4831 replies to this topic

[Takashi Uchida]

Tarogato, on 21 October 2014 - 03:02 AM, said:

I can't help but think this is going to plummet once my sample size starts getting larger.

LCT-1E - 34 matches
K/D: 1.24
W/L: 0.89
Dmg/match: 248.21

I was going to buy my first assault mech next, but maybe I'll just master up some Locusts since I only have two mechbays to spare.

Also, I guess I need to update my siggy. Gives me an excuse to clean it up. =]

Dude, I just elited a Dire Whale I've been putting off. Lemme tell ya.. WAYYYY better stats than the Locusts, WAYYYY less fun (also longer wait times lol).

[Clownwarlord]

LCT-3S

I know it doesn't look like much and many would suggest streak or something like that, but I find this to be a great mech for boom and zoom tactics. Since it has 8 SRM tubes it can run up, un-load, and run away well before the enemy mech should be able to turn and spot the locust. In a pack of 3 and firing on the same target you can look in up-wards of 50 damage. This is more then enough to open up a back or if a back is opened to finish it off.

What is also nice and very effective is finding a lone mech that is beat up if you wish not to shoot in alpha of your srm missiles. You could also fire them in chain fire which just pumps 3 missiles out in a ***** sussession until you run out of ammunition or you for some other reason stop shooting.

Then because every mech needs an energy back up, I allocated one ton to a medium laser.

In my opinion I find this mech to be great in the thrid stage of a match like many light mechs or non-damaged mechs are.

Stage 1: First contact
Stage 2: Breaking point
Stage 3: Clean up

First contact is just what it is, it is the part where mechs just start firing long range weapons and figure out how to move to get best position.

Breaking point is that part where the match is usually decided. As in one good or bad move decides which team will win and which will lose.

Clean up again just like it sounds, after the breaking point stage and it is decided who is going to win it is left to finish off destroying the enemy mechs. If not then this is where a mech might make a come-back rally which is where a light mech or a non-damaged mech seem to fair well.

[Ovion]

May try that myself...
Your armour is a bit... meh though, I'd switch it to: LCT-3S

[Bigbacon]

i may have t otry the 4xSRM2 3S again...my problem was always ammo issues though with a 170 and no ferro I can get 2 tons on there.

never sacrifice armor anywhere except the head...I always zero unless I have that little tonnage left over.

Edited by Bigbacon, 21 October 2014 - 05:03 AM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

clownwarlord, on 21 October 2014 - 04:27 AM, said:

many would suggest streak or something like that

Not on the Locust!

No spare tonnage for that extra 2 tons (for the 4 SSRM) + 1.5 (for the BAP)

That and - as you noticed - SRM2 are better for BnZ.

Bigbacon, on 21 October 2014 - 05:02 AM, said:

never sacrifice armor anywhere except the head...I always zero unless I have that little tonnage left over.

You can sacrifice some - depending on what you keep facing.

If you keep seeing IS Meta builds (30-35 alpha strike) you can sacrifice some - as you are not going to survive that anyways.
(Why put the tonnage in if it does no good?)

If you are facing Clan Meta (lasers or PPC spam) or low IS Meta (non-30-35 pinpoint) you are going to want it high since you are more likely to survive due to that extra 1-5 points armor (except the head)

[jper4]

my actual numbers in the Locusts are underwhelming other than the fun factor (and at one point all had kdrs in the .3 range)

mech matches w/l kdr ave dmg
1V 80 0.86 0.57 85.4
3M 94 0.77 0.55 111.9
3S 91 0.88 0.47 97.9
1E 81 1.05 0.72 131.7
1M 75 0.88 0.55 134.3

notes
-- surprised to see the 1M as my most damaging- dual MPLs and an ASRM 2, haven;t really changed this build at all
-- used 1LPL/1SL in 1E for about half those matches, rest combos of ML/SPLs and SLs, now testing 2MPL/1ML
-- never used more than 4 of the 3M's energy slots 2ML/2SL most common build- now 3ML for max alphaing and not overheating
-- 3S was the dual lrm 5 for about a third of my matches, used ML/3SRM2s for another third or so, first match w/dual streaks did 380 dmg so expecting an uptick in its numbers
-- 1V was basic ML/4MG- did toss an ERLL in there for about 15-20 matches too though. may have a MPL in there now.
-- never used arty/airstrike at all
-- most kills in a match - 3
-- most damage- 3M- 455.(2 kills, 9 assists that match)


so yeah you guys are all much better with them than i am

[Takashi Uchida]

I take an arty with me every time. That could def be padding the damage lol

[Tim East]

Tanar, on 21 October 2014 - 09:01 AM, said:

-- most kills in a match - 3
-- most damage- 3M- 455.(2 kills, 9 assists that match)

so yeah you guys are all much better with them than i am

My record damage in a Locust was 632 (1 kill, 4 assists) my highest kill value was 5. My highest assist value was 9, the same as yours, and the best combination of the two that I have is a 4 kill 6 assist game with 557 damage in my opinion.

My point is that while there is always someone better than you at stuff, not everyone is much better. My stats are only about 35% better than yours, and I've been Locust-ing for quite a few more games. My 3M has almost 200 games on it and still only has a .86 k/d because I'm a reckless whack-job when I drive the thing. I definitely consider myself a competent driver and regularly get games where I cripple or kill 5 or more times my tonnage in enemy mechs, and you really aren't all that far behind me.

So, you know, take heart buddy. Any day you kill more tonnage than you are is a successful day in my book.

/edit: Oh, and I never use consumables. I need to hoard c-bills, not spend them.

Edited by Tim East, 21 October 2014 - 10:37 AM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Tim East, on 21 October 2014 - 10:37 AM, said:

/edit: Oh, and I never use consumables. I need to hoard c-bills, not spend them.

I use UAVs
If only because they are the best way I have found to herd PuGs.

[Tarogato]

Bah, now I'm faced with the decision of which two Locusts to buy.

1. Is 2.5t enough ammo for an SRM10?
2. Is evenly shaving a half ton of armour off noticeable?
3. Are the machine guns worth the variant? Would 3 MGs make do, or is it really ineffective? Keeping in mind I had zero luck with the RVN-4X and JM6-DD with MG - I'm wary of trying them again, but willing to work out the playstyle only if it's worth it.


Thoughts appreciated. =]

[Alaskan Nobody]

Tarogato, on 21 October 2014 - 02:49 PM, said:

1. Is 2.5t enough ammo for an SRM10?
2. Is evenly shaving a half ton of armour off noticeable?
3. Are the machine guns worth the variant? Would 3 MGs make do, or is it really ineffective? Keeping in mind I had zero luck with the RVN-4X and JM6-DD with MG - I'm wary of trying them again, but willing to work out the playstyle only if it's worth it.

1. I usually run ~2 tons for my SRM8
2. Sometimes - depending on who's shooting at you (see my prior post on that)
3. the more you have - the more valuable MG in general are. 4 are much more effective than 3. 2 are probably more useful than 3 (for the weight)

Edit: added prior posts relevant content

Shar Wolf, on 21 October 2014 - 08:41 AM, said:

If you keep seeing IS Meta builds (30-35 alpha strike) you can sacrifice some - as you are not going to survive that anyways.
(Why put the tonnage in if it does no good?)

If you are facing Clan Meta (lasers or PPC spam) or low IS Meta (non-30-35 pinpoint) you are going to want it high since you are more likely to survive due to that extra 1-5 points armor (except the head)

Edited by Shar Wolf, 21 October 2014 - 02:52 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

For some clarification - some of mine run ~90 armor, and I have not noticed that much difference in survivability (against high meta anyways)

[Tarogato]

Now if only they'd buff the armour on this bugger so we could make worthwhile sacrifices.

Looks like I'll be getting the 1S. I'll decide between the 1V and the 3M later. MG vs Dual AMS is going to be a harder decision until I get another mechbay. =/

[Tim East]

I swear by the 3M. That thing is a beast, and I don't even use the AMS on it...

[Takashi Uchida]

Good time to be a Locust pilot. Lightning fast wait time, plenty of un-basic'd Altases to stab in the back, Centurions with Gauss rifles begging to be critted

[Tim East]

Takashi Uchida, on 21 October 2014 - 10:24 PM, said:

Good time to be a Locust pilot.

Any time is a good time to be a Locust pilot. Some times are just more good than others.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Yes, but this is like whale season all over again.

[Tim East]

Whew man, all the mediums in the queue are kicking my tail today. It's kind of neat to see medium go from 7% to 50% though.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Been running heavies because of that

The size category above yours is almost always the hardest fight.
(with assaults flipping around into lights)


Do not worry - my Locust are not forgotten - just on hold.

[Tim East]

May have actually spoken too soon there. Killed one of those reward Cents rocking 3 LRM 5 and an AC20 pretty much by myself. Still feels like the game had a weird difficulty spike though. Might just be because my earnings are all jacked up since assists don't do as much anymore. Also of note: the new assist system rewards you for bad aim. The most damage done award is really difficult to get unless I also get the solo kill one. I think this is due to the fact that LRMs do a ton of damage without actually killing the enemy. TAG prints C-bills now though, and that's kinda cool. I just really don't want to sacrifice a pulse laser to fit it on my 3M is all.