148 replies to this topic

[lazorbeamz]

I played solaris. 6 csrm6 acw-1 vs a 6 streak 6 huntsman. It was a stomp and i won. Streaks are really poor when confronted with Lb cannons or srm.

[SFC174]

I took out my Tempest yesterday with 3xStreak6 and 4 MPL. Set ECM to counter and have fun. I think I was averaging 600 dmg and 2+ kills per game in the 5-6 games I played with it.

I only take that build on light mech release days simply because its too compromised against a normal team distribution. But if the other team has 3-4 20 tonners on a consistent basis, its fun. Otherwise, the spread dmg from the streaks means that getting pushed by another heavy, or even some good mediums means you're gonna lose (even with all the armor buffs the Archer gets).

I love my PIRs, but outside of 2-3 familiarization games, I didn't play them for the first two weeks after release precisely because other guys like me would be waiting with streak boats. Its just life, adapt or die.

[Leone]

Stinger554, on 20 June 2018 - 12:30 PM, said:

Difference is lasers don't follow a target with zero input from a player....

Lasers use the exact same crosshair as streaks do. There is no difference. Keep crosshair on target for a length of time get damage. Simple concept, streaks just have a larger box and a longer delay between targeting and damage. And the occasional issue with obstacles after wards and streak mines and what not, but core concept? The same.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 20 June 2018 - 02:30 PM.

[sneakolai]

Oh no! If only there were a way to counter streaks!

Radar Derp
Use cover
ECM
AMS (limited utility but may help)
Knowledge of ranges (hint: stay out of their range)
Pressing R. It's not just useful for them!
Do not engage (gasp)
Run away if you did get caught out (gasp)
Keep friends close
Keep enemies closer*

(* a dangerous and possibly last ditch strat, but by staying very close and/or running very tight circles around a streaker you can break their locks)

Some of the above can even be used in combination! Like if you have a buddy and you BOTH bring ECM!

In case OP just never plays lights in general, I'm feeling generous:
Use your mini map
Use the command wheel (esp "Enemy Spotted")
Use UAVs
Use seismic
Keep moving (unless checking seismic)

I love playing lights, and hate going up against streakboats. I also love playing streakboats, especially when finding tiny morsels named "Raven," "Locust," etc.

There are strats to counter just about everything. In general I find whiners aren't creative enough, skilled enough, or a combo of both. If I'm sick of LRMs I bring AMS and ECM. If I'm sick of streakboats I don't show myself and tell my friends to take out the streakboat.

There are ways around your obstacles. Discover some.

[Leone]

At that rate we'd be reduced to hugs and kisses.

And then someone'll want hugs nerfed.

~Leone.

[Stinger554]

Bush Hopper, on 20 June 2018 - 12:44 PM, said:

Ok, I take a streak crow, you take a mech of your choice. You should beat me easily since there is no issue at all

When and where?

Sure I'll take my stealth armor out against your streaks...but the point is that as a light you don't engage streak mechs. If you do then you did something wrong.

Leone, on 20 June 2018 - 02:11 PM, said:

Lasers use the exact same crosshair as streaks do. There is no difference. Keep crosshair on target for a length of time get damage. Simple concept, streaks just have a larger box and a longer delay between targeting and damage. And the occasional issue with obstacles after wards and streak mines and what not, but core concept? The same.

~Leone.

If I fire lasers they don't bent to continue following a moving target; I have to move them.

If I fire streaks they will move to continue following a moving target with zero input from me.

There is a difference...I cannot believe I just had to explain that....

[Kubernetes]

Jman5, on 20 June 2018 - 01:15 PM, said:

This may sound counter intuitive, but the best way to take a hit from from Streaks is to face-tank it. When you torso twist away from the shot you concentrate all the missiles on 2 or 3 components. When you face the hit with all your components, the damage spreads more evenly.

Of course if you can avoid getting hit altogether, that's preferable. Radar Deprivation helps a lot in that regard.

Yep. Streaks actually used to work decently in CW before LFE. Torso twisting with an XL against 36 Streaks is either instant death or a one-touch. It takes a lot of effort to train yourself to eat the alpha head-on.

Edited by Kubernetes, 20 June 2018 - 03:47 PM.

[LordNothing]

i tried building a couple is streak boats but they ended up being utter garbage. they are too heavy so you just cant afford to boat a whole lot of tubes like you can on the clan side, you end up with a mech that is too slow to chase lights and is streaks has too short a range to hit them. those launchers are a waste of cbills. streaks are a case of trying to do things the tt way and failing hard. just do standard lerm type homing with no arc. do away with bone homing.

[MischiefSC]

Bush Hopper, on 20 June 2018 - 10:22 AM, said:

Ok, if you think this as a "playstyle" problem think about this: how would you like a weapon system that could 1-2 shot your heavy or assault mech? Would it be fun for you?

And again: it doesn't matter if the streak crow isn't attacking the bigger targets because it basically negates all enemy lights.

You mean like the Deathstrike or any HGauss assault build? Any of the 80+ damage gaussvomit builds? Direstar? Essentially the dakkavomit Anni and MC MKII builds do that in the same timeframe.

My heavies get smashed in 2 hits if I'm out of position.

[S O L A I S]

The Flea just landed so of coarse there are going to be people countering them with streaks. No issue here.

[ocular tb]

I get where you're coming from and it does suck because once the lock is acquired it's pretty much a done deal if there isn't anything you can put between yourself and the missiles before they hit you. But that's a part of playing a light- streak boats just deal more damage than you can defend against and they're relatively easy to use. That's just the way it is. I've come to accept this fact and so streaks are the first thing I look for on an enemy mech. If they have streaks, I go somewhere else. Know your abilities and limitations- and those of your enemies'.

Other factors come into play as well but I'll just leave it at this for now.

Edited by ocular tb, 20 June 2018 - 04:33 PM.

[dario03]

They should lower their damage but make them hit torso more often against bigger targets. Make them a more general weapon than an anti-light weapon since everything is anti-light when aimed right.
I would lower it a lot and then speed up the cooldown a bit so that the dps isn't much lower but the alpha is. That way you could get out of there after getting hit but before being blasted by a ~60dmg auto aim alpha. Also put in some kind of negative if artemis is equipped to counter the zero crit/weight bonus.

Edited by dario03, 20 June 2018 - 04:55 PM.

[Jon Gotham]

RickySpanish, on 20 June 2018 - 10:17 AM, said:

It's as if getting caught out of position in a Light is just as dangerous as in any other 'Mech.

Actually more so, because if you are caught that implies you are unaware. If you are unaware you usually get hit first and that usually....oneshots you.

[El Bandito]

Oh look, it's ******* Flea in the water again, completely ignoring 90% of my damage!

[Chados]

I second the pilots recommending full radar deprivation. It seems to help.

[Asym]

Toothless, on 20 June 2018 - 10:18 AM, said:

So very, very few people use Streaks right now and they have a solid niche to handle the plethora of skilled light pilots that would otherwise be very hard to stop. Even then, if they are tracking and locking a light then they arent tracking the bigger damage dealers, and they also have to carry the tonnage commitment that are boated streaks.

It really sounds like this is a "My play style got countered and now Im upset" issue, more than a game issue.

OP, you do realize that there are pilots that build mechs to hunt and kill lights??? Right? A Mad Dog with 4 lasers and SIX, missile slots all designed to eradicate lights (4 streaks and 2 LRM's.).... Huntsman's array 5 streaks and lasers.... Storm crows with 4 streaks and lasers and they travel at 104khp. Oh yes, a vocation it is hunting lights.

You know, I am a potato but, someone has to keep the light MG boating crowd contained..... It wouldn't be "fair" if lights had all of the advantages, now would it?

Edited by Asym, 20 June 2018 - 07:19 PM.

[Christof Romulus]

RickySpanish, on 20 June 2018 - 10:17 AM, said:

It's as if getting caught out of position in a Light is just as dangerous as in any other 'Mech.

SHOTS FIRED! OOOOOOHHHHHH~

[Lykaon]

Bush Hopper, on 20 June 2018 - 10:22 AM, said:

Ok, if you think this as a "playstyle" problem think about this: how would you like a weapon system that could 1-2 shot your heavy or assault mech? Would it be fun for you?

And again: it doesn't matter if the streak crow isn't attacking the bigger targets because it basically negates all enemy lights.

Sorta like dual heavy gauss? ATM boats at close range? how about 78 point clan laser vomit alpha strikes?


Here is what you do as a light mech pilot.

Learn what mech chassis are frequently streak boats. Keep your eyes peeled for those and press "R" and read your target's loadout. If it is a streakboat report it and location. Since a Streakboat is an easy kill for an actual pinpoint striker build or brawler someone will want to bite at that snack.

You just need to avoid it until it's gone.

A light mech should be somewhat cautious in the early phase of a match. The more successfull light pilots carefully select their targets and this means knowing there isn't help coming to shake them off a kill and certainly it involves knowing what can swat you like an annoying gnat,where it is and when it's been dealt with by your team.

[Mystere]

Stinger554, on 20 June 2018 - 12:30 PM, said:

Difference is lasers don't follow a target with zero input from a player....

Hmm. But with streaks you need to also follow a target -- and for a much longer duration too -- before you can fire.

Edited by Mystere, 20 June 2018 - 08:42 PM.

[Lethe Wyvern]

Normally i have no issues with skill-boats, except really rare bad luck situations. But light release events and light events in general... well, its like HoMM: "Astrologers proclaim a week of lights, the number of skill-boats are trippled". Anyway, here is some tips how not to be skillstreaked in a matter of a second(some of them were already named):

- learn maps and covers, this is extremly important
- learn dedicated and beloved skill-boat chassis(stormcow, hecksman, bushhopperwacker, skilldog, skill-o-pult)
- be especially cautious first minutes of every match, because you have no information about enemy mechs, and try to read them before engage(well, with vast expirience you will be able to recognize mech's loadout by eye before detailed information)
- inform your allies about recognized skill-boat, heavies (even 50-55 meds) will be happy to farm him easily with first chance, and other ally lights will be awared.
- use leveled ECM(that work mostly vs clam streks due their range)
- use leveled seismic, radar derp and command wheel (you will be able to avoid face-to-face because of indication, hard covers and ur speed(we are talking about "real lights" which have 130+ kph))
- avoid enemy UAV areas, till they are get down, or shoot them by urself from safe distance(meds or so)
- do not poke skill-boat too often because of target decay
- its better to facetank one volley and then run away and hide, than get volley into side or back, because of streak damage registration mechanics (here is my old video about streks with statistics most core information and tables are in english)


p.s. most dangerous skillboats (in my opinion, and in quickplay) are arctic wolves. One is omni version https://mwo.smurfy-n...f235a5b8f83f3b1 and its best at screening main group(hard to recognize because of ECM, it has 3 jj and high mounts for poptarting). The second is fast battlemech https://mwo.smurfy-n...25ed5067b6ad429 which have no ghost heat and lower cooldown, so it can chase and hunt squishy lights.
p.s.s. play as skill-boat by urslef, it will be useful for understanding their habits.

Good luck!

Edited by Lethe Wyvern, 20 June 2018 - 10:24 PM.