Help! Use of Light mechs and C3

[TheSneak]

Hi everyone

I am pretty new here, been playing for about 2 weeks now and am absolutely LOVING the game. Huge respect to the dev team and the community! This is comfortably among the best games I have played in 2011, right up there with (much) bigger names and brands like Starcraft 2, ME2, Heroes of M&M VI.

I wanted to get some 'pro' advice on a couple of points though: I am a light mech pilot at heart, and most of my experience so far has been spent trying to improve my effectiveness in lights. I like to take a C3 unit and MASC where possible. Ive been wondering though, is a C3 on the field *really* that valuable? I understand its mechanics and everything, but I just wonder if the hit I take in armament is worth it for the C3. I (like to) think I am a decent scout because I do actually make use of the thing, I always deploy forward of the group when possible, I flank and patrol on TC maps, and I generally make a reasonable whack of cash just from C3'ing on top of damage dealt, bases cap'd etc (not saying that the income is a perfect measure of C3 effectiveness, but...). Even so, do you peeps in the heavies, assaults and damage-dealing mediums make much use of the extra radar info? I guess I am just looking for people's experience receiving the radar boost and whether or not it is useful to someone in a more combat-focussed mech.

Secondly, scout mechs!! woo! By far my favourite is the Raven C - a really flexible variant that I love and a fantastic scout. Got my first kill in one of these, too *wipes tear*. The Raven E is usually my starter, and I also like the cougar B. What mechs do you favour for the scouting, support, harrassing and chasing-down-burning-enemies roles?

Cheers
The Sneak

[sleepysheep]

Scouting helps in TC alot, and if you have a longtom on your team, he will forever be in your debt If you can find a nifty fast mech with narcs that you enjoy using, your find your team will love you even more

[Dragonlord]

More often than not, I prefer to bring in a mech with LRMs.
Its my preferred type, but I play other types as well when/if the situation calls for it.
In these cases, as sleepy said, I would love it if someone can bring in and effectively use NARCs.
Its difficult in most cases to actually get a lock on an enemy with LRMs without taking a beating yourself, as you need to have Line Of Sight (LOS) to get a lock.

If someone then hits an enemy with a NARC, I can sit relatively safe behind a hill and lob missiles at said enemy.
This can, if executed properly, be detrimental to the enemy teams effectiveness, and in some cases can even turn the tide.

C3 is great too, it makes it easier to plan my moves and what to attack when I have the location of at least some of the opposing team.

To sum up, yes I find someone with C3 and/or NARCs to be my best friend in a fight, provided of course that they are on my team.
If on th other team, they are just a nuisance and I will consider them a priority target. 

[=KoS= Eldragon]

In the early game taking C3 isn't that important because of the massive swarm of Owens Cs on the field.

By mid-late game it helps the team a great deal, and a great way to get points.

I'm a Medium/Fast Heavy pilot myself, and I really appreciate it when someone is using C3, as I like to play with my radar active at all times.

Its also worth pointing out that a Mech with C3 and BHP detects far more targets than C3 alone. It not only detects that pesky BA or passive aero, but shares that data with teammates who only have BAP or standard radar. It can really be invaluable.

[Terragent]

I almost always run C3 boats in mid/late game - usually the Raven E because of MRM goodness - occasionally Hellbringer prime if I have a wtfridiculous amount of spare cash and nobody on my team wants it.

C3 is good.

[Waffnuffly]

Whenever there ISN'T C3, I notice. So it's usually pretty important, and if no one has C3, it's usually because I'm on the losing team :T

The Raven Prime with basically every electronics package under the sun AND Narcs is an amazing scout/target marker, with MASC to boot. The Cougar B is also a good support mech with JJs, lasers and an ERPPC.

Oddly, though, I don't really like any of the heavies with C3. They seem far too fragile for their weight class compared to the speedy lights.

[-SM-SUCKER]

Most important thing: Tell your team you are actively using C3. I always do that, so others might feel to stay active a bit more.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

Like it's been said, C3 early game isn't that important, but mid to late it really helps spot enemies movements for your team.  It also helps if you're scouting late game and notice a flanking unit that's running passive, just shout out you have contact.

One of my best "small" features that was added relatively recently is that when you chat the grid location you're in is displayed by your name. example "SquareSphere[D3] : I iz the awesome :3" would indicate I'm in D3

What I love to do is go on patrol sweeps in TC_Death Valley.  Much of the time the bulk of our forces are pushing one or two other points on the map while we control another forward base.  It's always good to have a patroller to keep their eyes open for the pretty regular flanking force that tries to snatch your bases while your forces are away.

[Defender]

As others are saying, C3 is make or break mid-late game as many people don't have mechs equipped with C3 at that point.

You become an invaluable resource to your team, giving them the ability to plan and strategize from much farther away and focus on enemies that they may have not known about, as well as lending a much better eye to your support units that can pummel and lock well beyond their own radar range.   

[Frostiken]

As others are saying, C3 is make or break mid-late game as many people don't have mechs equipped with C3 at that point.

You become an invaluable resource to your team, giving them the ability to plan and strategize from much farther away and focus on enemies that they may have not known about, as well as lending a much better eye to your support units that can pummel and lock well beyond their own radar range.

Is there a score bonus modifier to reflect this? C3 doesn't exactly drown you in monies... would be nice if the score was given a healthy bonus based on the inverse of the # of C3 units on your team, plus the number and units you're detecting, as well as the quality of the radar ping (fewer points if it's just 'mech' with no weight correlation, more points if you've detected the weight, more if you've detected type, etc.).

Right now, IIRC it's only modified by number of units detected, quiaff?

[=KoS= Eldragon]

I believe the tonnage (or perhaps C-bill value) of the unit detected is also included. But I'm not sure.

Seems like when I'm the only C3 unit scouting the enemy late game I'm getting a lot more cbills than in the early game.

[ELH_Vivicector]

Hm. AFAIK, C3 score reflects any info exchange. From your radar, your team-mates radars, how much contacts and to how much people the info was translated... One of my favourite late-game starts is Heph C. Armoured as hell and provide BHP+C3+AECM. Very helpful thing. Remember doing 100k on it. Most of it by C3.

You don't really need more then 1-2 C3 units on the field, but that 1-2 are a big deal.

P.S. Are devs planning to give AECM carrier money for covering your friendlies?

[Virt]

Are devs planning to give AECM carrier money for covering your friendlies?

That's a great idea.

[=KoS= Tripod]

Like it's been said, C3 early game isn't that important, but mid to late it really helps spot enemies movements for your team.  It also helps if you're scouting late game and notice a flanking unit
One of my best "small" features that was added relatively recently is that when you chat the grid location you're in is displayed by your name. example "SquareSphere[D3] : I iz the awesome :3" would indicate I'm in D3

I've noticed that many people still don't know that

Nothing weirder than seeing someone yell "HELP!" and someone else say "you gotta tell me where you are first" when it just said where he was beside his name

[Defender]

Are devs planning to give AECM carrier money for covering your friendlies?

That's a great idea.

I have brought this up, yes.
It's in the list of stuffs to do.