25 replies to this topic

[TimePeriod]

I am really tired of people marching out and getting an acute symptom of nonsense tactics. So here is my absolutely shortest:

TOP 5 Combat Tips

1- Unlock those arms!

This is such a silly thing to mention but I see an awful lot of people getting killed out on the battlefield because they cannot hit targets at a slope, a jumping target or a fast 'Mech

How you choose to use the Arm lock, is up to yourself.

2 - Twist your torso.

​It is FAR better to lose an arm over an engine, thus you have to twist your torso. When an enemy fires upon you, turn your face AWAY from him. This will mean his shot will hit your arm rather then your center-torso(which is also where your engine is). ENEMY FIRE = TWIST AWAY.

3 - Displace, fire & maneuver.

One of the oldest tactics found in the history books since the invention of mobile armor or even artillery for that matter. If you stand your ground the enemy will know your location and thus allowing him to flank you or direct fire on you accurately.

From COVER to COVER.

4 - The land, the 'Mech and its Pew Pew's

Before you head out with whatever you choose to bring - STOP -. Look around you, where is the high-ground? Where is the cover? Where will the enemy most likely come from?

Look on the image below, how much is the enemy exposed compared to you?

Your 'Mech has different locations for its weapons. Some in arms, some in the torso, some even in the head. It is VITAL that you learn the locations of each weapon on your 'Mech. This allows you expose the least amount of your 'Mech, reducing the chance of you taking a hit.

5 - Teamwork wins the day, 80% of the time.

Another case of pure nonsense which should not have to be explained. If you go alone, chances are you will get picked off by someone better then you. Its not because you suck its just logic. Alone = Dead meat. Learn 2 Teamwork.

Use your chat, get on teamspeak/ventrillo/Skype/McGuffins - ANYTHING is better then nothing.

EXTRA SNAZZY INFORMATION PRO/BRO-TIPS LIST OF AWESOME:

KodiakGW Post 17# - Radar & Damage Indicators.

Editors Note:
This is a very broadsword type of guide. It does not cover specific cases involving a certain 'Mech, in a special part of a map in which these types of weapons was used. Think of this as a IKEA instructions manual rather then cryogenic storage 101.

Edited by TimePeriod, 02 January 2014 - 10:26 AM.

[Victor Morson]

Remember, you can toggle your arm mode with L. Shift in either lock or unlock. Both styles are viable, since you want to lock arms to pinpoint your weapons on a single spot - but you ALSO want to use the full range of your arm motion.

I'd recommend new players do as the guide says, but use L. Shift to lock their weapons together.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

I'd also argue that you should disable Throttle Decay, too.

[qki]

Arm lock is a tricky subject. Unlocking arms gives you some extra movement up/down and left/right (except mechs without lower arm actuators - only up/down in their case), BUT...

you can do that with the left shift, and while the lock is on (wether it's on, or you use the left shift), you gain the benefits of much less jerky torso movement - not just having all your arm/torso weapons aimed at the same spot.

[TimePeriod]

Arnold J Rimmer, on 01 January 2014 - 02:56 PM, said:

I'd also argue that you should disable Throttle Decay, too.

Light specific, this is general tactics.

Also @Victor, this is more specific to allow people the benefit of options. Will add to guide later.

Edited by TimePeriod, 01 January 2014 - 03:10 PM.

[Bront]

TimePeriod, on 01 January 2014 - 01:38 PM, said:

4 - The Lay of the Land & the Size of your 'Mech.

Before you head out with whatever you choose to bring - STOP -. Look around you, where is the high-ground? Where is the cover? Where will the enemy most likely come from?

Look on the image below, how much is the enemy exposed compared to you?

I love this post, but also want to point out one other thing.

Many mechs have trouble with elivation changes in fights, and strangely, it's harder for many larger mechs to look down than it is for them to look up, so fighting up hill is not always the disadvantage it might otherwise appear, as that Atlas can only bring it's arms up to bear against you.

[TimePeriod]

Bront, on 01 January 2014 - 03:10 PM, said:

I love this post, but also want to point out one other thing.

Many mechs have trouble with elivation changes in fights, and strangely, it's harder for many larger mechs to look down than it is for them to look up, so fighting up hill is not always the disadvantage it might otherwise appear, as that Atlas can only bring it's arms up to bear against you.

Scenario specific and 'Mech specific, not really the aim of the guide. Will maybe elaborate in the guide if needed.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

TimePeriod, on 01 January 2014 - 03:08 PM, said:

Light specific,

Hardly. Any mech could use finer control over speed, instead of just 'GO' and 'STOP'. Moving in a pack of mechs with varying speeds, for instance. Not charging round a corner full-pelt so you can check and back up quicker if need be. I pilot Mediums and Heavies mostly, for reference. Tried TD once in every weight class, turned it off every time.

TimePeriod, on 01 January 2014 - 03:15 PM, said:

Scenario specific and 'Mech specific, not really the aim of the guide. Will maybe elaborate in the guide if needed.

You mean, like, being under an enemy on top of a hill behind cover? Like in your diagram? Almost all mechs in the game have more trouble shooting things under them rather than over them, because that's where the dashboard is. Can't see through it = can't shoot things behind it.

[TimePeriod]

Arnold J Rimmer, on 01 January 2014 - 03:21 PM, said:

Hardly. Any mech could use finer control over speed, instead of just 'GO' and 'STOP'. Moving in a pack of mechs with varying speeds, for instance. Not charging round a corner full-pelt so you can check and back up quicker if need be. I pilot Mediums and Heavies mostly, for reference. Tried TD once in every weight class, turned it off every time.


You mean, like, being under an enemy on top of a hill behind cover? Like in your diagram? Almost all mechs in the game have more trouble shooting things under them rather than over them, because that's where the dashboard is. Can't see through it = can't shoot things behind it.

@ Top Quote. It comes down to preference, I learned to play with throttle decay and adjusted my playstyle as such I didn't need to worry about such things.

@ Low Quote. Again, its case specific. If I said the enemy was a Jager, you would have to agree or a PPC Catapult. This is not about what 'Mech and where. This is about general tactics as a whole. Its better to be on the higher grounds and fire downwards then it is to be stuck in the lower grounds (which also tends to be the flat area in many cases), exposed.

Let me elaborate:
When standing on top of a hill, you have the advantage of height. The enemy has to move uphill which is slower, the enemy is exposed to your fire for a longer period, you have the hill as cover as the enemy cannot fire THROUGH the hill, the enemy cannot see you move around behind the hill.

Edited by TimePeriod, 01 January 2014 - 03:35 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Very good guide - the kind of things we should be sharing with new players more often (that ironically never occur to me when asked >.< )

Arnold J Rimmer, on 01 January 2014 - 03:21 PM, said:

Can't see through it = can't shoot things behind it.

Not quite - but pretty close.
I spend a lot of time in my Wolverine shooting at things I cannot see because of the dashboard, but that would probably be the infamous exception to the rule....

[Victor Morson]

TimePeriod, on 01 January 2014 - 03:15 PM, said:

Also @Victor, this is more specific to allow people the benefit of options. Will add to guide later.

Absolutely understandable; that lock arm button is one of the first things I tell newbies about though, whichever style they use. It's really important.

One more thing to add to Teamwork possibly too: The call letters. It's not really apparent at first, and many new pilots in my experience don't assume they are the same for everyone, even if they notice them. i.e. they see a C or E next to a 'mech lock and often mistake it for a variant, even.

Given this is the cornerstone of all teamwork it seems like it's definitely worth a mention.

[SnowdogJJJ]

You can agree or disagree with the advice here but iIf your reading the post then you have already won, thinking and adapting is a good portion of wining in all situation. If you are trying to find a better way to win/pilot then you are moving in the right direction.

New pilots, after you die stay and watch the rest of the battle and try to see what makes a good pilot and what mistakes are being made.

Always have fun .. win or lose.

I remember he first time I broke 200 damage in a game.. it took while to get there but that was the turning point for me as a pilot

[Turist0AT]

First Person View is also in the options or F4.

Getting in to a good position on a map and catching the enemy team with their pants down with no cover, is how many battles are won.

Dont be cought alone, some places on the maps are lights territory. If a pack of them sniffs you out thell send missiles and pain.

Try keeping close to cover in case it starts raining missiles.

Think about your distance. if your weapons deal full damage at 400m then there is no reason to go closer, especially if the enemy is packing bunch of ML,SRMs,AC-20. But if its LRM and PPC heavy get it there fast! Dont forget your weapons have maximum range.

Be flexible and think on your toes, if your lance(say couple of mediums and some heavy) goes in to a KILL BOX(and are heavily out gunned with no cover) dont follow them, they will be killed, run and join another lance. But if assaults are assaulting, help them. (As a heavy pilot ill die to keep my Atlases alive, allways storming with them, keeping their backs free.)

Edited by Turist0AT, 02 January 2014 - 05:52 AM.

[TimePeriod]

Turist0AT, on 02 January 2014 - 05:19 AM, said:

-snip-

This is very specific advice, thou sound advice does indeed cover what my own guide already explains. This guide was shortened a lot because it has to be easy to read and understand for rookies.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

TimePeriod, on 02 January 2014 - 07:32 AM, said:

specific

You keep using that word. I'm not sure it means what you think it means.

[TimePeriod]

Arnold J Rimmer, on 02 January 2014 - 08:03 AM, said:

You keep using that word. I'm not sure it means what you think it means.

There is an awful lot of situations with an awful lot of 'Mechs in various stages of damage, with different setup of weapons and equipment. So I try to fend off specific situations which may confuse a rookie more then it helps as a rookie may/may not find himself in that 'Mech with those types of guns on that part of the map. See what I mean? Keep it simple and then let the rookie figure out the rest for himself.

(In general its bad to throw a lot of information onto someone who just had his first 'Mech blown up)

Further elaborated:
A rookie will not find himself in a Atlas, on Terra Therma, using lasers on the center part of the map, with 80% heat and a hostile light 'Mech on his rear. This is what I am talking about, when saying specific.

Edited by TimePeriod, 02 January 2014 - 08:15 AM.

[KodiakGW]

Thank you OP. This is otherwise known as basic military tactics. Something anyone who have played any FPS should know.

Two things I would like to add, both are pretty prevalent in most games.

1) Pay attention to radar - I know you and 10 other players are REALLY INTENT on killing those two lights down in the valley. But, check your radar to see if someone has peeled off (usually me) to spot those four AC40 Jagers about to sneak up and one-shot kill you in the back.
2) Pay attention to your damage indicators - See those little red flashing bars that pop up. Those show you from which side you are getting hit. If you see the bar flash on the bottom of the screen, turn around. You will probably find a poor light pilot standing there ready to get a full alpha strike from you right in the center torso.

If you are on my team, please follow the original post and these. If you are on the opposite team, kindly ignore these posts.

TY

[NRP]

Good basic guide with nice, simple visual representation.

I also like that you didn't just come in here complaining. You actually exercised some personal initiative.

+20 Internet Credits

[Arnold J Rimmer]

TimePeriod, on 02 January 2014 - 08:12 AM, said:

There is an awful lot of situations with an awful lot of 'Mechs in various stages of damage, with different setup of weapons and equipment. So I try to fend off specific situations which may confuse a rookie more then it helps as a rookie may/may not find himself in that 'Mech with those types of guns on that part of the map. See what I mean? Keep it simple and then let the rookie figure out the rest for himself.

(In general its bad to throw a lot of information onto someone who just had his first 'Mech blown up)

Further elaborated:
A rookie will not find himself in a Atlas, on Terra Therma, using lasers on the center part of the map, with 80% heat and a hostile light 'Mech on his rear. This is what I am talking about, when saying specific.

Well, the post you quoted/snipped wasn't all that specific. Let's parse it out, shall we?

• Fight from cover when the enemy has none.
  
• Stick with the team.
  
• Stay near cover for when you need it.
  
• Be aware of weapon ranges.
  
• Pay attention, act accordingly.

Seems pretty general, to me.

You then went on to say that his post was specific, something you wish to avoid, but then say it was basically your guide above anyway? Consistency is always good for clarity.

[dragnier1]

I just had to like this, the pictures make me chuckle every time i look at them. Did you draw them yourself?