153 replies to this topic

[MustrumRidcully]

The Stalker 3F is a great choice.

I am a bad shot and use 4 Artemis SRM6, and 4 Medium Lasers. About 20 Double Heat Sinks (effective cooling power that of 34 single heat sinks), and 5 tons of ammo. (Not very much ammo, really. But i used to start out with 4).

Double Heat Sinks is definitely the big upgrade you need. If you don't use Artemis, you can at least pack more ammo or even 2 more medium lasers. (But I think this build is already hot enough.)

[M4rtyr]

Vassago Rain, on 13 January 2013 - 01:44 PM, said:

I'm not playing TT, but a shooter game on my PC. I want it to play like a good one, not a brown and bloom one that was made as a cash-in, even if it means I have to fight the devs themselves on silly decisions on the forum.

LOL, no you are playing a simulation, like a flight or tank sim based on Battletech, and the devs have decided to build it using as close to the TT rules as they can... sooo, care to revise your statments?

Anyway, interesting 'journey' from the OP, probably good for some newbs and obviously has sparked some other conversation.

[Thirdstar]

M4rtyr, on 14 January 2013 - 03:28 AM, said:

LOL, no you are playing a simulation, like a flight or tank sim based on Battletech......

[Vassago Rain]

M4rtyr, on 14 January 2013 - 03:28 AM, said:

LOL, no you are playing a simulation, like a flight or tank sim based on Battletech, and the devs have decided to build it using as close to the TT rules as they can... sooo, care to revise your statments?

Anyway, interesting 'journey' from the OP, probably good for some newbs and obviously has sparked some other conversation.

Yeah, no.

[KyBr2K]

Vassago Rain, on 14 January 2013 - 04:05 AM, said:

Don't listen to advice from anyone but me.. rabble rabble

Wow, how huge is your ego?

I'll have you know the dragon is a fine piece of machinery in capable hands. It's a matter of opinion.

[Vassago Rain]

KyBr2K, on 14 January 2013 - 04:23 AM, said:

Wow, how huge is your ego?

I'll have you know the dragon is a fine piece of machinery in capable hands. It's a matter of opinion.

I'll have you know, the dragon is a very bad mech, with very obvious flaws, that make it inferior to the catapult, and even the mediums.

That's why no one uses it.

It's not a matter of opinion.

[KyBr2K]

Vassago Rain, on 14 January 2013 - 04:26 AM, said:

I'll have you know, the dragon is a very bad mech, with very obvious flaws, that make it inferior to the catapult, and even the mediums.

That's why no one uses it.

It's not a matter of opinion.

I see dragons all the time, so it must be a matter of opinion.

I agree it has some flaws, but you'll just have to adjust your playstyle accordingly. It is in no way a "very bad mech", though.

[Vassago Rain]

KyBr2K, on 14 January 2013 - 04:37 AM, said:

I see dragons all the time, so it must be a matter of opinion.

I agree it has some flaws, but you'll just have to adjust your playstyle accordingly. It is in no way a "very bad mech", though.

You're right. We should tell new players that it's down to them not understanding how to drive the super-advanced assault mechs, that require hours of training to properly do firing discipline and heat management, instead of pointing out obvious flaws, and telling them how it is. That the game has issues, mechs control like tanks, and the heat system is a reskinned manabar.
.
Because that's how you build a playerbase.

In fact, would it please you, sir, if I went back and edited every post I've made in this thread to accuse the OP of being bad at gundams, instead of being the most helpful poster in the whole thread?

Edited by Vassago Rain, 14 January 2013 - 04:51 AM.

[KyBr2K]

Vassago Rain, on 14 January 2013 - 04:51 AM, said:

You're right. We should tell new players that it's down to them not understanding how to drive the super-advanced assault mechs, that require hours of training to properly do firing discipline and heat management, instead of pointing out obvious flaws, and telling them how it is. That the game has issues, mechs control like tanks, and the heat system is a reskinned manabar.
.
Because that's how you build a playerbase.

In fact, would it please you, sir, if I went back and edited every post I've made in this thread to accuse the OP of being bad at gundams, instead of being the most helpful poster in the whole thread?

I never said anything about you helping out and telling OP about stalkers and assaults.. easy now.

You saying a dragon is bad and has obvious flaws on the other hand is an opinion of yours until you actually point out those flaws in detail.

I like the dragon. That is my opinion. It has hardpoints for every type of weapon so you can play around a bit. It is very maneuverable for a bigger mech, and has decent armor. It also doesn't run very hot because it can't boat. All this makes for a pretty newbie friendly mech I think.

If you think I'm wrong, please feel free to point out my oversights and educate me. (I like learning new things)

[ConnorSinclair]

KyBr2K, on 14 January 2013 - 05:15 AM, said:

I never said anything about you helping out and telling OP about stalkers and assaults.. easy now.

You saying a dragon is bad and has obvious flaws on the other hand is an opinion of yours until you actually point out those flaws in detail.

I like the dragon. That is my opinion. It has hardpoints for every type of weapon so you can play around a bit. It is very maneuverable for a bigger mech, and has decent armor. It also doesn't run very hot because it can't boat. All this makes for a pretty newbie friendly mech I think.

If you think I'm wrong, please feel free to point out my oversights and educate me. (I like learning new things)

Why would you field a Dragon and give the enemy an A1 SRM cat or a K2 Boomcat?

Why would you field a POS so the enemy has a mech that can stand ground against Atlases and not even flinch?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

ARE YOU SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE PERSON?

[KyBr2K]

ConnorSinclair, on 14 January 2013 - 05:17 AM, said:

Why would you field a Dragon and give the enemy an A1 SRM cat or a K2 Boomcat?

Why would you field a POS so the enemy has a mech that can stand ground against Atlases and not even flinch?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

ARE YOU SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE PERSON?

I guess... I'M SORRY!

[MustrumRidcully]

KyBr2K, on 14 January 2013 - 05:15 AM, said:

I never said anything about you helping out and telling OP about stalkers and assaults.. easy now.

You saying a dragon is bad and has obvious flaws on the other hand is an opinion of yours until you actually point out those flaws in detail.

I like the dragon. That is my opinion. It has hardpoints for every type of weapon so you can play around a bit. It is very maneuverable for a bigger mech, and has decent armor. It also doesn't run very hot because it can't boat. All this makes for a pretty newbie friendly mech I think.

If you think I'm wrong, please feel free to point out my oversights and educate me. (I like learning new things)

The way I see it, when a new player asks for guidance, he isn't generally asking:

"Hey, can you suggest a mech to me that it's difficult and challenging to play and requires more skill than other mechs of his category to play well?"

They are typically asking with completely different constraints
- They want a mech they can handle and learn the game.
- They want a mech that suits your preferences. If they prefer light mechs and running around fast, then you suggest them the best Light Mech. If they prefer missiles, you suggest something that works well as a missile platform. If they prefer massive firepower and really big and really stompy mechs, you suggest them a decent Assault Mechs.

There is still plenty of time for them later to try out mechs that are much more difficult to play than others, if they need another challenge, if they got bored, or if they are simply more qualified and experienced to determine how to use a mech well and whether it fits their play style.

Give the new player some tips that will improve his experience of the game now.

[Valore]

ConnorSinclair, on 14 January 2013 - 05:17 AM, said:

Why would you field a Dragon and give the enemy an A1 SRM cat or a K2 Boomcat?

Why would you field a POS so the enemy has a mech that can stand ground against Atlases and not even flinch?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

ARE YOU SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE PERSON?

hahaha, this is harsh, but so true at the same time

[Murku]

Love how eager everyone is to tutor here, this is turning into an excellent mwo growth series!

Your skills are clearly growing Athena, keep at it. On the stalker journey myself (my first assault) and finding my feet here too.

Here's my latest thoughts.

Use the empty half of your heat gauge as the decider on when to shoot, rather than your weapon timers. Think of this empty bit as your mech's current damage dealing potential. Grouped weapons properly converged are still better than chained wild shots, insure you twist away from the threat whenever you're not ready to salvo.

Modded my 3F to 6ML, 2artySRM6 and 2artySRM4. 300std with 20DHS, AMS and 4 tons SRM ammo. Be the big stick for longer ranged buddies.

[Johnny Morgan]

KyBr2K, on 14 January 2013 - 05:15 AM, said:

I like the dragon. That is my opinion. It has hardpoints for every type of weapon so you can play around a bit. It is very maneuverable for a bigger mech, and has decent armor. It also doesn't run very hot because it can't boat. All this makes for a pretty newbie friendly mech I think.

I agree with you on that, IMO I love the Dragon and it a *different* mech than a CAT and has it's own role (I do great in my Dragons and see them all the time).

That being said, between the two the CAT is the easier mech.

I have to say that I find killing a CAT is easier than a Dragon but again that is just conjecture on my part. Objectively I would recommend the Catapult or Cataphract over the dragon to someone new.

Streak Cats are kind of lame but they are fun and easy to play, that is worth something in itself


@Athena: really enjoying the write up, don;t worry about kills to much. I see you generally have a high assist count and that is what matters more in this game (and I would argue any team based PVP game). Keep it coming!

[Orzorn]

As a Dragon pilot myself, I'd agree with the idea that Dragons are not for newer players. If you don't use the arms well, you will often die without doing a whole lot.

But if you do use the arms well, you'll survive a lot longer than the Dragon haters would have you believe you could. As I said, I pull 600 on average, and 900 on my best games. Its a matter of using it properly, just as it is with most mechs.

The Dragon isn't new player friendly, when it comes down to it. Gotta use the arms, big bulbous torso, mixed load out, weapons on 4 different locations on the body, large engine that means you're always down to the wire on tonnage, etc. But used properly, a Dragon can shine and has a lot of strong points over a Catapult. Currently, in my favored 1N, Cataphracts and Catapults, the supposed "superior" mechs to the Dragon, aren't even what I fear death from. Its usually the Stalkers, Atlases, or Ravens that I might get swarmed by or stuck between a rock and a hard place with. The rest of them die pretty quickly to my load out, usually three to four hits.

[Valore]

Orzorn, on 14 January 2013 - 06:21 AM, said:

As a Dragon pilot myself, I'd agree with the idea that Dragons are not for newer players. If you don't use the arms well, you will often die without doing a whole lot.

But if you do use the arms well, you'll survive a lot longer than the Dragon haters would have you believe you could. As I said, I pull 600 on average, and 900 on my best games. Its a matter of using it properly, just as it is with most mechs.

The Dragon isn't new player friendly, when it comes down to it. Gotta use the arms, big bulbous torso, mixed load out, weapons on 4 different locations on the body, large engine that means you're always down to the wire on tonnage, etc. But used properly, a Dragon can shine and has a lot of strong points over a Catapult. Currently, in my favored 1N, Cataphracts and Catapults, the supposed "superior" mechs to the Dragon, aren't even what I fear death from. Its usually the Stalkers, Atlases, or Ravens that I might get swarmed by or stuck between a rock and a hard place with. The rest of them die pretty quickly to my load out, usually three to four hits.

Isn't that why most people argue Catapults are superior though? Simply by virtue of the fact they can take on heavier mechs like Atlases and Stalkers with a good chance of holding their own, while Dragons can't really say the same.

[Orzorn]

Valore, on 14 January 2013 - 06:25 AM, said:

Isn't that why most people argue Catapults are superior though? Simply by virtue of the fact they can take on heavier mechs like Atlases and Stalkers with a good chance of holding their own, while Dragons can't really say the same.

I can take them on, but it requires me to maneuver more, something I can't always accomplish, especially if they have themselves dug in on a map like Frozen City.

That isn't to say I can't do it, but I'd imagine an SRM cat having a lot more luck. But as I said, I don't fear Catapults or Cataphracts of any type. I chew threw them pretty easily. As for assaults, as long as they aren't in their favored dug-in positions, I tend to chew threw them as well because I'm just so much faster and tend to get behind them.

So once again, it really comes down to what you really want to do with your mechs. For the most part, they have have their uses. I can tell you that I definitely appreciate the ability to go 90 kp/h (with speed tweak), and support full armor and a powerful alpha strike that allows for mixed ranges. Its a good mech and the number of times I've managed to take my team to victory with it proves that enough to me, damned be anyone else's opinion on the matter.

[Martini Henrie]

Keep your fight separate guys, they have very little to do with the thread.

As for armor, I would recommend keeping at least 20-26 points on the rear centre and around 18-20 for sides. It gives you enough time for a team mate to scrape off the offending mech off your back. I agree that a medium mech is the best place to start, best would be a Hunchie, or as you have tried Cents one of them will do well.

[VonRunnegen]

In a Stalker don't worry too much about lights - if they're any good you're dead without help so don't set up to counter them. (If you're in a 3F then not quite so bad at least )
What you really need is help from another player - stalkers have laods of armour and lights have a lot of trouble killing them if forced to dodge, hit different locations etc but if on your own a decent light will cave in your back without any real difficulty.

As others have said - focus on killing the bigger stuff especially wounded ones, unless a light has overheated. a nice hunchie or similar to keep your back clear and you're all good. One way for a team to lose badly is for all the big boys to try and shoot a light who's dodging amongst them - they'll get him eventually but meanwhile the other team will have wasted most of them. They'll also regularly shoot each other by mistake.


Having said all of that - streaks are still pretty nice even against med+ mechs.