12 replies to this topic

[Chryckan]

I run a Griffin with 3 streaks on and it works great for the most part.
My problem is that when I end up in a close range duel I stop shielding with my left arm because I'm reluctant to lose the lock for the streaks.
I know I should torso twist and that it is the smart thing to do but I also know I'll lose the lock and that I in all likelihood will be forced to twist again before I regain the lock. So I don't, hoping the extra damage from the streaks will kill my foe before I do. Which sometimes happens, though mostly I just manage to core before either dying or having to run away nearly dead.

So is there some trick or tactic or gismo to shield and use streaks without losing locks or at least speed up the locking process after shielding?

I already use a BAP but can't say it have made the locking process faster. (It have helped with other none related things though.)

[Matthew Ace]

Did you turn off arm lock and use free look to get a lock using your arm reticle?

BAP doesn't speed up locks. Artemis does (for no weight no less - kinda cheap if you ask me).

Edited by Matthew Ace, 06 December 2015 - 02:28 AM.

[zudukai]

Artemis speeds up lock, TAG speeds up lock and NARC all speed up locks,

for Streak SRMs specifically, Artemis is a tonnage free upgrade that only costs C-Bills

unlike LRMs and SRMs of a ton and slot penalty per launcher and as such is potentally a bad investment if you plan on switching away from Artemis at some point.

TAG is a laser desagnator that you need to hold on target.

Narc is a missile based homing beacon, like SRMs.

but i think what you want is the module called "Target Decay" which maintains lock for an additonal 3.5 seconds(iirc)

Edited by zudukai, 06 December 2015 - 02:32 AM.

[zudukai]

the cheapest option is the 1ton TAG, but the most effective for all locking weapons is the ADV. Target Decay module which prevents you from loosing a lock at all, it's tonnage free (costing an initial fee of 6mil C-bills iirc and 3k GXP) and is a direct upgrade to any locking weapon, meaning you can maintain a lock while maneuvering OR those last few seconds of tracking as your foe moves into cover or ECM.

this module requires you to have direct line of sight and (obviously) lock.

Narc can be deployed and you will maintain a lockable target even behind cover for the duration of the NARC, Narc is a medium to short range single projectile dumbfire missile. kinda heavy for the value, requiring ammo for a 2ton (Clan) or 3ton (IS) launcher.

a few of the items stack, but i forget the configuration.. pretty sure Art+TAG and NARC+ART within line of sight for tighter spread, smurfy-net.de or another user might have more information.

Edited by zudukai, 06 December 2015 - 02:49 AM.

[Elizander]

Target Retention Module to keep the lock while you twist away?

[Rogue Jedi]

zudukai, on 06 December 2015 - 02:42 AM, said:

a few of the items stack, but i forget the configuration.. pretty sure Art+TAG and NARC+ART within line of sight for tighter spread, smurfy-net.de or another user might have more information.

TAG and NARC stack, TAG and Artemus stack but Artemus and NARC do not, I suspect because Artemus is only supposed to help you fire with line of sight and NARC helps without

[Chryckan]

Hmm, didn't know Artemis worked with streak. I've allways assumed (wrongly apparently) that since the lauchers/ammo didn't get an Artemis tag it wasn't applicable on streaks. Will try upgrade with Artemis.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Bap is still good incase you run into ECM

[Rogue Jedi]

Chryckan, on 06 December 2015 - 04:07 AM, said:

Hmm, didn't know Artemis worked with streak. I've allways assumed (wrongly apparently) that since the lauchers/ammo didn't get an Artemis tag it wasn't applicable on streaks. Will try upgrade with Artemis.

it is a bug, because Artemus shortens the lock time for LRMs, and streaks and LRMs use the same lock mechanic, Streaks also get the reduced lock time, but because in Battletech lore there were never Artemus Streak SRMs there is not an ASSRM item, so SSRMs get the bonus with no extra weight.
to fix that there would need to be separate SSRM and LRM lock indicators and lock mechanics

[Koniving]

Chryckan, on 06 December 2015 - 04:07 AM, said:

Hmm, didn't know Artemis worked with streak. I've allways assumed (wrongly apparently) that since the lauchers/ammo didn't get an Artemis tag it wasn't applicable on streaks. Will try upgrade with Artemis.

It's a bug that PGI refuses to fix or address (as to fix it would require completely redoing the lock system and to address it would to create a non-canon "Artemis Streak").

[Boulangerie]

Getting back to OP's question.

It can be quite hard to shield and maintain your lock. One way of mitigating this is to reduce your time to lock on again (tag/narc/artemis). Another way would be to take a module which can help retain your lock (target decay or 360 retention), though you won't lose your soft lock, you'll still have to hover over the enemy to acquire the hard lock needed for streaks.

Honestly, I'd suggest learning SRMs. I will throw out my reasoning here by the pro's and con's of the switch to SRMs.

Pro:

• Increased damage per missile
  
• Does not require locks to fire (dumbfire)
  
• Faster firing rate (higher possible DPS)
  
• You can target which location to deliver the damage (mostly)
  
• Recently buffed with increased travel speeds and tighter groupings
  
• Easier to fire and torso twist to soak damage

Con:

• No more homing makes it more difficult to deliver full damage to speedy Lights
  
• Requires learning the speed of SRMs to lead targets
  
• Will probably run hotter than the Streaks due to faster firing rate
  
• SRM-2 weighs less than the Streak, but higher SRMs weigh more (SRM4 is 2t, SRM6 is 3t)

In all, I think the SRMs have a higher skill ceiling than the Streaks, due to the fact that you can target specific components on your enemy which are already damaged. You can also fire them even when overwhelmed by enemy ECM, or when first coming around the corner against any opponent.

They also synergize much better with torso twisting to soak damage with your arms.

In all, I think the SRMs are much better than the Streaks for the Inner sphere mechs, but this is partly due to the limitation to SSRM2s for the IS. I can understand if you like the homing aspect for taking out speedy mechs, but the damage they deliver is actually pretty low in the long run, and you can't really choose where to deliver it. Once you get the hang of SRMs, you could be chain firing 3 SRM-4s at a Lights leg area and probably finish them off much quicker.

[Roughneck45]

What you want is the target decay module. It holds the lock an extra few seconds when the target is out of line of sight, in this case, while you are shielding.

BAP and Target info gathering would help acquire the lock quickly. Artemis will too.

NARC would be a waste of a slot if you don't have LRMs. TAG would be a waste of a slot and make you facetank, the opposite of what you want to accomplish.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, 360 target retention is probably the one you want.

Edited by Roughneck45, 06 December 2015 - 11:59 AM.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Many are suggesting different modules that help maintain a target lock, but they may not help with a Streak lock. A missile lock will automatically break if your target moves out of I think a 90 degree arc in front of you (45 to each side?). I think this is calculated based on where your streaks are mounted. So if they are in your arms, or even just one of them, it gives you more flexibility in maintaining the lock as long as you keep your arms close to the target. A Streak lock will break if the enemy moves behind you, even if you keep the target lock. That's my understanding of it anyway. May not be perfectly accurate.