Gameplay Preference

Well, i am sometimes so perplexed, because i simply don't know what is the better.

So many rounds, where my team went offensive gameplay and got sniped down or just lost base.

So many rounds, where my team stayed back at base and got steamrolled.

What's the better Gameplay in your opinion??

It's a simple question, but difficult to answer, right?

Blagg

 

Well, I wouldn't say I subscribe to No Fear and Brawl Like Nuts, but I do prefer my team to push forward rather than hang back, and the funnest matches for me are when there's one huge brawl at the centre.

 

As long as your team keeps the initiative, both would run the train i guess.

Losing the initiative and stagnate would mostly lead a team in bad situations from which you are just to ponderous to escape from.

Maybe.

 

My funnest games have been convincing my team to actually charge in together head first right into the enemy, usually catching them off guard. Instead of telling them to do it, I usually mention something like
"last game we tried something ridiculous and it worked!"
"everyone group up in Letter Number and on 3, charge the straight in without stopping, just keep going!"
"unless you are an LRM boat"

75% of the time it works and we win a match by rofl stomping unsuspecting enemy lines.

Although those were the funnest games, I typically don't like going through the effort of rallying the team and telling them what should happen, so I usually play defensive mid-long range in cover providing my team ranged fire-support while they do the typical pug dance getting picked off one at a time as one or two guys get the courage to move around a boulder...

 

It depends on the situation (obvious statement is obvious). Solo or team play? If solo, what mech are you in? If team, what is your group running? Etc, etc.

If we're discussing the meta-of-metas then I'd say a balanced approach is ideal. You need meat-shields, brawlers, scouts / light hunters, snipers, and LRM boats. I know that doesn't directly answer the poll but the approach should be divided. Some mechs are for offense and the others take up a more defensive posture. It is easier to win the brawl when your brawlers are backed up by mechs launching LRMs or sniping from cover.

If I'm fighting with [the perfect pre-made group] and I have the option of choosing my role... I typically run a fast harasser. I'm an offensive mech that highly values the defensive line. I run in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49H0IfoILwQ

 

I voted offensive, but just telling the entire team to just camp at base works too, especially on maps like Terra Therma.

 

Strange thing with me but I play offensive in light, medium and heavy mechs and defensive in assault mechs. I think it should be more vice versa...

 

Don't fear wounds: Yes, but I prefer a reasonable trade off. So basically I would trade punches only if I can win, if not, I would leg it if fast enough.
Cap-Win: Yes, everything goes to win, isn't that the point of the game?
Shoot from safe Distance: Depending on my mech design. I prefer mid-range sniper and back-stabbing. I do have a few point blank brawler builds though.

 

FIGHT

You can't brag about downing an Atlas in a Blackjack if you never try!

 

Much like General James Longstreet I prefer an offensive defense.

Start the scrap defensively, when the enemy makes an exploitable mistake you roshambo them and stomp the snot out of them.

Of course in the pug circuit what happens is that the defense sets up, the first enemy light probes the lines, all the assaults and heavies tear ass after it leaving the mediums that held the line to get eat up, and then the enemy just cleans up the rest.

 

The best defence, is removing any threat of an offence. hear:

 

Have done!

 

It's ALL about how the team can play. In PUGs, it's usually about the intelligent offensive - be smart about maneuvers around the enemy's flank.

However, in 12-man drops, EVERYTHING depends on your drop commander's orders and usually holding the defensive (3-point cap or base) is the best option.

 

Wow, I am surprised to see this LOL but I guess that is how we can explain all the lemmings marching to Theta on maps like Terra Therma and all that. Everyone wants to attack attack attack. Defensive play can be just as effective and in fact allows you to plan reactionary tactics based upon enemy deployments and activities.

 

I feel like I'm an offense player, but I'm often the last one alive on my team. I go out, I join the fight, but I stick to cover and attack when/where I won't be counterattacked. I'll go cap points, but I'll run if the enemy comes to stop me. My playstyle tends towards potshot harassment: wear them down slowly, destroying components to neutralize their threat, then kill (or run away and let them stew. There's not much funnier than a legged, zombied Atlas RS(C) with an open CT trying to walk half-way across Terra Therma.)

 

I'm pretty fearless and I'm almost invariably the tip of the spear. However, there's a line between fearless and stupid that I won't cross.

 

I have to wonder if it's just something about the whole "Mecha" thing that makes people act less defensively. If you think about it, there really aren't any big Mech combat games where the Mechs are meant as defensive armaments- ChromeHounds, ArmouredCore, Hawken, all treat Mechs (more or less) as highly maneuverable weapons platforms far before they treat them as armoured behemoths. It promotes a style of gameplay where if you aren't attacking or working towards an attack, you'll invariably lose.

Mechwarrior, and Battlemechs in general, however, have something of the opposite. Between the rather ridiculous materials science the Inner Sphere and Clans possess that makes their armour nigh-impenetrable, and the comparative weakness of the mounted weaponry (arms are clearly losing out to armour in this Arms race), you have Mechs which tend to be more like Battleships than Gunships- an engagement between a couple of Assaults with good pilots can last minutes depending on loadouts and skill levels, even at relatively short ranges.

And so this feeling of relative invulnerability ("Oh, I don't need to worry about those flankers- they only have Medium Lasers, and I'm in an Assault Mech!") and the cultural training other Mech games and media have given, combine into an environment where PUGs will charge headlong into a firefight as soon as they see the enemy, rather than send out scouts or group and ambush.

I know in most PUGs I've played in, whenever I end up spectating a Light Mech, they're invariably going to try to Circle of Death any and all enemy Mechs they see. I've never once seen one break off from an engagement and retreat before coming back in on a different vector- even when the enemy team is down to a single legged but otherwise unharmed Atlas.