26 replies to this topic

[JC Daxion]

I really could use an XL-300.. I'd really like to just buy an XL-315, but at this time, i think my money is better spent on another mech. I am kicking myself for not picking up Sarah's last summer, but missed the date Maybe The will sell this great mech again, it would be worth it for the great cause but i digress.


My choices..

centurion C9-D, 2 ballistics, 2x10 missiles, 2 energy

Pro's I have my free cent from the event a while back, and the yen-lo-wang is a mech i have wanted, and will buy one day.. so it will be my 3 mechs to get to master. besides the C9-D is pretty darn customization with lots of fun load outs

con's, I need to get more MC to get my the Yen-lo, but i will eventually, not in a hurry to get um to master anyway, so not really that big of a con

cost 8,158,590



Trebuchet TBT-3C 4 energy, 2x20 missile


Pro's, is mech i have thought about getting many times.. I do love my HBK's, so a fan of mediums, and it has always seemed like a good mech. I also really like the treb with JJ's so would be worth getting for buying 2 more down the road

Con's, not sure if the griffin has just taken over the place of what this mech was best at.. the fast, mobile flanking LRM boat. and getting those extra two would definatly be down the road.. i have enough mechs to work on to get my master unlocks. almost all are elited, but still, 300k XP is a lotta play time in the mean time..

cost 8,503,816


Atlas AS7-K, 4 energy, 1x10 missile, 1 Ballistic

Pro's I already have the DDC, so it would be my second for getting 3 to master.


Con's, the K was always considered not as hot, but with the LRM buffs, and dual AMS more common, it has me wondering if this is no longer the case..

I have only played the DDC 3 times.. Just haven't felt like playing an assault just yet.. so it could be parked for another year like the DDC i bought last summer.. But this could be the kick in the pants i need to get um to master unlocks..

Cost, this beast is expensive, but then again all atlas are anyway. But having to grind out an extra 5m+ is going to take a whlie, as i am just hitting 2m now.. If i grab a cheep one, instead i can finally grab the the Cap accelerator module i have had unlocked for months.. because i keep buying more mechs! Darn you PGI for that free thunder bolt.. (the whole reason why i wan't the XL300 in the first place. But i really could use the cap accelerator on my HBK, or ravens..

Cost, 13,691,066



i am kinda leaning towards the cent, because.. well frankly it is the cheapest, and i already have one.. and like i said in my Pro's the Yen-lo-wang will be in my mech bay one day... when that is i have no idea..

But really they all would not be bad purchases in my mind.. So come on guys... You folks have never steered me wrong yet.. soo what do i do!?!?

[White Bear 84]

Cent. p.s. YLW is a fun hero to play in - AC20 with 2 medlas (meaning you can go zombie). But if you do use the XL, you will want to make sure that you are more of a long range brawler - or situational.

You rarely see trebs on the battlefield for a reason... ..so would say no

If you are not ready for assault, dont play assault.. ..plus XL's on Atlases is pretty much like slapping death in the face.

[Kanajashi]

Go for the 9D for sure, its a great mech and you are already planning on mastering out Centurions so why not start now

[Tahribator]

ON-1M also comes with XL300 stock. You might want to look into that.

[Barkem Squirrel]

Get the D and after the AL. Nothing like a PPC on a cent.


Like you, I had the cent from the challenge (remember we had to Earn it), but I had also bought the Wang before. The C9-D was the first one I bought then the AL was the last. That was right after we got the Cent in the challenge.

The big difference is I did buy the Sarah's Jenner last year. So I have two 300 XL's now.

You have one, want the Wang, and the trenchbuckets have a reason that bucket is in the name. The 55 ton mechs have mostly replaced it.

There is a reason I do not have that atlas. The others were cheaper and I like a 340 standard in them. Also if you stay with your lance that is 4 AMS. As a missile Boater I will change targets due to that alone and get you later after you split up a bit.

Now you have to go out and grind some C-bills. Load up some LRM's on a mech and try to tag everyone for the C-bills. You get more C-bills for a assist and a kill anyways. Or load an ERLL and tag everyone you can.

[luxebo]

There's also the Orion M if you so desire OP. I would suggest either Centurion D or Atlas K, as both are not bad at all. Trebuchet isn't a good choice unless you plan on going for it specifically, and Orion M isn't the best hardpoint wise and needs special usage. After the Centurion D, Centurion A is best, AL can be chosen but unless you love lasers, Centurion A is better. Atlas RS if you like lasers (same as Boar's Head), and Atlas D if you want to have the original Atlas (standardish builds for it, etc).

[Ovion]

Centurion or Atlas.

Both are on my list to get, not really interested in trebs.
Maybe after I've got the other 50-50 variants on my list.

The Centurion is a solid med brawler, and I've enjoyed my CN9-A(C).
Atlas I like, and getting the K is slightly different (2AMS), and gets me an XL300 for another mech (like my Catas)
Of course, if you're not feeling assaults, there's not a huge amount of hitting the massive grind for an Atlas.

Go for the Centurion.

Edited by Ovion, 25 May 2014 - 04:30 PM.

[JC Daxion]

Tahribator, on 25 May 2014 - 04:22 PM, said:

ON-1M also comes with XL300 stock. You might want to look into that.

yea, i saw that, but it falls into the more expensive range, and i would still need 2 more, which is why i left it off the list.. But thanks.. maybe it will help someone else..

[SnagaDance]

I got the Atlas-K about a week ago. same reason as you, I wanted a second Atlas after my DDC (which has enough XP to finish Master actually) and even though I consider the K as the worst of the bunch it was cheaper than any of the other variant + buying a 300XL.

And I wanted that XL to permanently put in my Awesome-8R missile boat. The bonus was I already had a replacement standard 300 lying around.

That said, I'm also getting that Centurion. Not only do I want to master the Centurion now I have that one free mech, but I can use another XL300. Sure my Jenner already has one but my KTO-18 is still lacking.

Can't really have enough 300XL's.

So really ask yourself, what mech would I enjoy playing more? I think it won't be the Atlas since you played so little in the DDC.

[Ursh]

I'd go for the Centurion. The Atlas K is generally not considered to be a great Atlas because you give up hardpoints for the second AMS slot, and your loadouts are extremely limited as a result.

After you elite out the Cent D someday, drop a 350+ xl in it just to zoom around at 122kph+.

[Sparks Murphey]

Well, Atlai, and assaults in general, rarely work well with XLs. Of course, you could always use the engine from your D-DC, but then, why not just use your D-DC instead? Surely two small energy slots in the CT and dual AMS isn't worth dropping a ballistic slot, 2 missile slots and ECM over? (Unless you're pressing on for mastery, which you've said is somewhat secondary, so...)

As much as there's been some talk above about Trebs being rubbish, they're still quite a nice machine, if you use them in the right niche, and packing a 300XL for hit-and-runs is that niche. My -5N and -5J have been topping my personal stats since they came out. Contrary to appearances, the Treb doesn't really play as a missile boat, it's a raider. The -3C packs four energy points on as it's main weapons, with a pair of missiles to support them as it waits for it's prey. The -5J takes that up to 5 in exchange for a single missile slot, and adds jump jets so you can get at your foes more easily, and vanish as quickly.

Or course, the Centurion-D does much of that as well with a 300XL fitted (which should be the only reason to put an XL in a Centurion, since it takes away their ability to zombie like gods). So the question before you should be whether you like hit-and-run gameplay over brawling (the Cent can do brawling too, though it's brothers are better at it), and if you prefer energy weapons over ballistic.

[EgoSlayer]

If you are thinking of doing the Centurions the 'Medium Master' bundle is actually a pretty good deal:
Medium Mastery bundle (Centurion)
1x CN9-YLW (3750 MC value)
1x CN9-A(C) (1850 MC value)
1x CN9-D (3265 MC value)
1x Centurion statue (750 MC value)
30x Premium time Days, activated (2500 MC value)
3x Mech bay, for included Mechs (900 MC value)
SubTotal (before rebate) 13015 MC
Rebate 50%: -6515 MC
Total: 6500 MC

One stop shopping. Yes you are paying MC for the two other variants (but one is a champion version), but you are getting it all for less than the normal the price of 3 mech bays, the YLW, and 30 days premium time.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Treb 3C

with 380 XL its loads of fun and has 4 energy hardpoints,so its non ammo dependent on larger engines.1 Large pulse laser + 3 medium lasers seems to do the trick. Add one ASRM6 if you are using the stock XL300
There is something nice in a medium that can do 135 kph and be a threat to all weight classes.

Level the treb 7K and 5J and you have quite broad and decent overall lineup for medium class.
Trebs are not brawlers so hit and run tactics are advised

Cents are great but YLW just draws too much fire and you cant really do a decent ballistic loadout in 50 tons.
Cent AL is the best of the c-bill variants.

[Creovex]

Personally I feel that Centurions are a ton of fun but hard to compete with. However.. if you put the time in you can master the torso twist arm block with these bad boys and up your overall skill level in most any mech. Like all mediums you need to chose a play style and with Centurions the support role is usually best. ( unlike a hunch that can walk in the center of a fray)

[Phlinger]

Being a Cent Pilot in closed beta is how I learned how to torso twist. I would recommend everyone have at least one Cent in their stable. In CB, Centurions were all I piloted, that and a lonely K-2.

[White Bear 84]

Ronyn, on 26 May 2014 - 04:26 PM, said:

In CB, Centurions were all I piloted, that and a lonely K-2.

Hehe, the old school gausscat

[Pale Jackal]

Perhaps I'm missing the point, but I really dislike XL engines in the 305 to 325 range, though I do use an XL 325 on my HGN 733C. So I'd advise against buying an XL315 in the first place, especially since the days of the Streak A1 Catapult are long gone.

You're paying an extra ton for the gyro upgrade, so to go from XL 300 to 315, you're paying 2.5 tons. Conversely, going from 265 to 300 would cost you 2.5 tons. So you're getting less than half the benefit for the same tonnage. I mean, speed is very useful, and maybe I undervalue it, but I really like to be in the XL280 to XL300 range with my 'mechs, with my ideal being XL295 and XL300. The exception would be assault 'mechs, or 'mechs like the 2 AC20 Jaeger where I use an XL265 for an extra ton of AC20 ammo.

Edited by Pale Jackal, 26 May 2014 - 05:08 PM.

[JC Daxion]

Pale Jackal, on 26 May 2014 - 05:07 PM, said:

Perhaps I'm missing the point, but I really dislike XL engines in the 305 to 325 range,

thanks for the info and i understand where you are coming from.. But really, the point is to squeeze the biggest engine i can get into the chassis, and play around with it.. I dunno, it is a down the road thing. But yea, the XL300 is more versatile, and might be more bang for the buck so to speak. but that day will come when i have money to blow, then i get to play around with more weird loadouts..

[Phlinger]

White Bear 84, on 26 May 2014 - 05:05 PM, said:

Hehe, the old school gausscat

My K-2 was always 2 UAC/5's and 4 Med's. I never got into the Gauss craze. Occasionally I'll swap it to 2 AC/10's 4 meds.

[White Bear 84]

Ronyn, on 26 May 2014 - 08:10 PM, said:

My K-2 was always 2 UAC/5's and 4 Med's. I never got into the Gauss craze. Occasionally I'll swap it to 2 AC/10's 4 meds.

I used to LOVE the gauss, much more than the AC20.. ..now I hardly use it in any of my mechs.

And to think I wasn't part of the gauss+pcc sniper boating craze that brought around the changes.