207 replies to this topic

[TheFlannelBeard]

FlannelBeard here,

I've been a Battletech fan since I was a young kid. The release of the clan tech was a warm welcome, not only for myself but for the whole community. However, I'm finding a strong number of complainers. But why? What's to complain about?

Those who complain simply don't know how to utilize clan tech. I'm finding I am able to out maneuver, out perform, out gun and win against virtually any mech in my Timber Wolf, all builds, unless I stupidly run out there trying to push a flank and encourage others to push with me when they dont..............Regardless, I average 400-600 damage, 1-5 kills per match, with the occasional matches where you cant aim to save your life. I've never been happier with a mech, and quite honestly sold a lot of my IS mechs that I once adored to fund the new clan tech.

My personal favorite is the TBR-C build:
1 c-lx20 w/ 24 ammo
6 c-srm 6 w/ 400 ammo
2 c-ermls

Pick them apart with the c-ermls's, strip armor with the srms, and crit them with the lx20. Did 825 dmg and 5 kills in it's inaugural run. What's to complain about???

I think anyone who's figured out how to maximize clans is keeping hush hush on how to properly utilize them, builds aside, in which case ill keep my mouth shut as well

Does anyone else have nothing but sheer love for the clans, or sheer hate?

[Bilbo]

TheFlannelBeard, on 30 June 2014 - 09:46 AM, said:

....
Does anyone else have nothing but sheer love for the clans, or sheer hate?

I have neither. Just 24 more tools in the shed.

[Joseph Mallan]

They are just the Targets I have been waiting for.

[Zaggeron]

Consider the following camps:

1. The Clan Mechs are powerful and better than IS
2. The Clan Mechs suck and the IS is better
3. The Clan Mechs are balanced with the IS

You seem to be in camp 1. Everyone (or almost everyone) in camp 1 who bought the Clan package is happy. Those in camp 1 who didn't are unhappy. Hence unhappy posters

The camp 2 folk who bought the package are unhappy -- hence unhappy posters

The camp 3 folk who bought the package and expected your experience but didn't get it are unhappy -- hence unhappy posters

Hence no matter what: unhappy posters.

[TheFlannelBeard]

Joseph Mallan, on 30 June 2014 - 09:51 AM, said:

They are just the Targets I have been waiting for.

Bring it. Unless I'm having an off-day... in which case dont bring it.

Zaggeron, on 30 June 2014 - 09:54 AM, said:

Hence no matter what: unhappy posters.

This, this ****ing guy, thats logic right there. Very true.

... What have I gotten myself into lol.

Edited by TheFlannelBeard, 30 June 2014 - 10:01 AM.

[Joseph Mallan]

TheFlannelBeard, on 30 June 2014 - 10:01 AM, said:

Bring it. Unless I'm having an off-day... in which case dont bring it.


This, this ****ing guy, thats logic right there. Very true.

... What have I gotten myself into lol.

As you are a Ghost Bear... I should not run into you in CW... You are the Space Vikings problem!

[TheFlannelBeard]

Joseph Mallan, on 30 June 2014 - 10:06 AM, said:

As you are a Ghost Bear... I should not run into you in CW... You are the Space Vikings problem!

I always wanted to be a viking in real life. Fits my mentality. To quote Monty Python, RUN AWAYYYYYYYYYYY

[Zaggeron]

TheFlannelBeard, on 30 June 2014 - 10:12 AM, said:

I always wanted to be a viking in real life. Fits my mentality. To quote Monty Python, RUN AWAYYYYYYYYYYY

I don't think Sir Robin was a Viking -- though he may have been descended from one ...

[Bhael Fire]

The last two weeks I've been trapped in a suck hole of matchmaker hell; my KDR has dropped several points and even when my team wins, I'm usually dead with no kills.

Not sure why, but this happens to me every other month or so; everything will be going smoothly, getting about 2-4 kills per match for weeks on end. Then BAM! right after a large patch I start getting HORRIBLE matches where I'm team up with and against grouped players with MUCH higher Elo scores. This suck hole lasts for a few weeks then it returns to normal. Very frustrating.

So, I haven't been able to properly assess my Clan mechs. But of all of them, I get the worst results with the Timberwolf ironically enough (seeing how everyone seems to think it's overpowered).

[TimePeriod]

I can't bring myself to buy a clan 'Mech.
The essence of cheesyness is far too strong.

[TheFlannelBeard]

Bhael Fire, on 30 June 2014 - 10:18 AM, said:

The last two weeks I've been trapped in a suck hole of matchmaker hell; my KDR has dropped several points and even when my team wins, I'm usually dead with no kills.

Not sure why, but this happens to me every other month or so; everything will be going smoothly, getting about 2-4 kills per match for weeks on end. Then BAM! right after a large patch I start getting HORRIBLE matches where I'm team up with and against grouped players with MUCH higher Elo scores. This suck hole lasts for a few weeks then it returns to normal. Very frustrating.

So, I haven't been able to properly assess my Clan mechs. But of all of them, I get the worst results with the Timberwolf ironically enough (seeing how everyone seems to think it's overpowered).

Definitely not overpowered - unless you know how to use them. I find that my Prime build is great for all ranges.

Prime:
2 srm6's, 2mls, 1sls, 2lls with adv zoom.
I can snipe with the lls from 800-1000m out, use my medium laser to poke at people, and then up close it can be a nightmare for the enemy.

I already described by TBR-C build. The TBR-S build is the same except I have 2 lls instead of the lbx20, which ive yet to see promising results from.

Your experience is as good as mine though. I end up being above average into the top 3 players in most matches on my good days. On my bad days i die first, thinking that everyone knows how to use blitz tactics and I end up dying with a team that doesnt know how to chat or communicate at all or effectively...

I feel your pain all too well.

TimePeriod, on 30 June 2014 - 10:20 AM, said:

I can't bring myself to buy a clan 'Mech.
The essence of cheesyness is far too strong.

How are they cheesy? Its goes beyond the lore, they are very well-tuned mechs and exactly what I was hoping theyd be.

[Koniving]

Zaggeron, on 30 June 2014 - 10:18 AM, said:

I don't think Sir Robin was a Viking -- though he may have been descended from one ...

My favorite song.

[TimePeriod]

I don't know. I don't need to validate my choices, in any given sense.
Clan 'Mechs feel cheesy.

[Ihasa]

I too love the Timberwolf. I find it like an almost perfect cross between a shadowhawk, with it's versatility and a stalker, with its firepower. Those are also my other favorite mechs. I put JJ's on every timberwolf variant, because the only mech i can tolerate without JJ's are my stalkers.

The other clan mechs I bought: summoner, stormcrow and nova are just meh to me.

Edited by Ihasa, 30 June 2014 - 10:45 AM.

[TheFlannelBeard]

Koniving, on 30 June 2014 - 10:33 AM, said:

My favorite song.

One of the best songs ever.

Ihasa, on 30 June 2014 - 10:44 AM, said:

I too love the Timberwolf. I find it like an almost perfect cross between a shadowhawk, with it's versatility and a stalker, with its firepower. Those are also my other favorite mechs. I put JJ's on every timberwolf variant, because the only mech i can tolerate without JJ's are my stalkers.

The other clan mechs I bought: summoner, stormcrow and nova are just meh to me.

Nova is pretty great, at least the Prime version. 12 sls rips up anything up close with no heat penalty.

Cant stand JJs, but they are nice on my nova when im in a pinch.

I think your analogy of how a twolf feels is pretty accurate. Id go so far as to say it has the punch of a stalker with the versatility and maneuverability of a shadowhawk and hunchback.

[Apnu]

They are amazing... to kill!

Keep bringing them, I'll keep killing them. Love it.

[Signal27]

TheFlannelBeard, on 30 June 2014 - 09:46 AM, said:

Does anyone else have nothing but sheer love for the clans, or sheer hate?

I'll let you know once they're available for C-bills

[TheFlannelBeard]

Apnu, on 30 June 2014 - 10:53 AM, said:

They are amazing... to kill!

Keep bringing them, I'll keep killing them. Love it.

Brought a gold direwolf down with my dual ac20 JJDD a week ago before I got the clan mechs. Was one of the best mech feelings out there to bring down a goldie

Edited by TheFlannelBeard, 30 June 2014 - 11:03 AM.

[Jman5]

I think the question we need to ask is: Do you want to turn clan mechs/techs into a power creep?

I would say the lore guys and many clan players would say absolutely. The Lore guys relish the power disparity because it reflects the story. The Clan Players relish their new-found power because it feels good to 1-shot lights.

However at this rate, the game will become a clan only meta once all the mechs are released. They simply have too many advantages and not enough disadvantages for this not to happen. The only reason you don't see them in leagues now is because they have been banned from competition.

I am hoping that between now and September, we see some design changes because otherwise IS will largely be the sub-optimal choice.

[TheFlannelBeard]

Jman5, on 30 June 2014 - 11:14 AM, said:

I think the question we need to ask is: Do you want to turn clan mechs/techs into a power creep?

I would say the lore guys and many clan players would say absolutely. The Lore guys relish the power disparity because it reflects the story. The Clan Players relish their new-found power because it feels good to 1-shot lights.

However at this rate, the game will become a clan only meta once all the mechs are released. They simply have too many advantages and not enough disadvantages for this not to happen. The only reason you don't see them in leagues now is because they have been banned from competition.

I am hoping that between now and September, we see some design changes because otherwise IS will largely be the sub-optimal choice.

You haven't taken into account how squishy and juicy a clan mechs cockpit it. If you get hit anywhere in the center torso you feel it.... I find myself having to use my arms for cover 75% of the time in my Timberwolf, and dont even get my started on the Nova... You know youre facing a great Clan or IS player when they let their arms soak the damage close range. IS mechs, sad to say, have never been that squishy for me, even with XL engines.

Again, it's how you use clan tech.