[FEEDBACK] New Raven Hero Mech

Because I am drawing a parallel between Premium time and the Cbill bonus of a 3L Hero version not the "quality of a mech" but putting forth the 3L as a hero candidate specifically. People have said "Nooooo, if you make the 3L a hero then the standard 3L will be obsolete and people will cry Pay2Win due to the cbill bonus" (paraphrasing there).

But..... What they aren't taking in to account...

Premium Time gives a cbill bonus too... is that Pay to Win? Should PGI stop selling premium time because all things being equal (ie: two people using the same non-hero mech chassis) the premium player mech will make money faster. So if those with premium time get a cbill bonus from their premium time why not allow those who haven't purchased any more premium time to purchase a hero mech that is at par with what non-spending people can already use?

EDIT: That was only one of the suggestions I have put forth. The post above yours details another hero mech that isn't the 3L and isn't the turd that we have now but a cross between them.

 

Stack them. BOOM! Epic In-Game currency.

Granted, I've had plenty of $300k Ilya matches w/ PT, but, there is a BIG difference between PT and Heroes.

PT is a separate paid daily function. A 3L Hero w/ PT would easily net $250k per match if you left your team to die and just played the outskirts sniper role. 700-1000 damage w/ 2-3 kills, Hero bonus plus PT? BOOOOOOOM farmage!

I would love to see it, but, also agree that it's a combine, read, (Farm Machine!)

 

Yeah, but farm what? Cbills that you can't give away or use for anything other than buying more mechs to grind or equipment which you could do anyways? It doesn't give you any actual game advantage as it is exactly the same as the 3L. I don't run premium time any more and I don't always run hero mechs. I don't scream at you when you are running your Ilya with Premium time and making 300k matches!

I can see that some of you have differences of opinions and hey, that is cool. You are entitled to them even if you are all wrong

The fact is that the Raven Hero that we have now is a piece of crap compared to the production variant. I would LOVE to own one and hell maybe even toss PGI a few bucks to grab one but I simply can't justify the expense for what you receive in return.

Not even to complete the set of Ravens which are in my hanger.

You know me Chat, Ravens are my specialty and I can tell you right now that I would not purchase this mech, not even for 30% off. I am sure many players, who are better than I am in this chassis, won't even look ONCE at it let alone twice.

 

I cannot disagree with one damn thing you said.

However, I KNOW the MWO Forum would blow the "eff" up if a STANDARD variant RVN-3L had Hero C-Bill bonus added.

Players like myself who are currently under $50,000,000 C-Bills in the bank, who cannot easily buy three variants of an Assault Mech and easily Master them without draining all of our in-game currency could easily feel jilted if there was a Hero mech that could net $300k-$400K C-Bills for a decent match. The best Heroes now can not easily do that as they are not ECM dual ERLL snipers with max speed.

There is no bonus in a fight, however, the pilot can then go on to farm C-Bills and build Assaults at a rate that I cannot compare to.

Personally, I have wasted WAAAAAY too much Real World cash on MWO and will more than likely continue doing so as I see new "awesome" heroes and sales. However, if I wasn't as committed, I can easily see the general audience's complaints with a 3L Hero. Know what I'm sayin'?

 

I hear ya.

If I wanted to farm Cbills the easy way I would climb in my Founders Catapult, load her up with Dual 20s + Artemis and rain some muthafuckin love down on the enemy while kill stealing from my team. I would sit back and collect the cbills easy peasy with every little risk or effort.

It isn't like they have eliminated farming by preventing a 3L Hero variant (or even the variant I suggested a few above).

P.S - Buying 3 Stalker variants and equipping them, grinding them, stripping them and selling them left me with less than 6 million cbills so it wasn't like I had a major abundance of cbills laying around LOL

 

Game would be very boring if we all had the same view/fits etc.

Horrifying thing about this mech is that for the first time I've not heard a single good word spoken about it here or in unit.

Usually we're a diverse enough chapel that someone will like something.

Michael - why a LRM boat for farming out of interest? Just the ability to tag/lrm for free spotting bonuses and 25% founder bonus?

 

Because if you were good with LRM boats before, it's ridiculously easy currently to get assists and blow components?

IMHO, LRM boats currently have the highest money farm vs effort ability. Sure, a BJ-1X with nine MLAS can dissect foes and earn a lot but with far greater expenditure of effort.

 

You know what, Ilya is about the only Hero mech that is better than what the standard variants have to offer.
Yes, things like FB is good but there are other normal mech that is just as good in the chassis.
That having saide, we also have hordes of inferior Hero mech stacked up, Look at the Dragons! Even YLW would require some upgrades.

I would suggest PGI do a slight buff to some old or weaker Hero mech later on, maybe giv the an upgrade in perks when the chassis is revisited. In some cases an extra hardpoint would be nice, such as YLW.

 

That is brazen lies! Everyone knows that the Pretty Baby is the best AWS in the game!

*cough*

PGI really needs to do a pass on all the 'Mechs and variants, not just Heros though. Take the STK-4N for example, what does it do that any other STK doesn't do better? Anyone? Bueller? Give it an extra Module slot and the 3S's 85 degree twist range. Will it help? Maybe, maybe not. But gorram, give it a *reason* to exist. And that's just one 'mech.

 

I understand sometimes if a mech have more than 3 variants then some are there for completeness's sake, but giving them some perks would not hurt.

As for PB, well, it is more like many of the other AWS are so bad, making AWS actually a functional big Heavy relatively (other than 9M). The current LRM buff kinda help with the missile AWS though.

 

Try not to remind me that I still have 3 crappy Awesome's to level up. The three I did scarred me enough.

Luckily the PB is done.

 

PB was fun leveling so was 9M, just treat them as a heavy. If your third one have 3-4 missilehardpoints you should be ok too with the LRM going around. The Energy version sucks now, used to be ok when you can have a pile of PPC.

Something I cook up quickly, was using one with XL though, at the cost of AMS. Did a spin with it during the LRM creep, not disappointed. The 2x LLas got some kills also, for those unsuspecting lights.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=31&l=5785974dd6eb723a52a6f2e60225e466e4661261

 

I hate using LRM's though.

Just couldn't find anything it did well. That said I did buy the mech at 50% off so it was obviously a defective knock off copy.

 

OH, HERE IS MY Raven Hero Report.

Well, what can I say, it is different. The paint job is nice, you totally get the Feel of Odin's Birdy, you even get one eye blinded! Yes I know it should be Odin not the birds that require an iPatch, but it is still cool.

The Chassis is all good, with XL300 max speed faster than all other Ravens, and 2 JJ is enough for moving through terrain.

The Hardpoints are not so nice however, 4B2M, and one AMS only as usual. The lack of energy hardpoint means you are totally reliant on ammo, which can be a problem. Comes with all the upgrades you would need, and chances are you should not remove them, ES, FF, and DHS.

4B:
These are mostly for MG. I would say go 4 or go home. MG are effective subweapon being able to strip down weakly or unarmed foes with east mid-lat game, however it requires short range, constant contact, constant firing, and constant use of ammo. IT is good when paired with damage dealing things like MLas. This Raven, however, does not have that choice. Most likely you are pairing them with SRM or Streaks. It is ok, really, just that you have to watch your ammo. You need to be careful when you have only 1 ton of MG ammo sicne it might run out, having 2 tons is better, although it would mean that you are bringing less SRM ammo then, would not be a problem if you streaks.

Technically speaking you can put other ballistic weapon on the hardpoint, but I have not tested such builds yet. Most of these builds would require only ONE ballistic slot, and hardly ever more than TWO, due to tonnage. That means you can do them on a 4X, and get some energy support instead.

2M (20):
Yes, this raven is currently the only light that has missile hardpoints that have more than 10 tubes. The builds would usually be SRM or Streaks, will get into LRM later. Due to the lagshield this mech suffers from the SRM innaccuracy problem.

For SRM it is easy to understand using 2x SRM4, 4x MG. Simple build that works well at attacking slower targets, against lights, however, this would be quite ineffective, since you have to close in with your MG while the other guy is jumping and speeding with MLas and also likely his own MG. As usualy, NEVER use +A on SRM4/SRM2 since the bonus is minimal. (tested)
Probably the standard build for this mech.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=fa90eedb906c992e1b22653c4fa5b0054402a016
Faster and more JJ
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=83660cb0f01f3f3b403fa7e7cebcf0a41f693270

Building with SRM6 is available with this mech, without +A this would require a more up-close attack, which is fine, but the damge would be more dispersed. This, however, makes it a bit more effective against the lights, but you may have to becareful with the ammo, or even remove an MG or two for an extra ton of SRM ammo,d epending on your playstyle. (tested)
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=a8145222052e0919532808904b75218331e5e38c

2x SRM6+A would require much tonnage and may require you to give up the MG. I have heard about people liking this, but have not tried this due to the +A. DO NOT mix SRM4/SRM6 when using +A since you would waste a ton and a slot on the SRM4+A which is a useless upgrade. (not tested)

STREAKS! This build would focus more on hunting lights to fast medium, with some damage on heavier units. Without Eneargy weapon and only 2 streaks, it would take a bit more time to get things going. (tested)
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=db7afa4fa9b7b52a6a1628941031e2341a45bbfb

Another build I have tried is SRM4/SRM6 mix, which seems to be a mix which shows potential. Requires more test. (tested, barely)
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=0bbdc133418cd6715590d59ed808a78e69427a34

LRM raven! Don't laugh, this is actually an option. This raven can carry LRM15 to LRM20 with few problems. LRM15 is more mobile and would allow constant hitting of target, using around 3 tons of ammo on the safe side. LRM20 can be carried either as 1x LRM20 or 2x LRM10, and would require slightly more ammo, potentially requiring engine less than 250 (I use XL225-235). I did not use +A but I do have BAP. I usuallyrun my LRM Raven without MG, better run away than trying to fight at a severe disadvantage. (tested)
LRM15+MG
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=d6c54bc7a41c9aacaf59f297de4f7c234a215803
LRM15, faster
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=509bb7ffe0f85abf330915e0fe4cc983ddbd813a
LRM20 (harder to run away from things due to slower speed)
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=148&l=d8abcb65386eebb17e9ad2c8ae91bdb8b87d6d65

NARC. I did not try this. Use other raven for this job like the 4X or 3L. Thsi raven cannot TAG and NARC would use up one of the missile hardpoints which is the main damage output of this mech. (not tested)

Any other builds for this thin? I think that is about it.

 

If you're going quad MG, I think you're going to want to bring 2 tons of ammo to keep them fed all round long, and build from there. Especially true if you need to fend off an enemy light who sees your splat and tickle combo and wants to fry your chicken. #AmmoSink.

 

If you are using 2x SRM6 it is ok for only 1 ton, if you control your fire better, your SRM6 spread would work on the lights. If you are using 2x SRM4 however, you have to be more focused on ammo control if you use only 1 ton of MG ammo. Basically you only fire them against lights, or targets with stripped/almost-stripped armor. SRM, however, is your main weapon and thus should not run out of ammo.

I suggest 2 tons MG ammo in many of my builds, but only after assuring there is enough SRM ammo.

If you want your actions to be even more focused on MG instead, Firestarter Ember is a better choice, or maybe a spider.