478 replies to this topic

[JigglyMoobs]

JigglyMoobs, on 23 November 2013 - 01:04 PM, said:

IMO a good pug team looks something like this:

4x poptarts with 2xppc + AC

2x Atlas D-DC with 2x ER LL + 2x UAC5 - mutual ECM supported bubble for the team and fire power for breaking coordinated assaults on flat ground

3x Heavy/Mediums - for flanking dakka, sniping, LRMs or light defense

Substitute 1 or 2 of the above with a Stalker or 2 to exchange heavier firepower for mobility or ECM.

If the Assault mechs are also carrying LRMs the team will play in a more defensive/ standoff style, and will need ECM less.
If the Assault mechs are not carrying LRMs the team needs to be more aggressive, and will need ECM more.

3x fast lights - scouting, harassment, capping, locking.

So yea, I guess what I'm trying to say is that the follow the Atlas tactic has been kind of neutered by the current meta. The guys going out front should be the lights or the poptarts. The Atlas need to stay back and "provide ecm support" until very specific circumstances arrive - eg, traversing open ground or advancing at the head of the team in a determined push against some entrenched enemy position.

[Just wanna play]

so if everyone is an atlas....who do you follow?

[JigglyMoobs]

Just wanna play, on 30 November 2013 - 08:52 PM, said:

so if everyone is an atlas....who do you follow?

You follow each other and walk in circles.

[Void Angel]

I agree that the value of brawling has been weakened by the current state of the game - though part of that is the Thomas Theorem in action. However, I have to stress that this isn't an "everyone must rush with my Atlas" thread. I deliberately kept the OP vague on specific tactics and styles in order to accomodate just this kind of shift in the metagame.

People are using long-range combat a lot right now, for various related reasons. An Atlas driver with a brain will notice this and adapt; but it's still beneficial for the team to support the Atlas, even for the snipers. Sure, the entire team may be camping behind rocks, they'll be more able to kill the enemy quickly if their rocks are all close together - and no one will deny that an Atlas makes an excellent landmark.

Cooperation is key, and if most of the team are long-range snipers and the like, charging en masse isn't really cooperating. On the other hand, scattering out over half the map to find your perfect snipar hole isn't cooperating either. If you're a long-ranged team, so be it: just be offensively minded and team oriented in your play.

Edited by Void Angel, 01 December 2013 - 12:33 AM.

[Just wanna play]

i remember when mediums ran assault mech support...but now they go out solo, and teams sometimes leave me behind >.<

[Alaskan Nobody]

Just wanna play, on 01 December 2013 - 05:10 AM, said:

i remember when mediums ran assault mech support...but now they go out solo, and teams sometimes leave me behind >.<

Chiming in to say... I've still got your back (if my brain is functioning of course )

[Joseph Mallan]

Just wanna play, on 30 November 2013 - 08:52 PM, said:

so if everyone is an atlas....who do you follow?

the slowest Atlas! otherwise you lose to attrition.

[Dawnstealer]

Also, dump the "Follow the Atlas" rule when one of the demo-mechs is an Atlas. You'll end up following an Atlas who spends the whole match with their arms locked, looking around in 3PV, and shooting at rocks on the far side of the map...

[Void Angel]

I've actually covered that before - unless he's really awful (and there's no way to tell before actually seeing him in combat,) it's usually better to support even a newbie Atlas.

If he's gonna die horribly in a pyre of shame and recrimination, at least we can shoot at the enemy while they're melting him down into an artistic 'mech sculpture as a warning to other fools. =)

[JigglyMoobs]

Well I tried playing my atlai as brawlers again today, ml, ac20, SRM plus artemis, with improved arty and airstrike. I have to say they are not bad in that role as long as there's some modicum of support and usable cover. Even the SRMs seem to be behaving. Got a game with almost 1200 damage in the DDC.

Maybe brawling Atlai (and follow the fracking atlas) can make a comeback.

Builds were:

DDC std 350 endo Artemis 2x ml ac20 3xsrm6.
RS std 350 endo Artemis 4xml ac20 2xsrm6 ams.

Then again, the opposing teams were not great. Will have to see how these builds do against some competent 4 mans.

Edited by JigglyMoobs, 03 December 2013 - 12:28 PM.

[Void Angel]

It's like I've been saying - a certain part of all "meta" balance is the Thomas Theorem at work. What's perceived as being "the meta" at any given time affects people's builds, which affects how they play, which dictates battlefield tactics - which affects the perception of what "the meta" is.

[Myomes]

Rule 5. If someone has no weapons left, other nearby enemies are your more immediate concern.

[Piney II]

Void Angel, on 02 December 2013 - 04:47 PM, said:

I've actually covered that before - unless he's really awful (and there's no way to tell before actually seeing him in combat,) it's usually better to support even a newbie Atlas.

If he's gonna die horribly in a pyre of shame and recrimination, at least we can shoot at the enemy while they're melting him down into an artistic 'mech sculpture as a warning to other fools. =)

I usually drive a Jager or Cataphract. I've seen many match starts when everyone bolts from the spawn at max speed and leaves the Atlas alone. I'll stay with the Atlas. Following and supporting the big guys works well for my mechs and I'm sure the Atlas pilots don't mind the help.

This deal, however, is off if the Atlas driver decides to get stupid and banzai charge into an enemy hornet's nest without more support than just my mech. I'll support a good push to my death, but I'm not going to commit suicide supporting a dumb move.

[Just wanna play]

since i wanted to make the hunch back 4g more appreciated, and i felt mediums are great at supporting the fat people, lol i ended up designing my medium to be nearly as slow as them... 60.9 with speed tweak, but DANG 3 ac5s are awesome on a hunch back, and people thing im badly damaged when i have smoke coming from my arms, but in reality they didnt have armor in the first place, but i still get ignored , that or people think i have an xl and go for the non hunch side torso that has less armor

my atlas side kick:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d43893ab2ac91c4

i have killed so many lights that think im just shooting an ac20 from 600m at them so they dont even move...

[Alaskan Nobody]

Just wanna play, on 22 January 2014 - 10:45 AM, said:

my atlas side kick:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d43893ab2ac91c4

...........I am having very mixed feelings about that mech right now.

[bradgillap]

Ive been piloting an atlas with ECM for a little while now. The other team will always focus on me first if I exist to them. Different maps are going to have different strategies. For example on that one winter map with the i9 hill. Everyone needs to just go for the i9 hill. In that case do not stay with me. I'm going to get there in 4 more minutes once I find the hill entrance and make my way up there like an RC car on low battery.

Do not stand too close in front of me! I will compensate for visual targets and not shoot you in the back so I become less useful.
Do not obstruct the choke point and then backpedal when things get hot. Learn to commit or get outa the way. I'll take that damage happily for you.
I have had to mount a machine gun in my torso to deal with light mechs to keep persistent heat on them. It's mapped to my laser key. If you move in front of me then it's going to ping off you.
AC40 mechs are the biggest pain right now. If you can do anything to help me against them I appreciate it.


I often drop with my buddy who also runs a similar atlas. When I'm cloaking us he's jamming the enemy. We both wear beagle probes which help limit surprises. If you see two atlas's painted similar colours it's probably a good idea to stay with those guys for the entire match. Some times we drop with our other buddies who run brawler atlas. Just sit back on the side and rack in the component damage. We aren't going to go for the component damage so you may as well take it. We are going to core everything in seconds that gets near us.

Can't find any enemies? Just stay near me. They all try to take a shot at me at some point.


Funny enough my secondary build is a fast 4x laser, 2x srm6 hunchback built to support the atlas. That thing can keep up with the light mechs and give them a really bad day.

[Just wanna play]

Shar Wolf, on 22 January 2014 - 10:48 AM, said:

...........I am having very mixed feelings about that mech right now.

granted, my hbks are elited, but yeah the hbk torso twist makes that build perfectly useful, and the 4g also can aim its torso further up and down then other hbks, just stick with the assaults, let them be focused on and not you, either group fire to kill as fast as possible, or chain fire against stuff so they cant see, lights TRY circling it, but you can keep up with them, i personally didn't think it would be that good until i played it, LOVE it


i wish they gave the atlas k 3 ballistics.....

Edited by Just wanna play, 22 January 2014 - 11:40 AM.

[Just wanna play]

Just wanna play, on 01 December 2013 - 05:10 AM, said:

i remember when mediums ran assault mech support...but now they go out solo, and teams sometimes leave me behind >.<

had a bit of this happend just now actually (yes i know its my own post)...me and atlas where left down in theta on frozen city because all of our team mates jump jetted up the ridge and we couldn't keep up and had to go around, then we get yelled at for not helping And staying in front -__- welp, i went through 4 of their guys and made it even again, so they quickly went quiet

[oldradagast]

When I pilot an Atlas, I'm grateful for those who escort me, and when I'm piloting something a lot lighter, I'll always escort them... Even a badly played Atlas is often better than no Atlas at all, IMHO.

Never abandon your assault mechs! You'll still get to the fight, but you will have a much higher chance of winning with your assault mechs intact.

[Void Angel]

Piney, on 06 January 2014 - 06:58 AM, said:

I usually drive a Jager or Cataphract. I've seen many match starts when everyone bolts from the spawn at max speed and leaves the Atlas alone. I'll stay with the Atlas. Following and supporting the big guys works well for my mechs and I'm sure the Atlas pilots don't mind the help.

This deal, however, is off if the Atlas driver decides to get stupid and banzai charge into an enemy hornet's nest without more support than just my mech. I'll support a good push to my death, but I'm not going to commit suicide supporting a dumb move.

Oh sure - my injunction to follow the Atlas applies to the team as a whole, not to individuals. If it's just you and him, or just him and his lance, and he wants to bum rush a Highlander firing line over open terrain... You'd just be throwing good 'mechs in after bad.

You have to use your judgement in those situations.