27 replies to this topic

[Navy Sixes]

Hello. When I started playing MWO about 6 months ago, I started playing assault almost exclusively. My reasoning was that I wanted to get good at the fundamentals of combat before I started figuring out the tactics of conquest. Truth is, I got sucked in and haven't really played a lot of conquest. When I do, it's usually because I forgot to limit my selection and launched with "Any." I do all right, most of the time, but the fact is that I often feel out of my element and defer to other player's decisions in regard to winning strategies. That has been a mistake on my part.

With the recent introduction of a skirmish mode, an odd dichotomy had developed between assault players and skirmish players: "My mode is better than your mode."

This "Jets vs. Sharks" thing has been interesting, even fun, but it really misses a larger picture. When CW finally drops (Someday, son. Someday...) my understanding is that we will be required to win at a variety of modes in order to take worlds. So avoiding any one mode, or worse only playing any one mode, is not going to make any of us a more valuable asset.

Sticking your head in the sand in skirmish and refusing to figure out how to build/fight in order to break up a fast cap is unwise. Conversely, running around in an ECM light-pack with cap accelerators isn't going to get you (or your faction) very far when you have to skirmish.

I may be wrong about how CW will work, but I'd rather be good at every mode I can and be wrong than avoid a game mode(s) and be unprepared 1/3-2/3 of the time if I'm right.

From this point on, I'm dropping with "Any" exclusively, and my goal on the field will be to use whatever assets/ victory conditions are on hand to win. If you catch me on your team in conquest or skirmish, please offer me advice and bring me up to snuff. If you catch me in assault, don't bother telling me to get off the cap. You've got till that meter runs down to kill those last mechs.

So make it snappy and good hunting.

I hope others will join me.

[Sandpit]

I agree 100%

I think CW will force players to integrate all modes into their play list and those that refuse to learn tactics for certain modes because they "don't like it" are going to be hurting a bit.

[Redshift2k5]

A little early to say for sure.

Also note that Assault mode will be changing to integrate defended bases instead of defenseless squares which will change that mode quite a bit (if you were capture-oriented on assault)

[Asmudius Heng]

I think most skirmish fans know exactly how to play assault mode as we have been doing it for a long long time.

I do hope there is variety in CW in regards to game modes .... but i really hope they give assault a major overhaul because it is still a very limiting mode

As long as CW allows a good variety and they include attack defence modes etc it should provide for all .... its a big IF though

[Navy Sixes]

Redshift2k5, on 07 January 2014 - 02:02 PM, said:

A little early to say for sure.

Also note that Assault mode will be changing to integrate defended bases instead of defenseless squares which will change that mode quite a bit (if you were capture win-oriented on assault)

Fixed it for you.

Asmudius Heng, on 07 January 2014 - 02:05 PM, said:

I think most skirmish fans know exactly how to play assault mode as we have been doing it for a long long time.

I think "most skirmish fans" is a lot of people for you to be speaking for. I've seen enough cap-grief in these forums before the inclusion of a skirmish mode to question the accuracy of this statement.

Edited by Tycho von Gagern, 07 January 2014 - 02:19 PM.

[Asmudius Heng]

Tycho von Gagern, on 07 January 2014 - 02:13 PM, said:

Fixed it for you.


I think "most skirmish fans" is a lot of people for you to be speaking for. I've seen enough cap-grief in these forums before the inclusion of a skirmish mode to question the accuracy of this statement.

Just because some of them cried about being capped out did not mean they did not know HOW to do it, or play the game in competitive way to win.

There is a difference between dislike and incompetence.

[RavensScar]

My problem with leaving the game mode set to ANY is the inability to select a mech after I know what the game mode is going to be. I'll happily play Conquest in my Cicadas, but in a 'Lander I just feel like a liability to the team (you know, role warfare and all that jazz).

Hopefully this will all change with the release of the Launch module.

[Naduk]

My Name is Naduk and i was a single Queueist
i think its a good move by PGI to make use of all their game modes during planetary conquest
(flavor will be best when planned base upgrades are done and dropship mode arrives)
i have slowly been weening my self back onto the any queue
sometimes i go back to conq only for a bit
its hard sometimes but im getting there and i must say its nice mix things up after so long in one queue

[Navy Sixes]

Naduk, on 13 January 2014 - 03:07 PM, said:

My Name is Naduk and i was a single Queueist
i think its a good move by PGI to make use of all their game modes during planetary conquest
(flavor will be best when planned base upgrades are done and dropship mode arrives)
i have slowly been weening my self back onto the any queue
sometimes i go back to conq only for a bit
its hard sometimes but im getting there and i must say its nice mix things up after so long in one queue

Totally! All I played was assault. By playing "any," the game has really become fresh, once more. Skirmish is liberating in that teams are no longer tethered to geographical points on the map: No one has to "check the tunnel," and the unit doesn't disintegrate because one SDR slipped past for the cap and half of your firepower turns its back on the line and trudges back to base. (although even though there's no base to capture in Skirmish, it's not wise to let the enemy get behind you!)

And Conquest! Man, I've got to hand it to you conquest players out there. That is a whole other game! Since I'm only running mediums right now, it's really cool to discover a play mode where slow and armed-to-the-teeth isn't always "optimal," and fast strikers can really shine. I'm still getting it down, and I often default to just trying to kill em all. Often it works, but there have been a few times we'd have won if I'd just evaded the enemy... only after I died did I notice all my teammates yelling at me in chat. Weird to wrack up 3 kills, +500 dmg, and still be the reason your team lost. I felt like a total n00ber Leeroy Jenkins, and you know what? Despite the embarrassing loss, it feels kind of good. Like there are still new challenges, like the game isn't as stale same-old-same-old as I thought it was. Something new and engaging to get my head around.

Finally, dropping into assault feels a little different now, too. It's like coming home after a long trip. All the old, familiar traps and tropes are still there, but I'm looking at them with a fresh set of eyes. There are places on these maps I never knew existed until I started playing the other modes, because the game just never develops into them in assault. What has two big thumbs and didn't know there was another wrecked dropship (besides the stargate) in the Tourmaline, or a landfill in Canyon Network? This guy right here!

All in all, I'm very happy with my "Any" game-mode decision, and I can't recommend it enough for anyone who's starting to burn out on whatever mode they're stuck in right now.

[Lukoi Banacek]

Ive always been an "any" *****. Welcome to the club

[Odins Fist]

Tycho von Gagern, on 07 January 2014 - 01:53 PM, said:

I Think A Lot Of Us Are Missing The Big Picture

Because big picture hasn't been drawn, only small sketches here and there.
The conservative estimate by the DEVs for CW to be implemented is OCTOBER 2014.
Have a swell day..!!

[Alaskan Nobody]

Tycho von Gagern, on 07 January 2014 - 02:13 PM, said:

I think "most skirmish fans" is a lot of people for you to be speaking for. I've seen enough cap-grief in these forums before the inclusion of a skirmish mode to question the accuracy of this statement.

I would second that

Asmudius Heng, on 07 January 2014 - 05:26 PM, said:

Just because some of them cried about being capped out did not mean they did not know HOW to do it, or play the game in competitive way to win.

Just because you only see "Some" does not mean that it is only "Some" - or isn't that the argument that the anti-PGI crowd has been throwing around for why we should be listening to them? (not saying you are one BTW)


For the record: I used to be an "Any" dropper - but the attitudes I keep encountering in Skirmish are pushing me more to just manually selecting one of the other two at random.

[Asmudius Heng]

Shar Wolf, on 13 January 2014 - 08:59 PM, said:

Just because you only see "Some" does not mean that it is only "Some" - or isn't that the argument that the anti-PGI crowd has been throwing around for why we should be listening to them? (not saying you are one BTW)


For the record: I used to be an "Any" dropper - but the attitudes I keep encountering in Skirmish are pushing me more to just manually selecting one of the other two at random.

I am not quite sure what you mean sorry. That those who are anti-PGI are saying there is a silent majority of people who want something something?

I have yet to see any in game negativity in a skirmish drop also, do you really find people having an attitude in game specifically related to skirmish?

[Alaskan Nobody]

Asmudius Heng, on 13 January 2014 - 09:10 PM, said:

I am not quite sure what you mean sorry. That those who are anti-PGI are saying there is a silent majority of people who want something something?

I have yet to see any in game negativity in a skirmish drop also, do you really find people having an attitude in game specifically related to skirmish?

I get the negativity almost every time I drop into skirmish
The kind of attitudes and "vocalizations" (which is in " "s because it is technically typing ) that have given multiplayer 1P shooters a bad reputation.

The name calling - the "you lost because you suck and you always will suck!" - the "******* ******* ****** *** N00bS!"

The sore losers.

.... the works.

Which is sad - because while I wasn't one of those wanting Skirmish - I was looking forward to seeing how it played differently than Assault. (Which it plays VERY differently IMO )

Now if you AREN'T getting that kind of attitude, I can understand:
All the bugs and glitches and the like? the unkillable spiders? I have yet to have that.

But my experiences in Skirmish would have me leaving the game if it was the only mode: and purely because of the people I encounter there.
Exceptions to every rule of course, but still.

[Asmudius Heng]

Shar Wolf, on 13 January 2014 - 09:24 PM, said:

I get the negativity almost every time I drop into skirmish
The kind of attitudes and "vocalizations" (which is in " "s because it is technically typing ) that have given multiplayer 1P shooters a bad reputation.

The name calling - the "you lost because you suck and you always will suck!" - the "******* ******* ****** *** N00bS!"

The sore losers.

.... the works.

Which is sad - because while I wasn't one of those wanting Skirmish - I was looking forward to seeing how it played differently than Assault. (Which it plays VERY differently IMO )

Now if you AREN'T getting that kind of attitude, I can understand:
All the bugs and glitches and the like? the unkillable spiders? I have yet to have that.

But my experiences in Skirmish would have me leaving the game if it was the only mode: and purely because of the people I encounter there.
Exceptions to every rule of course, but still.

Oh i see people bitching for sure ... but i see that just as much in assault and conquest too, i dont think it is skirmish specific at all from my experience anyway. I generally ignore that trash though i am not bothered by it or find it amusing at worst.

If skirmish was the only mode i would also be dissapointed, variety is good - i just dislike assault a little bit more than the others for various reasons i have stated.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Asmudius Heng, on 13 January 2014 - 09:32 PM, said:

Oh i see people bitching for sure ... but i see that just as much in assault and conquest too,

It normally doesn't bother me to much: but for what few times I have had Skirmish come up (about 20 or so times - I do not actually play that often due to Life^tm) It has been an unending torrent of the garbage.

All the people you see in the forums that used to whine about any form of capping?
Those are who I generally drop against in Skirmish - and BOY are they proud of it.
Anyone who even tries to do anything but Leeroy at them is obviously a garbage player type of thing.
What is really sad "Funny" is when the anti-cappers show up in Conquest....

So yeah - mostly I was just saying that just because you aren't encountering those who believe Trash Talk is the best form of communication, doesn't mean that they are not out in force.
On the flip side is of course - that just because they are (almost) all I run into doesn't mean that they are the predominate force there either.

You give me some hope for the next time Skirmish pops up - thanks.

[Asmudius Heng]

Shar Wolf, on 13 January 2014 - 09:39 PM, said:

It normally doesn't bother me to much: but for what few times I have had Skirmish come up (about 20 or so times - I do not actually play that often due to Life^tm) It has been an unending torrent of the garbage.

All the people you see in the forums that used to whine about any form of capping?
Those are who I generally drop against in Skirmish - and BOY are they proud of it.
Anyone who even tries to do anything but Leeroy at them is obviously a garbage player type of thing.
What is really sad "Funny" is when the anti-cappers show up in Conquest....

So yeah - mostly I was just saying that just because you aren't encountering those who believe Trash Talk is the best form of communication, doesn't mean that they are not out in force.
On the flip side is of course - that just because they are (almost) all I run into doesn't mean that they are the predominate force there either.

You give me some hope for the next time Skirmish pops up - thanks.

Come drop with my unit then if you dont already have a group, generally we like skirmish but we dont have any trash talkers (ok maybe one or two hot heads ). The more people band together the more cohesive a group and the more enjoyable it is IMO

[Alaskan Nobody]

Asmudius Heng, on 13 January 2014 - 09:44 PM, said:

Come drop with my unit then if you dont already have a group, generally we like skirmish but we dont have any trash talkers (ok maybe one or two hot heads ). The more people band together the more cohesive a group and the more enjoyable it is IMO

I drop solo as groups I join have a (so far) 100% tendency to die and/or fall apart within a few days of me joining.
Feel free to send me an invite though if you are brave (Warning! I do not run meta builds 90% of the time)

[Sug]

[RealityCube]

I have a problem with skirmish. I play light mechs a lot. I drop with people who play lights and mediums also, and anytime skirmish comes up we end up fighting groups with strictly heavies and assaults and our team is out ton'd by very large amounts at times. I should start screencapping it but I've ended up on some unbalanced teams. That's what kills skirmish for me, for the most part multiple lights and mediums on a skirmish team is going to mean a loss.