14 replies to this topic

[lordminx]

So, I've only been playing MWO for a few weeks now and while I still suck, I tend to suck less recently.

So far, I've been playing Medium (Centurion and Vapor Eagle), mostly in a "stick to the heavies and try to support them" kinda way and that's fun. Now, I've been thinking about trying out Light Mechs, either in a similar support role (If that's a thing for Lights?) or in a Scout/Spotter/"take oportunistic shots if possible and then gtfo" way.

Soooo, help a newbie out? Recommended builds/mechs? Is ECM as useful as I think it is?

M

[martian]

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:04 AM, said:

So, I've only been playing MWO for a few weeks now and while I still suck, I tend to suck less recently.

Greetings!

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:04 AM, said:

So far, I've been playing Medium (Centurion and Vapor Eagle), mostly in a "stick to the heavies and try to support them" kinda way and that's fun. Now, I've been thinking about trying out Light Mechs, either in a similar support role (If that's a thing for Lights?) ...

Such role for light 'Mechs really does exist: Slow light 'Mechs such as Adder, Cougar or Kit Fox can do that. They are not exactly fast, but they can carry (relatively) heavy armament.

Just remember that you should support friendly Heavy and Assault 'Mechs, but not block their movement.

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:04 AM, said:

or in a Scout/Spotter/"take oportunistic shots if possible and then gtfo" way.

To be honest, Scouts or Spotters are not exactly important roles in MWO.

After all, often you can see the enemy team right from your drop zone. So who would need Scouts?

Spotters are only good when you are dropping as a part of a 4-man premade when the rest of the group are LRM boats. The higher you move in Tiers, the less friendly LRMs you are going to see. So there would be no need to specialize as a Spotter, if you your team will have no 'Mechs that could use your services.

Short summary: Instead of of spotting or scouting, concentrate on killing (or harassing) enemy 'Mechs.

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:04 AM, said:

Is ECM as useful as I think it is?

ECM is not the Jesus box that it used to be years ago, but it can be quite useful.

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:04 AM, said:

Soooo, help a newbie out? Recommended builds/mechs?

Escort role: Adder is quite nimble, Cougar can carry ECM, well-played Kit Fox can be effective too.

Mobile role: Piranha and Mist Lynx are kinda "glass cannons". They can punish enemy 'Mechs all right, but they can die to one enemy alpha strike also.

Incubus is typically used in a direct combat.

Arctic Cheetah: Well, it's my favourite 'Mech.
It has hardwired Jump Jets that can help with your positioning. It has good ground speed. It can carry ECM, if needed. It is an OmniMech, so you can use various OmniPods to create some configuration that works for you.

[Gagis]

The Javelin 11 Medium Lasers is pretty excellent

[lordminx]

*takes notes*

Ok, so less spotter, more harassing anklebiter. Got it.

martian, on 23 September 2021 - 07:40 AM, said:

Arctic Cheetah: Well, it's my favourite 'Mech.
It has hardwired Jump Jets that can help with your positioning. It has good ground speed. It can carry ECM, if needed. It is an OmniMech, so you can use various OmniPods to create some configuration that works for you.

And currently on sale as well. Hmmm...

[martian]

Gagis, on 23 September 2021 - 07:45 AM, said:

The Javelin 11 Medium Lasers is pretty excellent

It really is.

However, it can not be equipped with ECM. It's not the end of the world, but ECM can be handy sometimes.

[martian]

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 07:48 AM, said:

And currently on sale as well. Hmmm...

Arctic Cheetah E was a free 'Mech about three months ago ...

Other than that, PGI makes Arctic Cheetah a Trial 'Mech from time to time. You don't have to buy it, if you are not sure. You can just wait and then use Trial 'Mech to test it against other players for free. Your choice.

[lordminx]

martian, on 23 September 2021 - 07:58 AM, said:

[font="Times New Roman, serif"]
Arctic Cheetah E was a free 'Mech about three months ago ...

Other than that, PGI makes Arctic Cheetah a Trial 'Mech from time to time. You don't have to buy it, if you are not sure. You can just wait and then use Trial 'Mech to test it against other players for free. Your choice.

Eh, I impulse-bought it since it looks nice, handles ok in testing ground and I've been meaning to try an Omnimech anyway, so thanks for the tip.

What do your loadouts look like?

[CFC Conky]

What, no mention of the mighty Urbanmech?!

The Wolfhound is pretty good too.

Good hunting,
CFC Conky

[martian]

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 08:31 AM, said:

Eh, I impulse-bought it since it looks nice, handles ok in testing ground and I've been meaning to try an Omnimech anyway, so thanks for the tip.

I hope that you will like it.

lordminx, on 23 September 2021 - 08:31 AM, said:

What do your loadouts look like?

Well, I change them from time to time ...

Sometimes I get bored with running the same loadout, sometime weapons stats get changed and some loadout adjustment is needed, etc. That's the advantage of owning the OmniMech - you can simply buy new OmniPods, if needed.

Short range:
Try six ER Small Lasers or six Small Pulse Lasers.

Short range alphastrike:
ER Small Lasers and SRM-4s.

Medium range:
ER Medium Lasers or Heavy Medium lasers.

Critseeking:
Six Machine Guns, lots of ammo and one or two lasers.

Long range harassing:
A pair of ER Large Lasers.

The ownership of the "Shard" provides access to one or two additional OmniPods, but it is not a crucial thing. After all, the ECM OmniPod is available for .

Experiment and use or design a configuration that best suits your needs.

[Viscera CRPR]

Kitfox. A light mech that fits your requirements.

I only own three light mechs. Two of them are Kitfox's.

I have a C with three AMS, a PPC and a small pulse laser/machinegun combo to fight enemy lights coming in

And a G with a pair of lrm15 and heavy small lasers. This roams around more behind the fronlines getting missile damage on any enemy's it can target. Very good at weakening foes for the brawlers to take down more safely.

Edited by Viscera CRPR, 29 September 2021 - 02:16 AM.

[martian]

Viscera CRPR, on 29 September 2021 - 02:15 AM, said:

Kitfox. A light mech that fits your requirements.

I only own three light mechs. Two of them are Kitfox's.

I have a C with three AMS, a PPC and a small pulse laser/machinegun combo to fight enemy lights coming in

And a G with a pair of lrm15 and heavy small lasers. This roams around more behind the fronlines getting missile damage on any enemy's it can target. Very good at weakening foes for the brawlers to take down more safely.

Kit Fox is not a bad 'Mech, but it is not exactly fast (97 km/h). This speed can be a limiting factor sometimes.

[JediPanther]

If you're use to having armor and being shot as you orbit the bigger mechs and shooting at what they shoot try the two most armored is lights of urban mech and panther. 20 points into armor and the rest to what ever you like.

Lfe 200 with 2dhs works well when you want to cram on the fire power. The urb will need 3 d/hs for its engine limit. Urb goes 100-ish with the max engine. Pnt is around 110 Last I recall using it. Pnts also have a very big velocity buff for ppcs that get you roughly 30% more velocity when you add on the fire power velocity.

Rvn 3l will get you a good ecm light with 120 or so speed. You can add stealth to it but will have to spot enemy without your mech sensors which means no red box automatically appearing. Lots of builds for it. Save mc from events and get the (c) version for 30% more xp which adds up over time so you can constantly re-skill it to try more builds faster than the non (c.)

[LTC_Panders]

CFC Conky, on 23 September 2021 - 09:34 AM, said:

What, no mention of the mighty Urbanmech?!

The Wolfhound is pretty good too.

Good hunting,
CFC Conky

This. Especially the R80 Urbanmech is an amazing mech. 3LPPCs or 2SNPPCs with stealth armor and 2+ jump jets. Arguably the easiest mech to poptart with in the game due to high hardpoints and low/small profile.

[VeeOt Dragon]

i have to say that the Urbie is a fine starter light. though do keep in mind it will be a bit pricier than others to get kitted out since you need to upgrade that tiny engine to something me robust. my go to is the R63

UM-R63 (3 L-PPCs, 3 MGs, (1 1/2t ammo), 1 AMS (1/2t ammo) running and LE-170 with 4 DHS, Endo and LFF)

or if you want that ECM there is always the R80 (my build is much like my R63 build)

UM-R80 (3 L-PPCs, 2 ER SLs, running an LE-170 with 5 DHS, ECM, Endo, and LFF)

there are some good Urbies with lots of variety, hell you can fit an MRM-30 on the R68 thats always a good way to get an enemy to **** their pants. especially if you can get in behind them for a couple shots. the Urbanmech is the only light mech i play to be honest.

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 15 May 2023 - 03:47 PM.

[epikt]

VeeOt Dragon, on 15 May 2023 - 03:40 PM, said:

i have to say that the Urbie is a fine starter light. though do keep in mind it will be a bit pricier than others to get kitted out since you need to upgrade that tiny engine to something me robust.

(Almost) ALL Inner Sphere lights must upgrade their engine, stock speed is just too slow => big XL engine (few exceptions with an LFE like the SLas Flea).