16 replies to this topic

[Krazy Kat]

I got all the basic exp on my DDC and my RS. They both rock. Now I want to get my third variant up for the eleite upgrades. My choice was the D variant.

I don't know how to load this mech up!

Basically there are too many weapon groups for me to handle.
1. Arm mounted energy
2. Torso mounted energy
3. Torso mounted ballistic
4. LRM's
5. SRM's

I can't handle five weapon groups. Don't tell me to get a better mouse. I don't think I could handle five weapon groups even if I had a 5-button mouse.

Is there a good build that has 3 weapon groups?

I tried dumping the LRM's and grouping the CT lasers with SRM's. But on a fast enemy half of them miss.

Any advice?

[Davers]

Group 1. Arm weapons
Group 2. AC/20 + Torso lasers
Group 3. SRMs or LRMs (Not both, of course!)
Group 4 AC/20

Simplify your weapon selection. AC/20 and medium lasers have very similar characteristics so you can use them together. Group 4 is for those times you want to 'snipe' with the AC/20 past 540m. SRMs lead very different than anything else, so keep them in their own group. Same with LRMs if you go that way.

Helpful?

[WVAnonymous]

I almost never mount more than 3 groups for ease of use in any mech. My Founder Atlas D currently has

Group 1: 2 PPCs in the arms
Group 2: AC20
Group 3: 2 ML

When LRMs work I drop the PPCs to MLs and mount whatever fits. (During the LRM bug week I think I had two LRM15s+Artemis)

[Ewigan]

I do it like WVA, but instead of his PPC, AC20 kombo i go for ERPPC/Gauss.

So like this:

Group1: 2 ERPPC (Arms)
Group2: GAUSS (Torso)
Group3: 2 ML (Torso)

Works like a charm, my only Atlas who actually OWNS in this state of the game.

[Chuckdatass]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cc29f1042a74dc5

This is a brawler who can stick at mid range harassing with 3 LL and 1 AC/20 with 2 srm6+Artemis for the added upclose punch.
Just fire lasers and ac20 as you approach. Then alternate between ac20 and srm6, with LL sprinkled in there when actually brawling.

I only use two mouse buttons for fire groups. Changed up other keys for fighting in my Atlas.
1.) 3 LL<---Left Click
2.)Ac20 <---Right Click
3.)Srm6's <-----Space Bar
4.) 1 LL(when you are running hot) <----E

Edited by Chuckdatass, 25 April 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[NinetyProof]

I can't recall my Atlas D configuration, for like you, it was a throw away chassis just there to allow me to master my DDC/RS.

In general, I keep my weapons groups down to 4 main groups across all Mechs. I am also a ESDF player, and not a WASD.

Group 2 / Mouse button 1: Energy Weapons
Group 3 / Mouse button 2: Ballistic Weapons
Group 4 / Mouse button 4: SRMs / SSM
Group 5 / Keyboard 5: LRM's
Group 1 & 6 / Mouse Wheel Up / Down (Chain Fire Groups)
W = Alpha, A = Zoom

First off, LRM's are not needed on a mouse button because generally when your firing those you are not in "panic button mashing" state and you can actually reach up and hit 5 with your finger.

Second off, SRM's are brawler weapons and require more of a lead then the balistics so using button 4 (on the side) makes sense.

Mouse 2 (right mouse) is almost always my "lead a target" button, so that I fire, wait a fraction of a second for the target to fall under the rectile, then hit Mouse 1 (left mouse) button.

I use group 1 and group 6 for "chain fire" groups and they are bound to mouse wheel up and mouse wheel down respectively. This allows me to control the rate of chain fire by how fast I roll the mouse. I simply roll up or down faster / slower depending upon heat and urgency.

This also allows me to break up the chain fire groups if I want to split a group for say Arms vs Torso. Group 1 might be arms chain fired and group 6 might be torso chain fired.

Keeping your weapon grouping consistent across all your chassis will make you a better player as you will be able to focus on piloting your mech more when weapons firing is consistent all the time no matter what your driving.

Pop Sniper: PPCs = group 2, Guass = group 3
Stalker 5/6LL version: Shoulder LL's group 2, Left over LL's group 3
etc, etc.

Edited by NinetyProof, 25 April 2013 - 08:03 AM.

[Flak Kannon]

Don't Sleep on the K model.

Its my utility Atlas, and fun!

I'll get to the D model for you in a second.. but here is a fun K model build.



I like 3 LL, AC20, and Artemis LRM20. You are a stand off range mech. You hit pretty hard at 450m-1000m with your range. LRM20s still make mechs scurry for cover, and with artemis can do a little damage.

You can go 3 ERLL if you want more range, but you will get hot really fast.

Anyhow, with 3 LL and an AC20 you are quite dangerous inside 250meters.. it's just an all around good build. It is not a MAX Brawler for sure, but 27 + 20 every 4 seconds do cause havok, and you can throw that LRM20 Artemis around to those outside 200metes...


Now on to your Atlas D question.


Do you want to run the same weapons you do in the your D-DC? if yes, then no problem. Go for it. 2 ERPPC or 2 PPC's AC20 and a couple of ML's...fine.

If your bored try something else. I posted yesterday this build I'm having a blast in.

My D

4 ML, 2 LBX10's, 2 SRM6

It is very role specific. On Alpine.. it's a bit painful to get into range. But on Colony, River City, and Frozen City, the closer ranges make it fun, fun, fun! This is a game, and it should be fun.

If your idea of fun is playing only min/max builds then don't run this build. I just love chain firing dual lbx10's.. And you get within 90 meters of any mech, you will straight up wreck its day.

Otherwise, go cookie cutter and 3LL, AC20 or Guass, and 2 srm6.

[Krazy Kat]

Thx guys. I will try these out tonight!

[Davoke]

I'm assuming you're trying to brawl, so i'd like to suggest this as a bit more standoffish alternative:
1.2xLLas
2.Gauss
3.SRM
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...1e7aaf45feae319

Ran a build like this forever ago while trying to "get my Atlas on", the build i settled on though was more like so:
1.All lasers
2.UAC
3.LRM's
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...511fc7ec562adb0

[Reclusiarch]

Hello!

The AS-7D variant of the Atlas mech is one of the mechs I'm currently in love with! I totally understand not wanting to use too many weapon groups, I had a really hard time with that in the beginning. That said, four weapon groups is something that I think is good to have, if nothing else to be able to manage heat better. The trick is having weapons that work well together, and, for me, reassigning the nr 4 key to E!

Let me show you what kind of AS-7D I'm running:

2 large lasers on the arms (Left mouse button)
2 medium lasers in the torso (Right mouse button)
1 AC/20 in the right torso (Key 3)
2 SRM6+artemis in the left torso (Key E)

While not at first look being as powerful as gaussrifles and ERPPCs, this mech configuration has served me -very- well. It's got very good heat management and you can do several Alpha Strikes before you need to cool down. The SRM and the AC/20 work very well together. You need to lead both weapons, so even if you forget which weapon you bound to which key (3 or E), both pretty much work the same way anyway, so even if you fire the wrong weapon it's pretty certain you'll still do some damage.

Sustainable damage and variation in lasers (you can fire only medium lasers if your heat is critical, thus still doing damage) makes this mech config a reliable brawler.

Edited by Reclusiarch, 25 April 2013 - 11:45 PM.

[Regrets]

^yup, options => hotkeys

[Shimmergloom]

People say not to mix LRM and SRM, but I actually have a good time with my DDC using 2 LL, STD 300, lrm 20, 2SSRM2, ac20.
Endo-steel, no FF, DHS. I find the LRM helps with suppression while I advance and then, if you stop about 200Yds away from an enemy, you get the sweet spot where you can hit with ALL your weapons and do absurd damage.

[Ewigan]

@Shimmer: Try replacing the LRM20 with 2*LRM10.
It fires all 20 rockets at once instead of two waves and has a faster recycle time. My D-DC is nearly exactly your build, despite of the LRMs and instead of SSRMs i use one SRM6 for the short range punch.

[Staplebeater]

i am a big fan right now of 3 LL, AC 20, adn 2 SSRMs using a STD 300 engine

[PawgHunter420]

I run 2LPL + 2MPL + AC/20 and a STD350. Throw Endo on that ***** and load up on heat sinks. 4 tons ac ammo for me as well.
I group all the lasers in 1, the ac in group 2, and the LPLs in group 3 and the MPLs in 4. Only use 2, 3, and 4 when I get close to over heating to keep myself right on the limit.

Edited by LyskTrevise, 30 April 2013 - 06:55 AM.

[rdmgraziel]

Depends entirely on the build. I usually do:

1) Arm Lasers
2) CT lasers
3) AC 20
4) SRMs (given how poorly they hit pretty much anything, and how you have to be up in someone's grill to use them effecitvely, I was fine leaving them in the "least pressed button" slot.)

If you can't handle 4, consider making the CT a large laser and set them all to 1. It's less efficient at weapon cycling (which means inbetween weapon cooldowns there's less you can actively do, also less efficient for cooling between weapon groups so you overheat faster) and the CT laser may throw off your aim a bit, but it might make life easier. I can *just* handle 4 groups myself, any more and I'd be sunk.

I started out with the D myself, and in comparison I found I disliked the RS since it's easier to neuter. DDC is alright, but really its only benefit over the D is the effective invisibility to sensors that ECM gives it, the 2 medium lasers (pulse or otherwise) are more reliable and more damage than anything you could throw in the extra missile hard point (until they buff missile damge at any rate).

[oldradagast]

Reclusiarch, on 25 April 2013 - 11:44 PM, said:

Hello!

The AS-7D variant of the Atlas mech is one of the mechs I'm currently in love with! I totally understand not wanting to use too many weapon groups, I had a really hard time with that in the beginning. That said, four weapon groups is something that I think is good to have, if nothing else to be able to manage heat better. The trick is having weapons that work well together, and, for me, reassigning the nr 4 key to E!

Let me show you what kind of AS-7D I'm running:

2 large lasers on the arms (Left mouse button)
2 medium lasers in the torso (Right mouse button)
1 AC/20 in the right torso (Key 3)
2 SRM6+artemis in the left torso (Key E)

While not at first look being as powerful as gaussrifles and ERPPCs, this mech configuration has served me -very- well. It's got very good heat management and you can do several Alpha Strikes before you need to cool down. The SRM and the AC/20 work very well together. You need to lead both weapons, so even if you forget which weapon you bound to which key (3 or E), both pretty much work the same way anyway, so even if you fire the wrong weapon it's pretty certain you'll still do some damage.

Sustainable damage and variation in lasers (you can fire only medium lasers if your heat is critical, thus still doing damage) makes this mech config a reliable brawler.

Very similar to my Atlas-D build. I love the large lasers in the arms - gives me a way to sweep annoying lights and poke at people at a distance.

Having enough weapon groups is key - folks sometimes forget that even the most common mice today have 3 buttons, but I think weapon group 3 is linked to Mouse Button 4 by default, not button 3, which can give the impression that the 3rd button "doesn't do anything." It's an easy fix.

I also like the builds with the large laser in the torso - that's a nice surprise.