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Forest Colony is one of my all-time favs. I just like the looks! Feels right.

Can't wait to see how the maps play with 12 people - 3 full lances per team - though.

So, anyone tried the trebuchet yet?

All I know is, they aren't that hard to take down in a CTF-x2 brawler.

I picked up one with the jump jets, the 7k I think.

It is a glorious lrm machine, and if you ever wanted to be an active missile boat, it is for you.

Stock models are not as sturdy as a hunch or centurion, but they can be much faster. And they have JJ, which is well worth the purchase for me.

Greetings Bros and/or Brahs, with Brahs being the feminine of Bros,

I finally starting playing this over the weekend. I joined the founders club in September and got a Catapult. I then played the game precisely once, for about 3 minutes, got killed, and said eh, I'll try this again later. Well, I guess now it's later. I got in about 4 hours.

It's really fun! It was not very fun the first time, but I had a blast over the weekend. I tried a few different builds - capping points in a Cicada, trying electronic warfare in a Raven - but I'm only really good at being a LRM boat in a Catapult (with Artemis, alternate weapons are medium lasers). My best game was 389 damage, 2 kills, and first place, but that was pretty unusual - I usually end a game in the middle of the board with around 150 damage done.

My other go-to build is a Catapult with 2x Gauss Cannons, Endo skeleton, and maxed armor (and a pair of medium lasers as a backup I think).

I just finished using up my Cadet bonus, but I haven't yet activated my premium time. Not 100% sure what premium gets you.

Good times.


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Also, reading back over the last page - What's a splat cat? What's Steel Rain?

Premium gets you 50% bonus to exp and C-Bills for EVERY match.

A splat cat is a Catapult C1 with 6x SRM 6. Close combat monsters.

Steel Rain (not entirely sure on this one) is probably a Lance with a LOT of LRMs.

Steel Rain is LRM spam

Also dont forget about the "splatlas"

The ERPPC atlas.

I'm more afraid of ERPPC stalkers. XD

Nice to hear you got to have fun after all, Ouze. It's about time you joined in!

Also good that you picked a LRM-Catapult - I used to pilot one from time to time, and artillery support can be rather fun as well as productive, though it often depends on the map (cover) as well as the teams (escorts and TAG on your side, ECM on the other).
Don't worry about the damage numbers, they will go up in time.

For the time being, I've switched to a Centurion AL, with a PPC, two MedLas and 2xLRM5. It's a neat allrounder, and it can zombie thanks to the standard engine. Whilst I really dreaded those damn SSRM/ECM-Ravens in my Jenner, I feel safe and confident in the Cent. Larger components and more armour make a world of difference, not to mention that I'm not an automatic priority target for the enemy's Lights anymore.

Here are some other interesting builds, by the way: http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/101194-common-mechs-in-run-hot-or-die-competitive-league-mech-designs/

What do you mean by "zombie"?

And yeah, I can't wait to play again, maybe tonight after work. You're right about lights, I had a commando chase me down and circle-strafe me to death the other day. Even that was sort of enjoyable because although he got me, I felt like I had a chance the whole way, but in the end I just wasn't fast enough.

"Zombie" is an old BT term for a 'Mech that can take tremendous punishment but continue to function on the battlefield even without half its components. Losing both your arms? Not a problem. Somebody blew up your right/left torsos? Only makes you angrier.

In essence, a zombie is a BattleMech that will keep fighting until you blow off its head or center torso. Since the Centurion has two energy hardpoints in the center torso (I'm using two medium lasers here), it can continue to deal damage even in this reduced state.

Using a standard engine rather than XL means I had to sacrifice tonnage, but it has paid off in that I've been in several matches so far where I was essentially reduced to two walking lasers. And in one of these fights, I only had one leg!



It's mostly something done with Heavies or Assaults, I think, as the XL-Engine is such a neat tonnage-saver, but not as necessary in the higher weight categories where the increased risk (the larger engine expands into the left/right torso, so losing either means your 'Mech is out of action) outweighs its advantages. I've grown very attached to it on my Jenner, as it's almost a must-have for Lights.

Another term you'll probably hear a lot is "cored", referring to killing the enemy by blowing up his center torso. Similar to how "legged" refers to blowing off someone's leg.

Oh, and I think you may find this devpost useful - it explains some of the more "esoteric" game mechanics in MWO:
http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/100089-breakdown/

Thanks for the explanations and the links, I've played the previous MW games but quite a bit of this is new to me, or at least in how it's been implemented.

Aye - from what I understand, MWO is the game "most true" to the Battletech TT rules so far, but there are a lot of things where it deviates from both the tabletop as well as earlier MechWarrior titles. Myself, I've only played MechCommander 1&2 so far. I think the only actual Mech game I ever played was ... uhh ... oh, yeah, Earthsiege. Wow, long time ago.

My new 'Mech, by the way. I really love the PPC sound. K-POW!


Loadout : CN9-AL "Akira"

I think the absolutely most accurate is probably MegaMek, which, true to the boxed set, is as fun as playing a spreadsheet full of accounting figures.

I'm almost exclusively a Cataphract Pilot. I've got 3 of them at master. Though lately bringing out my Stalker 5S a bit more.

Ah yeah, I meant in terms of FPS. MegaMek is (from what I've heard) kind of like Vassal, isn't it?
I actually think about giving it a try - the tabletop sounds pretty fun; so much that I almost feel bad for not getting to know the franchise earlier. Once I started to delve into the material (which I only did due to MWO, as I always read up on the background for a faction I may join in an online game), I realised that the whole setting is kinda amazing. And oldschool. I like oldschool.

I also like how the Battletech owners actually lend a small bit of support and recognition to MegaMek, even if it's just granting it a dedicated section in their forum. A certain other company could take a leaf outta that book. *ahem*

 Lynata wrote:
Ah yeah, I meant in terms of FPS. MegaMek is (from what I've heard) kind of like Vassal, isn't it?
I actually think about giving it a try - the tabletop sounds pretty fun; so much that I almost feel bad for not getting to know the franchise earlier. Once I started to delve into the material (which I only did due to MWO, as I always read up on the background for a faction I may join in an online game), I realised that the whole setting is kinda amazing. And oldschool. I like oldschool.

Yes, megamek is much like Vassal. It's fairly complicated for first-time play so you'll want to find someone else to walk you through it. Not me, I barely know how to play it - I have a co-worker who is super into it.

I found the setting amazing, but the gameplay to be very, very dry.

Back to MWO - I had an awesome night. I played with my friend and we got up on vent, and went around tag teaming stuff. I went with my Ultra AC 5 Catapult, and he was rocking a Hunchback. I scored 3 kills, 587 damage - my best game ever. I was super excited.

Had 7 kill 1476 dmg game with my stalker yesterday, it was glorious. 4 Large lasers, 2 medium lasers and 4 streak SRM2's is very effective.

It helped that for some reason people weren't targeting me that much.I was on one leg and one side torso by the end of it though.

Screen shot or it didn't happen

 Soladrin wrote:
Had 7 kill 1476 dmg game with my stalker yesterday, it was glorious. 4 Large lasers, 2 medium lasers and 4 streak SRM2's is very effective.

It helped that for some reason people weren't targeting me that much.I was on one leg and one side torso by the end of it though.

Ah, the joys of having a standard engine.

Once every few weeks, when the stars are right, you may just have a ton of luck and an epic game. Oh, and Streaks are hilariously OP.

I had an awesome one last night as well. 720 damage with 3 kills and 4 assists. I'm still in my first week as a Medium, which is what makes it stand out even more in regards to my average performance (usually I do about 200-300 damage with 0-2 kills and 3-6 assists).

The map was Frozen City, and it started fairly normal. First kill was a Commando who tried to blast away at our formation. Shot him in the back with my Lord's Light PPC as he attempted to run back over the hills to his buddies. The second one was purely due to LRMs, where I was hanging back and opening up from my two Thunderstroke LRM-5 launchers in support of three teammates engaging an enemy Cataphract. Half his sections were already down on armour, so that was child's play and it was pure coincidence that I got the kill. The last one, however ...

It was a 2-on-2, with a Hunchback and an Atlas against my Centurion and an allied Raven. We took down the Hunchback first, as we managed to draw him away from the slow Atlas who tried to walk around the crashed Gazelle Dropship in the middle of the battlefield. The fight with the Atlas was long and bloody, as the two of us had a hard time knocking down its armour even with our numerical superiority. The fight slowly shifted towards the buildings near the enemy base, where we tried to circle the AS7-RS in an attempt to have him shift his attention back and forth between both of us, preventing him from focusing. Unfortunately, a bad hit separated the little Raven from its lasers. As he tried to pull back beyond 180m LRM range, the Atlas finished him off. Now only the two of us were left.

His right arm was already destroyed, and a quick glimpse to my display notified me of his left arm being damaged and lacking armour, so I took aim from behind a low building, only the upper half sticking out from cover. The large laser in his right arm swiveled severed my PPC, and I had already exhausted my low amount of LRMs earlier, leaving me with nothing but the two medium pulse lasers in the center torso. Determined to force the decision, I pulled the trigger. Yata! The twin spears of light zapped twice, thrice, four times, with the final blast burning a gaping hole into where the upper arm actuator was located. Something exploded, and the massive metal limb came off, leaving a smoking stump of wasted myomer and large cables hanging loose from the Atlas' shoulder. So much for the large laser. I began to move before I noticed that my Matabushi Sentinel targeting system listing all of the enemy's weapons in the red. The opponent was effectively disabled, having no operational armaments left. The patient blade strikes truest, indeed.

Moving closer for the kill, manoeuvering the Centurion around the building which had provided partial cover, I switched to an open channel and advised the enemy to eject. The Atlas turned to face me, its pilot apparently not having realised his situation. Another staccato of laser pulses followed, this time to his chest, causing some of its remaining armour to melt down in great steaming drops. Slowly, the behemoth turned to lumber away, leaving me with a slight grin as I had to imagine the other pilot desperately pulling the trigger without evoking any reaction from his machine's many weapon systems, now nothing but slag and salvage. By sheer mass alone, the Atlas managed to move about 200 meters, all the while having its rear torso slowly ripped apart by a continuous assault of my two Diverse Optics Type 20P pulse lasers, until the helpless giant could not take it anymore. Deadly spears of energy punching through its back and causing massive damage to its internals. Finally, the reactor containment failed and the engine blew out. Like one of the mighty trees in the forests surrounding Imperial City, the 100 ton Atlas seemed to take its time, only tilting slowly to the front before finally and with great sound crashing into the snow. The battle was won, and great honour was earned this day.



... man, I almost pitied the other player. Took me about half a minute to put that poor Atlas down, all the while he could do nothing but slowly shuffle away with his 30, 40 kph.

Have they fixed any balance issues yet ?

IE I could run a Guass Cat and 1-2 hit kill people with Duel Guass. And could tank an Atlas and kill him before he got me down.

Actually regular SRM's are way better now that everyone and their mom is running ECM.

God damnit, I want my highlander. :(


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 Spyder68 wrote:
Have they fixed any balance issues yet ?

IE I could run a Guass Cat and 1-2 hit kill people with Duel Guass. And could tank an Atlas and kill him before he got me down.

Then he's a gak Atlas pilot.

 Spyder68 wrote:
Have they fixed any balance issues yet ?

IE I could run a Guass Cat and 1-2 hit kill people with Duel Guass. And could tank an Atlas and kill him before he got me down.

The only thing I've been able to 1-hit has been a light (Raven or Jenner, can't remember which) that ran around a corner in the middle of River City and took two direct Gauss Rifle shots to the cockpit. I suppose I've managed to 1-hit a mech on my other team, too, but he was probably heavily damaged, and decided that reversing into the line of fire of two Gauss Rifles was the best plan of escape.

The most prominent balance issue right now is Streak-SRMs, who wreak absolute havoc on Lights. Has to do with a patch at the end of November, which gave them a 100% hit chance and a damage increase.

In MWO, all missiles do splash damage - meaning they spread their damage across all components affected by the blast (3.5 meters for SRM and SSRM). Since all Lights have fairly small torso sections, this means it doesn't actually matter much whether it hits, say, your left torso or your right arm. You'll have about 4-5 components light up with every salvo that hits you, and it's a matter of mere seconds until one of your torso components blows up. Since 99% of all Lights use XL engines, this means sudden death.

ECM has made this a bit worse by basically limiting Streaks to the few chassis currently allowed to equip the Guardian-suite, as contrary to Battletech TT rules and tech canon, ECM jams missile lock in MWO.
Which is why the Light category is currently dominated by 3L Ravens - whose popularity was the reason I switched to a Centurion last weekend. I feel so much safer now.

Aside from that ... well, there's some people who complain about the 6xSRM6 Splatcat, but I think that's about it. Gauss rifles feel fairly balanced, at least I never had much of an issue with them so far. Might be worse for Heavies and Mediums who are a bit easier to hit, though.

But yeah, PGI is constantly tweaking things on the game. A recent patch made PPCs a bit better, for example, and they are currently trying to make MGs and Flamers a bit more viable by making them crit-seekers. The only thing where I feel they kinda dropped the ball is ECM/SSRM, given that the forum is being flooded with complaints from numerous players since weeks and it has become very obvious that the 3L has started to push other Lights into obscurity, and for what reason. Three months ago, they posted that they wanted to investigate Streak efficiency - no update so far.

Yeah, streaks are beasts. At the butt-end of a game a few days ago, it was a single beat-up commando packing streaks against a beat up Atlas(?) and a fully-functional Centurion.

Commando pulled our team's win out of his arse when he smacked-down the Atlas in a few salvos, and ran rings around the Centurion, with the streaks blasting him apart.

Gauss Rifles feel well balanced. They have a distinct sound, long reload, minimal ammo, and the weapons themselves deal the damage upon explosion, and are usually only able to be housed in unCASEable parts of the mech, like arms. The weapons are also hilariously brittle; once your armour goes, your rifle shouldn't be too far behind.

Unless the enemy mech ignores you and gives you unblocked LoS to his centre torso for about half a minute, you'reeither going to be left waiting for the chance to snipe his torso out, or hitting all manner of different parts of mech before being able to score hits on already damaged parts.

Gauss Rifles really come into their own against already engaged and/or damaged mechs, but against fresh ones, they're not really all that great; even Lights can shrug off several direct hits if they don't manage to land in the same places.

I think my my biggest death causes are SRM6 and LRM boats. The rest I can pretty much deal with.

I've definitely had problems with ravens and streaks.


What's the key for screenshots, btw?

This one.

No, really - sadly the screenshot function, whilst part of the engine, is not enabled yet. Pressing Print will just shovel black nothingness into your cache.

But do not fear! Just download the MSI Afterburner - a free GPU utility that is primarily intended to allow graphics card management, but that also comes with a screenshot function you can bind to any key you like. Personally, I've put it to F12. Works like a charm. You just need to remember running it in the background if you want to capture images in any game or movie (or just set it to auto-start with your OS).

Oh, Ok - thanks. I did try taking a screen with printscreen, and I did get the mentioned blackness. I can use Fraps or Afterburner, as you say.

I'm enjoying my current Stalker-5M.

5 LRM15's w/ Artemis.

Top speed: 33kph

Average match:
3-4 kills, 600-1200 damage done