46 replies to this topic

[Sandpit]

Calling All mechwarriors:


have you found a nifty little trick?
Have you discovered something that wasn't covered in tutorials?
Have you found a keen little option that wasn't really easy to know offhand?


Lets get a list going of cool little tricks and tips you've figured out concerning functions and commands in the game.

For example, being able to dim cockpit lights using the "." key.
This one is useful on night maps to prevent your cockpit lights from giving away your position.

This isn't strategy or gameplay or build advice so please keep it strictly to functions, commands, stuff like the example I gave above. I think it could be a valuable list for new and old players alike (hence why I didn't put this in the new player section).
I'm thinking about starting a series of threads along these lines for helping out other players. What do you guys think?
Yay or nay?
A series of threads devoted to everything from control schemes, mouse commands, etc. created and maintained by the players for the players?

[AlmightyAeng]

Every time I need to make a sharp turn, I hit 'X' to kill my engine and immediately press 'S' to back up for the fastest turn.

Edited by Ghost Badger, 27 June 2014 - 11:06 AM.

[Satan n stuff]

I use "full throttle" and "invert throttle" with my fast mechs to accelerate and decelerate faster than the throttle slider will allow. This lets me keep maximum agility while still having precise throttle control.

Edited by Satan n stuff, 27 June 2014 - 11:10 AM.

[Sandpit]

Think I should change the title to just encompass all the tips and tricks we've picked up? I'm just worry that it will become too massive if each thread isn't kept narrowed down a bit. What do you guys think?

[Wintersdark]

Tap the invert throttle button twice while under fire by ballistics/PPC's at long range to momentarily change your speed (but not slowing down too much!) this makes it largely impossible to "lead" you and get good hits.

[draiocht]

Sandpit, on 27 June 2014 - 11:03 AM, said:

For example, being able to dim cockpit lights using the "." key.

Has anybody found a user.cfg setting to just keep that off? That's the third or fourth key I press at the start of every match -- to turn off the glare from the useless monitors.

[Sandpit]

draiocht, on 27 June 2014 - 11:42 AM, said:

Has anybody found a user.cfg setting to just keep that off? That's the third or fourth key I press at the start of every match -- to turn off the glare from the useless monitors.

Not that I know of but that's exactly the kind of thing we can have added to this thread

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

On some of the maps that have streets or narrow routes I use the 'align legs to torso' key by pointing the crosshairs down the middle of the street and hitting that key. I can then torso twist to search and engage targets without worrying about running into buildings or walls. (as long as you don't touch the "A" or "D" keys, just use throttle for speed or reversing direction.

- Saves having to always turn to look down the street and miss or loose a target.
- only takes a second to point and hit that key, and is actually faster turning than using the a/d keys.

And how many Pilots actually use those keys? 'align legs to torso' and 'align torso to legs'?

9erRed

[Sandpit]

Thanks 9er!

Keep em coming guys!

[Deathlike]

Well, there's an actual trick to "syncing Gauss" with PPCs.

2 groups min required.

Group 1 is the PPC+Gauss alpha.
Group 2 is the Gauss (link the solo or pair of Gauss here).

When you are about ready to fire the alpha, hold the group 2 key (ideally the right mouse button).
On firing, just click on the group 1 firing button (ideally, the left mouse button).

Done.

Sad, but true.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

I target with L-Alt, not the default key.

It can really help when in a ground-pounder, and if I need to be using JJs (Space bar), I usually don't have too much time to relay target info, so it works for me.

[627]

Deathlike, on 27 June 2014 - 07:01 PM, said:

Well, there's an actual trick to "syncing Gauss" with PPCs.

2 groups min required.

Group 1 is the PPC+Gauss alpha.
Group 2 is the Gauss (link the solo or pair of Gauss here).

When you are about ready to fire the alpha, hold the group 2 key (ideally the right mouse button).
On firing, just click on the group 1 firing button (ideally, the left mouse button).

Done.

Sad, but true.

Wut?

really?

Damn, PGI....

Edited by 627, 27 June 2014 - 11:46 PM.

[Bad Frosty]

Auto-cannon indirect fire. I've only tested this with the Victor, since it's pretty much the only 'mech I pilot, and technically it isn't indirect fire, it's what military folks know as "plunging fire" but most people don't know what that is so indirect fire.

You AC bubbas out there have likely noticed the pronounced flight trajectory of autocannon shells, but especially the big ones. Some people think this makes them hard to aim but I love it. My Victor's AC is in the right arm (which I will thank you jerks to stop shooting at) so when fired, the shell has a tendency to drift to the right, just like right-handed shooters tend to pull their shots to the right, but the shell also falls at a pretty decent rate, so normally I have to aim up and to the left for a CT or headshot. Not hard so log as I'm not lagging.

However, this coveys an additional advantage. We've all been there, the opening minutes of a match while some nosy light or medium scout is poking his stupid nose over a ridge, spotting for their team. I would not advise doing this I my presence because first of all, I'm gonna drop an airstrike on ya.' That never gets old, especially when the team is clustered behind them.

"Hey, what's up there?"

"Planes and bombs a-holes! Enjoy!"

They never see it coming because by the time the smoke dropped on the near side of ridge is visible, the aerofighters are already there. Sometimes I get lucky and light pilots just stand around trying to lineup a shot or something, figuring there is no way I can hit them with an AC-20 at this distance. Yes I can, but what really surprises them is when I hit them again after they've backed down the ridge. By using my jump jets to start a fall and the arc of the AC-20 shell, I can hit things that I can't even see, particularly lazy scouts that back straight up.

Of course, there's a fair amount luck involved as well. I don't always hit, and sometimes I miss the intended target and nail one of his buddies instead, but there's always the lovely bonus that they won't be standing around there anymore. one place to cross off our search list, one battery of lrms with no spotter, and one scout minus twenty to forty points of armor that can probably be killed by a stiff breeze.

[Nathan Foxbane]

If you need to reverse quickly while running forward, tap "x" before hitting "s". Remove part two for stopping quickly.

[The Great Unwashed]

Paint your mech in blacks and dark greys so when you shut down you could be mistaken for a destroyed mech (even better when hiding in gaseous plumes). Many players will just run by you on dark maps. Plus, you will be hard to see on certain maps when you're in an ECM bubble for people without advanced zoom (Terra and especially HG Manifold).

[MagicM0E]

The Great Unwashed, on 28 June 2014 - 01:06 AM, said:

Paint your mech in blacks and dark greys so when you shut down you could be mistaken for a destroyed mech (even better when hiding in gaseous plumes). Many players will just run by you on dark maps. Plus, you will be hard to see on certain maps when you're in an ECM bubble for people without advanced zoom (Terra and especially HG Manifold).

Sometime 'Dead Mechs' stay on their feet or get propped up against scenery. As you run past poke them with an energy weapon. If your reticule turns red they're just playing possum... kill them quick before they power back up.

[Equalizer]

Climbing a steep slope is quite possible even for assaults, if you do not plunge straight forward into it, but climb at 30-60 degrees angle relative to the direction you need to go. Kind of zigzagging upwards instead of going straight.

When using artillery strike try to place it in the middle of the enemy formation or slightly behind their backs to minimize the chance of evasion. Air strikes however work best if placed a few strides before the lead enemy mech - people often seem to think it's an arty strike and would just stop, thinking they're outside its radius and forcing their team to do the same. I've done more than a few 200-300 damage strikes this way.

Many people strip a ton or more of leg armor, especially on mechs that don't jump. Sometimes it is much easier to go for the legs, instead of trying to bring down a heavy or an assault shooting at their torsos. The legs are also very often full of ammo, which will sometimes explode, usually taking apart half of the mech or killing it outright. For example, an Atlas/Direwolf with 65 points in each leg takes 214 damage to kill by legging, or about 160-ish to core its center torso (but 200+ if the target is good at twisting and soaking damage). The less agile assaults and ballistic/missile boat heavies are generally most susceptible to this approach. Of course, if you're FLD alpha build it is better to go for the CT.

I sort of prefer mounting ACs and PPCs in the torsos, when possible, especially for long-range builds - I find it more precise to aim with the torso crosshair instead of the arm reticle and the shots go straight where you place them. In contrast, arm-mounted weapons sometimes go way off due to some weird range convergence mechanic but are much more useful in knife-fights.

[Eglar]

Sandpit, on 27 June 2014 - 11:03 AM, said:

For example, being able to dim cockpit lights using the "." key.
This one is useful on night maps to prevent your cockpit lights from giving away your position.

Haha this one is new.

You can use bash the Jump-Jet key to get up most ridges, completely ignoring your mechs walking archetype.

If you're low-fps, you can macro your mgs to fire faster.

[Exilyth]

• Alt + F4 immediately closes the game
  
• \ opens/closes the missile doors some chassis have. I usually keep them open when I've got LRM and there's no enemy within LoS.
  
• F9 shows FPS + netstats + coordinates

[Ben Morgan]

For an immediate stop, use jumpjets, hit x while you're in the air.

Especially usefull in light mechs & configs with many jumpjets: You can turn a full 180° while in the air to shoot pursuers/present thicker armor. Also you will be able to charge straight through them them moment you land, possibly confusing them and if they are heavier than you, losing them. Until they have turned around to follow you, you are 400-500 meters away.