Anti-LRM Tactic query (Group queue)

Was chatting on comms and someone mentioned they'd been running in a 12 man company that afternoon where almost every mech had narc or a single large launcher. They'd not lost a battle in the time as anyone that tried to confront them just melted and was unable to fire in the deluge if they tried to close. A lot of that was surprise as its not something you often see.

Presuming you met them in the group queue so don't have time to prep a counter composition - how would you counter it (incl. tactics for different maps if you want)?

 

As always, charge them TOGETHER and take them close range.
But this game is so full of cowards afraid of missiles that might just sit there and wait to be melted.

My opinion is this group is just farming on mixed teams and would not brag so much if they faced other 12 man groups.

 

Like running into any 12 man, you grab your ankles and hope to get to your next match as quickly as possible. Always seems a waste of my time and theirs.

As to actually answer the question, you really have to hope your team is paying attention and can dodge missiles quickly. If you survive the initial encounter by being careful, you should be able to regroup in a missile defensible position. Every map has them except for caustic and alpine.

 

And only Alpine seams absolutely unsolvable.
Caustic is small enough to charge through the caldera and force a brawl. If the missile oriented team is smart enough they would spread, but that's a double edge move since it would really leave them helpless when picked one by one, only hoping their missiles are hitting faster than the enemy is charging.

 

They were doing exactly that yes as it happens from comments made.

 

This sounds like way too much coordination for a PUG 12 man to pull off against an pre-made 12 man.

 

I would force them to come to me, fight them on my terms on the ground I picked. If it was Forest Colony? Make them come into the caves or areas where their launchers are neutered. If it was Tourmaline? Use the stalactites to block their rain. If it was the HPG? Go underground.

 

Except an LRM team as no reason at all to come at you and fall into such a clumsy trap.
First, by the time all the PUGs get the message one or two would probably be dead, forcing them to come outside because they're losing on points.
Second, the chance that a PUG disobey and charge alone, out of boredom, rage or whatever, is kind of high - much higher than on a premade anyway.

 

Problem is you will likely realize how heavy they are in LRM's after their first kill.

Best countertactics?

1. Assess the team, loadout and cooperation level. Will they play ball or be PUG tools? Use them appropriately.
2. Work the terrain, either hide or sneak up on them for close range CQB. Always preferred to get close to LRM boats.
3. ECM pop&snipe, ie - use your ECM and your long range direct fire to pop out and get a shot in before they can tag you out of the cloak.
4. Watch the skies, if you are the last man in the queue and longest away from the front you should look a cpl of times extra for that UAV. I killed six UAV's in one game last week and I believe the team got some more.
5. Eyes open for NARC symbols, react fast, keep high obstacles close. If they got players carrying NARC, they will have LRM boats.
6. Eyes open for lights that wants to work around your formation and not engage, lights that do a runby without engaging (UAV run) or lights that fires a odd bullet...
7. Draw fire and step into cover, it can make undisciplined players fire off all their ammo and then they are easy pickings.
8. Hiding and ambushing their spotters can work, it becomes easier to sneak up on the boats afterwards.
9. ...may update...

 

The problem with some the suggested solutions is that some people have missed a key fact: narc or single large launcher. This means their mechs have other weaponry. Charging what you believe to be a pure LRM boat will be your doom. Especially if they're prepared with a firing line.

Wait them out, and do your best to keep the pugs with you. It's a patience game.

 

As speculated by a few people their strategy did revolve around nailing one target quickly and then sitting back forcing the enemy to attack.

Its an interesting tactic just because if you've got a set of mixed lance opponents they'll not communicate that well with NARC warnings etc before someone is lost. It was also run during the 360m BAP period so ECM was redundant and with some good light pilots whose entire job was to NARCand stay alive. There were plenty of support weapons for people that got close after taking LRM damage and the launchers were spread so that if you attacked an edge of the formations others could launch on you for full damage. Highly organised and forced the other side to play their game. Coincidentally they were all from 4-5 different units so didn't look like a 12 man.

Its one reason I miss having a 12 man queue to reduce farming but realistically you could do the same with 9-10 as we found with the Lord/JadeFalcon/other tournie team yesterday we met 4 times (that wasn't the LRM team btw but was equally devestating).

 

It's a difficult task. There's no general tactic to counteract a strategy such as amssive LRM-Support, as it depends a lot on the terrain (map).
If you realize that the enemy is heavy on LRM'S you have two choices. (considering you are in an average joe team without really effective longrange snipers who can take out the enemy launchers.)

1) CHARGE! Overwhelm the enemy by closing in with brute strenght. They might have other weapons than the LRM's for close range as you said. But their closerange effectivity suffers due to the fact that they have a (heavy) launcher and NARC mounted, space and tonnage not used for other weaponry which could be used for a brawl. So technically, your team should have the upper hand at close range. It's very important you manage to close in under cover w/o getting to exposed to the enemy launchers too much, or you will be nothing but open crit when you get there.
And it's also crucial the charge is simultaneously... if only one, two Mechs crest a hill for the charge... well, guess you now the story.

Most competitive and succesful teams will teamrush you, that's something I learned. Beeing aggressive with a good priming team with short to midrange weaponry and moving at high speed (as fast as an assault can go) is way better than being a sitting duck and giving away the initiative.

2) Stay put and wait for them to discharge some LRM's hoping they run dry on ammo.

 

Not really.
First, the "large launcher" is mounted on their mechs at the cost of other weapons, and/or other convienient assets like speed or armor.
Second, if you engage them close range and break their formation they won't be able to use their full weaponry: either they keep the lock on target for LRMs, either they use direct fire.

That.

In my opinion the good move is to charge, staying behind cover as much as possible during the manoeuvre but first to charge fearlessly, focus fire during the charge to hopefully take one or two down (they will probably take one or two of ours as well), and once in close quarters keep them all busy by forcing a blob brawl, so that the fewer possible are able to stay non-engaged at distance and able to use their full weaponry.

 

Charging may sound like a good idea, but remember, aside from the difficulty in coordinating such a thing with your pug group the odds are that your team is also going to be carrying a large amount of lrms. With the current meta I have a hard time believing that fighting in brawler range would give any sort of load out advantage.

 

If you charge, and they're smart, then 11 of the 12 will still be out of LRM deadzone.

It seems like a very strong tactic.

 

I still stand by my old pipe dream going back to mw3 and how I run my teams in mechcommander. Every heavy - assault (and some mediums) that can fit it equip at least one LRM10. If you think about it 8 mechs with a lrm5 or lrm10 all firing while focusing people and enemy team is getting 'incoming missile' it's got to be effective.

Yea you sacrifice like 3-7 tons but this isn't an idea for a competitive team but something I'm dying to try in group queue with 10-12 people.

Bringing the mechcommander to MWO.