MechWarrior Online: Community Warfare Beta

Piranha Games (PGI) gave us an early Christmas present and released the Community Warfare Beta five days early on December 11, 2014. Match making on the planets was a little rough around the edges because there was no way to see how many other people were queuing up, but that was resolved on December 18 when they added the number of attackers and defenders to the search planet window and allowed us to see how many people were actually preparing to drop on a planet for your faction. These small changes have really decreased wait times.

The new game mode, Invasion, is really fun thanks to Drop Ship mode where each player is able to bring four mechs between 140 and 240 tons total. Currently Clan drop decks are somewhat limited due to there only being eight Clan mechs available to the whole community. However, Inner Sphere drop decks have been surprisingly fun in trying to find the "perfect" combination of mechs.

The Invasion maps have been modified since December 11 because it was very easy to rush and eliminate the enemy cannon without much mech on mech combat being needed. PGI came up with a quick solution by adding three small generators that need to be eliminated before the main objective can be attacked. The generators are a little too easy to destroy, but PGI is aware of the issue and has commented on the issue and may be increasing the damage a generator can take before being destroyed.

Overall, Community Warfare in MechWarrior Online is very fun and is close to being what many of us have been waiting for since the game was announced. I cannot wait for more maps and additional features. Good job, PGI!

Below are some videos of a few matches I have played.

Death's Hand Brigade's first real win in Community Warfare on the planet Wing against House Marik. I had an issue with the Twitch recording at about minute 8, but it clears up around minute 13. I know that sounds like a long time, but the match was almost 30 minutes long!


Gimpy's First 2000 damage match in Community Warfare


In the below video, Death's Hand Brigade's 3rd Battalion defends the planet Waldorff from Marik aggression. It turns into a very close game and flying spiders are squashed at about 20 minutes in. :D

Playing MechWarrior Online for Charity: Extra Life 2014

On October 25, 2014, I and other members of Death's Hand Brigade will be playing MechWarrior Online for 24 hours straight in order to help raise money for the Children's Miracle Hospital Network during Extra Life's National Day of Gaming.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit DHB's Extra Life team page. Each member will be playing for a different hospital, so be sure to check them all for the hospital nearest you.

I will also be broadcasting the entire 24 hours I will be playing on Twitch.tv. Be sure to stop by. Thanks!

MechWarrior Online: Stormcrow (Ryoken) Video Series

Here are a series of videos of the Stormcrow, aka Ryoken,, a 55 ton medium Clan mech. The Omnipods allow for many different builds across the three variants.

In the video below I pilot the Stormcrow Prime variant with two Clan ER Large Lasers and three Clan ER Medium Lasers in a Frozen City Night Assault match. I get 4 kills and 6 assists on 582 damage.

MechWarrior Online: Banshee, BCN-3S, with AC20 and 2 Large Laser In Action

Here are a series of videos where I pilot the Banshee, BCN-3S, with an AC20, two Large Lasers, and a Medium Laser. This isn't a super fantastic build, but it is a decent tanking mech because the weapon cool downs give you time to fire and torso twist as needed. Basically, it gets the job done.

The below video is a come from behind win during a Forest Colony Assault match. We end up ambushing some of the enemy at the arch/tunnel exit and then push through to crush their attempted ambush at the other end. I end up with 2 kills and 8 assist on 632 damage.

 

MechWarrior Online: Centurion, CN9-A, with 2 Medium Laser and 3 SRM6

Here are a series of videos were I pilot the Centurion, CN9-A, with 2 Medium Lasers and 3 SRM6. This build is affectionately known as the "zombie centurion" or "zombie cent" because it can lose both arms, both side torsos and continue to fight due to the medium lasers being in the center torso.

The below Assault match takes place in Alpine Peaks where I get 2 kills and 10 assists on 253 damage. My damage output is so low because of the very hectic fur ball that takes place and SRMs are not the ideal weapons for that situation.

MechWarrior Online: Atlas AS7-D with 2 Large Laser, 2 LRM10, and 2 Medium Laser In Action

This is a series of videos where I pilot my Founder's Atlas, AS7-D (F), with 2 Large Lasers, 2 LRM10 with Artemis, and 2 Medium Lasers. It's not a LRM boat or a typical high damage output build, but it can do some serious damage over the course of a match. The LRMs can be used to engage at long range while taking little damage in return. Once you get in the 180 to 500 meters range, the LRMs perform more like Streak SRMs and you get to add in your lasers for pinpoint damage to strip off  heavily damaged parts of your enemy.

The below Assault match took place in River City where I got 4 kills and 8 assists on 674 damage. 

MechWarrior Online: JagerMech, JM6-DD, with 2 PPC and 6 Machine Gun In Action

Here are a series of videos where I pilot the JagerMech, JM6-DD, with 2 PPCs and 6 Machine Guns. It's not a great build, but it can be effective and it is fun.

The video below is a Crimson Strait Assault match where I get 5 kills and 5 assists on 534 damage. I also get the Johnny Five achievement for getting 5 kills in one match. I thought I had gotten 5 kills in a match since the achievement system went live before this match, but I guess not. :D

MechWarrior Online: Banshee, BCN-3M, with 2 Large Pulse Laser and 4 Medium Pulse Laser In Action

Here are a series of videos where I pilot the Banshee, BCN-3M, with two Large Pulse Lasers and four Medium Pulse Lasers. It's a fun build with a "little" secret inside. :D

The video below is a comeback win in an Alpine Peaks Assault match. I don't do much, but it had to be shared.

This Assault match took place in HPG Manifold where I got 2 kills and 5 assists on 537 damage.

MechWarrior Online: Griffin, GFN-1N, with ER PPC and 3 Streak SRM2 In Action

Here are a series of videos where I pilot the Griffin, GFN-1N, with an ER PPC and 3 Streak SRM2. It's not a high damage alpha strike build, but it puts out a good amount of damage each match and is an efficient light and medium hunter.

In the below match I get 1 kill and 10 assists on 581 damage in a Frozen City Night Assault match.

MechWarrior Online: Maelstrom238 Gets Educated by The One And Only Batwing

First time MechWarrior Online player, Maelstrom238, joins us (Gimpy, Batwing, and Malagoth) for some training on how to play MWO. Gimpy's mic is broken, but Batwing and Malagoth take over and do an amazing job of educating Maelstrom. It was a fun experience listening to a first time player deal with UI 2.0, piloting the mechs, and oh so many questions. :)

Before Maelstrom joins us, Batwing and I discuss which mech Batwing should get next. Unfortunately, you can't see what I'm typing in TeamSpeak. :(

 Due to the length of the video (over 2 hours), I can't export it to YouTube. But, you can watch it on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/gimpy21/c/3792248

Maelstrom tells us his gaming history at approximately 00:10:00
Maelstrom tries to add Batwing to his Friend list at approximately 00:20:00

MechWarrior Online: Victor Hero Mech, Dragon Slayer VTR-DS, In Action

I will be putting a series of videos here where I pilot the Victor Hero Mech, Dragon Slayer VTR-DS, with two AC5 and two PPC. It's "meta" build and makes me feel dirty, but it is fun. :D

The below video takes place in Terra Therma where I get 5 kills and 1 assist on 416 damage.

In the below video I get my highest damage output to date in any mech while in a Canyon Network match. I get 5 kills and 6 assists on 1370 damage. Oh, and my mic was broken so I don't worry about talking to my teammates. I need to be off mic more often. :D

MechWarrior Online: Ilya Muromets, CTF-IM, In Action

This is my version of a popular build of the Cataphract Hero mech, Ilya Muromets CTF-IM. It has three Ultra AC5 and two medium lasers.

In the video below I get 1 kill and 8 assists on 703 damage in Canyon Network.

MechWarrior Online: Highlander HGN-733 In Action

In an effort to not be sucked in to the current meta builds of 2 PPCs and 1-2 ACs on a jumpjet equipped mech, I built this Highlander HGN-733 with 1 LB-10X, 2 Large Lasers, and 4 SSRM2 (with a Beagle Active Probe too). It turns out to be a pretty decent brawler that can deal with any size mech thanks to the mixed weapon package.

In the below video I get 2 kills and 8 assists on 503 damage in Forest Colony.

MechWarrior Online: Atlas AS7-D with 2 AC5 and 2 ER Large Lasers In Crimson Stait Assault

A Death's Hand Brigade group of 3 assault mechs and 1 medium mech assault the enemy base while our PUGs hold off the enemy at our base. We eliminate the defensive turrets and capture the enemy base to win the match.

I am piloting an Atlas AS7-D (one of my Founder's mechs) with two AC5, two ER Large Lasers, and two Medium Lasers.

 

MechWarrior Online: Suicide Fail Turned Into Victory in a Griffin, GRF-1N(P)

My MWO had locked up before a match started and instead of sitting around waiting for my DHB teammates to finish the match, I decided to do a quick PUG match in my Phoenix Griffin, GRF-1N(P). A few minutes in to the PUG match my DHB teammates were done with their match. So, I try to do as much damage as possible while trying to get myself killed in order to get out of the match without totally screwing over my PUG team. Below is the video of what happened...

 

MechWarrior Online: Batwing Rides a Boar's Head Atlas

A quick video of fellow Death's Hand Brigade member, Batwing, unintentionally landing on top of an enemy Boar's Head Atlas and riding it to it's death!

MechWarrior Online: 1000th Match in Atlas AS7-D-DC

This is my 1000th match in an Atlas AS7-D-DC. It's not pretty. It wasn't fun. It really wasn't how I wanted my 1000th  match the D-DC to go, but oh well. :D

The weapon load out is my preferred build for using the D-DC in 4 man groups these days. An AC20, two ER Large Lasers, and three SRM6. It gives me decent damage at long, medium, and short engagement ranges.

I also have a second AS7-D-DC that is my "shotgun" build with two LB-10X, two Medium Lasers, and three SRM4 that I run in 4 man groups. It is a strictly a short range brawler.

In 12 man groups I swap out the ER Large Lasers for regular Large Lasers because I tend to engage the enemy at shorter ranges and the drop in heat from the lasers is needed for better heat management once the brawl starts.

Stats after 1000 matches (blame PGI for inaccurate numbers)
Wins: 539
Losses: 453
Win/Loss Ratio: 1.19    
Kills: 731
Deaths: 512
Kill/Death Ratio: 1.43    
Time Played: 4 days 11:44:59 hours

MechWarrior Online: 500th Match in Atlas AS7-D

Below is my 500th match in the Founder's Atlas, AS7-D(F). The weapons layout is two AC5, two ER Large Lasers, and two Medium Lasers. It's not my favorite build, but it consistently puts out good damage over a match.

This particular match isn't anything special as far as my performance or my team's performance goes, but I wanted to record it for posterity.

Stats over 500 matches (Blame PGI for inconsistencies if their stats page)

Wins: 262
Losses: 234
Win/Loss Ratio: 1.12 Kills: 331
Deaths: 281
Kill/Death Ratio: 1.18
Time Played: 2 days 02:23:30 hours

 

MechWarrior Online: Ilya Muromets Hero Cataphract, CTF-IM, In Action

Here are a series of videos of me piloting the hero Cataphract "Ilya Muromets", CTF-IM.

The load out I am using is three AC5 and three Medium Lasers. I used to use three Ultra AC5, but got tired of the guns jamming and since the AC5 now fires at the same rate as the Ultra AC5, the damage output is about the same.

A match in Forest Colony Snow where I get 3 kills and 5 assists on 418 damage.

 

 

A match in Crimson Strait where I get 2 kills and 5 assists on 659 damage.

MechWarrior Online: Atlas, AS7-D, with 2 AC5 and 2 ER Large Lasers In Action

Here is a series of videos where I pilot an Atlas, AS7-D, with two AC5, two ER Large Lasers, and two Medium Lasers.

This is a new build for me. I've tried AC5 and UAC5 builds before on the Atlas, but never really liked them for brawling because of the faster rate of fire. Usually when I brawl with an AC20, I fire my big weapons and torso twist to mitigate incoming damage until the weapons finish cycling for the next shot. With faster firing weapons like the AC5, there isn't much time for torso twisting because, if you do, you sacrifice your damage output. So, consider this an experiment for me. :D

A match in Terra Therma where I get 3 kills and 5 assists on 760 damage.