31 replies to this topic

[Xbwalker]

B8hunter, on 27 September 2015 - 02:36 PM, said:

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

Ok cool. That works with my playstyle. I prefer being the guy on the move. Going up in people's faces usually gets me killed more often than not. I also love the jump jets on my Shadowhawk.

So can someone tell me, what are the pros and cons of IS vs Clan. I obviously know that Clan was FAR superior to IS in the books (read them all minus most of the newer mech warrior books). What have the Devs done to balance it out?

I have a feeling I just opened up a can by asking that question

[Not A Real RAbbi]

Hey, if you LIKE the SHD, run the SHD. Personally, I don't like it (again, a 55-ton mech AS TALL AS A 100-TON ASSAULT MECH) and do better with other mediums. To each his own, though, and I always say that the most effective battlemech in the game is the one you're most comfortable piloting.

How did the PGI devs balance the Clan mechs? They nerfed the living daylights out of them, that's how.

It's not as bad as I feared it would be, back before the Clan invasion actually happened. They went and cranked up the heat on Clan energy weapons, for one thing. That was a big one. The Clan lasers were just ridiculously superior (more so than they currently are) when the invasion first went down, and they've been nerfed since.

It bugs me. Clan mechs should be on a roughly level playing field when they're outnumbered by IS 12-to-5 (a company to a star), give or take. That also considers the higher (on a 1D6 scale) skill of the Clan mechwarrior, though. Can't really force that into the game. But in the interest of keeping order in the public queue, PGI had to allow that there will be teams of mixed Clan and IS mechs. I get it. And it probably keeps the wait times down for those wanting to play Clan mechs, and keeps the rage quitting down for those flying IS. It could be a lot worse. Still, Clan tech is just better. If they ever allow us to refit IS mechs with Clan equipment and weapons, it's gonna get REALLY interesting...

[IraqiWalker]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 10:41 AM, said:

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.

The SHD is a good mech. A solid tier 3 - tier 2 mech. The Hunchback does everything but jumpjetting better, though, it's why the HBK is the no.1 recommended mech. However, I have nothing negative about the SHD other than their cockpit being a bit cramped, and the K variant has almost no vision on the left side if you mount long barreled energy guns.

It's a good mech, was the final word on medium mechs when poptarting was a thing, and it's still a solid performer. It's a 55 ton medium mech too, meaning it carries the most armor in it's weight class, while still being really fast, and it can actually be XL friendly.

Blue Boutique, on 27 September 2015 - 01:18 PM, said:

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.

Actually, it's no.1 competitor is the HBK, does pretty much everything the SHD can do except JJs, while being smaller, faster, and more nimble.

On the other hand, the SHD is not a bad mech by a long shot. It is in need of a buff though. I'm running my 5M with a Gauss and ERPPC, and because of medium JJs being buffed, it's not bad, especially if you use 1 or 2 JJs to move around. Just can't really poptart reliably.

[Leone]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 04:47 PM, said:

So can someone tell me, what are the pros and cons of IS vs Clan.

Clan Lasers: Longer range, bit more damage, longer burn time, runs hotter.
Clan ACs; fires in bursts, can LBX more'n just the 10, can Uac more'n just the 5.
Clan LRMs; Fires in streams instead of all at once.
Clan flamers; Woo! half the wieght, such savings!

IS lasers: shorter burn times for more front loaded damage, so as to twist better oneself and make spreading harder. Also, cooler at the expensive of range.
IS ACs; Bam! there's your damage, one shot, full damage, harder to spread, less LBX and Uac options though.
IS Lrms; Fwoomp! Fire em all in one go if you've the tube count. Helps mitigate the loss to ams.

In short, Clan are built for ranged poking engagements using skill to try to target components with sustained fire, and IS are built for close in knife fights and brawling for instant shots so as to panic fire and then torso twist to avoid getting cored. Of course, that's not taking quirks into account. Quirks break the system, but meh, teamwork trumps all.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 27 September 2015 - 10:51 PM.

[Rogue Jedi]

Xbwalker, on 27 September 2015 - 04:47 PM, said:

So can someone tell me, what are the pros and cons of IS vs Clan. I obviously know that Clan was FAR superior to IS in the books (read them all minus most of the newer mech warrior books). What have the Devs done to balance it out?

Leone covered most of it, but here is a bit more information

the Clan XL is at current the best engine type in the game, it weighs the same as an IS XL engine but can survive loosing a side torso (but not both)

all IS Mechs are currently BattleMechs, they are far more customizable in terms of everything except weaponry, with the ability to change heat sink type armor type and structure type as well as engine, as compared to OmniMechs

Clans only have OmniMechs (they will get BattleMechs in December) have locked Armor type, structure type, heat sink type, engine size & type, but can swap Omnipods (a componant, arm, leg, torso, head) to get different hardpoints for a greater variety of possible weapon load-outs compared to Battlemechs

basically Clans have technically superior weapons, usualy lighter, longer range with more damage but they are hotter with slower discharge (need to be held on target for longer to do max damage).

IS are easier to hold on target and cooler, they also have the ability to perform far more extensive customization to the Mechs.

as the game is at current Clan VS IS is pretty fair with the exceptions of the Stormcrow and Timber Wolf, 2 Mechs for which the IS has no real equal

[Mr Hunter]

TheRAbbi, on 27 September 2015 - 07:45 PM, said:

Hey, if you LIKE the SHD, run the SHD. Personally, I don't like it (again, a 55-ton mech AS TALL AS A 100-TON ASSAULT MECH)

All i will say to this is that you have the high mounted autocannon wish is most likely a 10 or a 5 or on the 2k a high mounted ppc/ large laser variant.

[JC Daxion]

I'd buy an XL-265 for your ravens.. They are nice mix of speed and extra room for weapons. that will get you to about 134KPH, Personally i run a XL-280 in my 3L, which pushes it to 142. But then you can just use the one engine for all 3.. Tweak your mechs down the road if you want, but for now, one 5m XL is enough.

another option is the Jager DD, it comes with an XL-260, so save a bit longer, and you get a whole new mech, 4.3m for the XL-265, 8.5m for the jag, sure it's 3m, but when ya think about it, 3m for a heavy is a pretty good deal. Check this out for other mechs, with XL's you might want. http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/

I run my lights slower than the typical player, and really don't have issues with them. You will get one shotted from time to time, but with smart play, and supporting the lance you should be good.

A lower end match is around the 200 area,, a decent match is 400, a great match anything over 600, 800 is a rarity. But don't get o caught up on numbers, you can maneuver to hit open areas of armor, and take down 3-4 mechs that area already beat up and only do 150 damage. You cold also do 600 and not take any down.

Some of the biggest rolls i have ever been on, players didn't even hit the 400 mark, and the match was over in under 5 mins. Damage is hardly the biggest factor.

[Xbwalker]

So I think I know the answer to this already but, is Tier only determined by wins or losses right now? I had a terrible night last night and was 2/6. However, two of those losses I killed 6 mechs in my tiny raven with damage upwards of 300 and assists on nearly all enemy mechs killed. In both it showed that I lost rating at the end of the match. That doesn't seem right. Major contributors are still penalized after a fairly even match if they die?

[Torezu]

Xbwalker, on 29 September 2015 - 08:28 AM, said:

Major contributors are still penalized after a fairly even match if they die?

They can be, yes. Damage is the single biggest contributing factor to match score at the moment. It's quite possible to get a much higher match score with fewer kills/assists as long as you do enough damage. Win/loss is the single biggest contributing factor to PSR change, also. A low match score with a win is better than a medium-high match score with a loss. The only way to improve your PSR on a loss is a "very high" match score (which is probably around 400, I believe).

[Rogue Jedi]

Xbwalker, on 29 September 2015 - 08:28 AM, said:

So I think I know the answer to this already but, is Tier only determined by wins or losses right now? I had a terrible night last night and was 2/6. However, two of those losses I killed 6 mechs in my tiny raven with damage upwards of 300 and assists on nearly all enemy mechs killed. In both it showed that I lost rating at the end of the match. That doesn't seem right. Major contributors are still penalized after a fairly even match if they die?

no, tier goes up or down based upon match score,
match score is determined by lots of diferent things, including moving in formation, kills, assists, protecting your team, capturing points, scouting, spoting for LRMs, countering ECM, using TAG and NARC. I am probably forgetting a few things

you require a certain amount of points to go up/down in tier.
if you loose with a high match score you get a few points, an average match score means do not gain or loose, a low match score means you loose points,

if you win a low match score means points stay the same, an average match score means points go up a little, a higher match score means points go up more

if you win you cannot go down in tier, but if you win you can go up, to go down you have to loose and have a low match score, I do not know what is considered a "low" or "average" score

Edited by Rogue Jedi, 30 September 2015 - 12:32 AM.

[Xbwalker]

Thanks for all the answers guys. After over 200 matches, I am finally playing smarter with my ravens. I have finished elite skills on the 4x and 3L and am about 10 matches from elite on 2X (my least favorite raven). Your advice has been very helpful. I am being much less rambo and much more gun and run. Let's see if I can apply some of this learning to my SHD.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

Torezu, on 29 September 2015 - 09:26 AM, said:

The only way to improve your PSR on a loss is a "very high" match score (which is probably around 400, I believe).

Lowest match score I've had in a LOSS that resulted in an increase to PSR? 413. I think you're right. Seems the thresholds are 250 and 400 in losses, at least right now. 250 is the apparent break point for decrease/equal, and 400 for equal/increase.

Lowest score I've had in a win since Tiers went public, was 130-something. That was a net PSR increase.

Back on topic, Xbwalker, sounds like you've adjusted just fine, and rather quickly at that! GREAT!