32 replies to this topic

[Tarrasque]

Damocles :: STK-5S

Can't wait to see feedback on this one - despite having an extraordinarily low alpha for an 85 ton mech, this command platform is what I plan to use when I decide to get back into a unit and metagame.

It runs relatively cool, hits at all ranges with precision, and can negate ECM on lights. At 57.1 kph without speed tweak, it is decently quick, not prone to ammo explosions, and carries Beagle to be better able to assess the situation, hold lock on moving enemies for LRM acquisition, and carries enough armor to zombie fairly well.


I do realize, however, there are always issues and ways to improve. I love this build, but how could I improve it? Are there game mechanics I'm not taking into account?

Thanks in advance!

[Zeh]

I think it could use some direction. The 4 streaks is nice, but you'll run out with only 1-ton of ammo unless you're using it as a defensive measure. But you're obviously not built for sniping, so you'll be using them a lot. Get at least 2 tons.

I also don't like the LLAS + ERPPC combination. It can work, but more often than not, you'll try shooting them together and get anywhere from 11-19 points of damage on-target, and the LLAS damage will likely be spread. Find a way to either change the LLAS to ERPPC as well, or lose it. IMO 2 ERPPC is the way to go.

Finding the weight for this with double AMS will be difficult, so IMO you're kinda stuck between having 2 ERPPCs without them, or 1 ERPPC with them. I find AMS to be a huge investment for little defense, unless you're horribad at cover, or your goal is to force a brawl, cover or not. (And in that case, 1 ton of AMS for 2 AMS won't last you long)

So in short.. it's got the basics down (4MLAS, 4Streaks is fantastic for brawling), but it lacks direction. Is it a sniper? LLAS + ER isn't great. 2ERPPC is pretty great.

If it's a brawler, what's the LLAS for? ER PPC is enough to harass and disrupt ECM.

Edited by Zeh, 04 March 2013 - 07:34 AM.

[Ewigan]

Well, i do not like haveing so many different weapon types. I usually go for 3 max, but to each their own.

What worries me about your build are the relatively weak legs in what you store your ammo.
Those two have less armor then your side torsos, but carry enough damage to completely annihilate you!

Raise the armor on your legs would be my advise.

[EyeOne]

I would suggest 2 things. Either go with (2) ER Large Lasers or (2) ER PPCs. I don't think mixing the LLs and the ERPPCs is the best idea. When it comes to your, what I call "main gun", I think it's best that they behave the same way. I also would slow it back down to the standard speed but that's just me.

[Dr B00t]

this should be in the guides section

thats my 2 cents

[Tarrasque]

Zeh, on 04 March 2013 - 06:57 AM, said:

I also don't like the LLAS + ERPPC combination. It can work, but more often than not, you'll try shooting them together and get anywhere from 11-19 points of damage on-target, and the LLAS damage will likely be spread. Find a way to either change the LLAS to ERPPC as well, or lose it. IMO 2 ERPPC is the way to go.

The LLAS/ERPPC philosophy is that the PPC is for sniping at range as I close, whereas a LLAS is much more easy to aim along with the 4 MLAS when I actually have to follow up that PPC blast to an ECM light with some damage. It also generates a fair bit less heat than another PPC - my goal here was to design a mech that was a fortress: a heat efficient, heavily armored mech that just keeps on surviving and dealing damage.

I'm never accused of focusing my builds in any mech, I really hate to be caught in a situation where I'm not able to respond in kind. I do think that it needs a little direction.

Ewigan, on 04 March 2013 - 07:00 AM, said:

What worries me about your build are the relatively weak legs in what you store your ammo.
Those two have less armor then your side torsos, but carry enough damage to completely annihilate you!

Raise the armor on your legs would be my advise.

Thanks, good point!

[Royalewithcheese]

I'm also not a fan of the LLas/ERPPC thing. Maybe 2xPPC? You certainly don't lack for short-range punch, and your biggest problem as a stalker in a knife fight is heat management anyway. ERPPCs are probably a liability in a brawl because of the bad damage-to-heat ratio. If it were my robot I would also probably take the BAP/AMS off and figure out whether I wanted to spend the tonnage on DHS or bigger SRM launchers, but I understand why you might also like the BAP/AMS.

EDIT: I would specifically not increase the armor in the legs. Nobody ever shoots the legs if you're an assault mech. I run around 49 in my Atlas and have been legged a grand total of once.

Edited by Royalewithcheese, 04 March 2013 - 07:10 AM.

[Josef Nader]

You don't have nearly enough ammo, your range brackets are eclectic, and streaks are terrible on assault mechs, You sacrifice -so- much damage potential by putting streak launchers there. You'd seriously be better off by slapping in SRM4s.

At the very least, drop the ERPPC to a large laser (or make it two ER larges if you're worried about range) and add another ton of AMS and Streak ammo.

[Bubba Wilkins]

It's a Stalker, so by default it is inferior to my Atlas. Muhahahaha.

[Tarrasque]

Really appreciate all the input folks!

[Eric darkstar Marr]

Well interesting non min/max so I give you props there.and you make use of both AMS since that is the 5S strong point over the 3F with a better torso twist.

No personally for my play style I think it is horrible you are mostly set up close range so I am truly not seeing what you are looking for here. To me the the 5S is set up to be a long range fire support where as the 5M is set up to be a close bruiser.

I wish I could advise builds but you have such a mishmash its hard to start and understand what your goal is.

[Mason Grimm]

Looks like this thread was posted in the wrong section, so I've moved it to Guides / Battlemechs forum

Edited by Mason Grimm, 04 March 2013 - 07:16 AM.

[Yokaiko]

Not close to enough ammo for four launchers, I burn through three tons rapidly on my Awesome, and they are mainly F-off Raven in employment.

As noted 4 SRM4

Lose the BAP, add ammo.....you don't need the lock time, if you are that concerned about it to back up those streaks target decay does it better.

Honestly. I'd dump the ER-PPC, and go with x2 Llas and x2 mlas

[Obeast]

I would drop the ERPPC, BAP, drop leg armor down to 41 then add 2 DHS, a total of 4 tons of SSRM ammo ( 2 in CT 1 in each leg) and a ton of AMS ammo in head.

[Tarrasque]

Eric darkstar Marr, on 04 March 2013 - 07:15 AM, said:

Well interesting non min/max so I give you props there.and you make use of both AMS since that is the 5S strong point over the 3F with a better torso twist.

No personally for my play style I think it is horrible you are mostly set up close range so I am truly not seeing what you are looking for here. To me the the 5S is set up to be a long range fire support where as the 5M is set up to be a close bruiser.

I wish I could advise builds but you have such a mishmash its hard to start and understand what your goal is.

Actually, the point is kind of to make a jack of all trades, command type mech. It's strong point is that it has no weak points. I'm satisfied with the way the mech 'work's - I usually hit for at least 500ish dmg - I'm just trying to close the chinks in the armor of the mech. I had to step away from MWO for a couple months, and am now without a group, but I plan on getting back into that mix eventually, and want a command platform to boot.

[Tastian]

I like it alot. I do agree with several comments here. 1) your main weapon needs a dual *something*. Since you have 4 med lasers and 4 streaks, I'd say swap out your erppc and large laser with 2 er large lasers. 2) you need more SSRM ammo. 3) While I don't necessarily think you need more leg armor, you could certainly use the extra ton from step 1 to beef up your legs or add a second ton of ams ammo.

Here's what I've created:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2f8da30154f8450

Edited by Tastian, 04 March 2013 - 07:21 AM.

[Tarrasque]

Yokaiko, on 04 March 2013 - 07:16 AM, said:

Lose the BAP, add ammo.....you don't need the lock time, if you are that concerned about it to back up those streaks target decay does it better.

Would you say that the increased lock time is worthwhile if only to benefit the LRMers and whatnot on my team? Or is that a negligable gain?

Tastian, on 04 March 2013 - 07:19 AM, said:

I like it alot. I do agree with several comments here. 1) your main weapon needs a dual *something*. Since you have 4 med lasers and 4 streaks, I'd say swap out your erppc and large laser with 2 er large lasers. 2) you need more SSRM ammo. 3) While I don't necessarily think you need more leg armor, you could certainly use the extra ton from step 1 to beef up your legs or add a second ton of ams ammo.

Here's what I've created:

<a href="http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=50&l=a11e6716c4249304af1b55f072f8da30154f8450">STK-5S</a>

I like it, I'll give it a shot! Thanks!

[Ewigan]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0b65bfdaef7f423

I tried to recreate a build i run on my 3F what does work on all directions.
With the BAP, the 2 (!) AMS and the ammo for it it has more heat problems then my build though.

[Obeast]

My main goal when building a mech is to build something with similar targeting styles. I generally don't like mixing lasers with PPCs or ACs. In other words, I dont want to have to change my "lead" on a target to fire an AC20 then move it back to get an LRM lock or whatever other weapon. With straight up lasers and streaks/LRMs you will never have to worry about that. Its as simple as put the reticle where ya wanna hit and fire away with Streaks or Lasers. I hope that makes some sense, as I just woke up

[Yokaiko]

Tarrasque, on 04 March 2013 - 07:20 AM, said:

Would you say that the increased lock time is worthwhile if only to benefit the LRMers and whatnot on my team? Or is that a negligable gain?

Negligible gain, you can get the same effect with modules, and lets face it you aren't going to be in the open spotting with a stalker.

If you are doing the long range with ssrm backup thing the -5M does it better with 5 missile harpoints. (I've seen some pretty nasty 4 PPC 5 SSRM builds running around....go ahead close on them.

Tarrasque, on 04 March 2013 - 07:20 AM, said:

I like it, I'll give it a shot! Thanks!

This is probably pretty close to mine, slightly less punch than an Atlas, but if you check you firing rates it can keep up a steady amount of pain for a LOT longer (bring LOTS of mouse buttons)

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...42f75d177710090

The other thing to think about is dropping the engine down to a 275 (I know slow) which frees 3.5 tons and would allow x4 large lasers, but that is going to be gnarly hot.

Obeast, on 04 March 2013 - 07:28 AM, said:

My main goal when building a mech is to build something with similar targeting styles. I generally don't like mixing lasers with PPCs or ACs. In other words....

Once you figure out that trick, you no longer have to fear any mech.

My Phract -2X (LPL, AC20,x2 SRM4 x2Mlas) usually gets me trolled by people riding along, 3 kills and 700damage is a bad game in that thing.

Edited by Yokaiko, 04 March 2013 - 07:34 AM.