92 replies to this topic

[OrangePills]

Hello everyone. I'd like to make this post today to give my opinions on some of these mechs and to ask a few questions. The only Mechwarrior game I've ever played is Mechwarrior 2 and the only thing I even remember from it is that it had Firemoths, Jenners, Kitfoxes, Marauders, Ravens, and Direwolfs. I would usually pilot the Firemoth. I don't know why. I was a kid so maybe I just liked going fast?

With that said, I went to Sarna and looked up each of the 11 mechs announced thus far and their weight/armament. Here is what I thought:



Light:

Commando - 25 tonnes, 97 km/h - From this mech's aesthetics, I expected it to be a medium/heavy mech. However, it is the lightest of all the mechs and the third-fastest (tied with the Raven). It seems like it focuses on speed and missile usage to me.

Jenner - 35 tonnes, 118 km/h - This mech looks hella weird. It has no arms and it's body juts forward. However, I still somewhat admire it for a couple reasons. It is the second fastest mech in the game and has short range rockets and FOUR medium lasers. From what I understand, that's pretty good for a light mech.

Raven - 35 tonnes, 97 km/h - I know some may disagree here, but I think this is the best looking of all the light mechs- not that that even means anything really. But the loadout apart from weapons makes me believe that this would be a great supporting mech.



Medium:

Centurion - 50 tonnes, 64 km/h - The weapon loadout seems pretty well balanced, what with 10 missiles, an autocannon, and 2 medium lasers. Plus it looks cool.

Hunchback - 50 tonnes, 64 km/h - The quirky look of this mech actually appeals to me. Plus, that autocannon seems really beastly. I think this is my kind of medium mech.

Cicada - 40 tonnes, 129 km/h - This mech seems drastically under-armed compared to the medium mechs and even some of the light mechs. What is this nonsense? It is a medium mech, yet it has what looks like a pretty poor amount of weaponry for any mech and it is the fastest in the game. It seems like someone signed up for the wrong weight class. I know, I know, "canon". I'm glad they stuck to canon but this still seems a bit silly.



Heavy:

Catapult - 65 tonnes, 64 km/h - I like the loadout of this mech. From what I understand this is a long-range fire support mech with a crapton of missiles. At first I thought it was a medium mech but it seems pretty good for a heavy. It also looks really fantastic.

Dragon - 60 tonnes, 86 km/h - For having the fourth highest speed in the game (just 11 km/h under two of the light mechs) the Dragon seems like it's pretty darn fast. That coupled with its long range missiles and other weapons should make for a good mech.

Cataphract - 70 tonnes, 64 km/h - This thing just LOOKS like it will impart its anger upon you. In fact, it looks like it would be an assault mech. I really loves its armament. It has an L BX AC10 which from what I've read is kind of like a mech shotgun. Seems really cool especially combined with the other weaponry.



Assault:

Atlas - 100 tonnes, 54 km/h - Ok let me just throw something out here: I think that skull cockpit looks tacky and ugly. I prefer cockpits that look like they were designed for function or purpose, and the skull just makes it look like it was designed by a 12 year old who thought it up while in a sugar-induced coma. It has impressive weaponry though.

Awesome - 80 tonnes, 54 km/h - The loadout seems a little simple but I'm ok with that. Also, is this the only mech with PPC's? And what the heck is that small laser for anyways? Slicing victory cake?



Anyways, those are just my opinions. And keep in mind that I don't really have much expertise in this. Also, the loadouts I used above come from the default loadouts I found for each mech on Sarna. Please let me know if any of the loadouts being used in the game differ from the ones I used. Thanks.

[Adridos]

Cicada, Catapult and Cataphract, all mount PPCs.

[Redshift2k5]

don't forget that weapons can be changed; The weapon type is dependant on hardpoints, but if the Jenner has medium lasers, it can potentially load any other laser/flamer/ppc type weapon instead, and any type of missile in place of it's SRMs (you'll need to make sure you have sufficient hardpoints, tons, and critical space for any weapon modifications). Different variants may have different types of hardpoints (the K2 Catapult has no missiles but has large particle cannons instead) Lots and lots of things can be changed, including amount of armor, speed, weapons, and special equipment

The Cicada is not the most efficient mech, but think of it as a slightly-bigger Light (only 5 tons heavier than the Jenner)

The Atlas's skull was designed to loo imposing on purpose It is kinda juvenile

A very refreshing point of view, glad to see people who aren't up to their neck in Battletech taking an interest in MWO

[Iron Harlequin]

I totally agree with the point on the cicada, its an underpowered medium mech that might aswell be a light.


also there are other variants that will be available of all the mechs.

[Steel Prophet]

Quote

I prefer cockpits that look like they were designed for function or purpose

If you've read the sarna article about it you should know, that the head was designed for function and purpose :-)

[LogicalTightRope]

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

Atlas - 100 tonnes, 54 km/h - Ok let me just throw something out here: I think that skull cockpit looks tacky and ugly. I prefer cockpits that look like they were designed for function or purpose, and the skull just makes it look like it was designed by a 12 year old who thought it up while in a sugar-induced coma. It has impressive weaponry though.

The Atlas' head was designed mainly for intimidation. It looks ugly on purpose. The designer said he wanted:

"a 'Mech as powerful as possible, as impenetrable as possible, and as ugly and foreboding as conceivable, so that fear itself will be our ally."

It's design may seem rather stupid, but it's there for a reason.

Another note on the Atlas: it's known as the most well-armored Assault Mech, at least in the inner sphere, maybe overall (correct me if I'm wrong). What's really impressive is its shear ability to take a blow.

Edited by logicaltightrope, 26 May 2012 - 01:26 PM.

[OrangePills]

Well now I feel a bit silly then. Thanks to all who have commented and are continuing to do so regarding all this crap I didn't know. The availability of different weapon customizations definitely makes a huge difference.

[Aelos03]

i must agree with raven looks

[William Petersen]

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

Cicada - 40 tonnes, 129 km/h - This mech seems drastically under-armed compared to the medium mechs and even some of the light mechs. What is this nonsense? It is a medium mech, yet it has what looks like a pretty poor amount of weaponry for any mech and it is the fastest in the game. It seems like someone signed up for the wrong weight class. I know, I know, "canon". I'm glad they stuck to canon but this still seems a bit silly.

You're exactly right. It is incredibly under armed. It is also incredibly under armoured. That's because getting 8/12 movement on a 40-tonner with a non-XL engine requires an enormously heavy engine. At 22.5 tons, the engine alone takes over half the tonnage of the Mech. Ludicrous. Also, it has 64 points of armour. That's the same as the Commando (which itself I dislike because it's sitting at around 72% of its maximum armour capacity. When you're that light and that relatively slow (to other lights), you really can't afford to skip on the armour).

[OrangePills]

Aelos03, on 26 May 2012 - 01:33 PM, said:

i must agree with raven looks

But I never said anything about the Raven? Lol

[Kudzu]

William Petersen, on 26 May 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

You're exactly right. It is incredibly under armed. It is also incredibly under armoured. That's because getting 8/12 movement on a 40-tonner with a non-XL engine requires an enormously heavy engine. At 22.5 tons, the engine alone takes over half the tonnage of the Mech. Ludicrous. Also, it has 64 points of armour. That's the same as the Commando (which itself I dislike because it's sitting at around 72% of its maximum armour capacity. When you're that light and that relatively slow (to other lights), you really can't afford to skip on the armour).

The Cicada is usually used to scout and hunt down other scouts, which it can do just fine. Toss in an XL (or downgrade the engine a step) and you'll have plenty of room to add firepower and armor.

[GreyTemplar]

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

But I never said anything about the Raven? Lol

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

Raven - 35 tonnes, 97 km/h - I know some may disagree here, but I think this is the best looking of all the light mechs- not that that even means anything really. But the loadout apart from weapons makes me believe that this would be a great supporting mech.

But you did good sir. And I also agree that it is the sexiest of the Light mechs we have revealed so far.

[Raalic]

Stepping the engine back on the Cicada in favor of a PPC is going to be the norm, imho. 118.8 kph is still fast enough to outstrip every other 'mech in the game thus far except Jenner. At that point, though, it's basically a glorified Jenner, anyway..

Edited by Raalic, 26 May 2012 - 02:18 PM.

[OrangePills]

How did I not see I had said something about the Raven? I must be blind, haha.

Anyways Raalic I think you may be right, if what I understand about customization is correct. I should think now of what type of setup I'm going to run. I'm thinking of a light mech maybe.

[Aelos03]

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

How did I not see I had said something about the Raven? I must be blind, haha.

Anyways Raalic I think you may be right, if what I understand about customization is correct. I should think now of what type of setup I'm going to run. I'm thinking of a light mech maybe.

I wonder my self how did you wrote about it and don't remember damn you must feel like in twilight zone

Edited by Aelos03, 26 May 2012 - 02:28 PM.

[Redshift2k5]

The Cicada in the artwork is toting an UltraAC/5. i'm not a huge fan of that weapon, but it weighs 9 tons and a PPC only weighs 7, so substituting in a PPC or an ERPPC won't be that hard (an energy weapon can't go on the same hardpoint as the ballistic UAC/5, but there are at least 2 energy hardpoints on the Cicada and likely a few more as well, the Hunchback has several additional hardpoints)

Edited by Redshift2k5, 26 May 2012 - 02:30 PM.

[Togg Bott]

soon, you will all learn to fear the sight of Togg Botts - mighty damn fast hit and where did he go- cicada.

[Tuhalu]

OrangePills, on 26 May 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

Cicada - 40 tonnes, 129 km/h - This mech seems drastically under-armed compared to the medium mechs and even some of the light mechs. What is this nonsense? It is a medium mech, yet it has what looks like a pretty poor amount of weaponry for any mech and it is the fastest in the game. It seems like someone signed up for the wrong weight class. I know, I know, "canon". I'm glad they stuck to canon but this still seems a bit silly.

That's exactly the design philosophy of the Cicada. It was designed to compete in the speedy scout role with the Locust, a mech half it's size, in 2740. It succeeds in that design inasmuch as it has the same speed as the base Locust, with superior weaponry with no ammo requirements and a stronger internal structure.

As an actual combat scout that can tangle with enemy mediums and lights, you're going to want the 3C or 3M variants. Something that can take advantage of its speed and range brackets to take potshots and be gone before the other mech can bring its own stuff into range.

In the Mech Lab: In comparison to the Jenner, you'll want to take the Jenner if you like to go gunning past your enemies and fly up over a hill afterwards (jump jets!) or you like SRMs. You'll want to take the Cicada if you'd like to make use of the Cicada's ballistic hardpoints to poke away at medium range (which should trump non-Jenner mechs like the Raven and Commando very nicely).

[Tyzh]

Redshift2k5, on 26 May 2012 - 02:30 PM, said:

The Cicada in the artwork is toting an UltraAC/5. i'm not a huge fan of that weapon, but it weighs 9 tons and a PPC only weighs 7, so substituting in a PPC or an ERPPC won't be that hard (an energy weapon can't go on the same hardpoint as the ballistic UAC/5, but there are at least 2 energy hardpoints on the Cicada and likely a few more as well, the Hunchback has several additional hardpoints)

Not to mention the CDA-3C is a legit variant and comes with a PPC.

[Starne]

About the Cataphract, the variant shown in the concept art is the 1X. Four medium lasers, a PPC, and an AC/10. One laser on each arm, one laser on each side of the torso, PPC on the left arm(right, from the pilot's perspective), AC/10 in the left torso(right, from the pilot's perspective).

For me, my chosen rides will be a Cataphract and a Centurion. Both are "Trooper Mechs". Centurion is going to be a CN9-AL with the Large Laser, Small Laser, and a ton and a half of armor removed, with a PPC going on the arm where the LL was. Cataphract is going to be a 1X, maybe swap the AC/10 for an LBX-AC/10. I'll revisit both loadouts once I have plenty of C-Bills, and once ClanTech becomes available. Might also get a Catapult K2, and attempt to make it into a poor man's Marauder.