6 replies to this topic

[LionZoo]

So you've always liked Ravens and have been a pilot since the beginning. Or you just bought into the FOTM RVN-3L, but now you really want to maximize its potential. Either way, you find yourself having to use the RVN-2X and 4X, the non-ECM Ravens. With the greatest asset of the RVN-3L gone, how do you approach building what is the slowest maximum speed light Mech?

[Tolkien]

I would start by going into the mechbay, and pressing the 'sell' button on the non ECM raven.

Remember - ECM is by far the single best item in the game, since for the cost in tonnage and criticals of a small laser and a heatsink (but not even taking an energy hardpoint!) it gives you the ability to counter:


Artemis
BAP
Tag bonuses (and the whole system inside of 180m)
NARC - a system which takes more space, weighs more, requires real coordination and skill and has ammo.
other ECMs
LRM locks
SRM locks
general targeting info
relegate AMS to almost pointlessness
have no exploding ammo
generate no heat
and it costs less than a module by a factor of 15!

Seriously, there is no reason to not grab an ecm variant if you're going to run a raven.

Sell that gimped mech and run a few rounds to earn the difference, then enjoy the benefits of the by far best value for tonnage in the game.

Edited by Tolkien, 13 December 2012 - 12:31 PM.

[Smeghead87]

I really like the default 2X weapons loadout. It's also the first mech I bought after grinding c-bills with my founder mech. I only changed things like endo, faster XL engine, double heat sinks. It's not as fast as it could be, but it packs quite a punch for a light.

On the flipside, I really hate the 4X. Those ballistic slots are no good for anything but machine guns unless you want to invest most of your weight in autocannons, and the machine guns are not worth taking yet. Jump jets help some but not enough to save this variant from my scorn. I'm constantly tinkering with it and can't seem to get it to a place that I like.

Edited by Smeghead87, 13 December 2012 - 12:32 PM.

[LionZoo]

Tolkien, on 13 December 2012 - 12:30 PM, said:

I would start by going into the mechbay, and pressing the 'sell' button on the non ECM raven.

Sell that gimped mech and run a few rounds to earn the difference, then enjoy the benefits of the by far best value for tonnage in the game.

I would agree that ECM is by far the best piece of equipment by tonnage and space in the entire game, but in order to get the Elite skills (and the doubled Basic skills), the other Ravens would have to have their Basic skill levels filled out. And that requires grinding the other Raven variants. For the sake of having a better Raven 3L, you'll need to run the 2X and 4X.

Edited by LionZoo, 13 December 2012 - 12:37 PM.

[Elizander]

I suppose running TAG on your non-ECM Ravens will give you -something- to combat ECM with and not be too much of a negative factor on your team (thanks to the match maker).

Of course if you're bawss at killing light mechs without using ECM then ECM doesn't matter.

[Robert Corso]

For my ravens I just used lasers and srms and concentrated on attacking the bigger mechs. Didn't take that long to get my master slots unlocked.

2X - 245XL engine, 4 MLas, 1SRM6
4X - 245XL, 2 Pulse MLas, 1SRM6, JumpJets

4X in action

Edited by Robert Corso, 13 December 2012 - 12:59 PM.

[Postumus]

So I actually like my Raven 2X alot, to the point where I've been playing it more than my 3L. What I have done is turned it into a support mech. This is the obvious choice - it is too slow to avoid enemy fire like a fast light, and it doesn't have the extra missile HP like a jenner or 3L to rock 8 or 10 or 12 SRMs and be a threat to larger mechs as a close in brawler. So, by process of elimination, it must be a longer ranged support mech. So I dropped the LL, brought the number of mediums up to four or 3 + TAG, and swapped the SRM pod for an LRM 10. Presto chango, light support mech. Oh, and you need an XL engine, I personally used the 210 from the 3L, since I'm using a 280 in that mech now. You use your decent (98 kM/H w/o speed tweak) speed to keep range, your missiles to harass and support, and your lasers as backup or along with the missiles if you're in range. It does best at about 450m, where both the lasers and missiles can effectively be brought to bear, but where you are out of range of small lasers, SRMS, SSRMS, AC/20 and pulse lasers. Don't knock it till you try it, and if you develop a perverse love for the mech remember Post told you so.

Edited by Postumus, 13 December 2012 - 12:58 PM.