I have often wondered about the 'meta' builds people post.
If for no other reason that most of them have always been 'one button wonders'
The PPC stalkers... (to me: slow unmaneuverable easy targets at their highest)
The Pop-tarts... (strong tendency toward tunnel vision making them relatively easy to flank)
Splat/Streak Cats....
Currently the "meta" dislikes LRMs, and I have been mocked repeatedly for my Centurion builds on account of mounting them, which has always confused me.
The "Zombie" Centurions have always had big weaknesses to those who can actually aim (top of the head, and a narrow band around the waist that both counted as CT from any angle, not to mention the 'crotch' issue)
My build was developed after playing for several hundred matches, considering how I found myself playing most: a lot of sitting on cap points just around a hill from the fight, where LRM's indirect fire made them more valuable than literally any other weapon in the game.
People tell me, LRM are only good en-masse!
and I wonder.... if everyone on a 12 man took a single LRM5... that would be 55-60 missiles, which is generally considered a decent amount (5x12=60 -5 for the spotter)
A mass of Stalkers with a pair of LRM5 gives you 60-120 missiles, almost all of which are going to hit the CT (because LRM5 has almost no spread), for 5 tons worth of equipment each, assuming 1 ton of ammo.
The downsides to LRM I am constantly told about, are either outright bunk in my experience or easy to counter save one.
ECM counters their value... ever hear of dumbfire, the PPC, or a scout with BAP/ECM?
AMS renders the LRM5 useless.... not when EVERYONE on your team launches one no. (I see that in PUGS sometimes, and 12 mans are supposedly much better coordinated than PUGS)
They can get in cover.... in which case, keep one guy launching LRM5 in their direction and they are out of the fight for the duration, no?
What is more: people mock what they call Frankenmechs (mixed buids: IE a stalker with LRM/SRM/Large and med lasers.... IE a STOCK build) but I have found my best success is them - taking the stock builds and working to optimize them (trading the 1 LRM10 for 2 LRM5.. adding DHS and the like)
Not only has the 'infamous' Ghost Heat, not touched any of my mechs, it has actually made them more effective, as people keep trying to work around them with their one button wonders.
(Gauss+PPC.... 2AC5+PPC)
Other than for those who's mouse only has 1 or 2 buttons, I cannot think of much advantage
that the 1 button wonders generate that a mixed build could not do just as well.
There was more, but alas... I cannot remember it (will come back if it occurs to me)
Am I missing something here?