18 replies to this topic

[Conure]

Hey all,

Just a quick noob question.

I get that lights are generally for scouting, so that bigger mechs can fire missiles etc. What is the point of a medium when a heavy does more damage, and a light scouts better, and what is the point of a heavy when an assault does more damage, and a light scouts better?

[Matist]

Skirmishing. My medium can run circles around an Atlas, shred it and is still fast enough to trash a light.

[Velba]

Would it be fun with only 2 mech classes?

[Hekalite]

An organized pack of hunchbacks can be deadly. They are generally fast enough that someone will be on your backside.

[Kusanagi Hazen]

Also battlevalue if they ever decide to implement it. Medium 'Mechs are cheaper to operate and maintain than Heavies and Assaults. A properly outfitted Medium 'Mech can provide more bang for your c-bill.

[Blaike]

I play Centurions mostly because I can

[cinder]

Some good answers to your exact question in this thread.

Don't forget to use the search function to find topics that may have already been brought up. The above linked thread came up just yesterday.

[SquareSphere]

between Heavies and Mediums right now? Not much, anything a Dragon can do a Centi/Hunchie can also do. Catapult is a specialized though.

Once that Cataphract and Jagermech get introduced I suspect you'll see less and less mediums since you'll see more dual gauss builds that doesn't sacrifice armor like the GaussCat does.

[zhajin]

mediums are designed to be faster and more agile. good for hit and run and quick response. currently heavies are kinda split with the dragon being similar to medium and the cat (with the exception of lrm boats) being more like an assault, hard hitting but not real fast. its all about having optios and flexibility.

also its believed that weight will play more of a role in the future than it does now. in some scenarios 1 atlas may equal 2 huchies for team building.

[Beo Vulf]

Mediums and heavies fall into the fire support class. They have a lot of utility since they can be paired with other mechs of different weight classes. For Example
Medium-light
Medium-medium
medium-heavy
medium-assault
or
Heavy-light
heavy-heavy
heavy-assault
I didn't include heavy-medium in the send set since it is all ready in the first set. Best advice all ways have a buddy no matter what weight class Mech you chose to drive. Even 2 Assault mechs are better than 1 alone by itself.

[Conure]

Thanks for your replies guys

[Vassago Rain]

Hekalite, on 02 November 2012 - 09:55 AM, said:

An organized pack of hunchbacks can be deadly. They are generally fast enough that someone will be on your backside.

That's not because it's a medium mech.
It's because the hunchback is good, while the rest of the offerings are bad.

[Slepnir]

Conure, on 03 November 2012 - 03:25 AM, said:

Thanks for your replies guys

NP
keep in mind that in the battletech universe you never know what the terrain or the composition of the enemy will be, sometimes assaults are not the best option. fast heavies provide some good punch while having enough armor and speed to survive while doing a bit of damage withthe abiltiy to run away. mediums make great harrrassers where a light might not survive the return fire.

everything has a palce in battletech just like any other military forces equipment disposition.

Edited by Slepnir, 03 November 2012 - 06:52 AM.

[Murphy7]

Blaike, on 02 November 2012 - 09:56 AM, said:

I play Centurions mostly because I can

This.

Really looking forward to the C9N-D, 300 rated engine native, we'll get a much faster weapons delivery vehicle. Fun for light hunting, excellent for a rapid tactical response to a changing battlefield.

[Ghosth]

Heavys tend to be mostly into Direct fire support, grab an assault, stay behind him, let him take the brunt of the blows. Keep the lights off his backside. If he gets into a toe to toe with another atlas jump in and make sure he wins.

Mediums can do direct fire, or skirmish, or tie up LRM boats in the backfield.

[hashinshin]

I find it goes like this:

Lights can fight lights 100% easily. They're the same.

Mediums can fight lights, albeit it's a little more hard than a light.
Heavies can fight lights, albeit it's a little more hard than a medium.
Assaults can't fight lights.

Every tier you go up your average power increases, but your ability to fight lights decreases.

[Tardstrong]

It is all a mixture of armor and firepower and speed.
The additional tonnages that mediums and heavy make available give far more options to play with those three main (but not only) variables to suit a player.

[Mordin Ashe]

Mediums are great flankers. As regards heavies, cata is a fire support mech, dragon is a flanker and possibly scout. Without such mechs, the team is as good as dead.

[Xigunder Blue]

It has been my experience that learning to manoever and fight mediums and heavies takes longer to learn than lights or assaults. In assaults, without speed you tend to need training on targeting and heat management. In lights you need to center on manoever. In mediums and heavies you need skill in both, thus a bit harder for most (not all) pilots. Properly used, the medium and heavies are devastating. Just practice and you will love them. For myself, I am an LRM Assault boater, and I HATE the lights and mediums but they are necessary and useful mechs in game and ADD to the fun factor for lots of pilots. The Devs got it right and they are checking this beta to make it even better. (Makes me grind my teeth to admit this but it is true).