37 replies to this topic

[The Wakelord]

Greenjulius, on 27 December 2014 - 06:29 PM, said:

I think it's gonna be my, "I get drunk and run at 170kph in circles" mech. Thanks for confirming that InspectorG. I thought I was maybe doing something wrong when I felt like the Mist Lynx was useful... At least compared to this 20 tons of crap. Anytime I play this, I accept that my KDR will mostly flatline, and my ELO will at least drop a little, which is a victory in and of itself, I guess?

Maybe I should amend this topic to ask; How do you make this mech, not bad?

I think I'm in the decent-to-goodish ELO bracket. When I first started on my locusts (basically the day after quirks) I think I was just in the decent bracket.

I noticed that in either the PB or the 3M (5SPL build) I can easily rack up 300~500 damage, and in a great game +700 damage due to the low heat & high recycle time. I tended to play run in from flank, attack 3 times during the run, then fade away. If I got lucky, I'd find an assault or 2 on its own and core out the back. I think my best game was 4 back cores on Canyon Network. As I rose through the ELO, and especially after the recent laser fix, I've noticed my damage go down by about 50%, and the my death much earlier in the game. It might be the rise through ELO or the recent fixes, or both!

(Note: I mostly play lights, so my light-based ELO was already decent, so wasn't a case of going from newbs to my regular level).

EDIT: I just checked. I don't really believe in KDR, as it follows final hit instead of most damage, but the PB and 3M are 2 of my highest 3 (the highest being my ALRM30+ECM kitfox)

Edited by The Wakelord, 28 December 2014 - 03:53 AM.

[Y E O N N E]

You should be trying to kill 'Mechs in as little damage as possible with the Locust, which is why I don't like to consider damage for it. Really, none of the recorded metrics are any good for determining how skilled you are in any 'Mech. We need some things like per-Mech shot accuracy, life-time, and role reward records.

You know, it's almost a shame about the quirks. With the quirks, the Locust is not as effective at drilling proper Light tactics into a player as it was previously. Back when Small range was 90 m, you really had to plan your attack and pick your targets wisely. I'm really still on the fence about the quirks in general; I don't like how they've made pretty much everything on the field a hyper-damage-dealer, it sort of cheapens the game as a whole. On the other hand, I do like the variety of robots I see running around, including the increased frequency of Locusts.

[Desolator]

Greenjulius, on 27 December 2014 - 06:09 PM, said:

Perhaps this has to do with the prevalence of Dual Gauss in high ELO; high rated ELO removes 1/2 of mechs from even being relavent.

I see you in about 80% of my games, I think I am a pretty bad player when in comes to ELO. Maybe you aren't as good as you think you are and the playstyle of the Locust just doesn't fit the way you have been conditioned to play.

Or maybe I am better than I think I am, and I play my locusts to great effectiveness.

All in all not all mechs mesh with everyones play styles.

(Also you bought a LCT-PB for 975 mc, when you get 1500 mc for $6.95, hardly a waste of mc. You also probably earned around 500-700 mc just from the winter event.)

[Sorbic]

Went and bought the PB and so far I'm not liking it. I really dislike not having much up/down movement considering it's all torso weapons.

[TercieI]

Sorbic, on 28 December 2014 - 07:18 PM, said:

Went and bought the PB and so far I'm not liking it. I really dislike not having much up/down movement considering it's all torso weapons.

Yep, that's the big issue. Range/arm movement/hardpoint total all favor the 3M/1E vs. the PB. The PB has ECM. I don't think it's quite enough.

[Greenjulius]

Desolator, on 28 December 2014 - 05:25 AM, said:

I see you in about 80% of my games, I think I am a pretty bad player when in comes to ELO. Maybe you aren't as good as you think you are and the playstyle of the Locust just doesn't fit the way you have been conditioned to play.

Not to sound arrogant, but I may be expected to carry you. I've racked up so many wins in my metamechs that the climb with my terribad mechs is made much more difficult.

I am so frequently matched up with a team of people who do under 250 damage a piece, leaving me to contend with the horde. I almost always finish with the top damage on my team if I bring a decent mech, making me believe that the matchmaker considers me the carry. I have killed 8+ players and had so many 1000+ damage rounds that I can't keep track of how many. (Especially with the OP clan mechs) If I run a mech that is elited out and has a good config, I'm dangerous. I'm not usually one to boast, it's simply the truth.

Lately I've been trying to challenge myself by taking up "bad" mechs. It's possible you've played with me when I run a bad mech, or one I'm trying half halfheartedly to level. The Mist Lynx, the Ice Ferret, etc. I've mastered both and had some outrageous games with them. I haven't run my good mechs in a long time, except in CW.

I settled on these Locusts:

LCT-1E
LCT-1V
LCT-PB

LCT-1V: The LCT-1V has a REALLY bad setup for anything but being a finisher. Meaning, that you have to have teammates who will eat most of the enemy's armor before you can finish them. That makes this worthless to someone who has to carry. This might be the single most worthless mech in the game, unless you're against braindead opponents. Also, the quirks are a joke. It's not worthwhile to take a single ERLL into battle. It's worthless up close, and doesn't do enough damage, even if you're firing it the entire length of the match. That leaves 4xMGs + 1xMPL or ML as about the only reasonable build.

LCT-1E: Quite a dangerous mech. 6xSPL makes this a mini-firestarter. Jump in, jump out. Rip out their back. Probably the best of the 3 for the simplicity of setup.

LCT-PB: Fun and stealthy. It's handy having the ECM, as it allows me to get close with the 4xSPL or ML that I usually carry on it. I've had several 4 or more kill games with it, and had a few 600+ damage rounds.

My conclusion: I find most lights to be better mechs than the Locust in most circumstances. The quirks are decent on some mechs, but another pass needs to be run over them. The 1V's quirks are a joke. I feel like the locusts in general need more quirks like the Commandos got in the last pass. More armor helps a lot.

It's not a serious mech for competition, as most of us know. It's not to be ignored, but is often ignored simply because it's less of a threat than most mechs. I don't think I've been killed by one in a LONG time. I've killed many however. It's so easy to pop that I usually target them first. Even as a locust, I find killing other locusts too easy.

Edited by Greenjulius, 31 December 2014 - 01:02 AM.

[Desolator]

Greenjulius, on 31 December 2014 - 12:23 AM, said:

Not to sound arrogant, but I may be expected to carry you. I've racked up so many wins in my metamechs that the climb with my terribad mechs is made much more difficult.

I am so frequently matched up with a team of people who do under 250 damage a piece, leaving me to contend with the horde. I almost always finish with the top damage on my team if I bring a decent mech, making me believe that the matchmaker considers me the carry. I have killed 8+ players and had so many 1000+ damage rounds that I can't keep track of how many. (Especially with the OP clan mechs) If I run a mech that is elited out and has a good config, I'm dangerous. I'm not usually one to boast, it's simply the truth.

Lately I've been trying to challenge myself by taking up "bad" mechs. It's possible you've played with me when I run a bad mech, or one I'm trying half halfheartedly to level. The Mist Lynx, the Ice Ferret, etc. I've mastered both and had some outrageous games with them. I haven't run my good mechs in a long time, except in CW.

I settled on these Locusts:

LCT-1E
LCT-1V
LCT-PB

LCT-1V: The LCT-1V has a REALLY bad setup for anything but being a finisher. Meaning, that you have to have teammates who will eat most of the enemy's armor before you can finish them. That makes this worthless to someone who has to carry. This might be the single most worthless mech in the game, unless you're against braindead opponents. Also, the quirks are a joke. It's not worthwhile to take a single ERLL into battle. It's worthless up close, and doesn't do enough damage, even if you're firing it the entire length of the match. That leaves 4xMGs + 1xMPL or ML as about the only reasonable build.

LCT-1E: Quite a dangerous mech. 6xSPL makes this a mini-firestarter. Jump in, jump out. Rip out their back. Probably the best of the 3 for the simplicity of setup.

LCT-PB: Fun and stealthy. It's handy having the ECM, as it allows me to get close with the 4xSPL or ML that I usually carry on it. I've had several 4 or more kill games with it, and had a few 600+ damage rounds.

My conclusion: I find most lights to be better mechs than the Locust in most circumstances. The quirks are decent on some mechs, but another pass needs to be run over them. The 1V's quirks are a joke. I feel like the locusts in general need more quirks like the Commandos got in the last pass. More armor helps a lot.

It's not a serious mech for competition, as most of us know. It's not to be ignored, but is often ignored simply because it's less of a threat than most mechs. I don't think I've been killed by one in a LONG time. I've killed many however. It's so easy to pop that I usually target them first. Even as a locust, I find killing other locusts too easy.

I wouldnt know about the carry part of that equation, I am usually top 3 for damage on my teams.

I just find it odd that you say the 1V is utter garbage, yet that is one of the three you decided to settle on. Forgoing the 3M, which can mount 5 SPL. From your post about the 1E, it would seem that this would be an almost identical setup and ease of use.

I will agree that the only Locust I have had consistantly good games in is the Pirates Bane, and I will attribute that to having ECM. Even with that, it is still fragile, but fun as hell to play.

I find doing well in the Locust to be more enjoyable and a challenge than doing well in any of the top tier mechs. Basically if you are using a top tier mech and are not carrying the team, I have to wonder what the hell it is you are doing.

[Greenjulius]

Desolator, on 31 December 2014 - 01:08 AM, said:

I wouldnt know about the carry part of that equation, I am usually top 3 for damage on my teams.

I just find it odd that you say the 1V is utter garbage, yet that is one of the three you decided to settle on. Forgoing the 3M, which can mount 5 SPL. From your post about the 1E, it would seem that this would be an almost identical setup and ease of use.

I will agree that the only Locust I have had consistantly good games in is the Pirates Bane, and I will attribute that to having ECM. Even with that, it is still fragile, but fun as hell to play.

I find doing well in the Locust to be more enjoyable and a challenge than doing well in any of the top tier mechs. Basically if you are using a top tier mech and are not carrying the team, I have to wonder what the hell it is you are doing.

I'm not saying you're not good; no offense. If I run a high tier mech, (Shadowhawk, Firestarter, Stormcrow, Hellbringer, etc) especially with mastered skills, I usually get top damage of both teams.

I made a BIG mistake with the 1V. The quirk videos from NGNG made it look like a great mech... I should have done my research. I would sell the damn thing if I didn't already buy DHS for it. Now I'm stuck with it I suppose. I'm trying to make the best of it, but the locust really needs energy weapons to do well. MGs are currently next to worthless for taking down well armored mechs, (Unless you're running 6x on an Arrow) so I have to let teammates do the real damage. I hate that.

You're definitely right about the 3M. It has quirks for SPL, something like 60% additional range and 20% cooldown. The extra SPL makes up for the loss of the cooldown on the 1E, as does the 10% heat reduction. I definitely wish I'd bought the 3M instead of the 1V.

I've definitely found the Pirate's Bane to be worth it. I'm getting lots of good, solid games in it, with the ECM helping my team quite a bit.

I agree as well about running top tier mechs; that's why I'm branching out to different ones, Locusts and Blackjacks being my newest acquisitions. For lights, I've already mastered Ravens, Firestarters, Kitfoxes and Mist Lynx, so I decided to try out the lightest mech in the game. I might have been a little better off running Commandos, but I suppose I've been curious about locusts for a while, and would have tried them out inevitably.

Edited by Greenjulius, 31 December 2014 - 01:41 AM.

[Y E O N N E]

Commandos get 5 extra tons, but all of it goes toward armor and the necessarily heavier engine to get it back up to Locust speeds. If you don't mind running slower, you can fit a better payload, otherwise it has an inferior fitment to the Locust. All it really has going for it are arms with lower actuators, which isn't chump change but also isn't enough to justify its rather poor hard-point range and placement.

[Mobile Ordnance Platform]

the 3M ! its like a highly mobile rapid fire AC20

[Rhaythe]

Mastering a Locust chassis is the Mechwarrior way to learn how NEVER to run in a straight line. Or stop moving, for that matter.

[Desolator]

Greenjulius, on 31 December 2014 - 01:36 AM, said:

I'm not saying you're not good; no offense. If I run a high tier mech, (Shadowhawk, Firestarter, Stormcrow, Hellbringer, etc) especially with mastered skills, I usually get top damage of both teams.

No Offense taken, I was just pointing out that I wouldn't really notice the being put on a team for a carry role. I usually score pretty well.

Am I always the best, no I have my bad games or bad days just like everyone else. I however think I do fairly well for my team and myself.

The Locust is just one of those personal challenge mechs or badge of honor mechs I think.
I'm not sure PGI can really balance the thing with quirks to make it viable, without making it broken.

There are just too many mechs that work on the Tabletop game, that do not translate into the way the MWO is played.
This is both good and bad.

[Greenjulius]

Desolator, on 01 January 2015 - 01:56 AM, said:

The Locust is just one of those personal challenge mechs or badge of honor mechs I think.
I'm not sure PGI can really balance the thing with quirks to make it viable, without making it broken.

There are just too many mechs that work on the Tabletop game, that do not translate into the way the MWO is played.
This is both good and bad.

I think I'm coming to terms with that. It's an interesting mech, but I can never recommend it to anyone but those that want a challenge, and don't care so much about damage.

I also need to get speed tweak on them all. This thing requires that you take it at least 160kph+.

Edited by Greenjulius, 01 January 2015 - 02:32 AM.

[STEF_]

Greenjulius, on 27 December 2014 - 06:29 PM, said:

I think it's gonna be my, "I get drunk and run at 170kph in circles" mech. Thanks for confirming that InspectorG. I thought I was maybe doing something wrong when I felt like the Mist Lynx was useful... At least compared to this 20 tons of crap. Anytime I play this, I accept that my KDR will mostly flatline, and my ELO will at least drop a little, which is a victory in and of itself, I guess?

Maybe I should amend this topic to ask; How do you make this mech, not bad?

After mastering COM and Firestarter, I'm going to pilot Locust, to meet again that thrilling feeling
I can say there are huge differencies. Firestarters are very very good mechs, and it was a surprise to see how much they can tank and deliver dmg. They seems to me like super fast medium.
BUT: what COM, and I think locust too, can give you it's that great teaching about piloting a light.
You can do good, but if you are doing something wrong, you are dead.
And this forces you to be always good and always concentrate to the match.
Piloting COM, really changed me into a light pilot, because I really liked that challenge, the thrill, but this isn't about how good or bad that mech can be: the sure thing is that you can become a better pilot and learn a lot of things while piloting those 25 or 20 tons mechs.

Edited by Stefka Kerensky, 01 January 2015 - 02:33 AM.

[Greenjulius]

The locust is even more unforgiving than the commandos... Like the TDK for instance. You can carry about the same firepower as a good energy locust, running EVEN FASTER, (171 vs 169) and with more armor.

Edited by Greenjulius, 01 January 2015 - 02:35 AM.

[TimePeriod]

I'm still working on buying all the locust and evaluating them, one by one.

We'll see what comes out of it.

[STEF_]

Greenjulius, on 01 January 2015 - 02:34 AM, said:

The locust is even more unforgiving than the commandos... Like the TDK for instance. You can carry about the same firepower as a good energy locust, running EVEN FASTER, (171 vs 169) and with more armor.

My first match in a Locust.
Imo , it's op....
1) a lot of speed, letting you to reposition in a second
2) a lot of accelleration and reverse, letting you to snipe-cover-snipe-cover,ect.
3) small mech, difficult to aim
4) a LOOOOT of firepower for a 20 tonner.

Fantastic mech.

[Manson]

Greenjulius, on 26 December 2014 - 10:03 PM, said:

I decided to buy the Pirate's Bane Locust just because I wanted to take these little buggers out for a spin. Which variants are probably the best? I know the LCt-1V seems to be getting some decent reviews, but I haven't heard much about the others. They all seem to be a mix of Medium/Small Laser and SPL buffs, with some worthless missile buffs thrown in. Did I miss anything?

What should I get for my 3rd variant?

Thank you!

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6267abd12c1d04b


I run a LCT 1E with 6 medium lasers, I do run somewhat hot, but it's not bad. The only thing is you have to manage your heat. I use a XL 190, three Double Heat Sink's and full Armour, also all the upgrades. At Mastery Rank.