Pick your favorite and stick to it. If you want to mix and match Lasers with SRM's, that is the best build. Their ability to move fast, JJ over obstacles and pack a punch make them great for supporting either the Dragons role or helping the assaults keep the lights off them. They work well at guarding the flanks.

Jagermech. These can be many different builds. Either long range snipers, long range missle support, close range brawlers, or close range Strikers. I recommend playing around with the mediums until you find your best fit, then apply it to a Jager if you are interested in this mech. It takes whichever role you play in and makes it better. The hard points and weight it has allows for many versatile builds.

Catapult. 3 Roles, Missles long Range, Missle short range and K2. K2 is one of the best support for your Assaults that there is. the k2's ability to get the enemy to disperse is amazing, pick at their front line with pot shots while the Assaults press the attack. They bring chaos to organization. LRM's, if you want to go full LRM's, move with the pack or the lights will eat you alive. They WILL find you, easily and then get a free kill while your frustration level steadily rises. My personal favorite LRM build adds medium lasers, 4, to let the lights know, you aren't just there for their amusement.

Cataphract/Orion. These are mini-assault mechs. Play it as one and move with the pack, behind and to the right of the assaults, support them as they move and you will get many, many assists. if a mech sticks its nose out too far, blow it off.. You pack a punch and when teamed with a Victor, Awesome or another Cataphract/Orion, people need to recognize that if they don't get out of the way, you will run them over. They can mount sniper weapons, but even if you like to snipe, move with your lance. Your presence alone lets the enemy know that you have firepower on your side. These mechs have speed and firepower on their side, plus the armor to keep them in the fight, just don't stick your nose out too far, or it will get blown off. You're supposed to be with your lance.

Once again, these are just my opinions, many others will probably disagree with them. And for the sake of all that's good, STOP Chasing the Jenner!

[Geek Verve]

Ronyn, on 04 October 2013 - 10:33 AM, said:

And for the sake of all that's good, STOP Chasing the Jenner!

Lol! Gotta admit, I'm still trying to discipline myself in that regard. They're just so darned pesky! It's like a horsefly buzzing around you. It doesn't take long before you're knocking furniture over and breaking nick-nacks, trying to take it out.

[Phlinger]

Geek Verve, on 04 October 2013 - 11:25 AM, said:

Lol! Gotta admit, I'm still trying to discipline myself in that regard. They're just so darned pesky! It's like a horsefly buzzing around you. It doesn't take long before you're knocking furniture over and breaking nick-nacks, trying to take it out.

I was playing a match, I think, 3 days ago on River City. A lone Raven rushed to the center of the map while the rest of his 11 team mates stayed up top, sniping my entire team as they chased this raven through the water. Even I stopped to watch my team as they were picked off one by one, I couldn't believe it. I even told them to stop chasing the raven, and after the match I said that the Raven had won his team the match, they did eventually kill it though, but only after we were down 6 mechs.

Well played Scouts are a bane to the front lines if they can get anyone of the Heavies or Assaults to chase them. We have fast lights of our own and mediums that excel at Scout hunting, let them handle it. Just announce the scout, shoot it a few times and usually they move away. if the light sticks around and starts to circle you, back up and alpha as he comes right at you=Dead Scout who should have known better. If the Scout has jump jets and gets on top of a building to hit you from behind, put your back to the building and he can't hit you either, this exposes the scout to your other team mates who always see a stopped scout in the open and like free kills.

[Kjudoon]

Geek Verve, on 04 October 2013 - 11:25 AM, said:

Lol! Gotta admit, I'm still trying to discipline myself in that regard. They're just so darned pesky! It's like a horsefly buzzing around you. It doesn't take long before you're knocking furniture over and breaking nick-nacks, trying to take it out.

LRMs. They are your friend.

Ronyn, on 04 October 2013 - 12:32 PM, said:

I was playing a match, I think, 3 days ago on River City. A lone Raven rushed to the center of the map while the rest of his 11 team mates stayed up top, sniping my entire team as they chased this raven through the water. Even I stopped to watch my team as they were picked off one by one, I couldn't believe it. I even told them to stop chasing the raven, and after the match I said that the Raven had won his team the match, they did eventually kill it though, but only after we were down 6 mechs.

Well played Scouts are a bane to the front lines if they can get anyone of the Heavies or Assaults to chase them. We have fast lights of our own and mediums that excel at Scout hunting, let them handle it. Just announce the scout, shoot it a few times and usually they move away. if the light sticks around and starts to circle you, back up and alpha as he comes right at you=Dead Scout who should have known better. If the Scout has jump jets and gets on top of a building to hit you from behind, put your back to the building and he can't hit you either, this exposes the scout to your other team mates who always see a stopped scout in the open and like free kills.

That's the Wild Bill Hickock technique of buffalo hunting. He killed tens of thousands that way.

[greywolf79]

I like this thread... I may yet improve my skills. I like to do 1 v 1 fights and team fights with the ability to chat, I think the lack of com systems is what I hate most about this game. If they integrated voice chat, true team play could be done. I would like very much to see team chat (only with your team in the game) put into place. Until then, I will use this thread to try and find a good blend for myself.

[Sketchy McBeardo]

greywolf79, on 05 October 2013 - 11:21 AM, said:

I like this thread... I may yet improve my skills. I like to do 1 v 1 fights and team fights with the ability to chat, I think the lack of com systems is what I hate most about this game. If they integrated voice chat, true team play could be done. I would like very much to see team chat (only with your team in the game) put into place. Until then, I will use this thread to try and find a good blend for myself.

I would like that as well. But Team Speak is so widely used I don't know if that will ever happen.

[Sketchy McBeardo]

I'm a returning players. I was here back in Beta for several months. I abandoned my old account and am starting fresh. The Jager was "Teh New Awesomes" the last time I played. Not really sure when that was to be honest.

I've been grinding Hunchies to get the feel of the game back and I am just about done Eliting them.

Heavies were always my favorite class, probably for the versatility, and I'm curious about the newer mechs. I always played Fracts as I'm not patient enough to snipe/boat in Cats, Dragons were just derpy, and, at the time, the Jagers felt like glass cannons. I eventually learned to play my DD-model as a mid-ranged sniper of sorts. But again, it required the stand-offish patience required by the Cat. Just not my play style I guess.

I find the most enjoyment as a fairly maneuverable brawler, or as a hit-and-run mech.

I'm curious about people's opinions on the Quickdraw vs the Orion. Also looking at the Firebrand, I'm wondering if maybe I need to give the Jager a second chance after some time away from the game.

Despite the crummy placement of the low arms, I always felt the Fract allowed the most versatility of game style among the old Heavies. My current plan was to just start with the Fract hero-mech, run it w/x2 LG Lasers, x2 LBX-10s, then do the 4x quad AC5s and a 1X or 3D sniper.

But I'd really like to see if I could get an equivalent game play experience out of the newer mechs just to try something new.