70 replies to this topic

[Cato Phoenix]

Thirdstar, on 19 February 2013 - 08:57 AM, said:

After reading this thread, you lot have actually convinced me to at least try out a fast Lurm boat with TAG.

What's the worst that could happen? I go back to my SRM build?

It's really versatile if you can swap back and forth between SRMs and LRMs and tag-ML.

[Jacmac]

LRMs will make a comeback when there are maps with wide open spaces that can not be avoided. Until then, LRMs are a relic, except in 4-man slop play.

[Tastian]

I really enjoy my Hunchback 4SP w 255XL, 2xLRM15s, TAG, and 4xMedLaser. The problem with mediums is they can't go toe to toe with Heavy and Assault brawlers. Staying at range is a good thing. And being able to move quickly allows me to keep TAG on target without getting hit myself.

[Kommisar]

I've been having a LOT of success with my latest Stalker build that packs 2x Arti LRM20s, with a TAG. Racked up 4 kills in a round last night; and the opponents were not gimps either. Nor was I sitting back at 800 plus meters. I stuck right behind my team's front line by about 150 meters. Then enemy had 2 ECM DDCs. I TAGed the first one that we ran into, he popped up on everyone's HUD, focus fire, a volley of 40 LRMs and he was done.

That is an assault mech. But the basic tactical principle remains the same. The LRMs are a support weapon. And you don't have to run off by yourself hundreds of meters away from your team to employ them! I had the second atlas in that round charge me! I hit reverse, kept TAG on and was firing LRMs all the way down to 190 meters. Later, wounded from the charge, I tucked in behind a friendly Atlas, and supported his brawling. I didn't have to blow a mech up in one shot. But that AC/20 sure was a lot more effective hitting a Stalker than had already soaked up a volley or two of LRMs.

Even a a few Mediums packing 1 5 or 10 tube launcher can be handy in softening a target. It's support after all. And having mastered 3 Atlases, I know what a difference even a little extra damage on a target can make when we get to the brawl stage of trading blows.

A LRM launcher can allow a mech to lend weight of fire to a fight from hundreds of meters away; even without LOS. My personal opinion is that the current tactical paradigm is skewed and not completely based on the battlefield reality. A LOT of it is based on what people like to do. People like to dish out knock-out blows and have a high number of kills. People see their team mate's value based on the number of kills they rack up. To do that with LRMs requires boating. Also, PUG drops tend to distill the tactics to very simplistic. Which is why SRMs are so pervasive. Point, shoot, boom. Boat and stack for kills.

LRMs have untapped potential. Especially among what I have seen of the 8 mans where teamwork is supposed to be "next level". Can you imagine a group of 4 DDC ECM brawlers, staying together, all with a TAG installed? Now put LRM launchers on a group of Hunchbacks & Centurions that can double as light hunters. Those LRMs are not going to BOOM a mech into dust. But they are going to eat some armor up.

Now, the problem there is the lack of weight limits or any sort of matching with 8man. So, the other team could just roll 8 ECM DDC brawlers. This is a problem with the current state of the 8 man, though.

[L1f3H4ck]

I ran my 4J with 2 LRM10, 2 mediums and 4 smalls. Very effective. I shot less and hit more, since I could use my mobility to get to better firing positions quickly. So I dont agree with the OP at all.

[Ngamok]

Kdogg788, on 19 February 2013 - 07:15 AM, said:

The Trebuchet is to be released in just of few short hours, of course, and reviewing its stock, canon variants, it appears that they all pack LRMs by default. It's pretty obvious that almost nobody will be using them for their Battletech role of medium class LRM support, and will instead attempt to utilize them as an alternative to the SRM packing Hunchback 4SP. It's how I intend to use this mech if I buy one, but does anyone going to use the by and large stock loadouts with LRMS? Over the past few months I've seen very few LRM packing mediums, as they don't seem viable in the context of this particular game.

-k

Maybe not to you. But a Medium can still act as support if they really wanted to. And because only playing one way is logical to you.

My HBK-4SP has 5 ML, 1 SRM6, and 1 LRM20. I chose this so I can soften up targets in the open before they or I close in. If people only want to be the in your face 4SP that's their choice. All I am saying is there is a way to help out long range if you really wanted to. Sacfricing 1 SRM6 for a LRM20 and a little slower mech is worth it to me.

[TheFlyingScotsman]

Mediums are a fickle weight class. The answer is actually, yes, Mediums can make fantastic use of LRMs. Mediums fill a specific role as support Mechs. By using higher mobility and often higher speed, mediums are able to help repel smaller 'Mechs that would normally be somewhat problematic for heavies or assaults. They also provide fire against larger targets from cover or while partly behind allies. LRMs are perfect in this role for long range support.

Think of them as mobile fire platforms, and pilot them where your team needs the most support. Avoid taking unnecessary damage with them at all costs. Never leave your group. Meds are easily the most unforgiving 'Mechs to piloting errors, and take a lot of careful piloting. You must always be paying attention to where enemies are or could easily be, and should never be in the front of the group. Stats on paper are very misleading.

Edited by TheFlyingScotsman, 19 February 2013 - 10:02 AM.

[Mercules]

Kommisar, on 19 February 2013 - 09:47 AM, said:

A LOT of it is based on what people like to do. People like to dish out knock-out blows and have a high number of kills. People see their team mate's value based on the number of kills they rack up. To do that with LRMs requires boating. Also, PUG drops tend to distill the tactics to very simplistic. Which is why SRMs are so pervasive. Point, shoot, boom. Boat and stack for kills.

I agree and because they personally like to do that and are successful at it to some degree it becomes their measure of choice. I've been taunted for just a bit over 100 damage in a match. What they didn't realize is I saw LRMs streaming from the back ranks, flanked the enemy and harassed an LRM boat while they cleaned up the rest of the team. How much damage did I save the team and how bad would that fight have gone if there were 60+ LRMs streaming in every few seconds?


LRMs do not have to be boated. I've run a Centurion that had 1 LRM 10, two SRMs, and Lasers instead of the 3 SRMs. While moving up I was dumping LRMs on targets and then closing with them. Occasionally the match would turn into a stalemate where a ridge was providing cover for both teams and things were going back and forth. It was nice to be able to stand back from the ridge and drop LRMs on targets of opprotunity and FORCE them to come over the ridge to us or suffer indirect fire.

[Liquidx]

Phemeto, on 19 February 2013 - 07:36 AM, said:

People wont use the LRM Canon version because it doesnt work in MWO. Most LRM mechs pack 7+ Tons of ammo due to the extra armor, and you just cant fit that much effectively in a mech with the tonnage from the LRMS. so no...LRM mediums wont work well

You're missing the point of most canon variants. LRM's were common on many mechs in canon - but aside from a very few (archer, longbow are the only ones that come to mind), LRMs were a softening weapon. Most weren't intended to be artillery platforms.

The same can be true in MWO if you use them intelligently. A mech with a couple LRM 10 or 15 racks can soften up a mech charging for it pretty easily. Basically position yourself in such a way that the enemy has to cross some open ground to get to you and your LRMs are going to be very effective. I usually don't pack more than 4 tons of ammo on my LRM carrying mechs, and they do pretty well. Granted, I don't usually have enough ammo to last me through a 10 minute match, but LRMs are also not my primary weapon.

[Solis Obscuri]

Really depends on how effective the EMP effect is - mobile units providing indirect fire support could be useful alongside scouts or direct-fire heavies with PPCs.

I'm also curious as to how a fast Trebuchet with PPCs and a Narc would play as a fast medium-weight spotter - could be pretty nasty!

[Ihasa]

Levi Porphyrogenitus, on 19 February 2013 - 07:24 AM, said:

Since to gain experience with the mech you must level up three variants, it only makes sense to vary load outs among them. I'll probably do one with SRMs, one with LRMs, and one with Streaks.

My plans exactly.