78 replies to this topic

[PEEFsmash]

TripleEhBeef, on 07 September 2013 - 06:46 PM, said:

XL 225
10 DHS
ES
2 ML
2 MG (1 ton)
1 SRM6 (2 tons)
5 JJs
BAP
AMS (1 ton)
Max armour

Straight up escort mech. Hang with your buddies, spot enemy lights and scare them off if they try to attack your teammates, but don't pursue. If your team catches bigger mechs without support, feel free to hound him, then regroup with your team when he goes down.

Frack up anything that's weak or alone when you can, and spend the rest of the time humping the leg of the nearest friendly ECM Atlas.

You aren't going to be scaring anything off or fracking anything up in that build. Escort mech? More like one-shot treat for a sniper or a plaything for a properly built light... IF you are lucky enough to get them to waste time on you in the first place. If I saw an enemy with that build, I would ignore them, take almost no damage from them, and shoot actual targets that might hurt me or be a threat later.

The only way to play the 4x is as a 2PPC jumpsniper, and even then it is bad. At least it carves itself a role, though.

Edited by PEEFsmash, 08 September 2013 - 12:01 AM.

[RLBell]

Not all light mechs are scouts. A light doing figure eights around heavier friendlies is still an asset (what I did while figuring out how to target anything at 139km/h). You can harass lights trying to backstab, or backstab heavier mechs that close. It is a role that Ravens can do. Inexperienced light mech pilots are not required to run off by themselves and die.

[PEEFsmash]

RLBell, on 08 September 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

Not all light mechs are scouts. A light doing figure eights around heavier friendlies is still an asset (what I did while figuring out how to target anything at 139km/h). You can harass lights trying to backstab, or backstab heavier mechs that close. It is a role that Ravens can do. Inexperienced light mech pilots are not required to run off by themselves and die.

You can't actually get away with doing figure eights around assaults. They will just kill you if they are good. I didn't suggest they run off and die, I suggest they stay back with the group and fire from range.

[RLBell]

PEEFsmash, on 08 September 2013 - 09:25 AM, said:

You can't actually get away with doing figure eights around assaults. They will just kill you if they are good. I didn't suggest they run off and die, I suggest they stay back with the group and fire from range.

You missed the important qualifier of 'friendly' and I forgot to mention that this was to provide ECM coverage before the brawl happened, or (if you do not have ECM) to keep your speed up if an enemy spotter shows up or an enemy sniper sees you. I also forgot that once the brawl starts, you run in and out of the fight shooting at targets of opportunity, until you can reliably dodge, weave, and shoot. Then you go after the focus fire targets. Hitting a target at range requires running towards it, or moving slowly, neither of which is recommended for the aspiring, but still green, light pilot.

[Infernal Combustifier]

The RVN-4X has been the hardest mech to play for me so far.

Its role in my eyes is harassing heavy and Assault in terrain where easy escape is possible with jump jets.


TL;DR Summary:
RVN-4X-LPL/TAG(Enemy reinforcement disruptor)

Target priority: Anything with it's back towards you, fire again if reasonably certain to get in a hit and be able to escape before he starts firing at you.

Jump jets for extra hit & run capability.
Harass Heavies and Assaults, break ecm cover with ecm to find softspots on targets any tag bonus rewards are secondary. Machine guns... why? I like mg!
Swap to SRM2 if you prefer that.

RVN-4X-ERLL(Harass Sniper/Brawler support)

Target priority: Anything you are able hit the same armor piece of. In my case: a darting lights=no, a stalker busy unleashing lrm rain=yes

Jump jets for extra hit & run capability.
Main role: Support the brawlers of your team, Long range First hitter.
Secondary role: Destroy stalker/catapult arms from a distance(Component destruction in general), Behind enemy lines guerilla "sniper"

TL;DR End.
Detailed breakdown of builds and thoughts regarding Raven-4X

RVN-4X-LPL/TAG(Enemy reinforcement disruptor)
This build was the one that I found most enjoyable(not the highest scoring, but the build that didn't bore me after two rounds)

LPL/tag combo?

Yes, It makes up for the poor speed of the RVN-4X to have that extra range and most of all, Pulse Lasers are harder to track for enemies, you don't reveal your position so easily(that's the feeling I got from using it).

The tag is there to break ecm cover for your target so you can go after their most damaged parts, secondary use is as ecm breaker for team.

The machine guns are actually a waste of space really and optional, srm's might be preferable I like the mg's though. Their role in this build?
Primary: Make enemy mech's damage display flash, unnerving them.
Secondary: Backup weapons if your other arm get's blown off.

The most important thing I keep forgetting(at my skill level) in this mech is: Do not attack mediums or lights head on, use jump jets and harass your enemies.

The most important and sadly limited role that the RVN-4X can excel at imo is backstabbing enemy reinforcements just as they try to join a fight.

The point of it seems to be to tap incoming enemies and make them try to focus you for a few seconds while you fly away with your jump jets. That's a few seconds of enemy dps denied to the enemies side in that fight.

It is an ungrateful task however, you don't get rewarded or acknowledged for it, but if you are like me, feeling that a 75k cbill win with awesome tactical game play is more fun than a 150k cbill mass slaughter, armor tanking win/loss.

When I want to grind cbills and play RVN-4X I use dual ERLL build.
RVN-4X-ERLL(Harass Sniper/Brawler support)
Acting as sniper/close support with the speed to relocate quickly, even circle around behind enemy lines and cause chaos among enemies(very dangerous! shoot once and relocate or you will be hunted down by lights/fast mediums)

[-Muta-]

I don't even bother using that mech... I find it useless. If I use a Raven I will take the 3L.

[fearfactory]

My favorite RVN-4X is this:

275 XL
Endo Steel
Ferro Fibrous
5 Jump Jets
1 LRM-15 2x ammo
2 Machine Guns
1 Medium Laser

Still saving up for double heat sinks.

The weapon loadout is a bit wonky. However, it's capable of providing fast mobile fire support for anyone, including harassing enemies, with no LOS.

[Cest7]

I had fun with an AC5 on it

[Hex Pallett]

Coming back to this post after over half a year, I'm happy to say that my 4X build works perfectly well

Also,

fearfactory, on 14 September 2013 - 01:21 PM, said:

My favorite RVN-4X is this:

275 XL
Endo Steel
Ferro Fibrous
5 Jump Jets
1 LRM-15 2x ammo
2 Machine Guns
1 Medium Laser

Still saving up for double heat sinks.

The weapon loadout is a bit wonky. However, it's capable of providing fast mobile fire support for anyone, including harassing enemies, with no LOS.

I'm not sure what version of MWO you're playing. Probably in-your-dream version, since you're the only person I know who can put an over-XL245 engine into 4X.

[Corvus Antaka]

TripleEhBeef, on 07 September 2013 - 06:46 PM, said:

XL 225
10 DHS
ES
2 ML
2 MG (1 ton)
1 SRM6 (2 tons)
5 JJs
BAP
AMS (1 ton)
Max armour

Straight up escort mech. Hang with your buddies, spot enemy lights and scare them off if they try to attack your teammates, but don't pursue. If your team catches bigger mechs without support, feel free to hound him, then regroup with your team when he goes down.

Frack up anything that's weak or alone when you can, and spend the rest of the time humping the leg of the nearest friendly ECM Atlas.

This. lose 4 jumpjets, and use it for Mpulses or an ERLarge. Never take more than 1 jumpjet right now, 90% of the time more is useless.

You don't need a BAP either unless you are scouting, or using SSRM. adding artemis to the SRM does however help a lot.

I personally prefer to run the Raven 4x as

1 LRM15
2 Small lasers
2 machine guns.

Sadly with the current state of LRMS & AMS it's no longer viable. was a great mech in closed beta though, fond memories.

[aniviron]

Since it looks like we're still posting in this thread, I thought I would chime in to say that since last patch's UAC5 buff, the 4X has been a blast to play. Just stuff 2xmlas, 1xuac5 and 100 rounds of ammo into that bad boy and hold left mouse to the top of your lance on the scoreboard. The assaults all ignore the little crow 700m out there while there are bigger targets; that lasts up until the part where you completely blind them with smoke and damage. First time I have ever had an assault run away from my light while still at full health.

[rivaLWolfy]

I'm rocking the UAC5 as well, having a great time with the 4X now. I only have 1 med laser mostly as backup for jams, I opted for more ammo.

Works great to finish off damaged heavies, or draw fire. The AC impact gets a lot of attention so I usually take a couple shots, then relocate once the target looks my way... meanwhile the pack is hitting them from the other side.

[C E Dwyer]

xl245
1 LL
1ml
1srm6
2mg

2jj

armour FF max
endo internals
DHS

Yes it costs,
but you can change out the engine for the 245xl as that also needs a max engine

[Alistair Winter]

Raven 4X Osprey

This is my best Raven 4X build so far, after over 400 matches with Raven mechs since PGI started recording the number of matches played.

PEEFsmash, on 08 September 2013 - 12:00 AM, said:

You aren't going to be scaring anything off or fracking anything up in that build. Escort mech? More like one-shot treat for a sniper or a plaything for a properly built light... IF you are lucky enough to get them to waste time on you in the first place. If I saw an enemy with that build, I would ignore them, take almost no damage from them, and shoot actual targets that might hurt me or be a threat later.
The only way to play the 4x is as a 2PPC jumpsniper, and even then it is bad. At least it carves itself a role, though.

Nope. There are several ways for new players to use the Raven 4X. It's obviously a bad mech against good players in competitive play, but that doesn't mean new players can't do well with it. Nor does it mean they have to use it as a PPC jumpsniper. New players don't have to play by the same parameters as elite players.

[TinFoilHat]

aniviron, on 14 September 2013 - 07:32 PM, said:

Since it looks like we're still posting in this thread, I thought I would chime in to say that since last patch's UAC5 buff, the 4X has been a blast to play. Just stuff 2xmlas, 1xuac5 and 100 rounds of ammo into that bad boy and hold left mouse to the top of your lance on the scoreboard. The assaults all ignore the little crow 700m out there while there are bigger targets; that lasts up until the part where you completely blind them with smoke and damage. First time I have ever had an assault run away from my light while still at full health.

Picked up a 4X as I'd already worked on a 2X. Using the same build as above - 11/2 K/D after 8 matches when usually I'm the other way around lol.

[NRP]

In yet another example of the dangers of alcohol, MWO, and sales, I bought a 4X yesterday. I didn't really know what to expect, but it's actually been kind of fun. I'm currently running an XL245 with 2 LLs and 2 MGs. LLs wreck CTs and MGs are just troll to the bone. Might try some of the other build suggestions though.

[Vodrin Thales]

Volez, on 19 December 2012 - 07:46 AM, said:

It is not a matter of "lack of creativity", it is a matter of having a somewhat slightly more serious aproach to the game and assuming your not always playing against people with an IQ below 60. Everything you describe is so awfully ineffective its laughable. Sure you might have seen it work...., but id like to have a mech that is still usefull when the enemies are above the age of 10.

If you want to take a serious approach to the game you should not be building a Raven 4X. There is no "good" or "competitive" build with this thing, only varying degrees of bad. You should at least make a fun build with it, and shoehorning a PPC, gauss, or AC20 into something the size of a Raven is indeed fun.

[AppleEater01]

You guys need some thinking. Here is my great/horrible build. I have a LRM 5, a ER Large laser, a Anti-Missile System and a machine gun. I even have 3 jump jets. But stock engine.

[Raso]

I love it when these "professionals" come in and basically tell you the mech you want to play is a piece of {Shazbot} and the best advice they can offer is to give up and play one of the many cheese builds out there. I don't know if that say more about the state of game balance or of the mindset of our community but I really don't think it speaks well about either.

If you like the mech you're playing then play it. If you just want a build to carry you over while get it's skills unlocked don't beat yourself up over it and just slap together a nice, safe and boring build with some medium lasers, a ballistic with some punch and maybe some missiles depending on the meta de jour.

Until teams can kick you for having a mech or build they disapprove of play whatever you want and HAVE FUN doing it. Even if and when it comes to that point strut your mech like it's made of gold. If they're gonna hate on your for having fun they're not worth playing with anyway. If you're not having fun, switch up your mech or play style and if you can't have fun because of the current meta no one will scorn you for jumping ship for a while or for good.

[Postumus]

Raven 4X

1x Ultra AC/5, 3 tons of ammo
2x Medium Laser

XL 210, I think thats what I had in mine

As many jumpjets/heatsinks as you can fit with upgrades

This is about the only decent DPS solution I could find, and it is surprisingly viable. It plays like a fast medium, has pretty good range, and the jumpjets go a long way towards making up for the lack of speed in certain situations. What this mech doesn't do is fight other lights, scout, or go solo. You stick with your pack, and once people are engaged you run around and shoot targets of opportunity. It's fast enough and jumpy enough that if someone starts to target you in anything bigger than you, you have a good chance at breaking off.

Another possibility for short range is 2x Medium pulse, 2x MG and an SRM6.

Edited by Postumus, 07 October 2013 - 11:31 AM.