27 replies to this topic

[sweetlime]

While plenty of people here have played previous games, not everyone is going to be used to the general control style or all the functions of a mech, so do you think distance fighters would be the best way to learn?

I figure if you take a light mech into battle and get wiped pretty quickly, then you're left waiting for the new match to begin to learn more. Probably not the best strategy. Then again, if you pick a heavy you'll be able to take more hits, but probably be a priority target and get lost in the bombardment from several other players rather than focusing on how to use your large arsenal.

So maybe it would be best for someone new to MW to pick a distance fighter. Then they can learn the controls and warning signals and sounds while hopefully not in the middle of madness too much, and probably develop better aim since the targets are smaller at a distance. What do you think?

[Sunny0]

Well i think the most important thing is to find the right mech/class for your play style that make it alot easier. Long range is also not easy coz you always need to watch that nobody came up to close to you.

[Viper69]

I think its good to get your butt kicked as its the best learning tool. So i am a fan of diving in and failing and learning myself what i like, not what i should try because i am new.

[Aescwulf]

Being support is a good way to learn I learned that way when I use to play MW4. The torso twist took me awhile to get use to it and now I'm not a master at it. But this is a new game and really no one knows how the game fairs. I suspect that we all have to relearn.

Losing is a good way of learning because from losing you'll be able to figure out what you did wrong/ didn't do well and learn from it.

[-Teiwaz-]

First off, having a light mech does not mean running into battle and getting killed in the first minute, not much help to your team I would guess. A light mech means more of a scout role. Decide what role you want to fill, pick a mech that suits that role and practice, practice, practice! The longer you spend in a particular mech the more EX you will get for that mech, the better you will be, the less often you will die.

[Dimestore]

sweetlime, on 27 July 2012 - 09:44 AM, said:

While plenty of people here have played previous games, not everyone is going to be used to the general control style or all the functions of a mech, so do you think distance fighters would be the best way to learn?

I figure if you take a light mech into battle and get wiped pretty quickly, then you're left waiting for the new match to begin to learn more. Probably not the best strategy. Then again, if you pick a heavy you'll be able to take more hits, but probably be a priority target and get lost in the bombardment from several other players rather than focusing on how to use your large arsenal.

So maybe it would be best for someone new to MW to pick a distance fighter. Then they can learn the controls and warning signals and sounds while hopefully not in the middle of madness too much, and probably develop better aim since the targets are smaller at a distance. What do you think?

A good way to learn the controls might be by running an lrm focused system with decent close range weapons: lrm at range & learn targeting/lock/chat/etc; then close when out of ammo and learn skirmishing. If you die quickly then you're already well into the match so you won't get bored. And few teams should complain about having an lrm launcher on their side.

Edited out of nda paranoia.

Edited by Hax DB Header, 27 July 2012 - 10:20 AM.

[SuperBall]

One sure way to become a better player is to play against people that are better than you. As far as controls go... that'll take practice.

[RecklessFable]

Is sniper the best learning class in other games? Not really, too detached from the action. I'd say medium or heavy brawler.

[Vlad Ward]

Honestly, I would probably start a new player off with a Heavy or Assault mech. They're less fragile (so you don't get gibbed), slower (so you don't run off a cliff while learning how to torso twist), and have a wider array of weaponry so you can get used to the various kinds of guns in the Battletech universe and how they operate in the field.

Long distance support may be safer, but it won't teach you nearly as much about using the weapons and controls in dogfights.

Edited by Vlad Ward, 27 July 2012 - 10:53 AM.

[SABRET00TH]

In my experience it seems that role is the key factor so I would go with Tigers Roar's suggestion, choose the role you feel most comfortable with. If you are fulfilling a role in your team you do not enjoy you will lose interest/focus and so you AND your team might wipe sooner. So go with what you like, you may not lst as long but you'll be more eager to get back into the saddle and try again. As the great American educator Thomas H. Palmer once said, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!" Or as my dad from Liverppol says, "if at first you don't succeed, put the kettle on and watch the Footy instead!" As you can imagine he is NOT an elite mechwarrior in any weight class!

[Max Power]

Like others said, in a heavy/assault you will last longer so you get more 'practice' in a round. But don't discount being dead and spectating. You can pick up some pointers by watching other more experienced players.

For instance, there are a ton of people who don't turn their mechs so the arms are facing incoming fire while waiting for weaons to be ready to fire again. You can't do it in every situation, but there are times when it's invaluble.

[Seabear]

I would sugguest that you go with a medium to learn the ropes as it is the jack of all trades mech having representatives of every role. A medium gives one reasonable speed, armor and firepower. If you like brawling, go with the Hunchbaek and Its AC20 or laser array. If you like support, go with the Trebuchet and its LRMs. For scouts, go with the Cicada, one of the fastest mechs, and its variety of weapons chaioce. For and all around mech, the Centurion fills the bill. Plus you will be in demand if we are faced with weight restrictions on drops.

[supertrieuper]

I don't mind if I get my butt kicked in a lot of matches at the beginning. Part of learning will be observing how everybody else plays through the observer cam. I'll be piloting a light mech, so I see a lot of death cams in my future.

[Hidran]

Nitsua Asuka, on 27 July 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

Being support is a good way to learn I learned that way when I use to play MW4. The torso twist took me awhile to get use to it and now I'm not a master at it. But this is a new game and really no one knows how the game fairs. I suspect that we all have to relearn.

Losing is a good way of learning because from losing you'll be able to figure out what you did wrong/ didn't do well and learn from it.

failing is also a good way of losing a butt load of in-game cash.

[Kael Tropheus]

I am thinking the best way to learn from scratch is either a fast moving scout mech, where hopefully if you have a good team you will only have to engage n the periphery of a fight while the big guys have their hands full. Much cheaper mech to repair as well and you learn how to manuever very well. The other option is a big heavy brawler, gets you into the thick of it. I dont see support mechs as being that good since heavy scouts making it back there can ruin your day and make it very frustrating. Support brawlers like Hunchies are decent but there is definately a learning curve as you figure out where you want to be in the battle line and how to stay with you more heavily armored and armored comrades but not stay in the spotlight.

[Urdnot]

As a wild guess, I'd say medium is probably the best class to learn. They are the most balanced after all, so you're not as nimble as a light nor too vulnerable to close attack as support, too slow to avoid bombardment as heavy or assault, etc.

[Graives]

Viper69, on 27 July 2012 - 09:51 AM, said:

I think its good to get your butt kicked as its the best learning tool. So i am a fan of diving in and failing and learning myself what i like, not what i should try because i am new.

lol, no. I mean, if you get your *** handed to you but you have no idea what just happened, you can't learn from it. All they might learn is that they want to play a ranged position so they can more easily see what's going on around them. XD

Not saying you can't learn from close quarters combat. You can, but only if you have some idea of what you're doing and what's happening, so you have enough experience and understanding to make observations that you can learn from.

[MrDred]

Medium/heavy brawler. Teaches how to maneuver. Lights, too, but from experience i'd say that can be frustrating to start out with. Even if you plan on sniping longrange you will put maneuvering skills to use at some point and most importantly... you learn about vulnerabilities and mech geometry best up close.

[Plymouth]

A medium is a good way to go. You won't have the utter vulnerablility of the lights, nor the need to better time movements and attacks with an assualt.

[gilliam]

I would actually say going assault first is a bad idea Even heavies might not be best. The bigger mechs tend to get alphaed quite a bit, and you will have trouble keeping things off you back. i'd say something in the 45-65 ton range is your best bet since it will have a mix of speed weaponry and survivability.

I would also say the role you are comfortable with is also a factor.

Edited by gilliam, 30 July 2012 - 12:19 PM.