2 replies to this topic

[Mawai]

Hi,

Short briefing on weapon convergence.

Weapon convergence is the point that your weapons are aiming at. In MWO, at the moment, weapon convergence is instantaneous meaning that all the weapons you choose to fire are targeted at the point under your aiming reticle (cross-hairs ... in case you are wondering hair was actually used to make them originally ... thus the name).

Sounds simple and it is ... but it has some significant implications.

At the moment the game is oriented around pinpoint damage. However, pinpoint damage can ONLY be obtained if the weapons converge on your target. As soon as your reticle is not on your target ... the weapons converge on whatever point the reticle is aimed at and NOT on the target mech.

Leading your target ...
- any target moving across your field of view will not be hit by a travel time weapon (ppc's, ballistics, SRMs) unless you lead your target. When you do this, the weapons are then aimed at the point where you are aiming and not at the opposing mech. This means that they will not hit the same spot and that the odds are good only one of the rounds might hit unless they are fired from the same section of the mech.

- similarly ... if you are running across the field of view of an opposing mech at a reasonable speed ... you take less damage or the damage will be more distributed ... both of which are good.

Direct fire lasers ...
- Lasers have the same effect ... in order to get maximum damage on the target you need to keep the reticle on the target for the duration of the laser. This is complicated by lag such that the aim point on your screen may not be exactly the same as the server. If the aim point falls off the target ... convergence shifts to whatever background object the lasers are aimed at and you may or may not continue to hit the target with some fraction of the lasers you are firing.

Light mechs ...
- convergence is one of the reasons that light mechs are so hard to hit and destroy. They are always moving quickly and usually across your field of view requiring leading even at close range which reduces and spreads the damage.
- lasers or SSRM are the most effective but even then ... when aiming lasers at the legs of a light mech, convergence issues can reduce the damage since the legs are constantly moving back and forth over the reticle.


Bottom line ...

1) Keep moving. with some lateral motion across the field of view of your opponents ... running directly at them makes you an easy target.
2) Move as quickly as possible and don't stop. Although stopping makes it easier for you to aim it will also make it much easier for opponents to aim at you and choose a particular weak spot on your mech.
3) When dealing with light mechs at close range ... get into reverse and back in the opposite direction they are circling ... this will give you at least one good shot ... trying to track them around in the direction they are circling and you will almost always being trying and failing to keep up/
4) The best targets are stationary mechs or slow ones walking directly toward or away from you. If possible, take these out first since they are the easiest to kill off.
5) If you are having trouble fighting against pop-tarts ... keep moving ... if they aim where you were they may well miss entirely and if they aim where you will be at least some of the weapons may miss (doesn't help if all of the weapons are in the same mech section).

[SnowdogJJJ]

He said it best-

Bottom line ...

1) Keep moving. with some lateral motion across the field of view of your opponents ... running directly at them makes you an easy target.
2) Move as quickly as possible and don't stop. Although stopping makes it easier for you to aim it will also make it much easier for opponents to aim at you and choose a particular weak spot on your mech.
3) When dealing with light mechs at close range ... get into reverse and back in the opposite direction they are circling ... this will give you at least one good shot ... trying to track them around in the direction they are circling and you will almost always being trying and failing to keep up/
4) The best targets are stationary mechs or slow ones walking directly toward or away from you. If possible, take these out first since they are the easiest to kill off.
5) If you are having trouble fighting against pop-tarts ... keep moving ... if they aim where you were they may well miss entirely and if they aim where you will be at least some of the weapons may miss (doesn't help if all of the weapons are in the same mech section).

[Corvus Antaka]

and dont forget - running straight at or away from an enemy is the same as standing still.