Author Topic: Mercs  (Read 47728 times)

Offline Pickle

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Re: Mercs
« Reply #45 on: April 08, 2013, 05:02:26 am »
I played a match where I loaded a double merc prym. my team mates would close in while me and my crew would hang back and disable them or pound their hull into oblivion.

That works well with a brawler-sniper, where you're turning and using the side mounts to snipe.  Your tactical mobility is reduced and your a static target, so having someone in the midfield controlling the closing phase is very useful.  However, on Dunes having a pair of dual-sniper Pyras with their Mercs on the front mounts means that with both ships in full reverse they don't need a midfielder and can maintain the range long enough to deal with both targets in turn.


As the problem primarily affects the Pyra build far more than the other classes, any fix is going to need to have a bigger effect on that class.  A suggestion:
- reduce the reverse engines speed of the Pyra to reduce it's ability to maintain range in this style of play; and
- increase the engine vibration and gun jitter for all ships when Moonshine/Kerosene/Phoenix Claw are in use.

If a Pyra can't reverse fast enough to maintain the range long enough, then Moonshine/Kerosene will be needed.  There already is an engine vibration effect when tools are used that have a detrimental effect on the engine, if this was increased and it caused increased jitter to a weapons aim this would nerf the dual-sniper Pyra build that relies on reversing away from the target at the start.  Given the narrow boresight of the Mercs scope, this weapon would be disproportionately affected.


I'm unsure whether any fix should be applied quickly or be delayed.  The heralding of the mine launcher as a light weapon suggests that current strategies may require a rethink once it's released and tested.  Depending on the range and durability of mines these may change the sniper meta for the worse (laying mines across the midfield to further discourage closing on a sniper), or may provide an opportunity for a counter (dropping mines over the sniper and behind him to discourage retreating-while-sniping).

Offline Machiavelliest

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Re: Mercs
« Reply #46 on: April 11, 2013, 04:50:00 am »
[...] or may provide an opportunity for a counter (dropping mines over the sniper and behind him to discourage retreating-while-sniping).
Wouldn't this require you to have a greater mine throwing distance than Merc's range?  I can't see that happening--if it was possible to put mines behind them, the whole closing-through-sniping concept would be a non-issue already.

Mines are going to turn this game into trench warfare.

Offline Pickle

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Re: Mercs
« Reply #47 on: April 11, 2013, 05:31:40 am »
[...] or may provide an opportunity for a counter (dropping mines over the sniper and behind him to discourage retreating-while-sniping).
Wouldn't this require you to have a greater mine throwing distance than Merc's range?  I can't see that happening--if it was possible to put mines behind them, the whole closing-through-sniping concept would be a non-issue already.

Mines are going to turn this game into trench warfare.

Or you send in a fast Squid to lay the mines to trap the sniper before the rest of the team close. Admittedly this would work best in 3v3 and not facing three snipers on the opposition.

Remember, at the moment the sniper can only reverse slightly slower than the opponent can advance.  Laying mines behind the sniper would only affect the last third of the rush to the sniper.  It can't be a counter all on its own.


The more I think about it, the more I'd like some sort of jitter-based mechanic that throws the aim of long-range weapons whilst reversing or using moonshine/kerosene.  It's the option that causes the least disruption to the rest of the game.