16 replies to this topic

[Serpentine Shel Serpentine]

Hello: I'm a new player and I have a very newbie problem. Regardless of the Mech I usually die early with doing little damage .. occasionally I will get up near 300 damage and may even live to tell about it but that is rare. I do better in faster mechs, which I guess is obvious, but sometimes it seems like once I'm under attack it is a relentless barrage, and I can't move, especially when trying to back up. I suppose a teammate or obstacle may be behind me sometimes, but I wonder if there is a game mechanic at work as well. With screen shake my aim once under sustained attack becomes abysmal. This happens the most when I'm turning corners or cresting a ridge which of course is logical -- but the alternative sometimes seems simply to hide which is not appealing. I do stay with the group and follow instructions but somehow my blue/green buddies who were right next to me before the red guys appear are not firing or are not a target of enemy fire. I've been through most of the new player guides and I know coordination is key, but I don't want to just hang in the back row. I would appreciate any constructive 2-3 points from those who have been over this learning curve that might help me get beyond it and be effective. Thanks.

Edited by DeloresAbernathy, 27 February 2017 - 05:43 PM.

[Koniving]

This weekend me and a few newer players will be playing together. I invite you to tag along it will be in the American evenings (E.S.T.) starting Friday).

This said.... You are in a team oriented game and the side that works together the most will win. Do not get caught alone. Dont be first. There is no shame being in the back row.

A common trick that works well is sit and wait a minute then join the team. This lets them form a wall ahead of you.
The team that loses four players first is statistically the most likely to lose. Survival is very important for this reason. This said it is important to do what the assaults are doing. If they move up then everyone should. If they fall back anyone who doesnt is likely to die.

Aim for legs until you feel comfortable with picking put body parts. This way if the fight goes south you can get away.

Oh. Do NOT counter for shake when under fire. Remain calm. The person who panics is the one who dies first. Keep calm under fire.

Edited by Koniving, 27 February 2017 - 11:14 AM.

[Old-dirty B]

Dont just stick your head out to shoot something, find a good firing position that allows you to deal damage without getting damaged or at least where you trade damage and you deal more then you get back. For the latter it is very important to use cover in such a way that you cannot be shot from multiple angles and preferably just one mech.

[Koniving]

What trials are available? My computer is packed as i am moving today.

[LuInRei]

Basicly, you are facing down either several opponents at once.
In that case retreating into cover and alerting your team is your best method of survival.
Alternatively, you are staring down a much heavier mech, which has more firepower and armour.

In any case, try to spread damage as much as possible while getting back to cover
and allways consider possible enemy positions.
Getting caught out in the open is the gravest mistake you can make in this game.(Allways stay near cover)
Knowing what mech you are facing, how much damage they can apply to you in a single strike
and how to prevent damage to your vital spots(torso twisting, jump-jetting, e t. c.)
is essential to surviving under fire.
Also if you have trouble seeing things through explosions try heat vision.

P.S. There is a mechanic that drasticly slows you down once you lose a leg. When additionaly you are taking fire you will not be able to reach even "one-legged" speed.(That is of course if PGI didn't remove this slowdown while I was away from the game)

Edited by LuInRei, 27 February 2017 - 11:29 AM.

[Bud Crue]

DeloresAbernathy, on 27 February 2017 - 10:56 AM, said:

I've been through most of the new player guides and I know coordination is key, but I don't want to just hang in the back row. I would appreciate any constructive 2-3 points from those who have been over his learning curve that might help me get beyond it and be effective.

In Quickplay solo queue there is very little coordination. If someone is indeed trying to coordinate your team, that's great, but rather than corrdination being the most important thing for success; I would assert that it is actually patience and positioning that is the most important at least in solo queue and especially for the new player.

Fight the urge to push ahead. Fight the urge to pull the trigger as soon as you see the enemy. If you see the enemy is in a ball try to flank and work the edges. That takes patience and knowledge of the maps. Go slow, get a battle buddy and focus the enemy loners, etc.

But most importantly, just wait.
Wait fo an opening. Wait for the clear shot. Wait for the fatties. Wait for the team. Wait to engage until someone else is with you to share armor and the enemy's focus. Just wait.

Edited by Bud Crue, 27 February 2017 - 11:31 AM.

[Koniving]

"Just wait."

How insanely slow this build was allowed me to do all kinds of waiting.

Then i got there.



It works.

Edited by Koniving, 27 February 2017 - 11:41 AM.

[- World Eater -]

In regards to armor distribution, allocate 2-5 in the back and the rest should go in the front. You'll be able to live longer since most battles are fought face to face, and strengthen your situational awareness since the back is more exposed.

Learn the maps via the training grounds.

Learn to torso twist to spread damage.

Probably the most important thing to learn is patience. Being too eager to kill will get you killed quickly.

[Amatsukaze]

1st thing to learn is just because you are in a mech you are not invincible (I believe you have had some object lessons in this ) once you are aware of your own mortality & have a desire to keep your virtual skin intact we can proceed.

There have been allot of good posts answering your questions but allow me to add a couple. As Bud Crue said WAIT! Once your lance hits the ground just stand there & look around. You should be the last mech to move out. Don't let them get to far away though! Next stay close to your lance or if they scatter pick another lance (preferably assaults) & stay with them. Don't wander off by yourself & never get more then a cpl hundred meters from a team mate(s).
When peaking over a hill come to a complete stop well short of the crest then SLOWLY move forward. That rompy stompy mech doesn't stop on a dime & if you wait till your can see over the hill while moving at full speed you are opening yourself up to several seconds (a lifetime) of damage. Same goes for poptarting. Just use your jets to barely see over the edge then drop down, reposition & come back up.

Last as has been said a cpl times be patient. Try to stay at the edge of the battle not in the middle of it.

Once last thing... You can do EVERYTHING right & still die a fast & violent death. Such is the nature of this game BUT if you are smart about your movement, smart about staying with your lance, smart about exposing yourself & smart about torso twist/spreading damage you can greatly diminish the likelihood of that happening.

Good luck Mech Warrior.

[Serpentine Shel Serpentine]

Thanks to all who responded. This was a big help and so quick too. The game has a steep learning curve but a very supportive community which is really cool. I especially appreciated the point about speed which I never considered .. no doubt I was running over the hill or around the corner at full speed. Also i was definitely firing reflexively when a
second to assess the threat and retreat untilI I had support would have helped. Also I appreciate the permission to just hang back and wait until others engage before wading in to support. Torso twisting to spread damage took me awhile to understand but I think I get it now -- I was definitely just facing them head on before. And it's good to know why I seemed frozen in place under heavy fire. Thanks to all and of course I'd love to hear any additional contributions.

[MechaBattler]

I like to play like my own team is out to get me. You have to be as aware of what your team is doing as what the enemy team is doing. You're not really a team. You're a random assortment of individuals who are not usually very considerate of each other. You have to read your team. Figure out if it's a time to poke or push. Sometimes you must follow and sometimes a teammate is leading you into an ambush. Always analyze the minimap while at the same time being aware of your surroundings.

And always twist with your most armored side to the enemy.

[Roc Ingersol]

Im a newer pilot but I can tell you that it helps to listen to callouts and shoot the mech with the letter that matches the callout..... "Foxtrots CT is open! Focus Foxtrot!" That requires targeting and checking the letter above the mech -- "F" in that case -- before you fire so you can all take the mech down quickly together. Remember the other team will have people trying to coordinate their team in the same way.

Learn to shake off your mistakes -- you WILL make them -- and ignore the unconstructive criticism and scapegoat seekers if annd when you lose.

I recommend you try the Hunchback IIC trial mech. It moves well, has jumpjets and high mounts with good weapons that let you peek over hills more safely then back away from return fire. If you want to lead the attack then I say a big big NOOOOOO to using the hunchback.

[Rogue Jedi]

Chuck E Finley, on 27 February 2017 - 02:47 PM, said:

Im a newer pilot but I can tell you that it helps to listen to callouts and shoot the mech with the letter that matches the callout..... "Foxtrots CT is open! Focus Foxtrot!" That requires targeting and checking the letter above the mech -- "F" in that case -- before you fire so you can all take the mech down quickly together. Remember the other team will have people trying to coordinate their team in the same way.

there is a hotkey to show info on all Mechs you have data on, I believe it is [Q] by default (I remapped it long ago), hold that and you can see the letter much more quickly.

also targeting is vital, if possible always have something targeted, targeting a Mech shows you where it is weak, you may not yet be good enough to to target individual componants, but seeing the armor gone (no line around) the Center torso on the enemy Mechs paper doll ^{(upper right of your screen when you have target info which usualy takes a few seconds from when the first person got a lock)} you at least know to aim center mass, and trying to aim for the weakspots removes the Mech or its weapons faster.

[Serpentine Shel Serpentine]

Thanks very much. Also great advice, I had heard the call outs by letter but had no idea where to find the letters. I'll look for them next time! And I will try to Hunchback IIc -- everything I read says it's a great mech and good for beginners too.

[Leone]

Bud Crue, on 27 February 2017 - 11:30 AM, said:

I would assert that it is actually patience and positioning that is the most important at least in solo queue and especially for the new player.

Oh wow... I mean, that's like the direct anti-thesis of my playstyle. No offense, Bud, I'm not knocking your advice, and I'm actively trying to play less aggressive in CW, but, I gotta disagree.

The real trick is playing the numbers game. Don't go in against two mechs if your alone, that sorta thing. Only thing is, how can you tell how many enemy there are without getting spotted yourself? There are tricks to that. A good part of surviving a match is map awareness. Now, sometimes there are sneaky little lights messing it up, but generally, you can tell where the enemy isn't by where your team is on the minimap. See a teammate firing around a corner you can't see, assume enemy. Team mate's backing up? Prolly more'n one. Team mate charging? Either they've the upper hand or they're a madman like me.

Watch the minimap, learn to read the flow of mechs. Your team circling around the map with little opposition? Chances are the enemy's doing the same. Only a few mechs pot-shotting at your team? Chances are the rest are chasing a light or moving to flank, so check if you've a friendly light out running amok, an be worried if they aren't.

The trick to playing super aggressive an impatient is to stick to the fringes, always be flanking, looking for that lone sniper or missile boat you can overwhelm an retreat, an always keep up the map awareness. You'll still die horribly from time to time, but what's a game without a bit of excitement?

~Leone.

[Roc Ingersol]

If you do go with the Hunchback try not to peek from the same place more then once. I have died multiple times to taking a second peek and catching a focused alpha strike from two or more mechs. I dont have radar deprivation and you wont yet so your red tag shows for a few seconds after you go back under cover. If you see a dire wolf for example, move away from his face and try to flank but watch for his/her backup. The hbk-IIC needs to be played as a second row mech behind heavies and assaults or a flanker that can reposition back to the herd when pushed on.

But dont be scared in it. It packs a mean punch but it cant take much more than one.

Edited by Chuck E Finley, 28 February 2017 - 09:22 AM.

[TooDumbToQuit]

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