33 replies to this topic

[Two Hands]

The thing is from what I've seen it seems that the medium weight class mech is a bit outclassed... hear me out.

I've been researching a bit and from what I've found the medium mech is the workhorse of the the different faction. They are your regular standard infantry, sort of. But the thing that worries me in Mechwarrior Online is that the medium class doesn't have a specific role and if it supposed to be this jack of all trades but everything does its role better and it's kind of hard in a team setup with x number of mechs.

Oh your medium mech is gonna go and scout some? Sorry there's a light mech for that!

Your medium mech is gonna go to the frontlines? Sorry that's a heavy/assault for that!

What do you think? Am I wrong? Am I right?


(Sorry for any mistakes! English is not my native language.)

[Voss Korgan]

Medium mechs are your bread and butter. They are just what their name implies. You can get close to the speed of a light while keeping some of the armor and firepower of a heavy.

[grimzod]

Mediums are the main battle tank of the mech classes. Well rounded with enough weapons for two of them to spank an assault or heavy alone. Fast enough to keep up with scouts long enough to kill them. Usually quick enough to be scouts if needed. In TT at least. And thats a generalization.

[Blackfire1]

Ok looky... ANOTHER Medium thread.... Someone doesn't know what the search bar is for.
This is everything. Game over. No more questions needed.

grimzod, on 18 June 2012 - 04:46 PM, said:

Mediums are the main battle tank of the mech classes. Well rounded with enough weapons for two of them to spank an assault or heavy alone. Fast enough to keep up with scouts long enough to kill them. Usually quick enough to be scouts if needed. In TT at least. And thats a generalization.

[Shadowscythe]

http://mwomercs.com/...0-medium-mechs/

REALLY good thread for "why pick a medium" type of thing

I also post some REALLY long replies that I really don't want to type out again
Although I will go ahead and type this ....We don't know which mechs will have the most module slots.. and that will be a MAJOR factor for some people (including me)

we don't know if certain weight classes get more. if just certain mech names (example, centurion, I just like that mech. I hope it gets the most ) get more. or if even just certain varients get more.

The last page I even made a tonnage/max speed and extra tonnage after max speed chart...that is before XL engine and endo steel

Edited by Shadowscythe, 18 June 2012 - 05:02 PM.

[Gremlich Johns]

If you are using a Shadowcat - awesome!

[WardenWolf]

Also, for those worried about taking a medium instead of a heavier mech when there are a limited number of slots on each side, keep in mind that there may well also be limitations either by tonnage or some form of battle value. If your options are 4 assault mechs and 8 lights, or a more mixed group of a couple assault, a couple heavies, several mediums, and a few lights - which way would you go? The later gives you much better flexibility on the battlefield.

[Waladil]

One of the big strengths to Mediums is that they can get from point A to point B fast, but still bring a good bit of firepower.

Lets say that as you start to patrol the southern quadrant, your north quadrant lance calls in that they're engaging the enemy. The mediums can start heading to the northern fight, and they might turn the tide. By the time the heavies and assaults reach it, the fight's over.

[Robovski]

'Fast' medium mechs are scouts, basically a heavy scout. IMO the engines are not very efficient on a medium above 6/9. They can make for decent interceptors to light mechs especially when equipped with wepons that play well against lights (weapons with good damage concentration like the AC/10 or PPC).

Medium mechs are also heavy enough for some weapon systems to become viable in build. This makes for some specialty mechs built around a weapon system and basically a purpose. For example, the Hunchback and that AC/20. It isn't easy to fit an AC/20 on smaller mechs and not have to really skimp on armor or engine or both (not to mention ammo).

So we have a more durable scout, a scout hunter and a weapon specialist. Anything else that mediums do? Yep. You get baby assault mediums, carrying full armor and plenty or weapons built around a fairly slow 4/6 so the engine is lightweight. Great for padding out heavier lances or for defense, or with jump jets (cheap at this weight class and for a 4 jump move) work in rough/forest/cliff-ridden terrain.

[Argon3]

Meds go back to kill the lights capping
Meds find the assults and flank them and kills 1-2 and then runs away
Meds find other meds running alone and kill them

Bad meds find assualts and try to stand toe to toe and die

[zax]

If it's anything like every other MW game, mediums will be the red-headed stepchild of the game. Not small/fast enough to avoid attacks from a skilled opponent, not enough armor/damage to be particularly dangerous to a heavy/assault.

Almost all games are all about specializing in a particular role and excelling at it. A JOAT role is exactly that; it's adequate at best.

[Murphy7]

The 5/8 and 5/8/5 55-tonners were the cream of the crop for mixing speed, stamina, and firepower into one mech up until the Clans arrive and pull the same trick with their heavies.

I have never had much luck with the Jump Jets in the Mechwarrior simulations before, so I don't know how that will translate, but the sheer foot speed + firepower could make the mediums in the fifty and fifty-five classes just brutal due lists and assassin pieces. I have complete faith that there are some pilots on this board who could eviscerate heavies and some assaults with their medium mech one on one.

Assaults might need a medium bodyguard for the hit and run lights and some mediums who might be too quick for an assault to react to.

[Gabriyel]

Robovski, on 18 June 2012 - 04:57 PM, said:

'Fast' medium mechs are scouts, basically a heavy scout. IMO the engines are not very efficient on a medium above 6/9. They can make for decent interceptors to light mechs especially when equipped with wepons that play well against lights (weapons with good damage concentration like the AC/10 or PPC).

Medium mechs are also heavy enough for some weapon systems to become viable in build. This makes for some specialty mechs built around a weapon system and basically a purpose. For example, the Hunchback and that AC/20. It isn't easy to fit an AC/20 on smaller mechs and not have to really skimp on armor or engine or both (not to mention ammo).

So we have a more durable scout, a scout hunter and a weapon specialist. Anything else that mediums do? Yep. You get baby assault mediums, carrying full armor and plenty or weapons built around a fairly slow 4/6 so the engine is lightweight. Great for padding out heavier lances or for defense, or with jump jets (cheap at this weight class and for a 4 jump move) work in rough/forest/cliff-ridden terrain.

Pretty much what he said, lot of flexibility for their weight. They especially start shining once clan tech is introduced and new models for down the road in MW:O. Personal favorites of mine were Shadowcat and Uziel. The latter had the flexibility to fill about any role I needed for it (scout, snipe or brawl, support). Just wait and you'll see, I think book wise/lore you have examples of famous mechs like Yen-lo-wang which upgraded it's AC for heavy closein firepower and was known to take out heavier mechs like Riflemans.

[Corka]

Yeah, I'm really skeptical of the assertion that the mediums will be the most common mech on the field unless there is something to force it (maximum battle weight, or the cost of running heavy/assault mechs being too prohibitive). That is unless the game balance is vastly different to what has come before.

The only real use of a medium mech in my eyes is to either as a pseudo-scout, or as a scout-killer.

[Murphy7]

Corka, on 18 June 2012 - 05:13 PM, said:

The only real use of a medium mech in my eyes is to either as a pseudo-scout, or as a scout-killer.

Mobility and durability in one package may also make them good command pieces, easily able to keep the connection between scouts and fire support in communication.

[MrM1971]

ok keep in mind there might be drop ship tonnage restrictions on each team
so there cant be entire teams of assaults dropping in every battle.

also meduim mechs can do every role on the battlefield.

scout sure thing lower the weaponry abit and raise the engine add jump jets yer rocken the scout role same as a light but with more options to weaponry and armor load out.

assault/defence yer there lower yer speed abit raise the armor and weaponry and you can pack a serious punch ( keep in mind all yer shots that hit do damage no bounced shots ect )

command theres nothen that says a command mech has to be the biggest baddest mech on the field if anything it shouldnt be ( save the drop tonnage for a assault or defence to boost the fighting strength of your lance ). Command mechs need anough speed to stay in range of there scouts and relay orders to others and call in air strikes ect, they also need anough firepower to defend themselves when needed and a meduim mech can do both. Also with the speed advantage over heavy and assault mechs a meduim command mech can withdraw from fights to a safar location when needed to continue with command operations.

[Chal]

Two Hands, on 18 June 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

The thing is from what I've seen it seems that the medium weight class mech is a bit outclassed... hear me out.

I've been researching a bit and from what I've found the medium mech is the workhorse of the the different faction. They are your regular standard infantry, sort of. But the thing that worries me in Mechwarrior Online is that the medium class doesn't have a specific role and if it supposed to be this jack of all trades but everything does its role better and it's kind of hard in a team setup with x number of mechs.

Oh your medium mech is gonna go and scout some? Sorry there's a light mech for that!

Your medium mech is gonna go to the frontlines? Sorry that's a heavy/assault for that!

What do you think? Am I wrong? Am I right?


(Sorry for any mistakes! English is not my native language.)

I can kill an atlas or hunch, cat, easily, regardless of who is superman and piloting it with my jenner. in a city/closed environment a jenner is lethal. Folks simply do not realize this. out in the open, yes i am at a disadvantage, usually a fatal one because of missiles.

Edited by Chal, 18 June 2012 - 05:19 PM.

[SyberSmoke]

Well fortunately we get 4 mech slots (at least from the videos) and so we can have one of each weight class of mech if not each meach type its self. Initially we may see many an assault lumbering around...but if they do not mutually support one another...bets are the few lights and mediums out there will rip them up. That is the wonderful thing about battletech, with a skilled pilot any mech can kill anything other mech.

[Corka]

Besides the fact a Jenner is a light and not a medium so not necessarily relevant to this particular topic, I'm still skeptical of the ability of a light to be able to consistently kill heavy and assault mechs.

[zudukai]

Chal, on 18 June 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:

I can kill an atlas or hunch, cat, easily, regardless of who is superman and piloting it with my jenner. in a city/closed environment a jenner is lethal. Folks simply do not realize this. out in the open, yes i am at a disadvantage, usually a fatal one because of missiles.

you have not met me on the field