10 replies to this topic

[Dominator88]

Hi. I just recently bought my first dragon after falling in love with the trial version. Im trying to find reliable ways to kit out my dragon-1N to make if consistent in game. I'd also like to know if a gaus rifle is viable or if it should be left to other variants?

[Kanajashi]

Dominator88, on 08 May 2013 - 08:27 PM, said:

Hi. I just recently bought my first dragon after falling in love with the trial version. Im trying to find reliable ways to kit out my dragon-1N to make if consistent in game. I'd also like to know if a gaus rifle is viable or if it should be left to other variants?

Hey welcome to the forums!

First of all, check out smurfy's online mech builder and experiment with different set ups before buying stuff in game.

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

As a general rule when it comes to running Dragons, speed is life. While you might not be able to pack on as many weapons as other heavies you will be able to have the mobility edge and be able to flank them. For this I would always recommend taking at least an XL325 engine, this will give you a max speed of 87.8kph pre speed tweak. If you can try to bump this even higher to say an XL350 for a max speed of 94.5 pre speed tweak. And the reason why I am only taking about the 325 and 350 ratings is because every 25 rating increase allows another heat sink to be placed in the engine, so if you can fit a 345 you might just want to find an extra 0.5 ton of weight and run the 350 instead.

If I had a DRG-1N I would run it something like this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a2db6a69c5a7d49

You have the gauss in the RA giving you some sniping power, 2x SSRMs in the CT will allow you to finish off lights (even ECM lights with the BAP after the changes on the 21st) and finally 2x MLs in the LA/LT as backup weapons.

You could also recreate the DRG-5N© like this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0cbc02370cb446d

Nice long range build, can fire its gun longer as now you have another ton of gauss ammo, however the added weight of the large lasers required the drop down to an XL300 engine lowering the top speed to 81.0kph.

A totally different take trying to utilize the multiple ballistic points: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7249f388af2405b

With dual AC2s you can sit relatively far away from the combat and provide a constant stream of supporting fire for your team, and with 225 shots you can keep it up for quite a long time.

Well there are some ideas, and don't just take one of those builds at face value. I just threw them together as I was writing this. Try out the mech builder and find something that works for you.

And if you have the weight and the hardpoints, gauss is pretty much always viable

Edited by Kanajashi, 08 May 2013 - 10:15 PM.

[Macheiron]

Gauss is a good weapon, but it does more for the 1C than any other dragon.

For the 1N you might try this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4227b79deb761aa
It's not as fast as other dragons, but it can lay on the hurt at mid to short range. 2 AC/5s are comparable in weight and crits to a gauss, have higher DPS and lack that nasty habit of exploding when you sneeze. MPL can be traded for ML and extra ammo for AC/5 if needed.

[Ryokens leap]

Look back a couple of pages, there was a similar post to this with lots of builds posted. It was titled " dragons sell em to me" if I remember correctly.

[Dominator88]

I'm assuming based on looking at many of these suggestions that bigger engine means more carrying capacity for weapons and armour?

[Ryokens leap]

Dominator88, on 09 May 2013 - 11:19 AM, said:

I'm assuming based on looking at many of these suggestions that bigger engine means more carrying capacity for weapons and armour?

How do you figure that? Bigger engine weighs more = more speed and less weight for weapons, armour and equiptment. A few months back 300xl was the engine of choice. Lately engine sizes are up and weapon load outs are reduced in alpha/dps. Maybe if SRMs get a buff it will revert back. Currently my 1n has a 330xl, erppc, lp laser, 2 srm4, almost max armour, ff armour and dbl hs to fill out weight. Not the optimal build but works ok at the moment. I prefer the 1c and Flame over the 1n and 5n.

[Ryokens leap]

OP, just out of curiosity do you run with any other players that have an 88 at the end of their call sign. The one that I ran into seems to think that anytime he dies ( and that is quite often ) and a Dragon is on his team, it's the Dragons fault. He even goes so far as to chat with opposing team about how the Dragon on his team is why he's dead. One would think a player as skilled and experienced as himself would not be playing random 4 mans, but be on an elite 8 man organized team. If so nice TROLL!

[malibu43]

http://mwomercs.com/...ragon-loadouts/

[Chippey]

Flame 2LL in each arm. 300XL engine. As many DHS as you can muster. Simple but deadly.

[operator0]

Chippey, on 09 July 2013 - 09:00 PM, said:

Flame 2LL in each arm. 300XL engine. As many DHS as you can muster. Simple but deadly.

Really? I mean, really? Are you trying to get the OP killed? Why would you give up 15kph in speed for 4 extra heat sinks...in a Dragon? Please, I would LOVE to know.

To the OP; The 1N is perhaps the worst dragon chassis, but you must play it in order to obtain basic X2 on your Dragon chassis (unless you have one of the Hero variants), so you didn't necessarily waste your CBILLs. After you have mastered that mech though, you should sell it and stick with the 5N and/or the 1C. Now, some will rebut me by telling stories of how good they do in the 1N, but most will find the other two chassis better in every way.

Really though, if you want a Dragon chassis that's better than all the other chassis by a wide margin, then you will have to spend real money and buy a Flame. 99% of MWO players will admit , without hesitation, that the Flame is the best Dragon variant by far. It's the only pay 2 win mech in the game.

[Agent 0 Fortune]

I've been playing around with a new DRG-Flame with
300 XL
400 armor
1 Gauss
1 ER PPC
3 Md Laser

It would probably work even better in a DRG-1C were you don't have to worry about a Gauss Rifle explosion wiping out your XL.

I used to run a similar DRG-1N
1 Gauss
1 ER PPC
2 SSRM2

or a DRG-5N
2 AC5
2 Lg Laser