13 replies to this topic

[Son of Horus]

Oh my Gawd man!
I've been at this only a couple weeks, but I've piloted heavy, assault, and briefly medium, and Flame has been my guy.

Until I built this:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...dae374aa3356483

I never, ever tried a light before, was afraid I'd never get quick enough. But even with low damage, I'm survivng entire matches, winning more matches, and alway getting assists for everything that dies.

This last win in Tourmaline, the only damage I took was legs from still working on my landing skills...but I fly like Superman!

Terrain is now my FRIEND, and I can do dances around the big guys like they are mentally challenged ducks! I don't do a lot of damage, but I can alpha 3 times and hit areas my team has softened up.

I look for stragglers on my way to objectives and harass them. I like it the most when they lumber around in circles to swat at me, and delay their 48.6 k slog to help their team who we are pounding on a ways off. Then off I fly, to go lend a hand.

Man, I wish i'd done this sooner!

Edited by Son of Horus, 22 April 2013 - 03:31 PM.

[Kurkotain]

err, sorry to be a killjoy, but, why have AMS and no AMS ammo?

[Krzysztof z Bagien]

Kurkotain, on 22 April 2013 - 03:33 PM, said:

err, sorry to be a killjoy, but, why have AMS and no AMS ammo?

It's in head.

[Ravennus]

Glad you are having fun with it!

I plan to master a Spider 5D myself, though I'm going to GXP the other two variants... I've heard nothing but horrible things.


Some tips.... I hope you just had that 250xl lying around, because a 255xl weighs the exact same and pushes you over 150kph.

Also, AMS is unnecessary.
I mean, it's mostly unnecessary in the current game due to the huge shaft LRMs got with the recent "hotfix", but even during the LRMApocolypse.... lights really didn't need them.

Here's a tip. You can outrun LRMs. Yes, that's right. You don't even need cover.
So long as you are running perpendicular to their trajectory at full speed, they will hit the ground instead of you.
If they fire them far enough away, you can even run out of the 1000m max range and they will do nothing.

Just don't run STRAIGHT at the LRM boat. They will hit you then. All of them. And hurt. AMS couldn't save you even then.


Might I suggest you try Medium Pulse Lasers? They are great for fast movers because you don't need to stay on target as long.
They also do a bit more damage. 3 of them to the same spot is 18 damage.... almost the same as an AC20 shot.

Do this a few times to someones back and see what happens.

Edited by Ravennus, 22 April 2013 - 04:59 PM.

[Son of Horus]

I got AMS just to fill space, and I accidentally bought the wrong engine. Only been playing 2 weeks. But honestly, much faster and I'm not sure I could handle the turn radius, even now I often end up miles from where I thought I was running, but it's like it doesn't even matter, the rest of the world is moving in slow motion!

I may have earned enough c-bills to swap engines, now I'm off to check, lol!

[Ravennus]

Don't worry too much, man! Seriously, those engines are EXPENSIVE, and it's an easy mistake to make.
I started early December and did the same thing, haha.

Use that space though, but not on AMS. Get Ferro-Fibrous armor!
You can eek out another ton, and put it toward a little extra oomph or just maxing out your armor, whatever works.

Here is what I would try..... SDR-5D

You lose 2 Jump Jets, which may not hurt so bad because it's really just your max height that you lose. 6 still allow you to reach the really tall stuff, from what a couple friends tell me. But it's really up to you.

You could just upgrade the 2 Arm MLAS to Pulses, and leave the CT MLAS alone, and still have 8 JJ.


I wouldn't worry too much about the Engine now. Save up for other things, unless you really have to have it.

Edited by Ravennus, 22 April 2013 - 07:23 PM.

[Son of Horus]

Ravennus, on 22 April 2013 - 07:21 PM, said:

Don't worry too much, man! Seriously, those engines are EXPENSIVE, and it's an easy mistake to make.
I started early December and did the same thing, haha.

Use that space though, but not on AMS. Get Ferro-Fibrous armor!
You can eek out another ton, and put it toward a little extra oomph or just maxing out your armor, whatever works.

Here is what I would try..... SDR-5D

You lose 2 Jump Jets, which may not hurt so bad because it's really just your max height that you lose. 6 still allow you to reach the really tall stuff, from what a couple friends tell me. But it's really up to you.

You could just upgrade the 2 Arm MLAS to Pulses, and leave the CT MLAS alone, and still have 8 JJ.


I wouldn't worry too much about the Engine now. Save up for other things, unless you really have to have it.

Oh and an ECM as well...I like this, thanks!

**Edit- I just applied your build, thanks again!

Edited by Son of Horus, 22 April 2013 - 07:51 PM.

[Ravennus]

Let me know how it runs!

Like I said, I know a couple people that run Spiders well, and I've meant to get into one for a while.
It's also much better now that SSRMs don't hurt as badly.... encountering an enemy Raven 3L doesn't mean automatic death anymore.

[Son of Horus]

I actually either run from other lights, sniping as I go, or chase them around looking for back and leg shots!

[Shuyen]

Nice!

I've been running a SDR-5D lately with an XL250 engine (wrong one! I should have gotten the XL255 ), endo, ferro, TAG and ECM. It's been really interesting how little people notice you when you get someplace high, sit still and TAG from the side or rear quarter. For armament I got an ERLL (I like the range).

A good team takes advantage of the TAG and I get an extra 50-150XP for it. It's not so bad when it works!

[Son of Horus]

Best part is, in real life I despise spiders!

[Howdy Doody]

These little ******** are one of my most hated things about this game.
....
...
..
.
I think I'll make one also! Thanks!

[CECILOFS]

I bought the 5D again lol. I think this is the 3rd time >_<

Its really fun, but I do get frustrated at having such low damage sometimes. Need to be patient and support the team.

I use pretty much the same build as the OP. I think the only change is dropping AMS for a heat sink (in the same torso as ECM so it can possibly save ECM from a crit) and using the last 0.5t for armour. I use an XL255 but you know about that already

I also tried the 4 Machine Gun Spider on my journey to elite for the 5D. Yeah...MG really need a buff.

[Ravennus]

I took a break leveling my Atlases, and finally broke down and bought me some spiders.

As I mentioned previously, I just GXPed the 5K and 5V Basics. I already mastered a few Ravens, so all I needed was the basics on 2 other Spiders to Master the 5D. I just didn't want to go through the torture of leveling Spiders without ECM.


But the 5D? I'm in love! Even not having finished basics on it, it's still the light mech I always wanted.
I'm currently running with ES, FF and a 255xl engine w/ ECM, 4 JJs and ERPPC.
I was worried that 4 JJs wouldn't be enough, but it is still enough to get me to the good spots so long as I start with 100% fuel.

I've tried lasers as well as the PPC, and IMHO the ERPPC is best. I like firing on the move, and with good aim and the new HSR I can place 10 pinpoint damage at anywhere from 800m to 80m.
Lasers need you to stay on target for the full duration, which is actually more difficult when you are moving at full speed.
Others having mentioned lasers being better VS. other lights, and I don't really agree. You lose a lot of damage from the lasers because it's really hard to keep them on the same section of another light mech for the full duration.
(Mind you, this is why I went with MPLAS on my Raven 3L a long time ago.... more damage on target)

I'm still learning, but getting those 10 point PPC shots on another light is devastating, so long as you can actually hit them.
Even now, people seem to not expect a PPC out of a light, and the 10 in-engine 2.0 heatsinks are more than enough.

Another interesting side effect.... I have actually gone toe-to-toe with a couple 3Ls and even Streakmandos and beat them.
The Anti-ECM effect of the PPC means that they lose their streak lock on me for 4 seconds. This, combined with my JJs means they have a REALLY hard time getting SSRM shots off at me and have to rely on their lasers. That usually ends badly for them, though a couple really good pilots have still worn me down.

I actually fear well piloted Jenners more than Commandos or Ravens now.
They also have the JJ advantage and can carry a LOT more energy weapons.

I'm still getting used to the JJs though. Need a LOT more practice with them, especially in a dogfight with other lights.



One thing that worries me, and JUST as I'm learning to love the 5D, is the upcoming BAP buff.
I try to stay at range and use the ERPPC when I can, but I can still have a lot of success acting as a distraction and doing some good damage in a brawl.
Once BAP will negate ECM up close, EVERYONE will use it and Streak me to death.
Raven 3Ls will once again reign supreme, since my ERPPC won't matter anymore. They'll just negate my ECM with BAP and won't even have to counter.

I was looking for a BAP buff, but I'm not sure if this was the answer.
Won't we just go back to Streaks tearing through any lights that happen to get close?
Won't the Streakcat make a big comeback?

Meh. Either way, I'm loving the Spider right now. I just hope I can adapt after the 21st.

Edited by Ravennus, 05 May 2013 - 08:50 AM.