156 replies to this topic

[hammerreborn]

Streamrolls have always been present since the beginning of OB (and even before that). With no respawns and such small teams, a single lost mech is a huge difference.

If two of your people go cave and get evaporated you're now down two players, and depending on what class they were can really tip the scales quickly. Then factor in DCs (which I've found to be the biggest indicator of success), trial mechs, bad builds, and relative skill and it's pretty easy to see why games swing one way or the other heavily.

[RawheadRex]

It varies.
On the weekend I went 176 kills to 7 loses and my KD ratio went up from .87 to 1.4.
Last night I played 16 matches and had 2 kills and was beatdown.
.

[Grits N Gravy]

It's a function of the design of game, in terms of damage, hit points and DPS. The ability to focus fire on a single facing of a mech is the greatest determinate to who wins. This makes it very difficult to recover from the loss of 1 or more mechs, especially if your opponents are all in close proximity. Because very few builds are lethal enough to take out a similar or larger opponent with out expending a large amount of their hit points, the best edge you can get is to focus your firepower. With the relative weakness of firepower to armor, numbers will always confer a significant advantage. This is why the game in pugs is blob, rush or die Online.

[Dimento Graven]

hammerreborn, on 31 January 2013 - 10:33 AM, said:

Streamrolls have always been present since the beginning of OB (and even before that). With no respawns and such small teams, a single lost mech is a huge difference.

If two of your people go cave and get evaporated you're now down two players, and depending on what class they were can really tip the scales quickly. Then factor in DCs (which I've found to be the biggest indicator of success), trial mechs, bad builds, and relative skill and it's pretty easy to see why games swing one way or the other heavily.

Too true. Nothing more 'pleasant' than 2 disconnects and an AFK making a battle more of a challenge than you expected.

[smokefield]

actually for last 3 days i am experiencing the same thing as the op. i have won probably 1 of 7 games. i only can say i have a bad streak..

[soarra]

once 1 or 2 bad pilots get killed you are out numbered and steam roll happens usually.

[Star Colonel Mustard Kerensky]

Steamrolls have been a part of every game since pong. Get used to it.

[Dimento Graven]

smokefield, on 31 January 2013 - 10:43 AM, said:

actually for last 3 days i am experiencing the same thing as the op. i have won probably 1 of 7 games. i only can say i have a bad streak..

But just think, there's some guy who has also lost 7 in a row, and YOUR ONE WIN, was part of that, and he's thinking, "What the hell, what a crappy losing streak..."

[Zeh]

Gotta say I disagree with this:

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Because 8 crappy players on comms is AT LEAST as good as 8 experienced good players without.

8 good experienced players would TROUNCE 8 even fair or average players that are on comms. At least that's been my experience. The veterans would use type-chat to fill in the lack of comms. They would still implement a sound strategy and use effective tactics. Those two things are definitely HELPED by comms, but they're also more important than the comms.

Also, maybe you guys are feeding me kills, my KDR and winrate have both been climbing nicely lately.

Also, it's important to remember that this type of game will ALWAYS result in mostly landslide victories. Even if the fight is perfectly even, say side A takes out one mech from side B. Now the most damaged mech from side A can fall out to avoid dying and the fight stays even. But what really happens is he gets somewhere safe and continues firing. Making it more likely that Side B will lose another before side A loses a first. This compounds itself as one side diminishes. It's why focus-fire is by far the most important tactic in this game.

Edited by Zeh, 31 January 2013 - 11:07 AM.

[Corvus Antaka]

Hopefully ELO and separating / organizing pugs & 4 mans better will help out with this very soon

[Dimento Graven]

Zeh, on 31 January 2013 - 10:59 AM, said:

Gotta say I disagree with this: [/font]

8 good experienced players would TROUNCE 8 even fair or average players that are on comms. At least that's been my experience.

YMMV then.

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The veterans would use type-chat to fill in the lack of comms.

Initially yes, then in the heat of the battle, not so much. Very difficult to pilot, aim, AND type at the same time in this game.

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They would still implement a sound strategy and use effective tactics.

What prevents the unskilled, or 'average' skilled from doing the same?

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Those two things are definitely HELPED by comms, but they're also more important than the comms.

Agreed, which is why even 2x4 sync'd drops can still get *** whooped.

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Also, maybe you guys are feeding me kills, my KDR and winrate have both been climbing nicely lately.

Or, maybe you're getting enough experience and learning to pilot your 'mech better that you're improving on your own merit...

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Also, it's important to remember that this type of game will ALWAYS result in mostly landslide victories. Even if the fight is perfectly even, say side A takes out one mech from side B. Now the most damaged mech from side A can fall out to avoid dying and the fight stays even. But what really happens is he gets somewhere safe and continues firing. Making it more likely that Side B will lose another before side A loses a first. This compounds itself as one side diminishes. It's why focus-fire is by far the most important tactic in this game.

Mmmm... Not sure I agree with that. Most of my battles have been moderately close, though I do get to participate in steamrolling, as well as getting steamrolled, fairly regularly too.

[Zeh]

Dimento Graven, on 31 January 2013 - 11:27 AM, said:

What prevents the unskilled, or 'average' skilled from doing the same?

Well, experience does... they don't know that the best place to line up a defensive line is North-South from C4 to C5, and that when you're flanked, to drop behind the hill to C3 and push up through the 3 line...(Random fake example)

Dimento Graven, on 31 January 2013 - 11:27 AM, said:

Or, maybe you're getting enough experience and learning to pilot your 'mech better that you're improving on your own merit...

Maybe a little, but I've been better than everyone for a while now...

(Not really, only 75% WR, rarely pug. Was just trying to contribute to both lines of conversation)

[jper4]

i must have caught the game at the right time today then- just had 6 matches a little earlier and the most lopsided were 8-3 (think it happened twice 1 win 1 loss) rest were in the 8-5/6 categoryno cap losses, different people each match. but i also tend to play more at off peak hours too which may be a factor.

[xRaeder]

hammerreborn, on 31 January 2013 - 10:33 AM, said:

Streamrolls have always been present since the beginning of OB (and even before that). With no respawns and such small teams, a single lost mech is a huge difference.

If two of your people go cave and get evaporated you're now down two players, and depending on what class they were can really tip the scales quickly. Then factor in DCs (which I've found to be the biggest indicator of success), trial mechs, bad builds, and relative skill and it's pretty easy to see why games swing one way or the other heavily.

They've become far more common in the last month or two.

[Novakaine]

Stop the COD madness before it's too late.
Perkins!

[NitroDev]

Yeah? Well the best defense is a good offense, you know who said that? Mel, the cook on "Alice".

[w0rm]

xRaeder, on 31 January 2013 - 11:46 AM, said:

They've become far more common in the last month or two.

And according to the DEVs it's pretty much better PUGs rolling horrible PUGs.

[Dimento Graven]

Zeh, on 31 January 2013 - 11:38 AM, said:

[/font]
Well, experience does... they don't know that the best place to line up a defensive line is North-South from C4 to C5, and that when you're flanked, to drop behind the hill to C3 and push up through the 3 line...(Random fake example)

Admittedly for some of the more advanced strategies, you are correct. You just don't know, what you don't know. However, there are obvious BASIC good strategies that in my experience are extremely rarely practiced. In most, what I believe are obvious PUG groups, the simple basic strategy of focusing fire seems to be something they very rarely, if ever, practice, OR, if they do in fact focus fire, you get 8 pugs chasing ONE little light, in an apparent effort to KS each other to get the kill shot, effectively destroying their team mate's back armor in the process.

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Maybe a little, but I've been better than everyone for a while now...

I feel the same way.

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(Not really, only 75% WR, rarely pug. Was just trying to contribute to both lines of conversation)

I get you. Sometimes I play devil's advocate too, but in this case, I believe it's another instance where educating will do more good than commisserating.

NitroDev, on 31 January 2013 - 11:54 AM, said:

Yeah? Well the best defense is a good offense, you know who said that? Mel, the cook on "Alice".

That ******* was a military genius!!!

w0rm, on 31 January 2013 - 11:55 AM, said:

And according to the DEVs it's pretty much better PUGs rolling horrible PUGs.

That is something I also believe.

After all, get your *** kicked often enough, maybe you start to take notes and learn how to kick some butt too...

[Tikkamasala]

Novakaine, on 31 January 2013 - 11:49 AM, said:

Stop the COD madness before it's too late.
Perkins!

mad cow disease was not enough, now it's spread to the cod?

[Dimento Graven]

Tikkamasala, on 31 January 2013 - 11:58 AM, said:

mad cow disease was not enough, now it's spread to the cod?

Mommy?