26 replies to this topic

[Demise]

Well to start I just want to point out that I don't have the depth of knowledge of TT vets (whom I thank for all they have shared with us so far on the MWO forum), although I do have a good understanding of table top war gaming through many years of Warhammer. So my BT cred is really limited to MW2,3,4&LL and a few novels.

So, apologies for the long intro but my question to you all is -

How can I expect to contribute in my personal favourite chassis class: mediums and lower end heavies?

These mechs just feel right to me as they have the right maneuverability (lights are just too twitchy to control and aim and assaults are just too slow) and some decent firepower to boot.
I'm talking about mechs like the Shadowcat, Hellspawn, bushwacker and my all-time favourite-mech-nothing-comes-close, my beloved Uziel.

It just seems that Lights are all the rage and there will always be those who have to have their 75+ tonners.

But what exactly do you think I'll be able to do if I focus my career on meds???

[Grotonomus]

As this is all speculation and has nothing based in reality, my closest guess would be in the vein of stated Devs Role Warfare model. Mediums may possibly be used as a Recon in Force unit like in WoT. Push a lance or reinforced lance up into a wooded hill to reconnoiter it, and then send the missile boats up after to make a little Steel Rain. With the added armor and weaponry not to mention jumpjets and respectable speed these may be the fast/hard hitters in the matches that excel at flanking maneuvers or used as fast reinforcements to an area of the map that is being overwhelmed.

Any thoughts or improvements on that idea?

Edited by Arden Sortek, 11 December 2011 - 01:34 PM.

[Woodstock]

Well it all depends on how they balance each team. If it is based on some kind of BV then your medium mech will be valuable. Especially if they do not make the sides of even numbers. Just even BV.

Further the weapons of the Battletech world are not based on penetration so your medium mech weapons will hurt a heavy/assault mech the same as any other class.

If you throw in some funky mission victory conditions and you should have a balanced system that keeps all of the classes viable in all battles.

[Red Beard]

You mean med"iums"...

Wrong meds. Hehe...

[S3dition]

Mediums are a rough spot. They aren't as fast as light mechs or well armed as heavy mechs. What they do have is balance. A good medium pilot can take on heavy mechs with the extra agility, and out shoot light mechs with the extra firepower.

Think of mediums as the skirmishers or line mechs. They are much more prolific than heavy+ mechs, but more combat able than lights, so form the mainstay of the battlefield.

How PGI integrates them is still unknown (will they have a mix of IW and hitting power?)

I've piloted a bushwacker for years, and I love the medium class. The mechs just feel well balanced.

[Demise]

S3dition, on 11 December 2011 - 01:48 PM, said:

Think of mediums as the skirmishers or line mechs. They are much more prolific than heavy+ mechs, but more combat able than lights, so form the mainstay of the battlefield.

Sounds like I'm gonna be doing a lot of dying...

[Detonateer]

I play the TT, I played MW3 and I played MW4. In MW3, which was very close to "real Battletech", I loved the Shadow Cat A (2 ER large Lasers, 1 Streak 6 SRM, I killed several Mad Cats in 1on1 duels). In MW4, where Heavies and Assaults were the better choice, it sucked, i preferred a 60 ton Ares (3 LBX10, 2 ER medium Lasers). On the table the ScatA is a great Mech, too. I think, your choice should wait till we all know, how close MW:O ist to classic Battletech, and how "balanced" the Mech designs will be.

[SLUGGO]

pumas my favor

[Mchawkeye]

Of them all, I see the mediums working in pairs or threes, mech-hunting.
lights I see on their own, recon and force direction/information and electronic warfare.
heavies bring the pain, normally in support and power roles, mech hunting mano-a-mano.
Assults are command and center line mechs, they are the heavy hitters that bring the big smack down.

So i figure, while everyone is looking for these guys to disrupt tactical lines and strategy, two mediums and running about out manoeuvring and harassing the big guys and gunning down the wee ones.

At least, that how I imagine it.

I say this as a man that wants to pilot a Nova. I recognise we won;t be seeing the Nova for a while. sigh.

[SLUGGO]

givee me a flea with flares and ill attack any lol

[John Clavell]

Medium mechs are the back bone of almost every Inner Sphere power, and pretty much every canon force in Battletech. How PGI implements them in their 'Role Warfare' is going to be up to them, and we'll have to wait and see.

Edited by John Clavell, 11 December 2011 - 02:14 PM.

[flessar]

GO GO Centurian! Or Clint! Or Enforcer! Or... well hell Ill take 2 of each!

[Draelren]

I can only hope that assaults are going to be a rare thing. When MW4 turned mostly into assaults just sniping each other, it pissed me off.

Get in a real mech, man up, grow some balls, and actually fight.

At least that's my view. But then again I'm a clanner who has always driven a medium mech, except when I was a Star Commander in a league back in the day.

[Skwisgaar Skwigelf]

The Crab, Wolf Trap and Centurion are all cool mediums from this time period. I agree that I would like to see assaults be very rare and not even many heavies running around. The mediums should be the line mechs that most people will pilot until they advance to pretty high rank. Which ties in to my next point, I definitely think there should be a class limit based on either rank or XP (preferably XP). You want that big ugly Atlas? You gotta go out there and earn it.

[Helmer]

Depending on how SRMs are implemented the Kintaro might be my mech of choice.

[Brenden]

I just want my Shadow Hawk and Clint.

[Karyudo ds]

Draelren, on 11 December 2011 - 06:56 PM, said:

I can only hope that assaults are going to be a rare thing. When MW4 turned mostly into assaults just sniping each other, it pissed me off.

Will suck for Steiner. I actually hope they have easier access to them but at this point we really don't have much to go on. It MW2 I almost always used Warhammer IIC's. Nothing heavier and not often much lighter. Though in MW4 it was either Heavy of Medium. So I wouldn't base to much on how the other games felt. They might go insane and make lights sluggish or something. I would agree with the heavy recon to light-attacking mechs though. If they work much like in past games I will most likely go with medium or heavy...depends on the stable.

[Pave Low]

I was gonna go with a light mech preference, but after discussion witha friend will prob. request/volunteer (whatever the game option is) in a Medium.

2 Meds are easily a threat to 1 Assault or Heavy, specially if the Mediums get the first shots in!

I like the idea of the Assault Mech is used as the 'Command Ship.' Someone said - Good idea. That way Command can be like a rallying point if Lance Mechs end up getting strung out & picked off over long distances.??

[Pave Low]

Medium Preference is Phoenix Hawk. I have not used it in the PC Games but like it's stats.

Though it may be a bit on the 'light' side for a newbie to use?

My preference is being in a fire support role - so backing up the heavier Mediums Mechs basically. If that makes sense.

[Skwisgaar Skwigelf]

Makes perfect sense. LRMs and small ACs are your friends.