quote:Plenty of balance changes also showed up this week, and we'll just touch on the key points. Firstly, jump jets now have a scaled effect based on how many you have on the chassis. The number each mech comes with stock is now the baseline for getting the jet performance everyone was used to, so you can no longer get away with just slapping a single jet onto your mech and rocketing skyward with wild abandon. In most cases you're going to need four or five to get where you want to be - and there's a cap on the number you can cram onto your robot too, so no filling that Jenner with twenty of them and launching yourself to the moon.
Next, autocannon and PPCs have had their projectile speed boosted - most notably the ppc projectile now travels as fast as an AC/2 round, which along with the introduction of the stalker might mean a surge in the number of ppc users. Remember though, friends don't let friends use ER PPCs. TAG and NARC also get changes , with TAG range increased to 750m and NARC duration increased to 20 seconds. Given TAG was already the better option here (lighter, doesn't need ammo, penetrates ECM bubbles) the NARC buff is frankly a bit lacklustre. There's still not really a good reason to take one over a TAG or (if you've only got a missile hard point to play with) a Streak-2.
there's also a note that the effect of ECMs set to counter mode has been changed to just counter the nearest enemy mech running ECM. This sounds very much like what PGI said it was going to do in the first place, so it'll be interesting to see what this actually does in a brawl full of people flipping between disrupt and counter now.
posted
Meh. ERPPC is still the better option, IMO. It's also the opinion of every team we've played or skirmished with in 2 months.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Bought a Raven 3L, the ECM one of course, and I enjoy it a lot. I have an XL 295 with one DHS in the engine, Endo and FF armor, and 3 Med lasers. I also carry 2 SSRM2's, and 2 tons of ammo. It runs 136.2 kph, without speed tweak, and is a lot of fun to play. Raven's are OP right now, but they always have been in this game.
I figured I should play one in order to learn to kill one. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Just had a huge game in my K2, 3 kills 2 assists and lots of damage. I switched to a 4x Medium laser and 2x AC5 setup with it, which seemed to be a lot more effective than what I was running before.
I think I'm finally at the point where I am pulling my weight most games, and even usually doing better than most.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Let me know if you want to drop tonight. I'm Kwea in game, and I can give you the teamspeak address if you want. It's a lot of fun...
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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House of Davion Teamspeak info above. Anyone can come in, but please remember it's PG-13 at best. People play with their families in hearing distance, and a lot of us have kids.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I purchased a Stalker, and am running LRM * 2, SRM * 2, Medium Laser * 4, and Large Pulse Lasers *2.
It runs WAY too hot, and I haven't earned enough Cbills to buy the heat sink upgrade. Just firing the Large pulse lasers is something like 40+% heat.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Sorry Kwea, I logged off shortly after I made that post. I'd love to play with peeps I know. Though I don't currently have a headset, so sometimes I have problems with my mic picking up my speaker output. Will play around with 'push to talk' and see if that works better for me.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:I purchased a Stalker, and am running LRM * 2, SRM * 2, Medium Laser * 4, and Large Pulse Lasers *2.
Wow, I can't even fathom that kind of firepower. Guess someone spent their 8M credit bonus.
I myself have about 5M, and can't decide whether to pimp my Jenner (the XL 280 engines probably and 2xMedPulseLasers) or just save up for a new mech entirely.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
PTT is mandatory on all our drops, specifically because of that.
I'd eat that Stalker for lunch.
Xavier, just look for me on the server. If I am not training nOObs, I'd love to play a bit, and if you want I could get you into the group and introduce you to some guys. We are actually an international group, so no matter when you play we have rooms going. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I'm not sure I'd agree. Its tough as a new player, but I think they have something pretty cool here. They still need to make lots more changes, mostly in weapons balance. But the core is decent I feel.
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Anyway, I'm still experimenting with K2 setups, and right now I've got 2xLargeLasers and 1xGaussRifle. I still get the "mech with giant lasers on its shoulders" feel while also getting a taste of how OP the gauss rifle is.
My second game I got over 500 damage with it. I think when I get used to aiming the gauss rifle it could be a pretty great setup. The two weapon types seem to compliment eachother reasonably well.
I'm sure getting 2xGauss is even better, but I'd probably hate myself for using it.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:Originally posted by umberhulk: Oh, I haven't actually played it, but if you say so.
It's a beta. It's rough and buggy, the interface leaves a lot to be desired, 4 maps and two game modes, and a frustrating pug grind with no meta instituted. It sucks. But the core gameplay is fun and this makes it good practice for when the game actually comes out.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Kwea: I'd eat that Stalker for lunch.
Probably. I dropped the LRMs for two more SRMs, got rid of the 4 medium lasers, and got a large laser.
So now it's Large pulse laser * 2, Large Laser * 1, SRM * 4, Heat sinks * gazillion.
It's pretty hard to deal with Ravens dancing in circles around me, but I tend to back myself into a wall so I only need to look left and right, get lined up, then BOOOOOM.
I still kinda wish I had gone for a Stalker with more ballistic slots, and picked up some AC/*.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
gave myself a stalker, standard 300, and gave it 4 medium lasers, 2 large lasers, max armor, 4 SRM 4's, and a trajillion DHS's — not quite a brawler, but it absolutely ends anything that comes within 300m.
when they reduce the heat on PPC's and give them the EMP effect, i'm probably going to test it out with 4 ppc's.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Reading the forums convinced me to spend my 4M or so on a Hunchback 4SP, even with me not liking the look.
My first few games were miserable, and now I am kind of wishing I'd spent that all on upgrading my Jenner. Right now that's the mech I have the most fun with.
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Oh BTW, I am FelMair in game. I sent invites out to the three players in this thread.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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So that's one of each class besides the assault class. Out of the assault mechs, the Stalker is the one I like the look of best. I'm thinking the 5M has a nice balance to it, and I don't have anything with LRMs on it yet.
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I'm still not thrilled with my 4SP yet. The medium lasers seem to overheat my mech pretty fast. I upgraded to DHS, just to realize that I didn't have much space and it barely helped, if at all. Was painful to realize I kind of wasted 1.5M credits. Now that I've spent the entire 8M credit gift, they aren't easy to come by.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Well I could fit more single heat sinks in the loadout. When I upgraded to DHS they take up a ton of room and I can't fit nearly as many in. Tonnage isn't an issue for the mech right now, but space is.
I think it helped slightly, like from 1.08 to 1.1 heat efficiency. Hardly worth 1.5M credits.
But if I am doing something wrong, I am all ears .
Note: some of the space issues are from the slots used up by the endo-steel structure. Maybe switching to standard structure I can fit in more DHSs. That would mean I wasted that upgrade cost completely.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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Left Arm: 2xMediumLaser, DHS Right Arm: 2xMediumLaser, DHS Head: Medium Laser Right Torso: SRM6, 3xDHS Left Torso: SRM6, 2xDHS, Ammo Center Torso: STD200 Engine, 2xAmmo Legs: Structure slots
45.6/50 tons used.
All my slots are full currently. This ends up with a heat efficiency of 1.10 with 15 DHS.
That's probably enough and I should just "learn to play". Which is fine. Unless there's a more optimal loadout I could roll with.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
But I see what you mean, running a "medium" that's not any faster than my "heavy" is probably whats so unsatisfying about taking it out of the garage.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Yeah mediums need more mobility. Their job is to wingman the brutes, swat lights away, and pick on the rear armor of heavies that engage. They should be going 80 minimum.
Posts: 805 | Registered: Jun 2009
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quote:Originally posted by Parkour: How could upgrading to dhs not help? It doubles the effect of all heatsinks in the engine.
Nope. It doubles the ones in the engine, and gives the rest a 1.4 HE.
They take 3 slots, vs 1 slot for regular. They only weigh a ton though. It's a balancing act, and worth it on most mechs, but it depends on your build and loadout.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
If you get a better engine, one of the DHS will fit in the engine, freeing up 3 more slots. It will work better there too. I use the Standard 260 in ALL my Hunchie builds. It runs 82.5 kph, without speed tweak.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:I use the Standard 260 in ALL my Hunchie builds. It runs 82.5 kph, without speed tweak.
Cool, will shoot for that. Looks like that's eight more tons. Yikes. Not sure how to shed that weight. Such a balancing act.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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Can you elaborate on this a little? Can't seem to figure out how it works in the mechlab. The 260 and 200 engines both look like they take up 6 slots.
Is there a way to put heat sinks in the engine that I'm just not seeing? When you guys have talked about them being in the engine, I figured that just meant that by default an engine has some built into it that I can't see. But I'm not really sure how that all works.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
This is going to be sort of confusing but that's because the heat/heatsink system in MWO sucks at present and needs an overhaul. But the short story is: DHS always. Always. Always. Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise. They probably pilot commandos and smell.
The minimum number of heatsinks required by a mech is 10; engines have a number of heatsinks inside them based on their rating. If you have a really small engine, your engine doesn't have enough heatsinks in it to meet the threshold and you have to put in additional ones outside the engine. (these engines are terrible, never use them). A 250 engine and above fills the minimum 10 heatsinks inside it. At 275 and above they start having room for additional heatsinks you can OPT to put inside the engine above 10. Here's a chart:
100-120 engine, 4 heat sinks in engine, 6 must be placed in criticals 125-145 engine, 5 heat sinks in engine, 5 must be placed in criticals 150-170 engine, 6 heat sinks in engine, 4 must be placed in criticals 175-195 engine, 7 heat sinks in engine, 3 must be placed in criticals
200-220 engine, 8 heat sinks in engine, 2 must be placed in criticals 225-245 engine, 9 heat sinks in engine, 1 must be placed in criticals 250-270 engine, 10 heat sinks in engine, 0 must be placed in criticals 275-295 engine, 10 heat sinks in engine, 0 must be placed in criticals, space for 1 extra heat sink within engine
300-320 engine, 10 heat sinks in engine, 0 must be placed in criticals, space for 2 extra heat sinks within engine 325-345 engine, 10 heat sinks in engine, 0 must be placed in criticals, space for 3 extra heat sinks within engine
Here's an image of an engine with two additional optional heatsinks in its spare space:
you just basically dump them in there. They add a ton each, but use no additional critical space. The DHS outside the engine take up three crit spaces and have 1.4 times the effect of a SHS.
Note that with DHS, any internal engine heatsink gets DOUBLE the heat reduction value and does not take up any additional space. Ergo, when you have a 270 engine with 10 engine heatsinks and upgrade to DHS, the 10 engine internal heatsinks have their cooling power instantly doubled. So it's like you are gaining 10 heat sinks with no downside AT ALL. You went from 10 effective heatsinks to 20.
It is for that reason that nearly all serious business builds are DHS and at present no ace runup makes use of SHS; some people have come up with some builds that they think barely utilize SHS better, but it's iffy and these builds are generally outclassed by other designs anyway so they are pretty much obsolete right now. The free doubling of engine heatsinks at no critical space or weight cost is simply insurmountable. The only notable downside is that you can no longer put heatsinks in the legs, and heatsinks in legs get additional cooling benefit if you are standing in water. But that doesn't matter too much, because at present the pro builds put ammo in the legs.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Thanks, that goes a bit further than the post I found with google did.
I think my main problem right now is that I lose interest after two or three matches. Hard to grind the credits for these things without marathon sessions. I just don't seem to have the will for it, for whatever reason.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Not all the pro builds put ammo in the legs. The ONLY reason people do now is the Lag shield keeps you from legging as much. Ammo on a leg is sometimes a VERY bad idea. If they get a crit, it legs you or kills you.
They have already over adjusted the HE of laser weapons, but the next patch will dial it down a bit and make all energy weapons more viable options. Should make for some interesting builds. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Ammo always goes in the legs, unless you can use the arms as ammo dumps, or if it is gauss ammo which can go in the ct (it doesn't explode) ... Right now ammo in legs makes it much less of a viability as it would be anywhere else.
Posts: 805 | Registered: Jun 2009
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quote:I am working all weekend, but drop in Monday night if you aren't busy. I know I will be on then.
Sounds cool. It looks like that's New Years Eve. Not sure if I'm doing anything that night or not. Will probably be on at least a bit .
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Parkour: Ammo always goes in the legs, unless you can use the arms as ammo dumps, or if it is gauss ammo which can go in the ct (it doesn't explode) ... Right now ammo in legs makes it much less of a viability as it would be anywhere else.
Nope. Once the lag shield gets fixed, legging won't just slow you, it will blow you up if you get hit. Legs are actually an easy target, on anything other than lights.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Probably my best game so far. Was with my K2.
I think I'm getting somewhere in my play, but I still seem to lose far more often than I win. My stats show I win only 32% of my matches .
When I do lose I'm typically top three damage on my team. Often I am first. So I don't think I suck that badly. I'd guess from my match summaries that I am a pretty average player. So why am I losing so much?
I think that's why I have a hard time maintaining my interest. Losing in this game is painful, and when it happens a few times in a row, I'd rather be doing something else.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Because over half the people you drop against are probably in teams. Even in 2 teams of 4 comms make a difference.
Before ECM I was at about 80% wins, and that's with teaching new players which is fairly hard. Before I had so many new players I was at about 90%.
I am currently at 67%. And over half my matches have been with ECM in play, and while learning a new mech class, lights. It's a fairly steep learning curve, particularly in 8 man drops with no weight limits or matching.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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