8 replies to this topic

[Excessive Paranoia]

Being primarily a light pilot, I've been used to fast, maneuverable mechs for almost as long as I've been playing the game (closed beta). The problem is that I want to start working my way into CW more, and, while I'm still much better in a light or medium, I want to be competent in heavies and assaults so that I can have those options available to me. The problem is, the heavier I go, the quicker I die because the mechs just don't respond the way I need them to in order to use the skills my light / medium mech bag of tricks.

Now, I know these mechs are suitably durable to withstand prolonged short range firefights as I've seen it happen many times, but for the life of me I can't seem to pull it off. Either I'm too slow to get to / withdraw from the fight, or once I'm there, someone on the red team alphas my CT down within seconds and if I'm alive, its only just.

Is there a guide somewhere about how to pilot these mechs? If not, will someone write one, or at least give some pointers?

EDIT: I've read that a lot of these get at least a little better after mastering, but I've gone through three different chassis now and gotten so frustrated at the speed of my death that I've moved on after getting basic efficiencies on only one or two variants. Does mastering really help that much, or is it as I suspect and I need a whole new set of skills to utilize that master?

Edited by Excessive Paranoia, 22 December 2015 - 06:17 AM.

[Leone]

I'll just leave this here...

~Leone

[plodder]

Leone, on 22 December 2015 - 09:52 AM, said:

I'll just leave this here...

~Leone

I like his post link. Comprehensive without a lot I fluff.
No guides from me, only philosophy.

The dance of the fat

Speak to one's soul betwixt lines

Incoming Missiles

My philosophy on the trundling war fortresses is basic and simple to understand. If it were not, how would I hold on to it? Heh heh.

Primary: intuition-know where your team is wanting to and be moving the moment your mech hits the ground. Mini Map and large map are your best tools.

Communications with team to ask or give status of self, team, or enemy. If not status then ideas. If assaults and heavies exact damage appropriate to their tonnage, or survive till the end game together, your odds are tasty.

Physical movement: Reverse is your friend. Back off when prudent full throttle if not.
WHEN ISOLATED against a significantly faster mech FULL REVERSE. Do this dance move for turn radius purposes. Follow light or med till firing arc meets end, then, snap torso to opposite side while also turning legs in opposite direction they were turning. Light or med is usually in your alpha, but chain fire or stagger groups.

Good luck, have fun!
Ps, get on teamspeak with premium time and train with any veteran assault pilot

Edited by plodder, 22 December 2015 - 12:22 PM.

[Excessive Paranoia]

Thank you both for the replies, I'm reading through your book right now, and I'm getting a lot of good insights.

[Fobhopper]

I have a guide to piloting Fat mechs in the signature, just click on the link (which reminds me I need to do an update for some of the most recent mechs released).

But if you have specific questions in mind, feel free to ask. I love assault and heavy mechs and have been piloting them since closed beta. I have piloted almost every mech chassis in the game.

[Athousandson]

Just some short tips as an Atlas pilot.

- Move cover to cover, staying out in the open will get your lurmed

- Like plodder said, have a sense of where your team is

- Also try to get a sense of what you're up against before you move in. Assaults are too slow to pull out after being committed and tend to take a lot of damage before you get back into cover

- And I guess the last bit of it is to push with your team and not be afraid to take some hits. Torso twist frequently if you feel like your CT is getting cored out too quickly.

[Autobot9000]

I think there is just one simple rule to remember for assault pilots: You're in an overwhelmingly strong machine as long as you're not outnumbered or facing a light mech.

You must live by this rule. Assaults will melt heavies and medium mechs. But they get killed very quickly, if they are outnumbered. I can not count the situations, where I've seen assault pilots engage combat vs 2 or even 3 at the same time. If you however keep numbers even you will have glorious games.

[Autobot9000]

Maybe a 2nd advice is also essential: Assault is very difficult to play, because you need to know where you can move and where you can't. You're too slow to correct your movement in case it goes wrong. Also because you can not evade shots with your movement you must learn to torso twist effectively.

Heavy mechs are different. They are versatile and generally very well rounded. They got protection, fire power and maneuverability. You will find those the easist class to play I assume.

gl & hf

Edited by Autobot9000, 02 January 2016 - 04:11 PM.

[Guitar Czar]

I don't have any real advice for switching to the big ones, I just made a transition myself from fast mediums to slow heavies. Spent the past 3 days leveling my Marauders, today I decided to jump back into my Stormcrow (ERPPC+SSRM 20) and see how that went.

I had my best match of all time, 3 kills, 700 dmg -.-

If nothing else being in a fat, slow mech is going to force you to develop better situational awareness and will make maneuvering in a fast mech seem like delicious, ******* cake.