32 replies to this topic

[ACH75]

Giving to DWF the LARGE movement Archetype like King Crab is the only possible solution, still slow but more constant speed... in the meantime you can give a try at HILL CLIMB Module...

Edited by ACH75, 25 January 2015 - 09:18 PM.

[Pahrias]

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..

id say that ur not an assault driver then. i think ur a med fighter, im an almost exclusively assault driver, and i usually do alright in the pug games, usually on the front line or a flank push, and if i have med/light support like you, i usually survive. mostly the only time i get said support is when im franticaly screaming for help or have already asked the team to support me tho coz yes the nascar mentality can really screw over us assaults. if u are vocal in what your wanting from your team, u stand a better chance of getting it.
a little mantra i started to use last week at the beggining of the match: Be aggressive and support the fatties.
im not 100% on the corralation, but 90% of the games i had that i started the match with this simple request, won.

[Jman5]

If you're struggling with early deaths from isolated spawns, I suggest you uncheck Skirmish mode. It has special spawns that are often more spread out and risky. Assault mode has turrets which help limit mobility somewhat giving you less chance of finding yourself isolated.

Here is the simple truth: It's all about map awareness. Being able to know when your team is shifting and catching that train before it's too late. The slower your mech the better you have to be at this. Unfortunately, most people overestimate their map awareness ability and will blame everything under the Sun but themselves. I can ask almost anyone from the bottom Elo to the top and they will believe they have great map awareness. It is perhaps the most under-appreciated skill in the game and yet people refuse to admit they need to work on it.

If you can get better at it and bring tools that help (ex: seismic sensor, and/or UAVs), you will find you don't get caught flat footed. Whether it's sneaky lights, or an enemy pain train coming up behind you.

[SaltBeef]

The op has a Point but I have been one shot smited many o time by excellent Dire pilots eve in 171kph monsters in Pugland. There are some great dire pilots that get 1600 damage or better in pug land every match.

[El Bandito]

*looks at my Direwolf stats and smiles*

Direwolf can pug just fine. Just learn to position yourself. Having a good PC helps, as you will move out before most of your lance mates even begin to stir. SSD for the win, baby!

Edited by El Bandito, 25 January 2015 - 11:42 PM.

[Salvag3]

I don't really have this problem, with the exception of a really bad spawn on certain maps ( river city mainly ). This mech just requires a pilot to pay more attention to what's going on around them. Focus on moving into the center of your team and doing your best to keep moving with them. Talk to your team as much as you can, ask In a friendly manner for them to allow the assaults to catch up. Remind them ( also in a nice way ) that you have the most firepower on the battlefield but can't use it unsupported. It won't always work but it will work more often than not.

[Scout Derek]

First off, there's no problem with the mech. It is the pilot that is the problem. I've PUG'd in the DWF PRIME(I), and I find it fun when I do usually. It's because there's 2 tips you'll always have to remember when piloting the whale.
1) Keep somewhere ahead of the middle and behind the front crowd. From there you can move without pause, and when you meet the enemy, you won't get focused fired and then fire from a comfortable difference.
2) The DWF is about POWER. Power that can shred an enemy mech's armor straight off within a span of 10 seconds. Meta builds can do so.
Think now on combos with the DWF that can Eat armor for a snack when they try to fire at you, You'll be more than pleased with the results. And stay a little behind the front. ~ Scout Derek

[Ted Wayz]

If pugs are coordinated it is usually in response to the first person who speaks up. Be that voice.

But do not be surprised if they run around like blind kids hopped up on sugar.

[saKhan Steiner Lawl Kerensky]

BellatorMonk, on 25 January 2015 - 01:46 PM, said:

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?

The trick is to play Assault. Pug dropping in skirmish and conquest you take your chances. If you end up on the far end of the toilet bowl swirl in River City and sometimes Caustic when pug mentality kicks in and the NASMECH match begins, you're pretty much screwed. At least in Assault people TEND to form a firing line. Not always the case, but a better chance of surviving.

But best thing you can do is if you're left in the dust, flip around and backpedal or put your back up against something and drag a few screaming to hell with ya. Make em work for it, and focus on legs if you can. fast mechs minus legs don't do so well when playing NASMECH.

Also, try to get cover that forces faster mechs to funnel to you. Light's aren't so bad (especially in a walking turret) when they can't maneuver and use their side strafing speed.

Lastly, consider your builds. I don't know what you're packing, but if you get really good with ballistics (like Gauss, UAC5's) you can make them have a pretty bad day. Energy and missiles are great for teamwork, but ballistics put the fear of God in all weight classes.

Edited by Lansid, 27 January 2015 - 01:11 PM.

[Strykewolf]

Seen quite a few direwolves and, other, slow assaults get left. Have started attaching myself to one, when I remember.

[blood4blood]

Typing something like "form up on assaults please" at the beginning of a PUG match can work wonders. It doesn't always help, but if even a couple light/med pilots form up on your DWF to cover your six, you're worlds ahead.

Other tip: DWF is all firepower. Mine are mastered and there's still no way to out-maneuver a well-piloted light. But you can maneuver to get at least 1-2 shots off, and in a DWF vs. light match-up, that should cost a limb or a life just about every time one gets in your sights.

[Cruxs]

When playing a slow assault mech in the public ques you have to be mindful of a few things. First your own build, good builds make all of the difference, are you close, mid or long range. If you are mid to long range don't lead the charge especially in a pug match 75% of the time your team won't back you up. Hang back find a good spot to shoot from, use cover and be mindful of where your hard points are.

You can't jump in and out of cover like other mechs, but you have lots of armor to help with that. So front load that armor. Don't poke at the whole team. Poke at small numbers you can throw way more damage than most mechs in a single volley.

If you are close range keep your head down until the fight gets with in your range. Push when you are in a superior spot or have more numbers than the other team. Other wise play defense let the enemy poke and throw an alpha strike at them when they do.

When the match starts get to your team first thing. I rarely cannot get to the team even on River City. If a light starts harassing you move to cover and get your back to a wall. Get good at hitting moving lights if you hit most lights with a solid hit they will back off. If you start getting LRMed spread the damage let it hit your front on your way to cover.

Always watch your map its easy to get into the zone poking and fighting only to realize your team has repositioned to a different spot. In a Slow assault you need to moving as soon as you see the whole blob moving. If a healthy enemy lance sees you alone you are done.Really just play to your strengths and play smart don't try to be the hero of the push.

I fall into this when going from group play to pug play. My group backs me up in push. Sometimes pugs do and sometimes they don't but they always expect you to lead the push. So do it on your terms.

Anyways sorry if this is long winded. I hope it helps. I just got going with a few things that came to mind.

Good Luck in your battles kill the red team.

[Xmith]

BellatorMonk, on 25 January 2015 - 01:46 PM, said:

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?

I normally have all gamemodes checked. When I got the DWF having all modes checked was a mistake. Skirmish was a bit tough. I had to uncheck skirmish until I got my DWF mastered. Now everything is all good and all gamemodes are checked.

I have one advice to all new DFW pilots. Do not, I repeat do not stand around doing nothing when you drop on a skirmish map. If you stand in that same spot you dropped on for more than 10 seconds, there is a very good chance you will go down first.

Someone on the red team may chat, PUSH HARD RIGHT!