55 replies to this topic

[Dr Warp Effect]

I have played many MMOs and done well. I have read these forums a lot. To me it seems 7-D is hopeless compared to other damage-dealing mechs especially ECM, LRM, and scouts. I have tried staying in cover, staying with main group, covering base D, helping do main push, different weapons, etc. When I look at number of hard points available to several other mech types it just seems to me the Atlas gives up speed, maneuverability and max hard points to get more armor that does little good in the final analysis. Should I move away from Atlas completely? I would have thought it suited my play-style which in these kind of games tends towards the Bruiser-type. Any help would be appreciated. (Please don't say no more than it is a team game and group up. Have been grouping or at least usually staying with main force).

Edited by Dr Warp Effect, 13 March 2013 - 07:59 AM.

[Kobold]

Badly.

[Star Colonel Mustard Kerensky]

325 STD 4 ML 2 SRM6 with artemis, AC/20 AMS.

[Yokaiko]

Dr Warp Effect, on 13 March 2013 - 07:58 AM, said:

I have played many MMOs and done well. I have read these forums a lot. To me it seems 7-D is hopeless compared to other damage-dealing mechs especially ECM, LRM, and scouts. I have tried staying in cover, staying with main group, covering base D, helping do main push, different weapons, etc. When I look at number of hard points available to several other mech types it just seems to me the Atlas gives up speed, maneuverability and max hard points to get more armor that does little good in the final analysis. Should I move away from Atlas completely? I would have thought it suited my play-style which in these kind of games tends towards the Bruiser-type. Any help would be appreciated. (Please don't say no more than it is a team game and group up. Have been grouping or at least usually staying with main force).

It doesn't brawl as well as a D-DC or snipe as well as an RS.....the -K is just the worst Atlas.

My -D has a pair of PPCs a gauss(make sure you CASE it) and I think a pair of Mlas and srm4 and srm6 with a 325 standard, endo and DHS.

It does decently at being a treat, but its a generalist build, so prety much any brawler is going to give you issues, and once a mech gets in on you you can pretty much count the gauss goodbye.

Edited by Yokaiko, 13 March 2013 - 08:02 AM.

[Hamm3r]

I play mine as a brawler mostly, 2X SRM6, AC20, 4x ML. Sometimes I'll swap out one SRM for an LRM 10, or change it up totally and go with 2x LRM20s with a boat load of ammunition and 4MLs. Not the best builds out there but works for me.

[Bilbo]

A brawling Atlas(any variant) relies on support from the team more than any other mech. Playing solo, you have to be aware of where your team is and maintain contact in order to force that support at times. Your team will, as often as not, just hang you out to dry. It is your job to make sure that doesn't happen.

[SgtMagor]

Yokaiko, on 13 March 2013 - 08:01 AM, said:

It doesn't brawl as well as a D-DC or snipe as well as an RS.....the -K is just the worst Atlas.

My -D has a pair of PPCs a gauss(make sure you CASE it) and I think a pair of Mlas and srm4 and srm6 with a 325 standard, endo and DHS.

It does decently at being a treat, but its a generalist build, so prety much any brawler is going to give you issues, and once a mech gets in on you you can pretty much count the gauss goodbye.

gauss is way to fragile, and putting it on a big slow mech seems such a waste.

[Hamm3r]

SgtMagor, on 13 March 2013 - 08:11 AM, said:

gauss is way to fragile, and putting it on a big slow mech seems such a waste.

I've gotten kills with it on my Atlas, but I prefer the AC20.

[Syllogy]

This is my Atlas-D Build

It looks like it runs hot, but it's actually quite cool.

[Martini Henrie]

Two ALRM 15s, two LPLs and a pair of TAGs, plus loads of ammo and a standard 300 engine. It's good at range, and the LPLs hit hard enough and are heat efficient enough for me not to need loads of heat sinks.

It's not perfect, but supports my play style when I use it.

[Mad Dog 312]

I use the D- variant as a support mech. While it seems wrong to stay back in an Atlas, I find it works best in this role.

2 LRM 20's w Artemis, TAG, 2 LL and a Gauss Rifle. You can have very near max armor and will have to drop down to a 260 standard engine with endosteel to fit it all in with a decent amount of ammo.

Note this mech is painfully slow (even with spead tweak), and almost unbearably slow in Alpine. You snipe with the gauss rifle, and bombard with LRM's. If you need burst damage, add in the dual LL's in the arms. If someone is facehugging you you are in serious trouble as you can't turn for crap, and you have no added short range punch.

I agree with the other people that it's not a great variant, but I would prefer it to the K if I was picking my 3rd variant to get mastry on.

[Egomane]

Moving this thread to Guides - Battlemechs.

[ho1mes]

I picked up a D variant during the sale a few weeks back just for fun. I tried using this mech as a LRM boat, but didn't like it. I felt too vulnerable and slow to short range attacks, especially pugging when people tend to run off and do their own thing. I played around with a few different builds and settled on a Std335. AC20, LLx2, SRM6x2. Just enough speed that you can maneuver a bit. The fight will always come to you, so I found it better to dish out plenty of pain if you get with 200 - 300m of me.

[MadPanda]

Check my guide for the best atlas D build and gameplay tips with it.

http://mwomercs.com/...n-atlas-builds/

Edited by MadPanda, 13 March 2013 - 09:03 AM.

[Wrenchfarm]

Syllogy, on 13 March 2013 - 08:16 AM, said:

This is my Atlas-D Build

It looks like it runs hot, but it's actually quite cool.

Seems like a lot of Gauss ammo. You could probably drop a ton or two and trade them for either sinks or more LRM ammo.

Martini Henrie, on 13 March 2013 - 08:20 AM, said:

Two ALRM 15s, two LPLs and a pair of TAGs, plus loads of ammo and a standard 300 engine. It's good at range, and the LPLs hit hard enough and are heat efficient enough for me not to need loads of heat sinks.

It's not perfect, but supports my play style when I use it.

Pair of TAGs? I'm going to hope that is a typo...

Anyway, the Atlas-D is a bit hard to build for, but not hopeless.

You can make a decent brawler build. Not going to perform as well as the D-DC with it's extra SRM pack and ECM, but respectable. 4 MLAS can actually do decent work if you make sure to focus them on the same area with the AC20.

The build MadPanda linked to is good for a long range playstyle. Personally, I like Atlai that move up with the team, but that doesn't mean long range builds are useless. Just make sure to slowly push up and use all your weapons. Nothing worse than watching an heavily armoured Atlas sit at 999m and sling LRMs all day.

[LeMans]

I have had excellent success with my D build after I changed it up for better alpine performance:
2 x Lrg laser
1 x Gauss (3 tons)
2 x SRM6 (3 tons)
AMS
Stnd 325 Engine

It won't go toe to toe with an equal pilot in a brawler DC, but is effective at most ranges and will still brawl well if your careful with heat from the LLas and SRMs. As always YMMV! A friend of mine swears by ER Lrg Lasers on this build, but I find that because most fights end up in a brawl even on Alpine, the extra heat is not offset by the extra range in most fights, making the ER lasers less useful at brawler ranges.

Edited by LeMans, 13 March 2013 - 10:03 AM.

[Selfish]

I prefer to play mine as a mid-range brawler. You really don't want to run into the face of a splatcat or DDC. They have the hardpoints to put you out of commission up close. My build looks something like this. Nice alpha, very controllable weapons systems. Use the PPCs with the AC/20 for a 40 point burst.

[Skyscream Sapphire]

Here is my "brawler" D build:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2f3b98ece65a6da

I say brawler, but the 3xLL and Gauss let it do that brawling at a bit of a range. If an enemy does decide to close on you, the story only gets worse for them as the 12 SRMs com into play and all the other weapons continue to be effective (unlike PPCs).

I did most of my D leveling with this setup and one it's strengths is the graceful degradation. All Atlantes (the plural or Atlas, look it up if you don't believe me) suffer from having side torsos that are as broad as a the side of a barn. They are obvious targets for housing the big weapons and actually have the least amount of potential armor of any component on the mech, excepting the head, assuming you actually put a reasonable amount on the back. However, with this build, even once your Gauss torso is gone, you still have 2xLL and 2xSRM6 left. A nasty surprise for anyone that thinks they've taken away your bite.

Also, someone above mentioned casing the Gauss. I used to do this. However, given that it only explodes some of the time that it is critted and even then only does 20 damage, I dropped this half ton. The 20 damage is not going to be enough to transfer to the CT. It will lead to the torso falling off quicker, but with the Gauss gone by definition, that's not as much of a concern.

My final tip related to the weak side torsos is: take damage with your arms whenever you can! The Atlas doesn't torso twist fast enough for this to viable in mid-brawl, but take that sniper shot or LRM volley on the arm. Even with reduced arm armor, your torso inevitably gets blown off first, so you might as well put that arm to some good use before it goes along for the ride!

[Ewigan]

my D runs as a direct fire support mech.

2 ERPPC, 1 Gauss and 2 ML.

Standard 300 Engine, near max armor, and TONS of heatsinks.

I would have loved to use the missile slots as well, but PPCs just run really hot if you fire two of them at the same time reguarly.

Never do stand back completely, just a bit behind your pack.

Right now, as i mostly play my "newer" mechs, it is my most succesfull mech.

[J0anna]

The D is actually one of my favorite builds. Here's what I use:

Engine 300 standard
AC20 w/4 tons of ammo
2xSRM 4 w/2 tons of ammo
3x Large Lasers
AMS w/1 ton of ammo
17 DHS
560/614 armor (shaved in legs and arms)

I shifted to the large lasers because of alpine and (soon to be released) desert. You need a bit of fire discipline to alpha the large lasers, but it works for me.