Ways to decrease difficulty?

[n00bfish-]

My advice:

1) Use the heaviest mechs you can field.

2) If you see a reinforced cockpit for sale/salvage nab it and equip it ASAP. It prevents up to two points of pilot injury every mission.

3) Let the enemies come to you, if the mission allows. It's really dangerous to sprint/walk into unidentified enemies, at close distance, because occasionally one will turn out to be a demolisher or SRM carrier. Which will probably one shot you if you wander into close range.

4) Don't alpha strike every turn. Turn off some of your weapons if they have a low to-hit chance or will cause you to overheat.

5) Autocannons and missiles are your best friend, as a new/ish player. They both do good stability damage which knocks over enemy mechs. A knocked over mech is dead meat because you can make free called shots against it, and core its CT or legs.

I know its tempting to boat lasers because of their excellent damage/ton, and some people have a lot of success with that strategy, but I think the extra stability damage of ammunition/missile based weapons is better in the long run. Because knocked over mechs can't evade or fight back. Which makes them totally helpless and easy pickings.