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I Give Up On Assaults Mechs


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#1 ImperialKnight

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Posted 22 October 2013 - 06:59 AM

You don't gain much firepower/armor for the tradeoff in speed.

You are the biggest target on the field.

Your lights don't protect you from enemy lights. Your Mediums and Heavies don't focus fire with you.

Halfway through a push, the team decides the Locust they just saw is more interesting and goes off after it.

Your lance is doing a flank and when it's time to close in, the other 8 guys decide it's a good time to go for lunch and your lancemates who are faster bails. Leaving you alone. Thanks guys!!

I'm going back to my Jenner and BAP StreakHawk, where I actually manage do **** and protect my Assaults.

Hats off to people who persevere and pilot Assaults.

Edited by knightsljx, 22 October 2013 - 06:59 AM.


#2 Chip Danger

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Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:01 AM

Sounds more like a bad team and not a bad mech.

#3 Sandpit

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Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:39 AM

part of the problem I run into a lot is that as an Assault I try to be at the front line absorbing damage and making the enemy think twice about focusing on my smaller teammates. Then as things get rough they forget that we can't pull back as fast as they can or they don't do enough to harass the enemy while I'm trying to pull back for a bit and regroup. It's more bad teamwork than anything else usually. When I have a good team that helps me out it's nothing for me to pour out 600+ damage before going down (if at all). When everyone runs off to chase that one spider flanking though you tend to get left facing off with 3-4 heavies and assaults which generally mean me go boom :D If you run into this a lot I'd suggest hanging out in the back just a bit until the enemy team has picked up a couple of targets and then swoop in and start dealing some damage pulling the attention back to you and then fading back for a bit until you see them pop off a few weapons at someone else

#4 Randalf Yorgen

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Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:48 AM

I agree with Sandpit, also get with other players, you show the dragon, get with house Kurita and drop with groups and voice chat.. If you have the same 6-8 people that you drop with all the time it will take about a week and you will be able to just know what they are going to do and they will know what you are going to do and you will all have each others back. If you are already doing this, sorry I didn't mean to tell you how to suck eggs.

In the FWLM when we are just doing pug drops or lose team drops and someone asks what mech they should bring, 99 times out of 100 we will tell them to bring whatever mech they want to so you can have the most fun. Having fun and being relaxed is such a boost to game play that it is almost an unfair advantage. I'm sure you have been doing something that you were having a blast with and felt like you were unstoppable and have the best time of your life. Same thing here, it's like a +500 to your BV with out changing a darn thing

#5 oldradagast

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Posted 22 October 2013 - 08:11 AM

Team work is huge when you're in an assault mech. You have tons of armor and a bit more firepower than even a well-armed heavy, but you are slow. Without teamwork, you die since nothing truly "tanks" in this game. So, I'd recommend finding a team to work with, or at least communicate and stay near the pack as best you can in a PUG.

Player preference matters, too. I perform best in the 50 to 80 ton range. I still like my Atlas's, but they feel so sluggish after piloting the faster (though less durable) Victor's, for example. So, while assaults are not bad, they may not be right for you, and that's okay.

#6 Kmieciu

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Posted 23 October 2013 - 04:37 AM

View Postoldradagast, on 22 October 2013 - 08:11 AM, said:

I still like my Atlas's, but they feel so sluggish after piloting the faster (though less durable) Victor's, for example. So, while assaults are not bad, they may not be right for you, and that's okay.

That's because while playing solo speed is more important than armor. Don't count on anyone coming to help you. If you want help, position yourself so that there are teammates between you and the enemy. And since autocannons and PPC are still the quickest way of dispatching an enemy that leaves you with a heavy (jaggermech, cataphract, catapult) or light assault mechs (Victor).
Atlases begin to shine in 12 man premade teams, where they all attack at once and soak damage while the rest of the team is free to focus fire on single enemies.

#7 Fuzzbox

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Posted 23 October 2013 - 08:38 AM

I've seen this so many times, indeed we need to give our meat shields more credits.
But on the other side I loose most games because to tonnage difference, I.e other team has 2-3 more assaults, so I guess it is a double edged argument.

Hurray for the big guys

#8 Frisk

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Posted 23 October 2013 - 09:06 AM

When you're piloting an assault, positioning becomes extremely important.

You don't have the speed/acceleration to get out of the **** if it gets bad in an assault. In a light you can overextend and not really have to worry about it, that is not the case with an assault.

I see a lot of light -> assault pilots struggle because they don't allow themselves to learn the new approach and tend to be more aggressive than they really should be (especially in pug matches where you can't rely on support).

#9 Voivode

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Posted 23 October 2013 - 09:17 AM

I'm not the biggest fan of assault mechs myself. I have an Atlas DDC and a Highlander that are alright. It seems like speed and maneuverability are what you like in a mech. If you haven't already, check out the Awesome. It isn't as durable as some of the other assaults but it does have good firepower and better speed/maneuver than other assaults. The 9M and Pretty Baby are especially fast. Otherwise, maybe assaults just aren't your style. Nothing wrong with that.

#10 Arrogusss

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Posted 23 October 2013 - 03:59 PM

"Halfway through a push, the team decides the Locust they just saw is more interesting and goes off after it.

Your lance is doing a flank and when it's time to close in, the other 8 guys decide it's a good time to go for lunch and your lancemates who are faster bails. Leaving you alone. Thanks guys!!"

I totally agree with you man. Hate it when either of these things happen, which happens more than it should.
I however will continue to pilot my Misery, STK5m, and my HGN. Games where there is actually a little bit of communication things go great. It's those games where everyone is silent except for the chit chat at the beginning that this usually happens.
Everytime it does happen I do my best to B^%ch about it and let everyone know it's BS. So when you see a guy QQing check scoreboard, it's probably me.

#11 shulman87

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Posted 24 October 2013 - 03:42 AM

U can have alot of fun in an assault but i agree not easy to master , i play strictly atlas and got a 2.4 kd after 900 matches on my ddc , i agree being a huge target can be difficult at times but the sense of power i get sometimes when a medium runs into me and he's like "oh **** big *** atlas in my face" is kinda priceless .

anyway my point is that's the way it goes in pugs u cant anticipate anything regarding the quality of your teammates, but dont give up on assaults i still believe they are the core of a good team and can turn the tide of battle more than any other class in this game

#12 Silentium

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Posted 24 October 2013 - 05:44 AM

I try pretty hard to get the back of any assaults on my team, even if I don't necessarily agree with where they are going. If you see me in game, gimme a shout and I'll be your wingman!

#13 Hellcat420

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Posted 24 October 2013 - 06:27 AM

ya this is why I miss my highlander(no I do not run poptart builds). using the battlemaster has made me realize how much jumpjets add to a mechs survivability and maneuverability.

Edited by Hellcat420, 24 October 2013 - 06:27 AM.


#14 Oppresor

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Posted 24 October 2013 - 01:43 PM

Don't give up Knightsljx; just change your tactics. I run three Atlai none of which are Brawlers; over time I realised that going in head to head was suicidal. More often than not I would get taken down by packs of Jenner's (The Atlas has no effective defence against lights) so I turned into a Sniper. As a Sniper I can use my armour to full effect and absorb quite a lot of punishment while making use of the 4x Zoom Module to have a lot of fun focussing my ERPPC's on the heads of other Assaults and Heavies.

If you do feel the need to fend off Lights then IMO the LBX10 Scattershot is your best bet. Some will disagree and say the Streak is best; but you need to track the light long enough to get a lock for them to work whereas the LBX can often catch them in it's spread pattern.

#15 Zerberus

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Posted 24 October 2013 - 03:39 PM

I`ve been an assault pilot since.. ehm.. forever, and I can only echo your sentiments.

WHEN DROPPING SOLO.

I find more than any other class an assault is bound by teamwork. With a light you can usually run, with mediums and heavies you have the speed and armor to reposition your greater firepower moderately fast and not get blown up doing it, and usually (in my case) the versatility to somehow deal with just about anything that might come along in some way.

But an assault is (with a few exceptions) NOT fast enough to reposition quickly when the plan was misread /miscommunicated, and it`s slower speed often makes crossing open terrain more dangerous than in many mediums and heavies. This is further compounded by many building assaults to fit a certain niche, be it brawler, LR sniping /support, "tank", or whatever they think will serve them best. Get too far out of that niche, and things get ugly, fast. You have to know how to get into your zone and stay there.

As it stands, I usually only drop in assaults when teamed with other players on TS. with multiple people to "read" the other lances, it`s much easier not to get shafted ;)

#16 Roughneck45

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Posted 26 October 2013 - 05:03 AM

View PostZerberus, on 24 October 2013 - 03:39 PM, said:

I`ve been an assault pilot since.. ehm.. forever, and I can only echo your sentiments.

WHEN DROPPING SOLO.

I find more than any other class an assault is bound by teamwork.

It is the complete opposite for me.

I find that if I'm in an assault I have a much easier time carrying the team to victory, where if I'm in something smaller I am more reliant on my teammates. However, teammates are still important no matter what mech you are in. If I get swarmed by lights and I am alone I am going to die, especially in an assault.

Edited by Roughneck45, 26 October 2013 - 05:04 AM.


#17 MisterMorden

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Posted 26 October 2013 - 05:07 AM

this is my main concern. assaults are not that much harder to kill, and in pugs you need luck for good matches.
lights should be weaker, or the devs should make assault mechs really hard to kill.

Edited by MisterMorden, 26 October 2013 - 05:11 AM.


#18 Ngamok

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Posted 26 October 2013 - 11:48 AM

I like Mediums and Heavies more myself.

#19 Pjwned

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Posted 29 October 2013 - 01:43 AM

View PostFrisk, on 23 October 2013 - 09:06 AM, said:

I see a lot of light -> assault pilots struggle because they don't allow themselves to learn the new approach and tend to be more aggressive than they really should be (especially in pug matches where you can't rely on support).


Yep, when I went from piloting a jenner to AC40 jaeger I got demolished pretty bad and realized just how important it is to not overextend in a much heavier mech, especially as a mech that basically has a PLEASE KILL ME HARD sign on it.

Maybe I'll try AC40 again some day but for now it's on the bench.

#20 Almond Brown

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Posted 29 October 2013 - 08:47 AM

Battlefield awareness is the key to the Assault class Mech. As noted, you're slow and not very maneuverable. Given that, the Assault Mech must act based on what is likely going to happen around you, as much, if not more, as simply reacting to what is happening. So when the Assault Mech sees that Locust run past, simply assume your local support will vanish for a short time (hopefully) and act accordingly (hide your fat **** somewhere) asap.

Do not over extend. Although you're a Front Line Mech, it is in your best interest to be the one who decides where that Front Line is. You need to be on the front, not in the middle of something others are calling the Front Line. :)

Yes, you are slow but not so slow as to be unable to set yourself positionally to help both yourself and your allies. An AC20 and 3 erLL's (with ECM) can work wonders from many ranges and be quite intimidating as well as lethal to those who don't see you coming from the "left or right" of the current engagement.

And finally, since you can't run away, don't. Twist and turn (let your arms take the damage) while you return fire and back away. In many cases, your superior armor (all of it, not just the CT) will provide you the time needed to dispatch whatever enemy Mech(s) (yes plural) has decided they are going to try kill you and get way to focused on that one thought to actually figure out that the Assault Mech in question is much more than they bargained for or can handle. Until, of course, they die and then whine on about how you should have died. ;) LOL

You're an Assault Mech Pilot ffs. Think and act accordingly. ;)

Rock on brother Assault Pilots. ;)

Edited by Almond Brown, 29 October 2013 - 08:49 AM.






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