22 replies to this topic

[SilverRathalos]

Hey guys I am really new to the game and know almost nothing about it, I played some matches in trial Mechs and accumulated 15 million ComStar bills.
I am trying to buy a Mech that is right for me, not sure which one to get. I am leaning towards the Dire Wolf cause it just looks so cool lol. I want something that has good guns and can take a beating. I'm not really good at fast Mechs, they seem to require a lot of skill to maneuver.
I really don't know what my play style is and what I want, I'm just a newb please halp!

[Tezzereth]

Keep using trial mechs until you figure out what you like, there is no rush.

Dire Wolf is not new person friendly. Slowest thing out there, and is always a priority target because your often packing near 50 tons of weapons. If there is still the Dire Wolf trial, give that a spin.

When using a trial mech, focus on how a mech handles vs it's weapons. Like the timberwolf trial mech has only lasers, but you could change to any other weapons you like when you own.

[Tesunie]

SilverRathalos, on 03 January 2016 - 10:32 PM, said:

Hey guys I am really new to the game and know almost nothing about it, I played some matches in trial Mechs and accumulated 15 million ComStar bills.
I am trying to buy a Mech that is right for me, not sure which one to get. I am leaning towards the Dire Wolf cause it just looks so cool lol. I want something that has good guns and can take a beating. I'm not really good at fast Mechs, they seem to require a lot of skill to maneuver.
I really don't know what my play style is and what I want, I'm just a newb please halp!

Nice name. Play Monster Hunter too?


Anyway, you think light mechs require a lot of skill to pilot? Nope. Assaults do. So, unless you already are doing well in the Champion Trial assaults, don't go assault mechs first.

Typically, mediums or heavies are the go to starter mechs for new players. Fast enough to recover from a positional mistake, has enough armor to take a few hits, and can still pack enough of a punch to put up a good fight.

Personally, I'd suggest the Crab as a go to Starter mech. But, I'd also would like to ask about what faction you wish to favor. Clans, or Inner Sphere? If clan, then I'd suggest starting with a Timberwolf or Stormcrow. If Inner Sphere, then Crab, Hunchback, Thunderbolt or Shadowhawk come to mind.


As a final piece of suggestion that I can give currently with presented information... Always use Smurfy Mechlab to pre-create your mechs. Will save you a lot of C-bills in game.

[SilverRathalos]

Tezzereth, on 03 January 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Keep using trial mechs until you figure out what you like, there is no rush.

Dire Wolf is not new person friendly. Slowest thing out there, and is always a priority target because your often packing near 50 tons of weapons. If there is still the Dire Wolf trial, give that a spin.

When using a trial mech, focus on how a mech handles vs it's weapons. Like the timberwolf trial mech has only lasers, but you could change to any other weapons you like when you own.

Thanks for the tip, I didn't even know there were so many trial Mechs! D:

Tesunie, on 03 January 2016 - 10:41 PM, said:

Nice name. Play Monster Hunter too?


Anyway, you think light mechs require a lot of skill to pilot? Nope. Assaults do. So, unless you already are doing well in the Champion Trial assaults, don't go assault mechs first.

Typically, mediums or heavies are the go to starter mechs for new players. Fast enough to recover from a positional mistake, has enough armor to take a few hits, and can still pack enough of a punch to put up a good fight.

Personally, I'd suggest the Crab as a go to Starter mech. But, I'd also would like to ask about what faction you wish to favor. Clans, or Inner Sphere? If clan, then I'd suggest starting with a Timberwolf or Stormcrow. If Inner Sphere, then Crab, Hunchback, Thunderbolt or Shadowhawk come to mind.


As a final piece of suggestion that I can give currently with presented information... Always use Smurfy Mechlab to pre-create your mechs. Will save you a lot of C-bills in game.

I love Monster Hunter! And thanks for the help, not sure what clans and inner sphere thing is though, yet.

[Tesunie]

SilverRathalos, on 03 January 2016 - 10:47 PM, said:

I love Monster Hunter! And thanks for the help, not sure what clans and inner sphere thing is though, yet.

Monster Hunter is a lot of fun!

As for the Clans and IS (Inner Sphere) thing, it's faction/technology types. They each have their particulars about them, and they each work slightly different. As far as mechs go, you can search for specific Clans or IS by selecting the proper tabs. For how they are different in customization, look up the differences on Smurfy. Otherwise, it would be a very long subject to try and get into.

As for if you are going one faction or another, that's specifically a Faction Warfare (often called Community Warfare as well, or CW for short) object. Suffice to say that you have two major factions, one is The Clans, and the other the Inner Sphere. The Clans are farther broken down into four different subfactions, Jade Falcon, Clan Wolf, Ghost Bear and Smoke Jaguar (currently). The Inner Sphere are split into six houses, Davion, Steiner, Liao, Kurita, Marik and FFR (I'm not even going to try and spell their name out long hand).

I wouldn't worry about CW for a while, unless you need to pick up some extra free Mechbays, which can be earned by gaining Loyalty points (which is just simply playing CW matches). Get Rank 2 in a faction, and you get a free mechbay.


Your mech type is important in CW game modes, but outside that in Quickplay (often called PUG or Pick Up Group) matches, you can play any tech base you want freely. So, for now, probably not a big deal to worry about this yet.


As for mechs, I often go for ones I liked in lore or I like how they look. But, I'm experienced enough to probably get away with it more. Keep playing the trials till you have more of an idea what you enjoy, then we can give better suggestions from that information. However, if you really like the Direwolf, it will only hurt you in C-bills to get one. You can always sell it (not recommended typically) if you end up not liking it, or holding onto it if it doesn't work for you now and saving it for when you are more skilled later on.


Feel free to ask any questions. Many people are more than willing to help answer them as best we can.

Edited by Tesunie, 03 January 2016 - 11:00 PM.

[Leone]

If your Sold on the Direwolf, by all means, get it. Just know that small fast light mechs are your bane.

Suggested play ideas for a Dire; http://mwomercs.com/...ting-thy-enemy/
Note: Don't try that build yourself till you've money to spare so you can get different weapons after you try it, it runs super hot.

And this showcases why Assault mechs like the Dire hate lights. They just don't stop moving... https://vimeo.com/149093008

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 04 January 2016 - 12:25 AM.

[SilverRathalos]

Tesunie, on 03 January 2016 - 11:00 PM, said:

Monster Hunter is a lot of fun!

As for the Clans and IS (Inner Sphere) thing, it's faction/technology types. They each have their particulars about them, and they each work slightly different. As far as mechs go, you can search for specific Clans or IS by selecting the proper tabs. For how they are different in customization, look up the differences on Smurfy. Otherwise, it would be a very long subject to try and get into.

As for if you are going one faction or another, that's specifically a Faction Warfare (often called Community Warfare as well, or CW for short) object. Suffice to say that you have two major factions, one is The Clans, and the other the Inner Sphere. The Clans are farther broken down into four different subfactions, Jade Falcon, Clan Wolf, Ghost Bear and Smoke Jaguar (currently). The Inner Sphere are split into six houses, Davion, Steiner, Liao, Kurita, Marik and FFR (I'm not even going to try and spell their name out long hand).

I wouldn't worry about CW for a while, unless you need to pick up some extra free Mechbays, which can be earned by gaining Loyalty points (which is just simply playing CW matches). Get Rank 2 in a faction, and you get a free mechbay.


Your mech type is important in CW game modes, but outside that in Quickplay (often called PUG or Pick Up Group) matches, you can play any tech base you want freely. So, for now, probably not a big deal to worry about this yet.


As for mechs, I often go for ones I liked in lore or I like how they look. But, I'm experienced enough to probably get away with it more. Keep playing the trials till you have more of an idea what you enjoy, then we can give better suggestions from that information. However, if you really like the Direwolf, it will only hurt you in C-bills to get one. You can always sell it (not recommended typically) if you end up not liking it, or holding onto it if it doesn't work for you now and saving it for when you are more skilled later on.


Feel free to ask any questions. Many people are more than willing to help answer them as best we can.

Thank you so much, there is so much to learn! D:
I tried the Dire Wolf and find its gameplay style very hard, but Heavy Mechs are tons of fun.

Leone, on 04 January 2016 - 12:00 AM, said:

If your Sold on the Direwolf, by all means, get it. Just know that small fast light mechs are your bane.

Suggested play ideas for a Dire; http://mwomercs.com/...ting-thy-enemy/
Note: Don't try that build yourself till you've money to spare so you can get different weapons after you try it, it runs super hot.

And this showcases why Assault mechs like the Dire hate lights. They just don't stop moving... https://vimeo.com/149093008

~Leone.

Thanks! Yeah Assaults are slooow.

[Wintersdark]

SilverRathalos, on 03 January 2016 - 10:32 PM, said:

Hey guys I am really new to the game and know almost nothing about it, I played some matches in trial Mechs and accumulated 15 million ComStar bills.
I am trying to buy a Mech that is right for me, not sure which one to get. I am leaning towards the Dire Wolf cause it just looks so cool lol. I want something that has good guns and can take a beating. I'm not really good at fast Mechs, they seem to require a lot of skill to maneuver.
I really don't know what my play style is and what I want, I'm just a newb please halp!

Don't start in an assault, or a light.

Both require substantial amount of skill in maneuvering. The Dire Wolf doesn't seem like it, because it's a wall of guns and armor, but ultimately Assaults are arguably harder to maneuver because they are 100% intolerant of mistakes. You can't stop moving, but if you ever step somewhere you shouldn't, you die practically instantly.

Start with Heavies and Mediums. They're cheaper, and a lot easier to learn with.

[Rogue Jedi]

Tesunie, on 03 January 2016 - 10:41 PM, said:

Anyway, you think light mechs require a lot of skill to pilot? Nope. Assaults do. So, unless you already are doing well in the Champion Trial assaults, don't go assault mechs first.

Light Mechs and Assault Mechs both require a lot more skill or luck than Medium or Heavy, as Lights and Assaults are the 2 extremes, speed vs armor.

A Light Mech can be one shot by many other Mechs, In a Light keep moving, speed is your armor.

Assaults on the other hand are usualy quite slow so if you get ambushed you will likely die because you are not fast enough to escape, it does not matter if you have heavier weapons and armor than other Mechs, if you are ambushed by 4+, and cannot escape, you will be down, usualy inside 10 seconds.

Lights can risk going off on their own and it may pay off, but if an Assault goes off on its own (or gets left behind) it seldom ends well, A Light Mech likes nothing more than finding a lone Dire Wolf as while the Dire can probably one shot the Light it will have serious trouble hitting the Light with anything like the full duration of its weapons required to do that, meanwhile the Light can usualy just stay behind the Dire and kill it from behind

[Princeps Ibram Cain]

If you want the Dire Wolf as first mech to learn how to pilot, you will be a big, fat and slow moving target for everyone, even for teammates.

Honestly, i think the Jaggermech, Orion, or Marauder are very "friendly" mechs for newbies.

Edited by Ibram Cain, 04 January 2016 - 04:01 AM.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

First, concerning lore and houses/Clans, read up at sarna.net. Then, ignore what Sarna says about which mechs are good at what, because things are quite different in MWO. Sarna is great, though, for a one-stop shop of the lore and history of this game's universe.

Also, don't feel like you're stuck with a particular faction or side. You don't have to pick anything to play in public 12v12 matches, and contracts for Faction Warfare are as short as 7 days (though I recommend 2-week stints or longer, because life happens and greater rewards).

If you're down with the Inner Sphere, I'd recommend the Hunchback as your first chassis. Numerous threads on that topic already exist.

If it's Clan, then I'm really not sure. Hellbringer or Ebon Jaguar, most likely. Clan mediums are weird at the moment. You have the SHC, which plays like a slow light. There's some other abomination that's just terrible. Then there's the Storm Crow, which is TOO good for a first mech, honestly. The new Hunchback-IIC for the Clans is interesting, but maybe not the great learning tool that the IS HBK is. Also, it's cash-only for a while yet. :-/

Good luck, and welcome aboard!

[Ximigami]

The one u want. People here can recommend u a lot of mechs,loadouts and other things,but at the end,the decission is urs. But question that,do u prefer close range misiles or long range misiles,u prefer small lasers or large lasers,do u want ur mech with ECM or u prefer jumpjets instead???? U prefer ACs2 or a big AC20 one???? Also,when u create ur first mech with a loadout created in ur mind,u must master ur mech. There is nothing to do if u pick an incredible Dire Wolf if u do 0 kills and less than 100 points per match. U must know either,that ur first times on MWO u will dissappoint the game,because u dont know how to control ur mech or u dont have correct aim,also u dont know where to position. New players have bad starts on MWO.

As for me,i still knowing how to control my mech,but at least i starting to know how to aim and positioning,sometimes i have faults and cost me the match,but meh,there are good and bad matches. Before build my Jenner with the first 25 matches cbills,i usually pick the Raven 3L. One of this matches i try to do a suicidal act,because i only want to gain the match cbills. So i shutdown on a corner and wait for beign killed. But at the distance i notice an afk enemy player,so i think "why not?" so i killed him and later i go to the heart of battle...well,finishing this post,i ended the match with 5 kills and 400 points and a tie too and this on a light mech. The teammates congratulate me for my work and i return for another match.

This demostrates that a light mech not necessary will be bad,as a light mech pilot i starting to know that my work is to support heavyes or maybe joining to other lights for chase an enemy assault (that in fact,this has been happened to me on another match) Also,i have matches that teamates only killed one enemy. So it depends on ur teammates and common work for win the match. And every mech have different situations that excels or fails. U must find at what excel ur mech,whatever is if a light or an assault.

This is a webpage that can help u to loadout ur favorite first mech how u want:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/

First of all,u must know what every weapon does trying the trial mechs or watching ur teammates,once u know what all weapons do,decide what u want on the first questions on this post. Also,dont try to do great things on Alpine peaks map if u have srms,either on Viridian bog if u have lrms. U must know maps too,for know to position ur mechs.

Megapost finished.

TheRAbbi, on 04 January 2016 - 09:23 AM, said:

Clan mediums are weird at the moment.

That is not totally correct,try the Nova S with 4 or 6 small pulse lasers and 4 machineguns,u going to be surprised.

Edited by Ximigami, 04 January 2016 - 12:28 PM.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

Ximigami, on 04 January 2016 - 12:23 PM, said:

The one u want. People here can recommend u a lot of mechs,loadouts and other things,but at the end,the decission is urs. But question that,do u prefer close range misiles or long range misiles,u prefer small lasers or large lasers,do u want ur mech with ECM or u prefer jumpjets instead???? U prefer ACs2 or a big AC20 one???? Also,when u create ur first mech with a loadout created in ur mind,u must master ur mech. There is nothing to do if u pick an incredible Dire Wolf if u do 0 kills and less than 100 points per match. U must know either,that ur first times on MWO u will dissappoint the game,because u dont know how to control ur mech or u dont have correct aim,also u dont know where to position. New players have bad starts on MWO.

As for me,i still knowing how to control my mech,but at least i starting to know how to aim and positioning,sometimes i have faults and cost me the match,but meh,there are good and bad matches. Before build my Jenner with the first 25 matches cbills,i usually pick the Raven 3L. One of this matches i try to do a suicidal act,because i only want to gain the match cbills. So i shutdown on a corner and wait for beign killed. But at the distance i notice an afk enemy player,so i think "why not?" so i killed him and later i go to the heart of battle...well,finishing this post,i ended the match with 5 kills and 400 points and a tie too and this on a light mech. The teammates congratulate me for my work and i return for another match.

This demostrates that a light mech not necessary will be bad,as a light mech pilot i starting to know that my work is to support heavyes or maybe joining to other lights for chase an enemy assault (that in fact,this has been happened to me on another match) Also,i have matches that teamates only killed one enemy. So it depends on ur teammates and common work for win the match. And every mech have different situations that excels or fails. U must find at what excel ur mech,whatever is if a light or an assault.

This is a webpage that can help u to loadout ur favorite first mech how u want:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/

First of all,u must know what every weapon does trying the trial mechs or watching ur teammates,once u know what all weapons do,decide what u want on the first questions on this post. Also,dont try to do great things on Alpine peaks map if u have srms,either on Viridian bog if u have lrms. U must know maps too,for know to position ur mechs.

Megapost finished.




That is not totally correct,try the Nova S with 4 or 6 small pulse lasers and 4 machineguns,u going to be surprised.

NOVA, that's the other one I was trying to think of. It's alright. COULD be better, though. Best builds are really hot and break ghost heat. Doesn't have the fun upgrades that make Clan omnimechs awesome. It COULD have been great, but it wasn't. Still has its niche, like that burst-brawly medium thing. FUN in public queue matches. Gets crushed in CW. Also a decent poptart, but the Shadow Cat is honestly a LOT better for that.

[Ximigami]

TheRAbbi, on 04 January 2016 - 01:03 PM, said:

NOVA, that's the other one I was trying to think of. It's alright. COULD be better, though. Best builds are really hot and break ghost heat. Doesn't have the fun upgrades that make Clan omnimechs awesome. It COULD have been great, but it wasn't. Still has its niche, like that burst-brawly medium thing. FUN in public queue matches. Gets crushed in CW. Also a decent poptart, but the Shadow Cat is honestly a LOT better for that.

If the Nova is good and Shadow Cat is better then not all clan medium mechs are weird

[Koniving]

SilverRathalos, on 03 January 2016 - 10:32 PM, said:

Hey guys I am really new to the game and know almost nothing about it, I played some matches in trial Mechs and accumulated 15 million ComStar bills.
I am trying to buy a Mech that is right for me, not sure which one to get. I am leaning towards the Dire Wolf cause it just looks so cool lol. I want something that has good guns and can take a beating. I'm not really good at fast Mechs, they seem to require a lot of skill to maneuver.
I really don't know what my play style is and what I want, I'm just a newb please halp!

Consider the following mechs:
Clan:
Dire Wolf (100 tons)
Warhawk (85 tons)

Inner Sphere:
King Crab (100 tons)
Atlas (100 tons)
Stalker (85 tons)
Battlemaster (85 tons).

Since you want an assault mech to be able to tank and deliver damage, these are very suitable options. Please keep in mind that 100 ton mechs are often ungodly slow especially for a player who hasn't unlocked any skill trees. It is imperative to unlock those skill trees asap. The 85 ton mechs listed can be considered to be "Trainer" assault mechs. Their maneuverability is more reasonable, better allowing mistakes without the consequences being as hair-pullingly devastating.

Perhaps these might help.

A Dire Wolf established for long range combat as a deadly weapons platform sporting 60 tons of deadly firepower.
(Supported by an ECM-carrying Atlas.)

The same Dire Wolf (coined Dire Cow) versus a Dire Whale (Dire Wolf armed with lots of autocannons).
(This Dire Wolf is providing support)

Atlas, Dire Wolf, and Warhawk team-oriented gameplay. (Has 3 matches, each played as one mech.)
Bonus.

Spoiler

Dire Wolf versus Atlas, third person perspective in one versus one combat (Solaris rules; results may not be the same in standard MWO combat.)

Also take this Mechlab utility. Use it to compare the mechs I mentioned.

Edited by Koniving, 04 January 2016 - 03:46 PM.

[Koniving]

SilverRathalos, on 03 January 2016 - 10:47 PM, said:

And thanks for the help, not sure what clans and inner sphere thing is though, yet.

If you have seen these then take the politics of Game of Thrones and the technological disparity of FireFly, then splice it together and you have what is going on in Battletech / MWO.

For the general details, this first video follows the IS.
The Inner Sphere.
And this video gives a brief history on the Clans, up to the invasion to retake the Inner Sphere away from what the Clans view as corrupt leadership (i.e. now).
The Clans.

Edited by Koniving, 04 January 2016 - 02:38 PM.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

Ximigami, on 04 January 2016 - 01:15 PM, said:

If the Nova is good and Shadow Cat is better then not all clan medium mechs are weird

Explain the Ice Ferret, then.

I WIN!

Weird. See? Told ya!



Seriously, I'm not sure that I'd put the SHC above the NVA overall. Neither was wholly impressive, either had its niche(s), either was still outmatched in that niche by something else. Nova... Man, I had such high hopes for that thing. Dat heat tho...

Ice Ferret and Mist Lynx are proof that Clan omnimechs CAN and sometimes DO suck eggs. In the hands of a rare few pilots, they can be good. In the hands of most, though, they are mediocre on their best days. Why we even GOT the Ice Ferret at all, is a great mystery to me. Better to go without a mech in that slot, than to go with THAT mech. I don't know if the IS even HAS a medium that bad...

[Ximigami]

TheRAbbi, on 04 January 2016 - 03:01 PM, said:

Explain the Ice Ferret, then.

I WIN!

Weird. See? Told ya!



Seriously, I'm not sure that I'd put the SHC above the NVA overall. Neither was wholly impressive, either had its niche(s), either was still outmatched in that niche by something else. Nova... Man, I had such high hopes for that thing. Dat heat tho...

Ice Ferret and Mist Lynx are proof that Clan omnimechs CAN and sometimes DO suck eggs. In the hands of a rare few pilots, they can be good. In the hands of most, though, they are mediocre on their best days. Why we even GOT the Ice Ferret at all, is a great mystery to me. Better to go without a mech in that slot, than to go with THAT mech. I don't know if the IS even HAS a medium that bad...

"Not all medium clan mechs are weird" "Not all" "Not all..." "not all..." not all..." See???? Glasses???? Told ya???? I explain in chinesse???? Please make me a favor and dont reply to my answers at this forum,because u are an especie of balls toucher,with no more than 25 years old. Thanks.

Edited by Ximigami, 05 January 2016 - 12:31 AM.

[Ximenet]

TheRAbbi, on 04 January 2016 - 03:01 PM, said:

Explain the Ice Ferret, then.

Same as Cicada.

[Rogue Jedi]

not really, the CDA despite being smaller can go at the same speed with an extra 2 tones of pod space if both have the same armor, it also looks a lot smaller and seems to handle better, the IFR really needs to downgrade its engine to give it a better weapons payload, or to put it another way why take the IFR when you can take the ACH which is the same speed, more agile, and only has 1 ton less to play with despite having 3 tones of fixed Jumpjets and being 15 tones lighter