39 replies to this topic

[TheCharlatan]

Hello Mechwarriors,

While many people say that there are no "roles" in MWO, i've noticed that each pilot tends to favour a certain playstyle, and that each mech will cater more or less to it.

I've identified the following roles:

• Main Line: main line mechs are the mechs that dictate the strategy of the team (as long as the team has a brain). They are often heavies and assaults with medium to long range weapons, and the capability to spread damage and/or tank well. Willing or not, they are the leaders of the team, and their performance decides the way matches go. Typical examples are Dire Wolves, Banshees and Stalkers.
  
• Fire Support: fire support mechs are second and third line mechs. They often have vulnerabilities (high alpha-low DPS, high heat, weapons with minimal range, bad hitboxes. etc.) that make them want to not be singled out, but they compensate with great firepower. They stay near the main line, using the more threatening mechs to draw the attention away from them in order to lay down the pain on the enemy team. They are LRM boats, snipers, and poptarts. Examples include Jaegers, Catapults, Adders.
  
• Brawlers: brawlers are mechs with the ability to tank and dish out lots of damage, but are limited to short range. They normally wait until the two battle lines close enough to push into the enemy. They also are the watch dogs: while they wait for the brawl to start, they kill or chase off the flankers that get too close (as long as they have the speed for it). Brawlers live a feast or famine life: if the battle lines don't close, they are easily destroyed, but when CQC ensues, they are kings. The most iconic brawler is the Atlas, but mechs like the Centurion and many others can do the job just as well.
  
• Flankers: flankers value speed over firepower. At match start they can scout the enemy positions, and then start picking on the exposed flanks and rear of the enemy, on their own or in a wolf pack. Without their speed, they could get surrounded and destroyed, but thanks to it they can disappear when challenged, leaving their hunters stranded and vulnerable. Light mechs and fast mediums are natural flankers, but any mech can do it, as long as it has enough speed (or the enemy decides to ignore him... usually a big mistake).
  
• Strikers: (suggested by Kiiyor, he's right, i forgot those) Strikers (AKA skirmishers) are specialized in going in, doing ridiculous damage, and getting out. They need both firepower and speed, often at the expense of resistance and heat efficency. Classic Strikers are the Grasshopper, the Jenner Oxide, and some Nova builds.

(I'll add more roles if they are brought up)


So, back to the question: what role do you enjoy the most?

Personally, i'm a flanker at heart. My best games are always when i manage to place myself in a place where the red doritos will curse my name because i'm a huge PITA, blowing out STs and rear armor every time they turn to face the main battle line.
When i'm in a slower mech, i have to constantly refrain myself from breaking off and trying to flank the enemy. If i do fall to the urge of flanking, i usually regret it: a slow flanker is easily picked apart by fast mechs or unexpected enemy movement.

Edited by TheCharlatan, 04 September 2015 - 03:43 AM.

[Lily from animove]

Why is laservomit not a role?

but its flanking/Firesupport. which depends mostly on the map and situation

NVA is too squishy for the Main Line, and too hot for real brawling.

also some kind of protector in terms fo roles, because when I know I have assaults wiht me and lights approaching them I focus on driving off the lgihts.

I enjoy this a lot, even if I main my NVA with mostly the same loadout, but the playstyle differs depending on the matches situation. I don't like some dedicated mainline roles and brawler roles. Because especially in pugland you have too many situations where you hardly find any use if no one creates the situation for these mechs. And trying to create it alone often ends up beign alone and dead. Also in emdiums aiting times are rather short

[Vellron2005]

My favourite role is MEAT POPSICLE!

Seriously though..

None of your role descriptions really describe my play style...

I usualy stay back and support with LRM's and ERLL's and then close in for the kill. But If I see a weakened target, I push it to take it down quick, than retreat back into cover..

But I'm in no way scared to become a hunter or brawler if the oportunity arises..

I guess that would put me somewhere, somehow, sorta in Fire Support?

Dont really know..

[kesmai]

Scapegoat is bestest role

[Clownwarlord]

Favorite? Brawler up close and personal one on one match. Nothing like torso twisting at close range and snapping back to blast the enemy mech in the face with an AC20 or something there like.

[Squirg]

Is UAC20 Adder a role?

[Vlad Ward]

Sisyphus.

The rock is a representation of the pugs on my team. The hill is the enemy team.

No, wait.

Atlas. The god, not the Mech. Carry everything, all the time.

Edited by Vlad Ward, 04 September 2015 - 02:51 AM.

[Kiiyor]

I'll adapt on the fly between most of those, but I tend to run... sub-par mechs (like my Awesomes) and the brutal front line usually isn't for me.

More than that though, I like to think of myself a stopgap. I look for problems on the battlefield, like an open or vulnerable flank, or a friendly in trouble, or a nice, juicy target like an occupied enemy Dire, or an impending enemy push, or UAV's (HOLY CRAP I ROCK AT MUNCHING THOSE THINGS), and I move to oppose it.

You can add striker to that list above also - like a brawler, but uses speed and maneuverability to make harrassing strikes or mad bombing runs, weaving through terrain (not necessarily fighting the one target), dumping ordnance, and getting the hell out. The Oxide, an SRM StormCrow, Jenners - all good examples of strikers.

[Duke ramulots]

Fire support because getting shot back is for you guys, my meat shield.

[bad arcade kitty]

basically this

[Joseph Mallan]

Squirg, on 04 September 2015 - 02:42 AM, said:

Is UAC20 Adder a role?

Brawler.

[Bishop Steiner]

I prefer to play Medium Skirmishers.

Take your Flanker, then combine it with Brawler. I love mechs with enough speed to hit and run, use asymmetrical tactics, etc, but pack a solid PP-FLD bite.

Jump jets make it even better, but my two favorite chassis, Hunchbacks and Centurions are perfect Skirmish Mechs. Even in other weight classes, I prefer this role, which is why I do better in Panthers and Urbanmechs then in traditional fast Lights. Better in fast Zeus than in better armed Assaults, and wreck face in Summoners. Well, any Clan Heavy, since they all Skirmish rather well.

[H I A S]

Favorite Role: Mechkiller.

[El Bandito]

My favorite role is to be that guy who does the most damage in my team, be it in a Medium, Heavy or Assault class. Preferably with their help, but if not, that's fine too.

Edited by El Bandito, 04 September 2015 - 09:16 AM.

[Lily from animove]

bad arcade kitty, on 04 September 2015 - 02:59 AM, said:

basically this

but killstealing is not a role, it's more a kind of Lifestyle.

[FupDup]

Killing robbits.

[Rhaythe]

Bishop Steiner, on 04 September 2015 - 03:28 AM, said:

but my two favorite chassis, Hunchbacks and Centurions are perfect Skirmish Mechs.

I only recently picked up the Enforcer 4P, and I was shocked at how good that mech is. Easily right up there with your two favs.

[Bilbo]

Brawler is my only role.

[Bishop Steiner]

Rhaythe, on 04 September 2015 - 08:33 AM, said:

I only recently picked up the Enforcer 4P, and I was shocked at how good that mech is. Easily right up there with your two favs.

Indeed, it's a great chassis, even if I refuse to Meta (mine runs a PPC, AC10 and ML). I rank my ENFs right behind my CN9s and HBKs...and I do love their JJs, too. Problem is I have trouble finding time to play ENFs with all the time I spend in my HBKs and CN9s.

[Burktross]

Skirmish all day erry day.