30 replies to this topic

[B1zmark]

This is vague as hell, but I've picked up a linebacker and I've never been smashed so hard in any other mech. No matter what build i put in it, I'm open CT in this mech legitimately within one fire exchange.

I can play almost any other slower or fatter mech and it's not as bad - is there something really wrong that I don't know about the LB?

[MechWarrior5782621]

keep moving, torso twist

[Doppelsoldner King Crab]

from personal experience, LBKs are good flankers due to their speed and good jump jets.

they are pretty good with heavy lasers and that requires facetime, hence exposed center torso.
i suggest trying a few games with pulse lasers, erppcs and learning to shoot while going full speed.
i have tested increasing accel and decel skills peek-shooting but had much better results in shooting at full speed (even with heavy lasers) and jump jetting, not straight up but at full speed as well.

[RickySpanish]

Linebacker used to be in an interesting place as an exceedingly agile Clan Heavy. I suspect the 'Mech suffers now with other chassis getting agility buffs as well. The left side torso is a pretty big weakpoint for laser builds unless you are running the Hero. I almost alwaaaays get that side shot off no matter how well I twist. If you are losing CT though that suggests you aren't twisting away from the enemy after taking your shot, or popping up like a deer in headlamps in front of your opponents.

[Ravni]

The Linebacker is an extraordinarily agile, 97kph, 65 ton heavy with clan XL, small front profile, good hitboxes & significant defensive quirks depending on which pods you take. It's one of the most survivable mechs in the game.

[Krucilatoz]

I also had my frustation on using LBK, tried several build, none of them work, left it dusted for a year or so,
then after saw one player using 7 heavy-mid-laser I try that build, and it works.

Things is, that LBK is fast enough to be flanker, but getting into SRM-range (< 200m) is risky because its large profile.
That's why build such as SRM / SPL / brawler hardy works, you hit your target, but enemy teammate will hit you more.
LPL / PPC are viable but other mech are better (eg VGL for 3xppc)
Then HML build will fit LBK with ~1 secs burn and 270m range, far enough from SRM/MRM blast, close enough for the laser to burn. The 7 HML chain-fire for 70 damage then retreat / moving again. If you aim properly, that enough to open side torso most of mech up to heavy class

[Dora the Konqueror]

Linebacker survivability issues seriously?

[Thorqemada]

One way could be that you let someone else catch the attention of your target/the enemy and then make shots of oportunity with little chance of returning fire as your target/the enemy does not face you and would have to adjust aim which costs time and inflicts a certain inaccuracy.

The problem is you dont have the initative and need others to sacrifice themself for that playstyle.


PS: Hide and Peek out of cover has become extremely necessary since the firepower has grown so much and never shy away from doing exactly that unless you are in a team that simply is the living rolling barrange and is able to anihilate everything it looks at and/or stomps over.

Edited by Thorqemada, 21 October 2021 - 12:14 AM.

[Nightbird]

Try 1HLL 6ERML in the Torsos, max DHS

[justcallme A S H]

LBKs are pretty well known to be reasonably tanky.

They spread damage quite well due to the high levels of mobility. You cannot run in and face-tank and enemy though. They are definitely a edge-skirt type of mech or fire in/around bigger gunned assaults/heavy mechs or stick with other faster movers but be prepared to retreat.

I would say LBK issues would be more a player driven one rather than a balance one.

[B1zmark]

The answer to my question was: For some reason there's 20 points of armour missing from my CT. All I can think of was swapping around omni-pods messed up the tonnages and I didn't apply armour properly like an idiot (because we all know the mech building manual has 3 steps: Step one, max the CT armour. Step 2, never look at it again. Step 3, save mech and ready up because people are waiting)

But folks, common, "Just torso twist lol". You know you can shoot the front CT of the LBK while standing behind it? I've come to expect better "l2p" posts from this community.

EDIT

I've also just realised i bought the Linebacker H, which is the CT energy slot LBK. Turns out, its the only linebacker without CT armor quirks.

I've been running around with nearly -40HP on my CT compared to other linebackers. FML.

Edited by B1zmark, 21 October 2021 - 02:03 AM.

[Saved By The Bell]

You joking. SRM Arctic wolfs and Linebackers near you mean fast death usually.

[justcallme A S H]

Well running down on armour will certainly cause you a problem...

It will make all the difference.

[Teenage Mutant Ninja Urbie]

well, use that one for a hvyLL+erml or pure mpl build, then.

linebackers are some of my favourite mechs and yeah: they're not invincible. but done right (which in QP means having some (more!) patience) usually pays off.

with the more tanky torsos, try a 6(?)x srm6 build - it's a blast. literally ^^

Edited by Teenage Mutant Ninja Urbie, 21 October 2021 - 03:03 AM.

[CrimsonPhantom6sg062]

B1zmark, on 21 October 2021 - 01:59 AM, said:

The answer to my question was: For some reason there's 20 points of armour missing from my CT. All I can think of was swapping around omni-pods messed up the tonnages and I didn't apply armour properly like an idiot (because we all know the mech building manual has 3 steps: Step one, max the CT armour. Step 2, never look at it again. Step 3, save mech and ready up because people are waiting)

But folks, common, "Just torso twist lol". You know you can shoot the front CT of the LBK while standing behind it? I've come to expect better "l2p" posts from this community.

EDIT

I've also just realised i bought the Linebacker H, which is the CT energy slot LBK. Turns out, its the only linebacker without CT armor quirks.

I've been running around with nearly -40HP on my CT compared to other linebackers. FML.

lol yeah, I sometimes derp out in the Mechlab as well. Some details are easy to miss, so just try to double-check your builds after you play around with them.

Hopefully your LBK will be as tanky most people say now.

[RickySpanish]

B1zmark, on 21 October 2021 - 01:59 AM, said:

The answer to my question was: For some reason there's 20 points of armour missing from my CT. All I can think of was swapping around omni-pods messed up the tonnages and I didn't apply armour properly like an idiot (because we all know the mech building manual has 3 steps: Step one, max the CT armour. Step 2, never look at it again. Step 3, save mech and ready up because people are waiting)

But folks, common, &quot;Just torso twist lol&quot;. You know you can shoot the front CT of the LBK while standing behind it? I've come to expect better &quot;l2p&quot; posts from this community.

EDIT

I've also just realised i bought the Linebacker H, which is the CT energy slot LBK. Turns out, its the only linebacker without CT armor quirks.

I've been running around with nearly -40HP on my CT compared to other linebackers. FML.

Ah yes, how silly of us to assume you weren't doing the basics like spreading damage. We should have led with "did you forget to put armour on it?" =P

[B1zmark]

RickySpanish, on 21 October 2021 - 09:08 AM, said:

Ah yes, how silly of us to assume you weren't doing the basics like spreading damage. We should have led with "did you forget to put armour on it?" =P

never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity

Edited by B1zmark, 22 October 2021 - 01:23 AM.

[RickySpanish]

B1zmark, on 22 October 2021 - 01:22 AM, said:

never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity

On the bright side, a definite explanation and quick solution to your problem presented itself. The cup is half full, not half empty!

[Commoners]

Have you tried stripping even MORE armor and putting bigger guns on it? They can't kill you if they don't live to shoot back.

[PocketYoda]

B1zmark, on 20 October 2021 - 03:32 PM, said:

This is vague as hell, but I've picked up a linebacker and I've never been smashed so hard in any other mech. No matter what build i put in it, I'm open CT in this mech legitimately within one fire exchange.

I can play almost any other slower or fatter mech and it's not as bad - is there something really wrong that I don't know about the LB?

That issue is with power creep on weapons.. i noticed the phoenix hawk was a one shot core as well, nearly all mediums and heavies suffer from the crazy high damage.