Is it just me, or.....

Is it just me, or is there a big learning curve piloting lights?

I'm mostly a med/hvy pilot and have gotten to the point where pulling 1000+ damage, while not common place, is definitly a possibility in most of my med to hvy builds.

I figured since I have reached that plateau, it's time I start learning how to pilot some lights, but I am having a hard time of it...... I've started with Ravens, for no other reason than I like the design, and have yet to pull over 300 damage with one... even the 3L, though I've gotten close. Most of the time I can't survive the match. I'm most successfull with a fire, duck and cover style of play, and find myself getting into trouble often if I try anything else.

It isn't a role that I fall into naturally, but one that I feel is more than worth learning.... So, how do I become the annoying Raven/Jenner pilot that I've come to hate and admire?
Is it Time?
Technique?
Mentality?
Purpose?

Any feedback would be welcome

 

I will send you a PM when I get home on how I run the raven and get 1200 damage in it.

 

1200 damage.... that would be nice.

 

Raven 3L, ECM, two ERLLas, snipe from distance... most boring light mech ever, but efficient.

As for a general though about light piloting, I think it's mostly about environnement awareness, and being able to use your mobility for survivability. For example, don't make a move without an escape route.
Also, don't try to engage a tight pack, you'll be obliterated in seconds. Primarily focus on isolated targets and almost dead ones (target info gathering module is your friend).

 

The first question I would ask is. Are you fast enough? What is your engine and do you have speed tweak unlocked yet?

At first I really struggled with Jenners trying to run them with the stock engine. I quickly realized I was to slow and got the 300xl for them. That made a huge difference, then once I unlocked speed tweak it became almost unfair to the other mechs. I now consider my Jenner the easiest Mech to pile up 500-700 damage a game or more in a great run.

Obviously there is a bit of learning curve to driving a light, being able to make those fast hard corners and you better be able to shoot on the run. Picking the right times to disrupt a group of heavies. But if your not fast enough your just going to be dead.

Or play the ECM Sniper and use cover to pick people apart, but that is less fun.

 

Honestly I completely agree. Lights are much harder for me to pile damage on compared to assaults and heavies.

 

MB's Guide to Piloting Light Mechs:

Step 1: Equip the largest XL engine you can.
Step 2: Crank the tunes.
Step 3: Accelerate to Ludicrous Speed and don't stop for anything.
Step 4: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Bop and weave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM3CMAH08Tw

 

Think about how you kill lights when you're in your heavies. Think about the mistakes they make - how you anticipate their location when they're running straight, or using JJ too much to gauge their trajectory easily or the pause when they land, or how they run in circles, or how they get too far away from the support of the group if they run into trouble, or how they overextend their welcome and eventually draw the focus of the team and melt...

Think of all those things and then make sure you don't do them when in a light.

Don't run straight, dodge like a maniac, make runs out of cover to fight quickly then run back into cover, pick off the lone mech or as epikt said, find the hurt mech to finish off if you feel you can run into the group for the coup d'etat and make it out.

Happy hunting. Some games you have to know you'll get one-shotted or make a mistake or round the wrong corner and pay for it with an early death or low dmg. Lights are high risk, but the reward is awesome when you do well.

 

Also, as a general rule, a mech isn't a mech until it's elited... once you get those 2x perks with twist and heat disp, plus speed tweak, it's a whole new game; especially with lights.

 

As said already use the largest engines if possible. Always use JJs if possible. Use long range weapons (ER)LLas highly recommended. Enable Zoom Module and CapAcc. aand either target info or seismic. I prefer seismic. Ow and always max Legarmor if possible. Ow and use well placed Arties. As said ever never stop flying/floating.

Primary goal of Lights are to scout and to sting as mean Skirmisher, not 1k damage though some builds can make you deal 1+k against all odds! Some Lights-veterans man tell you better. I'm a better Heavy/Medium Pilot just like you.

 

Heretic! Burn the unclean! Kill it with fire!

Harass in a light or go home. Leave hill humping and poptarting for the big boys. If you're not putting several short ranged weapons (6x small pulse hooooooooo) into the backs of your enemies you're doing it wrong.

 

Same Problem here with my Jenners.
I'm piloting them waaaay too aggressive, im usually end up with 200-400 damage, maybe one kill cause im dying too early.
And if im patient i deal no damage too cause im too patient - im missing the correct balance atm. :unsure:

 

Aggressive is good but be mindful. Typically you don't want to be patient because hiding behind cover with the rest of your team is a waste of a light mech. Ideally you want to be able to run in and out of hostile situations quickly, make a few well placed shots, and get out before enemy crosshairs have enough time to track you. Remember proper harassment is 30% damage and 70% evasion. Get the enemy's attention and get the fuck out. If they're shooting at you, and probably missing, that's fewer shots that would have been hitting your allies. Rinse and repeat.

Consider enemy attention like a second heat bar. If you have a lot of enemies looking at you, find cover to "cool down" and then get back into action when they aren't looking.

 

PM Sent. Hopefully that info helps hear:

Also sent you proof that you can do 1200 in the 3L... "Most boring light mech" or not :angry:

 

I usually have one LLas comboed with some MLas and S(S)RMs for all ranges and i'm happy with my Lights. So burn me if you count me to the Poptarters.

 

Well it depends on the mech really... but I hate seeing light mechs (typically Ravens) standing still on a hill shooting large lasers and not using their speed/size advantage at all. If you want to be long range fire support bring a bigger mech. But obviously some mechs, like the champion spider, make sense with a large laser in their loadout.

 

Well thats what im trying - but int he end im too triggerhappy when it comes down to chase wounded enemies - will try to keep in mind the 70% evasion.
Oh, and sometimes I die as one of the few left - unable to change the situation - and feeling terrible useless at that moment - but thats maybe a PUG problem...

 

I appreciate that
Looks like I need to change a few things on my Raven build... and my mentality a bit. I've definitly been fighting it the wrong way.

 

Why so secret?

 

I'll never tell!