9 replies to this topic

[Evantas]

As per above, I was thinking the above combination on a scout would allow you to get target locks from a relatively safe distance for missiles and target calling in general.

But it works only for those in LOS right? Which means if you want to keep safe, radar decay might be better?

Edited by Evantas, 28 November 2016 - 05:09 AM.

[Tristan Winter]

Not terribly useful. There's only a small number of maps where you can consistently scout from a distance and get good, reliable target locks that are useful to your teammates. You need open maps like Alpine and Polar Highlands for that.

If you're going to scout targets from 1000 meters or more, it's only going to happen on big maps as well. It's kind of hard to consistently provide target locks on Canyon, for example, without being spotted. In order to maintain target locks, you need LOS. If you have LOS on a small map, any enemy with a Mk I eyeball is going to spot you at some point. Especially if LRMs are dropping and they're trying to look for spotters.

So yes, you need LOS. And no, it's not a terribly useful role. Not to mention that standing still and spotting means that you're not doing anything else. You're not protecting your assaults from enemy light mechs, you're not providing ECM to other light mechs or medium mechs, you're not doing a lot of sniping because it exposes your position. You're doing very little. This means it's very likely that you're not helping your team enough to compensate for your absence, and it also means you're earning very little XP and few C-bills.

The whole scouting aspect of MWO is sorely under-developed due to tiny maps, missing infotech, missing role warfare and a number of other issues. Most of the time, you'll do more good just poking people with 2ERLL. Which is saying something.

[INKBALL]

You will need those sensor + ecm + tag/narc. so the raven or the articcheetah are best suited for a spotter role. And even there, you might not be usefull at all on ''pugs'' (solo queue), since its 90% of the time nascaring (teams are rotating), so rotating around a lot bigger circle without being spotted and while tagging + hoping the best to have some lrms boat on the team...

[Bud Crue]

I have a cynical view of scouting in that once you've played a map a few times you pretty much know were the enemy is (DZ) and can guess with near certainty where they are going to go (Nascar!), so what is the point of "scouting"? Scouting in this game consists of the first person to gain some height and then announcing where the enemy is at and/or heading, but even this minimal effort is unnecessary 90% of the time.

Yes, there are those rare instances where the enemy -or more likely an odd mech or two of the enemy- will do something unexpected, but chances are they are either squirrels who you should all but ignore anyway, or someone doing something foolish.

But given the certainty in every match of knowing where the enemy is starting from, on maps so small you often have line of sight to at least the fleeing enemy dropships, there really is no need for long distance scouting in this game. And that is a damn shame.

Apropos: why do we still not have (near) random drop zones, or better yet spawn zones without ships (so the leaving ships don't give away the initial position)? Or larger maps that would make scouting useful/a necessity?
Never mind, the answer of course is that in an e-sport the ideal is to just get to shooting each other and increase the frequency of matches at all costs. Anything that slows down the match or interferes with the actual shooting is extraneous and ought to be ignored or discarded. Sigh.

[Rift Hawk]

It really depends on what type of roll you are attempting to fill as a light mech. If you are attempting to hunt other lights, especially if they have ecm and you don't, then yes. Take BAP. Even more important if you are running streaks. ECM + BAP is good sometimes for the sensor range but like someone already said, most maps aren't going to allow you to get the full benefit. More good LRMs players are not going to be firing LRMs at 1000m because the flight time and chance to keep lock is too much of a gamble. Also, remember that the counter ecm effect of BAP is overridden by your ecm. It doesn't double stack. Most of the time a NARC will be your best option for keeping locks. Tag is far less reliable because you actually have to poke and stay exposed to keep the lock.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Minimally useful, but at least marginally better than things like hill climb.

[Peter2k]

If we would have a skill or module to target more then one mech at the same time in a Scout mech then it might be good

Radar decay would better in my opinion

It's also useful when you see a target getting rained on and tries to get behind cover
Jumping up and getting those precious more seconds for the LRMs is sometimes my biggest fun in a light ;-)

[martian]

Evantas, on 28 November 2016 - 05:05 AM, said:

As per above, I was thinking the above combination on a scout would allow you to get target locks from a relatively safe distance for missiles and target calling in general.

But it works only for those in LOS right? Which means if you want to keep safe, radar decay might be better?

Beagle Active Probe and Extended Sensor Range module are quite useful (especially when compared with some other useless modules), but not neccessary.
If you have some free tonnage to equip BAP, you can do it - nothing wrong with that. It won't harm you 'Mech and it can bring some small advantages.

The basic problem is that there is no job for scouts in MWO. On many maps you can see enemy 'Mechs right from your spawn or after a minute of two of walk.

Those repetetive matches with repetetive tactics need no scouts too.

In theory you could spot for LRMs, but that's a very situational thing. Sometimes you spawn on maps with a lot of cover, where LRMs are almost useless. Or the enemy team has a lot of ECM-equipped 'Mechs. Or both teams' routes make LRMs barely usable.

Or there are simply no LRMs on your team (happens in higher Tiers).

[GreenHell]

I remember back in beta days before clans we used to bring BAP for the increased "Target Info" speed, so you could read an opponents build faster. Ah, those were the days, back when every match was a brawl, and the brawl took forever.

[jss78]

I think the Sensor Range module is a bit dubious, because there simply are better modules out there. I occasionally run it in ECM 'mechs as they don't need Radar Deprivation.

BAP can be more worthwhile IMO, if you can spare the 1.5 tons and 2 crit slots. I think the +200 m sensor range boost is the least important part of the BAP -- the targetting info speed boost, and the counter-ECM ability, are both more important, while the sensor-range boost goes in the nice-to-have category.

95+% of the time you just don't have long enough sight lines for 800-1200 m sensor range to come into play.