33 replies to this topic

[B L O O D W I T C H]

I think you should think about what you want to do.

Do you look forward to join a unit? Loyal IS or loyal Clan? then buy and level either IS or Clan -mechs,
Merc unit? you need both.

Do you want to play solo (or with friends instead of a fixed unit)?

Do you want to switch through the faction to get the early mechbay rewards each faction offer in CW?

Have you thought about a dropdeck? tonnage limitations?

[InspectorG]

DaCerZ, on 05 July 2015 - 06:43 PM, said:

80kph is certainly fast enough! Heh.

Thanks for all the advice so far.. I'm at 11.4m c-bills atm, so I can buy almost anything that was suggested (with the Timber wolf (aka Mad Cat :D)) being currently just out of reach. Not sure if I should save for that, or go for something else in the mean time and build back up? There have been a few good suggestions here, but I'm honestly not sure yet lol. I've been enjoying the Stormcrow so far but I have noticed I tend to draw a lot of fire in it.

Would people recommend just saving up and getting the Timber Wolf, being so close, or just take something else in the mean time, like say the Stormcrow or Nova?

Nova if you can poptart...thats coming back in style, for the Nova at least.

Stromcrow is a beast best medium in game and better than most heavies(firepower and hitboxes AND speed)


Really, the 'BAD' Clan mechs are the Mist Lynx, Summoner(god i hate to say that), Gargoyle.
And BAD Clans still get Clan tech so they are still 'good' but that mainly comes down to Clan weapons and Clan Engines.

If you get an Assault, and want speed, get a Warhawk. Direwolf is VERY punishing in the positioning dept. Recent changes are making the Warhawk more of a threat just dont brawl with it...its hitboxes arent great.

You COULD spend $20 on the upcoming Jenner IIC...

[CockneyNinja]

If you like stormcrow, definitely go for Stormcrows.
They have been nerfed recently, but still a beautiful mech to pilot. Good combination of speed, resilience and firepower.

Oh, and I would definitely suggest getting a medium or a light for your first mech. Less queue time, cheaper C-Bill for getting that elite pilot skills and etc etc.

Welcome back to the game!

[B L O O D W I T C H]

CockneyNinja, on 08 July 2015 - 02:29 PM, said:

If you like stormcrow, definitely go for Stormcrows.
They have been nerfed recently, but still a beautiful mech to pilot. Good combination of speed, resilience and firepower.

Oh, and I would definitely suggest getting a medium or a light for your first mech. Less queue time, cheaper C-Bill for getting that elite pilot skills and etc etc.

Welcome back to the game!

nerf got tuned down by a large bit! same for the timberwolf, energy still runs hot on both but it's not total overkill anymore.
If you go for clans, don't roll lights (at least not before the new clanlights are released (Arctic Cheetah and Jenner IIC)

[Leone]

Okay, as a counterpoint to an above argument, I prefer the Man'o'War(Gargoyle) to the Masakari(Warhawk). The 'goyle is faster, and can brawl beautifully. But then I also disagree that the Ryoken(Stormcrow) is the best clan medium. Problem being, best is subjective, and without definine what it's best at, that leaves it up to me fill in the blanks, and I think 'brawling.'

As an aside, more specific advice follows more specific questions. There're entire threads filled with advice on the forums, LRM advice, Torso twisting advice, sniping and positioning advice, build advice. My specific stormcrow advice is... Try the weapons. All the weapons. Slap a streak and an srm next to each other, try em out suss out thier strengths and weaknesses and decide which one would want, should you decide to the the Stormcrow D (or whichever is the missile one.) Fill up on medium lasers and heat sinks, then try larges an then smalls. Yes, this will hurt the pocketbook, as you should be saving up for your next Ryoken, always saving for that next mech... But seriously, you should find out what you like, and what works for you. You could try some of my favourite builds, and do poorly every time, only to decide you need better cooling because I like to redline my mechs.

Ever pilot's different, and every weapon will resonate differently for them. Heck, I've even seen someone beat a King Crab with flamers in a duel. Try things out. I mean, you don't need to go overboard, and I know the lbx20 and gauss and stuff really hurt the pocket book, but let me know what you've tried and liked, and I can let you know where I'd go from there. Besides, knowing what weapons you like will let you know which mechs to try, and those are where the real expenses are at.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 08 July 2015 - 07:38 PM.

[Audacious Aubergine]

Now I want to try an LB20-X and pulse laser spam Gargoyle

[JonahGrimm]

This, this - so much this:

s

Leone, on 08 July 2015 - 07:38 PM, said:

As an aside, more specific advice follows more specific questions. There're entire threads filled with advice on the forums, LRM advice, Torso twisting advice, sniping and positioning advice, build advice. My specific stormcrow advice is... Try the weapons. All the weapons. Slap a streak and an srm next to each other, try em out suss out thier strengths and weaknesses and decide which one would want, should you decide to the the Stormcrow D (or whichever is the missile one.) Fill up on medium lasers and heat sinks, then try larges an then smalls. Yes, this will hurt the pocketbook, as you should be saving up for your next Ryoken, always saving for that next mech... But seriously, you should find out what you like, and what works for you. You could try some of my favourite builds, and do poorly every time, only to decide you need better cooling because I like to redline my mechs.


~Leone.

Just to back up Leone - my absolute best stormcrow build looks on paper like some unholy frankenstein abomination of weapon systems. I've been ridiculed by early dead folks, had people on voice when they found out what was running next to them sound incredulous... it's just atypical by any measure.

Yet, if I do less than 3 kills and 600 damage in this thing? For me, that feels like a failure - it's just /tuned/ for me. It works well based on how I think and how I play, and that is - fundamentally - the beauty of this particular game over other choices you may make.

This advice for stormcrows goes for every other mech - my RVN-3L isn't the 2LL build everyone uses - no, I'm a brawler in this thing, and /that/ suits me. That should be you: try every gun, see how ballistics arc and what missiles really do. Does the burst damage of the Clan Streak-6 make sense, or do you need the rate of fire of the standard SRM-2? Do you want to support at long range as you run in, or does the idea of harrassment make you grin?

Make your mech /yours/, and don't be in a rush.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Clan medium= Storm Crow
IS Medium= Shadowhawk, Griffin, or Hunchback

Personally I'd suggest the hunchie since there's a variant for laser spam, ballistics, and missiles. It's probably the single best mech to learn how to play with too because it doesn't use XL engines and you learn to protect the hunch and thus learn to torso twist to spread damage.

[Dace]

Hey guys,

So. I've been .. well, lets call it softly experimenting. I've changed the ballistic weapon from the LB10-X which I didn't really like, to an Ultra AC5, which I have been enjoying, but I have been giving some serious consideration to swapping out that omnipod for another one. I've just been using the Large and Medium Pulse lasers that come with the C by default. Although I feel like I don't do nearly as much damage as I should with them (like, 100 sometimes 200 per match, when I don't get wrecked from range). I've got 2.2m c-bills atm and am considering doing something out there, like strapping SRM's or something on with other omnipods. I feel like I sit at range, poke people for a bit of damage and that's kind of it. Or when I try close range I take so much damage on the way.. I dunno.

I've got 3 external double heatsinks, should this be higher? lower?

Now to answer some questions, instead of just giving more.

I've partially answered some, above, lets try be more concise.

Am I considering joining a unit? It has crossed my mind, and I would probably go for one that was more merc focused so that if I want to try out some IS mechs I can make my budget feel a lot easier than the slog (at 60k c-bills per game roughly atm >.<) for the 11m for my next SCR.

Do I want to play solo/with friends instead of a fixed unit? Why not both? Currently this is what I do, I play solo and some friends also just restarted (or picked it up relatively new) with me, but it seems that lately when we queue up as a group we get thrown in against larger pre-made teams, which is a little soul crushing.

Swapping through factions for extra mech bays? I don't see why not. Is there some downside to doing this, besides not getting higher tier rewards for the same amount of work?

Have I thought about a drop deck for CW? Yes, very briefly. I got some links off of some people on a stream (NGNGTV) with some guides and other useful info. I'm currently signed up with the Smoke Jaguars for.. uh, 7 days? I've played 1 CW match. It was a stomping, so not been too eager to jump back into that solo.

And thanks again for all the helpful advice and questions!

[Kmieciu]

LOADED, on 08 July 2015 - 04:40 PM, said:

nerf got tuned down by a large bit! same for the timberwolf, energy still runs hot on both but it's not total overkill anymore.

Timberwolf and Stormcrow were nerfed with increased ENERGY COOLDOWN and increased LASER DURATION. This means the laser beam lasts longer and laser reacharge is longer. Therefore, the mech is actually COOLER because you cannot fire as often as before.

Edited by Kmieciu, 09 July 2015 - 10:35 PM.

[Leone]

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

I've changed the ballistic weapon from the LB10-X which I didn't really like, to an Ultra AC5, which I have been enjoying, but I have been giving some serious consideration to swapping out that omnipod for another one. I've just been using the Large and Medium Pulse lasers that come with the C by default. Although I feel like I don't do nearly as much damage as I should with them (like, 100 sometimes 200 per match, when I don't get wrecked from range). I've got 2.2m c-bills atm and am considering doing something out there, like strapping SRM's or something on with other omnipods. I feel like I sit at range, poke people for a bit of damage and that's kind of it. Or when I try close range I take so much damage on the way.. I dunno.

The brawlers dilemma. The shorter range your weaponry, the greater your damage (Generally) but the harder it is to get into the right engagement range. That'll take time and map knowledge to get down. Alotta builds like to pick a range an optimize for it so that their dealing the most damage they can at the range they prefer. So, if you got an lbx 10 and mediums, having large lasers instead of more mediums means more heat, at that range. Now, with uac 5 and larges, the mediums are more of a mid-range back up, which, is perfectly fine in my book, but could be out traded at the longer ranges. It's important to know your ranges.

Now, this is not to say that you shouldn't bring at least one long range weapon. Those kill assists are handy, and early on, 'tagging' (but not with the actual TAG item) all the enemies you can can really help earn you cbills. I don't always anymore, but early on I know I did, and can't really fault anyone else for doing so.

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

I've got 3 external double heatsinks, should this be higher? lower?

Do you feel you run too hot? Is there something else you'd rather do with that ton? More double heat sinks means two more heat capacity and a tiny boost to cooling. An extra ton of ammo means you can fight for longer before your gun is useless. Or maybe you stripped off some armour that you could now put back on?

I generally prefer to strap an srm and a half ton of ammo for higher burst damage in close range, if I can. Other folks I drop with prefer to think long term and choose to run cooler for more overall damage in CW. Sounds like, if your poking an trading, cooling isn't as huge an issue as if you'd be brawling. For instance, the Nova-Envy. Take a good look at that cooling factor.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b0761894de0da81

That there is a mech which could be built much better and cooler. Or take Srms instead of streaks.. But I chose not to. It is designed to ruin one persons day, and either get back inna cover, or, preferably, have a team nearby to push past me and take advantage of whatever opening I make while I'm shutdown from firing one more time than I should've an overheating. Lights and mediums fall apart under the onslaught, and even heavies and assualts get cored, but I just don't have the heat capacity to finish it. If I'm lucky, I get to survive long enough to ruin someone elses day, but I take this into matches knowing that that may very well not happen.

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

Am I considering joining a unit? It has crossed my mind, and I would probably go for one that was more merc focused so that if I want to try out some IS mechs I can make my budget feel a lot easier than the slog (at 60k c-bills per game roughly atm >.<) for the 11m for my next SCR.

So, dealing with the slog. Bring a book. Makes the waiting easier. Also, if your starting to feel sloggy with your mech, change it up. Don't feel the need to purchase allotta new stuff, cuz that defeats the purpose, but go back over what you got, tweak the mech. Trying things out keeps it interesting and makes it less sloggy.

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

but it seems that lately when we queue up as a group we get thrown in against larger pre-made teams, which is a little soul crushing.

See Community Warefare for more of the same. You hafta look at those drops as oppourtunities to learn. What did they do your team didn't? (Here's a hint, classically the answer is stick together.) Simple tactics tells me eight mechs will out shoot four mechs. Good teams merely capitalize on this simple concept. Take out one lance on it's own that way and it snowballs into a stomp. Try to always position yourself to defend the nearest mech if someone pushes in on em.

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

Swapping through factions for extra mech bays? I don't see why not. Is there some downside to doing this, besides not getting higher tier rewards for the same amount of work?

Ranks get progressively harder and harder to achieve. I just hit rank fifteen with Clan Jade Falcon. the Loyalty points to get to rank sixteen would take me to rank eight starting fresh in another faction. So staying loyalist is a harder way to get things, however, You don't get a chance to know as many people and everyone'll be all "Leone!? Whaddya doing fighting for them, come back."

DaCerZ, on 09 July 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

I've played 1 CW match. It was a stomping, so not been too eager to jump back into that solo.

Just a warning, but yeah, that can happen. Takes teamwork to do well, and as I'm sure you've learned, you teammates don't always work well together. Sometimes you get pilots who like to sit back an snipe dropping with brawlers, so half the team winds up either sitting back being useless, so the snipers get focused, or charging in, and then it's the brawlers getting focused. Trick is, don't plan on going in to win.

Back when I was going up against the Falcons regularly, in the old days of the spawn camp and only three maps, I used to always pick different goals for myself than the usual, 'stay alive and get damage'. Stuff like, 'I want to kill that one pilot', or 'I want to defend the spawn that always gets camped'. In the heat of the battle, long as you've a focused goal beyond 'Oh my all the lasers, how do I live!?' you can accomplish alot even while your team and your mech falls apart around you. Once I had three Mechs of my own (I brought Shadowhawks as my first mechs) My usual personal goal was to get 1k damage. I didn't always get there, and honestly 800 can be a good run on a bad day, but even when getting stomped, I learnt to build my mechs, and choose my engagements in a way that fit my goals (Said goal being to strip as much damage as possible in my brutish and short existence.)

Drop CW to play and have fun. Sometimes it's even better to drop CW than group queue with friends because you get four chances to work on your lance cohesion. My advice for now though, would be get two or three Ryoken together, and drop in CW to try em out in quick succession. And hey, who know, sometimes, while your screwing around, winning might happen.

~Leone, Former Raid Leader of the Crimson Hand.

Edited by Leone, 10 July 2015 - 02:22 AM.

[Dace]

This is what I have currently. A little tweaking for more front armour than comes standard SCR-C

I think I am starting to more properly understand my range, as I am fresh out a game (still a little hyped for what I'm sure most experienced players consider an average session lol) where I got 3 kills, 7 assists and did 430 damage. A comment was made in my direction about SCR and it's hitboxes, so my torso twisting is certainly better than it was at the start lol.

So yeah, range is something I was forgetting about and I don't think I'll ever forget about it again!

In regards to the heat: I loaded up a few random testing ground matches and went around alpha striking the test dummy mechs.. I could alpha 3-4 times before my heat got too high, so I think that's okay as I am not often firing everything at once, excepting if someone gets in my face. I think I might even be able to drop one more to free up another ton for something else, but I don't want to get ahead of myself and I haven't really tested it extensively on the hotter maps.

Anyway; a few more questions again just here instead of making a new topic as that just seems wasteful and spammy-

The omnipod bonus (2.5% extra exp I think?) is it really worth hanging on to? I've been considering swapping my SCR-C's left arm to one of the other variants to try some different loadouts, but I am unsure if I am losing out anything other than that small exp bonus?

In regards to CW and drop decks: In so far as building one goes, do I want to say, have multiple of the same mech? (heck, even maybe the same loadouts?) or is this more of a.. variety is the spice of life kind of deal? From what I've seen on youtube it seems that you want at least 1 light mech? Although again as I understand the clan lights are basically very small, lightly armoured mediums lol.. so is it worth picking one of them up now or finish off the SCR's first? (which is a daunting task in and of itself lol)

[Leone]

No no, finish off your Three first so you can elite em. Doubles your basics, so even better torso twist, and heat management. Then lets see... 55x3==165 that leaves... 75 tons to make your 240. Look at that, you could bring a Madcat next.

Generally, you see a kitfox, it's cuz someone decided to drop fairly heavy elsewhere.

As for Omnipods. No. Not worth it. Take the better load out, that deals better damage, and hence gets you more xp than a measly 2.5% or whatever. If I may suggest a slight variation with but one arm purchase if your looking ti ditch the ballistics...
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...90dcacfa033eb7b
You'd be built for peeking lefty, but you'd have almost the same build, but with two large pulse instead of large pulse an uac5. Also tightens up you firing location for your range. Always a plus that.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 10 July 2015 - 02:33 PM.

[Dace]

Okay, cool. I tried that build you suggested, swapping the arm out and yes.. Those extra lasers served me a LOT better than the 2.5 exp, which I think so far has earned me like.... maybe a few hundred in hindsight? lol

One thing I am looking at, the mk1 targeting computer is it really worth it? Is it worth it more over the Active Probe? I've unfortunately put myself a little behind on c-bills trying random weapons (and selling some of them because after doing a bit of poking about the internet found out they were very bad, and I won't say what they were here ^^ lol)

But I digress. Few games went well, got my first match score over 100! Now to just start saving for my second SCR. I'm thinking of going for the D variant - to try something else out that isn't all the lasers ever, lol. Unless another chassis might be better?