107 replies to this topic

[Mister Glitchdragon]

Seriously, I know you want this to be TT, where assaults always rule the battlefield and a company's entire strategy should always revolve around them.

Apologies to all the latter-day Rommels out there, but that's just not how MW:O is, neither in terms of mechanics nor the current state-of-play. I'm T2, so while I'm seeing mostly high-tier games, I still occasionally get "valved" during off hours into games that feel low-tier. Across this broad spectrum, I can safely tell you that there is absolutely no advantage in prizing Charlie lance as inherently more valuable than the other lances, simply because "assaults have moar tons!"

The facts (as we all know) are that good players in any class of mech can smash lesser players in any class of mech, and also that a bad build is a bad build, regardless of tonnage.

"Stay with the slow movers!" Why? Where are we going? To Theta, straight into the guns of their slow movers? Let me guess: I should provide a "screen" for the slow movers so I get shot first, right?

And for what? To "screen" a slow assault that's most-likely piloted by a bad who has no idea where to go, as I see in low-tier games, or to "screen" for an LRM-Bazillion SNV piloted by player who knows better but is out to pad his score with worthless indirect-fire damage, which sadly I'm seeing more and more in high-tier games.

No. Just no.

You made choices when you built your mech. So did I. You chose to be slow, and couldn't be bothered to use those missile slots for a couple of SSRM-6's to fend off the PIR's. I chose to be smaller and faster, so I could flank their slow mechs, catch stragglers one-on-one, and use my speed to my (and my team's) advantage. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but all-in-all I'm happy playing the game I built for; what's your problem?

If you simply must play a lumbering assault, here are a couple of alternatives to whining like Morrissey over the way you think others should play in order to keep you and your build relevant.

1) Sacrifice some tonnage for speed. If you can't do at least sixty in the solo queue, you'd better be really good at what you do. Some are: I've seen ANHs and CPs come trudging in late and totally wreck the enemy when it seemed all was lost. If that's you, than by all means, carry on (and thanks for saving the day!). But far more often, I don't see my team's ANHs and CPs anywhere except on the end-of-game scorecard, with double-digit damage. Be honest with yourself: If you can't ever seem to put all those guns you're lugging around on a small and fast harasser, you either need a bigger engine or you need a smaller, faster mech.

2) Sacrifice some LRM tubes for Streaks. A pair of SSRM-6's will be far more effective in discouraging light harassers than all your in-game whinge about being abandoned. Also, your LRM assault is probably a liability in the solo queue. If you're a new player still figuring things out, now you know. If you're an experienced player, shame on you.

3) "Whatever we do, don't NASCAR!" is not a winning strategy. If you have an actual plan, by all means let's hear it, but crippling your team's strategic options at the beginning of a match is flat-out dumb. When you try to make fast movers forego their build's maximum advantage, it is you throwing the team under the bus, not the fast-movers that didn't hang around to nurse your junk build past the big, bad Flea you can't hit. Quit looking at porn before the game and instead pay attention to your team's disposition in the pre-game lobby. If your team is packed with fast-movers, there's no reason not to NASCAR. If you're a slow assault on that team, try to keep up and remember it's now your job to squash the enemy's lights when they come for you. It's not an ideal match-up, we know, but your team is out being aggressive and pressing their speed advantage in order to win, and a team win is what matters, right?

Accept your part on the team, accept your build and its limits, and do your best. Next game you may drop with a bunch of heavies and the static firing line you built for and prefer will be the order of the day. I'll happily do my part in that plan, too. I'm not a big fan of NASCAR, either, but it is what it is. You can adapt, quit, or cry about it. Which will it be?

[Composite Armour]

lol

[OmniFail]

Mister Glitchdragon, on 11 January 2019 - 12:51 PM, said:

2) Sacrifice some LRM tubes for Streaks. A pair of SSRM-6's will be far more effective in discouraging light harassers than all your in-game whinge about being abandoned. Also, your LRM assault is probably a liability in the solo queue. If you're a new player still figuring things out, now you know. If you're an experienced player, shame on you.

Lurm shamming detected

[K O Z A K]

Just remember, you are making the decision to throw away half your teams armor and firepower, don't be surprised that a minute later you're down 4 mechs which account for half your teams tonnage because the enemy team was lucky enough to have a few 65kph assaults and you got unlucky with some 45kph ones.

If the second your team makes contact with the enemy your first instinct is to "flank right", you're a selfish coward, simple as that.

Accept you're part of the team, don't leave the core of your armour and firepower to die by themselves, especially when they are actually in a favorable position.

Out of adapting, quitting and crying, there is another great option: only play FP and comp: no nascar

[Ilfi]

These days I use Jarl's List to fact check the average advice thread. If it's not from someone above 90% of the playerbase, chances are it's bad advice... hate to say it, but the numbers aren't looking so good for you my man.

[Grus]

@title

https://www.google.c...uWM&w=342&h=250

Hazel said it best. You're sacrificing a bunch of your weight and firepower when you nascar. So if you do, make damn sure you're putting mechs in the dirt faster than they are...

Ilfi, on 11 January 2019 - 01:27 PM, said:

These days I use Jarl's List to fact check the average advice thread. If it's not from someone above 90% of the playerbase, chances are it's bad advice... hate to say it, but the numbers aren't looking so good for you my man.

That kinda works I guess, but keep in mind there are those that 90% of the time only play FW and that (last time I checked) isnt recorded in jarle's

Edited by Grus, 11 January 2019 - 01:31 PM.

[Luminis]

Yes, splitting up in a game that's all about HP pooling is a magnificent idea.

200 IQ stats in here.

[thievingmagpi]

[Verilligo]

I would not advise taking a random amount of SSRMs in exchange for fewer LRMs. I would not advise taking a random amount of SSRMs. In fact and in truth, I would not advise taking SSRMs, period. If you want to fight lights, nothing is more crippling than pegging them with a big ballistic... or sandblasting them to hell and gone with an MRM40, provided you feel you can lead your aim properly. And when "screening" for your assaults, remember that your job isn't to take damage for them. Your job is just to provide a more target rich environment. The more people that shoot at you and fail, the less they're shooting at someone they're more likely to hit. Show your body, but don't take the hit.

[JediPanther]

Did you lose with your OP lrm assault lance to direct fire? Maybe if assaults din't move slower than a fat obese godzilla-wanna-be they wouldn't boat lrms.60kph is dam slow. Only a leged light or stock urbie moves slower. It fact I'd take the stock urb over the lrm assault.

[- World Eater -]

Mister Glitchdragon, on 11 January 2019 - 12:51 PM, said:

Which will it be?

None of the above.

[Prototelis]

thievingmagpi, on 11 January 2019 - 01:48 PM, said:

This is literally one of the greatest Data moments ever.

[NRP]

The OP doesn't sound like a good teammate.

[Kubernetes]

This thread is going places.

[FireStoat]

Streaks have been garbage ever since the patch that had a higher % of them coded to hit the CT. The hit registry on them went to crap after that. Use LBX and/or pulse lasers on lights or go home.

[justcallme A S H]

Another one of these low skill 'I'm gonna tell you how to play' threads.

Honestly...

Edited by justcallme A S H, 11 January 2019 - 02:39 PM.

[Unnatural Growth]

Koniving, on 11 January 2019 - 02:31 PM, said:

There's one small thing I'd like to put out, MWO mostly puts the assaults in alpha lance.

Wut?

Koniving, on 11 January 2019 - 02:31 PM, said:

And when there's a lot of lights they usually end up in Charlie.

Wut?

Normally the only time I see "nascar" being an issue with assaults, is when you have a few assaults on your team that don't frikkin start moving when the match starts. Why is it always the assault drivers that sit there fingering their exhaust ports and picking lint out of their belly buttons?

When the match starts, get going. Usually at least some of the heavies and mediums will sweep through your lance and pick you up. But if you're just sitting there making bunny shapes out of clouds, well then, bye bye.

[The Lost Boy]

Assaults have more armor which is a currency in the fight, when shared properly. Just like heat is a currency for firing weapons. Thats the true value of the assaults. Personally id like to be shoulder to shoulder with a 4 ac10 anh, while in my Legend Killer. Nascaring away from them just hangs them out to dry for the lights and fastmeds to stomp on. Then yer down big mechs, armor, and guns early. Deathball around the fatties for the win. Dont cut in front of them or stand directly behind them either and most game will go better.

Just my 2 cents.

[Koniving]

Unnatural Growth, on 11 January 2019 - 02:53 PM, said:

Wut?

Wut?

Think something changed recently.
Most of my screenshots showing mechs tend to show the bulk of assaults in Alpha and sometimes one or two in bravo or charlie.

Went to go take a new one and today the bulk is in Charlie. Unusual.

[The Lost Boy]

[Redacted]

Edited by draiocht, 11 January 2019 - 03:44 PM.
unconstructive, replies removed