6 replies to this topic

[HellJumper]

Hello

okay i am not expert in battletech so plesae forgive me for it. i have a question. LRMS are suppose to be support weapons or attacking weapons??

now my understanding about these kind of weapon systems (arty in real life for example) is that these weapons are to support an attack now be the actual game deciding factors. now i am not starting a discussion here that LRMS are OP or stuff.. i use them myself eeverynow and then. My concerns comes up when multiple lrm carrers are on one team or both.

e.g. cat carrying 2x lrm 15, stalker wiht 3X lrm 15s, raven carrying one and another heavy carrying one as well..these kind of situations where you see soo many lrms on both sides mae me wonder if its suppose to be like this...

[Egomane]

LRM have a place as primary weapons on the battlefield, since the introduction of the tabletop. They are by no means support weapons only. They can work in that capacity, but they are not limited to it. Actual support weapons, like artillery, are a completly seperate toolbox, whis is also included in the batteltech tabletop and can sometimes be mounted on battlemechs. As such they come with different rules and different effects. LRM are not artillery by any means.

[Magna Canus]

Hey there HellJumper,
in standard warfare an Artillery barrage is used to "hopefully" destroy your enemy before the need to enter close combat arises, or if that fails to at least damage them enough to make the following assault easier. Indirect fire is logically used to minimize the potential loss of friendly forces before more direct engagement is forced/desired.

In MWO many people believe that LRMs should only be a "support weapon" used to soften targets before a brawl rather than a "central weapon system" which is how most "LRM-boats" use them. This is more a projection of preferred play style than anything else.

Consider the difference between a mech with a single LRM5 or LRM10 used to soften the target before more direct engagement (e.g. a support weapon), and a Catapult with 2xLRM15 and several tons of ammo (e.g. main weapon system). Both tactics have their own advantages and disadvantages, yet each is a valid tactic in and of itself.

The first tactic allows for a mech to be more of a "one man show" (e.g. generalist weapons) where the second tactic is more reliant on team play due to the LRM-boats weak direct firepower (e.g. specialized weapons).

[Red King]

They're generally a second line support weapon. But not limited to it, ofcourse.

I've noticed in the last month or so there has been limited use of LRMs [Meta?].
However when they have been used they haven't been spammed nearly as much as they used to.
When a team has a foothold of an area, a missile-boat or two and a spotter, then they can still be lethal against unsuspecting heavies and assaults.

Ironically, I love artillery in games. Really love it.
However I find missile-boating tedious in this game. All though I do get a kick out of seeing several salvoes from separate mechs being slung across the map.

Too bad it lags out my computer.

Edited by Akagami, 30 May 2014 - 05:48 AM.

[Lootee]

They are mechkillers. If you get caught flatfooted in the open in front of something like a Salamander, Naginata, Viking, Night Gyr, or Heavy LRM Carrier you are going to get messed up bad.

In BattleTech getting hit with a LRM20 is exactly the same as getting smacked by 2.5-4 medium lasers or 2 ultra ac/5s set on double fire. Not sure where this 'LRMs are support weapons they can't destroy mechs' nonsense came from.

Their only weakness is having to roll in the cluster hits table to determine how many missiles hit before figuring out where to apply the damage in 5pt chunks (just like a medium laser or ac/5). Cluster damage in TT isn't terribly bad because the more separate hits you land the more chances you have to get a through-armor crit or hit the head and knock the pilot unconscious. It's different from a single big hit like PPCs or Gauss with its own advantages as well. Too bad none of this is in MWO, making cluster hit weapons like LRMs, SRMs, LBX inferior to the front loaded instahit meta.

The fluff frequently also calls PPCs and Ultra AC/5s fire support weapons too (Awesome, Schrek, or Daikyu neone?) and that's all it is. Fluff. LRMs, PPCs, lasers and ACs are all mechkillers.

Edited by PanchoTortilla, 30 May 2014 - 06:29 AM.

[SirLANsalot]

LRM's when taken as a backup/softening weapon act as a support on that particular mech. AKA, taking a pair of LRM10's on a highlander, but your mainline guns are a Gauss/LL/PPC/AC20 ect.

LRM mechs, like the Catapult that were made to use the bigger, mainline LRM's, like the 15 and 20. To them those are there main guns, and the 4 ML or twin LL are treated as backup weapons when something gets under the minimum.

SRMs are very much the same way, mechs that "boat" them, hence have more then 4, its there primary weapon, where as on most mechs, just a pair of SRM6 with 2 tons of ammo, there just a backup on that mech.



There all situational. The PPC/UAC are considered fire support, but thats because Fire Support in BT is anything long range, aka over 700m,

[HellJumper]

okie..
thanks it clears up well enough..as i was starting to wonder if its wrong or something..