Posted 21 January 2013 - 12:50 AM
MechWarrior, as in the franchise has always had a steep learning curve. For some people it takes 6 months to a year to be on the level that you might see some players. There are some basic and not so basic strategies that have been integral to success in all the MechWarrior games including this one that are second nature to some of the pilots that have mastered them.
As I have said in other threads, there are things far more dangerous than a TS using 4-man premade. Those are your MechWarrior Veterans. Those players that seemingly take on a good portion of your team (or other team) by themselves. These players started in MechWarrior 2, 3, or 4, or perhaps even Living Legends. But either way, they have 2-15+ years of experience on some of you.
Imagine playing Basketball at the local park with a few guys. One of them played in College and has been coming to that park for the last 10 years. That is akin to the few Vets you see running around.
This is not to brag, as it is merely a statement of fact, but when playing and when I encounter an enemy player by themselves, to me its a free kill. Doesn't usually matter what I am in or what they are in. But I know 9 times out of 10 its not going to be a Vet and they are not going to know how to deal with me.
What usually happens is I start firing on them and of course they fire back. But their mistake is gluing their view to me. They don't turn away while their weapons recharge. So I systematically tear them apart. While my weapons cooldown I turn another component towards them. Therefor spreading out the damage. They get destroyed, I come out with.. scratches all over.
If that pilot was good (for not being a Vet) they might have done equal damage to me. The difference is, they did it spread out all over my mech while my damage was focused.
Sounds simple, but its VERY rare that I see other players do what I do. Some may in theory, but when the heat gets on, they forget to, its not second nature.
The next thing is lag shooting. This is even a smaller percentage as not every Vet (the ones from MW4 and MWLL) even knows how to do it, or has had the experience.
You can complain about lightmechs and netcode till you are blue in the face. But in the end, you really only have a few options:
1. Stop Playing
2. Get Destroyed
3. Learn to Lagshoot
Complaining will do very little. PGI is working on a fix that will more than likely work to fix the issue. But it has to be coded, and well, its not done yet. Players aren't going to stop using light mechs. PGI isn't going to restrict light mechs or engine size, especially with Death's Knell being a fast light. So lets be realistic here. The only effective way you're going to have fun is to lag shoot.
This means shooting ahead of the direction that the light mech is running. In MWO it is only half an inch at most. It takes practice, but at least you don't have to shoot 2-5 mechlengths as you did in MW3, there you had to try different distances until you found that opponents sweetspot.
Again, players aren't going to stop using light mechs. PGI isn't going to restrict them. AND there is a fix that will eventually come. The complaints there (and not saying anyone in this thread is complaining) really won't help. They've heard the cries for the change and are working on it.
As for a Tutorial...
I will say this, MechWarrior 2, 3, and 4 had tutorials, not only that, but they had single player campaigns. None of them prepared you for what was online. Sure you learn how to move a mech around and sorta use the mech labs. But it also makes you complacent. You prepare yourself for AI and not intelligent players.
A tutorial in my opinion will set players up for failure. Unless it showed the bare minimum like guiding them through setting up weapon groups and the very very basic movements. Then I'd have to say it is a waste.
However what would be a great benefit to players is a peer to peer match making system that allows 2-16 players to drop together in a match for a 1v1 up to a 8v8. This battle would result in NO exp or cbill gain and could be called the BattleSimulator. This would allow new players to be trained by veteran players. Or new players could congregate and practice with each other until they feel they are ready for the real thing.
That I would definitely agree that MWO does need.