31 replies to this topic

[Xbwalker]

Hi all. I am new to the forums. I played MWO back in the early days and I honestly don't remember why it didn't stick. I think it was because I dropped straight into combat and died repeatedly.

Anyhow, this time around, I watched a lot of youtube tutorials and played around the training grounds. I have settled on the Raven's assorted variants (I like the 4x most so far). I am getting around 200-250 damage per match when I don't get instapopped in the back with dual gauss

Is that about right? I don't usually get a kill but when I do, it is usually a lucky shot. As I understand, the goal for lights, particularly the raven with ER Large Lasers is to "snipe" off limbs.

My one complaint is that the default engine on the 4x and 2x is horrendously slow. I am slowly fixing that as I can afford it.

Any advice for the Raven would be appreciated. I have finished elite skills and am just starting on master for them. Next up, I am looking at Shadowhawk (mainly because it can be pretty fast for medium.) Thanks all and hello!

[Leone]

Nice! Shadowhawk was my first purchase. Granted, I stripped out the engines and down geared em to 3/5 walk/run speeds so as to load even more weaponry, but eh, to each their own.

So, light wise, it depends on your weaponry. If your long range, you wanna scout and harass. Find the enemy and keep em distracted and looking away from your team when your team moves to engage. It's not about the damage, though it doesn't pay as well, your a force multiplier. Your job is to distract multiple mechs, so that one mech (you) being outta the main combat hurt less than the enemy having multiple mechs chasing/distracted.

If your short range, your a scavanger, you flank, hit lone mechs and generally never enagege in a fair fight. easier to get points an money that way, harder to survive.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 26 September 2015 - 10:06 PM.

[mailin]

You're doing fine. The single most important thing is to stay alive. One very general guideline is that at the minimum you want to be consitently doing 100 damage per weight class at a minimum. So for a light that means 100+ and you're okay. As far as sniping, I like to go for the legs on mechs because then the enemy doesn't automatically know where you are.

Good luck and I'll see on the battlefield.

[Mazzyplz]

Xbwalker, on 26 September 2015 - 07:24 PM, said:

Hi all. I am new to the forums. I played MWO back in the early days and I honestly don't remember why it didn't stick. I think it was because I dropped straight into combat and died repeatedly.

Anyhow, this time around, I watched a lot of youtube tutorials and played around the training grounds. I have settled on the Raven's assorted variants (I like the 4x most so far). I am getting around 200-250 damage per match when I don't get instapopped in the back with dual gauss

Is that about right? I don't usually get a kill but when I do, it is usually a lucky shot. As I understand, the goal for lights, particularly the raven with ER Large Lasers is to "snipe" off limbs.

My one complaint is that the default engine on the 4x and 2x is horrendously slow. I am slowly fixing that as I can afford it.

Any advice for the Raven would be appreciated. I have finished elite skills and am just starting on master for them. Next up, I am looking at Shadowhawk (mainly because it can be pretty fast for medium.) Thanks all and hello!

make sure you min max your raven and you will increase your dmg - i am not saying go for cookie cutter builds; quite the opposite.

experiment until you get max rewards out of the weapons you want to use, that's what i do

Edited by Mazzyplz, 26 September 2015 - 09:01 PM.

[CyborgDragon]

Just to chip in: if you are light for C-Bills and haven't completed the Tutorial yet go run through that, even if you know how to play. You'll earn up to 5 million extra C-Bills to help on your grind for those big XL engines.

[Takashi Uchida]

I like an XL280 at least for the 3L.

The X variants have an engine cap of 275. XL275 weigh the same as the XL280, so there's absolutely no reason to use it instead of an XL280, unless of course the mech itself has 275 as the cap. The SHD-5M comes with a 275 XL, if you are considering it you can take it and plop it in your X-variant Ravens. It's been a while since I've used those variants though, so I don't know what the best engine would be. But if you're getting those numbers with the default engine I think you'll be ok lol.

Edited by Takashi Uchida, 26 September 2015 - 09:33 PM.

[TercieI]

For playing with the default engines, you're doing fine. To save coin, I'd try to buy an XL295 for the 3L and an XL255 for the others. They're both very useful engines that you'll end up using more. (along with the XL280 (also an option for the 3L) and the XL300 they're the most useful XLs in the game).

[IraqiWalker]

Xbwalker, on 26 September 2015 - 07:24 PM, said:

Hi all. I am new to the forums. I played MWO back in the early days and I honestly don't remember why it didn't stick. I think it was because I dropped straight into combat and died repeatedly.

Anyhow, this time around, I watched a lot of youtube tutorials and played around the training grounds. I have settled on the Raven's assorted variants (I like the 4x most so far). I am getting around 200-250 damage per match when I don't get instapopped in the back with dual gauss

Is that about right? I don't usually get a kill but when I do, it is usually a lucky shot. As I understand, the goal for lights, particularly the raven with ER Large Lasers is to "snipe" off limbs.

My one complaint is that the default engine on the 4x and 2x is horrendously slow. I am slowly fixing that as I can afford it.

Any advice for the Raven would be appreciated. I have finished elite skills and am just starting on master for them. Next up, I am looking at Shadowhawk (mainly because it can be pretty fast for medium.) Thanks all and hello!

You're doing good.

Just get a big XL engine when you can (I am personally biased towards the AC 20 version)

[Xbwalker]

I hear the same thing from virtually everyone on the xl engine. I know it is lighter but, doesn't it make me much more vulnerable? With my standard, I can get pretty messed up before being out of the fight but with my xl, I have 2 more potental locations to pop me (left and right torso).

[IraqiWalker]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 06:38 AM, said:

I hear the same thing from virtually everyone on the xl engine. I know it is lighter but, doesn't it make me much more vulnerable? With my standard, I can get pretty messed up before being out of the fight but with my xl, I have 2 more potental locations to pop me (left and right torso).

The raven has decent hitboxes, you'll be able to mount a bigger engine, making you faster, while letting you put more DHS/ammo/armor/AMS/etc.

[Xbwalker]

Is there a case in which it is better to mount a standard engine or is xl pretty much the universal rule?

[IraqiWalker]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 06:42 AM, said:

Is there a case in which it is better to mount a standard engine or is xl pretty much the universal rule?

AC 20 Raven 4X.

If you can mount the same rating engine, and mounting an XL will leave you with no slots to use, then go STD. If you can save weight with the XL, then go XL (This is for lights ONLY. Bigger mechs tend to be a lot more shy about using XL engines, barring really good hitboxes).

Are you running it with 2 ERLL?

can you post a smurfy link of your build? That would allow me to illustrate the benefits, and negatives in a more tangible way

EDIT: This is Smurfy :

www.mwo.smurfy-net.de

Edited by IraqiWalker, 27 September 2015 - 06:46 AM.

[Xbwalker]

I'm on ye olde tablet right now but will do so when I get home around 4ish.

[IraqiWalker]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 06:58 AM, said:

I'm on ye olde tablet right now but will do so when I get home around 4ish.

Well, I will be asleep by then, however, here's what a 2ERLL XL build looks like

RVN-4X

Check out the weaponlab stats on it. With a STD engine I can't see you going above a 225 rated engine, which is abysmally slow for lights. (you want to go at least 130Kph+).

[Not A Real RAbbi]

200+ damage in a sniper RVN, especially when it's NOT the -3L (lacking ECM in other words), is good work. Not spectacular, of course, but if you manage a kill or two in it then it's a solid performance. These mechs simply don't carry matches.

So whatever you watched, whatever you learned, it's working just fine. Since you posted this in NPH and consider yourself a born-again newb (I feel ya, bruh), I'd say you're doing fine and dandy. I personally really like the RVN. Already had the -3L MASTERed, and still bought the Mastery Pack just because. Of course, never really played the 2xERLL build until last month (it became the meta RVN build about a year and a half to two years ago, while PPC poptarts were the tryhard meta).

Shadow Hawk is going to be a real change of pace. LOTS more armor, more weapons, not quite as fast at the top end (and not nearly in any sane build), and freaking HUGE targets. Seriously, the SHD is almost as tall as an AS7. They stand out.

If you're not a huge IS chubby boy, then I'd recommend trying something else that might better suit you for now. SHC. It's coming up for C-Bills soon, relatively quick, can play that ERLL sniper role better than the RVN (ECM and JJs and MASC and 45-ton mech's armor, also with BACKUP weapons, and a relatively small silhouette/profile). NOT a carry-my-PUG-pals mech either, but unlike with any RVN, I've pulled a 5-kill match in one of those set up for long range. Thanks to Clan omnimech technology, it's a fairly versatile mech in terms of loadouts. Built-in CASE. Blah Blah Blah.

Or get an Enforcer.

Wolverine.

Did you pre-order the Crab? That's going to be a decent mech, at least the one with the JJs.

Or stay light and go Arctic Cheetah (already available for MC, will be up for C-Bills in October I think). KFX (Cute Fox) will work for now for that same role.

You have options, is what I'm saying. SHD was a better mech in lore than it is in MWO, I fear.

TL;DR- Your performance is fine. Not sure the SHD is the right mech for you.

[Xbwalker]

TheRAbbi, on 27 September 2015 - 10:08 AM, said:

TL;DR- Your performance is fine. Not sure the SHD is the right mech for you.

Darn! I bought the mastery pack for SHD a week or so ago. I should have joined the forums first hehe.

In response to Iraqi - I understand what you are saying and I agree. I have found in most games with specialized units (like EVE for instance) it is best to play to the strengths of your particular craft and don't try to kid yourself. Since the raven is a light, I should invest in speed. I'll start saving for that XL. About 2.5 mil more to go Thanks everyone for the advice.

Edited by Xbwalker, 27 September 2015 - 10:41 AM.

[Blue Boutique]

Don't listen to the pilot ragging on the SHD. It's one of the best mech to learn with various weapon system and adopt your playstyle. While it is not a Timberwolf or thunderbolt, when you master every SDH you have, you be a harden enough to pilot every other mech in the field.

[Takashi Uchida]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 06:42 AM, said:

Is there a case in which it is better to mount a standard engine or is xl pretty much the universal rule?

Here are some general guidelines for engines and other upgrade choices:

STD vs XL: For light mechs, you will most likely be running an XL at or close to the engine cap. There are special occasions to take a standard like IW mentioned, but for the most part the increase in speed is what grants you survivability. Lights are susceptible to being legged and being slow will make it even easier. At that point, it doesn't matter if you can survive side torso loss because an immobile lights typically don't live very long. For mediums and heavies, it's up to you really. Some chassis like the Catapult are almost always XL because their hitboxes make it very easy to hit the CT but not the ST, so you might as well take the XL. Assaults usually avoid XLs because they are going to be slow anyway, but there are exceptions to long-range focused mechs like LRM carriers, and some assaults like the Battlemaster and Banshee have high engine caps which may be worth the trade off.

Heat sinks: Double heat sinks are pretty much mandatory. I've seen some troll posts of pure-laser Banshees and Awesomes using single heat sinks before that were actually playable, though I don't know how viable that is now. Unless you only plan on running dual gauss, or have a light in a 1ERLL + 4MG type configuration, just pay the "tax" and double up.

Endo steel: Take this before you take Ferro. The tonnage you save compared to the critical slots you lose is almost always worth it on any mech.

Ferro fibrous: Usually only seen on lights, in conjunction with Endo steel. Does not save as much weight vs. slots as Endo does. Once you have both Endo and Ferro the amount of critical space you can work with becomes quite limited.

Armor allocation: Stock mechs usually have way too little armor in general and way too much back armor for torsos. On lights, I max the leg armor. I also tend to frontload my armor on the torsos and put very little on the back (like 5), but on lights where you may be running around a lot you might want a little more in proportion to your front armor. You can strip a few points off the head if you are comfortable with it. Headshots are pretty rare in this game but occasionally you will get unlucky and take a dual gauss to the cockpit, or have an artillery shell drop on your head.

Artemis: Tightens the spread on missiles and helps you obtain a missile lock quicker for LRMs (only targets you have a line of sight on though, not ones that friendlies have targeted for you). Inadvertent effect: also speeds up lock time for streak missiles (not sure if this still is the case, I don't think it has been, or ever will be fixed). The inner sphere Streak-2 isn't used very often though, it's not damaging or dependable enough. Clan mechs can take streak missiles in 4s and 6s, much more useful, as well as having a longer range. Artemis SRMs and LRMs take up more tonnage, crit space, and you have to buy them separately from your regular ones (as well as speciial ammo). Usually not worth the weigh on lights.

Edited by Takashi Uchida, 27 September 2015 - 01:35 PM.

[Mr Hunter]

Shadowhawks eh? They are Skirmisher class mechs, they can roll with the punches as the flow of combat changes. now becuase they are Inner Sphere with shorter ranged weapons I always find myself by the end of the match to have been in close with my targets. So prepare for that but don't be afraid to work over your targets with your ac from a distance either I've racked up lots of damage that way. Also be aggressive you are very mobile and can get yourself out of harms way/to an advantageous position rater quickly in combo with the jj

[mailin]

Before the clans entered the mix, Shadowhawks were considerd by most to be the best mediums. Now they're still viable, just not the best anymore. When making your build, you will at the very least want to think about the quirks, but you don't want to limit yourself only to the quirks. It is also woth noting that PGI is going to be redoing the quirks, so we have no idea where that will leave any mechs.

Edited by mailin, 27 September 2015 - 08:03 PM.