Any tips for complete beginners?

[chacolil]

Ive just started this game and Im a complete beginner to battletech games, so if anyone can give me a few tips and answers theyre welcome:
1- Is melee combat a viable option later on? I ask because this are the same people that made Shadowrun and the systems seem to be similar to this one. In Shadowrun, melee characters, also acceptable, were really gimped in higher difficulties. So, is the same predicament shown in this game?
2- Does anyone have a page that shows a good guide to what everything that is shown in the screen means? Theres a lot of icons and information on the UI, but I dont understand more than half of it, and know less what can be clicked on and what is there just for the sake of information.
3- Is there a way to aim specifically to the legs of mechs? I know tactics have called shots, but are called shots random or can I choose when to do them?

Thank you for any input. If you have any further tips that could help me, Id appreciate them.

[Lordofriva]

there is a quide pinned by one of the devs pinned above :)

[chacolil]

Originally posted by Lordofriva:

there is a quide pinned by one of the devs pinned above :)

Thank you very much, I didnt pay attention to the pinned ones thinking they were all faqs. This helps :)

[Wiz33]

And here's a guide from PCGamer

https://www.pcgamer.com/battletech-guide/?ns_campaign=article-feed&ns_mchannel=ref&ns_source=steam&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

[Langkard]

If they've stayed true to the original Battletech lore (and since it's some of the original game designers involved, I imagine that they have), then melee is certainly an option. Some mechs are designed specifically with melee in mind. In the original tabletop rules there were pages of rules for punching, kicking and using hand held weapons like hatchets. It's not all long range missiles, autocannons and lasers. At least, I hope not. Still downloading.

[chacolil]

After watching the guide and playing a bit, another question: how do I know that I have disabled an enemy mech without destroying its chassis so I can salvage it? When I eliminate enemy mechs, I notice it because the message CT Destroyed appears. What message do I see when Ive effectively disabled a mech so I can try to salvage its chassis?

[The Fifth Horseman]

Originally posted by chacolil:

Ive just started this game and Im a complete beginner to battletech games, so if anyone can give me a few tips and answers theyre welcome:

Play cautiously, don't rush into combat. Use Give Dekker Sensor Lock (you should have XP for that after the first post-tutorial mission).

3- Is there a way to aim specifically to the legs of mechs? I know tactics have called shots, but are called shots random or can I choose when to do them?

You can do called shots on prone enemies, and you can spend your Morale gauge to perform a Called Shot in any situation.

Originally posted by chacolil:

After watching the guide and playing a bit, another question: how do I know that I have disabled an enemy mech without destroying its chassis so I can salvage it? When I eliminate enemy mechs, I notice it because the message CT Destroyed appears. What message do I see when Ive effectively disabled a mech so I can try to salvage its chassis?

You don't salvage a complete chassis, but one of the kill types gives you 3 mech parts (enough to rebuild a functional mech):
Pilot killed/cockpit destroyed - 3 mech parts (enough to rebuild a full mech)
Legs destroyed - 2 mech parts
CT destroyed - 1 mech part
You can damage enemy pilots by dealing Stability damage to knock their mechs down. Side Torso destruction also damages them.

[Swisspike]

Once you get going, refit your medium mechs to take SOME of the rear armor off, and put it on your front armor.

If you are careful with your facing, this will help alot to keep your mechs alive.

I like spending experience to get better gunnery. Nothing wrong with a higher chance to hit. If one is a PPC, then this is a game changer.

[Ultradad]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1365402907