9 replies to this topic

[Bobby Blast]

Just kidding, I'm in a Jaeger and I'm have a blast

I think the state of the game is fine. Before the LRM change there was virtually no reason to run an AMS, now if you don’t equip some sort of defensive measure in lieu of more fire power that is a decision you make therefore if you get LRMed into oblivion because your mech wasn’t defensively sound that’s your burden to bear.

The light meta was overpowered before. The ability to flat out outrun an LRM was painful and unrealistic to watch. Tags are now useful, LRM’s are now useful and now there is a reason to use AMS’s with their increased range.

I run a Jaeger-FB and I chose not to equip an AMS because I need my ammo; however my lance has them so I don’t have to. If I run solo I will always have them or I will stick to cover more than I would have before.

[Product9]

I think the issue a lot of people have is that there are only a few viable ways to play the game these days. Jagers are ubiquitous - you see them all the time. They work well with the current focus on long range weaponry, so I'm sure it works just fine for you.

I pilot close range mechs, always have. Have you tried dropping into a skirmish match on Alpine with a HBK-4G? There is basically nothing you can do.

I used to be able to use my Hunchback to flank around and do a surprise attack on the enemy's back. It took a long time to flank the long way around with a mech that can only do 89, but it was a satisfying, and even viable, way to use the chassis. It even worked on Alpine.

Now, however, it no longer works because of where everybody basically ends up every single time - fighting along that one ridgeline in front of that huge open area. It's impossible to get into the 300 or so meters with my Hunchback without getting eaten alive from LRMs.

The level design, the weapon balancing, and the targeting mechanics all favor long range sniper/missile fighting.

So, what's an HBK-4G to do?

[dario03]

"light meta was overpowered"......What? When was the last time lights were over powered? It has been what nearly a year since the Raven 3L was fixed? You know they die pretty easily if you shoot them and the whole point of a light mech is to be hard to hit so its kind of ridiculous that we not only have streaks for anti-light but now also LRM for anti-light at almost 4x the range.

Edited by dario03, 23 March 2014 - 11:56 AM.

[Product9]

Yeah, LRM didn't used to be a viable option against lights. I remember being able to dodge them pretty easily if I were fast enough.

But then a streak cat would come around the corner and punch my lights out (no pun intended).

I miss when things were more specialized and there were several ways to play.

[Bobby Blast]

The mechs' I run now are an Atlas D-DC, Jaeger FB, Jaeger DD, Catapult J, and I've started to run Cataphracts.

I run 2 LB10X's and 4 Medium lasers on my Jaeger-FB so I'm not sure why you're calling it Long range. I would never run a long range jaeger. I pretty much only brawl and I've had great success with brawling since the changes.

[Product9]

Do you work alone or in a group?

I generally work alone, but sometimes I group up. Unfortunately, the people I group with barely know this game, but we do the best we can.

All the mechs you listed are extremely popular, regardless of range choices. Okay, it may have been presumptuous to assume you were a long-ranger, but I think the point I was trying to make still stands. The game's diversity is waning, and only a few mechs are viable if you are serious about winning. The Jager is one of the most popular mechs because it can mount overwhelming firepower, but have you ever tried to run a HBK-4G with literally half the firepower of a Jager? Just today I ran my 4G with an LBX and it was pretty bad. I got a few solid hits, but in the end there isn't anything I can do on these big open maps that a heavy or assault mech can't do 2x better.

Every chassis should have its place, but as with many games before this one, excessive 'balancing' is forcing everybody to use a handful of the current offerings.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

Product9, on 23 March 2014 - 11:43 AM, said:

I think the issue a lot of people have is that there are only a few viable ways to play the game these days. Jagers are ubiquitous - you see them all the time. They work well with the current focus on long range weaponry, so I'm sure it works just fine for you.

I pilot close range mechs, always have. Have you tried dropping into a skirmish match on Alpine with a HBK-4G? There is basically nothing you can do.

I used to be able to use my Hunchback to flank around and do a surprise attack on the enemy's back. It took a long time to flank the long way around with a mech that can only do 89, but it was a satisfying, and even viable, way to use the chassis. It even worked on Alpine.

Now, however, it no longer works because of where everybody basically ends up every single time - fighting along that one ridgeline in front of that huge open area. It's impossible to get into the 300 or so meters with my Hunchback without getting eaten alive from LRMs.

The level design, the weapon balancing, and the targeting mechanics all favor long range sniper/missile fighting.

So, what's an HBK-4G to do?

This is what I do - you outrange LRMs and the @Stalker has an XL and vulnerable side torso's.

[A Man In A Can]

Come April 29th with the Launch Module patch, things should get more interesting as people will actually be able to specialize mechs for maps with the map voting and mini-lobby system instead of the one size must fit all mechs in random drops up to this point.

Myself, I am really looking forward to that patch.

[Abivard]

The only reason in BattleTech for the vast majority of mechs to exist is due to economics and capabilities of the producing state.

Sub-par mechs are fielded ONLY because that power was not able or could not afford to build better, (corruption also plays a major role) and there are many,many,many sub-par mechs.

Every chassis really should NOT have a place unless that place is in the recycle heap.

[Product9]

Abivard, on 23 March 2014 - 12:40 PM, said:

The only reason in BattleTech for the vast majority of mechs to exist is due to economics and capabilities of the producing state.

Sub-par mechs are fielded ONLY because that power was not able or could not afford to build better, (corruption also plays a major role) and there are many,many,many sub-par mechs.

Every chassis really should NOT have a place unless that place is in the recycle heap.

Yeah, I understand that, but this isn't BattleTech. It's based on BT, sure, but how similar is it, really?

Me, I couldn't care less about the lore on this issue as I am not a BT fan. I watched the cartoon as a kid (hence why I went with Steiner) and played the board game a couple of times to quickly determine it wasn't for me.

I got into this game because it was an interesting shooter and looked cool. After playing it for more than a year and watching it go through many changes, I feel like I can talk about it intelligently.

The thing is, as a game that is based around customization it is lacking. If customization is a main selling point, there should be an abundance of ways to play. Unfortunately, that is not the case.