33 replies to this topic

[clip5]

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in buying a decent sniper mech. I have 12.3 million C bills to spend. The Catapult k2 looks promising, and I actually made 4 kills and 6 assists in one game with it. My thinking is that a heavy would be better for me than a medium, since my piloting skills are mediocre. Are there enough space/slots/weight to swap out the PPCs for ERPPCs? (I'm concerned about dealing with harrassment from lights and mediums.) Can the PPCs be replaced with Gauss rifles (are the 2 ballistic hardpoints enough)? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, thanks to all for such a promising game and a great community!

[Redshift2k5]

You can replace PPCs with ERPPCs, but note that the ERPPCs will generate a lot more heat.

you cannot replace the PPCs with gauss rifles (because ballistic weapons do not fit the same hardpoint as an energy weapon) but the K2 can equip ballistic weapons in it's left and right side torsos. note that gauss rifles are much much heavier than a PPC so you will have to d more in-depth customizing in order to fit gauss rifles.

[tuokaerf]

Check out the Jagermech, which should drop in Tuesday's patch.

[Royalewithcheese]

There are a couple of K2 builds that snipe well - look up "gausscat," "gausskitty," or "gaussapult" for one that was feared back in the days before the gauss nerf. The problem now is that it makes you super fragile at close quarters, but it's still viable. You can also make a pretty mean K2 or C1 with 4xLarge Lasers if you like the laser mechanics, too.

Outside of the Catapult chassis, one of the strongest mechs for sniping right now is the Cataphract 3-D because you can use the jumpjets to get a clean shot at ppl without making it easy for them to shoot you back. People usually run 2xPPC/1xGauss on that one - look up "poptart" to get some build ideas for that one.

EDIT: And yeah, Jagermech will probably be pretty solid at this, too. 2xGauss and 3xUAC5 will probably be viable.

Edited by Royalewithcheese, 17 March 2013 - 03:43 PM.

[tuokaerf]

The Trebuchet can do this OK as well. I have a 5J with jump jets, 2 ER PPCs, and 2 SSRMs. It can jump snipe, run away, and defend itself from lights.

[Aym]

Stalker 3F is good with 4 PPC's on it as well, but the Cat K2 is a classic sniper, as well as several Cataphract builds.

[Forestal]

tuokaerf, on 17 March 2013 - 03:47 PM, said:

The Trebuchet can do this OK as well. I have a 5J with jump jets, 2 ER PPCs, and 2 SSRMs. It can jump snipe, run away, and defend itself from lights.

And since the thread starter pointed out that he's poor-- the Trebuchet is cheaper to buy and outfit... cos there's not that much tonnage for additional stuff to begin with.

And there's the added advantage that you can easily (cheaply) load-out the same Treb as an lrm boat or whatever if you find that sniping is not for you-- or you just want/need for a change of pace/play-style

Edited by Forestal, 17 March 2013 - 05:38 PM.

[Giant Bob]

May I say a word regarding close range defense? I use a Stalker (since you're talking heavy and Stalker was already mentioned above), which I load out with 4xSSRM. It also has 2 1000m lasers and 2 or 3 medium lasers. I also run Beagle Active Probe, in the event it might help against ECM-cloaked mechs that would deign to evade my short stacks. Anyway assuming no ECM interference, I can assure you that no experienced enemy mech will persist against 4xSSRMs, at least none that I've met so far.

However, my favorite "sniper", is an extremely fast Cicada. She won't bring 'em down, but she'll drive 'em loco.

GL

PS I think you can justify any platform as a "sniper", if you use it accordingly. The tecnical definition isn't much more than shooting with accuracy from a distance, and with some modicum of camoflauge. That doesn't require 1-shot kills, in my opinion. It's most important that a sniper can cloak or blend in, and get off aimed shots at a distance.

Edited by Giant Bob, 17 March 2013 - 08:34 PM.

[BoPop]

if target zoom were worth a flip 4ac2's might be cool

[Syllogy]

Aym, on 17 March 2013 - 05:34 PM, said:

Stalker 3F is good with 4 PPC's on it as well, but the Cat K2 is a classic sniper, as well as several Cataphract builds.

The only good PPC Stalker is a The "Hell Bovine" 6PPC Stalker!

Seriously though, a 4PPC Stalker is no more heat-efficient than a 4PPC Awesome.

The Awesome has the benefit of torso rotation and speed that the Stalker does not have, as well as Arm Articulation.

Edited by Syllogy, 18 March 2013 - 07:10 AM.

[Victor Morson]

I'll join the recommendations for a Cataphract 3D.

You could get used to piloting a Stalker, but there's a good chance if you join a unit to play the game, you won't be able to field Stalkers all the time. Cataphracts are always in high demand, though. The 3D makes a good jump sniper, sure, but it also has tons of other configs so I don't think you could possibly go wrong owning one.

Edited by Victor Morson, 18 March 2013 - 07:13 AM.

[Koniving]

I used to hate the 4 AC-2 build, but have recently begun to appreciate it. However unlike most I see in the Cataphract 4X who just bring the 4 AC-2s, you need to have something with some umph up close. An SRM-4 is enough, several lasers even better (although the heat isn't worth it). My current rig on that is 4 AC-2s, 1 SRM-4, and a tag. I use the tag to rack in extra cash and judge whether or not I could hit the target before I fire. If I can tag it, I can shoot it. If I can't, then there isn't any point in shooting at it. I chain fire them at long range, and I alpha them at medium range (since I'm much more likely to hit), and up close I spam the living crap out of them and missiles.


Zhizhu Cataphract 3-D says "I found you."
===============

But AC-2's aside, back to sniper rigs... For ballistics, K-2, Cataphracts 4X, 3D, Muromets, Jagermech, and some Dragons (if you want a mobile sniper that can hit and move).

Energy: Catapults C1 (PPCs can fit on left/right torsos with a huge, fast XL engine), K2 (can go up to 4 PPCs; Cataphracts Muromets, 3D, 2X, 1X; Jagermech, Stalker (it's a huge weapons platform), Atlas RS (4 energy on arms).


Zhizhu Mercenary Corporation's Catapult C1 can snipe and lay down SRMs or LRMs.

Also remember that PPCs and ER PPCs weigh the same. The difference is range and heat. Keep in mind ER PPCs can do full damage up close too.


"That mountain just shot me!" "What are you smoking? There's nothing there."
The best snipers are those that blend in.

Edited by Koniving, 18 March 2013 - 07:25 AM.

[Ph30nix]

i use my K2 with 3 PPC's right now while im saving cash to finish its upgrading, i could go 4 PPC's but i dont want to overheat that easily. It works great in chain fire and helpful for your team if you focus fire on the mech's carrying ECM. You disrupt his ECM and ALL his teammates lose it as well.

But the K2 allows the best use of Sniping weaponry, 2 ERppc and 1 Gauss is a common build for it (i hadnt used it yet but i might)
you could also do 2 PPC's and 2 large (or even ER large) that one might run hot, but the PPC's will handle range (the larges can help as well especially if they are ER's) but if a light gets in your face 2 Large lasers will make him wish he hadnt if your good enough to hit him.

[Dan Nashe]

Check out mech and weaponstats here. Build before you buy. http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/
CTF (cataphract) 3d is the competitive sniper right now in leagues. However leagues are player run, not common and very different. Expensive though. Probably cost 14 mil. To buy and equip.

Treb 7m is the medium jump sniper usually. Best flexibility for all roles too. You can make a great striker/lrm boat/medim brawler all with this chassis, and it comes with artemis and dhs. Prob. 10 mil. To buy and equip it.

The K2 and 4x cannot jump snipe.

K2 and 3d have high chest mounts (energy only for the 3d) which is important for sniping because you can shoot over a building or ridge without much exposure. Treb will have arm mounted er ppcs.

Check out smurfy's to really compare mechs.

There is a 5j build with three reg ppcs in one armn but remember you'll have to buy an xl separately, so its nou as cheap as it looks. Ditto k2 and x4. Ctf 3d and treb 7m come with xl. And 5j obly has on missile rack.

Edited by DanNashe, 18 March 2013 - 09:56 AM.

[Urdnot Mau]

If you want to play with builds, check out this link :

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/

[Juicebox12]

Use a 4x raven, xl200 engine. 2 erppc, endo, fibro, dhs, 4jj.....


Profit.
Sounds ****** but its a dual erppc small target poptart. Annoys the hell out of other people.

[Pando]

Syllogy, on 18 March 2013 - 07:05 AM, said:

The only good PPC Stalker is a The "Hell Bovine" 6PPC Stalker!

Seriously though, a 4PPC Stalker is no more heat-efficient than a 4PPC Awesome.

The Awesome has the benefit of torso rotation and speed that the Stalker does not have, as well as Arm Articulation.

Nay, 4xPPC 4xSSRM2 and AMS can be ported to any of the chassis right? Good sniping and has defense points.

If you want dirt cheap, run a treb 7-K with 1xGauss 1xERPPC - build it on smurfy

[Philadelphia Collins]

I would recomend a cataphract with some combination of gauss and ppc the K2 becomes a priority target (at least for me) whenever it is seen because of the potential for 2 gauss/2 ac20 builds a ctf 4x on the other hand is not the ideal double guass platform and is impossible sport 2 ac20's due to limited slots in the arms. since you freely admit to being a poor player I think your best choice is a sniper mech that doesn't get target priority very easily, I think I saw someone suggest a trebuchet this would be a good one too. good luck

[Willie Sauerland]

Personally,

I like running the Muromets

with

2 ERPPC

and

2 UAC/5.

The ERPPC

allows you to take cover quickly

while hitting from a good distance.

UACs are great for close up

but they jam.

This build should be available

for other Cataphract variants too.

Try smurfy-net.de

before you buy.

[Josef Nader]

A gauss Hunchback can be a great low-budget choice.

HBK-4G