20 replies to this topic

[Rayvn26]

Greetings everyone and salutations! As the title says I need a little advice. I am a long time Battletech player, started in 1984, but just recently got into MWO. That being said I have a few 'Mechs that I love on the table but am finding that they don't do so well online, it could be me not knowing all the little tricks and such.

I've only got about 64 matches so I know I'm not all that and what have you, but I thought my knowledge of BT would give me a little edge but it seems that's not really the case. The "mechs I field in BT are the Battle Master, Atlas, Archer, Phoenix Hawk, most of the Omni Mechs. But my hands down favorites are the Timber Wolf and Warhammer. If you see me at a BT game you'll see those 2 100% of the time.

Now here's where I need the advice. I really want to use those "Mechs, thems my babies. I own a few Mechs now, but after reading some of the advice I should have waited before buying them. These are the mechs I own:

JR7-K, TBR-Prime, AS7-RSC, AS7-BH, AS7-D-DC, TBT-5J, CPTL-C4, CPTL-K2 and a CDA-3FL. I know I want to add more Timber Wolves and the Warrhammer package. I'd like to know if my favorite mechs are viable mechs to play on a regular basis or are they weak in the game. I know I need more practice to really see them "open up" but if the listed mechs I field in BT aren't really worth it then I'd like to know before hand. I mean anything can look good on paper. I've heard and watched a few videos on the Battle Master but nobody seems to talk about the others.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky]

Blackhawksc has some good videos on youtube you might want to check out.

You said you saw some battlemaster videos but just incase i recommend looking up his BLR-2C video.

I also recommend looking up his timerwolf video... The one that talks about Proton's build.



Please note, both these builds run hot and of course take a lot of skill to use, but they are good videos to watch.

While many people like to make their own mechs, and builds vary from person to person, its still advised to check out Metamechs.com and look at various builds. Knowledge is power, so even if you dont like any of the builds listed, it is still a good read.

Heres a link that goes straight to the battlemaser master guide.
http://metamechs.com...s/battlemaster/

Heres a link that goes straight to the timberwolf master guide.
http://metamechs.com...es/timber-wolf/

And lastly, heres a link that goes straight to the meta tier list
http://metamechs.com...meta-tier-list/

Edited by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky, 18 August 2016 - 01:20 PM.

[Leone]

I counsel ignoring metamechs and instead finding out which weapons work for you, and working those weapons systems.

Me, I don't do well with long range energy weapons. They just feel too hot for the damage, I'd rather hug the terrain to get close then blast away with more heat efficient killing machines. That said, I do love me my ballistics and missiles. My go to ranged weapon is the AC 5 for Inner Sphere mechs, though I can do some lrm 10s pretty decently as well. (Or a few fives for closing distance with a more brawly load out, whatever works.)

Find your playstyle. Build for it.

For instance, looking at the mechs you've got, I love the tanky stompy atlas, but play it oddly less brawly than my usual (cuz it's so slow,) So my D-DC for instance is loaded with dual uac5s a few medium lasers and lrm fives. It tromp inextorably towards the enemy. Timberwolves can to a good bit of a little of everything, and suggest you get em if you like em. We can make em work for you.

I've not played with the warhammers yet (waiting for em to go on sale. I've got their bays all picked out an waiting.) But once we find your playstyle, I'd be happy to make suggestions.

~Leone.

[Hans Brackhaus]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 12:55 PM, said:

I have a few 'Mechs that I love on the table but am finding that they don't do so well online,

I'm in a similar position. I came into the game fully expecting to play the mechs I loved in TT and the Warhammer was right at the top of the list. Heck, the main reason I even decided to start playing was finding out the Warhammer is in the game. But things haven't gone exactly like I expected.

I'll say straight up that the Warhammer is a really good, really capable mech that you can field a variety of builds on. My struggle with it is wanting to play it similar to the stock tabletop loadout. It's hard to do. PPCs aren't as good as I wish they were and their arm mounts are fairly low. I'm stubbornly keeping my 6R similar to it's stock loadout and it can get work done because it has the best PPC quirks, but I could probably get better results if I replaced the PPCs or at least moved them to the torsos instead of the arms. But I'm not.

The other variants I've experimented more with, replacing the PPCs with large or large pulse lasers to good effect. The 6R and the Black Widow are also capable of good ballistics builds but I haven't really tried those options out much, mainly because I want my Warhammer to feel like a Warhammer, you know?

So I say the Warhammer is worth the buy but you'll have to find your own balance between game mechanics and the TT mech you know and love.

You mentioned the Archer and that's a mech I play a lot. Again the stock loadouts don't work very well, but I replaced the LRM 20's with combinations of smaller launchers. So I guess you could say I play them to the spirit of the classic Archer if not the rules and I enjoy them very much.

Good luck with your purchases.

[Rayvn26]

As yes, my play style. I completely understand the phrase, whilst having so few games in and a horrid K/D of 0.05 I think my play style is to die LOL. Joking aside. Normally I'm very aggressive but that seems to get you killed rather fast regardless of your mech. I've had rather good luck with LRMs but from what I've read they aren't that hard to use, I do like the lasers but I seem to have a difficult time holding the reticle on the target till the end of the beam, perhaps pulse lasers may work better? I may try to get some ACs and try those out as I am used to leading a target while shooting. I don't really like sitting back and waiting for something to happen but that seems to be how the game is played.

Sweet! It's nice to know that my beloved Warhammer is a good choice and the Archer isn't terrible, but I do understand that I'll have to find my niche with loadouts and such, another issue I'm having, and giving it a go. Perhaps using the trail mechs with certain weapons and seeing which works best for me is the route to go, yeah?

I was having an issue with my mouse and it has an option for it's sensitivity on it, I didn't even look for the option in game though, thick headed I guess. So I'll have to adjust that I think, and try that arm lock thing as well. I wonder is there a way to use a controller with this game or would that make it more difficult?

Thank you for the advice I'm absorbing it all and trying it out in the training areas

[Wedge Red Leader]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 12:55 PM, said:

JR7-K, TBR-Prime, AS7-RSC, AS7-BH, AS7-D-DC, TBT-5J, CPTL-C4, CPTL-K2 and a CDA-3FL. I know I want to add more Timber Wolves and the Warrhammer package. I'd like to know if my favorite mechs are viable mechs to play on a regular basis or are they weak in the game.

The Timberwolfs and Warhammers are not even close to "viable", they are both great mechs

[Koniving]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 12:55 PM, said:

Greetings everyone and salutations! As the title says I need a little advice. I am a long time Battletech player, started in 1984, but just recently got into MWO. That being said I have a few 'Mechs that I love on the table but am finding that they don't do so well online, it could be me not knowing all the little tricks and such.

I've only got about 64 matches so I know I'm not all that and what have you, but I thought my knowledge of BT would give me a little edge but it seems that's not really the case. The "mechs I field in BT are the Battle Master, Atlas, Archer, Phoenix Hawk, most of the Omni Mechs. But my hands down favorites are the Timber Wolf and Warhammer. If you see me at a BT game you'll see those 2 100% of the time.

Now here's where I need the advice. I really want to use those "Mechs, thems my babies. I own a few Mechs now, but after reading some of the advice I should have waited before buying them. These are the mechs I own:

JR7-K, TBR-Prime, AS7-RSC, AS7-BH, AS7-D-DC, TBT-5J, CPTL-C4, CPTL-K2 and a CDA-3FL. I know I want to add more Timber Wolves and the Warrhammer package. I'd like to know if my favorite mechs are viable mechs to play on a regular basis or are they weak in the game. I know I need more practice to really see them "open up" but if the listed mechs I field in BT aren't really worth it then I'd like to know before hand. I mean anything can look good on paper. I've heard and watched a few videos on the Battle Master but nobody seems to talk about the others.

Any advice would be appreciated.

MWO doesn't use 1:1 battletech stats, as such things work very differently and do not translate well. Really, it works more like 3:2:1 stats. 3 times the damage rate, 2 times the armor rate, 1 times the thermal effectiveness of double heatsinks (keep in mind that this is only after 'elite skills' are unlocked, otherwise it pales on inferior to TT DHS).

Contrary to what some may say, all 'Mechs are viable...for someone. The key here is that not all 'Mechs seem to be compatible with all types of players.

For example Dragons are often considered to be bad 'Mechs. In MWO to use them for their tabletop purpose, I'd have to agree they are awful. These things aren't the straight brawlers with amazing tankability. They can tank more than some people realize but it requires a bit of finesse. Torso twisting and arm blocking. This said, where they excel in MWO beyond what most players will ever comprehend is in their arm-mounted weaponry. Using the Left CTRL key with Armlock off, the arms can be aimed independent of the body. The range the arms can move surpasses almost any other 'Mech and arms always move faster than torsos. Combine this with high speed and the results can be staggering.
So rather than attacking head on as most players do, Dragons excel if you attack the enemy as you run past them, while never directly looking at them. Rush, shoot, track with arms, swing around for another pass. The Dragon is the Calvary of the battlefield here in MWO. And yet anyone who fails to understand this, or cannot play like that, will tell you that Dragons are not viable or that they are terrible 'Mechs... when in fact they are one of the best 'Mechs in the game.

Your Warhammer and Timber Wolf are both very viable to many player types.

If you have not, open the Skill tree and begin unlocking immediately. Rack up 3 variants of any particular Chassis and level them up all the way. If not, assuming you leveled up the basics quite literally almost every other enemy has twice your mobility and combat enhancements when using the same engines and weapons. If you haven't even gone that far... this may be your trouble.

Pulse lasers require less "holding the beam" and thus would work better.

Far as "Holding back waiting for something to happen", each battle has a minigame of "outmaneuvering" each other like a game of chess, or like Battletech tabletop. Keep track of the enemies whose locations you do know. Watch their movements. Try to isolate some. Beware of enemy flankers. Try to flank the enemy. The team that wins is the team that can get to the 'King' or the center of the enemy Death Ball from a tactically advantageous position and angle first.

Edited by Koniving, 18 August 2016 - 04:12 PM.

[Rayvn26]

Wait, I need 3 types of the same mech to get skills for 1 mech? That sounds a bit harsh, but rules are rules I guess. So should I focus on one mech with variants before moving on to another mech? Also where do I buy weapons for the mech? Is there a store? I just assumed you buy X Mech and use it as is and get X-A1 from there you can swap parts. I haven't messed around with builds at all but been reading about it and assumed that was the case, please correct me if I am wrong.

[GenghisJr]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 06:16 PM, said:

Wait, I need 3 types of the same mech to get skills for 1 mech? That sounds a bit harsh, but rules are rules I guess. So should I focus on one mech with variants before moving on to another mech? Also where do I buy weapons for the mech? Is there a store? I just assumed you buy X Mech and use it as is and get X-A1 from there you can swap parts. I haven't messed around with builds at all but been reading about it and assumed that was the case, please correct me if I am wrong.

Yep.
Weapons are available in the mechlab as you need them, click the component you wish to arm and you will get all the available options for that particular arm/torso/head.
You can master your atlas's as you have 3, but this will be more difficult given your experience, Timberwolves are very robust and forgiving, i would put my L plate on that class and master it.
If you like a fast hit and run style, the CDA F is a lot of fun, just remember the tip that its time to run once they turn toward you.
Another tip, when you hear Betty say "incoming Missiles" you want to break line of sight and then find cover(in that order) as she is pronouncing the "I" of incoming

Edited by GenghisJr, 18 August 2016 - 07:24 PM.

[762 NATO]

My most consistent producers are my warhammers and hellbringers (clan whammy ftw!). My oxide was, but rescale, so... Highly, highly, highly recommend all 4 warhammers. Each has a niche, and can be a blast to play. Timbys are also very easy to pilot, and (even though I do not always pay attention to) near the top of MetaMechs and have stayed there for a long time. After the ghost heat change, things will adjust out in a few months after mass nerfs/buffs and a new meta will be in. Plan accordingly, but I think you will find easy builds for both even after that.

[Rogue Jedi]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

I've had rather good luck with LRMs but from what I've read they aren't that hard to use,

LRMs are easy to use but also easy to counter, to use LRMs well you need to stay with the team and fire LRMs at 200-500m so they have less travel time and the enemy have less time to break the locks, ideally you want your own locks as well, sitting at the back and firing LRMs over terain is not especially helpful because your allies are putting themselves at risk to give you locks and you are not taking damage, so your armor goes to waste until a Light Mech finds you and rips you apart because you have insufficient short range weaponry.

Quote

Sweet! It's nice to know that my beloved Warhammer is a good choice and the Archer isn't terrible, but I do understand that I'll have to find my niche with loadouts and such, another issue I'm having, and giving it a go. Perhaps using the trail Mechs with certain weapons and seeing which works best for me is the route to go, yeah?

yes try as many of the trials as you can,
trial Mech loadouts are put up for vote and unfortunately the "meta" usually wins the vote so most trial Mechs have mid range laser based weapons loadouts as that has been "meta" for more than a year.

[Leone]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

Normally I'm very aggressive but that seems to get you killed rather fast regardless of your mech.

It does if your team leaves you alone, which is often the case. But, just because everyone else is playing it wrong doesn't mean you should.

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

I've had rather good luck with LRMs but from what I've read they aren't that hard to use,

Easy to use, hard to master, unlike lasers, which are point an click and doesn't really have much nuance to it. There's alot to learn about proper missile usage and tactics. How to lead with dumb fire, using the fear of incoming fire to corral the enemy into where you want em, etc...

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

I don't really like sitting back and waiting for something to happen but that seems to be how the game is played.

Then don't. It isn't. Some folk like that, but if your just dropping in quickplay, then do whatever. Have a ball.

Now, Community Warfare, yeah, you need to work together, teamplay it up. that said, aggressiveness wins games. The passive team gets outmanouvered, and often defeated in detail.

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

Perhaps using the trail mechs with certain weapons and seeing which works best for me is the route to go, yeah?

Yes, definitely the way to go. Or... it would be, if they weren't all variations on a theme. They used to have some real options. Still, I say give em a go, find out what you do an don't like.

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

I wonder is there a way to use a controller with this game or would that make it more difficult?

Everything I've heard/read points to more difficult.

~Leone

[mailin]

Rayvn26, on 18 August 2016 - 06:16 PM, said:

Wait, I need 3 types of the same mech to get skills for 1 mech? That sounds a bit harsh, but rules are rules I guess. So should I focus on one mech with variants before moving on to another mech? Also where do I buy weapons for the mech? Is there a store? I just assumed you buy X Mech and use it as is and get X-A1 from there you can swap parts. I haven't messed around with builds at all but been reading about it and assumed that was the case, please correct me if I am wrong.

Sort of but yes, we genenrally recommend buying three variants of the same mech, for instance a Catapult A1, C1 and K2 to fully elite (or better yet, master) the one or ones you want. You can get all of the basic skills with a single variant, but when you fully elite a mech, all the basic skills are doubled, which is why we say to buy three variants.

As far as buying weapons or equipment, when you go into the mechbay on the top of the screen or loadout on the side you will have the option to change weapons and equipment. Initially you will need to purchase these things and there is a running total of the cost on the lower left hand side. You don't actually spend any c-bills until you hit the save button.

Also, note the tabes for weapons, ammo, equipment, engines and modules on the right hand side.

Good luck, welcome to MWO, and I hope to see you on the battlefield.

Edited by mailin, 19 August 2016 - 03:42 AM.

[mailin]

Lrms aren't that hard to use, but they ARE hard to use well.

[mailin]

As far as waiting goes, you do actually want to be a little patient, but it also depends on your weapons and mech. I have a Nova that is all very, very short range. In that I need to wait until our two teams have closed to brawling range. I also have a couple of mechs with ER PPCs and jump jets that I can engage the enemy at much greater distances.

Whatever you do, do not engage the enemy by yourself or in such a way that the enemy team can focus only on you.

[Koniving]

Need one for basic skill tree. Need 3 for elites/master tree.
Toss the ones you don't like afterward.

Answer is a bit more complicated as it can just be any 3 chassis of same weight class to go from elite to master.

[Nerd Incognito]

I can speak to the viability of the TBR for a noobie mech. It was my first, and is still one of my favourites.

I'm not a fantastic player by any stretch, but if I may offer three pieces of advice that I have benefited the most from:

1) if you're a brawler (and it sounds like you might be), don't keep peeking--it gets you shot in the head/shoulders by LPL...a lot. Be patient and move with the group, use cover, and wait for your moment. Also, don't keep peeking in the same damned spot...
2) Stick with the group; you can play aggressively, but stay near enough to get help or retreat when needed.
3) Learn to torso twist and spread the damage out.

Here's the TBR build I've grown most fond of. The lasers are mostly for when you're just out of range for your SRMs. Alpha-ing with both gets hot REALLY fast, and forces you to stay on target for longer, rather than twisting. Use it only when you must. Alternatively, the ERML can be swapped for SPL, but I prefer the range versatility over the constant alpha, personally.

[Rayvn26]

Koniving, on 19 August 2016 - 11:35 AM, said:

Need one for basic skill tree. Need 3 for elites/master tree.
Toss the ones you don't like afterward.

Answer is a bit more complicated as it can just be any 3 chassis of same weight class to go from elite to master.

So I can use say any 3 heavy mechs for the basic skill tree? And I thought I read someplace that my Boar's Head doesn't count as a variant. Is that right?

Vulcan500rider, on 19 August 2016 - 12:24 PM, said:

1) if you're a brawler (and it sounds like you might be), don't keep peeking--it gets you shot in the head/shoulders by LPL...a lot. Be patient and move with the group, use cover, and wait for your moment. Also, don't keep peeking in the same damned spot...

I dunno what a brawler is in this game, in BT brawers use physical attack but I didn't see any options for that here, yet.

Edited by Rayvn26, 19 August 2016 - 01:26 PM.

[Koniving]

Rayvn26, on 19 August 2016 - 01:21 PM, said:

So I can use say any 3 heavy mechs for the basic skill tree? And I thought I read someplace that my Boar's Head doesn't count as a variant. Is that right?

Okay, lets try this again.

Basics.
Use the mech. That's it.

3 unique Variants (4G, 4H, 4J for example) of a chassis (Hunchback, for example) MUST have basics unlocked in order to access Elites.

Level the elites.

Now...
Any 3 of the same weight class (Medium mech for example) can be used to unlock Master.

Edit:
Unique variants.
Boar's Head is a unique variant, it counts.

Atlas RS and Atlas RS(C) are NOT unique variants; they are both just an Atlas RS and would only count as a single 'Mech.

Edited by Koniving, 19 August 2016 - 02:25 PM.

[Rayvn26]

OH! Ok that makes more sense now. So basically it's like mastering the basics of said mech then proving yourself with that chassis then showing your badassery with that class (light/medium/heavy/assault)? Groovy I can do that and it doesn't sound so redundant now. Thank you, Koniving.