73 replies to this topic

[Lykaon]

Foxwalker, on 24 June 2019 - 09:31 AM, said:

Yesterday, I heard this and tried to address it in the game I was in. (Interestingly, I was in an LRM mech that game as well). I hear it a lot.

I told the guy, that it was essentially wrong to ask people to do this and here was my reasoning:

Unless the non-LRM mech is specifically setup by the player to do this, mostly you can't without taking significant damage. If you are a burst damage mech, like Gauss or PPCs, you shoot and get back into cover before the enemy has a chance to target you. Same with an SRM mech. Holding locks past your own window to shoot, generally will get you killed.

He did not understand, sadly. Locks are held by the LRM boats themselves or the best way is concentrated fire. If enough mechs are also targeting the same target, than as your team targets and breaks off, the lock is maintained due to multiple targeting.

So to all you guys that say "please hold locks" at the begging of the game, don't. Instead call targets and ask others to call targets, and you will get those locks without begging.

I would say you have a rather backward view of "hold locks please".

I have been here a very long time and I can say with a great deal of observation that even long time players FAIL to press "R" even when they are FACE TANKING a target.

Hold locks please could mean "USE YOUR FRICKEN TARGETING SYSTEM FOR A CHANGE!"

Maybe remember you are packing a UAV and you happen to be in an ideal spot to use it.

Or perhaps saying "hold locks please" is directed at those players who are not piloting non armor sharing poke and snipe mechs but the players who hold the line and soak the hits.

Ultimately you don't have a responsibility to enforce your specific interpretation of an LRM mech requesting team work.


And before someone goes on and assumes I am some sort of "parasitic Lurm-tater" I pilot front line heavy mechs and brawlers predominately. I am on the front line frequently and often and I do hold locks (more so if they said please)

[FRAGTAST1C]

We've had the "LRM locks" thread. Why don't we turn this into the "Best Mechs for LRMs" thread?

I'll start.

[Prototelis]

lol it gave you a gold star.

[FRAGTAST1C]

Prototelis, on 24 June 2019 - 07:30 PM, said:

lol it gave you a gold star.

Yes. Always do things perfectly, is what I say.

[The6thMessenger]

That still happens?

PGI finally gave us this more self-sufficient version of LRMs, but we still have this "hold locks pls"? LRMs launched at lower-angle has a really reasonably low time-to-target which holding-locks is less of an issue, you'd be going back in your hole once you let lose those lurms and hit.

[Foxwalker]

Lykaon, on 24 June 2019 - 03:01 PM, said:

I would say you have a rather backward view of "hold locks please".

I have been here a very long time and I can say with a great deal of observation that even long time players FAIL to press "R" even when they are FACE TANKING a target.

Hold locks please could mean "USE YOUR FRICKEN TARGETING SYSTEM FOR A CHANGE!"

Maybe remember you are packing a UAV and you happen to be in an ideal spot to use it.

Or perhaps saying "hold locks please" is directed at those players who are not piloting non armor sharing poke and snipe mechs but the players who hold the line and soak the hits.

Ultimately you don't have a responsibility to enforce your specific interpretation of an LRM mech requesting team work.


And before someone goes on and assumes I am some sort of "parasitic Lurm-tater" I pilot front line heavy mechs and brawlers predominately. I am on the front line frequently and often and I do hold locks (more so if they said please)

No, Hold locks and target (hit R) are not the same thing. Sorry we just don't agree. I have been here a long time too. I get the difference between holding a lock and hitting R. Holding a lock implies over time. Yes some players don't hit R or Target. I even point it out. Just semantics I guess.

Understand, most mechs that poke and snipe or drop to cover do it to survive. I play all classes and each has their role. Just my 2 cents.

[The6thMessenger]

Lykaon, on 24 June 2019 - 03:01 PM, said:

I would say you have a rather backward view of "hold locks please".

I have been here a very long time and I can say with a great deal of observation that even long time players FAIL to press "R" even when they are FACE TANKING a target.

Hold locks please could mean "USE YOUR FRICKEN TARGETING SYSTEM FOR A CHANGE!"

Maybe remember you are packing a UAV and you happen to be in an ideal spot to use it.

Or perhaps saying "hold locks please" is directed at those players who are not piloting non armor sharing poke and snipe mechs but the players who hold the line and soak the hits.

Here's the thing, even if players manage not to get locks before shooting -- hell that is what happens when every single one is a poke-fader, at least they still manage to have a decent contribution, because they don't need locks to land an effective blow. Lrms are a different story, unless someone's standing still or repeatedly looking out on the very same firing spot over and over, no you can't dumbfire LRMs expecting that they will hit someone with good effect.

Sure, if someone said "hold locks pls", it could be just people reminding to lock, but chances are, with what we've seen, it's an incompetent background lurmer wanting to sit on their *** all day and lurm from the safety of their graves.

You could be in a good spot to put UAV -- but people wouldn't say "Hold-Locks-Pls", there's a clearer way to say this like "Put UAV on (area)", or just go use the BattleGrid to mark the area you want UAV covered.

As to the "hold-locks" for the lights, they will do so if they are built for scouting. Why would you need to ask them to do so if they are built differently? You got raven with NARC, why would you have to ask them Piranhas with MGs, Commandos with SRMs, Locusts with SPLs, etc. to hold locks? They weren't built to scout, they were built to hit and run which involves kiting enemies, and then retreating back into cover where they couldn't get Locks because they wouldn't have LOS.

Lykaon, on 24 June 2019 - 03:01 PM, said:

Ultimately you don't have a responsibility to enforce your specific interpretation of an LRM mech requesting team work.

So why would we instead follow that LRM player's idea of team-work?

Lykaon, on 24 June 2019 - 03:01 PM, said:

And before someone goes on and assumes I am some sort of "parasitic Lurm-tater" I pilot front line heavy mechs and brawlers predominately. I am on the front line frequently and often and I do hold locks (more so if they said please)

It's funny how you feel so defensive about it that you have to point it out.

Edited by The6thMessenger, 24 June 2019 - 08:08 PM.

[Wil McCullough]

Kubernetes, on 24 June 2019 - 01:20 PM, said:

There are plenty of players who have never figured this out. There's nothing like spectating a teammate who keeps hitting CT even though you know the enemy is one-touch from getting legged or dying from IS XL

There are players who can't figure out how to press "r" but have the fine motor skills necessary to isolate components? That's warped.

[Mok______]

When ever I hear a player request ( most of the time it is a demand followed with some sort of chastising ) for everyone to "hold locks"...

All I hear is:

"Hey you guys get out there and get shot at so I can fire all these locked-on guided missiles from the safety of cover and steal kills and get lots of damage points for hiding. Oh yeah, I am also in an assault and will not be sharing armor with you."

[Willard Phule]

Mok______, on 25 June 2019 - 07:15 AM, said:

When ever I hear a player request ( most of the time it is a demand followed with some sort of chastising ) for everyone to "hold locks"...

All I hear is:

"Hey you guys get out there and get shot at so I can fire all these locked-on guided missiles from the safety of cover and steal kills and get lots of damage points for hiding. Oh yeah, I am also in an assault and will not be sharing armor with you."

I'm pretty sure that's part of the "Tier 5 Creed."

[Foxwalker]

Mok______, on 25 June 2019 - 07:15 AM, said:

When ever I hear a player request ( most of the time it is a demand followed with some sort of chastising ) for everyone to "hold locks"...

All I hear is:

"Hey you guys get out there and get shot at so I can fire all these locked-on guided missiles from the safety of cover and steal kills and get lots of damage points for hiding. Oh yeah, I am also in an assault and will not be sharing armor with you."

Right, even when I am in an LRM Mech it makes me cringe when I hear it. When I am in an LRM mech, I try to stay mid pack, always carry Tag, UAV, BAP or ECM. Get my own locks and call targets. It works pretty well.

[Curccu]

Ken Harkin, on 24 June 2019 - 02:06 PM, said:

2. I always have a BAP and TC

Why TC?

[GuardDogg]

When ever someone says "Hold Locks", tells me that we have someone on team with LRMS, and it feels like they have a lot of LRMS. They are willing to help team. They may not get the kill, but they will help. Also, they are very vulnerable to get killed easier. Why most today are building their mechs with Short range weapons. I try to encourage to press "R", not only for myself, but for them selves as well. You get more information on the enemy mechs situation, and where to hit. It is called team work. If anyone doesn't press R, they have a lot for work to do and can be vulnerable as well.

Edited by GuardDogg, 25 June 2019 - 08:24 AM.

[Novakaine]

"If you're lurmin from the rear you're givin da rest of us a bad name".
Grandpa Novakaine 3025

[Kodan Black]

When I play my LRM mech I appreciate the locks and feel that if more players did that it would benefit them also. If I'm facing someone and shooting them and then someone calls for help from a place I don't have LOS, without that lock I can't lob indirect fire in unless I move. At a minimum by tossing some LRMs at their target it may cause that mech to duck behind cover or something and give them the break they need. Team game, play for the team win. Get locks so people see what you are shooting at and so you see the damage grid. If it also happens to benefit others on your team, all the better. I feel like too many people don't want to get locks in some bizarre effort to make bad LRM players better. What actually happens is they continue to be bad and you also lose the match. Winning is better.

[Tordin]

Im not sure which type of player I hate the most.

1: Demanding lurm players that stand back several kilometers and demand friggin locks. Heres an idea, move forward, share armor, call targets, bring a few backup weapons, TAG, even BAP and eat a mouthful of gum so no more snobbery demands gets blown out. Thanks!

OR

2: Anti lurmplayers, because they cant adapt to an otherwise situational weapons system and start scapegoating LRM due to said above mentioned players. So they have to vent their frustration somehow. Even team killing and mock any build involving LRM, players will even hestitate to use and experiment LRMs the optimal way. That otherwise should have shut the whiny windholes these kind of players have.


Think I cant stand both groups. Nope, no moderation, no logical solutions in their mind to fix their horrifying problems, pooor sobs. I know you are out there, no sympathy from me. Because I will harass and frustrate ANY LURM players not taking heed of team work, I'll try to do the same against you sad, LURM haters aswell, especially those without ECM, AMS and cant use the slightest bit of cover.

LRMS are in the game to stay, part of Battletech universe. So better stay with team and be aware of dark skies!

[A Really Old Clan Dude]

I find the best LRM boats are the medium/fast heavy mechs, i dont take them often but when I need a lrm boat for an event.
That being said a supernova lrm boatcan be a monster if you protect it and dont go the full nascar.

they have the speed to keep up and re-position to get the best firing angles, nothing better than to see a mech think they are getting in cover only to be hit from the side.

my favorite LRM mechs
clan: Vanguard 3*LRM20
IS: Trebuchet 2*LRM15

[Ken Harkin]

Curccu, on 25 June 2019 - 08:08 AM, said:

Why TC?

TC also speeds up locks. It also improves crit chances.

[Ken Harkin]

Kubernetes, on 24 June 2019 - 02:21 PM, said:

Why are you the way that you are? Honestly, every time I try to do something fun or exciting, you make it not that way. I hate so much about the things that you choose to be.

I have no idea what you mean with this statement. The combination of LRM+A and ATM is pretty damn good. The timing sees almost all arriving together when firing LRM and then ATM. The MLs are a nice back up and I am regularly getting my own locks, a must for ATMs. I may not be closing to < 100m but I am certainly in the line of fire.

[Nightbird]

Ken Harkin, on 25 June 2019 - 01:39 PM, said:

TC also speeds up locks. It also improves crit chances.

lol