61 replies to this topic

[Jaxon Frostblade]

Recently I've noticed a large increase in ER Large Laser snipers and LRM spam. I enjoy short range, up close and personal gameplay which seems to be effectively neutralised due to my being outranged and unable to close on these enemies to bring my srm's and/or streaks to bear on viable targets. It's gotten to the point where I am just a target and do little to contribute, even hearing negative comments via comms from team mates. Suggestions are welcome - maybe I'll abandon brawling and try something new, or turn to the dark side and join the snipers and lurmers.....

[Nightbird]

Map design issues. Sniper positions must have a way of being pushed from a different angle, and with sufficient cover, to allow short/mid/long ranged gameplay to co-exist.

The easy way to improve this is to move spawns so that sniper perches are not next to the spawn, but rather to the left and right of the center where the brawlers will fight. This allows brawlers to get into position at least while the snipers are moving.

The best way to avoid this is to design maps where sniper perches are limited - never have too great a coverage area and have blind angles of approach flankers can use.

Edited by Nightbird, 07 July 2022 - 08:15 AM.

[CFC Conky]

Speaking as a T4 player, I would say that short-range brawling is not extinct, it just requires more patience and better use of cover as both teams eventually close the range. Some maps make this more difficult but overall, brawlers are still viable, IMO.

Good hunting,
CFC Conky

[Gasboy]

Bwahaha, this is hilarious.

Dueling narratives on the front page.

[feeWAIVER]

Invest in an AC20 and change your game to short range flanking/poking.
Missiles suck.

Edited by feeWAIVER, 07 July 2022 - 08:33 AM.

[Gasboy]

feeWAIVER, on 07 July 2022 - 08:32 AM, said:

Invest in an AC20 and change your game to short range flanking/poking.
Missiles suck.

Or get better at using them.

[RickySpanish]

OP did you miss the bit where a pair of snubs became a free energy based AC-20 for 12 tons?

[ScrapIron Prime]

RickySpanish, on 07 July 2022 - 08:53 AM, said:

OP did you miss the bit where a pair of snubs became a free energy based AC-20 for 12 tons?

Right???

Let us introduce you to the OP weapon system that is a pair (or even three, because ghost heat isn't enough) of Snub Nose PPCs.

Edited by ScrapIron Prime, 07 July 2022 - 09:01 AM.

[Meep Meep]

Yeah. Snubs are on damn near every Is mech that can fit them now.

[RickySpanish]

I don't hate them though, because they ARE an effective counter to all the long range back line humping that became popular recently.

[feeWAIVER]

Gasboy, on 07 July 2022 - 08:50 AM, said:

Or get better at using them.

No, they are just objectively worse.
They used to be good. Not sure when it changed, but they just aren't great anymore.


I think it was around 2016/2017.. they did a patch that changed the way heat worked generally, and they increased the spread of SRMs.

Edited by feeWAIVER, 07 July 2022 - 10:47 AM.

[ScrapIron Prime]

feeWAIVER, on 07 July 2022 - 10:43 AM, said:

No, they are just objectively worse.
They used to be good. Not sure when it changed, but they just aren't great anymore.


I think it was around 2016/2017.. they did a patch that changed the way heat worked generally, and they increased the spread of SRMs.

True, but SRMs with Artemis are still quite effective. I have a love of Artemis SRM4's, they're 2 spaces and the spread is so freaking narrow.

[caravann]

Move aside , Nascar parade is coming through.

Hello neighbour. We're passing your team estate.

[YueFei]

OP: A lot of this might have to do with the mech you picked to try to brawl in.

Since Hunchbacks are getting another quirk pass I decided to drive my old HBK-4SP (first mech I ever had), in its stock+ config (MLas+ASRM6s).

This thing sucks terribly at brawling. If this was the only mech I owned and tried to brawl in, I might also conclude that brawling is futile.

When I compare how it performs versus my preferred brawl ride, the SHD-2D, it's night and day.

OP, if you like brawling but find it to be a massive struggle, I suggest you give other mechs a try, and find a more suitable ride for your preferred playstyle.

[pattonesque]

yeah OP what are you using to brawl? mech and loadout, I mean?

[Valley Pirate]

Charismatic Enigma, on 07 July 2022 - 07:58 AM, said:

Recently I've noticed a large increase in ER Large Laser snipers and LRM spam. I enjoy short range, up close and personal gameplay which seems to be effectively neutralised due to my being outranged and unable to close on these enemies to bring my srm's and/or streaks to bear on viable targets. It's gotten to the point where I am just a target and do little to contribute, even hearing negative comments via comms from team mates. Suggestions are welcome - maybe I'll abandon brawling and try something new, or turn to the dark side and join the snipers and lurmers.....

I've just started sniping. Literally no point to brawling right now, unless you're using the jacked up snubs. (Seems like even they out-range brawl builds, though.)

[Mark Yore]

Charismatic Enigma, on 07 July 2022 - 07:58 AM, said:

Recently I've noticed a large increase in ER Large Laser snipers and LRM spam. I enjoy short range, up close and personal gameplay which seems to be effectively neutralised due to my being outranged and unable to close on these enemies to bring my srm's and/or streaks to bear on viable targets. It's gotten to the point where I am just a target and do little to contribute, even hearing negative comments via comms from team mates. Suggestions are welcome - maybe I'll abandon brawling and try something new, or turn to the dark side and join the snipers and lurmers.....

1) Find a mech with ECM
2) Go around the map, preferably with a light, until you're within brawling range of the snipers
3) First shot should be into their backs to wake them up, then watch as they try to kill you with long-range weapons
4) Head back and rejoin the fight.

[Gideon Bravor]

Charismatic Enigma, on 07 July 2022 - 07:58 AM, said:

Recently I've noticed a large increase in ER Large Laser snipers and LRM spam. I enjoy short range, up close and personal gameplay which seems to be effectively neutralised due to my being outranged and unable to close on these enemies to bring my srm's and/or streaks to bear on viable targets. It's gotten to the point where I am just a target and do little to contribute, even hearing negative comments via comms from team mates. Suggestions are welcome - maybe I'll abandon brawling and try something new, or turn to the dark side and join the snipers and lurmers.....

I have 3 mechs that have 2+ K/D and have SRMs as primary weapons: Arctic Wolf Prime, Hunchback IIC, and an Incubus. I tried to make a Marauder II into an SRM boat, and that failed spectacularly. But I digress.

Don't use Streaks. There's far too much variability in which part of an enemy mech they'll hit; which might be okay if against a light mech, but against anything else, you'll die well before your target does.

If you're using SRMs without Artemis, don't bother firing unless you're within 50m. Preferably you want to be point blank.

Don't fire SRMs at a moving light mech. Collide with the light mech to force it to stop, then hit it point blank while it's stationary.

Don't waste your salvos on a target if you can only shoot it from the side or an awkward angle. Wait until the torso is presented cleanly before you fire. Don't waste shots, because it generates heat for nothing.

If you're having a hard time getting near an enemy, get a faster mech. Wait until your allies are engaged with an enemy, then target that enemy. Don't initiate combat yourself until you perform better.

You asked for suggestions, so there they are.

Edited by Gideon Bravor, 08 July 2022 - 01:12 AM.

[Kiiyor]

Things were great there for a week or so after the crusader dropped. The allure of fitting one or two primary weapons to justify ignoring said primary weapons while charging into small laser range was... overpowering.

Now the blue lasers, peeps, and the barest silhouette of a whole lance of 4 pixel high night gyrs are once more reclaiming what was theirs all along.

You still CAN brawl, but it's more situational. There's a case to be made for snubs at the moment - here's hoping that's not just a fad that gets thrown back into the cauldron.

[Zeddicuus]

I have a couple of mechs set up for brawling - A Timberwolf, a Mad Dog... But I've noticed that game has really moved to long range, which makes it a bit difficult to get folks within range of SRM or HML.

I've taken towards to ambush tactics: used skills points for speed so I can get those two mechs up to about 88km/h and try to close the gap faster as I dart from cover to cover. Feels more like a job for medium or light mechs, but I like my thicker armor...

But for events like the one currently going: If you can't beat them, join them! I've got a couple of mechs currently geared out for the long range to try to rack up match score so I can snag that free hero mech.