Buffing Support Titan Jockies?

MahaROGa · Post by **MahaROGa** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 12:43 am

I just added a Jock and Corresponding Titan to my team to to LRM support. However I find that he doesn't gain much experience from battles, in that he doesn't move much, doesn't shoot much compared to the "front line" units, probably does do more scans thatn the "front line" units but that's about it.... I also guess it wouldn't be too advisable to use him in DUEL type matches since his 4 LRM6's and 2 SL don't do much when the target is inside the min range.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
MahaROGa

tarendelcymir · Post by **tarendelcymir** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:25 am

One possibility is to try to let this jock mop up cripped enemy titans. If one of your other guys takes a leg or a LoT out, or something to that effect, have he/she move on to another, and let your LRM guy finish him off.

Give him jump jets and have him jump up and down during the battle. Silly, I know, but it's worth the piloting XPs.

LarkinVB · Post by **LarkinVB** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:34 am

I would just take it as it is. I would never jump up/down just to get move xps. I have some very good support jocks which can live with low move skills.

Sleeping_Dragon · Post by **Sleeping_Dragon** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 2:35 am

Yep, support jocks can lag behind in MXP and CXP. One thing I do is switch them up occasionally from a pure support titan to a titan with SRMs or GMEs (if you take the GM route) so they can get closer to the fight and rack up more xps that way.

As a sidenote: I'm not a huge fan of SRMs, just can't seem to use them as effectively as other weapons.... but I HATE seeing the AI come-a-calling with a titan stacked to the gills with them!

Muz · Post by **Muz** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:45 pm

I usually just put my support jocks in a titan loaded with SRMs to give em some training. SRMs are DEADLY when used by semi-skilled jock at even 4 or 5 hexes away. My team leader's in one packed with just two 8 rack SRMs and two 7 rack napalms and she can take out just almost any recon or light titan with a jock of nearly equal skill.

Unguided missiles are like um... wasps. They're nearly harmless solo, but in a horde, they can really rain hell. IMHO, don't really bother with LRMs and GMs on light/recon titans. They can barely fit enough to do any decent damage for all that upkeep.

MahaROGa · Post by **MahaROGa** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:14 pm

Thanks for the hints.... I have been just using a 4XLRM6 Light Titan and the random maps have been kind of heavy on the trees and mountains, so my oppurtunities for fire have been somewhat limited. Using SRM's and NM's might just help resolve that part of the issue, as well as promote more movement. (I tend to park the LRM mech on top of a hill with good LOS and leave it there for most of the battle).

It also occurs to me that if I have the random maps generate fewer trees and mountains, then I would have better opportunities for LRM fire.

Thanks Again!

AStott · Post by **AStott** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:18 pm

So, change the percentage of trees and such generated by tweaking the map options during battle setup.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:21 pm

Also remember that the Guillotine has jump ports, so once they get inside your min range you can go for a jump charge. Then proceed to HtH combat, backed up by the SLs. Make sure your jock has good CC skill though - you'll need that for the charge and HtH combat.

Sleeping_Dragon · Post by **Sleeping_Dragon** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 6:37 am

Muz wrote:Unguided missiles are like um... wasps. They're nearly harmless solo, but in a horde, they can really rain hell. IMHO, don't really bother with LRMs and GMs on light/recon titans. They can barely fit enough to do any decent damage for all that upkeep.

Have to agree in general with Muz on this.

'Pure' LRM/GM recons and lights don't seem to pull thier full weight in battle if your not running at least 4 titans. I think this is partly due to how fast enemy recons and lights can close the distance, the long recycles don't allow enough time to administer a decisive beatdown.

With 4 or more titans on your team, the non-LRM/GM titans can intercept and force a battle at a optimal distance, allowing death to rain from the sky. IMHO GMs and especially LRMs really step-out and shine in the Heavy and Assault classes.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 1:56 pm

Well, if LRMs/GMs were *that* good in recons and lights, what would happen in heavies/assaults?
Balance is the keyword. Across all weight classes and tem sizes.

Sleeping_Dragon · Post by **Sleeping_Dragon** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 9:41 pm

Thorgrim wrote:Well, if LRMs/GMs were *that* good in recons and lights, what would happen in heavies/assaults?
Balance is the keyword. Across all weight classes and tem sizes.

I agree 100%, just pointing out under what conditions, I find them the most useful in the lower weight classes and hoping to avoid a 'LRM sucks' thread, as we both know the power these weapons can have in the heavier weigh classes.

Muz · Post by **Muz** » Sun Aug 24, 2003 7:36 am

Hmm... LRM's never really posed much of a threat to me in my recon/light battles. All those little 2 damage missiles shot by complete beginners never scared me as much as the flamethrowers, tesla bolts, and power axes. I used to just send most of my titans to run into a melee with the CC titans and completely ignore the LRM titans, hoping that they'd hit a friend of thiers. And with rookies piloting those things, it happens almost as often as I'd like them to

.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Sun Aug 24, 2003 1:26 pm

And I suppose MGs are a real threat to assaults.

Yossarian · Post by **Yossarian** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 5:25 am

Thorgrim wrote:And I suppose MGs are a real threat to assaults.

Scan...Called Shot, Head...Fire...Fire...Fire...Fire...(repeat as necessary)

Oh yeah, they can be scary even to Assaults.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:30 pm

Oooh, thank you! Never thought about that. Duh!
Did you *understand* what I meant?

Iskandar · Post by **Iskandar** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:13 pm

Shrug, for the most part, yeah, Long Range Support Recon Titans aren't a good idea.

Simply because, a Recon titan usually has a Rookie or a Green pilot, and a Unguided skill about 50 - 60.
And since you can only mount on or two small LRM launchers, it just compounds the problem.

Things get a bit better if you go the other route, and mount a GMH 2 rack or two, especially if you pair it with a Fireball. but even then, it isn't until you get to the Mediums and heavier that Long Range support becomes a real asset.

As far as XP goes, yeah, you are going to lag behind the close and short range Titan Jocks. However, you will pobably gain more OXP's then the front line guys, as you will be able to take the time to scan an enemy without getting the snot pounded out of you. Nothing to much to worry about, though, as you don't need to develop as many skills. Unguided (or Guided, take your pick) and Indirect. Scanner and EM Warfare. Spend the few movement XP's you get on scouting, so you can crouch in trees, and you are good.

Nice thing about having the long range jock, you can leave the wounded for him to finish. a good long range sandpaper Titan is guaranteed to find that location with only a few internals left. And if he accidentally triggers an engine explosion, there is a much decreased chance of having your Titans at ground zero.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 6:56 pm

Actually, back in v1.4, my LRM jock was the champion of kills in her squad. And they were not mop up kills.

LarkinVB · Post by **LarkinVB** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:11 pm

My squad's leader is GM and I also have a support with LRM. They are valuable members of my team. The LRM girl made a late entry where the average rank was already veteran and had could start with a light, quickly advancing through ranks till she settled on a heavy with 4 x LRM9 and 3 x LRM6. With 70+% skill she had a great hit ratio. My leader is a hero driving a modified Tentakel.
He is capable firing indirect or while jumping and was a good support from the start. Now he is collecting 2k other xps each battle.