50 replies to this topic

[Trauglodyte]

I'm still trying to knock all the dust off and catch up - damn this board has a lot to read after a year hiatus. When I left, the Clans had just been released, poptarting was still all the rage with some Paul talk on nerfing them, every Light mech was either a Jenner, Firestarter, or Douche Raven, and pretty much everyone was stripping equipment to slap on as many PPCs as they could. Now, I realize that lasers are, due to them being a beam weapon, a lot easier to use and the range bonus over normal PPCs makes them advantageous on top of their lighter weight, lesser heat, and negligible damage difference. But, I've seen quite a few posts bagging on the weapon and I hardly ever see anyone carry them. I even had a unit member ask me why I bothered equipping one on my Blackjack.

Someone fill me in!

[VinJade]

one of the reasons I don't like the PPC is because PGI just turned them into a large waste of tonnage & space since they do no damage if in close.

if the PPC had damage even up close then that would make them useful up close outside of being a worthless item as you see enemy mechs close quickly or cowardly snipers who use IS ERLLs that out range almost every single weapon in the game thus there is no need for them.

[Alwrathandabout42ninjas]

Trauglodyte, on 08 January 2016 - 07:36 PM, said:

But, I've seen quite a few posts bagging on the weapon and I hardly ever see anyone carry them. I even had a unit member ask me why I bothered equipping one on my Blackjack.

Someone fill me in!

Well its quite simple really. PPC's on a chassis that is quirked are actually very good weapons. You see, this game is filled with bad players who think they are pro, but they are in fact not very good at the game or good at building mech's in general. So you have most of the playerbase, who because they are so bad at the game they cant reliably lead targets with PPC's and hit with them, claim it is a bad weapon, and instead opt to use the ez mode large pulse laser/laser puke.

I do not have this problem. Because ive been playing this game on a consistent basis and devoted so much play time to this silly game, some of my best and most competitive inner sphere mechs in fact use PPC's.

The trick is having backup weapons that are low weight and close range to carry you in case targets get in your face. PPFLD is king, and if you can reliably hit your target with your quirked PPC's, while also being able to defend yourself close range against people who charge you, you will emerge victorious, but it obviously comes down to player skill. You need alot of it. You also need very high situational awareness due to the 90m minimum range.

I could link my PPC Black Knight, but I dont want to share my secret build with anyone, especially the wanna-be pro meta w**res, who plague this game with trollish and shameful copy and paste mech builds, because they are so bad at building mechs, they have to copy others in order to survive.

VinJade, on 08 January 2016 - 07:48 PM, said:

one of the reasons I don't like the PPC is because PGI just turned them into a large waste of tonnage & space since they do no damage if in close.

L2P

Edited by Alwrath, 08 January 2016 - 07:54 PM.

[Pariah Devalis]

In the case of standard PPC, the minimum range is an issue, as is how obnoxiously slow they move. With both Clan and IS ERPPC, the heat to damage ratios are way off for effective usability (and in the Clan case specifically, the worthless splash keeps getting treated like we should be happy about it when it's just a mockery of the "hot gauss" they should be), and Russ has stated he does not want them to be sniping weapons, so as a result they are both too slow to easily lead a target with at optimal max range.

[Mcgral18]

They gimped their velocity (1100M/s & 1200M/s) and returned their heat to stock values, along with a 4s recycle.
That's down from 2KM/s (current Gauss speed), 8 heat and 12 heat, and a 3 second recycle.

That was their considered OP level. PPCs also has the reduced damage min range on a linear scale.


LPLs were also buffed considerably, to the point where unless you have a 50% Velocity PPC quirk...you're still better off taking the LPL (Clam or Spheroid).


They've been like that for a while. The Whale got them nerfed from 1500M/s to the current 1200M/s.

[Trauglodyte]

So, Pariah, if I'm reading you correctly, everyone abandoned the PPC because they're essentially back at post Alpha release? There was a time when the velocity was 800m/s but that was a long time ago. I was really expecting that something drastic happened. I guess that the speed change and the overall heat/damage ratio of the ER Large Laser/Large Laser makes them less appealing. Then again, the Lrg Laser has never really been balanced in this game.

[VinJade]

@Alwrath
oh that's rich, 'der l2p'.
such comments are as stupid as calling someone a 'noob'

Or do I need to remind you that players close in on the enemy fast making it my point very valid.

oh and by the way its learn TO play, not learn 2 play.

[Pariah Devalis]

Trauglodyte, on 08 January 2016 - 07:55 PM, said:

So, Pariah, if I'm reading you correctly, everyone abandoned the PPC because they're essentially back at post Alpha release? There was a time when the velocity was 800m/s but that was a long time ago. I was really expecting that something drastic happened. I guess that the speed change and the overall heat/damage ratio of the ER Large Laser/Large Laser makes them less appealing. Then again, the Lrg Laser has never really been balanced in this game.

Pretty much. I think all the PPCs could have possibly survived if they received one or the other nerf. Heat or velocity. As it is, with both heaped on them, it was a bit too much. From a Clan perspective, for example, why should I invest in two ERPPC and the minimum of *20 DHS to make those two ERPPC (and only those two ERPPC - no other energy weapons!) usable as a primary, spammable weapon system that deal 10 PPFLD each when I could invest in twin C-LPLas that are hitscan, deal around 13 damage each where I want them to (short of smearing), and only require *15 DHS or so to make perfectly spammable?


*including in engine DHS

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 08 January 2016 - 08:06 PM.

[Alwrathandabout42ninjas]

VinJade, on 08 January 2016 - 08:00 PM, said:

such comments are as stupid as calling someone a 'noob'

I agree, it is stupid. I should not have to waste my time in the forums reminding people that they are noob, when they should have figured it out a long time ago, and wont even believe that they are after reading. A lost cause is a lost cause, but I post anyway, because in the end, I will be able to say " I tried I really did ".

Pariah Devalis, on 08 January 2016 - 08:05 PM, said:

From a Clan perspective, for example

Single ERPPC's arent bad mixed with other weapons for clan, and the 2 LPL 2ERPPC warhawk is a great mech. 2 ERPPC's for clan are workable, but most of the time your right, its not very competitive.

[GrimRiver]

And what happened to splash damage?

I used to slap on a erppc and rake in the damage points, but now it's just a long range slow moving energy AC10.

[Pariah Devalis]

Alwrath, on 08 January 2016 - 08:10 PM, said:

Single ERPPC's arent bad mixed with other weapons for clan, and the 2 LPL 2ERPPC warhawk is a great mech. 2 ERPPC's for clan are workable, but most of the time your right, its not very competitive.

I can't help but point out that if you're talking about a weapon system and the best one can come up with is that it's not bad "when mixed with other weapons," it means the weapon itself is lacking... something. One of the reasons I want 15 heat 13 PPFLD C-ERPPC is because it would directly benefit the smaller mechs that can only fit one of them effectively, while still making it too hot to boat. An ammoless hot gauss-like weapon would be fantastic even by itself on a Shadow Cat or Ice Ferret.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 08 January 2016 - 08:19 PM.

[VinJade]

@Alwrath
there is a word for people like you but I would get in trouble for it & I also try not to be condescending which you seem to like to be.

Funny though how you only picked one tiny thing from my reply.
When you have fast mechs that can close in quickly and puts it under the min range of the PPC it is a useless weapon. also it makes you have to pick, the sniper with the ER LL sniping at you and picking you apart(faster if you have to expose your rear torso to the sniper) or the fast medium/light mech that managed to get behind you?

as to the Noob calling I bet I could kick your ... in the TT game, and could call nood and tell you to learn TO play. but that would be counter productive and being an a** is not trying it is being an a**.

but then not much can be expected coming from someone like you.

anyways point is still mine, PPC is worthless up close and as others have pointed out the OP IS ER LL is the best to go with over the PPC.

[Homeskilit]

They need some love.

[Aresye]

Alwrath, on 08 January 2016 - 07:51 PM, said:

L2P

What matters is the win. Any build, technique, and/or utilities used that are in accordance with the Code of Conduct and the developer's intentions is fair game.

You're like a baseball player bringing a wiffle ball bat, saying, "It's okay guys, I've hit a few home runs with this before," before you proceed to lose the game because your bat shatters against the 90mph fastball the pitcher is throwing.

[VinJade]

@Aresye Kerensky
Who knew a Jag could be so diplomatic and wise?

all joking aside, I like your explanation better than mine.

[MechWarrior849305]

Quote

So, What Happened To Ppcs?

They Su*k

[VinJade]

@DA
only Mechwarrior Online's are terrible.

MW 3 they was one of my favorite weapons to use in Mechwarrior 3 & Mech warrior 3 pirates moon.

[CMDR Sunset Shimmer]

Other than the occasional ghosting issue where my PPC's hit but do 0 damage... they're ok.

[Deathlike]

Trauglodyte, on 08 January 2016 - 07:36 PM, said:

I'm still trying to knock all the dust off and catch up - damn this board has a lot to read after a year hiatus. When I left, the Clans had just been released, poptarting was still all the rage with some Paul talk on nerfing them, every Light mech was either a Jenner, Firestarter, or Douche Raven, and pretty much everyone was stripping equipment to slap on as many PPCs as they could. Now, I realize that lasers are, due to them being a beam weapon, a lot easier to use and the range bonus over normal PPCs makes them advantageous on top of their lighter weight, lesser heat, and negligible damage difference. But, I've seen quite a few posts bagging on the weapon and I hardly ever see anyone carry them. I even had a unit member ask me why I bothered equipping one on my Blackjack.

Someone fill me in!

The answer is there for all to see (in bold underline).

Edited by Deathlike, 08 January 2016 - 10:05 PM.

[Scar Glamour]

PPCs are long-rang weapons with slow-arse moving projectiles.

They are usable only if you manage to engage at around 500 m for a dozen seconds at a time, trade well and find a quiet place to cool down when not shooting. Also you gotta have someone fend off lights and brawlers, because the second they know you sport PPCs they are going to be lower-leg-actuator-deep up your arse. The hardest part about using PPCs is to justify not bringing anything else instead.

Clan ERPPCs can be fun though. Fine for Nova poptarting and nasty DireWolf Gauss+ERPPC with TC Mk VII shenanigans.

P.S. Edited to avoid PC filter obfuscation. Seriously, I suspect that PGI hired PC Principle at some point.

Edited by Winterburn, 08 January 2016 - 10:12 PM.