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(This text is based on subjective opinions/observations and uses information easily available on the forum, applicable to pretty much any mech. It is also aimed at the more „novice“ players or those seeking a challenge. I do realise there already is a "Ultimate Awesome Guide" and a "Awesome Basics Guide", I tried to keep it a little on the fun-side of things and more "propaganda" for the poor awesome cannot hurt. This guide is not meant for "competitive" play, much like the awesome itself. I wrote it more for enterntainment-value and to show off the AWS as a very fun mech. You may have differing views or may disagree, I don't really care. If you find typos or grammatical errors you may sell them on e-bay.)
Ahhh the Awesome … so pretty...such a catchy name... so awful.
Wait, what ?! It's called AWESOME, why would it be awful ?
That may have many reasons, every once and again a forum-post about why or how pops up.
It doesn't matter. In fact, it's poor reputation helps you do awesome things!
It weighs 80 tonnes but it's not an assault mech, don't try to be an Atlas.
Pretty much every mech out-guns, out-runs, out-armors or out-maneuvers an awesome. That's ok, though.
Don't play it as a brawler, don't be the first in the line, don't be the last.
Stay snug in the middle of your „more competent friends“ and you will do well.
„Hmm an AS7-D and an AWS-8Q are approaching...who to shoot, who to shoot...decisions, decisions. Ah who am I kidding, that 8Q is no danger, better shoot the atlas first!“
(note: everybody shoots the atlas first anyway, you're basically a damage-sponge with a huge neon-sign above your head in that thing. Atlai are an AWS' best friends.)
Nobody is afraid of an awesome, everybody tends to shoot other mechs first if given the choice. That is your big chance, use it! Show them the folly of their ways and be AWESOME!
It's the secret power of this mech!
The Loadouts:
Awesomes differ in loadout-possibilites quite a lot.
The 8Q and 9M can rock 3 er-PPC very well.
They both play very similar if you so wish. Slap 3 er-PPC on there, a nice STD300 engine (
hu ? But...that's not a...XL?! Yeah yeah...I'll get to that.) and fill'er up with double-heatsinks to the max.Et voilà, your AWS is ready to go out and shine.
You'll be using 2 of those PPC grouped together most of the time, the 3rd is more of a „uuuhh he's red in the core! Kablamm!“-weapon for those moments when one more shot might kill a mech or you/your target disappears behind cover anyway before the other PPC have cycled.
Why the STD-engine ? You could be so much faster with an XL(in a 9M) and the centre torso is so huge, you'll get cored there anyway!
Wrong!
Yes, the CT seems massive compared to the rest of the mech AND it jutts forward „dragon-like“, not a good combination.
BUT once you get the hang of twisting your body away from the enemy while your PPC cycle you will notice that your arms are equally MASSIVE and soak up damage quiet well.
With a little practice you will die a lot less from being cored and you'll lose your side torsi instead, quite often actually.
That's the beauty of the PPC, you hit the trigger, instant damage, no need to face the enemy any longer to keep a beam on target or hold lock for LRM.
You might end up a weaponless zombie, but you did it in an awesome way !
The 8V and 8R variants make for VERY fearsome LRM-boats. Three, respectively four LRM15 in their sidetorsi, a TAG-laser in the head, 8 tonnes of LRM-ammo and whatever suits your fancy for engine and defensive weapons (don't leave home without your trusty beagle).
Off you go, bringing the heavy rain. The enemy team will curse your name and excommunicate your descendants for generations to come.
If you get caught in close range though, better pray for your team to help you … or beg the enemy for mercy, whatever is more your style.
8T and Pretty Baby are mixed bags of nuts. You may have to do some experimenting to find a loadout that suits you.
Maybe turn the 8T into a supercharged HBK-4SP ? Two SRM6+Artemis, four large lasers and a STD-engine do the trick.
Pretty Baby's default loadout makes it a somewhat balanced all-rounder... kinda. Or go PPC+SRM with a 400xl.
Silly things will happen with a 81(89)kph fast AWS, I can asure you.
(personal note: I wuv u Pretty Baby!
)Minor details:
AMS saves lives. Use it. On all awesomes. On any mech actually. Every missile shot down is 1.1 points of damage you DON'T receive, your centre torso will be thankful for it.
Re-allocate your troso-armor. 81/19 front/rear centre torso and 51/17 for sidetorsi works well. Fiddle around with it until it suits you, just make sure to have full armor on your arms, they are your shields. 53Points of armor on your legs is usually enough and gives you an extra ton of space.
Endo-Steel is useful on the missile-boats, the 8Q and 9M don't need it and it takes up too much space, wich you'll want to use for heatsinks.
Do the Twist! Spread that damage around your entire mech. It takes practice and getting used to but it works. Some AWS-variants are better suited for this than others but all profit from it.
Watch your heat. ER-PPC get you very hot, so do LRM if shot in one big, fat cloud-o'doom. The Surgeon General warns that America's most common cause of death is shutting down in front of the enemy.
There you have it. AWESOME Awesomes !
Personally I think (and read it several times on the forum, too) anyone doing well in an Awesome would do even better in any other mech, especially any other assault mech.
That does not mean that AWS are useless and they sure are a lot of fun!
If you like to be „the underdog“ grab an awesome and show them that underdogs can bite, too!
(Question for forum moderators: I posted this in the „Aussault Mech Guides“-section to avoid being yelled at for cluttering the froum... would it be ok to repost this in the „Mechs & Loadouts“-section to get more exposure ? I'd really like to advertise my favorite and severly underrated mech a little more than the „guides“ section allows for and it might have more entertainment-value there.)
