xDust, on 23 May 2015 - 06:35 AM, said:
Good firepower, good maneuverability, good shielding...
Why do people always try to ask for the perfect trinity? At the least, it limits choices within... 50-80 tons. Really, it's a near impossibility.
Well, I understand that. It's almost always 'pick two' when it comes to both IS and Clan - only the Timber Wolf and Stormcrow can do all three, and only the Timber Wolf can fulfill it thoroughly with JJs.
But to be honest, I'm here for alternatives. I already know about the Timber Wolf - it's my mainstay. I'm fine with missing one of the three, but I guess good shielding takes precedence over good maneuverability, since the style I'm using tends to stick to cover anyway. Of course, good firepower is a must - I prefer destroying my foes as fast as I can to eliminate them from the fight.
Oh, and I forgot to mention (editing into first post). Said alpha has to converge well as much as possible, and have good locations as well. This ties indirectly to the shielding point - if all the weapons were on one side, one could sacrifice a side as a shield and even poke with only half exposure.
About Cataphracts, they're definitely not tanky by the normal sense of the word. I think they are one of the few where good shielding and poking are vital to survival, not just options for added efficiency. Then again, I might be unfair here - my current 0XP build has an entire shield left side that takes advantage of its blocky shape for maximum tankage. They're still relatively easy to shoot at, but at least they won't lose half their firepower TBR-style from having a ST sheared right off.
Victors... well, they're meant to be fast strikers. IS TBRs, roughly. But I still can't get over their ST vulnerability. Plus, see the 'convergence' point - low-slung arm hardpoints are hard to work with even with JJs.
Highlanders... well, no. No idea why, but it just... doesn't feel right, even with Standard 325, JJs, and a 40. Honestly, same goes for the Victor - I have not a clue why.
Enforcers? Frankly, we're reaching the point where we can't quite get to 30 anymore without sacrifices. And the Hunchback-4G can do the 20 way better than any other options at this point.
Okay, I might be unfair here. But I'm honestly looking for a good discussion on pinpoint builds, because it's the style that I've found a home in, and I'm always looking out for the best.
Edited by Questia, 23 May 2015 - 08:25 AM.