VTOLs in v0.4.4

[Evgen]

Let's discuss here VTOLs balance issues, configurations and all changes in comparison with previous version.

Changes I noticed so far:
1. Survavibility.
It is noticeably decreased. I am not sure if kinetic weapons are dealing more damage beyond their normal range now (e.g. AC5 beyond range 800m) which may enchance this survavibility decrease feeling. What is known for sure and confirmed by devs that VTOL damage multipliers are now the same as ASF has.

2. Controls responsiveness
Faster acceleration, turn speed make me feel that VTOL became more agile then it was.

3. Possibility to bind X yaw (turning right n left) to mouse/joystick. Before it was on keyboard only.
It makes flight completely different and not only becouse of habit. For sure it is now much much easy to follow target but for the cost of maneuverability. I can beleive this is not the case for Joystick owners but for keyboard+mouse users having both X and Y yaws on mouse limits turning speed overall.

IMO, the keyboard+mouse users will stick to old variant of controls (or suffer in maneuverability)
while Joystick users will use new X yaw and will  have a big advantage when using direct hit VTOL configurations like (RAC, LBX, LtGauss etc).


new configurations:
2 MRM 10 with GECM, C3 and 2 free tons:
MRM semi-guidance is tricky thing. It is good for medium range shooting (if you use new controls to lead missiles) and bad in cases when you need to shoot and dodge in close combat.
Electronics are good but still GECM gives you stealth which especially effective with passive radar. So C3 is waste of tonnage in this configuration. 
I do not think that this variant will be popular becouse its survavibility is low to stay in close range and for medium range it needs NARC. In addition this variant almost useless versus air targets.

2 AC 5, TAG no free tons
AC5 has 800 range but very slow to hit something on such distance even with new controls. And low survavibility do not allow to come closer.
TAG on VTOL could be very effective tool. But you need new controls to keep it on target for long time. GECM could be very handy for this variant couse its armour is low as well.   

RAC variant is still all the way for me. But better control responce for the cost of survavibility is a bad trade if you ask me. I would be better prefer maximum speed or firepower increase instead.
It is still fun to sharking and dodge but is not rewardable anymore. 

[Toth]

There is no difference in manuverability if you get used to it, but a huge bonus to aiming. All the VTOL variants are now usable.

The kinetic multipliers were over tweaked due to an accident it seems. This may get a change in the near future.

[Come and See]

MRM C3 variant is an interesting mix and seems pretty solid for round starts.

Great for capping early points and spotting enemy movements.

[Stahlseele]

you'll still have nothing to do you damn landshark . . i'm too afraid to get into huey/parti prime due to crashes <.<

[Evgen]

MRM C3 variant is an interesting mix and seems pretty solid for round starts.

Great for capping early points and spotting enemy movements.

But why not RAC at start? It has more firepower (even if devs will fix MRM) more armour and the most important it can be used both as AA and AG firesupport. What RAC does not have is C3 but I fly passive 80% of time to boost survavibility. So what is the point in MRM when RAC is a way better?

There is no difference in manuverability if you get used to it, but a huge bonus to aiming.

Do you mean this new possibility to set X yaw on mouse/joystick or something has been done to make turns smoother?
As to me it looks like turns became faster or may be it is just smoother now due to my low FPS?

[Come and See]

MRM C3 variant is an interesting mix and seems pretty solid for round starts.

Great for capping early points and spotting enemy movements.

But why not RAC at start? It has more firepower (even if devs will fix MRM) more armour and the most important it can be used both as AA and AG firesupport. What RAC does not have is C3 but I fly passive 80% of time to boost survavibility. So what is the point in MRM when RAC is a way better?

With GECM you don't have to fly passive and the C3 acts is a good early game scout. Not saying it's the best of the best because it comes down to what YOU think is the best for your needs.

All we need now are more VTOLs.

[Evgen]

With GECM you don't have to fly passive

Why if GECM stacks with passive?

and the C3 acts is a good early game scout. Not saying it's the best of the best because it comes down to what YOU think is the best for your needs.

Best early scout is Owens with BHP, C3 and a good punch of lasers or SRMs so far. And you will switch to one when MRM VTOL will face RAC Vtol or any other AA.

[Come and See]

With GECM you don't have to fly passive

Why if GECM stacks with passive?

GECM doesn't stack with passive except for missile lock-on. It lowers your detection range to 500 (passive is 300) while in active radar.

Best early scout is Owens with BHP, C3 and a good punch of lasers or SRMs so far. And you will switch to one when MRM VTOL will face RAC Vtol or any other AA.

Owen's can't fly and cap points across the map.

[(TLL) Zeh]

GECM doesn't stack with passive except for missile lock-on. It lowers your detection range to 500 (passive is 300) while in active radar.

Since .4.4?  Because it always did before...

[Come and See]

GECM doesn't stack with passive except for missile lock-on. It lowers your detection range to 500 (passive is 300) while in active radar.

Since .4.4?  Because it always did before...

The Guardian Electronic CounterMeasure Suite, or GECM, is an advanced electronic warfare suite that can be used to reduce the range at which enemy units can detect you on Radar, and can be mounted on both Mechs and Vehicles. In MWLL, this effect is represented by a unit's radar signature being reduced by 500 meters. This does not stack on top of a unit's reduced signature when in Passive Radar mode.

From the wiki.

[Buzz_Litebeer]

Note: Come and See, even though the wiki may state that, in 4.3 it stacked, IE you could become nearly invisible (and barely able to be targeted) if you had GECM and ran passive.

[Seraph]

Note: Come and See, even though the wiki may state that, in 4.3 it stacked, IE you could become nearly invisible (and barely able to be targeted) if you had GECM and ran passive.

Nothing has changed on how GECM works since 0.3.

[(TLL)Frosted]

I have always been able to bind yaw since the action map is out I don't see what new control you mean

[=KoS= Tripod]

using left/right mouse to turn left and right instead of roll left and right

I can actually use VTOLs now!

[thedrunkennoob]

You should still be able to bind left and right to a and d, respectively, while having yaw bound to mouse.