4831 replies to this topic

[Snaky115]

Locusts are interesting mechs indeed, As someone mentioned, you feel comparatively better if you did well in a Locust, unlike most other mechs, just because of how hard it is...

Also, speaking of feeling good, to anyone who hasn't seen this...



The Adrenaline rush was insane... I had way too much luck on my side on this one, way too much.
I stubbornly run only 4 Medium lasers in this thing, instead of Small Pulses, can't always hold enough FPS to reliably run SPL.

Pirate's Bane.. ECM and C-Bill bonus is nice and all, but the torso lasers limit aim a noticeable amount. X_X

Edited by Snaky115, 22 December 2014 - 04:08 PM.

[3xnihilo]

So now that we all get 7 days of premium time...12v12 locusts?

[NUJRSYDEVIL]

I had a similar game yesterday with my Pirate's Bane. 5 Kills 6 Assists with 104 Round Score.

The reason is that Locust goes unnoticed in CQC so you are free to pound away on critical points with your machine guns and mop up.

The Jenner was my favorite but the PB has become my go-to mech. For anyone that has been thinking about buying one I must recommend it.

[Alaskan Nobody]

3xnihilo, on 22 December 2014 - 04:06 PM, said:

So now that we all get 7 days of premium time...12v12 locusts?

Me and Gwilliy ran some on one one Locust yesterday - would have been more fun with more Locust - but I didn't see anyone from the thread online

[Ovion]

I've got the day off and nothing planned on New Years Day.
I'd be happy to do it then.

Even without the all-7days, I'm sure there's enough of us with PT to run it.

[jper4]

Ovion, on 20 December 2014 - 12:55 PM, said:

I kinda want to try a LPL locust, but at the same time... I don't think it'll be as good as a 2 MPL locust sooo.....

i ran the 1E with a LPL in one arm and SL in the other (i had a half ton left so why not?) for a while, engine i think was only an xl 170 or 180 i forget which. was fun, especially when you aim the LPL at the legs of the lights that came after you. usually one good hit and they decide there's an assault somewhere else they need to kill. can run a little hot if left in a long fight with something but otherwise a solid hit and run option. only switched to the 6SL: version after the quirks came in.

[3xnihilo]

Ovion, on 23 December 2014 - 11:47 AM, said:

I've got the day off and nothing planned on New Years Day.
I'd be happy to do it then.

Even without the all-7days, I'm sure there's enough of us with PT to run it.

I am probably working New Years Day, but will be home by 5:30 or 6 Eastern Time. That would give everyone else a chance to get over their New Years hangover (But if you did it earlier you could include more Europeans I think. . . I am bad at Time Zones)

Edited by 3xnihilo, 23 December 2014 - 02:53 PM.

[Neutron IX]

If I'm on, I'd love to be in on this. I have to imagine that, not only would it be a hell of a good time, but that I'd also learn a thing or two from seeing the different play-styles and builds in action.

Send me those forum/game contact/friend requests and we'll get Locust-Loco!

I can't always voice-chat due to the wife and kids in a small house thing, but I can usually at least hop onto TS and listen.

[Xoco]

Hi,

Question:
- How do you stand the lack of jump jets? The Locust feels so restricting!
- When should I strike? It seems that unless my teammate is already engaged, it's useless to even bother doing anything, because even a stray shot will kill me.
- Do I NEED engine upgrade to be effective? I feel that yes, I can run fast--that's nifty. But I can't run fast enough to actually hide behind anything before I die once someone targets me (seems like everyone loves an easy kill).

I'm pretty new to this game (and Mechwarrior for that matter). I have a bone to pick with how most mechs look--Locust and King Crab so far the the only mechs that I actually like (as far as how they look), instead of just tolerate. I'm not going to be able to afford crabby any time soon, so I'll be doing Locust for a good long time until then.

[Neutron IX]

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

Hi,

Question:
- How do you stand the lack of jump jets? The Locust feels so restricting!
- When should I strike? It seems that unless my teammate is already engaged, it's useless to even bother doing anything, because even a stray shot will kill me.
- Do I NEED engine upgrade to be effective? I feel that yes, I can run fast--that's nifty. But I can't run fast enough to actually hide behind anything before I die once someone targets me (seems like everyone loves an easy kill).

I'm pretty new to this game (and Mechwarrior for that matter). I have a bone to pick with how most mechs look--Locust and King Crab so far the the only mechs that I actually like (as far as how they look), instead of just tolerate. I'm not going to be able to afford crabby any time soon, so I'll be doing Locust for a good long time until then.

Now, if you've read through this, you'll note that I'm not the most expert of Locust pilots here. That being said, a few things I'd recommend would be as follows.

1). Sometimes you'll wish you had jump jets, sure, but yes, you absolutely want to upgrade your engine. Getting by without jump jets is a trade-off I'll gladly make for the blistering speed a Locust is capable of. In a Locust, speed is life. I haven't even yet unlocked Speed Tweak (oh man, can't wait to experience the true quickness), but I currently am using an XL 190 in every Locust I have, giving me a fairly respectable 153.9 kph run speed. Speed plus our small size is our best defense (it sure as hell ain't our armor eh? ).

2). Run crazy, like a you're a laser pointer, and everything else on the map is a cat. Be as unpredictable as possible. Zig, then zag, than zag again, then back to zig. Whatever you do, do your best to keep them guessing, since many really great mechwarriors don't try to chase you with their targeting reticle, rather, they put it where you're going to be and shoot you when you get there. So don't get there.

3). Shooting a distracted target is always your best choice when attacking. If your target isn't distracted, then hit and run would be your next move. Shoot them only as much as you might be able to in passing as you run away/past them, circle around and come at them again from a different, direction. Never engage head on if you can avoid it...every single time I've tried this, with almost no exception, it has ended badly for me. You learn real quick that it's an easy way to die.

Think of yourself as the scavenger, circling the pride of lions and finishing off the scraps. If you do it right, you will eat really quite well.

[3xnihilo]

"You're a laser pointer and everything else is a cat..." This is perfect haha! That is a nice summary of locusting. Also, check page one on this thread Iraqi Walker gave some really good descriptions of piloting the different variants in the OP.

[Tarogato]

Rip Snorgan, on 23 December 2014 - 04:27 PM, said:

2). Run crazy, like a you're a laser pointer, and everything else on the map is a cat. Be as unpredictable as possible. Zig, then zag, than zag again, then back to zig.

Tactics for survival when piloting a Firestarter - rely on buggy hitboxes and horrible hitreg:


Tactics for survival when piloting a Locust - requires skill:

[Ovion]

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

Hi,

Question:
- How do you stand the lack of jump jets? The Locust feels so restricting!
- When should I strike? It seems that unless my teammate is already engaged, it's useless to even bother doing anything, because even a stray shot will kill me.
- Do I NEED engine upgrade to be effective? I feel that yes, I can run fast--that's nifty. But I can't run fast enough to actually hide behind anything before I die once someone targets me (seems like everyone loves an easy kill).

I'm pretty new to this game (and Mechwarrior for that matter). I have a bone to pick with how most mechs look--Locust and King Crab so far the the only mechs that I actually like (as far as how they look), instead of just tolerate. I'm not going to be able to afford crabby any time soon, so I'll be doing Locust for a good long time until then.

Welcome to the club.

The Locust is an amazing mech for a special kind of crazy.

First Step:

Quote

Treat it like a method of carefully controlled suicide, aiming to make as much impact as you can with your time on the ground, taking survival as a nice, if unexpected bonus.
This will make it decidely more fun, and plays to the strengths of the mech.

This is invaribly taking risks.
Going fast, brushing past the enemy and making lightning runs.

Second Step:

Quote

Speed is life.

To answer your questions - lack of jump jets doesn't matter. If anything we shouldn't have them on our Locust.
We're fast and nimble enough to outpace them, and can make it up most faces without too much trouble.
Jump jets would slow us down and make us a target.

I'll come to where to strike / target priority shortly.

An engine upgrade (and ultimately Speed Tweak) are a must.
You can get by with a Std 170/180, but ideally you need an XL190.
The stock Std is just not good enough, nor really useful for much.
I'd honestly say sell them once you have around 2.6mil c-bills (will bring you up to enough for an XL190).

With the 190, you'll have a top speed of around 154kph.
This is enough to get by with, and will let you start to embrace the speed, easing you in.
It's still not quite fast enough mind, but it will let you avoid missiles easier and dodge a respectable ammount of fire.

_{Then once you have Speed Tweak you'll bump to 170kph.
This truly is the point where you fly. Outrunning LRMs isn't entirely diffifult now, and you can dodge incoming AC20 fire if you're on the ball.}

And regardless of engine, avoid standing still, keep moving, keep to cover, only expose yourself when you know your goal, your target.

Which brings us to the Third Step:

Quote

Never engage directly.
Engage when your target is preoccupied.
Come from behind.
Come from the side.
Make large figure 8's, coming at them from a different angle each time to keep them guessing, never charging into their guns, always around them.
You want to appear, unload into your target, then vanish.

Avoid combat with lights where possible, and when you do have to fight them, avoid circling them, you want to chase them and stay behind them, or make them chase you, and use your superior torso twist to return fire.

You're fast, you're small, and your light, remember it always and never try to tank shots.

Fourth Step

Quote

The locust must have Endo Steel and Ferro at all times.
This isn't too hard as it only costs 360,000C-Bills to get both and max armour.

This is your new armour layout:
LCT-1E
It will terrify you, and rightly so.
But you simply don't have enough armour / internal health for it to really matter.

You're 2/3/2 rear armour is enough to take an AC10 hit, and to deal with laser passes.
You cannot put enough armour there to take anything else, without making both the front and back incapable of taking a hit.
You're using that impressive torso twist to use your front armour as rear armour when running away, and your speed everywhere else.

By splitting it this way, you can comfortably take 1-2 shots of AC20 to the chest and survive.

When you're used to this or feeling more daring, it'll be time to move to this:
LCT-1E
The 5/1/5 on the arms and head honestly won't make much difference once you've learnt to pilot.

This works because your cockpit hitbox is almost nonexistant.
In some 400 drops in a Locust, I've been headshotted maybe twice.
There are those that run no head armour and just rely on the base 15HP.
I like at least 1. (That red/yellow arrow bothers me in the mechbay.)

The 5 on each arm is workable because they have pretty tiny hitboxes, especially from the front (you rarely get shot in the side / arms), and with 12 armour on each, I rarely if ever lost an arm.
Witth 5, I'll lose an arm on occasion, but it's still pretty rare for me to lose an arm before I simply die.

This layout also gives you 7 tons for weapons with the XL190.

Additionally, to allow you ton understand engines a bit better, a chart detailing the total weights of engines + heatsinks can be found here:

Spoiler

For the ones greyed out - there's no point in even owning them.
Engines with more power, and/or more internal heatsinks exist for the same weight.

Also, if you want a reccomendation, and are willing to spend a little, I would say do the following:
Purchase 3000MC (US$15, GB£9.70).
Use this to get a Pirates Bane and a colour or two. (I reccomend Camo Colours, if you want to know how Colours and Camos work, I'll happily post in my guide on request).
Then you have 1 XL190 already.
Use your Cadet Bonus (est 10-15million C-Bills) to purchase 2 Locusts of your choice (est 3-4million C-Bills), sell the 2 STD 160's, purchase a second XL190, and Endo / Ferro / DHS for your Locusts, and kit them with weapons (est 7-8 million).

You can now have 2 Locusts on the go at any given time, all are kitted out and you have a solid Hero mech for extra C-Bill income.

Then all grind can be towards your King Crabs.
This will also allow you to purchase 2 additional Mech Bays to allow you the full set of 3 Crabs for Mastery.

(And allows you to earn / purchase more bays if you decide you want the full set of 6 Locusts)

Rip Snorgan, on 23 December 2014 - 04:27 PM, said:

Run crazy, like a you're a laser pointer, and everything else on the map is a cat. Be as unpredictable as possible.

This is the single best description of how to move in a Locust I've ever seen.

I tip my hat to you sir.

Edited by Ovion, 23 December 2014 - 04:45 PM.

[IraqiWalker]

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

Hi,

Question:
- How do you stand the lack of jump jets? The Locust feels so restricting!

The Locust's speed allows it to go pretty much anywhere without the need for JJs (plus JJs slow you down)

Also, if you attach the Hill Climb module to your mech, you pretty much can walk up cliffs without a hitch.

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

- When should I strike? It seems that unless my teammate is already engaged, it's useless to even bother doing anything, because even a stray shot will kill me.

Always strike from the sides, always strike an opponent that is hitting a different target, and most importantly: ALWAYS strike fast. That means use fast fire weapons, wahck-a-mole style of cover popping, and never let your enemy see you for more than 2 seconds.

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

- Do I NEED engine upgrade to be effective? I feel that yes, I can run fast--that's nifty. But I can't run fast enough to actually hide behind anything before I die once someone targets me (seems like everyone loves an easy kill).

When you're running faster than your opponent's machine can render frames, you don't need to worry about incoming fire.

However, you should learn the lay of the land, and understand the maps as much as possible. You can't be in exposed open terrain for too long. For example, in Frozen City, your best location is actually the city. Any other location can be a real nightmare for your survival. Dense cover is where you excel.

I had a 1v1 with an Atlas in River City Skirmish, and I drew him into the city, where I could use the buildings to run, hide, and pop from un-expected corners, wearing him out. (Of course I was running the 6 SPL set up, which allowed me to wreck the Atlas fast. I had to cripple one leg first though, to make sure he can't run away from me.)

Xoco, on 23 December 2014 - 03:48 PM, said:

I'm pretty new to this game (and Mechwarrior for that matter). I have a bone to pick with how most mechs look--Locust and King Crab so far the the only mechs that I actually like (as far as how they look), instead of just tolerate. I'm not going to be able to afford crabby any time soon, so I'll be doing Locust for a good long time until then.

I personally do not recommend the Locust for a new player. There is hard, and then there's LOCUST HARD. Be prepared for frustration, and a lot of difficult games. Don't try to pursue kills, or high damage numbers. This is a game where you need several hundred drops just to be mediocre at it. So get ready for an uphill fight.

However, if you ace the Locust, there is literally no light in the game that will be difficult for you to do well in.

On the other hand, with the quirks the Locusts received, they are significantly better than when most of us started.

I wish you good luck, and encourage you to ask as many questions as possible in regards to the game, and the mechs.

[Bigbacon]

as new don't get one. I made that mistake. I was so exicted with those new recruit cbill bonuses that I HAD to buy me something and all I could afford (not knowing I'd get more rewards) as the locust and it was a horrible experience and a waste of my new player bonus.

If you want to try lights, pick something like a Firestarter or raven until you get comfortable with the game and lights themselves.

Locust is a boat load of fun to play but you need to go through a lot of pain and frustration until one day how to you use clicks and then it starts to get better.

[Ovion]

Ay, all of us here are pretty happy to help.

The part of our brains that make us want to pilot the happy death trap seems to make us pretty welcoming too

[3xnihilo]

I had to do it!

(New sig)

[Ovion]

Bigbacon, on 23 December 2014 - 05:06 PM, said:

as new don't get one. I made that mistake. I was so exicted with those new recruit cbill bonuses that I HAD to buy me something and all I could afford (not knowing I'd get more rewards) as the locust and it was a horrible experience and a waste of my new player bonus.

If you want to try lights, pick something like a Firestarter or raven until you get comfortable with the game and lights themselves.

Locust is a boat load of fun to play but you need to go through a lot of pain and frustration until one day how to you use clicks and then it starts to get better.

Honestly... While in some ways accurate, there's no reason not to.

As said above, while tricky, it's ultimately rewarding.
As once you get a locust down, you can pilot pretty much any fast light without much hassle.

Just be prepared for the uphill struggle, with the high pay off.

[Neutron IX]

3xnihilo, on 23 December 2014 - 05:14 PM, said:

I had to do it!

(New sig)

Haha! I'm flattered man! It's my first sig quote!

[Bulletsponge0]

Shar Wolf, on 23 December 2014 - 10:41 AM, said:

Me and Gwilliy ran some on one one Locust yesterday - would have been more fun with more Locust - but I didn't see anyone from the thread online

you didn't ask me!!!!