EHHHHH LONG TOMS?

[(TLL) Zeh]

It has BAP, passive means nothing within 500m.  If anyone has C3, passive means nothing all over the place, I only take a LT out if there's C3 on the field.

[Alexander]

Get a plane then >_>

Only need to make one run, those F-bombs are nasty :V

[Redvan]

Get a plane then >_>

Only need to make one run, those F-bombs are nasty :V

and just hope there are no partisans around... because they'll chew up any aero in 2 seconds

[(TLL) Zeh]

Also, pilots tend to be cocky when bombing LTs.  I've seen at least one aero LT'd out of the air, I'm sure one could practice enough to make it a somewhat practical defense against bad pilots.  Not that I think this is a practical tactic or suggesting it has air defense.

Hopefully they'll just nerf the hell out of the damage of that thing, and it will be relegated to a support role rather than a "kill anything in one, maybe two shots" role.  It would still be fantastic if it turned an assault mech all yellow rather than red.  It could scatter formations, cause the enemy to react poorly, etc.. Just like artillery is supposed to do.

[Buzz_Litebeer]

This is because the enemy team quits the server, and when you have only 60 people playing the game total, making 11 of them quit in the space of a few minutes isnt fun.

 Hmm... While I have been through some LT spam matches, I never saw that happens. What server do you play on? BTW, 60 players limit? Is that possible at all to set this, not to mention bear the lag?

He might be exaggerating, but I've seen quite a few people drop as soon as Toms come into play.  Also, I'm pretty sure he meant that the player base on all servers tops out at ~60 at any given moment.

There are 60 on at anyone time.

Siilk, If you ever want and I have my two teammates with me (nate and Smalls) and you want to find out what frustration is like.

Just ask.

On marshes we will take 2 Long tom and a novacat (for cover, so that small mechs cant kill the LT)

OR on sandblasted we will take  a partisan, novacat and a long tom.

And we will make you quit just like every other time we have done it.

Having emptied out fed suns, and even the TLL NY NJ several times doing this, I feel confident we can do this with you as well.

But it gets boring with no one to play against.

Last night, no long toms were taken, was a great game its the reason I still enjoy this game.

[(TLL) Zeh]

Such is the crux of the problem.  There's no other combination of assets (any not including the LT), that Buzz could make that kind of threat with.  Skill varies a lot, and there are some REALLY good pilots out there, but I feel that even as a just above-average player, I could fill the role of the LT player in that combination and still trash anyone of any skill level to the point of making the game an exercise in frustration.  In a worst case scenario, will eventually break through your trio with concerted effort, only to appear again at the other base, doing the same thing, again very heard to break.  Or they'll do the same thing and only LTs and their spotters will roam the map.

[ratbuddy]

This is because the enemy team quits the server, and when you have only 60 people playing the game total, making 11 of them quit in the space of a few minutes isnt fun.

 Hmm... While I have been through some LT spam matches, I never saw that happens. What server do you play on? BTW, 60 players limit? Is that possible at all to set this, not to mention bear the lag?

He might be exaggerating, but I've seen quite a few people drop as soon as Toms come into play.  Also, I'm pretty sure he meant that the player base on all servers tops out at ~60 at any given moment.

There are 60 on at anyone time.

Siilk, If you ever want and I have my two teammates with me (nate and Smalls) and you want to find out what frustration is like.

Just ask.

On marshes we will take 2 Long tom and a novacat (for cover, so that small mechs cant kill the LT)

OR on sandblasted we will take  a partisan, novacat and a long tom.

And we will make you quit just like every other time we have done it.

Having emptied out fed suns, and even the TLL NY NJ several times doing this, I feel confident we can do this with you as well.

But it gets boring with no one to play against.

Last night, no long toms were taken, was a great game its the reason I still enjoy this game.

I'd be happy to school you and your little buddies. I like nothing better than to see an enemy team with multiple bad LTers who think they are hot stuff. They usually ragequit or go back to mechs within a few deaths. I actually did it to you on marshes about a week ago.

[Buzz_Litebeer]

I have only rage quit against long toms.  So enlighten me on that.

I have rage quit against long toms when I had 15 kills and only died once against one.

lol

[Haunted]

The counters to a LT are numerous.
Only problem is that the armor of the LT is a bit much (and i bet it will be reduced).
Further on the devs already stated that they know about the LT problems.

My guess is:
- a bit lower armor (as mentioned above)
- firring only while deployed (mentioned by a dev as a possibility.... but seriously if the armor is reduced i feel that mandatory deployment might not be necessary)

Lower armor would mean that a suicide aero attack would be sufficient to take out a LT (and a surgical strike with an escaping aero would be likely). Consider that with my other bet in mind: aeros will be a bit more buffed against AA weapons.

I managed to take out a LT on sandblast that was guarded by other mechs with a scat. Sure i did die. But i traded a lower value asset against a higher value one.

I think the LT thread is starting to get to the point of beating the dead horse. We all know that the LT has to be balanced a bit. And it will happen. And even in it's current state people adapted. And the game moves on.
So.. chill 

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

All in favor or renaming the "Long Tom" to "The Dead Horse" say Aye!

[KingLeerUK]

Here is what we are planning for the Long Tom:
 
Definite:
 - required deployment in order to fire
 - deployment will consist of animated struts/supports much in the same way as a crane does
 - deployment/undeploy will take a set period of time, but probably won't be more than 5 seconds
 - damage reduction on impacts, less direct damage, more emphasis on splash damage
 - increased range for firing sound
 - sound attachment to incoming shell (falling bomb)
 
Possible:
 - incoming artillery warning for players under the "drop zone" of the incoming LT shell
 - reduced horizontal arc of fire (turret turning angle), depends on playtesting outcomes
 
 
I can't speak to the relative armour values of the tank because balance is constantly in flux.
 
Please don't ask me when, because I can't say.  Also, depending on resources, some of these items may be implemented prior to others.

[Snowball]

Smack talking Buzz

Sorry, have to jump in here and ask if you've ever played Buzz?  I have, maybe only a few times, and every time he impressed me.  I'm willing to take what he says at face value because I know that he knows what he's talking about.

Awesome list of balance changes.

Sounds quite good, nothing really stands out as being problematic.  Can't wait to playtest the changes in the next patch.  Also, thanks for jumping in here with those details.

[MaverickOriginal]

blah blah blah

What he said. (AGAIN)

[ratbuddy]

Smack talking Buzz

Sorry, have to jump in here and ask if you've ever played Buzz?  I have, maybe only a few times, and every time he impressed me.  I'm willing to take what he says at face value because I know that he knows what he's talking about.

Yes, I've played him. My name in game is (TLL)Cuth, I made my forum account before I joined TLL.

[Snowball]

Howdy Cuth.  While I know you're quite the outstanding artist with the Long Tom, I still feel he has a valid point in that "LT is overpowered blah blah makes people quit", and I know first-hand that a well coordinated Long Tom group is a difficult nut to crack, having eaten several of your shells myself.  While I don't quite know how well Buzz's teammates play, I do know that he himself plays very skillfully, and I've personally never paid witness to him ragequitting.  Regardless, my inexperience shows, and I am embarrassed.

Again, glad at the balance changes the devs are planning to make, and can't wait to see them in action.

Also, random personal question here: Why ratbuddy, if you don't mind me asking?