24 replies to this topic

[Xibaster]

...a good mech for start???? Caused i've played this game long time ago and with some battles i bought a Raven. So,that is the question. And i need to know things about my role in battlefield,caused i don't do a lot of damage and that means not a lot of kills,but i think that i can scout and report to the team,it's right??? Last time i stay here i see a video of a jenner piloted by a pro jenner player and turns an atlas crazy for target him,basically it's equipped with a lot of lasers,jumpjets and turn around tactics near atlas,finally atlas perish. What i mean with this is,a light mech like raven can beat heavy or assault mechs with a good manage of the light mech????

[PirLanTota]

Yes, the Raven is a good Mech, depending which one you got, you can fill different roles.

Scouting/harrassing will be most common. Check the quirks for your mech for the best loadout. Remember to keep moving, you are a light, so dont get caught standing still. Also, if you have questions regarding quirks, check out this http://www.howtoplay...tml/quirks.html and use Smurfy Mechlab first to pre-configure, before you configure in game.

Which raven did you get?

Edited by PirLanTota, 02 March 2015 - 02:09 AM.

[dragnier1]

Firestarter. More flexible arms.

[Xibaster]

PirLanTota, on 02 March 2015 - 02:09 AM, said:

Yes, the Raven is a good Mech, depending which one you got, you can fill different roles.

Scouting/harrassing will be most common. Check the quirks for your mech for the best loadout. Remember to keep moving, you are a light, so dont get caught standing still. Also, if you have questions regarding quirks, check out this http://www.howtoplay...tml/quirks.html and use Smurfy Mechlab first to pre-configure, before you configure in game.

Which raven did you get?

The RVN-4X and the last time i played the game i did'nt know how to configure weapons,or i don't remember.

[Tarogato]

Actually being a scout is pretty worthless in this game unless you have really spent hundreds of hours playing and know every corner of every map and every build of every mech. So I wouldn't try playing as a scout.

Yes, almost any light mech can kill almost any assault 1v1 very easily because you can get behind the assault and the assault isn't maneuverable enough to turn around and shoot you. But... this is very situational because it's very rare to catch an assault on its own like that, most times their team will come to the rescue and you'll find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place.

Are Ravens a good mech to start with? Eh. I wouldn't choose them first, but you certainly could. I would be inclined to suggest the Firestarter or Jenner first. If you do go Raven, a common build that you could use on all three of them is 2x ER Large Laser with the max engine. The 3L brings ECM, the 4X brings jumpjets, and the 2X brings more heatsinks or more energy weapons. If you ever sink money into the game, the Huginn is a worthwhile buy - one of the strongest light mechs in the game right now in the right hands and loads of fun.

I run my 3L as a very close range brawler, equipped with SRMs and Small Pulse, but that's because I have a lot of experience with lights and I know when and where I can engage safely. If you want to exercise your heat discipline, you can run 2 large pulse lasers on the 2X or 4X, or you can run one large pulse and two medium lasers on the 3L. They are fun mid to longish range builds that might work decently for a beginner.

Personally I recommend Jenners as a first light mech because the CT is huge, it teaches you how to position yourself properly as a light pilot, because if you get caught in a bad position, you lose your CT really fast.

You could even go into Cicadas as well, the 2B has some really nice quirks right now. The 2A is very similar, the 3C is a fun little ER PPC sniper if that's your thing, and the 3M can run a couple large pulses, or PPCs, or an AC5/UAC5, and it brings ECM. You could even slap a gauss on it for laughs and pretend it's an inefficient Innersphere version of the Shadow Cat.

Edited by Tarogato, 02 March 2015 - 03:46 AM.

[Xibaster]

Tarogato, on 02 March 2015 - 03:46 AM, said:

Actually being a scout is pretty worthless in this game unless you have really spent hundreds of hours playing and know every corner of every map and every build of every mech. So I wouldn't try playing as a scout.

Yes, almost any light mech can kill almost any assault 1v1 very easily because you can get behind the assault and the assault isn't maneuverable enough to turn around and shoot you. But... this is very situational because it's very rare to catch an assault on its own like that, most times their team will come to the rescue and you'll find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place.

Are Ravens a good mech to start with? Eh. I wouldn't choose them first, but you certainly could. I would be inclined to suggest the Firestarter or Jenner first. If you do go Raven, a common build that you could use on all three of them is 2x ER Large Laser with the max engine. The 3L brings ECM, the 4X brings jumpjets, and the 2X brings more heatsinks or more energy weapons. If you ever sink money into the game, the Huginn is a worthwhile buy - one of the strongest light mechs in the game right now in the right hands and loads of fun.

I run my 3L as a very close range brawler, equipped with SRMs and Small Pulse, but that's because I have a lot of experience with lights and I know when and where I can engage safely. If you want to exercise your heat discipline, you can run 2 large pulse lasers on the 2X or 4X, or you can run one large pulse and two medium lasers on the 3L. They are fun mid to longish range builds that might work decently for a beginner.

Personally I recommend Jenners as a first light mech because the CT is huge, it teaches you how to position yourself properly as a light pilot, because if you get caught in a bad position, you lose your CT really fast.

You could even go into Cicadas as well, the 2B has some really nice quirks right now. The 2A is very similar, the 3C is a fun little ER PPC sniper if that's your thing, and the 3M can run a couple large pulses, or PPCs, or an AC5/UAC5, and it brings ECM. You could even slap a gauss on it for laughs and pretend it's an inefficient Innersphere version of the Shadow Cat.

Yeah,maybe other light mechs are better than a Raven for a beginner but the problem was that i dont know how much credits i have for buy a new mech, And if i gain more credits with patience,i think that im going to buy a new medium mech,the Hunchback.

[Rogue Jedi]

the 4X was my favorate of the Ravens probably because I prefer the jumping Lights, I would usualy suggest a 50/55 ton IS Medium or the Firestarter/Jenner but you could do much worse that a Raven as a first Mech.

to get the best out of the Raven (and most other Lights) you will need to spend a lot of cbills on upgrades;
Double Heat Sinks cost 1.5 million cbills, they make the engines perminantly fixed heatsinks disipate heat twice as fast as standard heatsinks, extra DHS cool 1.4 times as fast as standard heatsinks, this is an almost compulsary upgrade for the vast majority of Mechs (a few IS designs and all Clan Mechs already have them, some assualts will carry a LOT of standard heat sinks and some gauss or machine based builds do not need doubles) so always budget for that extra 1.5 million.
most Mechs make use of Endo Steel Internals, it trades 14 critical slots for reducing the bare chassis weight by 50%,
Fero Fibrus armor is an ugrade to reduce armor weight in exchange for 14 shots, however Endo will always give you a significantly better weight reduction, Fero should only be used if you have endo fitted and have more than 15 free slots after adding all the weapons you want
most Mechs will want a diferant Engine, almost all lights work better with an XL engine, usualy costing 3-5 million depending on size, it weighs roughly half of what a standard engine does in exchange for taknig up double the space (3 slots in each side torso) with an XL loosing a side torso will kill you however in most lights the extra tonnage (allowing for higher speed or more weapons/armor) is almost always worth the increased vulnerability.

[TercieI]

If you want a light as your first mech, no, the Raven is not a good choice. It has highly vulnerable legs and requires different high-skill play styles on its two good variants (3L and Huginn). For a beginner, if you want a light, I recommend the Firestarter.

[Koniving]

Xibaster, on 02 March 2015 - 03:23 AM, said:

The RVN-4X and the last time i played the game i did'nt know how to configure weapons,or i don't remember.

Raven 4X.


AC/20, a small laser, XL 180 engine (very reusable in the 45 ton mechs as well). Takes a little bit of an investment, but so does anything else involving Ravens. 2 to 4 armor to each rear torso, the rest to the front. You'll most likely die by leggings when/if you die. Carries up to 3 tons of ammo and 1 to 2 jumpjets. It's not for speed but for killing power.

The Raven 4X in Battletech is made for close range combat. Sadly it doesn't work out that way in the default build due to the way MWO is made (everyone has twice as much armor and structure), but after some tweaks it can blast things down.

A more modern run.


Now if you had a Raven 3L.... you'd be playing a little more like this if you plan on assisting a group. Note this is pretty old.


And more like this if you're playing alone or with a friend. (Somewhat dated, too, but in modes like Conquest it still plays just like this).


To see the Raven in relation to how it can help an assault mech (from the assault mech's perspective), skip to 5 minutes in here (unless you wanna watch me build/tweak my mech then start at the beginning).


Hope that helps.
I'm suddenly reminded I need to make some runs with Ravens; haven't done that in a while.

Edited by Koniving, 02 March 2015 - 09:06 AM.

[Zookeeper Dan]

Light mechs are insanely powerful!

Last night I was watching in a Raven cockpit after my mech was destroyed. The Raven took on a Shadowhawk, lost a leg, then proceeded to destroy the Shadowhawk. Immediately after a Dragon came after it. The Raven KO'd the Dragon too!

With the setup it was carrying 3 ML's and SRM 6's. So with that setup is has higher damage then my Shadowhawk, goes faster, and from as much as it was getting hit by enemy fire more durability!

[Inkarnus]

ravens or lights in general are very very unforgiving i wouldnt anybody recommend with light heart to use one
except he exactly knows what hes doing.
I am on the opinion that a solid medium can rake in more cbills and can be far more forgiving to play.

[ThisOneDiesALot]

Tarogato, on 02 March 2015 - 03:46 AM, said:

Personally I recommend Jenners as a first light mech because the CT is huge, it teaches you how to position yourself properly as a light pilot, because if you get caught in a bad position, you lose your CT really fast.

very true. but actually that's why I don't recommend jenners as first lights. you're just a giant center torso. the firestarter A with 8 small pulses, that's a beast. and better hitboxes than a jenner.
also someone mentioned the huginn: oh yeah, that thing legs like noone else! esp. since most assaults have their weapons mounted on the torsos or high arms, you're very save standing next to their legs. just don't let someoone else shoot you

[Xibaster]

Ok i watched videos and opinions,i like the raven with the AC/20 and 2 large lasers,it does moderate damage for a light mech type,but the question was: how i can mount that equipment if i dont have in my arsenal??? I mean the AC/20 and 2 large lasers. I dont have that weapons in my arsenal,so the other question was: i can buy weapons in arsenal???? And sell??? Because my favorite light mech was Raven and i think that im going to master him but with the installed weapons i dont do a lot of damage,the only one mech that i've killed was a disconnected enemy mech,sad but true.

[John1352]

While you can technically stick 2 large lasers and an AC/20 on a raven, it will have no armor. Koniving's build had small lasers (red ones). You can buy equipment by pressing the mechlab button (at the top between home and skills), pressing the configure button under your raven, and going through the different parts of the mech (left side).

Don't worry too much about only having killed a disconnected player. I don't think I got a single kill in my first 30 games using a Jenner.

On builds; the STD175 engine that comes in the raven 4X makes it too slow. I would suggest an XL275 or the XL210 that comes on the raven 3L. Other things that help are double heatsinks and endo-steel (upgrades tab), but all of these things cost a large amount of C-bills.

Until you can afford these upgrades, this build RVN-4X would be my recommendation. You'll do best by sticking with your team, exposing that arm with the 2 large lasers briefly and shooting an enemy, then getting back to cover ASAP. If your team kills an enemy mechs after you have hit them with the lasers, you get an assist. Trying to get lots of assists is a good way to get money as a newer player.

[Xibaster]

John1352, on 03 March 2015 - 09:43 PM, said:

the STD175 engine that comes in the raven 4X makes it too slow.

Yeah.i've noticed that,since i watch Ravens going at double speed than me,and other light mechs too lol

Edited by Xibaster, 03 March 2015 - 09:58 PM.

[Johnny GoEasy]

I started on the raven and have mastered a couple of them. I am actually having a hard time playing anything else, guess I'm used to it. That being said, you can usually find me trying to hitch a ride because I went and got my self all shot up.

[White Bear 84]

I run the Raven 3L with dual ER Large and ECM.

Find cover, peek shoot. Find cover peek shoot.

Most games get at least 2 kills and any number of assists with around 500 damage.

The merits? You are not seen, and when you are its not for long. You are that annoying blue laser that just appears from nowhere. Stealth. It doesn't matter about stripped off armor because movement and distance are your friends.

You biggest foes? Streak/srm lights.

This mech is awesome.

My playstyle is simple - straight from the go, run off. find the enemy and if possible get behind them. take as many pot shots as you can without being too conspicuous... ..ensure you have seismic so you can keep an eye on lights that might be out to hunt you, at which point you either us range to your advantage or head back to the back for some group sniping. Never run from the enemy in a straight line, zig zag and turn that torso, you are a majestic bird of pew!

You are literally annoying as hell pecking away at them.

Last mech standing? Stay alive, peck away and ignore the flamers... ...you might still take out a couple of mech if not the rest of the enemy team thus restoring some honour to your team, humiliating those that would jest at you for being a 'noob' when their Direwhoop can't get even do more damage than a Raven with only 2 ER LL..

On a side note, just a sample of the potential this mech has.. ..and there are three enemy mechs left.....

Edited by White Bear 84, 04 March 2015 - 08:33 PM.

[Trainee]

Congratulations on buying your first Mech Xibaster! Some people are a little confused, they think you are 'going' to buy one.

Unfortunately, those light mechs need lots of cbills in upgrades via the mechlab tab. You can google 'Mwo (insert your raven model) builds, to get some ideas of what weapons/equipment you'd like to install. I play around at that smurfy site to check out different builds for mechs. It also gives you a cost of what upgrades you've installed. That engine upgrade alone is going to cost 2million cbills+. Upgrade what you can, when you can afford it.

The mechlab is pretty confusing, but click it, then click the mech you want to configure, then the main buttons are loadout and upgrade. Upgrade is for things like better armour, skeleton, double heatsinks. The Loadout brings up every part of your mech in a list. You just select each part then select an area you want to upgrade. This will bring up a page of what you can stick in that part of the mech. You'll get the hang of it eventually, its just difficult to understand at first. You won't be able to stick the new piece in if you don't have the cbills, which is why Smurfy site is so good. But at least you'll know how much it costs.

I've never used a light mech, so can't give any help there. But come back when you have enough to buy the Hunchback, I have 3 of them. They are a blast to play.

Sorry if my directions are a little confusing.

Have fun in the Raven

[Xibaster]

White Bear 84, on 04 March 2015 - 08:26 PM, said:

I run the Raven 3L with dual ER Large and ECM.

Find cover, peek shoot. Find cover peek shoot.

Most games get at least 2 kills and any number of assists with around 500 damage.

The merits? You are not seen, and when you are its not for long. You are that annoying blue laser that just appears from nowhere. Stealth. It doesn't matter about stripped off armor because movement and distance are your friends.

You biggest foes? Streak/srm lights.

This mech is awesome.

My playstyle is simple - straight from the go, run off. find the enemy and if possible get behind them. take as many pot shots as you can without being too conspicuous... ..ensure you have seismic so you can keep an eye on lights that might be out to hunt you, at which point you either us range to your advantage or head back to the back for some group sniping. Never run from the enemy in a straight line, zig zag and turn that torso, you are a majestic bird of pew!

You are literally annoying as hell pecking away at them.

Last mech standing? Stay alive, peck away and ignore the flamers... ...you might still take out a couple of mech if not the rest of the enemy team thus restoring some honour to your team, humiliating those that would jest at you for being a 'noob' when their Direwhoop can't get even do more damage than a Raven with only 2 ER LL..

On a side note, just a sample of the potential this mech has.. ..and there are three enemy mechs left.....

Wow,congratulations!! U do more damage with a light mech than assaults. But the point was that u have inverted some credits to upgrade ur mech and lots of inverted hours,or something was unexplanable. Anyway now i have a Commando 2D,i get my second kill in MWO with that mech,pure luck. Last match i do my best score with a bought mech in mech bay...only 102 dmg. The only thing i just need it's know tactics and game. Surely u have pass lots of times playing this game. Do more than 500 dmg with a light mech was legendary,but u have did double score. For now,u are officially the best Raven pilot as i seen,hopefully i do my best one day with my mech,but Commando 2D don't do a lot of damage,last match i've did i face a medium (or heavy i don't know what was) mech,we enter a battle in circles and i always hit with my SRM's his armor starting to loss endurance,but at very low rate,he doesn't do damage caused the pilot don't have aim. Finally one friend of the enemy entered the battle. Was a light mech,2 vs 1,the light starting to hit me,the battle was lost but i continue shooting and the real final was when an assault mech starting to hit me from up the mountain,3 vs 1,left arm lose,reactor starting to have damage,and finally...im been killed. The point was,if those friendly enemy mechs doesn't enter to battle,what will happen??? Maybe third kill in MWO???? I don't know,but surely ur score i don't arrive never with a dream.

[Void Angel]

Xibaster, on 02 March 2015 - 04:24 AM, said:

Yeah,maybe other light mechs are better than a Raven for a beginner but the problem was that i dont know how much credits i have for buy a new mech, And if i gain more credits with patience,i think that im going to buy a new medium mech,the Hunchback.

Well, if you're having cold feet about the Raven... you can simply make another free account. If you're not very attached to your name, or haven't spent any real money for this account, simply starting over might be advantageous.

If, on the other hand, you're not terribly worried about it - and the Raven is a good chassis - you can simply keep on keeping on. The community will help you with builds and advice either way. =)

PS I got this nifty Ace of Spades achievement in a Spider 5D. Don't worry about damage as much as surviving, and then killing things, in that order. Damage will come, especially since killing side torsos seems to give you the damage left on the attached arm. =)