32 replies to this topic

[BellatorMonk]

I am at a loss as to how to play my DWs in pugs. 9 out of 10 times I am last in the pugball train and either a single light flanks and cores me in less than 2 mins of a match start or an entire enemy lance flanks and my team ignores our assault lance (most times our assualt lance is 2 assaults and 2 heavies and the heavies just trundle on ahead like morons) being flanked and I am shredded of armor before ever even reaching the main engagement.

Is this just a failing of the DW of a viable mech in this game since it so slow and engine cannot be upgraded to compete with 95% of the other mechs or this is just PUG hell stupidity and no use playing a DW in PUGs?

[Yokaiko]

That is near every assault.

You are only going to be as good as your team.

[Xetelian]

Yokaiko, on 25 January 2015 - 02:09 PM, said:

You are only going to be as good as your team.

When your team flanks well or pushes at the perfect moment and stomps the other team you'll find your performance was stellar.

At the very least that is how my DWF games go, very team reliant, if they fail you're kinda screwed.

Edited by Xetelian, 25 January 2015 - 02:12 PM.

[Golden Vulf]

Are you using AMS? Do you have Radar Deprivation? Do you keep ammo in your center torso? Do you make an honest effort to keep up with your team and even lead the charges?

[jackal404]

Golden Vulf, on 25 January 2015 - 02:15 PM, said:

Are you using AMS? Do you have Radar Deprivation? Do you keep ammo in your center torso? Do you make an honest effort to keep up with your team and even lead the charges?

Really, try to lead the way? Only a suicide charge when the team starts backing up.

The Dire-Whale is especially bad because of it's slow speed and poor maneuverability. It stops like a rock rolling down hill and turns like a super tanker. It also seems to be very fragile - probably due to every one shooting it one its visible.

Once you commit to a path you can't easily stop or change direction. If someone moves in front of you then stops, you cannot easily go around them.

I really feel your pain and would love a solution.

Edited by jackal404, 25 January 2015 - 02:34 PM.

[WhoDidTheElf]

It might be your ELO as well. I used to have similar issues where the circle jerk would leave all the assaults behind, but eventually you get out of it. Positioning is more important in an assault than any other class. Once you commit there's no backing out.

[BellatorMonk]

WhoDidTheElf, on 25 January 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

It might be your ELO as well. I used to have similar issues where the circle jerk would leave all the assaults behind, but eventually you get out of it. Positioning is more important in an assault than any other class. Once you commit there's no backing out.

I wondered about this also..is Elo by mech or profile? I get in my light/mediums and carry or help dominate most matches because I provide protection and support for my fatties,

I get in an Assault and it's a 180 degree experience..no lights or mediums ever help..they just Nascar..

[Kyrie]

BellatorMonk, on 25 January 2015 - 02:43 PM, said:

I wondered about this also..is Elo by mech or profile? I get in my light/mediums and carry or help dominate most matches because I provide protection and support for my fatties,

I get in an Assault and it's a 180 degree experience..no lights or mediums ever help..they just Nascar..

ELO is done by weight tier, separate for each class (light ,med, heavy assault).

[Radar Glitch]

Vulf hit on the key: watch your map and stay with the group. If you drop in a lance with some of the other assaults (which is typical these days) stay with them...if not, track one down in the very beginning of the match.


Also, if you have a light on you try and back into a building or some other type of terrain to keep them off your back armor. You can't always do this but keep it in mind...

[InspectorG]

Save the Whale till you get better elo pugs, you know, pugs who will look out for you.

XL400 Wubshee. Quick and fast enough to deal with mishaps. 2 shield arms. WUBS.

What else do you want?

[Golden Vulf]

Yes, start using something a bit faster. Timberwolf is your huckleberry. Lots of weapon space, decent speed. Or cataphract can be fun to if you like IS.

I've been playing the reward Cataphract with a 325 XL (GASP!), 2 UAC/5s, 4 medium lasers, 2 jump jets, 5 tons of ammo and some extra heatsinks.

It's faster than most IS heavies, and doesn't lag too far behind clan lancemates. Packs a mean punch in a brawl, though a little less sturdy than the STD engine using mechs. If someone takes out my right torso, I wouldn't want to keep playing anyway. It will definitely encourage twisting to spread damage onto the arms.

[Chiasson Brinker]

Jester mounting one less AMS than stock with a 300 XL, 2 large lasers and quad mediums works as a nice general purpose mech too. Handles about the same as the clan heavies, though more fragile. But if you want something that helps get you used to running an assault, I'd agree that the Banshee is one way to go. The other, in my opinion, is the Battlemaster. Both turn slower and have less torso range than most heavies, but both can be set up to have surprising speed when needed.

[Xythius]

Sadly, the DWF is a very difficult assault to play. As mentioned, they are slow and have poor manuervability. And they have been around long enough that people know what they are capable of and will make you priority one when you are spotted.

Admittedly, some maps are worse than others for the behavior you described, but it sounds like you may have a low(ish) ELO in assaults, so you are in for a tough go for a while. Do what you can to stay with the group and if you know the maps, make your was as quickly as possible to the places the majority of fighting takes place. Don't meander, take the quickest route there and just try to tough it out. If necessary, put some longer ranged weapons on it so you can contribute at a longer distance while you close the gap to the brawl. They aren't an 'I win' button by any means, but once you get the hang of them, they are brutal.

[Golden Vulf]

Well, dual Gauss + Dual ER PPC is close to an 'I Win' button. At least when it comes to exchanging long distance fire.

[Xmith]

Being in DWF is not so bad. Work on your loadout so you can be able to take care of yourself when there are no teamates close by. A DWF has got to be able to dish it out anytime and anywhere.

[Bartholomew bartholomew]

Works fine for me. And I only have one with basics. Probably will not get the other two until the new variant is out for cbills. Always wanted an ingame hover truck.

[jlawsl]

I have seen this a lot. Just yesterday, caustic, spawn on the water side, everyone runs to the factory side. I am in an AWS-9m with a 340 in it, so I didn't have a problem keeping up. There were two heavies in the group and the run off. The direwolf was trudging slowly to the friendly side. I say "We need to wait for the DW, he's gonna get eaten up, lots coming from behind". I try to give some covering fire as he moved, but his only option was to turn around and fight. One light tried to help as well. 6-7 on 3 was too much, and before me and the light knew it, the direwolf was dead. We had to pull out of there.

It wasn't some D-bag order you hear from some know-it-alls, it was just me trying to look out for a team mate. It was ignored. I have the same thing happen to me in my Crabs and slower awsome builds. The people playing the faster mechs(especially during these little challenges) are just looking to do the all encompassing flank. Though, two blobs of stuff moving in circles is hardly flanking, which by definition and common knowledge is attacking from a side, not the back.

[Bartholomew bartholomew]

Sometimes on the small maps when I know the nascar race is going to happen and I am in a slow boat. I will actually take the risk of running across the center instead of trying to circle too. And it mostly pays off at that point. At least then sometimes you will drag both sides in. Red tacos being such an aphrodisiac.

Edited by Bartholomew bartholomew, 25 January 2015 - 05:48 PM.

[BellatorMonk]

Golden Vulf, on 25 January 2015 - 03:43 PM, said:

Well, dual Gauss + Dual ER PPC is close to an 'I Win' button. At least when it comes to exchanging long distance fire.

TY much..this seems to make a pretty big difference in the fire exchange no matter the range now.

[FupDup]

The Whale gets ignored by pugs on its own team, but it also often gets ignored by pugs on the enemy team as well.