34 replies to this topic

[SuperJoe]

my favorite is the one with all the guass and ppcs

[TheMadTypist]

I like -733 with Endo, Gauss (3t ammo, RA), 2ML (RT), LRM20 (2t ammo, LT) SRM6 & SRM2 (2t ammo, LA), 3JJ's, 270 STD engine, CASE on the missile ammo, and max armor.

Close to a stock -732, but more Gauss ammo. I went with SRM6+SRM2 rather than 2xSRM4 because the way that the second launcher gets its own launch point slightly below the first, instead of firing from the same tubes, I think this setup results in a tighter missile burst between both launchers at once at closer ranges than spreading launcher type more evenly would do.

LRM20 + Gauss opens serious holes on approach, Gauss + SRMS exploits those holes and finishes injured 'mechs. People underestimate the LRM20, some don't even bother to duck these days, but the way it launches every missile in one salvo on the HGN, combined with the way missiles in a salvo group in flight, tends to put around 10 damage on the CT of the target on a good hit. Also great for forcing ridgesnipers to duck so I can advance while they're hiding from the missiles.

ML's do a decent job adding extra oomph in emergencies, or for tracking lights. JJ's allow much more rapid turns in a brawl, as well as allowing me to pop up unexpectedly over cover that enemies are hiding on the other side of, thinking they're safe in the lee of a hill. Arm mounted Gauss and SRM's can track downward to hit these targets while I'm above them, but their torso mounted weapons can't generally traverse like that at the close ranges.

It would be significantly improved by adding Double Heat Sinks, has issues now if I use the ML's too much. There are more competitive builds out there for higher ELO ratings but in low-mid ELO, if you take care to use all of your weapons systems and not get so focused on using one that you ignore the others, faces will indeed be wrecked. Ideal engagement range is ~230-200 meters, so LRMS, ML's, and SRM's can all get in on the party.

EDIT: I used the -733 rather than a -732 as the base because it was cheaper to buy and upgrade the -733 than buy, rip the FF armor off of, and upgrade the -732.

Edited by TheMadTypist, 19 April 2013 - 09:57 AM.

[Musashi Alexander]

I only started playing again since the last patch (too many bug issues since the earlier April patch) and bought a couple Highlanders (733C and 733P). I just had a question and maybe it means I'm playing them wrong, but don't those who put an XL engine in the HIghlander feel that you die real quick? I started off with an XL engine (of various sizes) but found it made the Highlander a death trap. I switched to standard engines and seem to do a lot better.

[Major Scumbag]

Bishop Steiner, on 19 April 2013 - 07:52 AM, said:

gotta admit, still kinda not getting the point of non jumping Highlanders. Can't the Atlas RS do the same load out, but better?

Admittedly, sometimes there are quirks that make up for it, or you might just like a chassis better, and since I don't drive atlases, I really wouldn't know. Just find the JJs make the mech for me, and I am generally not a jumper.

Basicly the Highlander is a Atlas weighing 10 tons less and JJ. Thats it. They basicly have the same hardpoints. With minor changes. They dumbed down the builds on Highlander to make there cash version the best. I was disappointed when there was a type O day before release of saying they going to add the player made version. Wich gave it dual guass or dual ac20 option. As an atlas pilot. I have no urge to even buy 1 highlander. Since the loads out are basicly the same in an atlas. If 1 variant had the option for dual guass or dual ac/20. I would have bought all 4. Looks like to me they made the highlander over the weekend not putting any time in it. If you select in mechbuy and click each higherlander. The only thing that changes is the right arm. The one with the balistic in it. Thats it. All of the variants differ very slightly. 1 or 2 hardpoints moved or maybe 1 hardpoint changed from missle to energy. I was hoping there would be 1 assualt that can dual wield gauss or ac/20. Funny how a 65 ton mech do it, but not an assualt. PGI is going backwards.

[DrSecretStache]

For now, by being c-bill broke, I only got the 733C, and haven't even fitted it out with DHS yet. Which is funny, cause in a poptart configuration, aka 1gauss 2ppc 3streak, I'm able to do some incredible, incredible things with it. It's also my first tanky mech (the awesome is not very tanky), and I'm learning to enjoy it.

So, for now, fav is the 733C. Once I stick DHS into the mech, I'll either load it out with an ac20, 2lpl, 3streak, or dual ac2 lpl and some missile combo. 300xl engine, cause it's all I got, but it works rather well actually. I think I'm loving this mech. I'll love it even more when it doesn't keep trying to kill my pilot with heatstroke

One final note, sticking a single machine gun on the arm looks hilariously awesome. I only wish they did more...

[Bishop Steiner]

Musashi Alexander, on 19 April 2013 - 10:03 AM, said:

I only started playing again since the last patch (too many bug issues since the earlier April patch) and bought a couple Highlanders (733C and 733P). I just had a question and maybe it means I'm playing them wrong, but don't those who put an XL engine in the HIghlander feel that you die real quick? I started off with an XL engine (of various sizes) but found it made the Highlander a death trap. I switched to standard engines and seem to do a lot better.

Differing playstyles. I have versions that use both. One uses a Stock 270, my P uses the 325XL. Sometimes that extra speed gets you out alive, where no amount of zombie-ing would. Sometimes, it gets you killed.

[DrSecretStache]

Musashi Alexander, on 19 April 2013 - 10:03 AM, said:

I only started playing again since the last patch (too many bug issues since the earlier April patch) and bought a couple Highlanders (733C and 733P). I just had a question and maybe it means I'm playing them wrong, but don't those who put an XL engine in the HIghlander feel that you die real quick? I started off with an XL engine (of various sizes) but found it made the Highlander a death trap. I switched to standard engines and seem to do a lot better.

Interestingly enough, I think I've only ever been cored, so no I probably need to do more rotating of my upper torso, which I've apparently gotten out of the habit of when I sold my only awesome, but it might also be part of the new sniping meta.

For now, people just aim at my center. Even without DHS, I managed a 650 damage match, though I think I was cored in that one too.

[August55]

Using the 733C with AC20, 3 SRM6s, and 2 med lasers. 305 STD Engine/DHS/Endo. Good for a "Splatlander" Build. It's a bit different than the standard poptart (More like a Brawler with Jets), but I eventually plan on mastering 2 more variants (Maybe HM when it goes on sale)

Edited by August55, 19 April 2013 - 10:29 AM.

[Musashi Alexander]

Zoughtbaj, on 19 April 2013 - 10:21 AM, said:

Interestingly enough, I think I've only ever been cored, so no I probably need to do more rotating of my upper torso, which I've apparently gotten out of the habit of when I sold my only awesome, but it might also be part of the new sniping meta.

For now, people just aim at my center. Even without DHS, I managed a 650 damage match, though I think I was cored in that one too.

I had about 5 matches where I seemed to die nearly instantaneously with an XL. To be fair, I'm very poor with watching my damage and rotating to spread damage. I thought the mech was awful. Then the stars aligned and I had a 4 kill 3 assist 800+ damage match and have been doing better with it since. I'm levelling them up so still not running as well as they will. But basically, because I'm poor at damage distribution I think I have to forego XL builds unless they're set up for longer range.

[Relic1701]

Bacon.

[Alekzander Smirnoff]

HM, stock engine that came with it, 3LLas, 2SSRM, Gauss, 4/5JJ. Full armor minus 8 points / leg.

[Wintersdark]

I love the Highlander. It's been my favorite Inner Sphere mech for... well, at least a decade. So, hell yeah I was all over them and bought the Heavy Metal on release day. I'll get the rest, too, when I can get sufficient c-bills. At ~6 games a day, that happens a bit slower for me than some.

The Heavy Metal is my favourite, because FASTER and MOAR JUMP JETS while all the variants are overall pretty damn similar.

As to complaints about how many Highlanders? Come on, folks, really. Are you all new here? There's always zounds of the new mech for the first couple weeks after patch day. Remember the Jagermech patch? The Stalker patch? How about the Trebuchet and hell, even the (terrible!) Spider. This is not new, and the numbers will settle as fans get their early play time in with the New Shiny and get things levelled.

Bishop Steiner, on 19 April 2013 - 10:17 AM, said:

Differing playstyles. I have versions that use both. One uses a Stock 270, my P uses the 325XL. Sometimes that extra speed gets you out alive, where no amount of zombie-ing would. Sometimes, it gets you killed.

I'm a huge fan of speed. I always play faster mechs; or at least more or less the fastest a given mech can go.

But the above is absolutely true. It's really easy for speed to get you killed - you run up too quick, get a little too far ahead of your slower allies, move into an area with less time to survey it first and blunder into hidden mechs... When you're slow, it's a lot easier to see things develop (with your faster allies) then move to where you're most useful - and to avoid being focussed first.

One of the hardest lessons to learn in a fast mech is when to slow the **** down.

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

Wintersdark, on 19 April 2013 - 12:09 PM, said:

One of the hardest lessons to learn in a fast mech is when to slow the **** down.

So true!

(as my smoking ruins of my XL325-powered Highlander will attest)

[Budor]

I like the 733C best. Its like a Wang with Jump-Jets and 3x SSRM. The quirks make it an excellent brawler to, prolly why i prefer it over the Heavy Metal so far.

Didnt play any of the others and wont, just filled basic on the 733 with gxp and sold it.

[Keifomofutu]

Its a tossup between 733C with full brawler AC20 3xsrm6 and 2ml vs Heavy Metal with midrange uac5+ac2 and 3LLs. Both have a single JJ for maneuverability. I run a 320 standard on the 733c and a 300xl on the heavy metal. I really can't decide which I like more. "ADMISSION" I also have a 732 with 3PPC + Gauss, but it makes me feel dirty.

Edited by Keifomofutu, 19 April 2013 - 05:52 PM.