15 replies to this topic

[juxstapo]

Yea yea, sorry. But the Marauder pilots thread was a success, and I, for one, actually learned some stuff. Or at least absorbed some interesting viewpoints about the design. That, and my recent replaying (for the fortieth time) of the MW4: Mercs campaign led to this post...

Rifleman pilots: educate me on tactics, techniques, and foibles for this chassis please!

As I've said in the mektek forums, the RFL excells at its "backstory correct" purpose; it shoots down aircraft with a bloody vengeance. Good for smearing masses of tanks also. Walking gun turrent.

Vs. mechs, the 360 torso twist is a huge asset, IMO. Accelerate to full away from advancing force and fire backwards at 'em as you run. That said, its seems rather difficult to put any real "mechkiller" weapons on this thing. In fact, mech to mech (to me, which is probably just my piloting skills showing), the rifleman doesn't really shine in its weight class. Can be used to chew on fast moving smaller mechs, but doesn't really want to go toe to toe with another heavy. Like I said, this is very likely just my piloting "skills".

We won't have tanks and areo in MWO, but with its reputation for having lots of comm and targeting gear, I could see the rifleman being either another viable command mech, or a heavy recon (contradiction? I don't think so).

Thoughts?

[guardiandashi]

well the rifleman is is kinda odd its issues really boil down to compromises

the stock RFL-3N rifleman is all about weapons load, it compromised speed (average to slow for its weight) and armor protection in order to pack additional heavy weapons

part of the issue is that ac-5's are argueably some of the worst, most inefficient weapons in battletech
a rifleman has light to low medium levels of armor it moves 4/6 (same speed as warhammers and marauders) where other 60 tonners are moving 5/8 etc

in the tabletop version the 3N carries a whole whopping 7.5 tons of armor, only 59% of its maximum

but It does manage to carry 2 ac5's 2 large lasers and 2 medium lasers

as to tactics I am not the best rifleman driver so I tend to go with the basics.. AMMO is NOT your friend so keep those ac5's humming on reasonable shots until the bin is empty while you are unloading the ac5 ammo use the large lasers or twin mediums sparingly
once the ammo is expended go nuts with the energy weapons.

[Corsair114]

In MW4:Mercs it's a great light-weight zapper and sniper. Look for DSA_Jimbo, he probably knows more about that 'mech than anyone. Trying to get him into anything else other than his Uziel is a massive PITA.

Generally, you start shooting at extreme range, using your sensors advantage to be stealthy, then if things start coming your way, you start running away while shooting them. They'll usually be dead before they get close, or you'll have back up, since it'll take them ages to pin you down.

While it has a super-fast 360 torso twist, it's not terribly good in CQ due to the rather... prominent... arms.

[Kristof Bowen]

You best bet in MW4:Mercs is in a Rifleman is to be a sniper plain and simple.

Use your electronics package to you advantage and keep the enemy at range so you can smack them down with Light Gauss(or Mini Gauss).

With the 360 twist you should be able to keep shots on target while advancing to the rear at a decent speed.

The key is not to get sucked into close combat, leave that to your teammates who are better equipped for that style of fight.

[Kristof Bowen]

juxstapo, on 21 November 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

We won't have tanks and areo in MWO, but with its reputation for having lots of comm and targeting gear, I could see the rifleman being either another viable command mech, or a heavy recon (contradiction? I don't think so).

Thoughts?

Have you heard of the Lyrans?
This would still be considered Light Recon for them.

"Get the scout Lance up here!"
"You mean the 4 Atlases?"

[Melissia]

Most variants of a rifleman are anti-air 'mechs so... yeah, they're gonna have to be snipers, they're not made much for confronting other 'mechs.

[DocBach]

The stock rifleman is pretty mediocre at any job - it has a non-existent heat dissipation system and paper-thin armor. The variant that uses double AC/10s is way better at managing heat, but its still a bit underarmored, especially now that with the AC/10s it becomes more of a brawler instead of an AA platform.

[Wil Scarlet]

Forgive my ignorance, never played the table top game. and it's been to many years since I played MW4... Is there no way to get something a little harder hitting then 2 LLasers?? Looking at the time frame there isn't anything like the ER LLaser, and I'm assuming that the Pulse LLaser would be not a good replacement. I'm also assuming that the Light Gauss or Mini Gauss hasn't been introduced yet.. Personally I think the chassis should have 4 LLasers, a ton of heat sinks, medium/low armor and be a long range support class that uses AC5's and maybe 2 MLasers in case they get a light mech in close to fend em off until help arrives. Complete and total fire support class.

Please do correct me if i'm wrong on any of my comments, like i said i've been out of MW for a long time.

[Corsair114]

Can't speak for classic TT, but in MW4: Mercs it can truck twin PPC's with little to no trouble. Assuming Medium Lasers in MWO tend towards powerful, instead of pitiful individually, you probably wouldn't have a huge amount of trouble with 2-4 ML and 2 PPC's. Now, you start talking armor, ammo, heatsinks, engine, and probably most importantly electronics, well, you might need to start making sacrifices. Hopefully, what you sack will be up to you, but you can't have it all (I hope).

[Ginrummy]

The RFL 1N on TT is best used in tandom with things like a TDR,WHM. it is a direct ballistic firesupport chassis. Much like the PNT it's meant to work with other mechs not be the star.

[Strayed]

I know its not a rifleman, but the jagermech is a mech that davions like using which has better heat management than the rifleman although weaker armour, hope both mechs are in. Be interesting to compare both designs.

[Nakir]

This is the real good mode play of a rifleman pilot!! I love this mech!! I want to see it in MWO too !!!



A battle in an wide-open map. This is an ECM/BAP Riffleman that uses 4 Hyper-velocity auto-cannon 2's and a single LCBL

Edited by Nakir, 21 November 2011 - 02:54 PM.

[juxstapo]

lol, ok, that was cool. Very long range DPS setup, perfect for this chassis. Also tickles to see a bunch of MP3.1 players I recognize (RODO, Ghost), Nice vid

[Demochelys]

Oh Yes, I acknowledge DSA_Jimbo, he is very good at using this mech, salute!

[The1WithTheGun]

juxstapo, on 21 November 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

Rifleman pilots: educate me on tactics, techniques, and foibles for this chassis please!

Well, the model we are probably most likely to see (if the unseen are in the game at all....) is the common RFL-3N.

Considering the average speed, comparitively light armor, and long-range nature of the weapons, this mech will best be used as a sniper. The biggest flaw of the mech by far is it's 10 heat sinks. You will have to stagger the Large Lasers; you cannot fire both of them without a massive spike in heat. But - that's what the ACs are there for - you can fire both autocannons and a large laser while stationary and not have to worry about heat at all. The bad news is that AC ammo is limited (hope there is a way to reload in-game - just keep mashing the "summon J-27" button ). Resist the urge to get in close - you are NOT a front-line fighter. Those medium lasers are there just in case.

There are several standard and advanced tech variants. Many address some of the issues with the base model (especially the heat issue), but none really make it something other than what it is designed for; direct fire support.

Quote

We won't have tanks and areo in MWO

Not at launch anyway, but who knows what the future may bring?

Edited by The1WithTheGun, 21 November 2011 - 09:11 PM.

[Jack Deth]

Wil_Scarlet, on 21 November 2011 - 12:57 PM, said:

Forgive my ignorance, never played the table top game. and it's been to many years since I played MW4... Is there no way to get something a little harder hitting then 2 LLasers?? Looking at the time frame there isn't anything like the ER LLaser, and I'm assuming that the Pulse LLaser would be not a good replacement. I'm also assuming that the Light Gauss or Mini Gauss hasn't been introduced yet.. Personally I think the chassis should have 4 LLasers, a ton of heat sinks, medium/low armor and be a long range support class that uses AC5's and maybe 2 MLasers in case they get a light mech in close to fend em off until help arrives. Complete and total fire support class.

Please do correct me if i'm wrong on any of my comments, like i said i've been out of MW for a long time.

There are two old-school variants that attempt to address this without using advanced tech. The RFL-3C uses two AC/10s and two Med Lasers, but there's only 10 shots each for the ACs and I think the Rifleman's armour pretty light for that kind of close-in slugging.

The RFL-4D (my personal fav) has two Large Lasers and two PPCs. A lot of hitting power, but with only 15 heat sinks you REALLY gotta watch your heat. Its manageable, but you really need to be selective on what you fire and when, taking advantage when you really have a good bead on someone and forgoing shooting to cool off when you don't. This is a mech that WILL auto-shutdown if you alpha. Things get a heck of a lot better as soon as you can upgrade to double heat-sinks though.