61 replies to this topic

[Morggo]

Okay. I've avoided it for a long time. I've Mastered the Zeus for my Assault. Marauder for my Heavy. Wolverines for my Mediums. I just need a light to fill out a drop deck.

*shudder*. I own Oxide and have enough saved up for the other two Jenner chassis.
SO, question... in the huge youtube library of "light mech teachings" are there either specific vids (Jenner preferred) or certain pilots posting either jenner or just light mech vids that are highly recommended.

I soak up tips and trick like a sponge and don't mind spending a few hours watching game tape.

... I ran one match in Oxide the night I bought her... it was.. not a spectacular match but I can see where it may possibly be fun (though I believe I'm just bred to drive heavy iron but willing to try)

Thanks again, I'll get the popcorn and beers ready

(p.s. I DO own Pirates Bane too.. that thing damn near made me dizzy zipping around like that!)

Edited by Morggo, 14 December 2015 - 08:40 AM.

[Lostdragon]

The Jenner is outclassed by newer mechs with better hitboxes. The FS9 is a better mech.

The main thing with lights is to stick and move. Don't stay in one place and only attack if you have the advantage of numbers or surprise.

Edited by Lostdragon, 14 December 2015 - 08:52 AM.

[Spike Brave]

The Oxide is fun don't shudder. To answer your video question. I have videos for all the Jenner chassis. Check them out here:

[bayoucowboy]

Oxide is currently my favorite pug mech! I go XL300 3xSRM4 1SRM2, alpha left, chain right and its a blast. Either mid-late game cleanup or solo'd terror. Gotta learn to lead more because of the speed and sometimes it runs out of ammo, but always fun to drive.

[Morggo]

Thank Spike Brave, watched one over lunch, try to fit in another.

How are you two finding the new hit boxes? They look SOOO much better thinning down that CT.. BUT... is she still as XL friendly with so much more real estate givento the ST?

(I am terrible with XL's normally)


bayoucowboy... you like the SRM4 over the SSRM2's then ?

Edited by Morggo, 14 December 2015 - 09:26 AM.

[Rogue Jedi]

while I do not know any good videos, the Jenner is great, she is far more maneuverable than the Firestarter in exchange for a bit less firepower and not being quite as tanky, in answer to the XL engine question an XL is pretty much essential for most lights, as to survive you need to go fast (preferably at least 130) and still have max armor and tonnage for some weapons, I have not played the Jenner since the most recent hitbox change but unless there is almost no CT I would still be taking an XL.

if you have the Oxide you will also want the D and the F, the reason I do not suggest the K is that it is basically just a D with 1 less missile slot, and the quirks for the K do not make up for that disadvantage,

with the D popular builds are 4ML with 2 SRM4 and 4 ML with 2 SSRM2, or possibly go pure light hunting light with 4 SPL, BAP and 2 SSRM2. ether way you want to take an XL300 or XL280 engine,

for the F you will probably want 5-6 ML, the XL300 and use any spare weight for Double Heat Sinks.

any Jenner build should idealy use DHS for cooling ^{(the same as almost every Mech build, a dual Gauss build with nothing else is just about the only build which will not benefit from DHS)} as well as Endo and Fero for the maximum possible weight saving

[epikt]

You said Oxide?

Best. Mech. Ever.


(I made more Jenner videos, browse my channel, and if you're interested in lights in general alos check my Locust videos, which are more recent)
edit: build, XL280, 4 SRM4 (you don't have to start with all that ammo, start with 4 or 4.5 and add up when you need it)
edit again: I almost forgot, just in case you speak French, I recently made a commentated gameplay video for this mech (if you don't understand French... I suppose you still watch the gameplay).

Not video, but have a look at Krivvan's guide. It covers all the basics.
(and check his YT channel, he's more of a Firstarter pilot, but he's damn good)

Edited by epikt, 14 December 2015 - 10:31 AM.

[Spike Brave]

Morggo, on 14 December 2015 - 09:25 AM, said:

Thank Spike Brave, watched one over lunch, try to fit in another.

How are you two finding the new hit boxes? They look SOOO much better thinning down that CT.. BUT... is she still as XL friendly with so much more real estate givento the ST?

(I am terrible with XL's normally)


bayoucowboy... you like the SRM4 over the SSRM2's then ?

The side torso are still small enough to be XL friendly. Besides speed and ammo weight are important in the OxIde.

[Kristian Radoulov]

Check out my channel.

[Morggo]

Well that was a fun lunch hour... now I can't wait to get logged in tonight and give the Jenner another go.

Sure I'll wash out early on and have some more focused and refined questions but the game play appears rather straightforward.
Target disengagement appears to be key to the Lights. I notice you guys rarely take more than a shot, occasionally two and before the smoke clears you guys are already hitting the next target.

I'm actually looking forward to it now... though I'm more comfortable in the 70 - 90kph range of my heavies but 'ere we go!

Edited by Morggo, 14 December 2015 - 12:11 PM.

[Johny Rocket]

This stage in the game I would say pick a Light that has a cbill variant with ecm. Also what do you want out of your Light, real scouting is a thing now or do you want a skirmisher?

My personal picks(only IS light I don't have is the Panther)
For a Scout the ravens hands down as the 3L has ecm and is pretty sturdy and the others get an extra mech slot for ewar goodies.

Skirmisher Woulfhound, Firestarter if you must have JJ.

[Morggo]

Tractor Joe, on 14 December 2015 - 12:11 PM, said:

This stage in the game I would say pick a Light that has a cbill variant with ecm. Also what do you want out of your Light, real scouting is a thing now or do you want a skirmisher?

I'll need to run some drops to give you a more honest answer, I'll start with my Jenner since I have one already (I'll save my Locust for later, seems a lot more advanced) but I definitely thank you for the advice. Raven was a close second for me but the Jenner from what I have read says "plays more like a lightweight medium than a true Light" so that and the looks swayed me. Though if I like Lights of course I can expand my stable to others. (I also looked at the Jenner because they seemed to be shown a little less love and I'm a sucker for the underdog )

I suspect I'll lean skirmisher but we'll see. I figure it'll take longer to basic then elite my lights in general due to lower dmg and kills... though perhaps it balances out with the higher Assist ratio?

Let you all know how it goes soon!

[epikt]

Quote

Target disengagement appears to be key to the Lights. I notice you guys rarely take more than a shot, occasionally two and before the smoke clears you guys are already hitting the next target.

A light mech have firepower but it has no armor. Hence it can't trade damage with it's ennemy. So you'll shoot at targets already engaged and focussed on your teammates. Or, if you harass an non-engaged target, you strike fast and disapear. And come back later, eventually.
The key is you don't want to be a target, and if you have to, don't be the only target, and don't be the easiest one.

Speaking about the Oxide in particular, constantly engaging and disengaging is the core of how it's piloted. Its weaponry allows you for an instant alpha-strike, you don't need any time on target. So you can strike, dodge, strike again, disengage, manoeuvre around the building and strike again from the back, etc.

Quote

I'll save my Locust for later, seems a lot more advanced

Definitely more advanced, since it allows no mistake. But no mech feels like the Locust, this is a great mech.

Quote

the Jenner from what I have read says "plays more like a lightweight medium than a true Light"

The Jenner certainly plays like a true light. It's actually less tanky than some other mech from the same category (such as the Firestarter or the Spider) so it must be piloted with care. Most builds rely on poking and mid-range harassment, precisely because they can't really handle a full brawl (at the exception of the Oxide).

Quote

lower dmg and kills...

Don't think that. Lights are powerful and lights kill a lot. It's not like what I understood of World of Tank, where the lighter tanks are "low tier". In MWO a light mech can be a real killing machine and is not to be underestimated.

Edited by epikt, 14 December 2015 - 01:16 PM.

[Rogue Jedi]

lights are less powerful than the heavier weight classes but it is quite possible to do 500+ damage in a Light, it just depends on the Mech. the Firestarter, Jenner, Arctic Cheetah, Raven are all Mechs capable of putting out high damage, others like the Commando and (my personal favorite) the Spider not so much

Edited by Rogue Jedi, 14 December 2015 - 01:37 PM.

[Johny Rocket]

Morggo, on 14 December 2015 - 12:18 PM, said:

I'll need to run some drops to give you a more honest answer, I'll start with my Jenner since I have one already (I'll save my Locust for later, seems a lot more advanced) but I definitely thank you for the advice. Raven was a close second for me but the Jenner from what I have read says "plays more like a lightweight medium than a true Light" so that and the looks swayed me. Though if I like Lights of course I can expand my stable to others. (I also looked at the Jenner because they seemed to be shown a little less love and I'm a sucker for the underdog )

I suspect I'll lean skirmisher but we'll see. I figure it'll take longer to basic then elite my lights in general due to lower dmg and kills... though perhaps it balances out with the higher Assist ratio?

Let you all know how it goes soon!

Ah the underrated Locust. Only had them a short time but love them. its funny when the other team is all like "WUUUUT?" when a stockish PB pull 400+ dmg and kills a lance or more. But honestly thats 1 out of 10 matches where the rest were 2 meh and 7 someone got lucky with an AC20 and I skidded so long I had time for a refreshing Drink of my Large Laser Cola before it came to a stop.

I wanted the PB for CW (and well because I've always wanted it) It lets me run 3 Uber Meta Black Knights(wub) and bring an ecm.

[Fox With A Shotgun]

Lights. A scalpel for surgically removing enemy cancerous growths (components) with precision and speed. Where the sledgehammer of heavies and assaults, and the sword of the mediums is too cumbersome. You enjoy ripping into enemy mechs from the rear, tearing out circuit boards and myomers while cackling in glee. Welcome to the ranks of the masochists and the insane of MWO!

If you're used to mediums, particularly the Cicada, then by all means start with the Jenner. A CDA is (almost) an overgrown Jenner, from the massive CT to its weapon loadout (full of medium lasers and some missiles). But if you have the Oxide, it plays very, very differently - almost like a SRM stormcrow with far less armor, higher movement speed and a massive CT. With the recent SRM buffs to spread (particularly IS SRM4 and IS SRM6), go with all SRM4 and you'll be able to hit pretty darn small targets at 270m without problems.

OXIDE SRM4x4

JR7-F and the Oxide are arguably the two best Jenners out there. People swear by the 6ML build for the JR7-F but I found it runs hotter than the surface of the sun. And given your speed and a massive CT, staying at range is -not- your best friend. It's actually much harder for enemies to hit you if you're up close and moving quickly. 6 SPL Jenner with a huge engine and jumpjets is surprisingly maneuverable. Mix and match MLs for ranged fighting.

JR7-F 6x SPL

Ravens are a great choice too. RVN-2X is a damn good MPL boat due to its quirks and high mounted hardpoints, and can go dual PPCs or LPL with some success. RVN-4X is a very, very good skirmisher due to its laser burn duration and range quirks. Mount a BAP on the 2X for better anti-ECM work and faster paper dolls (you will want to sever parts quickly). 4X can stand on places where other mechs can't go (think top of plateaus in Bog, or on top of lion king rocks in Tourmaline) and rain down death from there. The 3L can be a strange but very effective short-range duelist; a very good trait when it is providing Jesus box protection for heavies and assaults, and you're likely to get bum rushed by Cheetahs and Firestarters. It actually has a fairly powerful alpha that is relatively low-heat, so you can out-duel either of these mechs if you torso twist properly.

RVN-2X 4x MPL
RVN-4X 2LL 5JJ
RVN-3L SPL/SRM6

One thing that might unnerve people new to lights is the way that armor -needs- to be front loaded heavily to survive bigger AC, gauss and PPC hits. A locust typically only has 3-4 armor on each rear torso part, with the rest pushed to the front. You're in a light; your torso twist angle is massive, and so is your torso twist speed. Think of it as the ultimate test of the torso twist abilities you picked up as a medium or heavy.

Edit: Fixed armor distribution on the 3L

Edited by ArcturusWolf, 14 December 2015 - 03:00 PM.

[Johny Rocket]

ArcturusWolf, on 14 December 2015 - 02:43 PM, said:

RVN-4X 2LL 5JJ

the real RVN-4X

fixed that for you

Call it the Thunder Chicken wub edition.

Edited by Tractor Joe, 14 December 2015 - 03:01 PM.

[epikt]

About Arcturus's builds : never, ever, ever, strip armor from a light's legs.

[A Thermonuclear Warhead]

epikt, on 14 December 2015 - 02:56 PM, said:

About Arcturus's builds : never, ever, ever, strip armor from a light's legs.

Oops. Forgot to shift some from arms to legs on the 3L.

[Fox With A Shotgun]

Tractor Joe, on 14 December 2015 - 02:54 PM, said:

the real RVN-4X

fixed that for you

Call it the Thunder Chicken wub edition.

Lol, you call that the thunder chicken? THIS is a thunder chicken! +30% E-range turns those PPCs into virtual ERPPCs!

RVN-4X 2 PPC XL275

epikt, on 14 December 2015 - 02:56 PM, said:

About Arcturus's builds : never, ever, ever, strip armor from a light's legs.

Yeah, shouldn't have been stripped on the 3L duelist there. It's okay to strip a -little- bit of armor on legs if you plan to snipe and hull down or hill-hump, but in general yes it is a very poor idea to strip leg armor on lights. Fixed now.

Edited by ArcturusWolf, 14 December 2015 - 03:07 PM.