Mech/Variant you're trying to master?

[dCK-Warheart]

Seriously the Loki B - it's mainly a support mech, and has a great variety of weapons but is always inferior to any kind of actual combat mech. I mean a single small laser, yeah that's what it needs to keep up and the single lbx 5 can't even kill a BA with one shot.

It's really hard to get a kill, but it does really work when your team is just sitting around arrowcamping the hell out of the enemy because they're doing the same (otherwise I'd be leaving the server anyway), because it has ECM and Narc as well as C3.

[Serious Table]

Does anyone have suggestions for that particular chassis?

Like Korbin said: Chain fire the SRMs. I know some like to chainfire the LBXes but I think chainfiring the SRMs is more useful. Group fired LBX-20 also have a nice shock-effect on people as they see their health disappearing in a huge chunk.

Don't "waste" your LBX shots. If you approach from behind and know the fight will be mostly a duel you won't get another shot at their back torso. So If you can't get it down to crippling in one go don't bother firing at the back torso. Fire at an arm instead if your target have good weapons there and you plan to arm it. If not, just save the LBXes and use SRMs and flamers to get its attention. If your target ignores the SRMs long enough you can get the back torso down enough to make it worth firing the LBXes to cripple it.

You should also go radar passive on your approach. If you want to lock your missiles you need the radar of course, but no sense making yourself known until you can get (and need) the lock on. SRMs do fairly well dumbfired as well with some practise. At least against targets that do not know you are there. Not attracting attention out in the open is key. You may have LAMS, but it will do little good against two or more arrows homing in on you.

Then of course, know your enemies and keep a look out on your cockpit armour. A shadow cat A (costing almost half as much) can cockpit you in no time if you are not careful (keep that cockpit away from it when your LBXes reload).  And of course, don't solo it. Team-mates are good umkay.

/Merf - Likes the heavy-cat with rocket ears ^^

Many thanks to Merf and Korbin for the suggestions.  I think Sandblasted isn't really the map for that Mech, unfortunately, unless it breaks down into duels.  Then that "SURPRISE!" shot from behind is all the more satisfying.

With a little bit of additional practice, I think it's come down to: I need to learn how to disable a Mech, before I learn to destroy it.  I'm so focused on the central cockpit that I forget you can cripple mechs by destroying their external pods or arms.  With practice and money donations, I think I'll do well!

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

Yeah Sandblast is primarily a long range map, you'll have good success on Inferno, Thunder Ridge and parts of Extremity with more experience.

[Squibby]

I exlusively used the Bushwacker Prime last time I played. I ended up had some fleeting success beating on lights and mediums until the clan heavies came out and I got roflstomped over and over.

Ridiculously hard mech to use... your main gun barely ever registers hits with 200 ping, plus the damage output seems negligible and ends up spread all over. Maybe I'll try shooting for the legs (ettiquette be damned...) at least the lag effect won't be as bad.

Surprisingly enough I found the LRM5 launchers can be effective as dumbfire 'mortars'. Just line 'em up on a stationary target, fire and forget. Any little bit helps when your main gun seems utterly useless.

My next objective is to lrm boat like theres no tomorrow, in fact I'm eager to try using the serious lrm banks as saturation artillery

[xInVicTuSx]

The Prime is hopelessly outclassed by the A, which has the damage output of an AC60 when you add up the numbers over your UAC10=AC20(and that is generous).

Also I've been using the Bushwacker C lately for support combat missile support and it beats the hell out of the Catapults, ammo is hardly a problem with APCs around and the armor is much better than the Catapult B, it is basically a Mauler Prime with the AC2s gone, which isn't taking away much. 

Been trying to use the LBX scat and scat Prime, I don't like the other variants.

I seriously cannot find an Assault mech that isn't a walking coffin, it is so easy to hit that you end up getting one kill and having to return to base again for repairs or just consent to an early death.

[Deathbane]

The Prime is hopelessly outclassed by the A, which has the damage output of an AC60 when you add up the numbers over your UAC10=AC20(and that is generous).

Also I've been using the Bushwacker C lately for support combat missile support and it beats the hell out of the Catapults, ammo is hardly a problem with APCs around and the armor is much better than the Catapult B, it is basically a Mauler Prime with the AC2s gone, which isn't taking away much. 

Been trying to use the LBX scat and scat Prime, I don't like the other variants.

I seriously cannot find an Assault mech that isn't a walking coffin, it is so easy to hit that you end up getting one kill and having to return to base again for repairs or just consent to an early death.

Because everyone still has the habit of recognising the assault mechs as uber deadly, even when they shouldnt. Many will go after the beatstick rather than stop the madcat b pelting them at range, which imho is a far more deadly mech.

Assaults are for centerpieces, soaking damage and dealing it back as part of a main assault/group. On its own, you re right. They re walking coffins without support.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

I find it funny they're even called assault mechs.  They should really be called "defense" mechs as that's their best use.  They're too slow to chase down anything, so it's better if targets come to them.  They're HUGE targets with very little damage mitigation equipment (JJs/MASC), so their survivability is highly dependent on using cover.

[=KoS= Eldragon]

I find it funny they're even called assault mechs.  They should really be called "defense" mechs as that's their best use.  They're too slow to chase down anything, so it's better if targets come to them.  They're HUGE targets with very little damage mitigation equipment (JJs/MASC), so their survivability is highly dependent on using cover.

Hopefully they will be able to assault positions in Terrain Control. Move in, soak a lot of fire and take out the defenders, then hold the position until allies can show up.

I think Assaults don't do well in Team Deathmatch because there is no reason for you to charge the enemy line. The enemy just respawns right next to the position you captured and has defense turrets around their base.

[=KoS=Zeus]

Well, back when Battletech started Assault Mechs carried devastating close range weaponry and the armor to get them into range. Generally an AC/20, 2 medium lasers, and an SRM-4/SRM-6 (Victor and Atlas carried this arrangement). Their job was to assault the enemy position while under supporting fire from mechs like the Catapult or Warhammer and force the enemy to displace from said location or get hit with the close range death dealing weapons.

However, Battletech changed, so that now the death dealing weapons are the long range ones rather than short range ones, and thus we have the game we play now, where Gauss Rifles, ERPPCs, Large Lasers, and LRM-20s do all the work, and weapons like AC/20s and SRMs are reserved for one-trick pony flanking attacks on fast mechs, defensive duty against such attacks, or desperate charges against foes camping outside your hangar to try and push them back or draw fire long enough for your allies to pick off the enemy's heavy hitters.

[MerfMerf]

There have been league matches that see good use of assaults. Not sure if any of those matches are on the tube though =/
Have to look through it and see if I can find links. No time now.

But as Eldragon mentioned the deathmatch gamemode is not kind to the assaults. The respawn aspect hurts them.

/Merf - We want vids! We want vids!