18 replies to this topic

[no no mercy]

Hello, veterans and newbies!

I'm quite new to MWO (around of month game experience), but i think that i've got some kind of view to this game.
Currently I've got 2 classy mechs (JUNK1 - cat k2 with gauss and 4 PML and JUNK2 - raven 3L with streaks and 3 PML), but i realise that i need something more flexible to cut through the battle.
I dont like LRMs (well, I'm bad with them... they dont make me happy like ballistic and lasers )

So, I'm looking for an flexible "brawler", and i've found pretty nice ballistic mechs: dragon 5N and phract 4X. I've made some 4(3) AC/2 builds for them:

project JUNK3 (CTF 4X)
and
project JUNK$ (DRG 5N)

dont mind armor balance - i just need to fill it, so i can calculate weight properly

i've seen several threads, videos from similar mechs pilots, I hope you guys can give me advice and help with that hard choice (dragon speed vs phract firepower)

Edited by no no mercy, 08 March 2013 - 07:47 AM.

[Gigastrike]

I've used both of these builds (or similar) and neither are good for brawling. They're fire-support. If what you want is a mech for brawling, I'd recommend the Cataphract either way; but I'd try it with a couple of AC/10s instead. Quad AC/2s don't have enough upfront damage for brawling.

[Parappaman]

^Agree.

AC2s are only good if you stay behind the front line, shaking your enemies' cockpits while they try to aim to the actual brawlers engaging them. Get either 4 AC5 or 2 UAC5 + 2 AC2 in that Phract for a more effective close punch. I'm not into Dragons so do what pleases you the most with that... thing.

[no no mercy]

Hahah
well when i said brawler, i might have use that wrong usually i'm trying to flank and play smart (lol dat newbie speak), boths with my cat (i start fight with long-range gauss "sniping" and then come to "dogfight" with 4 med pulse lasers) and raven (start scouting and helping our missle boats, then strike foes from their back)
but cat is not that fast, and raven lacks armor... so i think that i need something to fill that gap (actually CTF will be even slower then my cat)

seems i'm not a brawler then

[Gigastrike]

no no mercy, on 08 March 2013 - 08:09 AM, said:

Hahah
well when i said brawler, i might have use that wrong usually i'm trying to flank and play smart (lol dat newbie speak), boths with my cat (i start fight with long-range gauss "sniping" and then come to "dogfight" with 4 med pulse lasers) and raven (start scouting and helping our missle boats, then strike foes from their back)
but cat is not that fast, and raven lacks armor... so i think that i need something to fill that gap (actually CTF will be even slower then my cat)

seems i'm not a brawler then

That's pretty much exactly what I do with my Dragon, so you'd do pretty well to start there. But if you want it to be well rounded like that, you'd probably have to drop one of the AC/2s for an SRM 6.

Edited by Gigastrike, 08 March 2013 - 08:44 AM.

[Hebdomas]

The 4x is pretty slow for a heavy, while the Dragon is fast for a heavy. What are your speed preferences?

Both builds aren't really flankers either, they are more fire support builds. (The 4x is too slow to really flank anyhow.) For a flanker you want some fast with good mobility and firepower.

For what you want to do I'd recommend a different dragon build, or possibly a medium like a centurion/hunchback/trebuchet (if you don't mind using short range missiles). My hunchback 4SP goes 81kmh with a standard 250 and my 4P goes 79.3 kmh with a standard 245 (my jenner's stock engine), without speed tweak.

Edit: Typed the same sentence twice >.>

Edited by Hebdomas, 08 March 2013 - 11:37 AM.

[BGrey]

No one has pointed out that the phract has 4xAC2 and 2xMPL with 11 heatsinks. Not a good idea.....

[no no mercy]

so here's what i've got at the moment (engine from my JUNK1 cat-k2)
guys that is just aweseome!!! its not that fast and i havent installed DHS, but it rly fits my playstyle!

project JUNK3.a

[Gigastrike]

no no mercy, on 08 March 2013 - 04:10 PM, said:

so here's what i've got at the moment (engine from my JUNK1 cat-k2)
guys that is just aweseome!!! its not that fast and i havent installed DHS, but it rly fits my playstyle!

project JUNK3.a

That thing'll be a beast once you get double heatsinks. You'll even be able to drop a few of them for an XL 300 engine and still have much better heat efficiency than before.

[Hex Pallett]

First of all, just throw the whole idea of "brawling" behind your head if you're sticking with AC2. AC2 is meant to be a fire support weapon that fires from afar and suppress LRM boats.

Got it? Good. Now, to choose between your Dragon and CTF build, you wanna ask yourself: Do you want a slow, steady turret with 33% more firepower and better armor? Or do you want a slightly less armed, less armored turret that can rapidly redeploy?
Both have merits and drawbacks. Personally I've been sticking with 4X for a long while and was entirely satisfied with the result.

Also, I strongly recommend that you carry at least 14DHS with you if you're carrying that many AC2.

[liku]

Try the "Weapons Crusher"
DHS
ENDO
FF
XL 340 350 or 360
3 MG (usually 1 to. Ammo is enough if you have good aim)
You can go for srm or lrm, all depends if you want to take the time to lock or not
1 ton ammo (Lrm or Srm)
2 ERPPC
Fill with DHS

This mech is for in and out flanking attack, you stab them from the back or follow/pursue them, circling work well. This isnt a mech for long range sniping/camping, but if it is what you want you better go for the cat or swapp the mg for a gauss.
With this mech you strip some armor and destroy the components in seconds then switch target its a fast moving.
You can play is almost as a light except the lights and some mediums are the only mechs you ll fear the most. Be also caution to always have a way out for cover against lrm boat or focused fire:it wont last as long as the cat.

"The REMOVER"
Is a cat meant for long range, at best half the speed of the dragons better armor and firepower:
Dhs endo
2 gauss 4 ton ammo
1 er lla
1 lrm5 1 ton ammo
2 mg a ton ammo.

You snipe with this one, anybody who will sit for 2 sec is hour target, it s slow but powerfull and can take some punishment (comparativly with the dragon) it can strip body part and components.

With this last one i wrack hamok incaustic wanting to do a kamikaze attack against a wall team going back to their base. The time theurn back i got some body parts and components i bought so much time for my team they took line forever to finish me off that igot time to remove more weapons before letting go ;-)

Sorry its 6 am..shouldn't post from the cell will edit to correct after some sleeps

[Saint Scarlett Johan]

This is the Dragon I use and it's worked best for me when used as just a faster heavier medium.

DRG-1C

[armyof1]

If you have a DRG-5N just get it leveled to open up Master, and then sell it. If you like Ballistics and even want to try out dual ones go with the DRG-1N, there's no point in triple ballistics since the weight of them + ammo would mean you won't have the weight for the missiles or energy weapons which I think are all needed for a quick mobile brawler. If you want more ammo just switch to ML instead of MPL.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c629004cdaf05d7


If you like a lot of ballistics go with the 4X, AC5/UAC5 on each arm puts out some serious damage.

Edited by armyof1, 09 March 2013 - 02:26 AM.

[Kageru Ikazuchi]

I love my dragon (DRG-1N, 100kph, UAC5, LL, ML, 2xSRM-4), but it's not a brawler ... flanker, maybe ... harasser, certainly. Some games, it just plain sucks, others, 500+ damage and 3+ kills.

I haven't tried out the cataphracts (yet), but the CTF-4X just looks too slow for my tastes ... quick dabbling in smurfy's mech lab, and I came up with a CTF-2X that I'd probably like, 2xERLL, 2xSSRM2, UAC5.

[Lyoncet]

Kageru Ikazuchi, on 09 March 2013 - 04:38 AM, said:

I love my dragon (DRG-1N, 100kph, UAC5, LL, ML, 2xSRM-4), but it's not a brawler ... flanker, maybe ... harasser, certainly. Some games, it just plain sucks, others, 500+ damage and 3+ kills.

I've found that I like good flanking/positioning/support, and I'm thinking about Dragon vs. Cataphract for my third 'Mech to master after Hunchback and Jenner. And I've gotta say I love the huge speed and good looking alpha this build has. Anyone else have experience with this? Is it as good a harasser and supporter as it looks like it would be?

[Eumenes]

The CTF-4X can be unforgiving; it's slow and the hardpoints point to some variation on guass, two big ACs, or lots of little ACs. I liked the 2 AC-10 build the best though. You're toast if you get in a bad position due to the low speed, but it can be an effective fighter in a brawl.

Just mastered mine, it will sit in the dropship for a while.

[no no mercy]

wow! this MWO community is just amazing! thx u guys for builds and responds!!
I've finally earned some cash for double heatsinks!
and here's my second build (based on ur advices, pals! )
project JUNK3.b

works pretty nice for me! (yet i need some practice in aiming with ppc's )

[Ocilfa]

Your heading in the right direction, but your mech still has a glaring weakness:Lights. All of your weapons fire on a shot by shot basis. If you were very used to it, you might get decently lucky. However, try replacing that ppc on the left arm with a large laser. It weighs two tons less, saves 1 slot, and you can track lights better. Then take away one srm ammo(one should be enough. Now, you can put two double heatsinks in the left arm. You definitely need to cool well with this build.

If you wanted to take it further, replace the srm4's with an srm6. Your going to generate much less heat, but with very comparable damage. Also, this additional weight that is free should be applied to the legs. All your ammo is down there, so its not too bad of an idea to armor up.

Edited by Ocilfa, 09 March 2013 - 11:09 AM.

[no no mercy]

@Ocilfa

thx man, gonna think about that (probably i think of LL or PLL - I just well in love with pulse lasers sound!! )