16 replies to this topic

[Grifty]

First, let me say, i am not at all certain this was a cheat. It may be a skill or equipment feature that i am unaware of.
Second, i did not really think about it till after i left the match, and so have neither screenshot, nor clip.

Match was Hybernal rift. domination. after i was killed, i chose to spectate. was watching from a guy in a Yeager. i noticed first, when one enemy mech's icon(light) disappeared, a red "glow" was left on the minimap.(no solid lines, just a point of red that faded outward) this glow moved. and when the mech's icon reappeared it was where the glow moved to. later another glow appeared and when the Yeager move closer, it detected an enemy (medium) in that exact location.

the question is, was it a legit function of the game, or was something hinky going on?

[Der Geisterbaer]

Sounds like you spectated a player with skill points in seismic sensors who stopped their own movement when the enemy mech left their field of view and was again not moving when the other enemy mech walked into seismic sensor range. Seismic sensors indicate moving enemy mechs within seismic senor range on the minimap in exactly the manner you are describing

[edit]So yes, that's a legit game function[/edit]

[edit 2]Thank Michael Stackpole and one of his Battletech novels where Kai Allard Liao hacked into seismic surveilance satellites in order to circumvent standard sensor blockades against his mech in order to locate the then "enemy mechs" (less of actual enemies but rather other pilots that he had to beat as part of a trial) ... the general idea certainly went straight into various implementations of seismic senors in BT games[/edit 2]

Edited by Der Geisterbaer, 07 December 2023 - 11:56 AM.

[martian]

Grifty, on 07 December 2023 - 11:35 AM, said:

First, let me say, i am not at all certain this was a cheat. It may be a skill or equipment feature that i am unaware of.
Second, i did not really think about it till after i left the match, and so have neither screenshot, nor clip.

Match was Hybernal rift. domination. after i was killed, i chose to spectate. was watching from a guy in a Yeager. i noticed first, when one enemy mech's icon(light) disappeared, a red "glow" was left on the minimap.(no solid lines, just a point of red that faded outward) this glow moved. and when the mech's icon reappeared it was where the glow moved to. later another glow appeared and when the Yeager move closer, it detected an enemy (medium) in that exact location.

the question is, was it a legit function of the game, or was something hinky going on?

Just a normal Seismic sensor. This feature has been in the game for a decade.

[ScrapIron Prime]

martian, on 07 December 2023 - 11:45 AM, said:

Just a normal Seismic sensor. This feature has been in the game for a decade.

Yup, that's how seismic works. And I ALWAYS take seismic sensor skill points, because it gives you info that you otherwise could not have. Great for finding mechs in the basement too!

[KursedVixen]

Siesmic sensor gives you great situational awareness when your not moving and trying to hide or defend a location.

[martian]

Grifty, on 07 December 2023 - 11:35 AM, said:

Match was Hybernal rift. domination. after i was killed, i chose to spectate. was watching from a guy in a Yeager. i noticed first, when one enemy mech's icon(light) disappeared, a red "glow" was left on the minimap.(no solid lines, just a point of red that faded outward) this glow moved. and when the mech's icon reappeared it was where the glow moved to. later another glow appeared and when the Yeager move closer, it detected an enemy (medium) in that exact location.

Was it something like this?

[ScrapIron Prime]

KursedVixen, on 07 December 2023 - 11:51 AM, said:

Siesmic sensor gives you great situational awareness when your not moving and trying to hide or defend a location.

Or even just coming to a stop for a moment and then move again. Really the only mechs that don't benefit from it are mechs that should NEVER stop moving.

[Grifty]

Thank you for the info. And as far as this feature being in the game "for decades"... My time in game is measured in months. I never have, nor will I ever claim to know all the ins and outs of MWO. You have a nice day, now, ya hear.

[LordNothing]

ScrapIron Prime, on 07 December 2023 - 11:47 AM, said:

Yup, that's how seismic works. And I ALWAYS take seismic sensor skill points, because it gives you info that you otherwise could not have. Great for finding mechs in the basement too!

one of my favorite tricks is to go into the basement, use seismo to find mechs up top, and drop my strikes. works every time. also works on the newish vitric map.

Edited by LordNothing, 07 December 2023 - 05:07 PM.

[RickySpanish]

Grifty, on 07 December 2023 - 01:49 PM, said:

Thank you for the info. And as far as this feature being in the game "for decades"... My time in game is measured in months. I never have, nor will I ever claim to know all the ins and outs of MWO. You have a nice day, now, ya hear.

There are some 'Mechs that even get seismic buffs via quirks, e.g. 'Seismic range +100', which pushes the range of the sensor to 300 metres if you also get the quirks. It's really useful for builds that are either very close or very long range.

[LordNothing]

RickySpanish, on 07 December 2023 - 05:07 PM, said:

There are some 'Mechs that even get seismic buffs via quirks, e.g. 'Seismic range +100', which pushes the range of the sensor to 300 metres if you also get the quirks. It's really useful for builds that are either very close or very long range.

arges seems like it could fill the radar display with seismo blips. unless that feature got nerfed.

[martian]

Grifty, on 07 December 2023 - 01:49 PM, said:

Thank you for the info. And as far as this feature being in the game "for decades"... My time in game is measured in months. I never have, nor will I ever claim to know all the ins and outs of MWO. You have a nice day, now, ya hear.

Nothing personal. I have just wanted to assure you that what you met in the game is not a cheating, but a standard game feature.

[Besh]

ScrapIron Prime, on 07 December 2023 - 12:17 PM, said:

Or even just coming to a stop for a moment and then move again. Really the only mechs that don't benefit from it are mechs that should NEVER stop moving.

I use seismic 200 on a LCT-1E - the Light I (stil) am piloting exclusively. 'Though I do tell 20t Pilots who get wrecked standing still the same - never stand still - there are situations where it comes pretty handy .

Edited by Besh, 08 December 2023 - 01:41 AM.

[Der Geisterbaer]

ScrapIron Prime, on 07 December 2023 - 12:17 PM, said:

Or even just coming to a stop for a moment and then move again. Really the only mechs that don't benefit from it are mechs that should NEVER stop moving.

I have certainly profitted from seismic on my light mechs on enough occasions to warrant spending those skill point regardless of whether or not the general wisdom of "don't stop moving" also applies to the particular chassis (like e.g. my LCT-1V or PIR-1)

[ScrapIron Prime]

RickySpanish, on 07 December 2023 - 05:07 PM, said:

There are some 'Mechs that even get seismic buffs via quirks, e.g. 'Seismic range +100', which pushes the range of the sensor to 300 metres if you also get the quirks. It's really useful for builds that are either very close or very long range.

And builds with these quirks make excellent "escort the assault mech" strategies, as the optimal range of everything that piranha is carrying is inside your seismic bubble. When something lights up, you pop a UAV and you and your assault buddy can scare it off or turn it to scrap.