37 replies to this topic

[Tam Wolfcry]

So just coming back to the game after years of not really playing. I've got a fairly large stable of mechs and have noted that most are staying in storage for two big reasons:

1) they can't compete in the current meta (low hard points)
2) near guaranteed PSR drains

If they have ECM, that may allow them to see the field. Maybe.

Honestly, that sucks. But there is no way some of my light mechs can realistically do much. They simply don't have the weapon slots to compete against the new mechs. I don't care if they are micro lasers...when you have 12 of them, they are going to slag my ML and 2MG locust. Or my Javelin with 4 missile slots. Or my clan mechs that have 3 hard points. Are those all regulated to snipers now?

The low weapon count means it is hard to get damage numbers up. Low damage numbers means an almost guaranteed loss of PSR even on a win.

Or is the best option to sell those mechs, free up mech slots, and just start buying mechs that fit the meta?

[VeeOt Dragon]

well first people need to stop caring about PSR, i don't and i have a LOT more fun that way.

as for mechs that don't fit the "meta" build something fun and go out and blast at big stompy robits. i honestly find the game more fun when i play my more oddball builds (it helps that i am T3, not that i care). hell i enjoy looking at enemy data readouts and seeing something unexpected.

go outside what you usually play and try new builds. toss **** together that feels interesting and have fun with it. also keep in mind that there have likely been TONS of balance changes since you last played so some of those old trash mechs (i don't think there are any truly trash mechs other than maybe that one Spider that only has a single hardpoint.) might be more Viable now. if you still don't want them you can always sell them to free up mech bays for new mechs. (hell i am thinking about picking up a Hatchetman once its out for C-bills.)

meta gets real boring real fast so don't bother

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 21 April 2023 - 09:26 AM.

[RockmachinE]

Welcome back. I don't know how long you've been gone and how many mechs and mechbays you have available so its hard to give you any definitive answers. If you have enough CBills, MC and mechbays it'd be a waste to sell the old stuff. Maybe get a few newer mechs once you get used to the new meta and once you see what works for you.

It seems to me like you're maybe a bit intimidated by the new mechs and not yet used to the new meta. There has been some power creep, the meta is quite different, but to be honest a lot of the old stuff is still very good and viable if built correctly. Its more down to the build itself rather than the the mech being older or newer.

My main suggestion would be to play the game for a while to get used to the current meta and balance. look at some of the more prominent players to get some inspiration for builds. Once you get a feel for the current balance, you can rebuild some of your old chassis to fit the new playstyle.

The skill tree has changed quite a bit now. Definitely go through the skills and skill each mech again. You can choose the skills now instead of having to move down a skill tree allowing for way more effective builds.

There's plenty of events now and a free mech every month so that's a good way to get CBills, MC, mechs and other goodies.

On Clan Omnies you can play with the Omnipods to get a good combo of desired hardpoitns going.

Unless you're straddling the ridge between Tiers consistently, you should have plenty of space to mess around with sub par builds and have fun even if you loose more PSR than gain it. You should still get plenty of positive PSR on a win. I'd say just enjoy the game and don't worry about Tiers. You will eventually end up in the Tier you belong in anyways even if you take a bit of a hit at the start.

The game does play differently now that's for sure. Go out there have fun with it, explore how its changed, don't worry about being effective or not, see how it plays and see if you like it. Make new builds as you go along and see what works for you.

Also to add, the Locusts you're talking about seem to be the 3V or 1V which to be honest were never really good and are no better or worse now then they were in the past. They're just not very good variants of the mech. Same goes for the Javelin, even though you could still do some serious damage with an SRM Javelin if you play it right especially if its the Stealth ECM variant.

Have fun.

[VeeOt Dragon]

oh thanks for mentioning the Skill Tree changes for our OP there Louis i had completely forgotten about that.

[Tam Wolfcry]

I've been back for about a month and just crawled my way into T4. It took me a while to see how PSR worked and then find mechs and builds that would let me increase it. I've got about 150 or so mechs and about 350 gsp. I've been working out my skill builds as well and generally focus on survivability first, weapon boost second, then heat or speed depending on the mech. I've bought a few of the newer mechs with high weapon counts. I'll admit I haven't looked at the omni pods yet and that might help some of my older clan mechs with new hard point counts. I typically love trying out new and unusual builds, which is why my PSR tanked. Lately I've been working on increasing it.

It probably would be better to just ignore it, but now that I know its there, it is very hard for me to accept that down arrow. In general I should probably relax more and not concern myself with winning...but old habits die hard.

[BLACKR0SE]

very difficult to use most machines with available maps and mods available.
I totally agree.

becomes more pronounced at higher levels.
I can't use the machines and weapons I use in t4 on t3.

I have to reselect slots and machines at each level.

I'm going back and forth between t4 and t3 right now.

[jacpring]

Be the Meta you want to see in the world.

[Heavy Money]

What mechs specifically are you having trouble with? Some certainly aren't as good as others these days, but very few should be unviable.

[BLACKR0SE]

any machine that is not agile, any machine that is not in close range, any build.

eg corsair.

Edited by TAMTAMBABY, 21 April 2023 - 11:19 AM.

[RockmachinE]

Tam Wolfcry, on 21 April 2023 - 10:05 AM, said:

It probably would be better to just ignore it, but now that I know its there, it is very hard for me to accept that down arrow. In general I should probably relax more and not concern myself with winning...but old habits die hard.

Aye its true, its annoying seeing the red down arrow. I'd say the question is "am I having fun at this Tier". If the answer is yes, then to hell with the arrow!

TAMTAMBABY, on 21 April 2023 - 10:25 AM, said:

very difficult to use most machines with available maps and mods available.
I totally agree.

becomes more pronounced at higher levels.
I can't use the machines and weapons I use in t4 on t3.

I have to reselect slots and machines at each level.

I'm going back and forth between t4 and t3 right now.

Any MMO will have a meta. I think however that Mechwarrior is quite forgiving in this respect and you can get away with builds that are sub par. You can use terrain, timing and teammates - The Three Ts - as I like to call it (I just made this up) and still weasel your way into doing ok and having a fun match.

That being said if you're out for score and want to be competitive you need at least semi decent or semi meta mechs, anything less won't cut it.

Edited by Louis Brofist, 21 April 2023 - 11:21 AM.

[BLACKR0SE]

A fully ell building and solaris city map.

Edited by TAMTAMBABY, 21 April 2023 - 11:33 AM.

[BLACKR0SE]

4xppc riftleman and solaris map.

[feeWAIVER]

Low hard points, work corners not hills.

[BLACKR0SE]

Of course, light mechs will be good on these maps.

Even the corsair's arms don't fit to shoot between buildings.

[BLACKR0SE]

how few slots an old machine has. very weak compared to the new ones.

it just tickles

[Heavy Money]

TAMTAMBABY, on 21 April 2023 - 11:18 AM, said:

any machine that is not agile, any machine that is not in close range, any build.

eg corsair.

Lots of good mechs have low agility. Direwolf, Annihilator, Marauder II, etc.
The corsair is generally a fine mech. The 7A is very good. Is you are having trouble with it, the issue is probably your loadout.

TAMTAMBABY, on 21 April 2023 - 11:36 AM, said:

4xppc riftleman and solaris map.

Well 4xPPC on a rifleman is a terrible build. Actually, 4 regular PPCs on anything is terrible. The rifleman is overshadowed a bit by the Jagermech and RFL-IIC, but it is okay if you use a proper loadout.

Of course, Solaris is rough for all long ranged mechs.

[Krashbox]

I have to say I agree with not caring about PSR. Since I started not caring I am having more fun. The best part is trying out stupid builds. One of my favorites is the Spider 5V. A sucky 2 energy hard point but with interesting quirks. It can fire a ER large laser every 2 seconds or a large pulse laser every 1.5 seconds (with some skill tree cool down and laser duration). I tend to like the er large due to the annoyance factor. Two hits and run, repeat. If I goof up and face the entire team then just die and go to the next match with another stupid build that shouldn't work.

[LordNothing]

run them anyway so pgi will send the data of their lameness to the cauldron for later revisions.

[Bud Crue]

Screw the meta (within reason) and ignore your PSR/tier. Play what you want and you will enjoy yourself much more than worrying about what is ideal/optimal. Hell, me and mine regularly play the worst mechs we can think of on "shi77y mech Wednesday" and often even more frequently than that, and I have only managed to drop to T-2. Just play what you find enjoyable.

[Heavy Money]

Yeah you should run whatever mechs you want. But do try to optimize your loadout. The Cauldron is trying to have all mechs be viable. But not all possible loadouts on all mechs, that's impossible. If you run inefficient setups or bracket builds or whatever you're going to have a bad time.