Scout Often overlooked as a battlefield role, the humble Scout, if properly deployed, can act as a great force multiplier, with it's usefulness far outweighing it's actual stature. Though relatively easy to define, the Scout role is perhaps not the easiest battlefield role to perform. A Missile Boat or Sniper stays well behind to front-lines, often in cover, utilising long range weaponry to provide support to front-line forces. A Brawler or Juggernaut is there, on the front-lines, directly engaging the enemy with heavy, mostly close range weaponry and ample armour protection. A Scout, however, operates close to enemy lines, often alone, without the benefit of heavy weapons or armour. A mostly non-offensive role, Scouts must rely on their speed, manoeuvrability to evade the enemy. The Scout role covers a variety of objectives, including reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, target spotting and diversionary tactics. A well-placed Scout can relay enemy positions back to the main force, allowing battlefield commanders to deploy the forces accordingly. Scout Mechs are often equipped with advanced electronics in order to better carry out their objectives. Perhaps the most useful of these is the Electronic Counter-Measures, or ECM Suite. This creates a 200 metre bubble of influence that interferes with electrical signals, effectively cloaking the user and any friendly forces located inside the bubble from enemy sensors. Cloaked units are only revealed to enemy sensors once the enemy has advanced to well inside the usual detection range. ECM also negates the effects of Artemis-equipped systems and NARC Beacons and doubles the time needed for the enemy to secure a missile lock on any target within the ECM Suites sphere of influence. An ECM equipped Scout is a ghost, able to manoeuvre undetected close to enemy forces. Next on the list and a good counter to enemy ECM, is the Beagle Active Probe. This can cancel out the effects of ECM set in Disrupt Mode out to a range of 150 metres. It also extends the Mechs sensor range, so enemy mechs can be detected long before the Mech is within range of their own sensors. NARC Beacons are a useful addition to a Scout Mech's arsenal and although they have a relatively low ammo count and require a Missile slot, are capable of providing a good homing signal for friendly missiles. A TAG module, on the other hand, requires no ammo at all and only takes up the same space and weight as a Medium Laser. TAG also has a considerably greater range than a NARC Beacon and being a Beam 'weapon' can be mounted onto virtually any Mech, allowing chassis not commonly associated with the Scout role to perform some of its duties. Though strictly not advanced electronics, Jump Jets are non-the-less very useful to a Scout Mech, as they greatly improve a Mechs manoeuvrability, further increasing the likelihood of evading enemy forces, as well as allowing the Mech to access strategic high-points on the battlefield, from which a better overall field-of-view can be established. Scout BattleMechs With speed a vital factor in the effectiveness of a Scout Mech, the role is predominantly carried out by Light Mechs, though certain Medium Mechs also perform well in the role. Of the four Light Mechs available in MWO, the Commando, Raven and Spider have variants capable of mounting an ECM Suite, while the Jenner, Spider and on one variant the Raven can carry Jump Jets, with the Spider 5D coming out on top in the manoeuvrability stakes, capable of mounting a total of 12 Jump Jets. The Jenner and Raven, being 35 tons a piece, can mount the heaviest weapon loads. At the lower end of the Medium Mech spectrum, we have the 40 ton Cicada. Only the 3M variant has an ECM hard-point, but as all Cicada chassis can mount up to a 340 rated engine, they are ideally suited to the Scout role. Other fast Medium Mechs that could perhaps be used as Scouts are the Centurion CN9-D and the Trebuchet TBT-3C, both of which can mount up to a 390 rated engine, though even using XL engine technology at that rating allows for precious little in the way of weaponry. That about all for the Scout role. Please feel free to contribute any experience you may have had operating as a Scout in game, as well as any thoughts on this series of threads so far. Happy hunting! The Watchman
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=38&l=9261e10a4453563e447659d9558d632f45a73a28 Cicada CDA-2B - Scout Sniper.
The most efficient scouts will always be ECM capable and have max speed of at least 140 (151 preferred). Spider 5D, Raven 3L, Commando 2D or Cicada 3M. However, the Cicada's size makes it more noticeable and less stealthy.
This. ECM is a must to be able to scout and not be seen by people who arent specifically looking for lights across the map.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=52&l=f911ac9d0685ae8022bed60ac2b5373ed02981c9 I had a mess around with the Spider 5D. It's got max. speed, max. Jump Jets and ECM. Only the two MLas as offensive weaponry, but it's got TAG to help out the heavy metal rain brigade.
IMO, this is one of the best scouts you can buy. http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=33&l=36fea5c47098fd70991bc202aab36ea9e899c74d You can equip narc/tag if you want, or, BAP+Sensor Range Module are great for holding LRM lock.
In my hands, best scout ever http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=52&l=1c27dbe35fc0c096286f33e3805b271bafd8cacf
Will come back with more input. Memory note to myself NARC and artemis Knowing how to give info on chat or otherwise send knowledge Map coordinates and common usage How, when and what to TAG TAG toggle macro
NARC is overrated right now. ECM is good yes, so did JJ. Being able to steal base helps also! Here is a non ECM scout, if you ask me the best non-combat scout will definitely be a spider. http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=51&l=8ac805faee37811a4a46052b53b8cc8287a0ceb1
