31 replies to this topic

[Rorvik]

I've got the STK-3F and will be getting the 5S when it goes on sale or when I have the time and money for it (whichever comes first). In the meantime, with the sale on, I'm looking to buy what would be the third Stalker variant and I'm having trouble deciding between the the 4N and the 5M.

I'll probably get the Misery at some point, but I'm not making the mistake I did with the Dragon, where I waited a year for the Fang to go on sale only to find that 1N was a better variant, thus wasting an entire year with my Dragons with only Basic skills unlocked*.

The 3H holds no appeal for me whatsoever.

The 4N has a good LL build that looks like it would fun, especially for ridge sniping. However, my concern is that because it's an energy build, it plays too similarly to the 5S' LPL build.

The 5M, on the other hand, has a good SRM boating build that also looks good, but is a much more close range build.

Any thoughts or advice? I suppose I could get both, but, even with Premium Time, I'd really have to grind those C-bills this week...

* ETA: The way I worded this has caused some confusion. I didn't mean to imply that the Misery is not as good as everyone says. What I meant is, I don't want to wait around for a sale on the Misery to be able to unlock the Elite skills on the Stalkers I do have.

Edited by Rorvik, 11 January 2015 - 12:57 PM.

[Tastian]

The 4N Large Laser build has been called one of the must have IS mech drops in CW if that tells you anything.

[TygerLily]

Misery's been a solid Hero for a long time. I'd also suggest the 4N for the LL build. With the range quirks and range module...your only 90 meters short of an unquirked/moduled ERLL but for one less heat per!

[Decoy3]

There isn't any variant of the Stalker that I'd consider better than the Misery.

I only bought the 4N two days ago, and it's taking some getting used to. So far the LLas build is treating me well. The ERLLas build is just too difficult to leverage in the solo queue (though I never got Alpine or Canyon). I also own the 3F and 5M, but I haven't played them in ages, so I can't really tell you how they handle post-quirkening.

[oldradagast]

Misery is the best for anything but missile builds.

It may not be "the best" at everything else, but it still has high-mounted energy points and - unlike every other Stalker - it can mount a ballistic weapon, and a big one, too.

It's not "overpowered," nor are other Stalkers bad, but any variant of a mech that has access to something useful that none of the others have is worth considering, and the Misery is a good example of that.

[Rorvik]

What I'm wondering is, is the 5M good at boating its SRM6s, given that two sets of launch tubes are at the top of the arms pointing upwards. Seems like there would be some delay when firing these SRMs as they'd have to come up and then turn towards your target.

[Cold Cash]

yeh its good.!!

[eFTy]

I'd advise to try and get both. The 4N is lots of fun with LLs, and the 5M is great as a missile boat.

Caveat emptor - the SRM build will only really work against noobish players or really slow mechs (atlas, dire wolf, crab). Everyone else will just go around you and you won't be able to keep up. You turn slow and you can only twist 72 degrees to each side once mastered. That means that you'll often get one, maybe two volleys off and then you start to spin fruitlessly.

I've had much better success with 4x ALRM10, 4x ML, TAG, BAP, STD300.

Meanwhile the 3F is the best at brawling - it can actually look straight to the left or right.

[Rorvik]

eFTy, on 13 January 2015 - 01:20 AM, said:

Caveat emptor - the SRM build will only really work against noobish players or really slow mechs (atlas, dire wolf, crab). Everyone else will just go around you and you won't be able to keep up. You turn slow and you can only twist 72 degrees to each side once mastered. That means that you'll often get one, maybe two volleys off and then you start to spin fruitlessly.

That's the kind of thing I was worried about and wanted to know about. Thanks! I'll opt for the 4N for now and will get the 5S later.

[eFTy]

The 5M is still very much worth the ISK, though. I find it better as an LRM boat than the 3F,
It's also great to boat ER LLs. You can reach out to almost 1.5km with them.

[Kushko]

eFTy, on 13 January 2015 - 01:20 AM, said:

I'd advise to try and get both. The 4N is lots of fun with LLs, and the 5M is great as a missile boat.

Caveat emptor - the SRM build will only really work against noobish players or really slow mechs (atlas, dire wolf, crab). Everyone else will just go around you and you won't be able to keep up. You turn slow and you can only twist 72 degrees to each side once mastered. That means that you'll often get one, maybe two volleys off and then you start to spin fruitlessly.

I've had much better success with 4x ALRM10, 4x ML, TAG, BAP, STD300.

Meanwhile the 3F is the best at brawling - it can actually look straight to the left or right.

Thats exactly why i dont understand the lrm 10 quirks the 3F got. It having the largest turn angles of any stalker just screams brawl yet PGI in all their wisdom gave it a long range support quirk. I hear they took alot of feedback from hardcore players...i would sure love to have a chat with these alleged skilled pilots. :S

But hey, at least its only 5% so we shouldn't feel too bad for ignoring it.

Edited by Kushko, 16 January 2015 - 05:31 AM.

[Fiona Marshe]

eFTy, on 14 January 2015 - 01:02 AM, said:

The 5M is still very much worth the ISK, though.

Your ISK is worthless here! We worship the mighty C-Bill (H-bills accepted at a discount).

[eFTy]

Err, whoops. And to think, I've not played EVE in years...

Since I relegated the 5M to be my main LRM boat, and the 4N is the laser boat, I've been trying various builds on the 3F. 4x ERLL worked well enough (it has a quirk to cut down on heat a bit). SRM24 wasn't much fun, as it still involved gettign way closer to the enemy than I am comfortable with in a Stalker. Now I've also tried 2x ERLL, 4x ML, LRM20 & SRM12. Mixed results, so far, but I don't really feel it.

[BigFatGator]

Echo the 4N comments. It's one of my go-to mechs with the 4LL and a couple SRM4s tossed in for extra fun.

The 5M was the first stalker I got, and had dreams of wrecking face with a massive 5xASRM6 payload. It doesn't really work that way though. Slow and limited torso twist really makes the Stalker bad brawlers. The 5M SRM build is good for locking down a chokepoint in a tunnel or urban area, but is really a one-trick pony.

[Rorvik]

Does anyone know if / when the 5S might go on sale? So far we've had FRR, Davion and now apparently Marik, but none of them had the 5S. Could we possibly see it on sale during the Steiner sale (since they are big on Assaults)?

[MarkFBD]

A friend of mine started playing Saturday. he pick up a Trebuchet, Firestarter, and a Stalker S. I helped him trick out the Treb, and showed him what to do with Firestarter (I generally only play with lights and mediums), but don't know what to do with the Stalker. My instinct was to put numerous LRM 15s and 10s all over the damn thing. However I noticed the LPL quirks. Could someone provide a viable build for either or both? Keep in mind he is a new player so the more basic the better. However, he has learned rapidly. He picked all of these mechs up before his 20th game. Thanks!

Rorvik, on 18 January 2015 - 03:37 PM, said:

Does anyone know if / when the 5S might go on sale? So far we've had FRR, Davion and now apparently Marik, but none of them had the 5S. Could we possibly see it on sale during the Steiner sale (since they are big on Assaults)?

Was on sale this weekend.

[Rorvik]

MarkFBD, on 02 February 2015 - 12:13 PM, said:

Was on sale this weekend.

Yup, got it! I figured Steiner might have it for sale. Alas, now comes phase two: grinding out the funds to pay for DHS and Endo for the 4N and 5S.

[King Kuranes]

Rorvik, on 02 February 2015 - 08:48 PM, said:

Yup, got it! I figured Steiner might have it for sale. Alas, now comes phase two: grinding out the funds to pay for DHS and Endo for the 4N and 5S.

ENjoy the 5S. Just as fun as the 4N even if it only mounts 4 LPL's

[UnHolyLegion]

I have the Misery, 4N and 5S

I got the 5S for the dual AMS but the 4N and my Misery are the workhorses of the trio, I have not been dissapointed.

On the 4N I have 6 LLs and chain fire two at a time RA,LA,Torso and its not to bad with the quirks if you don't panic. 6 LLs makes for a mean alpha at close range as a finisher with right around 86 or 87% heat on a neutral map. Big blue beams of death!!

Edited by UnHolyLegion, 03 February 2015 - 12:03 PM.

[Crotch RockIt]

MarkFBD, don't let your friend use the stock XL255 in his 5S. It's too slow, and Stalkers are possibly the worst chassis in the game for XL engines due to the huge side torsos. The XL255 may be ok in his Firestarter or Trebuchet, depending on the loadout.

Here's some suggestions for 5S builds. I always try to use a STD300 or 310 in mine so that it can keep up with the team.

STK-5S with large pulse lasers

STK-5S with LRM's and medium lasers