34 replies to this topic

[Screech]

Good list of items but I think the legging one is a little out of date. Most of the successful attacks these days seem to follow an attrition strategy a opposed to a zerg. I wouldn't really worry about a zerg rush from an attacker until they are well behind in the kill count.

Therefore I think I would replace the legging tip with an importance of pushing out any enemy beachheads within your base.

[stratagos]

I mostly threw this together on a whim, but there's enough feedback I'll probably try to update and clean it up. Any other suggestions I've overlooked?

[Stoned Prophet]

stratagos, on 05 February 2015 - 10:12 AM, said:

Hi there.

So, welcome to Mechwarrior Online. I’m Stratagos, or Strat for short. Or ‘Hey you’. Or ‘you bleeping LRM whoooore!’

So, if you’re new to MWO, you may have heard about this “Community Warfare” thing. But if you read the forums, there are a lot of people demanding that all the “PUGS” basically go somewhere else.

Are you a PUG? Well, probably. “PUG” is basically shorthand for “Pick Up Group”, and the odds are if you’re reading this, you’re not dropping with an organized team.

Should you follow the suggestion of the people who have been here since Closed Beta? Is your presence causing lasting damage to the game?

Nahh, eff them.

They do *not* speak for PGI, or Clan Wolf, or the Inner Sphere. They speak for themselves.

So, what is “Community Warfare”? I’m just going to leave you to read the fifty jillion links instead of going into details. To briefly summarize, it’s a different game mode where the results of your match have a persistent impact on the galactic map. For the time being, that’s pretty much it – PGI is going to add a lot of bells and whistles, but we’re not there yet.

Is there a point the whiners are – artlessly – trying to make?

Yeah. In general, being part of an organized group gives you a significant advantage in MWO. Following a unified plan, being in constant communication via teamspeak and focusing fire on one mech at a time allows teams to really hammer your average PUG group. And as bad as a 12-0 loss is, a 48-0 loss is even more aggravating.

So, for people who ‘care’ about the map, the fact that PUGs usually end up losing means that their faction also ends up losing.

But again, screw them. They’re deluded if they think the map isn’t going to be reset at the end of beta, and you’re here to have fun, no grind planets for the greater glory of House Steiner.

How can you do that?

Well, in general, you *do* want to try to be a bit more organized. VOIP integration will come soon, and group chat is always available. And if you *are* interested in joining a group, it’s something I’d definitely recommend. There are plenty of them that basically require as much commitment as a second job, but there are plenty of others that are welcoming of casual players.

If that’s not an option, some quick tips.

1 – If you see a group with consistent tags (ie: [XXXX]), offer to follow their lead. There are groups that are full of tools, there are groups that don’t speak your language, but there are others who are more than willing to offer guidance *if they think it will be followed*.

2 – If that isn’t an option, try to stick with the greatest number of teammates. As much as everyone talks about tactics, it’s pretty much a deathball vs deathball game. If you run off on your own, you *will* get flattened.

3 – Remember that if your ride is trashed, there is no crime in punching out. On the flip side, there is no crime in charging them and forcing them to use the time and ammo to finish you off.

4- If you’re trying to defend a base, focus on crippling legs first, then move on. Once the enemy gets strung out it’s much easier to finish them off, and the gimped mechs – while still dangerous – aren’t going to be able to help rush you.

5 – If people on either your team or the opposition are just total jerkwads, ignore them. You’re not here for their amusement, and if they fill the chat with bitter tears of rage because you’re not doing exactly what you want, bask in the glorious angst you’ve brought to them.

6 – If you’re stuck with trial mechs for now, generally avoid the LRM-focused ones. This is a very ECM-heavy environment, and while the steel rain can be critical in the right position, you may not be able to use them when the Spiders and Hellbringers are zipping around.

Most of all, have fun, and use every game as an opportunity to learn. You don’t have to be the best player on the planet, you just have to be good enough to support your group and annoy the snot out of the people who hate you because you’re not meekly obeying their every whim.

CW IS NOT FOR PUBS IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT HARDMODE AND A CHALLENGE IF YOU ARE NOT READY TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF TO WI. YOU DONT BELONG THERE. 

Tldr CW NOT FOR CASUALS

[Batch1972]

Alexander Steel, on 06 February 2015 - 07:34 AM, said:

I've been pretty anti-reset up until now. HOWEVER, I would say that if they put meaning behind planets and suddenly they start giving faction and unit bonuses, then I would probably end up voting for a reset. Just because of how much of a change it would mean for the game to have planets actually do something.

I think there has to be a reset - there have only been 2 maps (i have yet to see the third) and they've only just introduced a third mission type. There HAS to be more than that. The other thing to consider is that less than 3/4 months in 1 faction is facing oblivion.
Regarding PUGs and CW people may well get their wish and see them disappear from CW. It just isn't fun. I've joined the FRR since I thought that the world and it's mother would be fighting over their worlds. I've managed 3 matches in nearly 6 hours- one of those a ghost drop. It's got to a point where I click on world that the CW interface say needs defending and then go and do something else, popping back every 15-20 mins. The only matches I get as a lone wolf is with other lone wolves and we are against teams - it's absolutely hopeless.
To me, this is a major problem because if all the dev resources are being thrown at CW and I cannot play it and am not welcome when I do, why should I play this game, let alone fund it.

[stratagos]

Stoned Prophet, on 06 February 2015 - 09:41 PM, said:

CW IS NOT FOR PUBS IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT HARDMODE AND A CHALLENGE IF YOU ARE NOT READY TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF TO WI. YOU DONT BELONG THERE. 

Tldr CW NOT FOR CASUALS

Oh little snowflake, pull up a chair, I have some bad news to share with you.

You see, I don't *care* that you dislike me dropping in CW. And no matter how hard you press that shift key, I'm going to keep doing so.

I could discuss the CW population numbers required for a viable experience, and debate the hubris of individuals and units attempting to enforce thier will on others, but that really doesn't matter.

What *matters* is that:

* I'm going to keep dropping
* There isn't a damn thing you can do about it

Post wasn't for you, sunshine. Post was for other people - new players who have either not chosen to drop with a unit or are still in the process of determining how the whole game works before trying to find one.

Given that they - and I - will continue to drop, no matter how many tears you shed, I would suggest 'go away' is not useful feedback that will help them improve their experience.

That apparently doesn't matter to you. Tough noogies.

[stratagos]

Normally I don't like to bump my own threads, but made the suggested updates. I strongly doubt PGI is going to sticky something so.. irreverent, but, meh, screw them too

[Joseph Mallan]

Stoned Prophet, on 06 February 2015 - 09:41 PM, said:

CW IS NOT FOR PUBS IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT HARDMODE AND A CHALLENGE IF YOU ARE NOT READY TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF TO WI. YOU DONT BELONG THERE.

Tldr CW NOT FOR CASUALS

You are mistaken. Casual players can play in CW, they just have to ready for that bumpy ride. I have more PUG drops in CW than as a Lawman. My only win was PUG.

[Zibmo]

CyclonerM, on 06 February 2015 - 06:38 AM, said:

Aside from these simple but always good tips ..

Is the point of this thread to troll those who have waited a LOT for a game mode where our victories could actually matter anything (even if at this time it is just bragging rights) ?

Strange, considering you are a Founder

Besides, we are those who are playing this "hardcore roleplaying mode" (this is how Russ defined it) the way it is supposed to be played?

If you do not care at all about taking planets, there is the amazing number of 3 game modes you can play without the chance of long waits, without the worry of taking the planet and without "fighting for the glory of House Steiner", just for fun. I do it as well when i cannot play in CW, have little time or just want to relax.

In CW, however, many units do make an effort to take planets or at least to win, and seeing planets % go down because of pug losses is sad. Of course, units DO lose as well, however chances are the unit will try to learn from each defeat, correct its members' mistakes, collect intel on the enemy unit and try to create a counter to their most effective tactics. Pugs will not..

I have done a few pug drops, and i can say that most of the times , when it is on attack, it is just atrocius. Two or three times me and a couple of other pugs from different units tried to lead these drops, a couple of times we won but most of the time it would just be a mess, with insults everywhere and getting stomped as the only result. I hope the new tools such as VOIP will help.

My best suggestion is, again, to join an unit. Probably you cannot play a lot due to work and family, but there are units with different commitment requirements for CW , you should be able to find one that is fitting with your needs. If it was not for the lore of Battletech and my unit i am not sure i would have spent so much money on the game and played it for so long.

In short.. Other games do not even allow pugs in their persistent map domination mode; is it wrong to roleplay in a "hardcore roleplaying mode" and have it being focused on units in a team-based game? This is not CoD, luckily.

P.S. Russ is not quite sure there will be a reset. He may leave it up to the players. The true delusional people are those still believing that there will be one for sure when almost everything Russ said points in the other direction, or at least leaves us the choice. For me, i would say NO to a reset.

Are you try to prove the OP's point? Your "counterpoint" is about as good a validation of what PUGs are up against as anything he could have possibly written.

You really believe that your money matters more than a newbie's? Really? Last time I checked, a newbie buying wave 1 ($240) had spent just as much money as you did. Have I gotten that wrong? Is "I've been here longer" a valid reason to tell newbies, essentially, to join a unit or get the hedoubletoothpicks out?

Really?

By the way, on those pug drops that were so atrocious, did you lead? Attempt to teach? Or just think (and perhaps type) about what morons the disorganized new players were. Wow. The conceit just drips from your post.

[HARDKOR]

The one group we lost to last night looked moderately puggish. It might have been two four mans and two two mans though. They definitely outshot us and secured more kills for same total damage. Aiming well is OP.

[stratagos]

HARDKOR, on 07 February 2015 - 07:11 AM, said:

Aiming well is OP.

pls nerf mouse

[Screech]

After a bunch of matches in CW last night I really fell in love with UAV's in CW. With the amount of bunching in CW fights a properly placed UAV will turn many tides. Was on counter attack on Sulpher one match, and had them massing up on gamma gate. Rolled up on the wall, popped a UAV and the entire enemy team lit up on our screen. "NIce," came a response from a teammate and we proceeded to roll them out.

Conversely, keep an eye out for enemy UAV's taking them out won't really get you any glory but it makes a huge difference.

[wanderer]

Screech, on 07 February 2015 - 09:41 AM, said:

After a bunch of matches in CW last night I really fell in love with UAV's in CW. With the amount of bunching in CW fights a properly placed UAV will turn many tides. Was on counter attack on Sulpher one match, and had them massing up on gamma gate. Rolled up on the wall, popped a UAV and the entire enemy team lit up on our screen. "NIce," came a response from a teammate and we proceeded to roll them out.

Conversely, keep an eye out for enemy UAV's taking them out won't really get you any glory but it makes a huge difference.

Quoted for truth. Being able to track the flow of a battle is critical. Being able to see where people are (UAV's, NARCed targets) can make all the difference between coming out of cover into the guns of half an enemy unit or blindsiding them and getting a kill without taking a single shot in return. And given the large maps of CW, a sneaky UAV can result in an enemy getting pummeled by missiles relentlessly without you having to eat the return fire spotting, as well.

Just remember that the worst UAV positioning is directly in front of an enemy force- they're quite likely to see it pop and will rapidly shoot it down. Try and drop it to one side, ideally out of the line of fire. Likewise, NARCs should target ECM 'Mechs with priority (which can lead to entire enemy forces going visible due to the NARC killing ECM), but nail anything and everything with a pod. Just knowing you're podded can make some people run for cover, and disrupting an enemy formation like that is to your advantage.

[CantHandletheTruth]

Stoned Prophet, on 06 February 2015 - 09:41 PM, said:

CW IS NOT FOR PUBS IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT HARDMODE AND A CHALLENGE IF YOU ARE NOT READY TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF TO WI. YOU DONT BELONG THERE.

Tldr CW NOT FOR CASUALS

I do just fine solo dropping in CW thank you.

[wanderer]

CantHandletheTruth, on 07 February 2015 - 02:54 PM, said:

I do just fine solo dropping in CW thank you.

If you mean "I shoot a lot of robots", no.

If it means "I win a lot in PUGs", that'd be kinda shocking.

I solo drop. If I end up filling in with a large group, I do just fine- working with what you've gotten dropped with is how you win as a PUG.

If it's mostly PUGs and the enemy group is a large group, watch with amusement as most of the time, they'll never get past the gate and will likely end up spawn-camped at the end. That's normal. Even a casual group is more likely to trust it's members, but a PUG is basically going to simply shoot at robots without real cohesion most of the time.

Large numbers of PUGs can fill a 12-man, but they won't be an actual, functional group and lose much of their effectiveness in the process.

[CantHandletheTruth]

I was 50% including the games against CI.


CSJ pugs beat up a couple Kurita units on the regular.....one I can think of has lost to pugs 4 times this week. Those were just the ones I was in.

Your miles may vary, but I have a better expectancy to win in CW than I do in the pub queue.