10 replies to this topic

[Raggedyman]

The following are suggestions that will help your PUG play go that little bit more smoothly for everyone involved.

1 - Don't shoot your team mates in the back at the start of the match.
I appreciate that we only just meet, and that it is unlikely that we will do so again, but if you could be careful when testing to make sure your weapons are switched on that you don't have them pointing at your team mates. This does double for AC20s/Gauss/PPC, and Triple for the Alpha Strike button you just mapped out.

2 - If you want tactics then talk.
The chat system has been put in for a reason, and just because we aren't on TeamSpeak that doesn't mean we can't communicate. Hit "Y' (or whatever your mapping is) and make your request. Or take the lance/commander position and issue through the interface. Be warned though, "I R L33T, Fholw Meh or Deadzzzz!" is unlikely to convince us of your strategy.

3 - Let others reverse out of danger.
We all want to be at the crest of the hill so we can rack up those big, juicy scores, but if you have your mech so far up my back armour I can smell your cockpit I'm going to get reaped by the other team. No one left on your side = you lost the match. No win xp for you, and a good chance of you showing off your 1 vs many explosion dance.

4 - Try to be aware of what other people are doing.
You can actually get a rough idea of what people are doing by keeping an eye on the map, so try to stick to a rough 'big-ball-of-death' (or at least with your lance) and try to develop a sense for how others generally play. At this level there are a handful of general approaches, so just stick to those plays and work with that team.

5 - Don't yell if we lose the match
Yeah, it's nice if we win but it's hardly the end of the world as the round will be forgotten in half the time it takes us to join the next one. What will be remembered is you being an ******** for shouting at everyone for the gross indigence of a pick-up-group not operating like the US Rangers, so just enjoy the ride and batter the Launch button once back to the hanger.

These are based on my experience of mostly battling with 11 other solo players by my side, because I'm still too lazy to find a clan. If fellow lone wolves have anything extra to add then please do so.

Edited by Raggedyman, 05 February 2014 - 12:59 PM.

[Anvil Dragon]

There are also a few lone wolf rolls.

Spotting for LRM is good, but the lock has to be held long enough to be seen, targeted as high priority, and missles sent. It is not a just seconds deal and a light in their backfield is not a high priority target. Pick a heavy or an assault.

Watching a pass, a tunnel, or a flank is good. No, not for kills but for wins, you might save a few if they get warning of a shift or push. If you are stuck in the back turn around, watch their six.

See someone dancing on the map, spinning on the map. Maybe some help. Just becase a red doesn't show...

Oh, if you do walk into a group, spam the R button a bit before selcting your lock. Let people know there are eight and not just the one enemy mech.

Who knows, might get an invite just being someone good to have around.

[NRP]

Don't run away at the first sign of danger.

Shoot what your teammates are shooting, but don't get in front of them, ******** them, or otherwise impede their mobility or firing lane.

If you see enemy LRMs flying and you're in a fast light, go kill that SOB. Or at least distract him. Your brawlers will greatly appreciate your efforts, even if they don't say so.

[sneeking]

its not just lone wolves who park up ya klaka when you break cover to fire, but I found a solution.

I just dont hang around others im rarely doing what all of you are doing or going wherever your going and this means im not there for some tard to stand behind.

[Macksheen]

If you're on a map with a choke point and you're in front of a mess of your team mates, don't poke over, stop and try to back up. We're all easier to hit when we stop, and since we're not live-talking, we're all going to be pissed and confused - hell, we thought you were going forward!

If your party is discussing some strategy and you are going to go with it, go with it. Don't back out half way and decide to leave everyone else hanging - we're all going to die.

[Reefwalker]

Team play is OP and will NOT be nerfed!

A mech alone is weak and exposed, vs. two mechs working together, and a easy kill for a Four man.
With this in mind, enlightened self interest compels you to try team play.(A lone ranger no matter how meta will never be OP against a TEAM.)


Team play do's

Always bring a ECM or AMS (Atlas brings both)/(pugin not premade)

Find a wing man and stick with him. Use lance chat if you don't have voice. You and your wing man make a fire team. the smallest unit that can concentrate fire, cover each others six, and enhance targeting data. The next largest unit is the lance. thats two fire teams working together (4 mechs). You and 3 other idiots, try to keep them alive.

Communicate it! coordinate it ! concentrate Fire!

Team play don'ts
Don't tailgate! Cover your wingmans six but never stand in it. This is very important because he needs that to maneuver. When your wing man needs to back up into cover, but runs into you and stops, Well, you just killed him.

[Navy Sixes]

Great thread, I'd like to see it pinned.

Raggedyman, on 05 February 2014 - 12:58 PM, said:

2 - If you want tactics then talk.
The chat system has been put in for a reason, and just because we aren't on TeamSpeak that doesn't mean we can't communicate. Hit "Y' (or whatever your mapping is) and make your request. Or take the lance/commander position and issue through the interface. Be warned though, "I R L33T, Fholw Meh or Deadzzzz!" is unlikely to convince us of your strategy.

2a - If you want to do stand up, find an open mike night.
If someone asks if anyone has a plan, you might think it is the absolute funniest and original thing in the world to say, "Kill 'em all" or "Don't die." If someone says, "What do you all think about going tunnel?" You might think it really funny to respond, "What do you think about going down on your mom?" or something. You get the idea. The point is, too much type-y/read-y means not enough move-y/shoot-y. If people on your team are trying to come up with a plan, your oh-so-original wisecracks are just clutter in the chat window. If you don't want to follow the plan, that's fine; go die on your own. But don't be part of the problem for teammates trying to actually organize and win.

[Mad Ox]

Just started MWO but have played Battletech since late 80's so I know the game.

Helping team mates with helpful tips and such is good. People may not know or simply forget in heat of battle. But don't be a butthead about it and insult them, wish to insult people trust me alot of other games fit right in and can join the trolls in insulting others. Also just might be doing something you didn't think about.

For example, was in trial Stalker last night. Do to speed, bone headed falling off edge and having to find way back up I end up being last mech standing. As expected I got surrounded, it was over I knew it just a matter of seconds. As such with really nothing to loose in hopes that I might distract/cause enemy to twist away so i can get another few Mlaser shots in, I unloaded with my LRM's.

I was promptly called a NOOB and LRM's are a waste under 180 m... Yes a reminder about 180 m is never a horrid thing specially to a person in trial mech they are most likely new to game. But there just might be a reason to the insanity.

[Mad Porthos]

Hey Mad Ox, as a fellow Mad'er I can say welcome and don't let the calls of Noob harsh your experience. We all are at some point, but to assume it on your actions when they are spectating you, then excoriate ya... meh, just sucky. Thing is, many many times people have watched a new player in a trial missile mech let off volley after volley of Lrms at enemy mechs after making a bee-line towards them but not firing until dead upon them, well under that 180m minimum range, to ensure that they cannot possibly miss. It would not strictly be a problem, given it can be distracting and as such help team mates... but when that same new player's mech has 4-6 medium lasers that could alpha for 20-30 damage, but is using the lrms instead - and then overheats when they finally do use the medium lasers because of all the heat from the wasted Lrm shots.... well it can be a bit much for all the backseat mechwarriors.

You might be the very last undamaged mech on the board and the two or three enemy mechs remaining have no armour left and severely damaged internals. To the backseat mechwarrior, who is vicariously experiencing the game through you, there is still a chance to win the game if only you do it right, whatever that is in their mind. Maybe they will heckle or suggest a course of action, or rage at that moment not to use lrms... because they feel in your shoes they really could do better, killing each of those cherry red torso enemy mechs one at a time, winning the game single handed. Maybe they could, maybe they couldn't, but it don't matter. You're the one playing and you'll learn from your mistakes, bit by bit. Recommendations, suggestions... they're good, listen to em if they make some sense - but if some jack cass tells you do this, do that, you gotta... just pay attention to what's in the brackets by their message, [dead] most likely. It's still yer turn at the batters mound. Heck, you can even ask em how [dead] is working out for them...

By the way, Mad Ox, I did get that you are not new, some of my reply is just generalized to anyone I guess, actual new, or just seemingly new from the spectators limited impressions. I kinda realize as I'm writing this I'm replying to the situation you were in as much as I am to you...

-Mad Porthos

Edited by Mad Porthos, 18 February 2014 - 04:17 PM.

[Mad Ox]

Mad Porthos, on 18 February 2014 - 04:11 PM, said:

Hey Mad Ox, as a fellow Mad'er I can say welcome and don't let the calls of Noob harsh your experience. We all are at some point, but to assume it on your actions when they are spectating you, then excoriate ya... meh, just sucky. Thing is, many many times people have watched a new player in a trial missile mech let off volley after volley of Lrms at enemy mechs after making a bee-line towards them but not firing until dead upon them, well under that 180m minimum range, to ensure that they cannot possibly miss. It would not strictly be a problem, given it can be distracting and as such help team mates... but when that same new player's mech has 4-6 medium lasers that could alpha for 20-30 damage, but is using the lrms instead - and then overheats when they finally do use the medium lasers because of all the heat from the wasted Lrm shots.... well it can be a bit much for all the backseat mechwarriors.

You might be the very last undamaged mech on the board and the two or three enemy mechs remaining have no armour left and severely damaged internals. To the backseat mechwarrior, who is vicariously experiencing the game through you, there is still a chance to win the game if only you do it right, whatever that is in their mind. Maybe they will heckle or suggest a course of action, or rage at that moment not to use lrms... because they feel in your shoes they really could do better, killing each of those cherry red torso enemy mechs one at a time, winning the game single handed. Maybe they could, maybe they couldn't, but it don't matter. You're the one playing and you'll learn from your mistakes, bit by bit. Recommendations, suggestions... they're good, listen to em if they make some sense - but if some jack cass tells you do this, do that, you gotta... just pay attention to what's in the brackets by their message, [dead] most likely. It's still yer turn at the batters mound. Heck, you can even ask em how [dead] is working out for them...

By the way, Mad Ox, I did get that you are not new, some of my reply is just generalized to anyone I guess, actual new, or just seemingly new from the spectators limited impressions. I kinda realize as I'm writing this I'm replying to the situation you were in as much as I am to you...

-Mad Porthos

No worries Mad Porthos, as long time gamer I know the problem with most games is well, other gamers LOL. And no this situation didn't bug me after many years in Warcraft (PVP server never again) and most recently a ton of time in WoT and going on year in War Thunder trust me have learned to tune out chat and do the best I can otherwise. Frankly been surprised at how much better for most part team chat is in MWO.

Seems like alot of people forget its a game the object is to have fun. And while WINNING and crushing your opponents is fun and enjoyable to a degree, things like slaughtering a disconnected mech while amusing is a rather hollow win. Reality is your gonna have to take a few lumps too, they have to win some times too. If not you rapidly run out of people to play who wants to play a game they always loose. So take the good with bad and don't dwell on it.

[PhoenixFire55]

Raggedyman, on 05 February 2014 - 12:58 PM, said:

The following are suggestions that will help your PUG play go that little bit more smoothly for everyone involved.

Good post sir.