Tarogato, on 21 August 2015 - 01:02 AM, said:
@OP:
Basically... no. Command Console is never worth it in its current state. In fact, even clan Targeting Computers aren't really as good as just adding another heatsink instead.
Building mechs so that they have a weapon for every engagement range. Which is really inefficient, because you can't reliably fight at a range where you can use all the weapons you have equipped at once.
Gauss - best at or beyond mid-long range, requires slight leading. Inefficient at close range.
SRM - really only works at in-yo-face range. Requires substantial lead beyond that and spreads.
Medium Lasers - kinda works with gauss, kinda works with SRMs, but now you have three weapon systems that all behave differently and should be treated differently.
LRM20 - lolwtfbbq let's add a fourth weapon that behaves completely differently and let's make sure it's a terrible weapon that spreads its damage substantially and only works at ranges where you can't use your SRMs.
It's just a terrible way to build mechs in this game.
ah, so you mean skirmisher.
And it is efficient, as it means you may send more tons on weapons then heat sinks as you won't be firing all your weapons all the time. So even though general smurfy may say your mech has a 12% heat effeciency, it may be a 40% because you are not alpha striking those 2 ppc's with your medium pulse lasers and SRM's or you are not firing that Large pulse laser into a wall when you fire your twin LRM 15 + A's or what ever.
Let's see here, what happens if we take this highlander ( gauss + 3 med las + srm 6+ LRM 20) up against the standard brawler highlander (Ac 20 + 2 med las + 3 SRM 4).
First of all, 'my' highlander takes the advantage, focuses on the E torso and is already letting it rip with the LRM 20 and gauss rifle. Brawlander is already taking damage without the ability to deal damage, by the time it gets within reasonable range to bother using med lasers or AC 20 to do damage, it may be already cored or red in the Side torso and damaged the arm and centre torso, as it gets into a cross-range where all weapons can be used (200 to 270 meters) it will get heavy damage and lose that side torso.
now you got a Highlander that will have a gauss rifle, 3 med lasers, lrm 20, srm 6, firing on a highlander with only 4 SRM 4's assuming it wasn't an Xl highlander. even if you cut yourself back a bit and only use your medium lasers nad SRM's for range effeciencies you still fairly out weigh your near crippled opponent.
Even a situation where the engagement started at 400 meters, the Highlander skirmisher still out weighs the brawler in a normal situation and even at close quarters you got a guass rifle (15 damage), 3 medium lasers (15 damage), and 1 SRM 6 (12 damage rounded down) for a total of 42 damage per shot (excluding LRM 20) while the brawlander has an AC 20 (20 damage), 2 Medium lasers (10 damage), and 3 SRM 4, (24) with a total 54 damage, greater damage by 12, but also at the cost of more heat and spread. On a hotter map the Skirmisher highlander would win ie terra therma, caustic valley, etc. On a colder map statistically speaking the Brawlander may win granted it uses cover to get within 200 meters.
Oh right, the LRM 20, When using LRM's as a back up weapon, you do not care for precision that much or for having 40+ damage per salvo. all you want is to break through ams and deal the damage, this can be usefull when you are on your way to the next target or battlefield, it gets you engaged in combat reguardless of you being a skirmisher, brawler, juggernaut, etc.
You being an atlas who is going barely 50 kph in canyon network 500 meters away from team in combat and 700 from enemy? don't you worry and dont' try to ac 20 snipe, or randomly flail with your srms and medium lasers, because your LRM 20 / 15 / 3+ LRM 5's / 2+ LRM 10's will come to the rescue! This solves the problem of getting alpine peaks or (half) of being left behind or to slow or having to many close ranged weapons.
duel AC 20 crab with a large pulse or so? LRM 20.
Centurion with AC 10 and medium lasers? 3 LRM 5's/ a LRM 15.
works for all weight classes besides lights. with the LRM 20 on an assault that isn't LRM focused, it isn't for trying to 360 head shot enemy mechs, but to simply break there ams for the other chaps, and to get the damage done before your in optimal range or before you ingage, much like the playstyle of a mad dog prime... fire your LRM's at target until you can beat it with your pulse lasers.
I went with highlander skirmsher vs brawler debate... but what about skirmisher vs sniper/ LRM boat?
this time simular but the tables have turned. this time your dishing out damage while getting into range and then get there where the enemy can't do much due to heat/ min range/ poor heat to damage effeciency at up close.
Sure, it takes skill to use a mech with more then 1 weapon system. (ahem thunderbolt, timberwolf, stalker, hunchback, dragon, cicada, fire starter, players)
but I got that skill... I do run the ebon jaguar stock (literally each weapon is different) as well as many other mechs, 1 of my banshees got 6 different weapon groups for eg.