GUIDE How to penetrate light's lag shield?

dog_funtom · Nov 17, 2013

THIS THREAD IS NOT HERE for the discussion of the netcode/hit regstration issues in MWO. It's here to help the truly new players learn "best practices" of targeting in MWO.

There are plenty of more appropriate sub-forums for that topic... where the devs are more likely to notice it.
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This one is here for everyone having a hard time hitting small, fast and/or laggy light mechs (or really any target, but the lights are the hardest to hit).

This is what you do before you make a post on the forums complaining about "lag" and "hit detection."

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The first thing to do, is to break yourself of the habit of attempting to "chase" ANY target with the crosshairs. "Chasing" is not necessary nor is it the best way of using the cross-hairs(reticule).

When you are chasing with the reticule most of your mental "time" and physical skill is used up in the attempt to keep the reticule in the exact spot you want.

Instead of chasing, you should instead put your reticule "ahead of" your target and wait for your target to "move under" your reticule. This will allow you to have time to mentally calculate how long it will take for the weapons you are firing to "get to" your target. Sometimes this can even mean you'll be pulling the trigger *before* your target is actually "under" the reticule; especially with slow-traveling weapons.

If you can learn to do this versus moving targets, versus "chasing," you should find your hit-rate going up noticeably. This really goes for shooting at ANY moving target in this game. It just happens to "go double" against fast lights.

You simply HAVE to break any habits of chasing with the reticule, or you can forget hitting any elusive/laggy light 'mechs with anything other than pure luck shots.

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The second thing:

When you're doing this shot-timing, you will find that you need to very carefully predict where your target is going to be.

The best way I have found of doing this versus light mechs that are moving very quickly and unpredictably is to look at the direction that their legs are facing. The torso will be twisting around and thus can throw you off just that "little bit" as to what direction the 'mech is going.

So look at their legs. This even worked in mechwarrior 4 versus 'mechs that could do '360 torso twisting.

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The third thing:

When a light 'Mech is engaging you specifically as it's main target, you NEED to keep them in your "field of fire" the maximum amount of time possible.

In order to do this anywhere where the terrain is even remotely open, the best tactic is to flip your 'Mech in FULL reverse - this will keep your target in your front firing field longer than if you try to turn and chase with the reticule.

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The fourth thing:

You want your target to be as "still" as possible under your reticule when you pull the trigger.

This means you want to attempt to put the reticule on the target when they are least able to produce unpredictable movement.

With a light 'mech, this is when they are running directly at you or directly away from you. If at ALL possible, this is "when and where" you should be attempting to target them.

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The fifth thing:

Just aim for center of mass if you're having a hard time with a target. Light mechs are "soft enough" that if you're in a well loaded heavy or assault, a good shot anywhere on their torsos should do the job.

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The last thing:

If your target is just obscenely hard to hit, and you're NOT on open ground (say, in an urban setting, for example)... your best bet is to "put your back to the wall" and thus force them to have to chisel through your far-heavier front armor; giving you multiple attempts at being able to shoot them.

Even better is if you can get a friend to "back up to the wall" across from you, and double your chances of hitting a target.

Never underestimate a light 'mech.

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And for the light mech pilots out there: These are things you DO NOT want done to you, so do your best to make these things hard to do. Be unpredictable... NEVER run directly at or away from any target if you can help it. Spend as little time as is possible in their field of fire (this usually means going for the back). In urban settings, NEVER go the same route in a predictable manner.
Click to expand...

ORIGINAL POST: http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/136946-how-to-hit-fastlagging-light-mechs

Michael · Nov 17, 2013

We do not circle jerk people here.

Post the guide HERE with a credit to the original page so that folks can discuss it HERE rather than get jerked back to the O-Forums; which is where most folks don't want to be anyways.

I have made the corrections for you.

enileph · Nov 17, 2013

7th thing:
Streaks, hold down the button and stay on our target, it will fire when locked and it will hit.
Even the fastest Lights will move slowly after a couple volley of streaks.

dog_funtom · Nov 17, 2013

enileph said: ↑

7th thing:
Streaks, hold down the button and stay on our target, it will fire when locked and it will hit.
Even the fastest Lights will move slowly after a couple volley of streaks.
Click to expand...

That's my favorite But unfortunately it's too boring to have whole garage build with SSRM and/or anti-light mechs only :sleep:

epikt · Nov 17, 2013

I know I repeat myself, but streaks are for [REDACTED] :angry:

My advice will as usual be: 1/aim at the legs, 2/ with pulse lasers.
(and I like the fourth)

dog_funtom · Nov 17, 2013

epikt said: ↑

I know I repeat myself, but streaks are for [REDACTED] :angry:

My advice will as usual be: 1/aim at the legs, 2/ with pulse lasers.
(and I like the fourth)
Click to expand...

And this is when you need this guide

PyckenZot · Nov 27, 2014

epikt said: ↑

I know I repeat myself, but streaks are for [REDACTED] :angry:

My advice will as usual be: 1/aim at the legs, 2/ with pulse lasers.
(and I like the fourth)
Click to expand...

Replace pulse lasers by SRM alpha and witness limb dislocation from the front row seat

Durandal · Nov 27, 2014

In fairness, this guide is over a year old now The lag shield is nothing like it was

PyckenZot · Nov 27, 2014

Then what godly power is protecting the FS9s ???

epikt · Nov 27, 2014

Small Pulse Lazers!

Durandal · Nov 28, 2014

PyckenZot said: ↑

Then what godly power is protecting the FS9s ???
Click to expand...

Bad aim? I loaded into my DWF, SMN, SCR, and my new free VTR...was taking out FS9 legs left and fight. No problem with the lag shield on my slowest mechs...

lord_auriel · Nov 28, 2014

There is a new phenomenon I call "MurricanShield". When I play with people who have ping below 80 or so, strange things happen.
1) I get hit and seriously damaged without even seeing, hearing or smelling anything
2) When I try to hit them, it doesn't count sometimes (I was shooting a sdr-5D with small pulse lasers right in the CT while it was stuck on the ground and it didn't even register)
3) I still get hit after I disappeared behind a building and broke LOS.

So yes there is still a lag shield and yes it also applies to Direwolves.

Dr. Danger · Nov 28, 2014

I noticed problems with hit registry, too.
But I did not have the wits to check pings then.
Thank you for that advise.

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GUIDE How to penetrate light's lag shield?

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