*sigh*

Had a really bad night--eighteen consecutive deaths in one game. That's with the Thor I was piloting(!), or attempting thereof. They'd turn around, *BLAM* ~ZAP~ %WHOOSH%, and I'd be damage critical, and be wrecked a moment later.

I was beginning to think my armor was tinfoil.... Does everyone have it like this when they start out??

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In the words of Marvin the Martian, "Oh, well, back to the old electronic brain!"

That's not terribly different from how I started out. A couple things to think about TG:

1) You're the new guy in a very veteran community. A lot of your opponents have been playing, practicing, experimenting and honing there skills and loadouts for literally years. There is a steep learning curve but if you stick to it you can climb it.

2) Were your loadouts counter to the best for the map/situation? We're you loaded with balistics on a cold map? Short range stuff on a sniper fest? Did you have specialty armor and was it the right type for the map?

3) The online game is much harder then single player, the biggest difference being that your situational awareness is more important. This is part of that learning curve, but it will come the more you play. In mission play, the computer is pretty straight forward, now you need to look for clues about what the people you're facing are thinking, if you take damage and don't know where from, check for hills that snipers could hide behind and listen for audible clues as well.


Just keep playing (and dieing) it will come and you'll notice that you die less, kill more and enjoy the game a lot more. Keep it up!


Sliv.

Well, as far as loadouts are concerned, I really need to do more experimenting...that Thor I mentioned? I tried to make sure that the legs and CT were protected, but when you're getting nailed with RACs...well, it ain't pretty.

Yeah, being the new guy is murderous, alright...all the weapon knock, etc. makes for an interesting experience in targeting! Also tried a team battle game, and was astounded at how I was getting nailed by missile hits from behind a distant hill, when I couldn't see them on zoom or radar! (they explained about ECM, by the way.)

Seeing messages from the server bot on the Freeman's Castle server telling me how much of a death streak I had going...or this classic, 'The enemy team loves you!'


On the lighter side, watching a bot named PAINGOD on Beartrap was funny!

See you folks on Ronin Saturday evening!

My monthly don't-want-to-be-delisted post:

Experimenting is good. Make sure the whole torso is protected because you can die if enough damage is applied to a critical RT or LT. You mention the weapon knock. Be stealthier: use terrain to keep you away from fire and missile locks. The shots from behind the hill can be achieved with a vulture. They don't carry ECM - I think - but you can get a missile lock, launch the missiles and then turn off the radar.

The messages from the server come from a nifty application called the Evilbot, developed by... Evilcow. I haven't played in Ronin in a few weeks but I think we don't run it in there *shrug*.


Good hunting.

Think you were having a bad night with 18 consecutive deaths?

oh, boy, its a shame i mist that one...

Hey, at least I outscored almost half the opposing team

Yeah....you think 18 deaths is bad...try dying *more than once a minute* for an entire 30 minutes . And not in a hazing either...It sucks, trust me.

LOL

That is rich...you will get better, expect 17 or 16 tongiht.

Yes they do.

EEK!

Say, how'd you get that nice screenshot?

Oh, that's easy. Just hit the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard at any point when playing Mercs. Mercs will dump the screenshot to a file called "screen0000.bmp", "screen0001.bmp" and so on in the Mercs directory. Just open that up in a paint package (even MSPaint) and save it as a JPEG for web use .

Don't worry Trashguy, I'm going through the same thing.

I get a LEAST 18 deaths everytime I play.

Maybe its because I do reckless things that don't get me too far...

I remember that the first time I EVER played online, it was on Defiance map.

So I'm running a Mad Cat with three ERLarge Pulse Lasers.

I see an emeny Longbow on the hills above. I was within firing range so naturally I started blazing away at it.

I did some damage, but I was foolish then and didn't hit the "F" button when I was overheating, so I stopped firing...bad idea on my part.

I suddenly hear the "BEEP BEEP!" of a missile lock on and I try to run away.

A couple of seconds later I get nailed in the back by 120 Clan LRMS and I die...instantly.

Same thing still happens now every once in a while, but its still fun.

Yeah, don't worry about it, it's a learning curve but it's not a all that bad one. I only started playing in November and I don't get owned as much as I used to anymore. I've managed to get it down to about one game in two now.

I can show you worse.........much worse.....

Yeah, I imagine AC has laid the smack down on a team in more than a few matches

Um...save as JPEG? I have MS Paint, but I can't seem to find that...

Ah well, a copy of Paint Shop Pro 7 is coming my way soon!

You can only save as .BMP in MSpaint, Unless I'm completely stupid. Which is alays a possibility.

Heeheehee...'with stupid'

Thank your for your support!


And, how were you nailing me with those missiles anywho? I could get behind cover, and the HUD would tell me there's someone close by, but I couldn't get a lock on them...yet, you and your teammates were knocking me down from another dimension, it seemed....

Well, when you were out in the open, I got a lock on you (which was made quicker because of my Loki's BAP), and the cover you took usually wasn't enough to stop my ATMs. Though I really think you should have put ECM on your Vulture so I wouldn't Have picked you up with my Bap so fast. Though honestly, if you don't really need the Vultures 360 torso, I would suggest using a Loki for Missile boating. Bap+ECM+Missiles=win!

Though if you were targeting me, you should have got a near instantaneous lock due to the BAP and ECM I mounted.

And missiles won't lock through terrain (something that took me a while to figure out after my MW3 days). And if your just learning to use the long range missiles, I suggest "sweeping" your reticule over your target. YOu won't get a lock nearly as fast as you would if you were to hold your reticule over your target, but atleast you WILL get a lock.


And those other maps, ere really annoying me. Especially Cantina's popfart fest, though I gave 'em hell in my 2 CUAC20 Loki! However, that map here I brought the Mgun Loki didn't work too well for me (though I did get some kills which I wasn't expecting to happen). I'ts just too bad I didn't get a chance to take my Rac5 Anni out.

To save as a jpg, open the file in MSPaint, then go to File, Save as. Pick "JPEG" from the "Save as type" dialog box. Enter a filename. Then...

me > < ngng

I was using a stock Vulture, sir...so, my ignorance got me smacked down but good. Variants I haven't tried too much as yet, because I'm trying to get the controls sorted out first. Learning to drive first, that's all.

It still looked like you were behind stuff when you launched, tho...and if i don't move into the open, how am I supposed to aim? (refer to previous ignorance comment)


Good shooting tho...every session I learn a bit more!

I'm still not seeing any JPEG saveing thingers. It's all bitmaps.

....

You shouldn't do that, it has very weak armor and a silly weapons array.

Having played with you last night, I can offer the following tips, some of which I also mentioned in-game.

1) Never stand still. It's bad enough to be out in the open running at full speed with a bunch of poptarts just itching to ruin your day, but if you stop to aim and shoot you will end up dead every time. Learn to aim with your torso twist and shoot while on the move. The only time you should ever be standing still is if you are behind cover.

2) You should also avoid running in a straight line directly toward your enemy. If you are going to try to get in close, approach with lateral/diagonal runs from cover to cover, don't just make a beeline at the enemy, from his perspective you are just getting bigger and becoming an easier target.

3) Learn the range of the weapons you have. On several occasions you fired at me and I watched your weapons stop before hitting me. Once I realized I was out of your range I was able to take my time and line up an easy kill shot.

4) Learn the maps. (This one takes time.) Some maps lend themselves better to brawling than sniping, and vice versa. Some are great for missileboating, some not. Hot maps call for fewer energy weapons, colder ones allow for more. Many veteran players pride themselves on not being bound by map conditions and can perform well with nearly anything on any map, but for less experienced players it is often helpful to know your terrain so you don't end up bringing the proverbial knife to the gunfight. If a map comes up with which you are unfamiliar, ask someone in the lobby if it is hot or cold, open or close, etc. Most times someone will clue you in.

All your advice is greatly appreciated, sir!

What you mentioned about weapons range? That knowledge will only come with experience, I'm afraid--funny, I could see opponents easily, but turns out I wasn't hitting them! (must pay more attention to my weapons group HUD....)

Only reason I used a stock machine was because of inexperience, that's all. I knew a Vulture was supposed to be a missile platform, so I thought I was doing well by staying out of a one on one fight. and providing fire support for the heavier hitters on my team. (again, shows you how much I know.)


Someday, tho...watch out!

One the best things you can do to get better at mechwarrior is to forget about what something does in battletech. One is based off the other, but that's about the only thing they have in common. Play around, you'll find different loadouts that no one in the right mind would consider for Battletech but that are not only fun, but useful in Mechwarrior.

Nope, all weapon ranges are listed in the Mechlab. Click the "Comstar" tab and you'll get weapon range, damage, heat and recycle time info.

Vulture is a great missile platform, but not stock. Add ECM, armor, and more missiles and you'll have a better go at it.

See? Getting experience and knowledge already!