Hints for playing Battletech!

[Chaon]

Well since we have a while to go to play, how about we start thinking up some hints for new players?

Looking at the sample mission with the Miners, my first little hint is if you have a target with turrets defending it, look for the power/control building and take that out as fast as possible. That will destroy all the connected turrets and they are no longer a problem.

What hints can you think of?

 

[Packrat]

Don't leave your scout exposed. Yes, it's hard to hit, but if there's nothing else to shoot at, they'll get it sooner or later. A mech operating without support is a goner.

 

[Bubbasan]

Never split the party.

Make plan and stick to it.

Cover is your friend.

Don’t forget to brace.

 

[HurricaneSG]

Use the Terrain (Color coded Dots) to your Advantage, avoid bad Terrain (heat/stability maluses).
Check to hit numbers bevor confirming a move.
Watch your Heat and Stability! Meele when hot and in Range. Brace otherwise or to bleed instability.
When in Doubt: Mouseover - READ!

 

[_Firefly]

Plan your next move at least one turn in advance.

 

[Samskara]

Melee can be more powerful than all your weapons
Death From Above (DFA) is fun but does cause leg damage to the attacking mech so yes you can kill yourself if you're already damaged in both legs
Turn weapons off to conserve ammo/heat when the percentage is poor
Reserving your mechs till later can be a viable strategy

 

[Amechwarrior]

• Reserve down as long as possible
• Keep your high Evasion/Brace as long as possible
• Always face your units like 4 King Crabs are going to shoot you
• Don't be afraid to Brace/Sprint
• Keep just outside the edges of their LoS if possible
• Play at the edges of your short range bracket
• Bulwark in water
• Save your big gun 'Mech for flat-footed targets, let the others strip Evasion

 

[Leith Maclaine]

The run away option is there for a reason.

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

The run away option is there for a reason.

As "The Gambler" always says..."Know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to walk away, know when to run..."

 

[William Pryde]

Great advice here. Some more:

• Try to focus your fire on a single side of opposing 'Mechs - this leads to faster incapacitation and kills.
• Learn what weaknesses 'Mechs have (for example, you can effectively neutralize a stock Hunchback HBK-4G by taking out either the left or the right torso).
• Generally speaking, if you have rendered an opponent combat ineffective at range and they are still at range, focus on other higher-damage targets. This can still apply when the opponent gets into melee range, depending on their damage. Please note there are excetions to this.
• Do not be afraid to take lower-percentage shots if you have the heat and ammo to spare. A 45% chance to hit still means that you will hit with roughly half your shots.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

Using the edges of your Firing Arc (imo, BATTLETECH for Twisting Torso) helps you present "Shield" Arms toward the Enemy, potentially absorbing damage while limiting the risk to locations holding weapons and ammunition.

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

If you are running a bit hot (taking internal damage or close to shut down), here are some tips...

• Make sure any actions you take won't add heat past the shut down threshold. Nothing is worse than shutting down.
• If your mech is suffering severe internal damage, make sure to stay out of the overheat warning range. Even if you won't shut down, taking internal damage with severely weakened internals may cause the loss of limbs (and attached equipment and weapons). It may even destroy the mech.
• Turn off weapons that generate a lot of heat, or have less than ideal hit percentages (EX: Don't fire LRMs at short range).
  
• If water is near by, consider using it to better cool the mech (as long as it doesn't leave you too exposed to enemy fire).
• Remember that Jumping generates heat. Make sure the jump maneuver won't overheat the mech and shut it down upon landing.
• If opportunity presents itself, initiate a melee attack on your opponent (melee doesn't generate heat (as long as it isn't a DFA using Jump Jets)).
• If all else fails, take cover from enemy fire and "Brace". Bracing (and not firing) allows the mech to cool (plus reduces incoming damage).

 

[Jade_Rook]

• Mind your heat. Sometimes it isn't worth taking a poor shot against a well entrenched target if it will build heat, especially if you expect a better shot on the next round. You don't have to alpha strike (firing all your weapons) every time.
• On the other hand, if you have spare heat, go ahead and take shots with energy weapons, even if you have low hit chances and the enemy is braced. Holding back an AC/10 or 20 to avoid recoil on your next shot can be a good idea. Saving ammo on that LRM may be necessary. The only cost on those lasers is heat, so go ahead and use them as long as you have the spare sinks.
• In general, concentrate fire and stay on target until they drop, but sometimes you should switch to a more exposed target. If what you are trying to kill pulls back and braces with high evasion, it may be better to start opening up a new target instead. Knowing when to switch targets is important, because a mech can have 1 point left in its center torso and still be dangerous.
• Know your mechs and weapons and use them where they are most effective. A Griffin (armed with a PPC and LRM 10) is a good sniper, but a poor brawler. A Hunchback (AC/20, 2 medium lasers) is a great brawler, but a terrible sniper.
• Recognize your opponent's mechs and load outs and strike them where they are weakest. Sometimes taking out a side torso or arm to remove weapons is more effective than going straight for a center torso kill.

 

[Landsknecht]

Sooooo...tell me about Bracing, y'all. Why is it so crucial? Any 102-105 level tips?

(What other things should a TT BTech -> Vidgame BTech player make sure to keep in mind?)

 

[Eximar]

You should never be in LOS unless you are firing with a numbers advantage, or a 1v1 significant firepower superiority.

 

[Bilbo999]

Sooooo...tell me about Bracing, y'all. Why is it so crucial? Any 102-105 level tips?

(What other things should a TT BTech -> Vidgame BTech player make sure to keep in mind?)

Bracing halves incoming damage, if I recall correctly.

 

[Landsknecht]

Bracing halves incoming damage, if I recall correctly.

Halves? Dang. That...is a very good incentive to brace, yes!

 

[Packrat]

Halves? Dang. That...is a very good incentive to brace, yes!

In addition to reducing damage, it also reduces the mech's instability.

Basically, if you're not doing anything else with the mech that turn, then brace.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

Halves? Dang. That...is a very good incentive to brace, yes!

I've had a fair share of multiplayer games during BATTLETECH's Backer Beta, it has been my experience that for Brace is invaluable in Medium Mechs and above. While Light Mechs are better off racking up just as much Evasion as they can.

 

[HBS_RedMenace]

We don't have a ton of MechWarrior abilities, but they do synergize well. For instance, Multi-Target and Breaching Shot (ignores damage reduction if only one weapon is fired at the target) work in tandem - so a pilot with those abilities in an Awesome that shoots 3 targets with 1 PPC each will do full damage regardless of their DR buffs.

Pay attention to the abilities of your pilots comparative to the machinery you put them in - it can make a *huge* difference.