Help with Mech Weaponry

[MerlinCH65]

Hi Lads

I hope I don't ask "ze obvious" - a quick search did not returned what I was looking for.

Here we go:

The Mech. I don't get the way the rockets work. They say they're homing, but for me (when I'm in driver seat), when I launch a rocket, it sort of goes whooeey down and then up in the air. How do I engage homing then?

And while you are (hopefully) answering :D , you may also give away some hints for either driver/gunner on top of the mech. Please help an old BF2 tard :p

Thanks a lot and have a nice day all of you!

Merlin

[kenof2142]

Well you can fire 3 off the bat by holding the right mouse button (default) and if the target has been aquired via netbat and has a red diamond around it, it should go to that target but I believe that it's only for vehicles. You can still dumb fire the missles at infantry though but the guns work best for that duty.

[Capital88]

Acquire the target by spotting it (vehicles only), then make sure the crosshair stays on the target while firing.

[MerlinCH65]

Aha! See, didn't know that you have to "spot" (spot-the-looney a.k.a. Monty Pithon for the elder ones amongst us) it first AND make sure that the crosshair must be over the target and only then fire it. That sort of makes it a lady-weapon because one must remember more than one thing before actually firing ze weapon :D . Gotta tell it my wife - she always moans along telling me names when I play "that stupid shooter game" :laugh:

If some of you have some tacticts with the mech, don't hesitate to post it here - I have the feeling that not many players actually are mastering the thing (especially us with the "2" on the back :D ).

Thanks again for first info! Keep on rolling...

Merlin

[kenof2142]

I just posted some and went to hit save and it erased my post :( .

Anyways...

Whenever you're engaging the enemy do NOT let your guns overheat, they seem to rather quickly if you just spray but several controlled bursts will take down almost anything. I've fought 2 tanks and an apc and left with 20 hit points left ;) .

Biggest thing I can suggest is when you're facing armor is stay moving as they have to move their turret or entire tank (depending on which tank you're facing) and you can just walk circles around them since your body can move seperate from your upper torso and once they're tracked and remained tracked you can fire off rockets and almost guarantee a hit on them.

When you're fighting apc's be aware of distance as they have emp grenades. APC's and air transports are what I like to call, whales. I call them whales because they are spawn points for the enemy and a lot of people spawn on them if they're close to a silo, which, 80% of the time they are. I've started battles with an apc or air transport with only 1-2 people inside and ended with 5-6 kills after the "attack" was complete....whales :D .

I've taken on 2 tanks and an apc and walked away with 20 hit points of health left. You use a lot of ammo and need repairs as you're a walking target so make sure you and your gunner/pilot is either support or engy since commanders sometimes, if at all, drop supplies on your position you can just do it yourself ;) .

Use your Z or crouch button because like I said, you're a walking target. When you're capping a silo or flag crouch unless you need to be mobile in a hurry, doing this will reduce your height by almost half and retain the lethality of the machine you are in.

Hope that helps.

[Flasheart88]

Edit: sorry, parroting Kenof a bit - he posted while I was writing :P

Yeah, the missiles are surprisingly accurate considering how much they zoom to and fro, as long as you hold your crosshair over the target, which tricky if you are moving, so hit the active defence shield ("x") and stop for a moment, fire them off, then keep moving. They do a lot of damage, to armoured targets, but they don't have much splash damage, so they're not much use against infantry. At anything other than short or medium ranges, they're next to useless. You're better of sprinting towards the target to close the distance (hit shift while moving to sprint) and if you're surrounded, hit the "z" button to crouch the mech, which hides your most vulnerable spots. Either that or just run away.

The key to driving the mech successfully is to keep moving. AT missiles and tank shells do the most damage against the legs and *** of the mech, and the least against it's main body. Which means if you're moving those legs, it's pretty hard for all but the most experienced tankies to hit your legs, meaning they'll either miss or go for the safe shot against your body.

As far as the gunner on top is concerned, remember that the alt-fire are guided anti-air EMP missiles, but at close range, they can help your driver by blind firing at an assaulting tank and hoping they hit or at least distract him. But most of the time you should be covering the rear looking for AT soldiers and attack aircraft sneaking up behind you.

[MerlinCH65]

Thanks a lot Ken! I knew about that crouching but can you imagine how often I actually forget to use it. God I'm really getting older :laugh: I can tell you, after 40 you have to really concentrate or you're lost on the field. But so far, I'm still in the top 30% mostly.

Credits also to Flashheart! Thanks - now I also know the alt-fire of the gunner on top. I remember having read the "manual" but I can't remember any information on weapons or so. Well, why should they write it, right?

Thanks alot & bibi,

Merlin

[Sethonan]

NOt that it's going to help you much against a couple of well traned engies, but you can survive most armor attacks even charging against them.

[MerlinCH65]

You mean "running at/over them"? That brings me to the idea to try out if one can actually "walk" over a car/tank :laugh: .
Did someone try this out already?


Merlin

[Flasheart88]

Walking against a tank is an option, but only really as a way of confusing their shot, you're not going to do any real damage to them. However, if you're piloting and you see someone jump out of the tank/apc that you're terrorising, you should assume that it's an engineer with AT, support with EMP grenades, or recon with C4, all of which are serious threats, and probably much more dangerous than the tank, so don't stop moving and try to step on them if possible.

[MerlinCH65]

Ahh, I see :D That remembers me at one of my first encounters with a walker, me being a engi with the anti-tank located just between his legs. I never forget the nervous trampling around while I was firing him some rockets right between - well you know....:laugh:

Merlin

[Capital88]

Also, holding shift gives the walkers an unlimited forward speed boost, very useful for dodging shots and/or getting somewhere in a hurry.

[natron-DSC]

Ahh, I see :D That remembers me at one of my first encounters with a walker, me being a engi with the anti-tank located just between his legs. I never forget the nervous trampling around while I was firing him some rockets right between - well you know....:laugh:

Merlin


>click me< (http://www.totalbf2142.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3640) merlin... you need only one AT rocket for a walker, if aimed properly ;)

[MerlinCH65]

Thanks Natron et all! Yes, I have seen the Skywalker-Vents :D

I'm actually thinking of concentrating my next unlocks to get the Koenig AT-Gun. I know it's not guided but on short/medium range it seems to be quite good. I have seen the bullet travels at 60 meters/seconds (180 Ft/Sec.). That's not quite speedy...
Does anyone have already some practice with it? Is it worth unlocking it against vehicles?

Cheers,

Merlin

[JohnnyButane]

The driver rockets on the walker are guidable at medium-long ranges, similar to AT rockets, but less so. You can put 'english' on them when you fire them one at a time by moving the mouse. They'll still want to curve randomly but you can correct them somewhat by steering them to the left, right, up or down.

[Sawell]

Thanks Natron et all! Yes, I have seen the Skywalker-Vents :D

I'm actually thinking of concentrating my next unlocks to get the Koenig AT-Gun. I know it's not guided but on short/medium range it seems to be quite good. I have seen the bullet travels at 60 meters/seconds (180 Ft/Sec.). That's not quite speedy...
Does anyone have already some practice with it? Is it worth unlocking it against vehicles?

Cheers,

Merlin

The AVR is the god of AT warfare. Only people that can't use it moan, seriously... if you're thinking of going engineer then this is a mandatory upgrade. However, I wouldn't advise getting the SAAW.

The trick with the AVR is to get you and a mate on a private server with him on a newb soldier and practise your positioning, where you should fire at what distance and speed... you'll find it will suddenly click and from there on you'll be shooting down birds and buggies like no-one's business ;)

[MerlinCH65]

@JonnyButane:

I haven't quite understood how exactly you are guiding the drivers rockets of the Walker. From what I've read in this tread the drivers rockets sorta home the target that you

a) Have spotted prior launching the rocket
and
b) put your x-hair on

Can anyone confirm that drivers rockets (Walker) can be guided?

Thanks for feedback!

Merlin

[Talus]

Ok, are we ABSOLUTELY certain about the spotted thing?

I'm going to have to try that out. I've gone a few gold medal rounds with the Mech with ZERO deaths so I enjoy the mech :D It is a very deadly machine if you know how to use it and have a co-pilot over VOIP.

And no, the rockets can NOT be guided.

[[RID]FRENZY]

I love the mechs and have used them as much as possible. I haven't noticed the spotting thing either but will try it tonight.

Few tips:

Time the shield so you block a tanks shell or if a rocket is incoming or another enemy mech.

Mech Vs Mech Combat:

Don't waste your missiles or shield while you are at range, wait till you're in close and release hellfire :D use your shield in close as well, as majority of your opponents missiles will miss at the beginning of combat.

Ram the other mech, its the surprise factor that nobody expects, I go full speed into the other mech guns blazing, they always get disorientated and I usually come out of the combat with 50% armour.

Mech Vs Tank
Well you can't really lose here, biggest tip is don't let the tank keep range. I tend to charge towards the tank drunken style in a big "S" to weave any oncoming shells until I get close in. Use the circling tactic but don't be afriad of ramming it in reverse to interrupt their tracking, this works particularly well against the grav tanks which have too much momentum to just stop.

Use trees, mechs can weave through the trees much faster than the tanks and the trees will absorb some of the shots.


Couple other non combat tips

Mechs can go through any water no matter how deep.

Occasionally you will get a bug that will not allow the walker to stop moving/stand still, jump out and back in as it is nigh on impossible to shoot anything while this is happening.


Other questions

The Pilum(nail gun) rocks, I don't use any other weapon on the engineer now. Use an APC and go full speed at a tank, EM and carry on behind, jump out and a nail in the rear means tanky goes kaboom. Its great for attacking attack aircraft as it kills in one shot no matter where you hit(it is a delayed kill though) and transports in 2 hits. I use it for killing snipers also.....awesome gun.

[Sawell]

FRENZY;110413']I love the mechs and have used them as much as possible. I haven't noticed the spotting thing either but will try it tonight.

Few tips:

Time the shield so you block a tanks shell or if a rocket is incoming or another enemy mech.

Mech Vs Mech Combat:

Don't waste your missiles or shield while you are at range, wait till you're in close and release hellfire :D use your shield in close as well as majority of your opponents missiles will miss at the beginning of combat.

Ram the other mech, it the surprise factor that nobody expects, I go full speed into the othe mech guns blazing, they always get put off and I come out of the combat with 50% armour.

Mech Vs Tank
Well you can't really lose here, biggest tip is don't let the tank keep range. I tend to charge towards the tank drunken style in a big "S" to weave any oncoming shells until I get close in. Use the circling tactic but don't be afriad of ramming it in reverse to interrupt their tracking, this works particularly well against the grav tanks which have too much momentum to just stop.

Use trees, mechs can weave through the trees much faster than tanks and the trees will absorb some of the shots.




Other questions

The Pilum(nail gun) rocks, I don't use any other weapon on the engineer now. Use an APC and go full speed at a tank, EM and carry on behind, jump out and a nail in the rear means tanky goes kaboom. Its great for attacking attack aircraft as it kills in one shot no matter where you hit(it is a delayed kill though) and transports in 2 hits. I use it for killing snipers also.....awesome gun.

Nice write up, should post it on tips and tricks for mech combat.

[[RID]FRENZY]

Thanks, will do ;)

[Chiron]

Primary Rule:
NEVER EVER SHOW YOUR BOOTY TO THE ENEMY. You have a bullseye on your ***. One hit, they win.

Use Shift/run mode alot. Surprises them when a walker runs and you close the distance quicker.

When you hit Z you squat, this does 2 things, makes you a shorter target and makes your fire slightly more accurate.

DONT let your main gun overheat. Short bursts, punctuated with 2 AV rockets. Rinse repeat.

ALWAYS have a gunner!

Use shield sparingly, not at first moment you get lock on. I often, lock up a walker, to make him use his shield, then I hammer him.

Teamspeak with your gunner does wonders.

[MerlinCH65]

Hey! Thanks a lot for all your tips' n Tricks! Nice to see such a grown-up community.

It seems as if even well trained Mech-Pilots are not really sure about that aiming stuff.

If some hard-core Mech-Pilot could find out for all of us following open question: Do we have to spot first the target and then put the x-hair on top of the target and only then fire the main rockets or can we simply put x-hair on target and fire/forget? Please try to explain exactly how you are hitting a tank or APC from range with your Walker-Rockets.

Thanks a lot guys!

Merlin

[BFD]

I keep the cross hairs on the tank and fire off a salvo of rockets, dunno if they need to be (or are) guided or not, but since I am (like other posters here) closing on the tank as much and as fast as I can, they don't have to go that far.

Get near the back of a hover tank and he's toast, the turrety ones are harder.

Crouch or use any available terrain to cover your legs / rear. Walkers bob up and down faster than tanks can go back in to cover and come out again.

Don't forget to time the tanks cannon shells and prepare to use shields accordingly.

Most tank drivers (me included) get nervous when a walker is bearing down on 'em, so they tend to fire ASAP.

Rockets do 16 damage each to a tank and you can fire all 8 inbetween tank shots, they should never win unless they got backup behind you.

Try firing 1 rocket at range to make the tank use his shields early, then close in, guns blazing and give him the rest of the rocket volley. Goodnight Vienna!

Your AA gunner can always lump a load of AA at the tank as well, to increase the fear factor, rather than do damage.



Also, If your titan is moonwalking rather than stomping and you don't have a gunner yet, F2-F1 will also stop this - better than getting out of the thing, unless you want to repair too.

[JohnnyButane]

And no, the rockets can NOT be guided.

Wrong. They can totally be guided one at a time. If you want me to demonstrate, add JohnnyButane to your ingame buddy list. Ill show anyone who wants.

[Kapukluk]

Yeah, I just figured out how to use the "radar" guided rockets. Now I'm just a walker whore.

[MerlinCH65]

Oh, Kapukluk, wanna share the use of "radar" guided rockets?

[[RID]FRENZY]

OK I put this to the test properly last night, I can honestly say that if your target is spotted it makes absolutely zero difference to how your missiles fly. However I did notice that if you stay still for a long time with your target under the reticule and also still that every single rocket is far more accurate. I used this at range and every single missile hit.

Spotting makes no difference though :p

[Tikigod]

The easiest fix for the 'moonwalking' is to just stop. When you start moving again your legs will be animating. Which is probably what is happening with your F1 / F2 button combo.

[[RID]FRENZY]

It isn't the moonwalking that is a major prob, occasionally it will just start doing it own little jig and it doesn't matter if you stop or not.