4831 replies to this topic

[IraqiWalker]

AJBennet, on 18 July 2017 - 06:24 AM, said:

I used Iraqiwalker's LCT-1V build...ROFL that was fun and really ticked the opposing team off. I was everywhere pinging just about every one of them with drive-by strikes from behind, even pulled their spotter Cicada out of position to chase me around the map. Got the "Oh Crap I'm going to die" and "Seriously, I'm going to die" achievements (I think that was the names) but survived the whole match and even got a mech kill out of it.

Sweet Kerensky's shaved chin, I'm very pleasantly surprised that antique build was that fun for you. Since personally, I consider it the hardest of the 1V builds to do well in.

Also, where are my manners? WELCOME TO THE SWARM!

[Fox With A Shotgun]

Dino Might, on 18 July 2017 - 06:48 PM, said:

I'm hoping it looks like a care bear stare when it fires out of the CT.

It really does, lol.

On the other hand, rejoice! LCT-3M SNPPC master race: When everyone else struggles with 4sec cooldown on their SNPPCs, yours only takes 2.5 seconds to cool down!

[Virlutris]

Ovion, on 16 July 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

It's not a perception of balance here. Post Skill Tree, there's few to no mechs and variants that are universally *bad*. Almost everything is viable mech wise at this point - I (and most other people I interact with) have seen, played and theorized out such a huge variety of mechs to before, it's fantastic. I love not seeing *just* the same 6-8 mechs on the field 80-90% of the time. There's still a few you'll see more often, but overall, in terms of variety it has been successful. Yes it needs further tweaking, but definitely in MWO's case, trying is important - leaving it how it was especially was stagnant to say the least. Not everything has hit the mark sure, but I think the game as a whole feels better atm than it did 6 months ago.

This is precisely perception.

You anecdotally report that you're seeing all this.

I report that "almost anything" isn't viable, but poorer-performing builds get some help.

I'm genuinely glad that it's helped your gameplay experience, and I honestly disagree with your assessment of the tree's effect on balance.

That's okay, plenty of room for disagreement.

[Tim East]

Fox With A Shotgun, on 18 July 2017 - 06:43 PM, said:

Man, Micro Pulse Lasers are brutal when boated. 12 C-MiPL + 4 C-HMG is really nasty to run into in a match... :/

NVA-PRIME

On the other hand, has anyone tried cramming a SNPPC into a lolcust yet? I'm sad that they didn't model the PPC into the Locust CT mount. It looks like a laser at this time.

Yes they are, and yes I have. I CQC dueled an ACH with it and killed him, surprisingly easily.

Fox With A Shotgun, on 18 July 2017 - 07:03 PM, said:

It really does, lol.

On the other hand, rejoice! LCT-3M SNPPC master race: When everyone else struggles with 4sec cooldown on their SNPPCs, yours only takes 2.5 seconds to cool down!

Pretty sure my 1V has even better CD for that? Runs surprisingly cold too, which was why I was able to down that Cheetah so smoothly.

On the subject of amazing PPCs, has anyone else noticed that you can get nearly 3km/sec out of ERPPCs in some Panthers now? It's ri-friggin'-diculous. I killed another ACH boating HMLs with a dual ERPPC Panther 10K. And that's not even the fastest projectile one...

Anyway, I just thought it was wild that these are faster than any gauss projectile I could figure now. Feels backwards to one who started playing MW2, with the big, slow, fireball launchers that ERPPCs were in that game.

[Takashi Uchida]

Any general skill tree tips for Locusts? Been out of it lately, and have barely touched lights since skill tree. Even with most mechs, I've just been BS-ing my skill picks. Most my mechs were mastered pre-tree though and I got a lot of "legacy" SP I can waste, so not too worried bout that. But, I'm not tryna be all Path of Exile or whatever here and bothering with nodes and math.

Are there going to be drastically different decisions for typical 1E, PB, 3V, and 1V builds?

Edited by Takashi Uchida, 18 July 2017 - 10:24 PM.

[Nerokar]

Thrown a SNPPC in my PB yesterday and had a lot of fun. At the end we lost the match because I missed 2 followup shots at the end of the round as last man standing and was killed. But with 700 dmg done, 2 kills and 4 KKMDs it was still a good match for me... and Im a realy unexp. PPC user. For the first impression: the ambush capabilities (alphas) are nowere near 3 MPL or 4 ML, but hey, I feel like a freaking ninja. Sneak up BACKSTAB, VANISH, appear on an other side BACKSTAB and VANISH AGAIN!
SNPPC
...Not a propper build... thats only the first layout I tinkered in 2 minutes of my sparetime...
Todays experement:
2xLPPCs
An tiny mech with topspeed of ~150 KPH with high mounts... in stealthsuite with LPPCs... sounds like pain to shoot at...

[TheFourthAlly]

Considering I'm having too much unfun with 4MLs on my PB atm, anything different is worth a shot. Events and premium time from a steam buy have resulted in enough spacebucks for a bit of mucking about.

My heavies can wait.

[Nerokar]

Takashi Uchida, on 18 July 2017 - 10:22 PM, said:

Any general skill tree tips for Locusts? Been out of it lately, and have barely touched lights since skill tree. Even with most mechs, I've just been BS-ing my skill picks. Most my mechs were mastered pre-tree though and I got a lot of "legacy" SP I can waste, so not too worried bout that. But, I'm not tryna be all Path of Exile or whatever here and bothering with nodes and math.

Are there going to be drastically different decisions for typical 1E, PB, 3V, and 1V builds?

Depends... everyone will tell you an other story. My opinion Tarogatos Skilltree guide is good if you do not know what you realy want, but with some XP you will learn, what you need most and alter you skilltree:
https://mwomercs.com...ryhard-edition/
My personal pref for my PB is not that efficient, but hey, it works for me:
This is a template only!
https://kitlaan.gitl...5d268&s=Weapons
The Idea behind it is:
To use enchanted arty twice (shame on me )
get as much def as possible. Those view armor and structure points can and will save you life more than ones...
sensors... well I use ECM, so I can enchant it then... you you dont use ECM get 60% radar depr on the left side or drop the tree completely...
In Operation tree I go for 6% cool run. Its just my pref, 4% are enough. Simply drop the right side. Or the whole tree if you run a cold build like 2xHMG+4x(ER)SL
I ether skill only the left side of agility tree on my PB...or completely drop it(in most cases). A huge mistake would some people say. But my opinion is, that LCT is agile enough and the speed of 145 KPH with 180 engine is still great (for me).
The weapon tree is a harder one. Read Tarogatos guid for it... it differs a lot depending on your weapons of choice...

I hope it helps you a bit.

[Nerokar]

Things I need to test now in my PB:
SNPPC First run was real fun but not as effective as 4xML or 3xMPL for me.
LPPC I do not expect it to be effective but as annoying for the enemies as a super fast sniper ninja bug could be.
2HMG4ERSL Could cause a lot of pain... I tried it but run in an other LCT who simply outclassed me...
4ERML If I manage to avoid brawl this could become my new standard harasser
JustForLOLs Parents Are Responsible For Their Children In Cases Of Damage

EDIT: fixed a link

Edited by Nerokar, 19 July 2017 - 02:42 AM.

[Blind Baku]

Fox With A Shotgun, on 18 July 2017 - 06:43 PM, said:

Man, Micro Pulse Lasers are brutal when boated. 12 C-MiPL + 4 C-HMG is really nasty to run into in a match... :/

NVA-PRIME

On the other hand, has anyone tried cramming a SNPPC into a lolcust yet? I'm sad that they didn't model the PPC into the Locust CT mount. It looks like a laser at this time.

Literally 2 posts before you

While probably not the most effective, the SPPC on the PB is stupid levels of fun. I want to try some of the light PPC builds, I just havn't gotten around to it yet... that and HMG Builds, or even a RAC build, but I don't know how I will make that work and as of yet I havn't really fallen in love with RACs (Except on my formally 2AC2 Urbie. 1RAC2 + 3MLs is glory. My quad AC2 RFL is better as a Quad LBX2 RFL)

Edited by Blind Baku, 19 July 2017 - 09:02 AM.

[Ovion]

Blind Baku, on 18 July 2017 - 05:31 PM, said:

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
LCT-PB: XL180 + 3DHS + ECM + SPPC

Don't forget Stealth Armour. : D

Virlutris, on 18 July 2017 - 08:18 PM, said:

This is precisely perception.

You anecdotally report that you're seeing all this.

I report that "almost anything" isn't viable, but poorer-performing builds get some help.

I'm genuinely glad that it's helped your gameplay experience, and I honestly disagree with your assessment of the tree's effect on balance.

That's okay, plenty of room for disagreement.

I said me and others though.
Of the vocal people I see in the facebook groups, the groups I moderate and various discords I'm on, my unit, my friends, etc, maybe 5-10% feel that there isn't more diversity, and don't think that overall while clunky the skill system is an overall improvement in balance and diversity.

The biggest complaints from the 'pro' crowd, or those that can't be bothered to figure out the new system.

And yes, it's not recorded or anything, but I *do* have a large pool to draw from in terms of observation as well as my own experiences.

And yes, time you play, 'local meta' and tier will affect it, but either way, the game now is at least an improvement over the game 6 months and 12 months ago.

[Virlutris]

Nerokar, on 18 July 2017 - 10:24 PM, said:

Thrown a SNPPC in my PB yesterday and had a lot of fun. At the end we lost the match because I missed 2 followup shots at the end of the round as last man standing and was killed. But with 700 dmg done, 2 kills and 4 KKMDs it was still a good match for me... and Im a realy unexp. PPC user. For the first impression: the ambush capabilities (alphas) are nowere near 3 MPL or 4 ML, but hey, I feel like a freaking ninja. Sneak up BACKSTAB, VANISH, appear on an other side BACKSTAB and VANISH AGAIN!
SNPPC
...Not a propper build... thats only the first layout I tinkered in 2 minutes of my sparetime...
Todays experement:
2xLPPCs
An tiny mech with topspeed of ~150 KPH with high mounts... in stealthsuite with LPPCs... sounds like pain to shoot at...

I think the Light Peep Locust is pretty funny. Doing it on the Pirate's Bane is hilarious.

I don't know that I'd call it good until/unless LPPCs get a velocity boost.

Ovion, on 19 July 2017 - 04:18 AM, said:

Don't forget Stealth Armour. : D

I said me and others though.
Of the vocal people I see in the facebook groups, the groups I moderate and various discords I'm on, my unit, my friends, etc, maybe 5-10% feel that there isn't more diversity, and don't think that overall while clunky the skill system is an overall improvement in balance and diversity.

The biggest complaints from the 'pro' crowd, or those that can't be bothered to figure out the new system.

And yes, it's not recorded or anything, but I *do* have a large pool to draw from in terms of observation as well as my own experiences.

And yes, time you play, 'local meta' and tier will affect it, but either way, the game now is at least an improvement over the game 6 months and 12 months ago.

I noticed that you included other people, I just didn't address it. Adding matching opinions doesn't validate my opinion or yours. Either or both of us could be horribly guilty of confirmation bias, or of simply sitting in echo chambers with other potatoes, blissfully unaware of contrary points of view.

I'm not convinced "variety" is necessarily the same thing as viability or balance. Even when I take bad builds out and survive better or do more damage, their reduced death trap factor doesn't mean that the skill shrubberies are actually balancing the game.

The shrubberies are introducing a semi a la carte menu of quirks that allows more variation. Back to my original point, most balance still happens with tuning equipment (weapon nerfs, ghost heat, velocity and duration changes, etc), adjusting chassis mobility (MAD IIC KID and MTG nerfs), and variant quirks.

We think "balancing" is happening because of the skill shrubberies, when it's not. The devs are responsible for balancing the pieces and parts. The fact that they've given us a system (which I admittedly do not favor) that let's us tip that balance around makes global balance even weirder because we have the tools to really overemphasize some things and ignore others.

Sure, "choice," and stuff. My original point was that most balance isn't happening by the skill shrubberies. They're still doing it the same way they have been, with the same trifecta of tools. I'll point out that AMS balancing has been a mixed bag of equipment and nodes.

If he said my peice, you've said a bunch of yours (of course, I wouldn't known if it's "all," I'm not in your head). I think I've done enough to threadjack IW's Locust thread, and I'm going to leave this alone now.

That, and I don't really like the feel of this back-and-forth we've got working, so I'm going to own that I'm contributing to it and I'm going to disengage on this topic for now.

<3 you Ovi


Edit: autocorrect derp, clarity

Edited by Virlutris, 19 July 2017 - 06:27 AM.

[Blind Baku]

So tried the 1V with HMG. HMGs are glorious, but it was underwhelming on the whole. Couldn't find a build that wasn't underpowered, under equipped (not enough ammo), or had to sit and NOT fight for the first 3/4 of the match. :/
'

[IraqiWalker]

Blind Baku, on 19 July 2017 - 09:04 AM, said:

So tried the 1V with HMG. HMGs are glorious, but it was underwhelming on the whole. Couldn't find a build that wasn't underpowered, under equipped (not enough ammo), or had to sit and NOT fight for the first 3/4 of the match. :/
'

If you're going HMGs you are DEFINITELY going for end game murder power, or surprise assassin.

Once you boat the MGs you are dedicating yourself purely for the purpose of hunting down unarmored sections, or sections about to lose all their armor to a breeze, and then murdering the hell out of them.

[Fox With A Shotgun]

IraqiWalker, on 19 July 2017 - 05:46 PM, said:

If you're going HMGs you are DEFINITELY going for end game murder power, or surprise assassin.

Once you boat the MGs you are dedicating yourself purely for the purpose of hunting down unarmored sections, or sections about to lose all their armor to a breeze, and then murdering the hell out of them.

Well, there's one advantage to having a purely MG build. You can safely ignore most of the nodes on the Skill Shrubbery, as MGs are wholly unaffected by CD, Velocity and Heat Gen nodes. This means you can pump both Survival AND Mobility! Double the trollness of the lolcust!

[Tim East]

Welp, finally figured out why my cruise missile Locust was not functioning as intended. They put a minimum range on rockets. Because heaven forbid that people should actually have to fear letting lights get close again.

Every time I think about spending money on something, PGI changes it to make it not really all that appealing to me. AC10 ghost heat stopped me from buying Anny pack, and boy was I glad I waited on that, let me add. Wanted to get a Purifier, but heavy lasers are all around not very good at the thing that was supposed to be their specialty. HMGs were kinda cool in the PTS, but they nerfed those, though thankfully not as bad as they usually hammer stuff. Don't think I'll buy a Purifier for that build either though.

Might be time for another break. Idk. I like the idea of the new tech. The implementation, apart from stealth armor, was kind of underwhelming, at least if the last couple days are any barometer. Some of the PPC variants were kind of neat. I tried boating LPPC on my Boar's Head, and that worked out surprisingly well. SNPPC gives Locusts an alternative punch weapon to replace all the lasers that got nerfed. The ERPPC buffs went quite a bit too far, as Panthers can now shoot ERPPC projectiles that go faster than any 'Mech I could figure could shoot gauss projectiles. The RACs somehow manage to be annoying both as a user and a victim.

I didn't really use MRMs much or ATMs at all, but I have seen a lot of ATMs die to LAMS and regular AMS.

I guess if there's one thing I can say about the Rocket failure, it's that at least it keeps my Jenner IIC relevant. A little.

[Ertur]

Tim East, on 18 July 2017 - 09:50 PM, said:

Feels backwards to one who started playing MW2, with the big, slow, fireball launchers that ERPPCs were in that game.

PPC's were blue lasers in MW1, though.

[Tim East]

Ertur, on 19 July 2017 - 09:25 PM, said:

PPC's were blue lasers in MW1, though.

Way to play even older games than me, bro. xD

I went head and took the Panther PPC shenanigans to their logical conclusion, stripped an ERPPC out of my 9R, shaved a little armor, and mounted a TC8. It's... pretty frackin' good, actually. Not amazing, but you can get a lot of consistent damage if nobody bum-rushes you, and you can trade at 900m almost consequence-free as long as you remember the Locust wiggle. Goes even better with a little JJ for jump-sniping.

[AJBennett]

I'm running this as my LCT-1V currently...

FUZZ BUSTER

Edited by AJBennet, 20 July 2017 - 06:26 AM.

[Ovion]

AJBennet, on 20 July 2017 - 06:25 AM, said:

I'm running this as my LCT-1V currently...

FUZZ BUSTER

What about LCT-1V
Or LCT-1V