Author Topic: HBS Discussion Thread (No Spoilers!) (Read 29088 times)

Bedwyr · « **on:** 24 April 2018, 17:27:38 »

I'm going to start this third thread for people who do not want spoilers regarding the game.

DarkSpade · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 April 2018, 17:34:08 »

So here's my biggest question as I prepare to get the game running.

What's everyone's "I wish I discovered this earlier!" moment? Some hot key you didn't notice? Something in the options menu that makes everything so much better? That there's nothing more fun than LRM spam?

Alexander Knight · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 April 2018, 08:00:06 »

Melee the tanks.

Seriously, get in there and stomp those things flat. When the game says "vulnerable to melee" it isn't joking.

smdvogrin · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 April 2018, 09:07:51 »

When fooling around with refits in the MechLab, it takes less time/money to install something from the "Dismounted" box (thus was already on the mech) than entirely new items from inventory. Pay attention if you've just removed heat sinks/jump jets/med lasers/etc.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 April 2018, 11:23:48 »

Quote from: Alexander Knight on 25 April 2018, 08:00:06

Melee the tanks.

Seriously, get in there and stomp those things flat. When the game says "vulnerable to melee" it isn't joking.

It also looks hilarious.

DarkSpade · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 April 2018, 17:17:25 »

Can't believe I wasted time standing back and sniping the first convoy I ran into. I'll have to try this. Stepping on a down mech is pretty satisfying though.

PCGamer has their review up.
https://www.pcgamer.com/battletech-review/

And a helpful primer.
https://www.pcgamer.com/battletech-guide/
Less useful that the tips here so far, but it's more aimed at players not familiar with the table top game. Helpful info about how brutal the AI is though.

Nav_Alpha · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 April 2018, 17:48:26 »

That primer is actually pretty helpful. Thanks!

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 April 2018, 01:11:34 »

Quote from: Alexander Knight on 25 April 2018, 08:00:06

Melee the tanks.

Seriously, get in there and stomp those things flat. When the game says "vulnerable to melee" it isn't joking.

When I stomped a Striker and Scorpion to death with a Locust, it fired its machine guns into the wreckage. That alone was worth my Kickstarter monies.

NeonKnight · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 April 2018, 02:24:09 »

Quote from: Lorcan Nagle on 26 April 2018, 01:11:34

When I stomped a Striker and Scorpion to death with a Locust, it fired its machine guns into the wreckage. That alone was worth my Kickstarter monies.

Machine Guns and Small Laser will automatically fire when the equipped mech does any physical attack...Including DFA's :D

deathshadow · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 April 2018, 03:00:39 »

First try? Played the first 'real' mission, went to the 'mech bay, queued up a bunch of repairs, refits, and redesigns being completely unaware of the refit time, and bankrupted on the upkeep costs before the repairs and redesigns were completed and I could actually deploy for the next mission since I set up 3 months worth of modifications.

Doh.

FredrikR · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 April 2018, 03:02:32 »

Eh. When I was supposed to escort a bunch of APCs to the extraction point. Dutifully put my 'mechs in a nice deensive perimiter around the orange "extraction" hex to guard against all eventualities.

Extraction DropShip comes in hot and lands on my poor Spider, next to the designated extraction area. Boom goes the 'mech, squish goes the mechwarrrior inside. :o

Be aware, the designated extraction point is where the APC rally, the DropShip lands next to it. Stand clear... ;D

NeonKnight · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 April 2018, 03:02:47 »

So, I watched the Credits the other day (there's a Steam Achievement for watching I learnt later), and as the pictures were playing, one picture of Jordan Weisman popped up, and I was thought...Hey, wait-a-minute, That picture looks awfully familiar!

Quickly opens picture folder on Hard-drive from GenCon 2016

It is, it IS Familiar!

I took the picture!

NeonKnight · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 April 2018, 04:42:30 »

I have finally, many missions in lost a mechwarrior.

Behemoth, you piloted the Vindicator since day one, proving yourself over and over a capable MechWarrior. The missions toughened you beyond the scope of any of your brethrin, and you always finished every mission with nary a scratch to you or your trusty Vindicator!

But alas, as we dropped onto that tiny abandoned world, it was your first time out in the commander's Family BlackJack. I don't know if it was unfamiliarity with the BlakcJack's control scheme, or if it was nervous jitters that you were entrusted with the Company Commander's Family Heirloom, but I'm pretty certain it was having the Centre Torso blown out that finally snuffed your life.

Behemoth, you will be missed, the crew quarters will seem a little darker now.

Rest In Peace!

Major Headcase · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 April 2018, 05:35:46 »

Quote from: NeonKnight on 26 April 2018, 04:42:30

I have finally, many missions in lost a mechwarrior.

Behemoth, you piloted the Vindicator since day one, proving yourself over and over a capable MechWarrior. The missions toughened you beyond the scope of any of your brethrin, and you always finished every mission with nary a scratch to you or your trusty Vindicator!

But alas, as we dropped onto that tiny abandoned world, it was your first time out in the commander's Family BlackJack. I don't know if it was unfamiliarity with the BlakcJack's control scheme, or if it was nervous jitters that you were entrusted with the Company Commander's Family Heirloom, but I'm pretty certain it was having the Centre Torso blown out that finally snuffed your life.

Behemoth, you will be missed, the crew quarters will seem a little darker now.

Rest In Peace!

A streamer I'm watching has renamed the Blackjack "the Coffin". On his pre release play through he lost 2 mechwarriors in it to head shots and badly wounded his main character twice... 🤣 I suggest you put in storage and never look back...

Nightlord01 · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 April 2018, 08:04:18 »

Anyone know when we get more mechbays? Can you buy them or do you have to wait until certain points in the story line?

DisGruntled_kbd · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 April 2018, 08:22:57 »

More mech bays are locked behind the story missions. It's an expensive upgrade but I'd recommend getting at least the 2nd one as it helps a lot after a hard mission to pull out the backup mechs.

Bedwyr · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 April 2018, 08:25:19 »

I still haven’t collected enough parts to remanufacture backups. I have a full complement before the second story mission, but I feel I’m going to be outclassed pretty quick if I don’t up my salvage game.

Kibutsu · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 April 2018, 09:01:48 »

I got my Blackjack shot out from under me on my first real merc mission in the campaign. The opfor focused me pretty well and got a couple of lucky head hits from indirect LRMs. I backed off and tried to stay out of LOS but got ambushed and a single shot cored the 'Mech and left me laid up for 110 days in the med bay! The 'Mech was repaired before I was so it ended up being Medusa's ride and he is kicking all manner of @ss with it, so I have to wait until a Centurion is done being refitted before I can get back out into the field.

Last night I withdrew from a mission for the first time. The enemy had a Manticore and SRM Carrier and the terrain was so restrictive I just couldn't line up shots at them. They also flanked my with a light lance that included a Panther. They all had initiative in their favor, so everyone was moving and shooting before most of my guys and we were suffering. Shadowhawk took the first volley of missiles and was so beat up I had to pull her back. Vindicator went down to another 60 missile barrage and they started targeting CT and head. This job didn't pay enough to die for. We're out...

Paul · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 April 2018, 09:52:19 »

Loving the game so far.

Wish it had more creature comforts.
- You should be able to sort MWs by skillset. That's pretty much the only thing you do in the Barracks: train.
- You should be able to buy multiples of the same item. Sucks when you want 10 heatsinks.
- You should be able to see what you have in stock when you visit the store. Major nuisance, that one.
- You should be able to see what you have in storage when deciding on salvage. Do I have a chunk of Trebuchet or Centurion already? I shouldn't have to memorize that prior to a mission just to pokemon the Mechs I want.
- Difficulty meter seems deceptive. I've had 3 skull/atlas missions that were easy, and I've had some where my ass was kicked flat. The former was a Kintaro, Locust, Striker and SRM carrier, the latter was 4 medium mechs, 2 SRM carriers, a striker, and a Mobile HQ that's making a runner. That's nowhere near the same problem to solve.

Beyond that, they really need to optimize the game technically. Wayy too bloated and slow, load times make no sense.

Despite all that, loving it, playing it, no regrets.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 April 2018, 11:36:47 »

Quote from: NeonKnight on 26 April 2018, 04:42:30

I have finally, many missions in lost a mechwarrior.

Behemoth, you piloted the Vindicator since day one, proving yourself over and over a capable MechWarrior. The missions toughened you beyond the scope of any of your brethrin, and you always finished every mission with nary a scratch to you or your trusty Vindicator!

But alas, as we dropped onto that tiny abandoned world, it was your first time out in the commander's Family BlackJack. I don't know if it was unfamiliarity with the BlakcJack's control scheme, or if it was nervous jitters that you were entrusted with the Company Commander's Family Heirloom, but I'm pretty certain it was having the Centre Torso blown out that finally snuffed your life.

Behemoth, you will be missed, the crew quarters will seem a little darker now.

Rest In Peace!

Huh, in my game, Behemoth is the Shadowhawk pilot (I was disappointed- when I saw her codename I figured I was getting a heavy).

IAMCLANWOLF · « **Reply #20 on:** 26 April 2018, 12:06:07 »

Quote from: Paul on 26 April 2018, 09:52:19

Loving the game so far.
...
Despite all that, loving it, playing it, no regrets.

Well said. And, I hope it continues to be fun. I always love the beginning of these. There's a certain romance to running a cobbled together lance. Blasting vehicles, and other lovable, but certainly not top-shelf medium and light mechs. I never seem to have quite as much fun once I cross the threshold to "successful big-shot merc jock" with Wolf's Dragoon's level tech. Hope this one can largely buck the trend.

Azakael · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 April 2018, 13:08:43 »

Quote from: Paul on 26 April 2018, 09:52:19

Loving the game so far.

Wish it had more creature comforts.
- You should be able to sort MWs by skillset. That's pretty much the only thing you do in the Barracks: train.
- You should be able to buy multiples of the same item. Sucks when you want 10 heatsinks.
- You should be able to see what you have in stock when you visit the store. Major nuisance, that one.

Yes to all three of these.

Quote

- You should be able to see what you have in storage when deciding on salvage. Do I have a chunk of Trebuchet or Centurion already? I shouldn't have to memorize that prior to a mission just to pokemon the Mechs I want.

It does. It'll show x/3 in the chunk section.

Quote

- Difficulty meter seems deceptive. I've had 3 skull/atlas missions that were easy, and I've had some where my ass was kicked flat. The former was a Kintaro, Locust, Striker and SRM carrier, the latter was 4 medium mechs, 2 SRM carriers, a striker, and a Mobile HQ that's making a runner. That's nowhere near the same problem to solve.

It does. I had one mission that was either a 1.5 Skull, or *maybe* a 2 Skull... and I got the crap beat out of me. Then I took a 2 Skull that was a walk in the park.

My two cents? Turn off camera pan, and action cams. Makes things go a little quicker.

Tkaz84 · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 April 2018, 13:10:25 »

I wonder how applying the increased autocannon damage to the TT game would work...

NeonKnight · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 April 2018, 13:47:06 »

OK, Learnt something over at the Paradox Forums.

HEAD HITS

It seems, with Cluster hits, only the First Hit (i.e Missile hit) is checked for a Head Shot, and if it Hits, only that missile will hit.

As a result...it took the player base less than a few minutes to start thinking...I'm gonna rebuild me mechs to have instead of 1 LRM-15, as many LRM-5's as I can put in instead.

So, just a thought.

Note I don't think this is a spoiler, but if it is, Please feel free to move to the appropriate thread.

Daryk · « **Reply #24 on:** 26 April 2018, 13:53:10 »

Using multiple LRM-5s to increase the number of potential hits hasn't been a spoiler since about 1984...

deathshadow · « **Reply #25 on:** 26 April 2018, 13:56:52 »

Anyone else finding that Jenners are harder to kill than assault 'Mechs? Doesn't seem to matter what I'm fielding, Jenners just screw me over.

I'm not that far into it, but I have a Kintaro, Shad I modded to be a Griffin, Vindicator, and Orion modded to be a... well, really big Griffin.. and the Kintaro can hit with nearly everything, with the trio of PPC's scoring 2 out of 3 per turn, and it STILL takes five or six turns for a bloody Jenner to go down! I've never seen a Jenner survive ten to twelve PPC hits before when there's multiple SRM strikes going on... and it seems to just be the nature of the beast.

Everything else seems normal... well, except I keep seeing quickdraws, thinking "oh crud" and then finding out they have a glass jaw.

Daryk · « **Reply #26 on:** 26 April 2018, 14:00:33 »

Do the Jenners in question have SRM-4s? Uparmored Jenners (JR-7Fs) can be a bear...

Alexander Knight · « **Reply #27 on:** 26 April 2018, 14:12:13 »

It's all that evasion bonus they have. Smack 'em with a melee attack or two.

NeonKnight · « **Reply #28 on:** 26 April 2018, 14:12:20 »

Quote from: Daryk on 26 April 2018, 13:53:10

Using multiple LRM-5s to increase the number of potential hits hasn't been a spoiler since about 1984...

Actually, in regular game play (TT) there is no difference between the check LRM 5, 1-5 Missiles, 1 Check, LRM 15, up to 3 checks (1 per cluster of 5).

in THIS game, the check is made for a single missile, and only the first missile, so:

LRM 5 - 1 Check (first missile only)
LRM 10 - 1 Check (first missile only)
LRM 15 - 1 Check (first missile only)
LRM 20 - 1 Check (first missile only)
SRM 2 - 1 Check (first missile only)
SRM 4 - 1 Check (first missile only)
SRM 6 - 1 Check (first missile only)

Do you see what I am saying? Different from Table Top, where the check is made for each cluster of 5, or single SRM

So, in this version of battle tech, better to have multiple small tubes, than 1 massive tube.

in otherwords, I may go back and rebuild my ShadowHawk (which I converted from 1 LRM 5 to 1 LRM 10), to see if I can make it 2 LRM-5s

Von Jankmon · « **Reply #29 on:** 26 April 2018, 14:42:58 »

Hi Guys. Some comments.

1. Thanks for opening up a second no spoiler thread, much appreciated.

2. There were glitches at launch this was to be expected, such as forced windowing if any setting are changed and freezes. These appear to have been patched already.

3. However there is a persistent annoying glitch. My character is male but the pilot voice is female, any way to change this.

4. Some people are saying the missions are hard (found the spoiler thread first), at the same point in the questline (the A***s) I was finding it easy. Now my tactics are fairly solid (concentrate fire sequentially to reduce numbers and minimise enemy LOS except to target if possible), but I am wondering if there is a difficulty setting that I havent found yet.