How to Light

When joining a PUG, it is best to bear in mind what you intend to do with your mech, before the match even starts.  If possible, declare this to your teammates prior to the start of the match.  While piloting a light this normally takes the form of: "I have a TAG, any boats out there?", or "I'm capping (point) then (other point)."

While scouting is the natural role of the light, there are many other options for you.  First, if on conquest, capture remote points.  One smart-ass in a spider, capping points early on, is the difference between winning and losing.  If you are doing this, do not ever engage the enemy.  Let the heavies and assaults do that.  Just keep running from one point to another.  If able, report any enemy sightings.  The shame here is that you don't get more XP for that.

If on skirmish, stick close to an Assault and play flyswatter for him.  You get some kills, you protect a teammate, and basically you both benefit.  Like the little birds eating the flies from the back of a water buffalo.

On assault, take the long way around the outside of a map.  Use that TAG if you have it.  Scout while attempting to "cap" the enemy base.  I used the quotation marks because you are not really capping.  You are convincingly staying there until some enemy mechs show back up, then running like hell.  The enemy team is now split up and disarrayed.  If none of them turn back, you get a cap win.  Not great, but not bad for a plan B.

If you are intending to purely scout, then do.  But, do not engage the enemy.  Take a shot, and flee behind your line.  (Or a large mech)  Pop out and flank, take one shot and flee.  Unless you are skilled in mechanical ballet, if you engage you will be nothing more than a smoke plume in short order.  (If you are that good, I'm assuming you aren't reading this.)

Needless to say you have a mech that runs like a raped-ape.  If you are in a light that is not blindingly fast; start over.  You cannot make that thing into a gunboat; don't try.  (Unless you are that wise-guy in the ERPPC raven.  Bravo on that.  You sir, are a massive ass-pain.)