1 reply to this topic

[Myke Pantera]

I know this has been discussed at length already, but all the topics i've found have been archived, and no one seems to care nowadays.

We see too little RVN-2X/4X on the battlefield, and the only reason for this is that they are just much weaker compared to the other 30t mechs out there (JR & FS9). The only ppl playing them are those who want to elite the chassis. The reasons for this are:

1) Weaker hardpoints
2) Weaker hitboxes (easiest 30t mech to leg)
3) Slower (Speed equals survivability & fun in lights)

I wouldn't want to change the hardpoints, and the hitboxes are what they are for this mech. I've heard the leg hitboxes are artificially enlarged, but i don't know if this is still an issue, so i will leave that alone. So the only thing we can do is change the engine cap.

Since the 2X has no JJ and weaker hardpoints than every JR and FS9 i would say an engine cap of 300 is more than justified. It will leave the 2X still the weakest of all 30t mechs, but those who love the Raven can at least use it then.

Give the 4X an engine cap of 300 will make it a decent mech. Still a little short of the JRs and Firestarters, but at least not awful anymore.

As for the 3L i actually think it could do with an engine cap of 285 instead of 295. It has ECM already, and usually the ECM versions aren't as quick as the other variants. 5kph less than a firestarter is still no deal-breaker.

I know, i know, this means a lot of you RVN-3L pilots would need to buy a new XL engine, and no one wants their favourite mech to be nerfed, but look at the bigger picture. I think the game would profit from these engine cap changes. The 2xERLL version doesn't need to be the quickest mech in order to function well, and you could use the extra 0.5t to try to squeeze a tag onto the mech. And if you're one of the few non sniper 3L pilots you can do with 5kph less than a FS9 and 7.5kph less than a JR. You're the one with ECM anyway. And you're still better of than the Spider and Commando pilots who loose 30 of engine cap compared to their non-ECM variants. You'd be short only 15.

What do you guys think?

Edited by Myke Pantera, 17 July 2014 - 07:43 AM.

[Myke Pantera]

Lobotomite, on 16 July 2014 - 04:45 PM, said:

Have a look at the Clan Light Mechs. And people do think they are OP since they have access to Clan Tech. While your arguments are valid the Kit Fox and Adder which share the same legs and respective hitboxes are even easier to "leg" since their legs are even wider. And they are much slower than a Raven 2X/4X. The Kit Fox doesn't even have 10 reactor heatsinks what means his heat efficiency is lacking two 2.0 dhs. You will probably argue that they can mount heavier weapons but a slow Raven can do that too.

I don't want say that PGI and the community should not consider this matter but I do try to give you another point of view.

Thanks for your reply Lobotomite. I was actually expecting some counter arguments that bring clans into the equation. Maybe they need fixing as well, maybe they don't. Currently we see enough clan lights so i think they are alright. Especially the KitFox which can mount ECM, 3xAMS, JJs and clan-tech weaponry in about any combination. Sure it's slow, but it's a great support mech. Something the RVN-2X/4X are not (so much). The Adder might be weak though. I don't pilot one, so i don't know how much clan-tech warrants the small engine. You can build a slow raven with heavy weaponry, that is true. But clan lights will be better at that all day. That leaves the raven (2X/4X) in a position, where no matter what you do with it, some other chassis will be able to do it much better.

My main focus is to balance the RVN-2X/4X against the FS9 and JR. Once CW is out, and you play for Liao, you should be able to ride a Raven without such a big disadvantage as we have now. The 3L is great and works just fine. But the other 2 variants could need some love, imho. What i do know for a certainty is that we won't see much of them if the engine cap stays as it is. Yes, i know, this can be said about many other mechs or variants, but this topic is about the Raven.