44 replies to this topic

[Rashhaverak]

Optimization. The math of unit damage per ton and unit damage per unit of heat combined with the concept that it is better to drop with a 35 ton capable mech that actually weights 35 tons, versus dropping with a 35 ton capable mech that actually weights 33 tons. The full loadout is anticipated to be more optimized and therefore more successful.

[Tezkat]

Isingdeath, on 18 July 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

jimhighwind is correct in the material they were used for anti-personal uses. That being said the programmers have already said that most maps will be small which means that a fast mech can get in close with another mech in very short order. In MW4 the maps were huge and it took time to close the distance. Long range was king in fact I often sniped in MW4. I wonder if with the smaller maps in MWO that being able to bring multiple short range weapons to bear will have the greater advantage.

This is another important point. Weapon balance rests as much on map design as it does on the actual stats of the equipment. The devs have stated that they specifically wanted to limit traditional sniping or circle strafing brawls in favour of more dynamic gameplay. Judging by the types of maps released thus far, be it the narrow corridors and limited visibility of the frozen city or the rolling hills of whatever that forest map is called, there should be plenty of opportunities to close into short range with an enemy. Longer range--paid for in greater weight and heat--won't benefit you unless you're in a position to make use of it.

[Mercules]

In the Mechwarrior universe open battles were rarely 1 mech vrs. 1 mech or even a lance vrs. lance. While Mechs rule the battle field, tanks and even infantry are cheaper to put into the field. You can get a unit of infantry up and trained a lot faster than you could get a lance of Mechs and for the cost of most Mech lances you could field a large amount of vehicles or infantry.

Guess what Machine Guns, Flamers, and Small Lasers are great for? Those annoying Hover Tanks that zip past you and shoot at your weaker rear armor with SRMs are not only annoying, but dangerous. While infantry is mostly for dealing with infantry, with the right anti-mech weaponry they can be very deadly.

You won't see much of this in this type of game, but on the TT large swarms of Infantry, Vehicles, and Battle Armor can overwhelm a mech and multiple fast recycling weapons with low damage are perfect for cutting down their numbers.



For mech vrs mech applications, small fast mechs can mount more Light Lasers than Medium and make better use of them.

1 heat and 3 damage vrs 3 heat and 5 damage. With no extra Heat Sinks I can mount 8 Small Lasers, fire them all while running, and gain no heat. 4 tons. To run and fire Medium I would need 4 tons, 3 Medium lasers and a Heat Sink. 8 x 3 = 24, 3 x 5= 15, and that means the Small Lasers do more damage. Rolling will balance out because I'll often have lower to hit with the Med Lasers and more chances with the Sml Lasers so it works out roughly even.

In this type of game, you could link them 4 and 4 for firing purposes and keep serious pressure on a mech alternating back and forth while firing. You would need a close in and fast mech but if you did get close you could chew a mech up fast.

[grimzod]

Terbius, on 18 July 2012 - 12:47 PM, said:

machine guns have short range? I thought they went like 1500m

Zero or Low heat output for massive up close damage. Small lasers 1 point heat for 3 damage and MG 2 damage for 0 heat. If you have the room, do it. Also, in the TT game mechs are NOT your only worry: infantry will mess u up if you don't have a MG or two and you run into a lot of them.

[wanderer]

Dalfsson, on 18 July 2012 - 12:46 PM, said:

am i the only one out there that always pulls those two weapons off any mech i use that has them? in my opinion, unless it's a mech like the piranha, those two weapons are useless. they don't do enough damage and don't have enough range to really do any good. i usually add more armor or ammo in their place.

At the ranges we saw from a lot of the gameplay videos, small lasers might well have a place- especially in large amounts.

One small laser is diddly. Nine of them on a Hunchback spamming away is low heat and high pain.