19 replies to this topic

[Tarman]

Let's try this again, shall we? It's been literally years, enough time to give the game a second chance. I am effectively back to square one at robiting though till I can relearn how to put the pew onto the robit again at the very least.

It's weird how sentimental it was to flip open the mechlab, different-looking as it is, and see all my old rides. Felt like I landed on some abandoned planet and cracked open some dusty vault-hangar doors to find them in there waiting since the last wars. Except now I have to relearn how to fit and drive them. And my Atlas Boobzilla is apparently now illegally built. Knew I shouldn't have skimped on the implants.

Did two years of difference change a lot of things I need to be aware of other than the obvious? Any and all data thrown at me for my re-up would be classy, thanks.

Also got a CH HOTAS in the meantime, how's the current support?

[Amsro]

Start here.

The just play matches and see how quick it comes back.

[Escef]

I'd suggest watching some recent live streams. There's a small, but vibrant MWO streaming community on Twitch.tv. Even if no one is broadcasting you can always check recent highlights and archived broadcasts from the last couple of weeks.

[CocoaJin]

Pfffft, you don't need all that. Just stomp, shoot, happy dance.

Edited by CocoaJin, 30 January 2015 - 09:01 AM.

[Vassago Rain]

MWO of 2015 has very little in common with MWO of 2012 and 2013.

[Mechteric]

Tarman, on 29 January 2015 - 10:06 PM, said:

Also got a CH HOTAS in the meantime, how's the current support?

Don't bother using anything but a mouse for your aiming and shooting, the only thing you can use a stick for is the throttle and chassis movement. I guess if you have the CH throttle and pedals like I do you can use that combined with the mouse.

[Tarman]

Vassago Rain, on 30 January 2015 - 12:16 AM, said:

MWO of 2015 has very little in common with MWO of 2012 and 2013.

There's a few things, VR, one of them being you. Thought you might still be kicking here. o7

[Cion]

Tarman, on 29 January 2015 - 10:06 PM, said:

Let's try this again, shall we? It's been literally years, enough time to give the game a second chance. I am effectively back to square one at robiting though till I can relearn how to put the pew onto the robit again at the very least.

It's weird how sentimental it was to flip open the mechlab, different-looking as it is, and see all my old rides. Felt like I landed on some abandoned planet and cracked open some dusty vault-hangar doors to find them in there waiting since the last wars. Except now I have to relearn how to fit and drive them. And my Atlas Boobzilla is apparently now illegally built. Knew I shouldn't have skimped on the implants.

Did two years of difference change a lot of things I need to be aware of other than the obvious? Any and all data thrown at me for my re-up would be classy, thanks.

Also got a CH HOTAS in the meantime, how's the current support?

In two years nothing has really changed.

In 6 months things have really changed.

The next 6 months actually look promising.

Welcome back.

[Tarman]

Hey, I have 3 new mechs. Is that something I magically earned while I was in stasis? Champion grade, with angel paintjobs.

[Vanguard836]

Tarman, on 30 January 2015 - 07:23 AM, said:

Hey, I have 3 new mechs. Is that something I magically earned while I was in stasis? Champion grade, with angel paintjobs.

Short answer : Yes
They were given by PGI, one for purchassing MC, one for purchasing any Mech pack tier and one for purchassing any top tier of a Mech pack. I'm sure someone can fill you into the specifics if you wish to know.

[Tarman]

Vanguard836, on 30 January 2015 - 07:29 AM, said:

Short answer : Yes
They were given by PGI, one for purchassing MC, one for purchasing any Mech pack tier and one for purchassing any top tier of a Mech pack. I'm sure someone can fill you into the specifics if you wish to know.

I'll take free mechs any day, especially for something I already did years ago. Really nice to see the CN9-AH back in the lineup, and I didn't even have to buy it.

[Bobzilla]

Boobzilla, what a silly name.

[orcrist86]

64 bit client, DX 11. Try them. Bunch of new maps. Cw is not for the faint of heart. Try all if it. Hover over your mechs. Notice the quirks. All mechs now have quirks that affect specific weapons and builds. Get familiar with them and use them to your advantage.

[Ronan]

Quirks, and modules, and URBIE, and new "normal" queue game mode (modes?), turrets, CW (tread carefully there, or have really low expectations -- if one team is organized at all and the other is not, it'll be a horrible stomp. normal queue roflstomps are nothing compared to CW roflstomps!), lots of new mechs. GHOST HEAT, burst fire Clan AC, the rejoin button...

IGP is gone, PGI actually communicates now (maybe on reddit or twitter instead of here, but at least they talk).

Not sure how far back OP dropped out. I hit a lot of highlights, any thing spur any specific questions?

[Siegegun]

Also the public ques are now split. There is a que for solo players and a separate que for group players. Groups can now be from 2-12 (excluding 11). If you hover over the play button there are also class percentages on current class population. This can reduce wait times (optionally you can just choose light and always be in the shortest que lol).

[Mawai]

The feel of the game itself is very similar to closed beta.

However, mech and weapon balance has shifted a lot and clan mechs and their weaponry (toned down from TT to try to avoid clan mechs from being too overpowered) has also been introduced.

Modules have been introduced ... high cbill costs ... some useful effects.

The "optimal" build or weapon choice (sometimes called meta) has also shifted around quite a bit. Changes to jump jets means they still work well (in my opinion) for movement and maneuverability (especially for lights) but you need closer to maximum jump jets and assaults apparently don't jump as well as they used to. This reduced the use of "pop tarts" though there are still some folks using them.

LRMs are still something of a rock/paper/scissors weapon. When they work with massed fire against a target without convenient cover they are devastating. However, ECM, radar deprivation module, tag, narc, BAP, AMS all shift the balance around so it isn't clear in PUG matches when LRMs will be useless or OP since you never know what will be in the drop. If possible, always fit a radar deprivation module, consider using AMS and if possible keep cover handy in case you need to duck out of the way of LRMs ... you get a warning for incoming LRMs but you never know whether it is a single LRM5 or 3 x LRM60 Stalkers firing in a coordinated fashion.

Most IS mechs have quirks now ... the less useful the mechs the stronger the quirks ..

HBK-4G is now actually useful and effective (at least for me ... surprising number of good games in it).
TDR-9S has significant bonuses to ERPPC.

The best clan mechs are probably Timberwolf, Stormcrow, Dire Whale and Hellbringer (Hellbringer is a heavy with ECM).

Edited by Mawai, 30 January 2015 - 10:13 AM.

[Tarman]

Lots of nice info pilots, thanks a bunch. There's so much difference it's like a new game for me. Lots of staring into the mechlab till things start to gel.

Ghost heat? I'm assuming that's a fire-limiting mechanism of some type. Based on monoweapon gang-firing or combos of weapons?

Took out a Fatlas onto the testing grounds and the Gauss now has a more managed fire scheme, I noticed. Maps look good so far and I forgot how much I missed Betty. TALK TO ME BABY TELL ME HOW HOT I AM Turned off the derp features at least - separate arm targeting and non-decaying throttle while I'm actually in the seat thanks. The drone explanation for 3pv with the LOOKIT ME OVER HERE caveat seems not to rustle my jimmies though, that's a good sign.

Timberwolf is almost a gimme for me to pick up, that was my ride back in MW2, loved that thing, but IDW shell till I figure out how to drive properly again. The stable is all ancient stuff, some from Beta; not sure any sane person needs this many Commandos.

[FindersWeepers]

Locust is the new meta, splatcrows will kill you, make sure in assaults you stay with your team because firestarters.
Firestarters.
Tankier than an atlas, crank out wubby 30-35 point alphas.

[Almond Brown]

Tarman, on 30 January 2015 - 07:36 AM, said:

I'll take free mechs any day, especially for something I already did years ago. Really nice to see the CN9-AH back in the lineup, and I didn't even have to buy it.

Do me a favor and post the final build you get for that CN9-AH, thanks. Haven't found one I like myself after many tries.

P.S. No XL engines allowed please.

[Vassago Rain]

Ghost heat is the bandaid of bandaids, that exists to stamp out such overpowered builds as 9 medium laser hunchbacks.

If you fire an arbitrary number of guns at the same time, you'll generate magical heat. Smurfy has the math listed somewhere. Russ is apparently open to finally removing Paul's masterpiece.

Ronan, on 30 January 2015 - 09:01 AM, said:

Quirks, and modules, and URBIE, and new "normal" queue game mode (modes?), turrets, CW (tread carefully there, or have really low expectations -- if one team is organized at all and the other is not, it'll be a horrible stomp. normal queue roflstomps are nothing compared to CW roflstomps!), lots of new mechs. GHOST HEAT, burst fire Clan AC, the rejoin button...

IGP is gone, PGI actually communicates now (maybe on reddit or twitter instead of here, but at least they talk).

Not sure how far back OP dropped out. I hit a lot of highlights, any thing spur any specific questions?

He dropped out during the great era when our overlords shut down general discussion, and split their forum into a billion subforums.