Teamplay and You: How to Have A Better Experience

[KSerge83]

Good thread! While teamwork expectations are generally low on public servers, I've come to know a lot of familiar names while playing MWLL, and I can always count on them to contribute to the team, or back me up when I'm in a bad way. I do have a bad habit of "flying solo" but I'll often do so with the intention of reinforcing my teammates. You never can predict how effective one light/medium mech can be when he's in the right place at the right time.

[Gallonigher]

So i guess the affiliation tag is an unpopular idea, then?

[Uranium - 235]

We really almost need Tactical Gamer's support for this mod. People will drift in and out and get USED to the idea of Teamspeak.

I'm almost concerned that teamwork would make this game too easy Everyone shooting for the same leg would end every fight in a matter of seconds.

[nordwars]

People are learning. I just had the most cohesive teamplay match so far, with both teams obviously scheming together. It started just by a couple of us being mouthy (well... typey) and then eventually the others were battered into compliance due to the number of messages. A lot of people were learning too, and were suddenly comfortable asking questions, so now there are some better players because of it.

Also discovered that the shadowcat with masc rules. How are the IS teams gonna be able to compete if the mechs are ever split?

I have found that one particular server (Battletech - EU I think) often has good team play, so perhaps look there. Actually, don't, its a very busy server and I can hardly ever get a slot! Perhaps we should start using another one of the empty ones that have good ping. Suggestions?

So i guess the affiliation tag is an unpopular idea, then?

Definitely not! Just suggest a tag and I'll change my name. It is possibly a little redundant though as people who are willing to team play will just respond to team chats, the others will blissfully ignore you as they camp out the back with their arrow catapult.

[Gallonigher]

Also discovered that the shadowcat with masc rules. How are the IS teams gonna be able to compete if the mechs are ever split?

I guess it'll be somewhat like counter-strike, in that one team will always have an advantage to mix things up a bit, providing the objectives are fair on the IS team.  A straight-up team deathmatch like we have now could be difficult to swing.  If necessary, we can setup the servers to swap teams, playing each map twice in a single rotation so that everyone gets a taste of the action from both perspectives.  

I have found that one particular server (Battletech - EU I think) often has good team play, so perhaps look there. Actually, don't, its a very busy server and I can hardly ever get a slot! Perhaps we should start using another one of the empty ones that have good ping. Suggestions?

Try the SPARTA.legionsofsparta server.  It's a great alternative in this neck of the world (UK) and probably doesn't get the traffic it deserves, right now.

Definitely not! Just suggest a tag and I'll change my name. It is possibly a little redundant though as people who are willing to team play will just respond to team chats, the others will blissfully ignore you as they camp out the back with their arrow catapult.

 

Maybe redundant, more of a convenience.  When you start a new map for example, it will help people join the same team if they want to play together cooperatively, and leave the others to their lonewolf han solo fantasies.  It's also easier to seach through names when donating cash.  Or quickly identifying players in the field when linking up for a run etc.  Little things like that can help make a difference.  Team balance should always come first, obviously.  I'm hoping it will prove infectious, though.  The more the good word spreads, the stronger the community and the greater the incentive to keep playing.  Like it or not, we need those loners to fill the ranks on our servers and populate the battlefields, and they're more likely to return if they have a strong backbone of teamplayers they can depend on for their own detached misadventures!  

How about =TW= as a tag for 'teamwork'?  Assuming we're not stepping on any clan's toes, here?  

[GrnMonster]

One thing that would help me is figuring out how to scroll the chat back up so I can read stuff I missed.  Frustrating when you're tied up in a fight and see a bunch of teamchat scroll by and don't get a chance to read it.  Is there any way to scroll the chat messages back up?

[Mekabuser=12thVR=]

TW stood for Timberwolves, but they kinda imploded.I dont think anyone would object, but the first thing that would help is to not be NOMAD. There is only ONE NOMAD and he was a bad ass robot on star trek, looking for the creator.
You ll recognize who is who after a while and what their styles are.
~S~ ALL

cept leggers.

 uall suck . N Ill kill u .

[KSerge83]

Also discovered that the shadowcat with masc rules. How are the IS teams gonna be able to compete if the mechs are ever split?

Generally the IS vs Clan balance tends to come down to cost. Clan tech was always more expensive, so if there comes a point where there's a game mode with say, a team-shared c-bill stash, the IS would be able to field more mechs with the same amount of money.

Course, seeing as player counts will generally be balanced, that will likely translate into teams having to ration the c-bills into a few good mechs with some ground/air support, with the IS being able to field higher tonnage hardware for the same cost.

[KingLeerUK]

How to win friends and influence people: Share C-Bills

Anyone who has played with me on a server knows that everytime I respawn, I will build my vehicle of choice and then dump the remaining C-Bills on the "next" teammate that shows up in the respawn queue (I'm checking the queue with TAB).  This will typically get that player into the next class of 'Mechs if they so choose, and doesn't pose any detriment to my progress.  I will typically retain about 1000 C-Bills for ammo and possible repairs if I have a truly attrocious sortie.

The alternative is when I'm going out as a dedicated BA.  I'll kit out with several packs of C8, a mPPC and the AC2 and possibly an inferno grenade.  All of my remaining money goes to a willing teammate.  A lot of times I'll ask "who wants it" and the first responder is the winner.  At other times I'll coordinate the transfer so our top performer is getting my spare cash, which towards the end of mission has that player in non-stop Assaults of his choice even if he isn't SKN or KN.

The additional benefit of having dedicated BA players is that they can act as "banks" if their intention is made known and they play the role honestly.  Since they are always BA, they can easily transfer C-Bills as requests from other players are made without having to break their pace of battle to disembark from a vehicle to perform the transfer.  Many times I'll be running as a dedicated BA and have masses of cash dumped on me by other players knowing I'm playing the "BA Banker" role.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

How to win friends and influence people: Share C-Bills

This is a truism.  Since the patch I've gotten in another habit as well.  If I've had a good run and have a ton of Cbills but think I might meet my maker in short order I'll spend the time to hit the three keystrokes necessary to cashdump my cbills on whoever the lucky one is that ends up after rightcontrol + up + right arrow + enter.  How much firepower gets wasted when people go down in flames with their c-bill account?

[nordwars]

I ask for spare cash, and ask who wants some when I have spare, so much that I think people get annoyed...

But it's for their own good!

[(TLL)Siilk]

Since the patch I've gotten in another habit as well.  If I've had a good run and have a ton of Cbills but think I might meet my maker in short order I'll spend the time to hit the three keystrokes necessary to cashdump my cbills on whoever the lucky one is that ends up after rightcontrol + up + right arrow + enter.  How much firepower gets wasted when people go down in flames with their c-bill account?

That's why I think cbills transfer shouldn't work outside the hangar. There should be a reward for getting back in one piece, that is bringing your battle-earned cbills home safe; saving cbills in a way you mentioned is just too easy.

[AlfalphaCat]

Thanks Skunker.

I hope more casual players find their way in here and heed your advice. 

A whole new world of gameplay opens up when ppl start playing together with maximum cooperation.  I've been fortunate enough to play alongside some real champions of teamwork, and I'm always looking for their names when I join a server.  They make the experience a memorable one. 

Yes, typing stuff is inefficient and clumsy, but it's miles better than no communication whatsoever.

Maybe us pub gamers could form a sort of loose affiliation with a tag before our name that marks us out as willing teamplayers, so that we can more easily identified by standard.  That way, we can link up with like-minded players and coordinate a tactical solution from the go.

Some of you may be thinking "that's what clans are for".  No, this isn't a recruitment call, this is directed more at casual players who don't want the time, commitment and all the other bs that goes into clanplay.  No mics or mad skillz required, just a willingness to play cooperatively.  It's little more than a signpost, but I think it would be quite beneficial to the game in general.

My only concern is team-stacking, but the more players we get involved, the less of a problem this becomes.  Besides, we're all good sports and willing to 'spread the love' evenly between both teams, right? 

What do you think?

I think this is a great idea.

How bought TDH  for The DEAD Heathens,
Not in a clan, but we will work with others.
Burnt at the stake for our mercenary ways.

[TDH]AlfalphaCat out...

[Stahlseele]

Everybody for himself!
If you have money to spare, offer to team mates, if nobody wants it, all is good, simply have fun.
Tell your team where enemies are, let the gods of battle sort them out.

[Sumptin]

I tend to play on TLL servers, and hence I join the TLL teamspeak for teamwork. In fact, teamwork is the single most enjoyable part of any game, imo. Win or lose, a good showing is a good showing.

They never let me down

- Bogeyman