Jump to content

- - - - -

Polar Highlands


30 replies to this topic

#1 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 09 March 2018 - 11:47 PM

I own 4 Mechs. Commando, Raven, Cicada and Griffin. All of them are short range builds and all of them except the Cicada have ECM. And I think I am really doing something wrong on this map.

I just underperform. I do low damage, I cannot get into range. I run around trying to find an opening and eventually just die with pretty disastrous damage I provided. If the enemy team sticks together, I am finished.

I really hate this map with a passion. Normally I just play the Griffin, but I am trying to skill up the Cicada and this map seems to come up at least every second match. I have no idea how to unlock it. So I am looking for pointers on what I am doing wrong.

I am doing reasonably well on other maps. I have 117/119 matches. In non Polar Highland maps my Griffin usually breaks 500 damage, often reaching up to 800. I wish there was a way to avoid this map. /sigh

#2 Ruccus

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Bloodlust
  • The Bloodlust
  • 1,136 posts
  • LocationAbbotsford, BC

Posted 10 March 2018 - 08:37 AM

You're probably just trying to force the issue. When dropping in a brawler build on Polar Highlands the best course of action is probably to go straight to your team's assault mech lance and just escort them to the battle.

Stay in cover while the peeking/sniping phase takes place, and when it comes time for your team's assault mechs to push against the enemy you'll be right there to close the gap into the enemy without being stuck in a no-man's land where you can't attack while the enemy can.

#3 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 10 March 2018 - 10:05 AM

Well, I am not really known for my patience. ;-) I have tried to sit and wait for the melee, but when our casualties climb, it feels weird to sit there and do nothing. Also, eventually we have lost enough people so it does not matter that I do get into range anymore... I feel like there has to be something better to do...

#4 Roughneck45

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Handsome Devil
  • The Handsome Devil
  • 4,452 posts
  • LocationOutreach

Posted 10 March 2018 - 10:33 AM

You have to work the valleys and try to get on the flanks. It can be really frustrating depending where the enemy is, because the closest you can get with cover may still be 400m out, and you have to be careful about isolating yourself and getting swarmed by the lights.

Protecting your team's flank can work too, if their lights are aggressive and you can keep cover from their ranged mechs.

#5 Squiggy McPew

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The 1 Percent
  • The 1 Percent
  • 755 posts

Posted 10 March 2018 - 10:33 AM

I love polar highlands. It's a maze of hillocks and depressions and tiny valleys and endless outcroppings making getting in flank shots easy peasy. You have to have some patience and map knowledge to get into the right spot and know when to poke and take shots on distracted mechs as your group battles it out. Third person mode works well here to peek over the tops and see when you can take a shot. Also after take a shot use another spot to take the next shot. That's the biggest mistake I see people do is to poke back out of the exact same spot over and over and get reamed by pre aimed fire.

#6 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 10 March 2018 - 12:08 PM

My main damage comes from Athena-SRM6s. Max range is 297. For anything beyond that I only have 2 MLs. Tried poking, but most stuff is out of my range. So I guess I have not been doing things fundamentally wrong, I just need to get better at deciding where and when... In the meantime, I hope that map won't come up too much in the future. ;-)

#7 Koniving

    Welcoming Committee

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Guide
  • The Guide
  • 23,384 posts

Posted 10 March 2018 - 01:40 PM

Have you noticed that there's the big white expanse, and numerous trenches?

The trenches are like a maze and go pretty much....everywhere. If you stay within the trenches you can close in as necessary.

Sometimes having just a single long range weapon to be able to do "something" can help to alleviate the boredom, though some elitists may shun you for it.

#8 nehebkau

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,386 posts
  • LocationIn a water-rights dispute with a Beaver

Posted 10 March 2018 - 03:14 PM

@OP

On this map, in a brawler, you really have to pay attention to the low points and try to force the enemy's tailing edge. Basically, you have to see where the most heat is coming from and flank around using low points. Its critical you don't silhouette yourself on ridges etc. and stay in low ground. You are going to have to play close attention to where fire is coming from and look for that aren't with the main group or on the back edge of the main group and basically engage and retreat. If I am in a faster short range build I am looking for the LRM boats and snipers who are hiding at the back and going for those as quickly as I can being quick to escape to a low point if the enemy decides to turn on me. Really you generally get to do whatever you want on the trailing edge of the enemy because most players will get tunnel vision at the point of the main push.

Alternatively, you can wait in low points at the leading edge of the enemies' push and wait for them to peek / corner and then engage but you risk getting overwhelmed and killed quickly.

#9 Xaat Xuun

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Defender
  • The Defender
  • 954 posts
  • LocationA hypervelocity planet

Posted 10 March 2018 - 10:07 PM

adding to what's already given


get within 100-200 m, preferably behind them , you're under ecm, shoot and run away, another position, repeat, don't shoot if they are looking at your direction, and never shoot from the same location, there may be times they are under fire from your team , great opportunity to core out their back, they'll think it's coming from your team, ideally that should be your target, one already getting shot at.

another option is stay with your team and offer ecm cover, helping your team lose locks from the barrage of missile hitting them, and chase down any yolo's, but that's taking a chance of taking team damage.
My ecm little guys carry 2 uav's, a well place UAV, can earn you many more C-Bills

your small and ecm . . call targets, let your LRM pilots know, if they are doing any good, have 'em stop firing if the missiles are not hitting, sure they should have the paper doll indicating the target is hitting them, but it could be some one else, they'll will still think they are dong the damage, and wasting ammo.

I do one of 2 things, I stay and offer my ECM coverage to those I see getting hit by missile , and rover duty aroiund the team

or

wide flank, come in behind, find they one that is getting hit, get close enough and in a position (not easy or available most of the time) to hit the same target the team is hitting from behind, or single out one, and become the rabbit.

some times I do the distraction, hit and runs, being the rabbit, allowing the team to focus more on just the current called target, depending on the mode, attack their base.

sure lots of damage earns you more C-Bills, but that dosen't help much for the team.
be a team player.

High damage averages is not a indicator of your skill, could mean, you hide back and never share armor, and use the team for one's self , . . . .. blah blah yaddy yaddy, now totally going to a different subject
I should shush now

Edited by Xaat Xuun, 10 March 2018 - 10:21 PM.


#10 Dragonporn

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 657 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 12:19 AM

Many maps are extremely play-style/mech-build dependent. For example, if you happen to be in fullblown LRM boat on Polar Highlands, you must be in some serious streak of bad luck not to break 800+ damage up to 1500+ and be a death incarnate for the enemies. If you're in LRM Boat on, say, HPG Manifold, you just have to hope you can fire at least 20% of your ammo, and hit with maybe 5% of it. God help you having support weapons that let you deal any damage at all and be at least of some use for your team. That's how this game generally works.

Another example: I have ice-cold Bushwaker with LBX and medlasers, I'm king on any hot map, if I'm lucky to get it in voting, since I can run and punch majority of laservomits all day long, while they shutdown every minute, or outright melt themselves. They can't shoot as often as they used to.

For light brawler, you can try two things:
- Assault escort and pray your team won't suck while you're hiding between big metal balls, so you can jump out and unleash hell when CQC fight breaks out. That also means you should be on a lookout for anything small coming your high tonner teammates way, to intercept and punish, that's your best bet.
- Try to run as a light brawler group (2-3 mechs) trying to poke at lances or chew up some loners. You can also meet another group of lights and slug it out at a distance from main bulk if you're good up close. But that's hard to organize, and there are often lights who aren't cut out for this kind of playstyle.

But either of it can only help you're very lucky, because Polar is very open map with close to no cover. If someone manages to keep a lock on you, or just see you, you're toast with tons of damage flying your way.

And remember most important thing while you're in light brawler on any map: PATIENCE. Practice it any way you can, it is everything, really.

Edited by Dragonporn, 11 March 2018 - 12:21 AM.


#11 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 12:26 AM

I just checked my stats, even on wins, I tend to die in about 40-50% of the matches. ;-) Well, on the plus side, I think that means I am a team player because I share my armour, correct? ;-)

I try to stay in the trenches most of the time, but I guess I am doing something wrong, as I still often take damage that way.

Organisation is probably a problem. I tend to play solo in normal queueing in Tier 4. Aside from that, I have stopped playing the Commando, because it is too much like the Raven (at least my build is) and the Cicada because I suck at it.

I tried to paste in some stats, but posting screws up the format.

Edited by Darakor Stormwind, 11 March 2018 - 12:28 AM.


#12 Koniving

    Welcoming Committee

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Guide
  • The Guide
  • 23,384 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 06:23 AM

You're not gonna be the only guy in the trenches... and the lights that storm across them are specifically trying to find people hiding in the trenches so that the LRMs will rain down.

No matter what you're going to have encounters. Especially given the fact that you're limited to sub 300 meters. This is somewhat unavoidable. Lets not forget that Griffins are fairly tall. Well any 55 tonner is.

I recently had a fire in my oven (some Chex spilled from the wife's baking yesterday and I forgot about it when I went to preheat the oven for a pizza), so I'm waiting for the smoke to clear. A bit later though, since Polar Highlands is such a frequent map for me I will be setting out to engage enemies in the field and will film. Need an excuse to start working on my old Griffins anyway. Would you be willing to share your specific build with the Griffin?

Far as the other mechs, while I might bring them into the field I'll probably use my own builds for them. Just give me their variants and maybe their primary weapon.

Edited by Koniving, 11 March 2018 - 06:25 AM.


#13 Jonathan8883

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Shredder
  • Shredder
  • 708 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 06:29 AM

Specifically, stay out of the I9-ish area in the very middle of the map. There's no cover there. It's the worst part of the map.

#14 Koniving

    Welcoming Committee

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Guide
  • The Guide
  • 23,384 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 08:40 AM

Here we go. *Is loaded into the dropship.*

#15 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 10:04 AM

Sorry for the late reply, I had guests over... This is my Griffin build. It's not really a secret...

Let's see if this works:

https://imgur.com/a/U3XoD

The Cicada is a 2A with the biggest XL engine it can carry, AMS and 6 Medium Lasers. Can't show a screenshot, as I recently cannibalised it to start equipping my Warhammer. As you can see from the screenshot, I am low on funds. ;-)

Edited by Darakor Stormwind, 11 March 2018 - 10:20 AM.


#16 Squiggy McPew

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The 1 Percent
  • The 1 Percent
  • 755 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 10:57 AM

If you want a bit of range then try this out. Mrm take a bit getting used to the fire pattern but man it hits hard and you have plenty of shots.

GRF-2N

#17 Koniving

    Welcoming Committee

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Guide
  • The Guide
  • 23,384 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 11:06 AM

Strangely, I haven't had a single encounter on the Polar Highlands. I'm going to give it a break and try again in a little while.

My initial Griffin build had 2 Light PPCs, ECM, Laser AMS, and an MRM-40. I was doing okay, and it hits hard but there's trouble against lights with this build.

#18 Phoenix 72

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 696 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 12:32 PM

I can burn down lights quite nicely with this build. The only one I have problems with is the Locust, because it is often just too agile to hit. But people often make the mistake of trying to circle me, and then I just need 2 solid hits with the SRMs and that problem is solved.

I am quite happy with the Mechs performance on most maps.It can take a beating and still dish out decent damage. I only considered getting rid of the XL Engine and switching to a Light Engine. I keep wondering whether the 10 kph loss in speed makes up for surviving even when losing a side torso. Don't have the money to buy a different engine right now, so I cannot try this out.

#19 Dragonporn

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 657 posts

Posted 11 March 2018 - 04:10 PM

Mediums in general hard counter Lights, especially close quarter ones, it's their main job, so no wonder you burning them down. However, Assaults or couple of Heavy brawlers can kick your *** pretty hard, unless you're fast enough...

#20 SuperMCDad

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • Bridesmaid
  • Bridesmaid
  • 131 posts
  • Twitter: Link
  • LocationNew Zealand

Posted 11 March 2018 - 06:33 PM

Hey Darakor. I run a very similar 2N to you, however I got a bit sick of being limited to short range and replaced the mediums with a light PPC. Granted the light PPC doesn't do a lot of damage, but at least it gives me some range, and makes the opposition duck. Seemed to work OK for me.

Good luck.





1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users