Pilot Archive

Getting off track a bit, but it's relavent here from what we have discussed. I can, and do take 2 hits from missiles before they get through to my components with the armour I carry. I was discussing this with a guildie shippy last night. I have had many occasions where the armour has saved my bacon. They can punch my shields, but the armour soaks up a blaster no problem, it's missiles that cause the problems.

I find if I target reactor I can usually stop them with one missile, if i get a good hit on them, otherwise it means 2 hits with a blaster.

Bawarr, that's precisely what I thought until I started taking hits that (for example) went through my front shields but only half of my front armor. It may seem a miniscule addition, but it's adding a layer of protection, albeit smal, that's protecting my components and using 1000 mass for 2 pieces. Also, to an opponent, lvl 1 armor looks JUST like lvl 10 armor when it's at 100%. I'd prefer to use 1000 mass to even have the appearance of protection, rather than the dreaded Armor: N/A I see on opponents who didn't bother to squeeze any in at all. With those guys, I KNOW I only need 1 hit.

There's also thechance that an enemy's shot goes through my rear shield and my rear (lvl 1) armor, but does NO damage to my components. That's happened quite a few times, and I'm forced to wonder what would have happened if I'd had no armor at all. I'd probably be dead in the water.

Of course, you're right that this low level of armor is, at best, an afterthought, added at the end to fill up the remaining 1000 mass.

Not to hijack the thread, but I was wondering what people thought abouyt /launchmissle

If you don't know about it, the command launches a phantom missle, without lock, at whatever player you have targeted. I'm not even sure it requires a launcher. It may. The targeted opponent gets the lock warning even vibrates when "hit" but there is no missle. You even see it on the screen, and it works from WAY outside of missle range.

One particular pilot on Intrepid, Ackfore, has used this on me (when I was alone vs. 5 of his pilots) as (what he called) a "tactic" to run me out of CMs, as if having 4 wingmen wasn't advantage enough. Set it to a macro, and depending on the /pause time, you can lag kill or annoy a guy to death. You can even sneak a real missle in there when he seems not to be chaffing. Fortunately (and as usual) he couldn't get me.

To me, this is almost as bad as load killing. There is absolutely no reason for this command to remain in game. I don't believe for a second that it's a "tactic." The lock warning should mean only 1 thing: There' a missle coming for ya, better chaff.

If the guy is chaffing too fast, you better launch from closer, or (ideally) point blank in a joust. What you don't do is resort to nonsense like /launchmissle.

I see no problem using whatever in DS or PvP unless it is a duel or tourny where rules are defined. If you get a missle lock then who's to blame? I have been jumped in DS when I just go there to repair my ship or whatever. I am not looking for a hail. This is not 'A Knight's Tale' from Chaucer, it is a war. I know the risk when I enter DS - np. Sometimes I win, sometimes... but it is all good. I have a blast when I get attacked. Heart is pumping, etc. Really fun.

Xak Tsaroth

He who learns also teaches...

The way I see it there are 2 parts tobeing a good pilot... tactics and skill. Tactics is more than getting into position. It is outfitting your ship, running your droid programs, or making sure your chaff launcher is full. Tactics is the art of making a fight unfair and giving yourself an advantage. Skill is your actual combat "twitch" skill and it only comes into effect during the fight. A tactical win is no different than a skilled win.

When I played Mechwarrior 4 online, lots of people complained (including me) about missile boats. then I realized that they were part of the game for a reason and by looking down on those that use them or by denying using them myself I was limiting my tactical advantage, thus I was not "bringing my A game." I didn't turn into a missile boat (not enough hardcore action for me) but I did start to carry missiles which gave me a well rounded loadout and made me more effective in all situations.