Hints and suggestions for new players

[Chaon]

Well after watching cohh's stream this morning, I thought we might start putting together a list of hints and suggestions for the new players.

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Kill the turret generator as fast as possible. That destroys all the turrets so you don't have to worry about them.

Jumping is your friend. Jumping around gives you good defensive bonuses but no firing malus. Watch your heat but try to jump as much as possible.

Called shots can be done to downed mechs or shut down mechs. You can focus your fire to try and hit a location that is damaged.

Killing a mech can be done in four ways. Destroy the head, knock the pilot out, core the centre torso, remove both legs.

Pilots only have so many injuries they can take. Knock them down or destroying side torsos will injure them. And if they are incapacitated, the mech is down too.

 

[Bubbasan]

Not all big and stompy robots are big and stompy in the same way. Check out their roles and play to their strengths.

 

[Fragilehardass]

I like this thread, but I think you'd best put a (SPOILER) thing in the thread heading

Kill the turret generator as fast as possible. That destroys all the turrets so you don't have to worry about them.

 

[Anaro Sunfire]

I made a basics video awhile ago during Beta.

While it doesn't cover everything and was for Beta I try to try to talk about some of the more important things.

 

[Col. Klink]

Don't get your Spider into a drawn out fight. It's for spotting and scouting, not for trading fire with laser turrets. Never ever just stand in place with it either.

Use the terrain to your advantage. Higher ground gives you an accuracy bonus, forests provide some damage reduction, boulders block lines of sight/fire.

Mechs cannot block incoming fire so you can't hide a damaged mech behind a pristine one. But they can block enemy movement through a constricted area (like a canyon road). So you can prevent them from meleeing someone by not letting them get close enough.

 

[The Blade of Light]

Mechs cannot block incoming fire so you can't hide a damaged mech behind a pristine one.

I remember Amano doing that in a multiplayer game though.

 

[Jade_Rook]

I remember Amano doing that in a multiplayer game though.

It is possible to block line of sight using another mech, but it is difficult and easy to move around the blocker (usually).

 

[Jadedfalcon]

- check out the terrain. Even though the map is greyed out, mouse over all the terrain to see where high ground, choke points, alternate avenues of approach are.

- Patience. Taking the long way around, doubling back to take a different approach, waiting for the enemy to approach your choke point, etc. may not be the most exciting tactics but they can save your mechs, mechwarriors, and win your battles. If memory serves, Mitch also did MechCommander 2 and there was almost always a "back door" approach in those missions too.

 

[Chaon]

Mechs do block shots but since moving a single hex sideways can allow shots it isn't that good to rely on it as a defensive tactic.

 

[The Blade of Light]

- Patience. Taking the long way around, doubling back to take a different approach, waiting for the enemy to approach your choke point, etc. may not be the most exciting tactics but they can save your mechs, mechwarriors, and win your battles. If memory serves, Mitch also did MechCommander 2 and there was almost always a "back door" approach in those missions too.

I think that this is the most realistic approach and the most thrilling one since it give you the feel that this battle is INDEED a life and death situation.

Imagine if you were really a pilot in such a warmachine. Would you really go "leeroy genkins" on each mission, or would you be looking for the best way to win and survive?
Obviously the second choice is the only reasonable one, else that pilot wouldn't survive more than a couple of missions.

 

[Tnarien]

Watch your side arcs. A unit that can flank yours can focus their damage significantly more effectively.

 

[shadojak]

Overheating is expensive, it causes internal damage that will cost you in C-Bill's and time. Avoid it if possible.

 

[Cyttorak001]

Overheating is expensive, it causes internal damage that will cost you in C-Bill's and time. Avoid it if possible.

This was a bad habit developed from playing a consequence-free skirmish beta. The campaign will include repair costs.

Never overheat unless the damage you're going to take from the target will outweigh the damage you'll take from overheating, and also you must be reasonably sure that you can kill the target by taking those extra shots that will make you overheat.

 

[Chaon]

Most battles are not time limited so if you are overheating, back off to cool down and consolidate your lance.

 

[Amechwarrior]

• RESERVE, just do it. Because no one else is, streamers haven't learned why it's important yet. You'll learn when not to reserve later.
• Lead with your ARMOR. Don't rush the poorly armored Spider in first and leave everyone else behind it. Take your best armored unit (usually your largest) and have it blaze the trail.
• BRACE more often. If you are about to move to line of sight with a lot of enemies, it might be better to take your armored unit forward and just Brace down to gain 50% damage reduction.
• SHARE ARMOR. Once that lead unit starts getting beat up, pull it back and put someone else on point. Spread the damage around, move fresh units forward as bait for the AI.