12 replies to this topic

[Panserbjorne]

Hey Folks! I've been experiementing with a few builds recently and I've come up with a few ideas for all the noobs (we love you so please take the time to learn this immensely complex, but awesome game) out there.

In my opinion, here are the best noob mechs:

[HBK-SP] (this is common knowledge)
4 med lasers (in arms) (for range, replace with 2 large lasers)
2 SRM6 + Art
STD ENG 255
ES + DHS
82.6 kph

[CN9-AL]
3 large lasers
STD ENG 255
ES + 4 add DHS
82.6 kph

[CTF-2X]
1 large laser (in arm)
1 AC-20 + 2 ton ammo
2 SRM6 + 2 ton ammon
STD ENG 255
AMS + 1 ton of ammo
Case
ES + 1 add DHS
64 kph


These builds have good survivability and versatility, as well as decent firepower and speed.

I recognize that the easiest way for any noob to win is to pilot an ECM light with streaks (or an A1 with SRMs or a K2 with gauss etc.), but I would like to have options availible for those who might want to actually learn a bit about the game.

Can you think of other good noob friendly buidls? (a.k.a. no XL engines / speed tweak required to be effective). One that uses LRMs would be nice (though with ECM this may be difficult for a beginner).

[MoonUnitBeta]

A noob friendly mech, I think, is one with fixed arms. Flipping through spectator I see a lot of people who are pointing their arms to the heavens unloading into the clouds trying to push their torso cross hairs up more.

In terms of user friendly builds though... I think something that runs cold and has a slow engine (it's easier to aim because it's slower and sluggish) something with survivability can give more time to learning controls. I would probably recommend the CTF build you have.

Edited by MoonUnitBeta, 02 March 2013 - 08:20 PM.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

I'd modify your Hunchback 4SP build. Remove Artemis (unnecessary to rack up huge damage numbers and be massively potent). Stick with a 250 STD engine. Put in 15 DHS and 4 tons of SRM ammo (you burn through it all in a good game). 320 armor points.

This is the build that I use for mine, and the one I suggest to my friends who take up MWO. It does pretty well for them, and is easy to modify to taste if they want to try something else.

[Monky]

It used to be the Gaussapult or streakapult, point and click, lots of firepower. With Gauss nerfs and ECM, I'd say Raven 3L 3ml 2 ssrm2 and ecm.

[Royalewithcheese]

Panserbjorne, on 02 March 2013 - 08:07 PM, said:

I recognize that the easiest way for any noob to win is to pilot an ECM light with streaks (or an A1 with SRMs or a K2 with gauss etc.), but I would like to have options availible for those who might want to actually learn a bit about the game.

I personally think that a powerful build is a great way to get started. It will help ppl starting out save up money for their next mech, and being more effective means they'll have more chances to learn about the game.

My recommendation would be the MadPanda DDC: STD 350, 4xDHS, 2xMdLas, AC/20, 3xSRM6 (with or without Artemis), ECM. It teaches you how to use multiple weapon types, and is effective enough that you can contribute even at low skill levels and forgiving enough that you can still be around to learn more even after a fight goes badly. It's not cripplingly slow, but is slow enough that it forces you to think about every move you make.

[CheeseThief]

The best newbie mechs are the ones that have good/borked hitboxes and go decently fast, preferably with a focused set of hardpoints.

Raven 3L, HBK-4SP, a couple of the trebuchets and the Catapults would get my picks, decenlty fast with some good cookie cutter loadouts, and all are really easy to spread damage across without much piloting skill. I would advise against Cataphracts because they are really easy to shoot to pieces, likewise against the Atlas DDC because a new player probably doesn't want to blow their entire cadet bonus on a mech they may or may not like.

[Shubbs]

4SP is where I learned to play (such as it is), 250 std, 2 ml/arm, 2 tons srm ammo for srm6s, and 17 DHS. Sacrificed heat sinks for ammo once I got to the point where I got used to the heat and was effectively using my srm ammo and needing more. Might not be such a bad idea for someone new to run srm4s and even more DHS if they still have heat problems.

My usual Cataphract 1X build would be great too I think. Endo Steel, Ac20/3ton, 4ml (1 per arm, 1 per torso), AMS/1ton, 300std(2DHS slotted) +3 DHS in the left torso. Fast, simple weapon groups, great heat.

[Nightcrept]

Com2d.

3xSsrms
Medl
Ecm.

Fast, uber maneuverability, easy to aim and ecm.

Noobs best friend. Thus I use one...lol.

[Royalewithcheese]

CheeseThief, on 02 March 2013 - 08:43 PM, said:

likewise against the Atlas DDC because a new player probably doesn't want to blow their entire cadet bonus on a mech they may or may not like.

Good point! I had to grind with trial mechs a bit to start out with one. So yeah, I guess I'd only recommend it to people who know how slow they are and want one anyway

(Although since one of the trials is an Atlas now, new players can get a pretty good feel for if they like or dislike the chassis.)

Edited by Royalewithcheese, 02 March 2013 - 08:57 PM.

[Anjian]

My noob mech was a CN9 AL outfitted like a 4SP. 4 MLs with 2 SRM6s. It was the trial mech that time and I sort of liked it. Had my first kills on the game with it. When the HBK 4SP became the trial mech, i did a kill outright in its first mission and was sold after the mission.

Today my advise for a noob mech is to keep it simple.

1. Strip everything completely.
2. Max all your armor points.
3. Stick only with two kinds of weapons. One you can group at Mouse button 1, and the other you can group at Mouse button 2.
4. Use Double Heat Sinks if your mech is heavily energy based, Ferro or Endo to squeeze more weight for more ammo if you are a balllstic or missiles mech.

[IceCase88]

SRM6Pult (aka Splatapult) and the StreakCat. Neither require any skill to use. Perfect for n00bs who want a FPS experience and instant results without having to develop any sort of skill.

[tuokaerf]

IceCase88, on 02 March 2013 - 09:30 PM, said:

SRM6Pult (aka Splatapult) and the StreakCat. Neither require any skill to use. Perfect for n00bs who want a FPS experience and instant results without having to develop any sort of skill.

Tell me more about how you feel.

[dario03]

The answer is the Raven 3L, actually the answer to every question is Raven 3L