Playing the game as newbie

[Janne]

Well well well..... I thought that I'd share some of my thoughts with
you fellow mechwarriors from the newbie point of view.
That's what I think of me.... I'm a newbie.... but proud.... still learning the game
and trying to survive on the battlefield.
My gameplaying changes a lot... sometimes it goes better, sometimes not so good. But that's because
I don't have long history playing online games and most of the experience has come from
MW4: Mercenaries, when msn-zone was still up and running.
But now this mod came I started to play again.... and playing feels good, I luv the mod.... even if I get
blaimed as noob or boater.
I wonder that when I get called a boater.... I wonder why? Why there are such a weapons in battletech like erlrm, lrm, rac
and so on if you cannot use them in oder to get blamed as boater? Aren't I suppose to use them? Are they banned
because of some "un-written" online gaming rule?
As a newbie I wanna get familiar with different kind of weapons and if I have to use Partisan with 4 rac2's or with 2 lrm20's
I wanna use them to get to know how they work and I wanna get some c-bill and experience points so that I can buy
bigger mechs or vehicles.
And if i'm getting into duel with some other player with similiar mech/vehicle it is most likely that I will lose the duel,
because lack of experience online gaming. Getting few shots with lrms or racs i can get some c-bill and I can get a bit bigger mech
which will give me more time to survive on the battlefield.
I do acknowledge that best way to learn how to handle mech is to get into fight with other mechs, but those lessons
are still too short and very hard way to learn to drive mech and getting most of it's weapons.

As a player I still tend to stay bit futher away from the most hottest zones on the battlefield. I like to give support to
my other teammates and I don't mind if I don't get that many kills like the others.

And now that you all know that i am a newbie..... everyone is looking for me to get a easy kill 
Come right on...... someday you might be surprised 


Carry on mechwarriors!

[Rally]

Just a little advice, don't buy anything with LRMs at the start of the round. Because when I'm on the other team, I will kill you. Why is that? Well, LRMs and most other long range weapons don't work well against light mechs, typically fielded by me and others at the beginning of the round. Lights simply close the range too quickly for long range weapons to be really useful.

If you can't decide, try one of my early choices. I've found that the laser Uller or laser Puma work best early in the game. Then I always go for the LBX or UAC Shadowcat.

[Janne]

That should work when everybody starts at 20k c-bill. But sometimes when you enter the game.... there are big mechs and smaller ones already in the game especially when the fighting has all ready begun.

I've already started few games with non-lrm mech/vehicle .... and one aspect of this mod/game for me is that it is quite challenging.... but that's only good aspect.

But that speaks for the lrm's as newbie is that when lrm's get lock-on.... I get a hit... or some hit's.
But with laser/bullet weapons I have to lead my aim, because of the ping if I wanna get a hit and that's bit tricky.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

Look for servers with low pings - something below 80 should be good for everything to work smooth. If you live in North America or Europe - you should find plenty of servers with low pings

LRMs are very good ig you have high ping, but they won't make you better player, I'm afraid.

[Janne]

I play usually european servers with ping around 80 or below.
Few times I've played on north american servers, because no players were on european servers.

[(TLL)Siilk]

Hello, Janne and welcome to the ranks of MWLL beta testers fans!

 As I understan, by reading your op post, you are trying to learn more about the game and you are using LRM boats as a way amass some cbills for a better mech. I don't think it's a fundamentally dishonorable for a newbie, but if you consider yourself a trueborn, you should keep learning without fear of defeat. There's no shame in loosing to a stronger warrior, if you learn something in the process.    

 If you want to support your team and keep some good distance from the enemy, I suggest trying Harasser C(the one with Light Gauss).  LtGauss has a range of 1200m and packs quite a punch, so you can make some CBills while keeping away from the rumble. It also makes you to lead your target a little, so you'll get used to MWLL ballistic weapons in the process. You can also use it and harasser 2xMGs for AA duty, and to snipe BAs, attacking your teammates, so Harasser C is very valuable even if you join in the middle of the round. And, by the way, Harasser is cheap, so you'll have a great amount of cbills left to by some BA equipment, save for further use or donate to your team.

 Another good long range option is Uller A. It's more difficult to use, as it's Gauss rifle has less range and you're a much bigger target for the enemy team, but you still can stay at the rear and do some sniping.
 
 And there's Cougar B. When you have enough money for it(~30K cbills) you'll have a nimble jump-capable mech with 2 ER large lasers and a PPC. Cougar have great sniping capabilities and also very dangerous in close combat.

 Anyway, don't hesitate to ask your team for cbills, especially if you join late in the match. There's almost always someone with spare cbills out there.

 Regardless of what you'll choose, here are some advises for a fire support player:

• Always move. That doesn't necessary mean "run all the time", as sniper or LRM boat could(and dare I say should) stand still from time to time to have steadier aim. Just don't stay in one place for too long, as you can be tracked and picked by enemy long range attacker or a fast close combat unit.
  
• Always stay in passive(default "R") to make it harder for the enemy to spot you. Enable radar in short "pings" to spot the enemy or to target it with LRMs, then go passive again. But disregard that if you pilot an ECM-capable unit(such as Harasser C), as it already has all the benefits of passive radar with his ECM.
  
• Keep an eye on the surrounding. A surprise attack of CC unit could catch you with your pants down if you always on maximum zoom. Watch the radar, keep the position of closest friendly units in mind in case you need to retreat.
  

 Anyway, good luck and see you on the battlefield!

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

There's nothing wrong with fire support.  A few of the BT technologies that balance fire support aren't in the game but other than that the people whining about LRM boats are brawlers that get annoyed that they can't get close to do some damage because they're already red by the time they close the distance.  That's precisely what fire support is supposed to do.  I'm definitely one of the whiners on occasion but I ought to adapt and not try to cram a particular round into my personal comfort zone.  Clearcut is not a brawler friendly map in anyway shape or form.  Firesupport can see you coming for miles and aero have a free for all.  I enjoy Clearcut alot more when I just accept these facts and work on my AA or ERPPC skills.

[Mordegar]

At least the Capellan Confederation relies heavily on Arrow 4 and LRM Artillery tactics.
A team of 3, consisting of 2 shooters and 1 tagger/narcer can wreak havok inside the enemy frontline, but missile boating is a too common tactic and it's taking the fun out of the game.

I would either choose a Harasser C, or the double RAC 2 variant at the beginning, or a Partisan Prime if i see Sulla's and Hawk's in the air. (Nerfed too hard against Mechs)
The double RAC2 Harasser is a beast against light mechs and aircraft, you can take on a uller in a direct firefight if you lead your shots on his center torso or head before you overheat.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Well we definitely need countermeasures.  Here's hoping they make it into this week's patch and that this week's patch comes this week.

[(TLL)CapperDeluxe]

Don't worry about the noobs who complain about LRM boating, if they were smart they'd just load up a configuration that trumps LRMs and take the fight up close and personal inside the 300m effectiveness range or use aerospace that dodge LRMs like crazy.

I personally play a variety of roles throughout a single match, I'll be LRM support usually when I hit the 60K cred range, but once it get to the 80K its all Awesome followed by Sniping Mk2 for me.  I just like to mix it up based on what I feel like piloting and what I think will be the best counter to the enemy tactics for the map being played.  This is why I never complain about what vehicle any one person chooses to take, its all about what the team is doing as a whole since a single person by themselves is weak no matter who they are.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

I Say try the Raven B, why?  ELRMs!  While it doesn't have the hitting power of the partisan LRM carrier, it has much better range and the benefit of crouch!  Crouch? Why yes, by crouching  your mech with the left ctrl button your lock on time is decreased almost by half!  It also has 2 MGs to deal with pesky BAs that get too close and can be used for AA if VTOLs or Sullas get too near.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

  Crouch? Why yes, by crouching  your mech with the left ctrl button your lock on time is decreased almost by half! 

WHAT?!

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

... you didn't know?  This was posted up in the PRO TIPS a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time ago.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Call me a round cube then but I had no idea.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

Yeah, it's actually the opposite tactic to the jumping missile launcher, for the reduced lock on time the mech is immobile and typically preached somewhere that the enemy can see.