20 replies to this topic

[Calzin]

After buying my first mech(HBK 4-SP) and getting a loadout I am happy with I have now started saving for another mech. But after looking everything over(I have been eying the cataphract) I don't know if it would be better to save up for the rather expensive heavy or go for the elite and master XP stuff for the hunchbacks. I would like to know what route would be more beneficial because both of these things are going to take quite a bit of time.

[scJazz]

I will only tell you which route I chose. This is day 19 for me. After reading the forums and getting advice from Koniving and Soy (mainly over TS) I decided to Elite TBTs before moving on to Heavies.

Current Skill Levels
SDR-5D Basic
TBT-5N Basic
TBT-5J Halfway through Elite
TBT-7M Almost finished Elite
DRG-5N Basic

Personally, I'm satisfied with the decision to get focused on Skilling up the TBTs. I won't bother with Mastery for the time being. No sense in it since I have neither the GXP or CBills required to fill up on Modules. I won't be skilling to Elite the 3rd TBT. At this point it is time to move up.

One of the main advantages to this approach is the fact that I have lots of components that are interchangeable between my TBTs. So the whole CBill thing has been greatly aided by not having to buy another XL engine for instance. Or being able to sell the redundant parts... like the Standard 250 engines, Medium Lasers, and exactly who needs 7 LRM15s?

Edited by scJazz, 24 May 2013 - 06:11 AM.

[Dalziel Hasek Davion]

I started with a Stalker, and unlocked my mastery level before keeping my favourite variant and moving onto a new chassis. It worked for me. However I did acquire a hero 'Mech for a bit of variety and to grind some CBills every now and then.

[BoPop]

master the HBK!

hell, if you're having fun in the 4sp, and i do in mine, you'll have fun in the 4H and 4P. the 4h is fun cuz you can play with the meatiest of ballistics and the 4P takes you into energy land. however players will go for that hunch more when riding in the 4H and 4P. you might be surprised you rank up the other hunchies faster than you might get basics on a new slower heavier mech simply because you're used to the HBK maneuverability.

AND, they are cheaper, and you can use hand-me-down engines possibly. you could strip your 4sp while you work on a 4h or 4p, this may not be the case depending on which heavy or assault you go in to. there's alot to be said for 2xbasic though, that's all i'm sayin. could be a really fun revenue generating chassis for you. i dig the HBK.

[Dan Nashe]

Well, I got a cataphract 3d first because I wasn't thrilled with the 4sp. It was fun, but I wanted varity. But of course, once you factor in weapons, double heat sinks, and endo steel, the 3 d was like 14 million. Which was a long haul.

Totall worth it for jump jet. No regrets. Then I got two more phracts to elite the 3d (4x and 2x. Hated the 2x shoukd have got the 1x). Didn't regret that.

Speed tweak and x2 to basic skills (happens after you buy all elite skills) was amazing.

Long story short. If you love the hunchy, get two more, eliting really is great (90 kph witha 250 standard and doubled basics!).
If you really have a hankering to try something new though, I'd try something new. Afterall, if after buying four mechs you are still playing, you can drop $7 for 4 more mechbays with no regrets.

However, if you don't really want jump jets, the orion comes out next month. 75 ton heavy.
If you do just wnat jump jets, trebuchets are good mechs, cheaper, and two of them jump! (I like 5j (really cheap)) 7m and 3c (fast and that 300 xl is useful in sooo many mechs).

As always, build BEFORE you buy:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified

[Koniving]

Calzin, on 24 May 2013 - 05:57 AM, said:

After buying my first mech(HBK 4-SP) and getting a loadout I am happy with I have now started saving for another mech. But after looking everything over(I have been eying the cataphract) I don't know if it would be better to save up for the rather expensive heavy or go for the elite and master XP stuff for the hunchbacks. I would like to know what route would be more beneficial because both of these things are going to take quite a bit of time.

Scale the Hunchbacks. Keep the one you like. Then progress onward. Really good Hunchbacks right now are the 4J and the 4SP so you can take advantage of the current indirect fire meta.

[Calzin]

Thanks for the quick replies. I am going to get the other hunchbacks first since I do like my 4-SP. It probably will be a little bit cheaper let me try out what kind of different weapon loadouts I like before moving onto something a bit heavier.

[Mechteric]

After the hunchback you would probably like the Cataphract, since its got similar weapon hardpoints to the Hunchy and is a beast

[Fuggles]

Yeah man if you know you like hunchies, buy two more and get the basics on them then sell them if you want. Having the elite skills + 2x basics will make a big difference for a hunchback.

After that, there's a lot of good mechs to choose from, I own all the heavies and assaults ( minus stalker, no assault dongs for me) and they are all good, I play them all.

If I had to pick I'd say the best heavies are phract 3d for all around badassery, I mean this mech can do anything you want and excell at it, jager s for balistics and catapult c4 for missles.

Heavy metal gets my vote for favorite assault, but I also enjoy awsome 9m for fast sniping, atlas ddc and rs for brawling.

Edited by Fuggles, 24 May 2013 - 07:03 AM.

[Sh4dow78]

eliting ur chasis and getting 2xbonus on ur basic skills its really make a diff in game...

[Dan Nashe]

Also I recommend the laser boat hunchie (8-9 mls is fun). Not sure about the third. Twin ultra 5s is awesome, but so is 5mls with one ac 20. :-). But the twin ultra 5 chassis still allows an ac 20 and multiple mls, so flexibility is good.

(I eventually elited 3 hunchies - they were fun and speed tweak rocks). The hunch really does get blowed up a lot though. :-)

Edited by DanNashe, 24 May 2013 - 07:15 AM.

[Buckminster]

The extra bonuses and such from reaching Elite with your mechs is one of those little things that makes a big difference.

Personally, I started with the Catapults. I started with the C1, and bought the K2 and A1, and set each mech up to fill a different role - my C1 is indirect fire support, my K2 is direct fire support, and my A1 is more of a brawler. It let me swap around and play with different mech styles, and the end result was a mastered chassis.

From the Cats I moved on to the Ravens, and I'm now starting into the Centurions. Every time I start a new chassis I am reminded by how much of a difference all of the pilot skills make.

Another side effect of grinding through Mastery with your mechs - you'll be making C-bills the whole time.

Edited by Buckminster, 24 May 2013 - 07:19 AM.

[John MatriX82]

It's difficult to say, if you plan someday to buy some MC's and expand your mechbays numbers, then you can try to save up money to change your playstyle either on lighter mechs or heavy/assault mechs (but with 4 mechbays you can master more than 2 chassis). After this you're always in time to either go back mastering the hunchies or keep on going to master the other chassis you are enjoying more.

I'm not at all into lightmechs, but I own everything at master from a Cicada to an Atlas (take away Jagers and Blackjacks, I don't find them attractive or useful at all). The current gameplay doesn't award much medium mechs, so I'd say go with catapults/cataphracts or save up some money to get the stalkers (3F first, 5M and 5S then). The advice is always to consider the normal buy price + add always the 1,5mil for the DHS upgrade, so you can start being competitive as soon as you buy the chosen variant.

If you want to master the hunchies (you'll feel the difference, at least once you unlock the four elites), after the 4SP go absolutely with the 4P. Then as a third variant I encourage you to go with the 4H (AC 20 + 4ML), I have these 3 HBKs; the 4G can't really make consistent builds with multiple ballistics and has very few backup energy hardpoints (something the 4H compensates), while the 4J is overshadowed by Trebuchets as an LRM platform (and by the 4SP if you use SRMs) so avoid it as well.

Edited by John MatriX82, 24 May 2013 - 07:32 AM.

[Koniving]

Calzin, on 24 May 2013 - 05:57 AM, said:

Hunchbacks!

This link leads to a project I'm working on. I think the dialogue / script part is done and thus just need the voice acting done and compile the footage gathered so far.

It may help inspire you a bit with your Hunchbacks with basic info.
http://mwomercs.com/...tion-critiques/

[Calzin]

Thanks for the help with picking the right variants. I was looking at the 4G or the 4P, but now I think It will probably be 4P unless I want to go with the 4H(really want to try out some AC action, to bad about not being able to use the AC/20 though).

Edit: This is also one of the best newbie friendly forums I have been on in a long time, thanks for helping guys and gals.

Edited by Calzin, 24 May 2013 - 12:12 PM.

[Flak Kannon]

That's a good question.

There is no 'right' answer. I will advocate for earning 'Elite' on three mech chassis tho..

Those 2x times basics efficiencies really make that little bit 'extra' that can increase your enjoyment, flatly because, you will most likely die less due to the elite's unlocked, 2x basics unlocked, and the most important thing, is you LEARN that chassis inside and out and know where to be and when to be there...


Now, on the flip side, you may get bored playing one chassis so exclusively... if you fear that may happen, I say go for another mech design.

What ever gives you the most enjoyment is the path to take. I liked have an 'edge' by unlocking the basic x2 and elites..

Now what are you gonna do?

Calzin, on 24 May 2013 - 05:57 AM, said:

After buying my first mech(HBK 4-SP) and getting a loadout I am happy with I have now started saving for another mech. But after looking everything over(I have been eying the cataphract) I don't know if it would be better to save up for the rather expensive heavy or go for the elite and master XP stuff for the hunchbacks. I would like to know what route would be more beneficial because both of these things are going to take quite a bit of time.

[Buckminster]

Calzin, on 24 May 2013 - 12:07 PM, said:

Thanks for the help with picking the right variants. I was looking at the 4G or the 4P, but now I think It will probably be 4P unless I want to go with the 4H(really want to try out some AC action, to bad about not being able to use the AC/20 though).

Edit: This is also one of the best newbie friendly forums I have been on in a long time, thanks for helping guys and gals.

The 4H can use an AC/20, it just doesn't come with one. You'd have to fiddle with your layout to get it on.

And in case someone hasn't pointed you to this yet: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab It's one of the best tools out there for playing around and planning your builds without actually spending C-bills. This was you can take that 4H, add on endo steel and double heat sinks, and watch that AC/20 fall in to place. Seriously, before you buy, use Smurfy's.

[Koniving]

Calzin, on 24 May 2013 - 12:07 PM, said:

Thanks for the help with picking the right variants. I was looking at the 4G or the 4P, but now I think It will probably be 4P unless I want to go with the 4H(really want to try out some AC action, to bad about not being able to use the AC/20 though).

Edit: This is also one of the best newbie friendly forums I have been on in a long time, thanks for helping guys and gals.

Vids. These should help.
4G default (Koniving, No commentary) 3 kills. Lost cannon early.

4G default (The Centurion with commentary) 2 or 3 kills (can't recall). Keeps cannon.

4H default (691 damage, multiple kills - Koniving).

4P and 4SP side by side (4P Koniving, 4SP Lordred. Same match split-screen)

4P my personal rig.

4J during old missile nerfs.

[Hayashi]

Master them a mech type at a time, then sell the mastered ones off to make space for a new type.

Master all chassis types, then buy back the mech you love the most, and hold the 3 spaces for new chassis.

Completionist's method.

[BoPop]

Hayashi, on 24 May 2013 - 01:07 PM, said:

Master them a mech type at a time, then sell the mastered ones off to make space for a new type.

Master all chassis types, then buy back the mech you love the most, and hold the 3 spaces for new chassis.

Completionist's method.

are you crazy? you're supposed to be encouraging him to buy mechbays!