Jenner v Locust

[Penny Royal]

What's your preference?

With the Jenner, you get high maneuverability and the ability to run or jump behind the enemy and unleash a wicked alpha strike with 4 Med Lasers and a nice SRM salvo, whereas with the Locust you get insane manueverability and the ability to harass your opponent with LRMs.

I currently run a Jenner scout to decent effect, albeit with some seriously close calls. Are there any arguments for using the Locust instead, other than increasing the pilots survival chances (due to the scant chance of hitting it with anything)?

[JanaSzar]

In the very-early game, could use Locust as a spotter/scout if you re-equip all your Mechs to be Fire Support. Jenner gets to do the same, but a tad slower.

Beyond that early game though, it's a liability.

[Lack of Stuff]

Are you talking strictly stock build or custom? If custom then there is absolutely nothing the locust does better.

[Penny Royal]

Originally posted by JanaSzar:

In the very-early game, could use Locust as a spotter/scout if you re-equip all your Mechs to be Fire Support. Jenner gets to do the same, but a tad slower.

Beyond that early game though, it's a liability.

What would be your choice after, then? I heard somebody suggest Firestarters were better scouts, but coming across the AI's in combat makes me think they aren't worth much (they don't last long with my skirmishers).

[Penny Royal]

Originally posted by Lack of Stuff:

Are you talking strictly stock build or custom? If custom then there is absolutely nothing the locust does better.

What variant do you find the most useful?

[Your Mom's Oshi]

I've tried a few builds for Jenner late game and it can't do much more than pushing over unsteady mechs. I'm intent on finding more small mechs that are viable against assault mechs other than Firestarter though so I'll keep trying things.

[avaririot]

Jenner is an awesome mech. Great scout and you can strap enough LRm's on it to make it a nuissance. Locust is a pure spotter, maybe if we had tonnage limits I'd use one again.

[Lack of Stuff]

Originally posted by Sagittar:

Originally posted by Lack of Stuff:

Are you talking strictly stock build or custom? If custom then there is absolutely nothing the locust does better.

What variant do you find the most useful?

For Locust? None of them. Although I would probably take a Locust over either Cicada. Jenner only has 1 type in game IIRC.

[JanaSzar]

Pretty much move to mid-range (Medium Laser) brawlers for me. LRM boats are too situational for my tastes with the current conditions, and I just seem to foul up short-range/melee stuff.

Plus, considering that we only have 4 Mechs on the field, dropping one for a scout means I lose damage capabilities. (Think of doing a 5-Skull mission where you're going to face 8 Assault-Class Mechs; do you want another Assault on your side, or a scout that will tell you where they are a turn before you find them anyway?)

If we had either more Mechs on the field, or better damage avoidance equipment (ECM, Stealth Armor...), then a light scout might make sense.

[Penny Royal]

Originally posted by JanaSzar:

Pretty much move to mid-range (Medium Laser) brawlers for me. LRM boats are too situational for my tastes with the current conditions, and I just seem to foul up short-range/melee stuff.

Plus, considering that we only have 4 Mechs on the field, dropping one for a scout means I lose damage capabilities. (Think of doing a 5-Skull mission where you're going to face 8 Assault-Class Mechs; do you want another Assault on your side, or a scout that will tell you where they are a turn before you find them anyway?)

If we had either more Mechs on the field, or better damage avoidance equipment (ECM, Stealth Armor...), then a light scout might make sense.

You've read my mind.

I was thinking just one more for a lance would justify a quick-moving spotter, but once the AI starts fielding nothing but Mediums and up, they become detrimental to the health of your team.

Perhaps the Devs did this to speed up skirmish times. Games might drag if someone had a couple of LRM boats circumnavigating the map at a safe distance until they were out of ammo.

[JanaSzar]

Ehh, if I remember my TT rules... You actually had different "battle types" that required the use of different Mechs; pursuit, scouting, main battle... Which had each side with different "win" conditions, such as escape off the map or find enemy forces, not just "kill everything and win" we have now.

As for the Devs, I can see why they didn't bother to include them; we only have 6~18 Mech Bays, and it takes a while to refit early on, so getting a few missions you just can't do because you only have a scouting force instead of a assault force could end your game.

[Penny Royal]

Originally posted by JanaSzar:

Ehh, if I remember my TT rules... You actually had different "battle types" that required the use of different Mechs; pursuit, scouting, main battle... Which had each side with different "win" conditions, such as escape off the map or find enemy forces, not just "kill everything and win" we have now.

As for the Devs, I can see why they didn't bother to include them; we only have 6~18 Mech Bays, and it takes a while to refit early on, so getting a few missions you just can't do because you only have a scouting force instead of a assault force could end your game.

Fair enough.

[ImHelping]

Custom Firestarter is legit up until you are fighting endgame/postgame assault spam. Though obviously is more risky sooner in random contract missions (And getting a grasshopper is like finding two Firestarters stacked on top of eachother as a mech)

Jenner falls off, but the Firestarter keeps working whether it's stuffed with flamethrowers, small lasers, or machineguns.

[bukkakeBriana]

Jenner for me worked really well for early to mid game even with heavies entering the norm. I mainly used it for M-lasers and LRMs. Abuse multi-shot/breach shot with 2x LRM10s. Find anything with +stability dmg.

Locust is good for completing recovery objects as long as you got good piloting. I prefered the 3 support weapon Locust for sure though, cause flamer and MGs seemed to work really good.

One thing about lights during lategame/assault. Sometimes the AI will just straight up ignore lights 100%. It's strange but sometimes the locust can do whatever you want recovery objective and all and no assault mech bothers to turn around to try to target it.

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by bukkake briana:

Jenner for me worked really well for early to mid game even with heavies entering the norm. I mainly used it for M-lasers and LRMs. Abuse multi-shot/breach shot with 2x LRM10s. Find anything with +stability dmg.

Locust is good for completing recovery objects as long as you got good piloting. I prefered the 3 support weapon Locust for sure though, cause flamer and MGs seemed to work really good.

One thing about lights during lategame/assault. Sometimes the AI will just straight up ignore lights 100%. It's strange but sometimes the locust can do whatever you want recovery objective and all and no assault mech bothers to turn around to try to target it.

Or sometimes they will sensor lock and have every single enemy with LRMs spend their turn firing LRMs at your light mech that is braced behind a rock, rather than your Orion with an exposed side torso.