12 replies to this topic

[Krazy Kat]

I have never sold a mech before (except for that spider. I stink with lights.)

But I see no reason for keeping my double AMS Stalker.
True, it does help. It even helps my team.
But the 3F is better in every other way.

Does anyone think double AMS will ever be worth it?
I would hate to sell it and then six patches later it is the flavor of the month.

[Cordel Ordo]

I would say it is worth it, because most of the time if someone is firing LRMs (despite the lowered effectiveness they have right now) that person most likely is very good with LRMs and you can be sure at least some of them will hit you because he/she knows how to pick their shots to do the most damage despite the lowered damage. Thus 2 ams systems will help save you from them. My .02

[Ialti]

Alright. Way I see it is thus: cover=solution to LRMs.

You will get caught in the open by an LRM user. It's inevitable.

There is a limited amount of time, measured in missiles, damage, and armor, which you will have to get back in cover. TThis amount changes based on how good you are at positioning yourself around the map, how fast your mech is, and things like that.

Now. AMS basically increases the amount of time you have to get into cover--maybe by one salvo, maybe by a few (depending on how fast you can break LOS and what kind of missiles are being hucked at you, and where your near enemy mechs are.)

2 AMS give you an increased amount of time to get into cover, and give your teammates a bit more support. They're also good if you have a team and y'all feel like experimenting with those horrible things called... "tactics."

Sometimes you can use AMS in a bum-rush to great effect, because sometimes you can position yourself well enough that 'time till cover' is similar to 'time to 180 meters.'

[El Bandito]

Stalker is slow so double AMS can help while you move from cover to cover. I laugh at LRMs, unless there is at least 50 of the buggers flying towards me.

[Soulscour]

Krazy Kat, on 26 April 2013 - 06:33 PM, said:

I have never sold a mech before (except for that spider. I stink with lights.)

But I see no reason for keeping my double AMS Stalker.
True, it does help. It even helps my team.
But the 3F is better in every other way.

Does anyone think double AMS will ever be worth it?
I would hate to sell it and then six patches later it is the flavor of the month.

You're supposed to own 3 of every mech to get to master. Last time I counted, the 3F was only one stalker. I use this S build STK-5S

[Deathlike]

Is it too late to say that the 5M is generally better than the 5S?

[Spheroid]

Maybe...it comes down to 4xPPC, 1 mlas and 20 DHS vs. 4xPPC, 2 AMS and 19 DHS assuming a 300 STD engine. The cooling difference is not that much and it might be worth it if you are attacked by a Streakmando or Craven. However you are correct that the 3F is the best Stalker. That is undeniable. I predict additional dual AMS mechs in the future. Perhaps they will implement it on the Blackjack. If you need the cash or mechbay don't be afraid to sell.

[Soulscour]

Deathlike, on 26 April 2013 - 11:53 PM, said:

Is it too late to say that the 5M is generally better than the 5S?

If you're going to make a statement like that, you're going to have to explain. I do not see a big enough difference to warrant such a claim.

[Deathlike]

Soulscour, on 27 April 2013 - 12:27 AM, said:

If you're going to make a statement like that, you're going to have to explain. I do not see a big enough difference to warrant such a claim.

This assumes you use the CT hardpoint for "better zombieing" when you use 5 LLs. It has been stated that 5 LL is far more heat manageable than 6 LL (plus, you get to add an extra DHS indirectly as a result). The extra AMS on the 5S isn't really anything write home about quite yet.

Edited by Deathlike, 27 April 2013 - 12:32 AM.

[Soulscour]

Deathlike, on 27 April 2013 - 12:31 AM, said:

This assumes you use the CT hardpoint for "better zombieing" when you use 5 LLs. It has been stated that 5 LL is far more heat manageable than 6 LL (plus, you get to add an extra DHS indirectly as a result). The extra AMS on the 5S isn't really anything write home about quite yet.

So really what you ment to say was its best for LL boating. PPC boating Id say the 5S is better

[El Bandito]

Deathlike, on 27 April 2013 - 12:31 AM, said:

This assumes you use the CT hardpoint for "better zombieing" when you use 5 LLs. It has been stated that 5 LL is far more heat manageable than 6 LL (plus, you get to add an extra DHS indirectly as a result). The extra AMS on the 5S isn't really anything write home about quite yet.

5 LLaser boating is not that optimal since Stalker CT LLaser shoots lower than the arms.

I'll take 4 LLaser boat (all on arms) with missiles as backup--which can be done with all the variants. Way more manageable and deadly.

Edited by El Bandito, 27 April 2013 - 02:11 AM.

[Skyfaller]

I kept the 5S as the only stalker in my stable after mastering it, the 3F and the 5M.

The 5S is a 3F with dual AMS and less torso twist range. I never found the torso twist range to be a problem since I run an XL300 all the time. Dual AMS is very useful in my opinion as it has in more than one occasion saved my bacon. You normally don't see it doing much for you but it does prevent a goodly amount of damage in the long run if you have an LRM equipped opponent.

The best map I had with the dual AMS was facing a catapult A1 that had loaded 6 LRM5s (lol?) and was firing them just nonstop in chain fire. The guy literally had every crit slot packed with lrm ammo since he just spammed missiles the entire map. nonstop. We were the last 2 left alive.. he faced me @800m .. I pack 2 tons of AMS ammo... and I was laughing my butt off as I advanced on him and my AMS just blew up every single one of his LRMs.

[Kyynele]

Skyfaller, on 27 April 2013 - 06:34 AM, said:

The 5S is a 3F with dual AMS and less torso twist range. I never found the torso twist range to be a problem since I run an XL300 all the time. Dual AMS is very useful in my opinion as it has in more than one occasion saved my bacon.

Running an STD in my 3F and doing some serious torso twisting to mitigate damage has saved my bacon way more times than I have died to missiles. I've killed dozens of mechs with one half of my Stalker completely blown apart (=would've been dead using an XL). The better torso twist also helps a lot with annoying lights, many of those obviously don't realize that the 3F is quite a bit less clumsy than the others. Compared to my other Stalkers, the 3F has a whole digit better KDR, which is pretty good since apparently Stalkers are very easy to get good KDRs in, even the worse Stalkers rank near the top of my list.

YMMV, I'm happy you're enjoying your 5S.