120 replies to this topic

[Carl Avery]

Yep, and many of us own multiple T1 stock 'mechs in multiple weight classes, so that we can switch to different 'mechs to balance tonnage, when someone else wants to run something specific.

[Carl Avery]

Rather than trying to use the in-game messaging system to get everyone together (which I would deem impractical at best), it's much better for everyone to simply show up at the Stock 'Mech Monday channel on the agreed time. (Or a bit early, if possible.)

However, I'll send you a request and I'll try to remember to send you an message on Saturday, if you're online when it's about time.

Edited by Carl Avery, 04 August 2014 - 05:15 AM.

[General Taskeen]

As I recall Pyscho Farmer was originally the one who started Saturdays. Not sure what happened to that dude or if they play still.

Edited by General Taskeen, 05 August 2014 - 11:45 AM.

[Mohawk Howell]

General Taskeen, on 05 August 2014 - 11:45 AM, said:

As I recall Pyscho Farmer was originally the one who started Saturdays. Not sure what happened to that dude or if they play still.

Yea, he hasn't been around for a long time. I've more or less running the Saturday event. It was originally set at 10pm est to allow Central and West Coasters better access.

[TygerLily]

Mohawk Howell, on 05 August 2014 - 05:03 PM, said:

Yea, he hasn't been around for a long time. I've more or less running the Saturday event. It was originally set at 10pm est to allow Central and West Coasters better access.

If you scrap this thread I'll update the MF:C site to point to your new thread. My only thoughts on this are so that:

1) The OP will have an active player as the point of contact

2) You can change the rules, time, etc. to whatever you like!

3) Since Saturdays were basically like Stock Mech Monday (in that people generally only do Tech 1 on SMM despite advanced tech being allowed in the "All Tech" rooms on TS), it might be helpful to rename it "Stock Mech Saturday" as opposed to "Stock Saturday"...for branding purposes, lol.

Can you tell I've been in public affairs/marketing for a while now? Haha xD

[Kurkotain]

Hello, i've got to say, i find the idea of doing stock mech drops really interesting.

Could you guys confirm the time, TS server address, and who i have to contact in order to get in?

I understand only 'stock' mechs as purchased from the the store, apart from those that include advanced technology stock (T2) are acceptable for matches, right?

Anything else i should know?

[Rhaythe]

Kurkotain, on 06 August 2014 - 08:15 AM, said:

Hello, i've got to say, i find the idea of doing stock mech drops really interesting.

Could you guys confirm the time, TS server address, and who i have to contact in order to get in?

I understand only 'stock' mechs as purchased from the the store, apart from those that include advanced technology stock (T2) are acceptable for matches, right?

Anything else i should know?

Welcome aboard! In general, there are 3 Stock events that run, all three of which are up at this website: http://mechforceclas...jin.com/events. For most stock matches, what you get from the store in-game is what you use. Exceptions can be made for Endosteel and Ferro upgrades if you already have them on the mech; configure the mech as if it were stock (single heat-sink counts, weapon locations, ammo spots, etc) and then drop into the match underweight.

If you're interested in seeing how some of these games play out, feel free to check out the Youtube channel I've set up for it: https://www.youtube....31bEKb8Kx6ZDI1s

Edited by Rhaythe, 06 August 2014 - 08:23 AM.

[Jemention]

I could probably attend on a semi regular basis a saturday event held anytime between 3PM and 5AM GMT if I know in advance.

[Crimson Angel]

For Saturdays I am good for 9am UTC - 11pm UTC. But I work shifts so depends if I am working or not.

[Carl Avery]

sneeking, on 07 August 2014 - 02:26 AM, said:

I didn't realize I could keep the ferro

RVN-4X, pure stock

RVN-4X, ferro & endo

As you can see, those two builds are exactly identical on the battlefield. The only difference is that one has X loadout and ends up with 33 slots free and 0 tons free, while the other one is X loadout but ends up with 5 slots free and 2.25 tons free. Technically, the latter isn't pure stock, but in effect, there's no difference between those two builds (they have the same weapons, engine, armor, jump jets, heatsinks, ammo, et cetera, and the locations for everything are the same), so we allow this, so that people don't have to waste C-bills downgrading on a technicality that makes zero difference during the match. : )

Just be sure that you don't accidentally use those extra 2.25 tons to put on something extra -- it can be easy to mistakenly put on maximum armor on an area which shouldn't have max armor, when you don't have the "maximum tonnage reached" message. But, this shouldn't be a problem, if you're taking the time to make sure that everything else is pure stock as well (such as the front-to-back armor ratios and the heatsink & ammo locations) -- which you should.

sneeking, on 07 August 2014 - 02:26 AM, said:

so I assume my only atlas ddc is same right.

Stock Atlas DDC is tech 1 -- remember, there's no ECM on the stock DDC. I believe we're still allowing the DDC to take modules, since the command console still doesn't do much & isn't worth its weight without this extra bonus we've given it.

sneeking, on 07 August 2014 - 02:26 AM, said:

I restored my cn9d to true stock except for the purchased cammo pattern and color.

As posted previously, the CN9-D is Tech 2 and is thus not allowed in Tech 1 stock matches. It may be allowed on some of the Wednesday events, depending on era. (I'm not particularly familiar with Eras Wednesday at present.) The great majority of stock 'mech games are Tech 1; all of the events I've attended on Monday have only had Tech 1 (except for one that occurred the week that Clans came out), and Stock Saturday is exclusively Tech 1.

Please review the link in the OP for the list of Tech 1 'mechs.

Edited by Carl Avery, 07 August 2014 - 06:10 AM.

[Carl Avery]

Yep, it's bad. I recommend not switching back and forth every time you want to play stock matches -- unless you play public matches full-time or something, it's going to be unsustainable to do that. Instead, pick some 'mechs that you don't enjoy playing as much in public matches and downgrade these permanently to stock. Or, alternatively, buy a second 'mech of one you like to play in public matches, if you have the 'mechbays to do that. (This is a much better choice, if you do.)

E.g. I have two Raven 4X's; one is pure stock, and the other is fully upgraded for playing in public games and non-stock private matches. In the case of the Raven 4X, leaving my upgraded one upgrade and buying a new stock 4X for 2.5 million C-bills was worth it within two days; if I'd downgraded my Raven for 1m on Monday and then upgraded it back for 2m on Tuesday, that'd have been 3m, already a worse scenario. On Saturday, I would have lost another 3m on downgrade-then-upgrade, making my fictitious decision to constantly upgrade & downgrade even more foolish.

With more expensive 'mechs, it's going to be more of an initial hit to your pocketbook and it will take a longer time to "pay itself off" like this (that is, become less lossy than the alternative), but if you enjoy stock matches enough to play them every week (or more), long term, it will become worth it -- within a few weeks of twice-a-week stock play. For this reason, I recommend buying a separate stock 'mech and leaving it stock, which is usually fairly inexpensive for T1 'mechs until you start to look at assault 'mechs (and even stock Tech Level 1 Atlases aren't particularly expensive).

So, to start, you might want to buy a fairly inexpensive medium and see if how much you enjoy the stock matches, before you invest further. My recommendation would be the inexpensive Hunchback 4G -- it is likely the best bang for the buck in T1 stock, and is a very solid & popular choice in T1 stock matches. It isn't going to take down a fresh Atlas one-on-one, but we usually play with 60-ton-per-player tonnage limit which results in the Hunchback being a good choice for the majority of your team's composition, and if you're a good shot with the AC20, you can take leg most 'mechs in about eight seconds (as the average T1 stock 'mech has poor leg armor).

P.S. Regarding hero 'mechs that are stock T1 (e.g. Yen Lo) -- I never did figure out which events, if any, allow this. You'll have to ask Tygerlily and perhaps also Mohawk Howell (Tyger organizes SM Mon, Mohawk has been de facto organizer of SM Sat); I simply don't know if SMM and/or SMS allow this. I'm almost certain SE Wed does, however, don't take my word for it.

Edited by Carl Avery, 08 August 2014 - 05:54 AM.

[Carl Avery]

I think you'll like the AL. It's got good armor & normal speed for its weight, quite a bit of firepower, and an abnormally high amount of ammo. The heatsink count is a bit on the low side, but as long as you bear in mind that the large laser is more heat efficient than the medium lasers at all ranges, you should be fine. Just use the LL & LRM in most cases, the LL & SL when they're in your face, and save the ML for when you have heat capacity to spare (or desperately need something for a finishing shot and your other weapons are on cooldown).

The Jenner D is going to be a challenge, as it has Locust-like armor and is slower, but you do have reasonable firepower & speed & jump jets. Heat's your other huge problem -- the Jenner's one of the hottest stock 'mechs in the game. I use a Jenner F (which has much more armor than the D, but is missing the SRM, which is your cool-running damage-dealer), and it isn't good in combat, but it makes a good scout.

Edited by Carl Avery, 31 August 2014 - 10:14 PM.

[Carl Avery]

Hopefully, people should start showing up over the next half hour. You never know exactly when.

Edit: I see by the time stamps on our posts that you're almost certainly asleep. Bummer. This is why I'm trying to get the time moved to something that more people can reach. I just can't get enough people enthusiastic about this idea of moving the time, though.

I'm going to start trying to make the earlier Monday event (the European time) as well as the later one. In my past experiences, the early events barely get going (if at all), but perhaps another person or two can help change that.

Edited by Carl Avery, 09 August 2014 - 05:03 PM.

[Carl Avery]

Sneeking, what about the European Monday event? Could that time work for you?

[Carl Avery]

Your time zone's Sunday morning is when the SMS event is, right?

Edited by Carl Avery, 15 August 2014 - 06:46 PM.

[Sergey Kosinskiy]

Bird of Triumph


Also Holy F@#$K

Edited by Sergey kosinskiy, 16 August 2014 - 10:18 PM.

[Carl Avery]

Tonight got going pretty well! At our peak we had 7 vs. 7, and we kept going all the way down to 4 vs. 4 before everyone headed to bed.

Sergey kosinskiy, on 16 August 2014 - 10:17 PM, said:

Also Holy F@#$K

If this isn't enough reason for everyone to want to play stock, I don't know what is! Well done, Evgen.

Edited by Carl Avery, 16 August 2014 - 10:38 PM.

[ImagineDwagons]

This stock mechs event has the battletech soul. It reminded me good old times of MW2 and MW3. I highly recommend it for those who is tired of current MWO meta and is looking for more balanced gameplay where any kind of mech has its purpose.
Absolutely fantastic! Thanks guys for organizing this.

Edited by EvgenS, 16 August 2014 - 10:57 PM.

[General Taskeen]

Wow, good job to the LCT-1E stock pilot, that is amazing.

[Malleus011]

Carl, you mentioned getting Locusts and it being a pain to level them - try getting two of a given type - one stock and one not. Then sell the non-stock once you get it leveled up.