17 replies to this topic

[NecessaryWeevil]

Hi,

I'm trying to level a locust and am getting really frustrated. I can have good games in my Spiders and Commandos, but if I try to scout in anything other than an ECM mech, I either get a brief lock that doesnt do my team any good, spot the enemy at long range but cant lock them because they're too far or ECMed, or stumble into an enemy mass and squished.

I'm not sure if you guys have any miracle advice, but...help?

[K0M3D14N]

Learn the maps inside and out. Your job as Light mech is to locate the enemy and not necessarily to keep locks on them. Learn the flanking routes, the little ins and outs of the maps that allow you to get to the sides without being spotted. This is why I say that the absolute worst way to learn to pilot a Light is with ECM because it teaches you a lot of bad habits.Think of it this way.

>>Start match
>>Decide ingress route/plan egress route
>>Move along decided path.

First contact with the enemy is the most important part. Pay close attention to your map and make sure you know ahead of time how you're going to get the hell out of dodge if things go south. Once you make contact, there are a few things to consider:

Pay close attention to the loadout and orientation of the mechs you've discovered. Are there LRM boats? Are there big, slow assaults behind the main force? How many mechs are there? What is their location relative to you and your team? Relay what you can to your team, preferably from a concealed position out of sight from the enemy. The longer you can stay hidden, the better off you are. Once you do this, you then decide your next step.

Are there vulnerable targets to exploit? If so, what are my ingress routes? Egress routes? How close are the fastest mechs that can respond? If there are no targets that you can exploit (slow, cumbersome assault mechs far behind their friends or LRM boats away from the pack, etc) then your primary goal should be to return to your formation of mechs and watch the flanks. Chase away other Lights that want to nip at the heels of your more vulnerable mechs, but try not to engage in a full-on brawl. This is ESPECIALLY true of the Locust. Watch for openings, and always be on the move. Make sure your team isn't getting flanked once their position is entrenched.

Never be afraid to run from a fight. You have your speed for a reason; use it. There's more that I'm forgetting right now, but if you have any more specific questions I'll be glad to answer them.

[Tahribator]

Leave the scouting to heavier lights, going alone is just a recipe for disaster for Locusts. In my experience the Locust shines when the enemy is already busy with something, so it does the best when you stick to your group but do brief harasses.

Here's an article I wrote about playing Locusts and what to do and what not to do. It might give you some ideas:

http://raksarmory.bl...-revisited.html

[UrsusMorologus]

Not every light is good at forward scouting, some are better at escort or base patrol

[Revis Volek]

NecessaryWeevil, on 09 October 2014 - 11:50 AM, said:

Hi,

I'm trying to level a locust and am getting really frustrated. I can have good games in my Spiders and Commandos, but if I try to scout in anything other than an ECM mech, I either get a brief lock that doesnt do my team any good, spot the enemy at long range but cant lock them because they're too far or ECMed, or stumble into an enemy mass and squished.

I'm not sure if you guys have any miracle advice, but...help?

Just need to learn maps and work on your logisitcs, the "flight path" or route you want to take will differ slightly from mech to mech. When i am in a light i STAY WITH COVER ALWAYS, or run from COVER TO COVER with a plan B in my back pocket before i even make the move. Even just a simple look behind you to see where you came from and where to go if you must bail from this position. Scouting is tough, hell anything is tough in a Lolcust! A light breeze will break that things legs so make sure you stay away from windy cliffs!

Group up with some peeps and get some cover? I know the game play got way more fun and my stats started to climb once i found competent guys to roll with. If you are looking Strana Mechty is always open to PUG LIFERS! Find a few friends and come on by or make some while you are here!

http://mwomercs.com/...eak-hub-server/

Also like was stated above me....Maybe learn to Escort? Or find some other light friends and wolfpack it up?

Edited by DarthRevis, 09 October 2014 - 12:32 PM.

[WVAnonymous]

Mastering the locusts were 210 of the most miserable games I ever had. Enjoy.

[NecessaryWeevil]

Thanks very much for all your advice. I've already started to have less completely awful games.

[Sethliopod]

ECM can train you to stand very still--not a good habit for lights.

I think your best way to scout without ECM is never stop moving and the glorious UAV. If you really want to offer up locks, you'll probably need Narcs, and that's a bit heavy.

But trust me, you can still be sneaky without ECM. You just need to get further behind them, and really pay close attention to your mini-map. The enemy dorito movement and orientation will usually broadcast whether they are about to slap you.

And drink more Redbull.

[Tim East]

I know it's hard with the tonnage limits of the Locust, but BAP can really help you get a couple of extra spot assists. Not only will it counter ECM when you do a strafing run, but it also extends your standard sensor range to something like 1000m. Most other things like "don't stop" and "pay attention to the enemy's leg orientation on your minimap" have already been said here.

[FIRESTORM91]

You may want to try and not treat the Locust as a traditional light, since it tends not to do well as a forward scout. I find that it acts better as a scalpel, destroying a vulnerable component and retreating before they can react. you can also use it to quickly enter a melee and take out legs or anything else that's exposed. It also would help temendously to put radar depravation and shock absorbance on it to increase your tactical flexibility. As with any light, try to flank and try to always be aware of enemies and friendlies alike.

[Danghen Woolf]

The best games I have has in my LCTs have been when pairing up with another light mech that would attract more attention. FS9s and JR7s are good bets. Pilots will typically focust on the mech that if larger, and hurting them worse and leave the LCT to dish out some damage. If you go off by yourself the best thing to do is play Monty Python and not be seen. I have provided a link that demonstrates this.



Other than that, do not rely on the ECM to save you. I was running around in my COM-2D and had my torso surgically removed by a CPLT-K2 at ranges outside of my sensors, took the torso, ECM, and half my weapons with it, and then the sky fell on me. Stay moving, spot for your team from behind the enemy line, beware turrets, and always carry a UAV.

[tuffy963]

I think the other posters have done a good job of explaining the situation. I will add a very small observation to the conversation...

ECM lights MANY TIME ARE NOT SPOTTED, meaning without the hostile triangle, the light can be very hard to pick out in the landscape, especially at range, even more so if standing still. As another poster commented, this can train light pilots to "sneak" about and peek around objects. This tactic can be effective because the hostile is NOT AWARE of your presence.

Conversely...

Non-ECM lights are ALWAYS SPOTTED but may not be a high priority target so the hostile will not take any noticeable action against the non-ECM light. This can fool you into believing that you have the same offensive/defensive security as you did in your ECM light, but in fact, they ARE AWARE of your presence and may suddenly turn and attack you when the other threats are handled or you get re-prioritized as the top threat. This can happen very suddenly or without you even being aware that a hostile is aware of you and targeting you.

My best advice is to make sure you have a keen understanding of how ECM affects your own ability to notice and be aware of hostile mech, this will help you to better manage your own ECM vs non-ECM tactics.

A bit ethereal, I know, but I hope it helps.

[Voivode]

As far as a locust is concerned, it's squishy so support someone. It can be a heavier mech (my Locust has an ERLL so I tend to hang with the majority of the group) or be the little buddy to a 35 ton light.

As far was holding locks, its excellent you want to do that for your team. One of the best things you can do is place a UAV right above the enemy team's heads. This will provide excellent target locking for your team and by virtue of being directly above the enemy team's heads they are less likely to destroy the UAV. Once you let that UAV go, find a safe spot and watch the LURM fireworks. After that, the enemy group may have moved along, so watch for those few stragglers that might not have moved with them. These will be excellent mechs for you to provide target locks on.

Above all else, be patient. You want to provide targets and scouting, which is good for a light pilot to want. However, a dead light provides neither of those things. Know your limitations and consider placing a Seismic module on your mech so you can "look before you leap" when it comes to a hard corner.

EDIT: Locusts are just frustrating to level compared to other mechs. Once you get speed tweak they are a lot more fun but until then you'll just have to accept the pain.

Edited by Voivode, 10 October 2014 - 11:03 AM.

[stealthraccoon]

My best learning experience was running my LCT-1V with 4mg's and a TAG.

You are nothing but an assist, with the occasional component destruction - but my best game was 3 kills (one was a headshot on a HBK).

[InspectorG]

BE A PUNK B**** COWARD!!!!

Seriously, you are weak ass hell. You cant take a hit.

You have speed and you are small, so act like it.

Hills and terrain are your best friends. So are other mechs.

By rolling Locust you are saying: Meh, this game isnt exciting/difficult enough.

There is no feeling like saving the day in a Locust.
There is no feeling like killing that loudmouth who complains about his team using a Locust.
There is no feeling like killing a heavy/assault, solo, with 20 tons.

[Tim East]

I really ought to work on that cowardice angle. I very rarely run from anything that isn't a medium unless it has friends.

/edit: Also, whoever mentioned radar dep mod a little ways back was all the way right. The ability of the Locust to break lock by hiding behind an enemy mech of all things is both uncanny and hilarious.

Edited by Tim East, 10 October 2014 - 09:35 PM.

[FIRESTORM91]

Well radar deprevation is useful on anything, it just happens to work extraordinarily well on a Lucust. It's fun watching a LRM heavy team send huge salvos after you only to have them hit the hill side. Shock absorbance allows you jump off some hieghts to escape a one sided battle without excessive leg damage.

[Dagada Moor]

Tim and InspectorG pretty much summed it up. You need radar deprevation for sure. I usually run target info to speed up where I need to focus on. Seismic has been added on all my Locust once mastered. I drive my Locust like I stole it. I have faced 2atlas at end of match and come out victorious. Like inspector said there is no greater feeling killing a assault mech with a 20 ton Mech.

You can take the 3M Locust with XL180 and 2 Anti Missile and 4 med lasers until you master it. Great escort Mech and still go 160kph. After mastering it, XL 190 and 5med lasers. I have done so much crazy **** in a Locust. I have come to love them. Last week I chased 2 raven snipers down and took them out. Only light I fear in Locust is the Firestarter. I have surprised so many light pilots when I don,t run from them. I usually have ripped half their CT armour off before they realize it. Oh yeah don't forget to torso twist in a locust. You don't have much but it will increase your survivability.

Locust does excel as a flank watcher or assist Mech. Not so much as a forward scout unless you are running with another light especially if they have ECM . I have recently mastered a 1E with 6 med lasers. It is a hot mech but fun. Remember drive it like you are on fire and fear nothing. You will be amazed what you can do. My personal best damage is 793.

Oh yeah couple more things to add to InspectorG list.

There is no feeling like having high score in you lance which includes assaults.
There is no feeling like having the highest damage score on a winning team.
There is no feeling like having no arms one leg and no armour anywhere and get last kill spam and achievement for have less than 15 percent of a mech left.