I've done a few rounds on Alpine with a slight tweaking of the brawler Flame spec (4x ML, 1x LB-10X, 1x SRM6, 300 XL engine for 81 KPH). This map seems to favor speed and range. While I'm not the slowest in the pack, I'm certainly not the fastest, and my longest range weapon is a spreadfire weapon. Now, we did end up in brawls, but I was running through Gauss fire and the brawl was half over by the time I got there. So I ask, does Alpine change things? Are brawler builds, especially the slow, high-alpha 270m builds (like SRM boats or SRM+ML boats) going to be going a little bit by the wayside now?
I think that once 12v12 is implemented and this map is used for that, we will see people finally using strong group tactics. Slow moving Brawlers will be great for defending base and/or assaulting a base due to pure firepower. However, I do feel that Skirmishers, Scouts, Snipers and even some LRM support will do better on this map. Assault will be fun, until some brat of a light 'mech decides he's going to sit on your base and disrupt the fighting :/ And I thinkg Conquest should be fun due to splitting into Lances and taking caps and having multiple fights rather than moving as a herd of 'mechs.
Slow moving brawlers have always had a problem with ravens and jenners and the like....Dose one map change the whole game though, no not really. It is a huge place and my atlas dose seem that much slower on it but....I can bring more firepower than the faster builds and though I may be late to a fight I can make a difference when I get there since armor will be stripped all over the place. This means that given the right team of fast movers it may be better for me to hold back and take a different route to the fight so that I come in at a flank and hit at least one person without them realizing what had happened. As for being circled by ravens...It really comes down to skill....I will not claim to be the top Atlas pilot in the world....not even close but I can make a raven go away as net code is improved and I can hit ravens with my AC20 now. 20 dmg is allot when you have that little armor. Back that up with a full body slathering of SRMs and most ravens run away .... for the others there is a good team with a friendly raven to finish discouraging them.
What I need to start looking at is what would be the most efficient way of getting some long range weaponry without hurting my short game. Would help if I didnt suck at brawling, I do more damage on my light than I do my heavy half the time.
Well, would you rather go Direct or Indirect with you long range? For Direct, try using LL, ERLL, PPC, ERPPC or almost any Autocannon (excluding the Lb 10-X and AC/20). The Energy based weapons can reach out at a max effective range between 450(LL) to 810(ERPPC), still dealing damage out to 900(LL) to 1620(ERPPC). Ballistic based weapons can reach out to a max effective range between 450(AC/10) to 720(AC/2), still dealing damage out to 1350(AC/10) to 2160(AC/2). If you want the most bang for each, I'd say PPC is a nice way to go for Energy, 10 pinpoint damage, and with good heat management can be a very effective weapon even on a lighter 'mech. As for Ballistic, I'd say go for an AC/10 or Gauss Rifle; the AC/10 has a good pop for it's range and the Gauss Rifle packs a nice punch at great range and virtually no heat at all.
Id say if you are consistently doing better in a light than a heavy then stick with that. On Alpine it is just going to be a matter of using the hills and obstacles to your advantage while you are moving up and getting within good range before you lose your weapons on things ....and having a way (or 5) to get away that provides cover if things get to hot for ya. It may take you a bit longer to get to the fight but .... if you take the time to get up into the optimal range for whatever weapons you mount instead of doing reduced damage at further out...you will get higher dmg numbers across the board for sure.
This won't be the only big map though. Desert, set to be released next month, is supposed to be even bigger than Alpine, making pure brawler builds even less appealing. I think that this will force players to use more range balanced builds. If you have a pure long range mech, you will be in trouble on some of the smaller maps like River City, but with a pure short range brawler you'll run into problems on Alpine and Desert. I hope that this will force a greater variety of builds in the game.
THIS ^ I really have to agree with this statement. Hopefully with the introduction of much larger maps and even larger team sizes, we'll start seeing a few less focused builds (often called Cheese builds) and instead see more efficient/balanced builds. Thus making teamplay that much better.
I read on alot of Forums that Medium 'Mechs are a waste of time because they are easy to focus fire on etc...I believe that large maps are going to allow Mediums to shine. It has always been the role of the Medium 'Mech to close with and distract the enemies Fire Support in order for your Assault 'Mechs to get within brawling range. Once people wrap their heads around this idea...Teams will be able to run the entire Gamut of weight classes. I love this map, Trebuchet's for the Win!! Myth.
I am an assualt pilot at heart and love my atlas in a very......inapropreate way....nevermind that....That being said another of my favorite mechs is my HBK-4SP (Hunchback) 2 SRM6 5 Med Lasers and the largest XL engine possible with speed tweak makes it a great skirmisher! Granted you will just take a wrong turn sometimes and be wholly obliterated but with a good team you can make a Medium work in most situations. Really no mech is "useless" and no weapon system is "un useable" given a team that plays to the strengths of it's members. In the end if you have that team then it dose not matter what map you are on....you will win or at least do good.
Coming back to this post after a while, I've found that sniper builds are more popular now, but it's not just on Alpine/Desert. However, I still have pretty good success in my brawlers even on those maps (and I am better at brawling now), so long as the group goes with me. What kills groups is when we're getting pinned down by ER PPCs and our group thinks the best idea is to wait for them to run out of ammo.
I've found, and I am not yet part of any "regular team", that if you work with an 8 man group and your 3/4 of a Company is outfitted with the right mix of sniper builds, brawlers and recon that you can accomplish a win. Even against 4 man Raven flocks or Sniper Extraordinaire or even Missile Hell. It's not a guaranteed recipe for success but communication and discipline and familiarity with your team can overcome cheese.
Hola, Alpine does change things, more time to setup for battles and pick your spots. Some "sweet" sniper positions on the hills (or LRMs). Using ECM with 3 Medium mechs in cover we have been able to isolate Assault Mechs and tear them up. So far it has been fun, but the Desert map is where it is at right now with some terrific battles taking place. Regards,
You have hit the nail on the head Michael; mixed unit Lances are the best possible option in all situations. Everyone has a specific role or roles to perform and everyone works through communication and discipline to achieve their goals. Every map in the game has it's own set of challenges and as long as a team can work together it doesn't really matter where the theatre is. Mythweaver
