14 replies to this topic

[Whytelightning]

I'm not sure what to buy next, I need something versatile. Want something that can be quick but not a light. Able to be changed depending on meta/play style, etc. I'm fairly new also.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Stormcrow

[SunTzu]

I don't know if you're trying to stay Clan, but consider looking at IS mechs also. The Thunderbolt and Cataphract can both be pretty versatile, depending on chasis, but if you're mastering you would own multiple anyways.

[Benjamin Davion]

If you're focused on Clans, the Stormcrow and the Timber Wolf are both highly mobile and highly versatile.

For the IS, the Thunderbolt is one of the most capable platforms we have. That said, each variant basically has one niche it fills perfectly. The Thunderbolt 5SS (Thunderwub) is among the most potent brawlers in the game. The Thunderbolt 5S (4 LL Vomit) is a powerful mid-range skirmisher). The Thunderbolt 9S is still an effective ERPPC sniper.

Cataphracts have declined since the JJ nerf and the Quirkening, but the 3D with AC20 and 4MLs is still one of the best Standard engine heavy brawlers you can get and it clocks low 80s-kph, while the Cataphract 4X (Get rekt by 4 rapid-fire AC5s) is face-meltingly rude to anyone that falls under its sights.

In my experience, the Shadowhawk remains one of the most versatile Inner Sphere mechs there is. I have built my Shadowhawk 2D2 as an AC20 brawler, a Gauss sniper, a light hunter, an LBX10/SRM2x4 assault hunter, an LRM skirmisher, a mixed AC5/Streak flank skrimisher, and God knows whatever else I've since forgotten. I own all the Shadowhawks, all mastered, and I have 2 as Brawlers (2D and Grey Death), 1 as a GaussSniper (5M, I think?), one as a laser sniper (2K) 1 as a Skirmisher (2D2), and 1 for DPS (2H). For sheer versatility as a single platform, I'm reasonably confident in saying the Shadowhawk is the best IS choice.

Edited by Benjamin Davion, 14 April 2015 - 08:15 PM.

[Gagis]

Benjamin Davion, on 14 April 2015 - 01:10 AM, said:

For the IS, the Thunderbolt is one of the most capable platforms we have. That said, each variant basically has one niche it fills perfectly. The Thunderbolt 5SS (Thunderwub) is among the most potent brawlers in the game. The Thunderbolt 5S (4 LL Vomit) is a powerful mid-range skirmisher). The Thunderbolt 9S is still an effective ERPPC sniper.

You forgot the best one: Thunderbolt 9SE has jump jets and can boat 3 (standard) or 4 (XL) Large Pulse Lasers, which makes it absolutely brilliant for Community Warfare.

Thunderbolts are very meta though. They rely heavily on their quirks and if the meta ever changes away from laser vomit, they might not adapt well.

[Mirumoto Izanami]

First reply was the correct reply. Stormcrow.

[martian]

Whytelightning, on 13 April 2015 - 02:49 PM, said:

I'm not sure what to buy next, I need something versatile. Want something that can be quick but not a light. Able to be changed depending on meta/play style, etc. I'm fairly new also.

Ryoken (Clans)
Shadow Hawk (Inner Sphere)

Both 'Mechs are the most versatile chassis of the medium class. Whether you need a missile boat, cannon boat, laser boat or mixed configuration - they deliver.

[Stingray Productions]

Innersphere = Thunderbolt

Clan = Stormcrow

Can't go wrong with either of these two.

Even in the Mechwarrior 2:31st Handbook, it says "When in doubt, Stormcrow!"

[pulupulu]

Jager for IS w/o JJ. Dual guass, lrm boat, laser vomit, srm boat, daka, ac40... it pretty much do just about everything aside JJ.

Edited by pulupulu, 15 April 2015 - 07:48 PM.

[Bloodweaver]

Whytelightning, on 13 April 2015 - 02:49 PM, said:

I'm not sure what to buy next, I need something versatile. Want something that can be quick but not a light. Able to be changed depending on meta/play style, etc. I'm fairly new also.

Based on what you said here, I'd recommend:

Centurion
Hunchback
Shadowhawk

More or less in that order. Each Hunchback variant is potent but limited in its focus - but, you do get versatility throughout the chassis. That is to say, there's the "Big Ballistic" variant(4G), the "Ballistic + Lotsa Lasers" variant(4H), the LRM variant(4J), the SRM variant(4SP), and the ULTRALASER variant(4P). So the chassis is versatile overall, but each variant is pretty focused on a specific playstyle.

The Centurion is slightly less potent, but each variant has good versatility potential. It also used to be incredibly tough due to large arm hitboxes, but PGI "fixed" that. Its hitboxes aren't bad, but they're no longer anything special. In fact its toughness is outshined by that of the Hunchbacks, what with their immense RT armor+structure quirks.

Shadowhawk is similar to Centurion but with an added capacity for jump jets - however, it's not particularly maneuverable, especially compared to Hunchbacks. It does have good hitboxes, though. The only real problem I have with recommending Shadowhawks to a new player is that it doesn't really help you develop advanced tactics. The tunnel vision + slow/limited twist + torso-centric weaponry + good hitboxes makes it easier to do well in, but it doesn't refine your ability to use arms or twist past a certain point.

If you want something that is versatile and quick but a little more challenging? Get Dragons or Wolverines. And if you want Clan? Stormcrow, but you probably don't have the money to start grinding out three Clan variants just yet. I prefer the Nova myself, but it's not exactly beginner-friendly.

Don't bother with Cataphracts. I like them, but if you want something nimble they're not for you. They move like refrigerators.

Edited by Bloodweaver, 15 April 2015 - 08:15 PM.

[Void Angel]

Gagis, on 15 April 2015 - 05:06 AM, said:

You forgot the best one: Thunderbolt 9SE has jump jets and can boat 3 (standard) or 4 (XL) Large Pulse Lasers, which makes it absolutely brilliant for Community Warfare.

Thunderbolts are very meta though. They rely heavily on their quirks and if the meta ever changes away from laser vomit, they might not adapt well.

My most favorite Thunderbolt is the 5S Thunderbuddy brawler escort. It basically is designed to play as a support 'mech for Assault chassis, being able to mix it up with all but the must powerful enemies and punish anyone trying to focus on the Assault (and vice versa, if your Big is a good Assault.) It's capable of dealing impressive damage for its size and is tougher than anything short of the bigger Assaults - the Thunderbuddies will adapt just fine to a world without laser boating.

PS: Clan 'mechs are actually not more expensive than the Inner Sphere once upgrades are accounted for. The initial purchase price for a Clan Battlemech is higher than the Inner Sphere because the Clans come with all the upgrades that the Inner Sphere chassis will have to buy in order to become effective. It is possible to build Inner Sphere 'mechs more cheaply - but in doing so you usually forgo upgrades. Exceptions exist, and prove the rule.

[kesmai]

Drive some of the trialmechs. While they haven't the best possible (meta) loadouts they are all decent and give you a feeling how the chassis are. Avoid the trial nova.

Edited by kesmai, 17 April 2015 - 04:24 AM.

[Madcap72]

Shadowhawk for sure. Beside being pretty capable in a lot of roles as listed, it's also absurdly tall so you learn how to use cover and terrain, and being a little laggy, you learn how to anticipate where you need to be and timing things like twisting to use the shield arm. Grinding out 3 for the 2x efficiency makes then meaner as well.

[InspectorG]

Clan:
Stormcrow
Warhawk(VERY versatile but it weird to build for)

IS:
Hunchback - each chassis specializes in a weapon type and the Hero is very strong. G,J,P and GI are the ones you want.

[Shalune]

Stormcrow is definitely the choice for clans. There's no other mech I can think of with as many viable options. To name a few:

Streak SRM boat
laser boat (with over 4 options within this)
LRM carrier
Gauss + lasers

Inner sphere side, I strongly disagree with people about the Thunderbolts. The 5SS is one of my favourite mechs, but calling it versatile is a stretch. It does one thing extremely well, but there's almost no reason to run anything but 1 build on it.

I'd recommend the following for build diversity:
HBK 4SP
HBK 4J
SHD-2D2
CN9-A