So I got to wondering about my skill level, ELO, and all that crap. Then I remembered I had an account I had started with, but never used back in the closed beta days. So I figured what the hell, it's a clean slate as it got wiped so why not try the current MWO as a new player. Granted I have my knowledge, and general driving chops, but I'd have to start with a trial, or champion mech, as they are now. So I fired it up and jumped into the trial Highlander. It took me all of one match to realize just how much of a cbill bonus you get with the cadet bonus. So I picked up a week of premium time. I just finished getting the basics on my first Highlander, the champion and current trial. I was able to get enough cbills to buy my own, but I still don't have DHS on it so I'm still driving the champion. The player group at this level is really interesting. You still have plenty of premade groups running along, and still see the cheese builds. You also seem some pretty green pilots. I mean, really really bad pilots. Problem is that you are as likely to have them on your team as opposed to the enemy. The trial Highlander is also rather hot with out it being elites. It's not terrible, but it's not how I'd run it. Still did pretty well. I'll throw a screen shot of my stats so far later tonight. My goal is to run this only solo, with out the super cheese builds. No modules. At least until my week of premium runs out. Then I'll decide if I want to keep it.
Alright here is the overall shot: And the mech shot. [img width=700 height=191]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa166/FuzzuBunny/MWO%20Screenshots/2014-01-3016_52_15-MWO_Profile_zps501aa5b8.jpg[/img] Seems pretty solid so far. Best thing I can tell a new player is pony up for some premium time. The boost to your Cbill gains after the cadet bonus is insane.
The champion highlander is a fantastic mech that is very well balanced. I only played it for a handful of games for fun like you did but it has the highest average damage of any of my mechs at just a tick over 500. The funny thing is though, most new pilots haven't gotten accustomed to MWO yet so whenever I see one in a drop I can ignore it in favour of more experienced and dangerous mechs or brawl with it toe to toe with reckless abandon. I can't remember ever getting burned for it either.
I've thought about doing an alt account just to work my Ravens and get a TRUE K/D W/L readout because when I was grinding (both Raven XP and CBills) I didn't care if I won or lost I just went and shot as much as I could to make as much as I could before I died.
This is where I'm at now.... I just finished getting my own Highlander 733C built. I haven't driven it yet, so all the stats to this point have been in a trial. Base stats: Mech stats: [img width=700 height=132]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa166/FuzzuBunny/MWO%20Screenshots/2014-01-3110_01_20-MWO_Profile_zpsa510d4cf.jpg[/img] Best game of the 20 in the Trial champion Highlander: [img width=700 height=530]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa166/FuzzuBunny/MWO%20Screenshots/2014-01-3109_16_27-MechWarriorOnline_zpsb9137ec3.jpg[/img] This is the mech I'll be running for the rest of the test: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=72&l=827b48870627e8c1a33d3030657ecaa9370a9b05 I'll update again at the end of the cadet bonus, which I think is 25, and once again at the end of my one week of premium. The only other purchase I'll make is maybe a single color off of the Cbill color so I can get out of the ugly green.
Good tweaks. Am I mistaken or does artemis not affect streaks? I run all my mechs green. Armies use it for a reason Plus you can hide with the noobs and be ignored.
I figured since I was so close I'd just grind out the 25. So here is the post 25 pictures. Base stats: Mech stats: [img width=700 height=123]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa166/FuzzuBunny/MWO%20Screenshots/2014-01-3111_00_38-MWO_Profile_zps308cc45d.jpg[/img] And saved XP after basics: [img width=700 height=334]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa166/FuzzuBunny/MWO%20Screenshots/2014-01-3111_00_21-MechWarriorOnline_zpsce9c6a64.jpg[/img] So in short the things I learned so far: 1) When recruiting a new player INSIST they pony up for at least enough premium time to get them through their cadet bonus. The extra %50 or whatever on top of the cadet bonus is just plain disgusting. I managed to get all of my 25 games in 2 1/2 hours, so you could even do it in just a single day of premium time. 2) New players, or players in the low tiers, lack the higher end skills needed to thrive. Damage spreading, aiming for specific components, heat management, and threat assessment. I tried to stay silent as much as possible, but some games I couldn't help myself. Even with the most basic of typed in directions you can easily lead the low ranks to victory. 3) Team work is OP, not builds. If you want to get your ELO up, and really do well in drops. You must communicate with your team and work as a team. It doesn't matter how good you are, if your TEAM sucks you'll most likely lose. Constant losses keep you in the low ELO bracket, which gives you bad teammates, which causes losses. You want to raise your ELO, get on a TS server, or learn to type fast. 4) Champion, Trial, mechs aren't terrible, and aren't really an excuse for sucking. If you only do well in one style of fighting you better stay in that type of mech, or face the facts that it is you who sucks outside of your bubble, not the outside of your bubble making you suck. Anyhow I'll throw up one more update in just under a week.
