60 replies to this topic

[Sprouticus]

I cannot find a single config I like. I have tried:

2 UAC5/2ERML
2LPL/2ERML/2mg
3xLRM15
LBX20/2ml/2mg


Any other configs I am missing or is this just a terrible mech as I had assumed (which is why I left it for last to master...)

[El Bandito]

CLRM15 + Quad CSRM6 + Dual AMS. Use LRM only to get assists and SRMs for full frontal ***********. Dual AMS will help you against LRMs when your team advances and when you expose yourself to brawl.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4ae5aba0ea08698

Very simple but effective config.

Edited by El Bandito, 16 September 2014 - 07:14 AM.

[BourbonFaucet]

PPC + LBX-20 for Prime has worked for me so far.

[Redshift2k5]

I've enjoyed 2 ERPPC/2MG, four ERLL, and 2 LBX5s plus 4ERML. Works better if I pretend I'm in Medium instead of a heavy.

Got my ass kicked by a Summoner with like 5 SRM6s so I might have to try that.

[Dracol]

I leveled mine with ACs in the nipples. The high mounts were great for ridge cresting/humping.

[Hoax415]

Yes its that bad when compared to the best mech in the game.

It doesn't have endo. It is not 35/55/75/100 tons. It can't mount ECM. It doesn't have some form of special geometry that gives it great hardpoint positions or lets it protect its hitboxes effectively.

Those are the four criteria for being a good mech in MWO.

Summoner is 0/4, 1/4 at best. (As you can see Dracol makes an argument that it qualifies for hardpoint positions w/ the right build).

Its just not going to be great. Ever. Arguably its worse than the 'phract after all the clan weapon nerfs but I'd say they are basically balanced.

We need BV or we need tonnage counts to matter or we need Endo and FF to have some kind of logistical disadvantage otherwise this is just the way things are going to be.

Just wait until the Vulture is released and its **** because it can only at best get 1/4 and there isn't a reason to think those arms are going to be high mounted enough to be good.

Edited by Hoax415, 16 September 2014 - 07:17 AM.

[Ozric]

ERPPC, LRM15, 2x MLAS - Dropped the LBX for 2 MLAS and extra armour, heatsinks, lurms and a TC3. Less finishing power for sure, but altering the prime loadout like this enhances it in all the other important places.

[Asyres]

It suffers from a lack of Endo, combined with limited hardpoints. It could really use some quirks to help it shine - at the moment, it can't really out shoot a Stormcrow, which is 15 tons lighter and 16 kph faster.

[Monkey Lover]

Yes its bad no matter how you sugar coat it. It's a medium mech in a heavy body.

[Tastian]

There really is nothing the Summoner can do that the Timberwolf can't do better. I always hear the argument: "well if you put the max jump jets in the timberwolf..." But the point is that you don't want max jump jets.

That being said, there ARE some Summoner builds that will work. Try to take advantage of some of it's strong points:

1) Dual AMS.
2) Jump Jets and mobility (it's good for PPC, LB Autocannons, and SRMs jump and shoot or shoot and twist).
3) High mounted Ballistic hardpoints on both shoulders.
4) It's not a Vindicator

Edited by Tastian, 16 September 2014 - 07:24 AM.

[Bhael Fire]

There's a few builds you can get by with, but it definitely needs some love. In particular, the jumps need to be removable...or they need to provide better mobility than they do in this chassis.

[STEF_]

Redshift2k5, on 16 September 2014 - 07:15 AM, said:

Got my ass kicked by a Summoner with like 5 SRM6s so I might have to try that.

That's exatly one of my config.

the other ones:

ultra ac20 + 4 ml

4 erll (worked better before nerf)

And, yes, you must pretend to run a medium.

[Weaselball]

It's not a Timberwolf, that's for sure. That said, I do enjoy my Summoner's (I have the prime and the D... love that D), and still play them regularly despite having Timbergods as well.

They key to playing the summoner, IMHO, is knowing its role. It doesn't have the firepower (pod space) to be a front-line heavy. It isn't going to be the mech to lead the charge and break through an enemy position, or at least it isn't the ideal mech. What it does excel at is support.

My two variants that I use with pretty decent success are as follows:

Prime: 2 erML, UAC10 (3 tons ammo), LRM15 (2 tons of ammo).
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...66be98bb5599d24

It gets the job done. Use the LRM's at the start of the game when everyone is just LRMing to soften up targets, and to support your main weapons as well once the real fight starts. The UAC10/ERML combo is pretty solid, especially if you can find a target that's fixated on someone else (like, a madcat, or a daishi for example).

The other build I use is a mini-timberwolf.
SMN-D: 2 erLL, 2 erML, LRM15 (2 tons ammo), Targeting Comp 1.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5fcac7e7e6556f8

It plays like a mini-madcat in almost every way, which is to say the real madcat is better... but it works.

Anyways those are the two non-meta builds I've found to work best for me. Hope it helps.

[Tremendous Upside]

Monkey Lover, on 16 September 2014 - 07:17 AM, said:

Yes its bad no matter how you sugar coat it. It's a medium mech in a heavy body.

4xERML, 1xUAC20, 1xSRM4/6 works reasonably well -- but you absolutely do need to play it like a medium. It may "look" like a 70-ton brawler built this way, but the problem boils down to having to put the ammo somewhere... and when you have your legs, head and all but 1 CT slot already filled (as well as the torso you've crammed the UAC20 into), there's really not a lot of guesswork to figure out where to shoot you. Lose either side torso and you're done.

IF the Summoner could fit more than one missile slot in the torsos or had an option to carry more lightweight energy weaponry, you'd have ways to make it competitive. As it is now though, it's lack of hardpoints and low available tonnage really do hurt it compared to other clan mechs (and IS ones too).

[Fire and Salt]

The summoner has no endo steel, and 5 tons of fixed jjs. Also 14 engine heat sinks.


Therefore, it has low free tonnage.


Mech with low free tonnage do best with energy weapons. Especially if they have extra heat sinks.


Sadly, the summoners energy weapons are all in the easily destroyed arms.



It doesn't need info or removable heat sinks. It needs torso energy slots. Put a laser or ppc where the machine guns go, and you have a viable mech.

[Seeker Kirov]

I have one with 4MedLas and 2 LB-2-X that, while not great, maintains an even KDR and has a positive Win Ratio. It's not as bad as the forums will tell you, because the forum loves hyperbole - but it definitely punches below it's weight.

[SgtMagor]

my Summoner
3-erll
1-machinegun
Lrm10
AMS
TC-1

[Damien Tokala]

FIVE STREAK6!

thank me later

[Ertur]

Don't forget to put armor on the legs. They're very weak if you don't add armor there. First thing I shoot at, just in case the other guy hadn't done that.

[Mcgral18]

UAC20/Gauss in the torso, 4 ERMLs, ammo.

That one is reasonable. You could also go SRM18 and a UAC10, but that's ammo limited and short ranged.