108 replies to this topic

[Xorkrath]

Hey as long as we're discussing support weapons, I have a question that doesn't really warrant it's own thread and this is a relevant topic, so here goes -

I'm a returning player, last having played around mid-2018. I've been playing a few matches a week, nothing major yet. But I *think* I've noticed a difference in how the NARC has been working now as compared to 2018.

Namely, back then, AMS were everywhere (especially after the LAMS release) and I couldn't get a NARC on anything unless it was already under missile bombardment and thus distracting the AMS systems. I'd try to fire a NARC and I'd see a bunch of AMS shots light up and never land a single beacon. I got so frustrated that I wondered aloud if maybe since the in-game tools say that it's a *cannon*, that maybe it shouldn't be getting intercepted by an *anti-missile* system.

And the past bunch of matches I've played...it looks like someone actually listened. I fire NARC at enemies and I haven't seen the AMS light up, at least not yet in the limited matches I've played. I haven't missed a NARC yet. Or perhaps they buffed the NARC missile health so it can better withstand a single AMS so the more isolated targets are still vulnerable. I don't know.

With that context established, my question is - what changed in regards to NARC between 2018 and now? Did they exempt it from the AMS targeting? Did they buff the health? Or is this just all a coincidence and a lot less people are running AMS these days?

Edited by Xorkrath, 24 July 2021 - 06:04 AM.

[ThreeStooges]

Xorkrath, on 24 July 2021 - 06:03 AM, said:

Hey as long as we're discussing support weapons, I have a question that doesn't really warrant it's own thread and this is a relevant topic, so here goes -

I'm a returning player, last having played around mid-2018. I've been playing a few matches a week, nothing major yet. But I *think* I've noticed a difference in how the NARC has been working now as compared to 2018.

Namely, back then, AMS were everywhere (especially after the LAMS release) and I couldn't get a NARC on anything unless it was already under missile bombardment and thus distracting the AMS systems. I'd try to fire a NARC and I'd see a bunch of AMS shots light up and never land a single beacon. I got so frustrated that I wondered aloud if maybe since the in-game tools say that it's a *cannon*, that maybe it shouldn't be getting intercepted by an *anti-missile* system.

And the past bunch of matches I've played...it looks like someone actually listened. I fire NARC at enemies and I haven't seen the AMS light up, at least not yet in the limited matches I've played. I haven't missed a NARC yet. Or perhaps they buffed the NARC missile health so it can better withstand a single AMS so the more isolated targets are still vulnerable. I don't know.

With that context established, my question is - what changed in regards to NARC between 2018 and now? Did they exempt it from the AMS targeting? Did they buff the health? Or is this just all a coincidence and a lot less people are running AMS these days?

Depends on when you play. Some matches you'll fit a lot of kfoxes,novas and cous with 3x-4x ams boating up ams so even a lrm 20 is shot down in seconds. Other times maybe one mech might have a single ams. Rvn 3l does have narc quirks so if you stack with the aux tree narc can be worth taking. Then you just have to hope you have a lot of lrms on your team. Put points into uavs as well as it is an aoe vs narc's single target.

I have two rvn 3ls with one set up for stealth memes and one for uav/narcs. For events I mostly run it with the uavnarc combo or the mdd with a 60 lrm.

[My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ]

Xorkrath, on 24 July 2021 - 06:03 AM, said:

With that context established, my question is - what changed in regards to NARC between 2018 and now? Did they exempt it from the AMS targeting? Did they buff the health? Or is this just all a coincidence and a lot less people are running AMS these days?

How NARC has changed to sync up with the mechanical changes of LRMs: https://mwomercs.com...41980-19mar2019

No idea on health changes since then but I think people just run less AMS. At least in T1 is either you see an AMS boat or none at all.

Edited by My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 24 July 2021 - 07:13 PM.

[Xorkrath]

Okay thanks for the info!

My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, on 24 July 2021 - 07:11 PM, said:

At least in T1 is either you see an AMS boat or none at all.

Well that's something I'll never have to worry about. Since I returned to the game I've been primarily running my Raven in a support role and playing the objective rather than trying to slug it out. And while I've been winning much more than I lose, my PSR is dropping like a rock. I'll likely be rank 5 with nothing in the skill bar within another week's time.

[PocketYoda]

Why are streaks considered a support weapon and srms aren't?

Xorkrath, on 25 July 2021 - 04:43 AM, said:

Okay thanks for the info!

Well that's something I'll never have to worry about. Since I returned to the game I've been primarily running my Raven in a support role and playing the objective rather than trying to slug it out. And while I've been winning much more than I lose, my PSR is dropping like a rock. I'll likely be rank 5 with nothing in the skill bar within another week's time.

Try running an Adder with AMS they can carry some firepower with their AMS.

Edited by MechaGnome, 25 July 2021 - 09:12 PM.

[Christof Romulus]

Khobai, on 30 June 2021 - 01:22 AM, said:

Flamers:
-More damage? I cant think of any other way to buff flamers without completely overhauling them.


New Utility Hardpoint:
New type of hardpoint for utility weapons like TAG/NARC.TAG/NARC can either use a utility hardpoint or an energy/missile hardpoint respectively. Mechs like the Raven/Kitfox and other support mechs would get a utility hardpoint so they dont have to waste energy or missile hardpoints on TAG/NARC.

Okay let's work together to come up with a quick and easy Flamer re-work that uses the very idea you had later in the same post!

Problems with Flamers as they are now and as they have been in the past:
Flamers have always been the game's only de-buff to a mech's performance. When used singularly, they are completely useless - they bring absolutely no value to the game at all. When boated they are completely overpowered - able to completely remove a player from the game, keeping them constantly shut down.

The "fixes" that were implemented (the present):
To prevent shutting opponents down completely and forever, flamers currently generate MORE HEAT in the mech SHOOTING THE FLAMERS than it does in the mech being hit by the flamers. Now unable to completely shut down an opponent, they once again fall into the category of completely useless.

The fix:
Flamers are no longer energy weapons, and (like AMS) are their own weapon type.

Tada - Boating problem FIXED. Now that you can't bring 10 flamers on a Piranha and only a select few mechs can bring a flamer, they can be properly buffed.

Buff:
Flamers no longer generate bonus heat in the person firing the flamer.
Flamers deal 0 damage if the target has armor (they already deal nearly 0), but deal critical damage to all components in an exposed hit location. This damage can be whatever flamer's current damage is and can be scaled appropriately later.
Flamers no longer are a continuous stream weapon, but now fire like Lasers (allowing mechs with multiple flamer hardpoints to chain fire them for an extended effect).

[My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ]

Xorkrath, on 25 July 2021 - 04:43 AM, said:

Okay thanks for the info!

Well that's something I'll never have to worry about. Since I returned to the game I've been primarily running my Raven in a support role and playing the objective rather than trying to slug it out. And while I've been winning much more than I lose, my PSR is dropping like a rock. I'll likely be rank 5 with nothing in the skill bar within another week's time.

Are you intentionally sandbagging your teams?

[Xorkrath]

My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, on 25 July 2021 - 02:21 PM, said:

Are you intentionally sandbagging your teams?

Why do you beat your wife? o.O

I'm playing to the objective, supporting the team in locating, tracking, and eliminating targets, and a few times I snatched victory out from under the opposing team because sometimes this game is more than just inflicting damage, worthless or otherwise. With such heavy weight put upon inflicting damage, it's very easy to game the system and inflate your supposed worth to the team. Milking damage < capping the objectives. Given that I'm currently running a positive w/l I'm doubting any of my teammates would find my contribution lacking.

In fact, a few days ago I had one solo kill, six assists, components blown off, and solo capped the enemy base. All as a light. And I get the red arrows. Look, I get that you have a big yellow 1 and that means you probably figured out the best way to game the system and are very personally invested into it. But my point was that whether or not you like it, this game has objectives that involve things *other* than just killing the enemy team. I've capped objectives out from under the enemy team and skill nodes still include spots for quicker capping. Until that changes, winning the match is a perfectly valid form of gameplay and I can't believe I have to spell that out for you.

When that changes to a point where the game is literally and *not* figuratively nothing but a glorified deathmatch, I'll be happy to do nothing but farm damage like a mindless bot. Not only that, but given the lack of weapon capability on lights, I'm sure you'd be happy to inform PGI that they can ditch the light category altogether since they're not needed with such a hefty handicap on the only thing that really matters.