17 replies to this topic

[Svalfangr]

Is this weapon any good?

Its a shotgun right?

Im just asking because i never see anyone use it but if its a good weapon i'd like to use it.

Edited by Svalfangr, 16 May 2013 - 07:00 AM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

At this time... it's not used very much because it is a shotgun, but deals only 10 damage... so you can get similar results by using SRMs with a much lower weight requirement. Mind you the LBX-10 pellets move at full autocannon speed, so it's easier to hit a fast moving target with LBX than it is to hit them with SRMs.

I believe the May 21st patch will include a tightening of the LBX cluster, so that might help it out because, currently, the LBX-10 is too dispersed after a few hundred meters to be worth much.

[Troggy]

It is unlikely improvement to the spread will be a significant boon to the LBX-10. Currently the problem is that (for obvious reasons) pinpoint damage is usually better than spread out damage.

This makes the AC-10 the obvious choice in the majority of cases. Furthermore, as Prosperity indicated, SRMs (even in their currently nerfed form) do considerably more damage than autocannons per tonne, though they are harder to hit with.

Basically, it means that the LBX-10 is an inferior hybrid of the two weapons, and any design choice on the part of the devs (other than making it lighter or faster firing) will likely just render it closer to one or the other.

--
Troggy

[n00bfish]

It's not really that effective, but it is fun.

If you can land your shots well, all the other ballistics will generally outperform it. I've been known to use one from time to time on my Cent D, in conjunction with as many SRMs as I can fit, simply because my pinpoint aiming skills are rubbish anyway whenever I'm flying by my opponent at 100kph+.

That said, I wouldn't really recommend the LB-10X.

I'd wait until May 21 and see how the patch goes. It may be more respectable if you give it a week.

[Lostdragon]

In light of the changes coming in the next patch I wanted to try this weapon out as it is. I stuck a couple on my CTF 4X. On a big map it is very hard to do well with it. On a map with lots of cover it is easier to use. I have had a few matches where I had 3-5 kills and did 500-800 damage and some where I died horribly before I got to do much.

The weapon is very situational and at the listed max range it is fairly useless because the spread is so big you are going to miss anything other than an Atlas or Awesome with 3-5 pellets and those that do hit are scattered all over the target.

I think they are decreasing the spread by 20%, but I doubt that is enough. Right now I try to only fire at less than 250m, preferably as close to point blank as possible. After the patch the effective range will be a little better but I still don't see this weapon being used much unless they add ammo selection for a slug round. If you could switch between pellets and a slug, even if the slug moved slow and did maybe 8 damage, it would make these much more viable imo.

Edited by Lostdragon, 16 May 2013 - 07:36 AM.

[Modo44]

Shotgun to the face is a useful way of telling that light to go away. Even with hit registration issues and bad aim, you are bound to make an impression. Just don't expect to win any fair fights -- it's a runby weapon.

[Kommisar]

It is a "For Fun" or "Challenge" weapon right now. Occasionally, it works out to fit on a build being one ton lighter than the AC/10.

I've seen and ran builds that use it that have done well. But, I honestly can't say that having a full AC/10 or even an UltraAC/5 would not have been better. So, if you like it, use it.

Oh, I almost forgot. I pulled my weapon stats and did some math on them yesterday. As I said, I have used the LB10X for fun and challenge on several builds. Overall, I have been doing 6.9 points of damage per shot. Higher than I thought! But, I'm a fairly good shot and I do not tend to waste shots with it by firing at targets outside of 150 meters.

In all honestly, though, at 6.9 damage, for the weight, you are better getting even a standard AC/5 and taking advantage of the superior range, pinpoint damage, faster rate of fire, and more rounds per ton in ammo.

Edited by Kommisar, 16 May 2013 - 07:47 AM.

[Hammerfinn]

I enjoy using the LBX. It works VERY well against fast lights. It's a great spider/commando killer, and if you get in close, the faster recycle and lower heat make it as good as the ac10. I primarily use it on my fast light-hunters (CDA-3M, CN9-D) to help deal with superfast lights, but up close it can do good damage to bigger things, too.

[RatBast]

I've had a decent amount of success with a JM6-A armed with dual LBX's (and dual SRM4s for additional punch). As mentioned before, it puts a nice hurt on lights. It is also really good at crit'ing mechs that have internals exposed.

Edited by RatBast, 16 May 2013 - 09:06 AM.

[armyof1]

It's not a good weapon, don't bother with it. you're just tossing 800K down the drain. Just search LBX and you'll see plenty of reasons why you shouldn't use it.

[Svalfangr]

Well that sucks.

I really like shotguns, but it seems like Devs (not just PGI) have no clue as to how shotguns work.

From giving them effective range of 10 ft or less to making them hit with the force of a stale muffin.

Very few game Devs have ever gotten a shotgun right.

[jakucha]

I don't think it's worth using until they buff it. It's among the most expensive weapons in the b-tech universe because it's supposed to be able to alternate between regular AC rounds and shotgun rounds at the push of a button. They may implement that down the line. If they do, I'll actually use it.

[Flak Kannon]

If you can carry two, and are not trying to be the 'point of the spear' in an attack, they are ....fun.. and pretty useful when you have a good team.


They play a role right now. They are really good at scaring off lights, they are good at mopping up at the end of rounds, or when you are not a primary target.

They do cause a lot of cockpit rattle and shake when they hit, that's a plus.


I do enjoy them, and use them occassionaly.


On a Catapult K2, or Cataphract 3D, they are a hoot. Just know there are better options.

But I really do enjoy them, but can curse them at the same time...


You'll see what I mean when you play with them. One LBx10 is not enough currently...


That's why you want at least 3 or 4 ML as a viable secondary weapon when you use these..


My opinion.

[Soy]

Try telling me this is not a hilarious mech to derp around in.

[Kmieciu]

I would be pretty easy to make the LBX a great weapon. Take a look at Mechwarrior 3 and 4.

[Koniving]

If you can back the LB/10 up with an AC/2 or carry it in a pair (but don't waste your time carrying 3), then it's really not that bad. I highly suggest them on assault mechs, particularly an Atlas or a Highlander that can carry twin ballistics.

My first Brawling Heavy Metal rig had that combo. The combination also had twin flamers, a medium laser, and LRMs 15 and 10 to soften the target up before I ever reach him. Worked great.

Spoiler

When I traded the LRMs for Streaks and stopped softening them up before getting close, I was forced to trade the LB-10 for the AC/10. Without softening the targets with LRM fire first, the LB-10 was too spread out. For added damage I swapped one of the flamers for an extra medium laser. This makes it twin streak, AC/10, AC/2, twin ML, one flamer to blind people. All this at 65.3 kph with 100 points of front CT armor.

Edited by Koniving, 16 May 2013 - 01:27 PM.

[LapsedPacifist79]

It's fun and much easier to hit with than most ballistics. It's nice slapping a couple of blasts into someone and you'll overall weaken an opponent but, as everyone has already said, you'll find yourself at a disadvantage using it. If you're using that much weight then you'll want more directed punch than that.

Still, great fun though.

[MoonUnitBeta]

I have a blast in my Jager S with LBX

2 LBX-10 (90 shots)
4 Med Lasers
Biggest XL engine
DHS
Endo
Tons of armor

I like rockin around in that thing. In Tourmaline I shot at epsilon from 1200+ meters and the jenner said he jumped at the sound of pellets cracking into the ground lol. It’s fun. You can’t miss really. Lol 300+ dmg is very easy. The buff is only going to mean I'm that much more viable