Interesting thing I've noticed about missiles...

Tube Limits Apply Per-Weapon, not Per-Component

For those who are not aware, missiles work by firing a large number of missiles at once, preferably all of them. So if you have an LRM20, the ideal is that it one fwooosh your missiles all fire at once. However, each component has a certain number of tubes, up to the maximum of which you can fire missiles at once. Most Stalkers have 10 tubes in the arms, meaning an LRM20 will take 2 salvos of 10. The Raven-3L has 1 tube in its right arm, so if for some reason you put an LRM20 in there, it would fire one missile at a time until all 20 were gone.

So what did I notice? Well, while piloting the Pretty Baby (4 tubes in the right arm) with 2xSRM6, I was expecting 3 salvos of 4. After all, it's 12 missiles and 4 tubes, 12/4=3, so 3 salvos. However, I always noticed two, and the second was smaller. It did not matter if I fired one SRM6 or both, they would go off in 2 salvos. To test it out, I dropped the SRM6s to SRM4s, and I found that all 8 missiles would go through the 4 tubes just fine.

I'm not sure if this is a bug or intended (although in some cases it makes extra tubes irrelevant, i.e. highlanders with 26 tubes in the side torso), but it does mean that on Mechs with 6 tubes on a component, you can stack a number of SRM6s and fire them all at once. It might seem minor, but it actually makes a difference on how I view certain chassis.

 

I've noticed that with the highlander I would put a LRM 20 and SSRM 2 in the side torso, it would visually show 20 tubs in the main torso with an addition on the side with 2 tubes for the SSRM 2.

However, after saving and clicking another 'mech or dropping, they flip. Suddenly the larger torso has 2 tubes for SSRM 2 and the side addition has 10 tubes, thus my LRM 20 drops in 2 salvos :/ It's rather frustrating. Basically, if I want to shoot one 20 missile salvo I have to drop my secondary missile system.

 

Taken to extremes with my LRM90 build, back when LRMs didn't suck.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=13&l=20ed9fac2d36c0b30364719b674eb6da13a8a7aa

 

Actually, because they suck, they don't suck. Probably 60% of my matches in my LRM boat people will just run out in the open, either apathetic towards the incoming missiles or completely forgetting how to use them. Another 30% they know how to deal with them, but will still open themselves up once the brawl starts. However, ammo is needed in greater quantities now.

 

I just started using an HBK-4J this week with 2x LRM10 + Artemis and 5x Med. Lasers. Even though LRM's have been nerfed pretty hard they are still quite effective. They cause the big boys to duck for cover and if not then they die. I am really looking forward to the LRM re-balancing coming up, the mayhem will be fantastic.

Myth.

 

I don't even duck for cover from LRMS any more, if I eat a few it doesn't even bother me. This mainly pertains to heavy's and assaults when I'm using them, because I know I have the armor to back it up. In Lights and mediums, I'm dodging everything trying to take as little damage as possible. Missiles do not concern me one bit in a heavier mech, and therein, in my view, lies the problem. It should concern me in those mechs.

I shouldn't be afraid of being insta-killed by an LRM20, but the current state of missiles are nothing more than glorified nerf darts, and really only concern people who don't know missiles are as such, or people who just don't want to take any damage.

I don't want LRMWO like back in the days when Artemis was first released, but I'd like a little more incentive to dodge those missiles.

 

I think the reason most people don't bother dodging is because usually LRMs now are done as part of a "balanced" build, where the person has maybe 1 LRM20 or 1-2 LRM10/15 to round out their build, or is boating LRM5s to save weight. My LRM60 Awesome will go through big mechs in a few salvos. They can take a hit or two, but if you stay out of cover for more than 20 seconds while I've got LRMs headed your way, you're going to be in trouble.

I do agree, though, that LRMs need to be a bit steadier. They should spread the damage out more, but also show you the real amount of damage they do. When I blind-fire over a hill at a non-tagged/narced target, I shouldn't expect the majority of my stuff to hit CT. When I have LOS and I can get tag+arty working, you should be in trouble.

Ironically, I've noticed that in Sniper Online, the worst map for LRMs is Alpine. This is because most of the long-range stuff happens at 1200-1600m, leaving my LRMs useless.

 

I have only played thirteen matches with the HBK-4J so far but I have managed to kill twenty nine enemy 'mechs with it. I would guess that at least 1/3 of those kills were Heavy and Assault 'mechs. Admittedly, prolly half of those were kill steals but the remainder were matches where I was scoring between four and six hundred damage. My guess is that people being overconfident about LRMs' lack of power may be the root of so many kills.


Myth.

Post Script: 5x Med. Lasers being fired into Crit CT's are prolly responsible for another third of those kills too. I still think LRM's work.

 

Myth, that's why I've been saying "they are good because they suck." I rarely died to LRMs back when they were "overpowered", because I used cover and always equipped AMS. That's why I was so shocked they were nerfed so hard.

 

I don't know. I still regularly use my Rainmaking Awesome with its LRM60s. Granted I boat them, but it's still very effective. I've taken down fairly fully armored heavy mechs that thought they could just run through an open spot of terrain to come kill me. LRM's take a lot more skill now, and are very hard to use as a supplement weapon as opposed to a primary weapon.

 

This is true. I wouldn't get LRMs unless they are going to be my primary.

 

I dunno if I'd agree that missiles take more skill to use as secondary weapons, or if they're harder to use that way... They simply require a different mentality now. A patient mentality. A team players mentality. A tactical mentality.

For example, while I was elite-ing my Catapult (because I'm in love with the K2) I ran my C1 with two LRM5's. obviously not main-stay weapons here, but I used them to herd my opponents. "INCOMING MISSILE" doesn't tell you how many are coming, after all, and sure enough - firing at a light pilot of choice or a medium support would change their decisions... Force them to corner... Dive for cover... Round a bend...

Right into the waiting arms of my twin PPC's.

So I truly believe it's all in how you think about the weapons, not just the numbers of them.

 

So LRM should be glorified nerf('d)* herders?


*seewhatididthere?

 

Aedon, when I'm thinking of primary/secondary weapons, I'm thinking about what is the bulk of your damage and what is backup. For example, in my stalker I have 2 ER LLs, 4 MLs, and 4 ASRM6s. The ML+ASRM combo is my primary, and the ER LLs are my secondary; they are used while closing in. (In comparison, the MLs are supplementary to the SRMs).

On another mech, however, like say an Atlas with close-range ballistics and energy weapons, LRMs are much harder to make fill that secondary role. With my lasers I can shoot and then focus on maneuvering in. With the LRMs I need to have the target locked on from firing until finishing. They also take a lot more weight (especially if you want to fire a respectable amount), and in order to fire a lot you need the ammo to back it up. Overall, they just don't pan out as a secondary weapon.

 

LRMs need a damage buff but I don't see them needing a buff back up to where they where. The single LRM20 on my highlander 33p is still very useful ...It puts damage on target and keeps heads behind rocks until I can close to my optimal combat range and start really bringing the pain.

 

skribs, I believe that lrms are a fine weapon to balance out a build. They can help deal the damage while conserving some of your heat as opposed to some energy weapons. Just one lrm 15 does 10.5 damage. While not all of that damage is CT damage true, it is still a good amount. If people don't want to get out of the way then I will gladly smile while I wear away at them while i get into position to bring my primary weapons to bear. While the lrms take less heat than either ppc or even large laser i can still pepper them while I'm running hot and still deal damage while waiting to cool and keep their torso rocking while I get to cover.

It all depends on play style, I have done great with massing lrms and using them as secondary. Honestly I prefer secondary to make myself more of a balanced build to handle anything I see. Now keep in mind I do alot of PUGing because I lance with my brother who is out of town during the week and only home on the weekend so I stayed prepared because while I may stick with the group and try to focus fire when I can for the best result. The team I drop with may not have that mindset.
-sh4m3

 

For the missile boaters out there, is it generally better to fire off all your launchers at once or chain fire them? Or would it be a situational thing?

 

All at once. With LRMs and SSRMs, chain-fire is a way to make AMS eat more of your missiles. Fire all of them at once and AMS will get through a smaller percentage.

With SRMs, you want the ability to fire them and then twist away. If you fire them one at a time, you require more time-on-target.

In fact, unless you're riding high heat, alpha striking is pretty much always better than chain fire for defensive maneuvers, no matter the weapon.