46 replies to this topic

[MacabreDerek]

After reading many forums about the mechlab, I was noticing trends in people's thinking when it comes to outfitting their mechs.

Some do small modifications, stripping one weapon for more heatsinks or ammo, but for the most part leaving the mech's original frame intact. (Ex. Taking out two Medium Lasers to add more LRM ammo to a Catapult)

Others strip out everything to try and build it better, though it fulfills the same role as before (Ex. Stripping out all the weapons to add 2 LRM20s and as much ammo as you can carry)

Another option is completely repurposing the mech to fill a role it's original design was never expected to do (Catapult with increased armour, slower engine to make room for twin AC/20 brawler).

And then I can only assume there is some one out there who goes with standard, as bought mechs (There has got to be at least one of you out there!!!)

So I am curious as to what camp you tend to fall in, and why you take the approach you do.

I myself tend to fall into the Modify camp. I tend not to make mechs too far off from what they were original frame-work mostly intact. This is primarily due to the change in the metagame with MWO using role warfare. I believe that every mech will have it's place, and really wont require much change to make it an effective killing machine on the field.

[Adridos]

Small modifications. If I want a close brawler, I don't buy a Catapult. Doesn't it make sense?

Edited by Adridos, 13 May 2012 - 10:11 AM.

[Aldinvor]

Small changes in my opinion is the best option, keeping the 'mechs close to their stock loadouts will force weapon diversity. I think is much better then seeing everyone use the exact same one or two weapons.

[Yeach]

Adridos, on 13 May 2012 - 10:11 AM, said:

Small modifications. If I want a close brawler, I don't buy a Catapult. Doesn't it make sense?

I agree with the small modifications.
But if I want a Catapult brawler; I switch to SRM6s.
Also you should note that Catapult is near mex armor for its class and has jumpjets.
Why not go brawler?

[Mistwolf]

I usually do smaller modifications to improve the mech that is there. Some need a bit more work than others though. If you want a totally different loadout, just take a different mech closer to what you want. There is enough variety.

[Zakatak]

Catapult changes:

• Standard --> Endo Steel Structure
  
• +2 LRM Ammo --> +4 LRM Ammo
  
• 10.5 tons Standard --> 12.5 tons Standard Armor
  
• 4 Medium Laser --> 4 Small Laser
  
• 3 Heatsink --> 1 Double Heatsink
  
• +Artemis IV FCS
  
• +BAP
  
• +CASE

Everything else is fine.

[Captain Wolfus Maximus]

I love re-purposing mechs. It let`s my mind roam free with the possibilities.

[Cifu]

Well, in first close i think the redesign need to do very costly, you simply won't rebuild your mech after each battle.
On second close i think for game experience, a bit rebuilding not a bad thing.

For repurpose... well, it's can be done, and if you think it over it's not a big deal, it's happen in the canon versions almost all mech. And because we have limited choice, it's need to be done...

[Zakatak]

I'm likely going to strip the Dragon down to nothing, and build it back up as the Ye Olde Vulture C. Managed to make a twin Gauss equipped Dragon with 32 shots of ammunition without going overweight.

[Haakon Valravn]

All of the above. Sometimes I like stock. Sometimes I like to tweak stock. Sometimes I think I can do better than stock. And somtimes I just want to completely repurpose something. Like if I like the way a chassis looks, but it is designed for a role that I suck at. Or for any role other than what I like to do. (Like pulling all the fancy electronics out of a Raven and swapping its weapons for a PPC.)

Edited by Haakon Valravn, 13 May 2012 - 10:32 AM.

[Vesper Darktide]

I do all of the options but I love to sit in the mechlab and tinker away at building weird (but actually functional) re-purposed designs. I like the challenge and it requires a lot of trial and error sometimes. In the end though you learn about all the weapons and equipment in-depth to the point that you can look at any design and know immediately if it can be re-purposed successfully or not. Doesn't hurt to confuse your enemy at the onset of battle the first time they see your weird frankenmech

[Wraith01]

Nothing wrong with stock most of the time, but I can't help tweekIng and fiddling about. Mind you there's not a huge scope to do tgat in mw4.

[Fameth Sathronaveth]

Zakatak, on 13 May 2012 - 10:24 AM, said:

Catapult changes:

• Standard --> Endo Steel Structure
  
• +2 LRM Ammo --> +4 LRM Ammo
  
• 10.5 tons Standard --> 12.5 tons Standard Armor
  
• 4 Medium Laser --> 4 Small Laser
  
• 3 Heatsink --> 1 Double Heatsink
  
• +Artemis IV FCS
  
• +BAP
  
• +CASE

Everything else is fine.

Hmm. A good relatively simple modification, the kind I do myself... but where are all of the extra criticals coming from?

[Nik Van Rhijn]

In previous games if you didn't min/max you were dead. The game was set up so that mechs had advantages and disadvantages, not to make optimised mech killing machines. People want to win and will do what is necessary. A mech is mrerly a chassis of a set weight with a skin on it. The rest is down to how much, or little, the mechlab will let you do. Cost certainly won't stop prople.

[Zakatak]

Fameth Sathronaveth, on 13 May 2012 - 10:48 AM, said:

Hmm. A good relatively simple modification, the kind I do myself... but where are all of the extra criticals coming from?

Build it yourself, chap. I still had 4 crits left over.

http://remlab.source...mlab30/mech.lab

I was surprised how roomy these things can be.

[neodym]

Adridos, on 13 May 2012 - 10:11 AM, said:

Small modifications. If I want a close brawler, I don't buy a Catapult. Doesn't it make sense?

not really,you will see that Catapult would brawl it with Hunchies and Atlas and win I promise you.... I am looking at K2 medium laser boat

[Vulpesveritas]

I design for combat purposes via weapon and equipment loadout, but I keep the mech's speed and armor profile. (though structure / armor changes like endo/ferro would be changed.)
And I'll be running a Cicada.
example: Game turns into a glass cannon fest. Take 3M, strip all weapons and put in an AC/20 and a single Mlas with endo / ferro. Glass cannon killer.
Example 2: game turns into a "anything smaller than a heavy is still made of glass", but brawling is what everyone is doing. Take 3M, remove small pulse laser, add on an AC/5 if muzzle flash isn't much, otherwise PPC and run as a hit-and-run sniper.
Example 3: Game turns into a varying mix. Take 3M, remove small pulse laser, swap UAC/5 for an LBX AC/10.
Example 4: Game turns into an all-out assaultfest. Facepaw, sigh, and uninstall game.

[Zakatak]

[Mason West]

I tend to fall in line with the redesign crowd, but i do enjoy re-purposing mechs too

[Hawk3y394]

I find that I do a mix of modifying and re-purposing, I can be content to do nothing but play with the Mech Lab for a couple hours.