38 replies to this topic

[Leone]

I'm not a big fan of the raven. I couldn't really do too much with it.

That said, I was taught light tactics by a raven pilot, so, I mean, they can't be that bad.

So, lights and assaults are the hardest to start with an you mentioned a few assaults mechs as potential next mechs. Should you choose to go through with it, I offer Some thoughts.

In specific I take a differing view than most in mech building and design, show my builds and how I use them, as well as pointing out a few of the glaring errors I make. (Not all of them of course, just enough to appear humble.) If anything else, it might help give you some ideas about larger scale mech tactics.

As for making a new account, it is an option, but methinks it depends on how well you enjoy the raven. Your gonna know best whether it's worth it or not for ya.

~Leone

Edited by Leone, 28 November 2016 - 08:34 PM.

[Jingseng]

Accept failure: it will happen no matter what. This applies to matches, builds, and mech purchasing.

Rather, learn from it. Stick around and spectate. Pay attention at all times: to what you do that works, what you do that doesn't, what others are doing, whether it works or not. Note what pisses you off, and why. Note when gameplay tactics change for you.

Learn to think for yourself, instead of being sheep doing what you are told: are you the one spending money and playing, or are others getting a free NPC out of you? When you think about what works and what doesn't, think in terms of big picture. Dying last is both still dying and still losing.

Take it slow. Real improvement takes time. Bad days happen. So do good. Neither is a reason to quit thinking and analyzing.

[Jingseng]

As for specifics, I bought a raven early too and didn't like it.

It's no reason to cry scream and start all over. You need to learn the way the mech needs to be piloted, rather than try to shove it into your play style. It's as good a mech as any for learning, learning your own style, and practicing all the things I mentioned before.

Failure happens. Roll with it. Start saving. Learn from the trials what you like. Consider leveraging the sale.

This beginning part of the game is a short period compared to the rest.

[Rogue Jedi]

The Raven is not a bad Mech, it is just not great for what you said you want to do, the most popular raven build is 2 ERLL, more fire support than harasser.

For more of a harasser type role you could load SRMs and MLs with max engine, or if your raven has balistic hardpoints perhaps an AC10 LB10X or AC20, if you co for those you will have to make compromises on armor or speed

For energy/balistic light harassers the balistic componant will usualy be machine guns, they do not do much against armor but are pretty good against structure, especialy with 4+

For the sort of thing you want the Spider 5K, Firestarter Ember, Arctic Cheetah

For pure energy, most Firestarters, arctic cheetahs, Jenners, wolfhounds, some locusts or commandos, the urbanmech or 2 honorary lights the Viper or cicada (40 ton mediums which move like Light mechs)

That is why I asked for more information, I would have preferred to narrow the list down a bit more

[SnagaDance]

Coming back to that free Centurion I mentioned, I've found the Centurions to be excellent harrassment mechs, especially in the lower tiers where you are located. Take a look at this build that served me wel back in the days:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9182474fa8e1457

Now that's a fully optimized build with an XL engine and even the not terribly efficient Ferro Fibrous armor (Endo is always better so should be taken first when applicable!). You can also run it in a cheaper way though. Drop a heatsink and a few points of armor from the Head and you can do without the Ferro. And if you want to run with the Standard 200 engine it comes with I would downgrade the SRM4's to 2's and drop that other heatsink.

As for playing it, just plink away with that AC2 and ERLL at range, it's not really about damage but about harrassment! You can do this for a long time without running into heat issues. Always target with R and look for those weak spots to exploit.
When it's time to get close and personal those 3 SRM4's pack a mean punch in a tight package. That's a 24 point shotgun really. And if your fire discipline is good you can fire them for a long time on their own without overheating (don't hesitate to use the AC/2 and ERLL as well against an opponent that is at death's door though, but prepare to be punished by the heat!).

Did I mention it comes with a 30% C-bill boost? That mech can be a good C-bill earner as you will get yourself a lot of Kill Assists, and once you get those SRMs figured out you'll be getting destroyed components and kills as well.

[Jingseng]

Oh yeah... is it too late for him to pick up the NCIX?

[Blind Baku]

Diggorison, on 28 November 2016 - 06:19 PM, said:

Lindybeige? What does he have to do with Mechwarrior?

I don't know about making a new account. Is it really that bad that I chose the Raven? I messed with it a bit more and got it to a decent spot where it's definitely useful. If the grinding doesn't decline beyond where I'm currently at (~100k/round) then I'm fine with it.
Would it be wrong of me not go straight to other Ravens and instead grab another mech in another class I like or is that madly inefficient?

No, no they are not (I might have a bias, see sig). Again, I would recommend

1)Can you get a hold of a mech that gives a C-Bill Bonus (Free options right now would be the CN9-A(NCIX)¹ or HBK Hero; If you're cool with throwing down some money it opens a ton of other options but that becomes a much bigger discussion about what you want to do in game, etc...).

You don't need a 30% c-bill bonus, but having it is a huge plus, especially if you can find a mech that just feel right (for me, RFL-LK and the PNT-10k are my money makers).

-If no-

2) Did you enjoy your RVN-3L enough to be open to getting the other 2?

If yes, remember in their current state the 3L is the squishiest, both the 2x and 4x have quirks to make them a bit tougher, and if you already picked up a near max XL engine for the Raven Chassis, you can strip and just shuffle it around, saving C-bills for other things like a radar derp. This also gives you 3 of a kind, which means you can master the mechs. Skills are a huge bonus to the mechs, especially when you start combining them with modules (the projected DPS for a Raven 4x with no bonuses to the 2 erlls is roughly 2.2; that same mech plus fast firing x2 and max cooldown mod on the erlls goes up to roughly 2.5... not a huge jump on paper but I am not accounting for heat, which you would get bonuses to as well².

-if no-

3) You could always hit 'reset' and just roll an new pilot.

Wouldn't be my preference bu I can understand the notion. It also brings you back to "What role on the battlefield are you looking to play?"

1 I think this is still active
2 Heat threshold for a RVN4x with no bonuses and 11 DHS is roughly 51 per heat sim, with 11 DHS and Elite skills it is roughly 61
EDIT: Added links to Smurfy's, Snafets, Heatsim, etc...

Edited by Blind Baku, 29 November 2016 - 07:25 AM.

[Natred]

Change your shift key to arm lock toggle, move your in game mouse sensitivity down. I use .32 with 800 dpi. Remember to use the r key to see where the enemy is weak. Stay mobile and in cover most of the time. Pay attention to when the enemy uses their heat especially in a light. I use several other different key bindings as well.. I use module slots with uav and coolshot with z and v. When your new though you prolly don't want to use them tell you get a healthy assortment of Mechs and your not hurting for c bills. Save up for radar deprivation as a light without ecm it's essential.

Overall pay attention to your team, be a good team player stay positive. Get used to scouting and run into 5 people it happens don't be discouraged. Watch your heat and notice how much heat your weapons use when firing them all so you do not overheat in front of enemies.

[Koniving]

LikeUntoGod, on 28 November 2016 - 02:53 PM, said:

With a Summoner...
I'm impressed.

Side note: Far as I know Lindybeige has nothing to do with MWO.
However, I love the channel so it's good for that.

[TooDumbToQuit]

Koniving, on 29 November 2016 - 09:46 AM, said:

With a Summoner...
I'm impressed.

Side note: Far as I know Lindybeige has nothing to do with MWO.
However, I love the channel so it's good for that.

Thanks! I threw in a couple of curves on my list, lol.

[SnagaDance]

Koniving, on 29 November 2016 - 09:46 AM, said:

Side note: Far as I know Lindybeige has nothing to do with MWO.
However, I love the channel so it's good for that.

I also liked him but I unsubscribed when it turned out he was totally incapable of admitting to be wrong on something, going so far as to basically call dissenters stupid while completely disregarding good (and true) points that were made.

He's a knowledgeable guy, intelligent sure, but like they say wisdom comes by knowing how much one does not know, and acknowledging you can be (partially) wrong and from that come to new insights.

[epikt]

Koniving, on 29 November 2016 - 09:46 AM, said:

With a Summoner...
I'm impressed.

If we're talking about the "nipples" Summoner there's nothing really to be surprised, this mech is the best PPC poptart in the game. I'm not telling it was a bad game and don't want to minor LikeUntoGod's achievement, but when I have one of these mechs in my team I expect them to perform, especially on Polar Highland.

[Koniving]

SnagaDance, on 30 November 2016 - 03:44 AM, said:

I also liked him but I unsubscribed when it turned out he was totally incapable of admitting to be wrong on something, going so far as to basically call dissenters stupid while completely disregarding good (and true) points that were made.

He's a knowledgeable guy, intelligent sure, but like they say wisdom comes by knowing how much one does not know, and acknowledging you can be (partially) wrong and from that come to new insights.

O can figure a few po that you may be talking about. O have seen him be wrong a few times )armor class meaning better ability to avoid being hit as opposed to not being hurt from the hit)
I've seen him made post vid corrections.

[Diggorison]

I'm not going to make a new account. I don't mind the Raven now that I've messed with it more and gotten used to it, though I need a new engine to giddy up.

Thanks for the tips guys, I've not played a whole lot this week but the weekend is near enough. From those sessions I will decide where to go from there.

[SnagaDance]

Good for you!

I assume you want to get yourself a nice XL-engine. Be warned though that the Raven variants do not all have the same max. engine sizes. The Champion version of the 3L (the ECM one) comes with the XL295, and this is often an engine you'd like putting in there (also the max. engine size of Firestarters btw, quite handy for them). BUT the other 2 Ravens have a max. engine size of 275, so you can't use the 295 for them!

So that would mean a second very expensive XL engine, quite a big cost for a new player, especially considering things like the also needed DHS, Endo and Ferro upgrades.

So you might want to think about getting yourself an XL275 instead and use that for all 3 Ravens. The 275 is incidentally also the max. engine size of most Centurions and is a good fit for many 55 ton mechs as well. That said, in mechs that have an engine cap higher than 275 the 280 is actually superior with slightly more power but exactly the same weight.

Keep an eye out for events. These will often give you the possibility to earn extra C-bills (sometimes into the millions) which can make grinding for upgrades a bit less painful.

Good luck and see you on the battlefield!

[Diggorison]

Not that this won't be easy to check once I get the game up and going, but would I need to remove the engine and add it to the relevant mech each time or does the game consider each part/weapon you own and is added to a pool of parts to use for each mech?

[Tarl Cabot]

Diggorison, on 01 December 2016 - 04:56 PM, said:

Not that this won't be easy to check once I get the game up and going, but would I need to remove the engine and add it to the relevant mech each time or does the game consider each part/weapon you own and is added to a pool of parts to use for each mech?

Once an engine or module is used in a mech, it is locked in that mech until removed. There is a pool showing engines and other components you own that are NOT currently equipped. And if there are no freed up components, when you select that item, a tally showing the cost will show up to the left in the CART TOTAL.

But I "think" you mean, once the engine is in that particular raven, even after logging out then back in, it and the other components stay in that mech until you removed them and hit save again.

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 01 December 2016 - 06:25 PM.

[Blind Baku]

Tarl Cabot, on 01 December 2016 - 06:24 PM, said:

Once an engine or module is used in a mech, it is locked in that mech until removed. There is a pool showing engines and other components you own that are NOT currently equipped. And if there are no freed up components, when you select that item, a tally showing the cost will show up to the left in the CART TOTAL.

But I "think" you mean, once the engine is in that particular raven, even after logging out then back in, it and the other components stay in that mech until you removed them and hit save again.

Basically this.

If you only own 1 XL 270 and need it to complete your 3 different raven builds it will stay with which ever mech you equipped, and saved it to. If you leave a match and want to drop again before that match is over you will have to go into the mechlab, un-equip the engine, save, select other raven, equip, save, launch.

[Xaat Xuun]

Jingseng, on 29 November 2016 - 06:15 AM, said:

Oh yeah... is it too late for him to pick up the NCIX?

as far as I know . . nope not late as far as I know, should still be able to get it
just add the code and see what happens

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

one thing I can think of,
going to user the Ebon Jaguar as a example

lets say you plan to play with the EBJ, and mastering it, but can only afford to get them by way of C-Bills.
there is a EBJ as trial, buy it last, but still use it in it's trial form.
purchase 2 other Variants of the EBJ, and start leveling them, and keep using the Trial EBJ, you'll be earning XP still.

depending on your winnings, by the time you can afford the Trial EBJ, you will have earned enough XP, to totally master all 3 Variants.

A pilot can do this with any of the trial mechs, saves some cbills and and feel quicker to mastering all 3 variants.

just saying, may be better to purchase the trial last. hope that made some sense

and that's about the only pointier I could give, take it or toss it

Edited by Xaat Xuun, 02 December 2016 - 07:09 PM.