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But, recently, I've been taking a closer look at Jarl's List. To me, it's not a definitive list of skills, but rather, it's a way to extract statistics that may be vital for self improvement.
So before you look at the list and get upset that 5000 people may be better than you, a few things that I've been looking at that might help you on your journey of self discovery. (basically, don't shy away from it because a few... lot of people abuse it for epeen purposes)
1. Correlate your average match score with survival rate. Higher survival rate = better score. This is a simple concept. Basically, the longer you live, the more damage you deal. Use this to think about what you may or may not be doing. Do you have the most kick butt mech, think you can outshoot the best of them, can analyze battlefield situation on a dime, but somehow jarl's list position doesn't reflect your true skill level? That might be why.
I analyze a lot of players (myself included) and found that as a unit, our reputation as stormtroopers has more or less affected our plays. As generally, we have low survival rate. If you increase that rate, and not charge at the first open opportunity, you can dramatically improve your scoring.
2. Specialist vs Generalist. Look at the top players on the jarl's list. You will notice a trend that most of those guys are specialists. Is it because they can only pilot a certain class? Not necessarily, but it does mean that as a specialist, you stand a higher chance of mastering than playing 4 weight classes equally. Which it makes sense, if you only practice free throws, you will be REALLY good at free throws, even if you are horrible at posting up or crossover. So it may be something to think about if you want to get better.
3. More weight + more firepower = shortcut. This goes without saying. Lots of people build mechs based on laughs and giggles. There is no purpose other than to fill in as much stuff as possible. Are you putting 2 mg + 2 srm + 2 LRM + 1 ppc on your mech because those are the hardpoints given? That's filling out, and while it's great to preserve the unique aspect of every mechs, it's not a great way to do things in a pvp game. 9/10 top 10 players specialize in heavier mechs. I don't think they believe that lights are worse, but lights are cumulative damages while 80 damage alpha is instant, so it's just more efficient to use high weapon loadouts. They can burst 240 damage in a span of 15 seconds, and merely have to repeat that 4-5 times to achieve ridiculous scores.
So while your marauders is going around lrming for 15 damage every 5 seconds at various range, those guys are punching a hole in your mech before you can even machine gun.
(so if you are struggling, may be practice first with good, simple loadouts)
4. It's not a big deal if you are within the mid tier. I think like 3-4k people have score within 25 points of one another. That's just the law of normal distribution. So you are fine, don't stress, play your game, and get better. But even if you don't, have fun and who gives a crap? (unless you are on my team and we just got rolled 12-2, then please go back to mechlab and not put 2 mg, 2 srm, 2 lrms with 1 ppc)
That's basically it. Use that list for self improvement, not for epeen. And remember, even if you average 100 match scores, your opinion is as important as anyone else as long as you buy a mechpack. b33f hasn't paid for a mechpack since god know when ago, why should his opinion weigh more than you, right?
Money talks, baby, not jarl's list.
Edited by razenWing, 17 June 2018 - 06:47 AM.
