23 replies to this topic

[Techno Magician]

Hey i recently posted for some help with my first mech a raven 3L and got alot of good advice, the only thing i need for it now is a bigger engine, and as i was planning on getting a bigger mech next and it has an XL 280 in it(the exact engine i was planning to buy for my Raven) i was wondering how it was, I was kind of hoping for a choice of missiles with my heavy but it seems like it would work well with gauss or ppc. The jump jets on a heavy seem like a cool idea too.

Another question as i was reading some other threads i heard stuff about how missile boats shoot better depending on how many tubes they have as well as max turn radius, while probably not something someone as new as me should worry overly about is there any more small things that can make or break the useability of a mech?

[Corvus Antaka]

One of my favourite mechs. makes a great sniper & a decent brawler. lots of different loadout options. works really well with a big XL engine in it it makes a good fast mech.

[Pando]

I love this battlemech! The CTF-3D is my favorite variant of the Cataphract chassis. IMO a heavy battlemech is the perfect blend of speed, firepower and armor. So, for me the CTF-3D fills those specifications easily but the real kicker is the cockpit glass is very open. I can see much more of the battle with the cataphract cockpit, more so than other battlemech chassis.

The CTF-3D has mobility too with the addition of jump-jets. Like Vinson said, it's a capable sniper and brawler. It has several good loadouts

Edited by Pando, 07 June 2013 - 09:47 PM.

[Techno Magician]

good to hear, i'm guessing the jumpjets are a major plus in it's arsenal? also is dual guass viable or is that overkill(never used a guass, like a ppc i guess just less heat?)

[Shalune]

The 3D is one of the best mech variants in the game by a large margin, and suitable for competitive 8-man level of play. It's best at doing long range sniping / fire support. So if that's your style there aren't really any better, or more versatile investments.

Dual gauss is absolutely viable. In many cases people have come to use hybrid loadouts more commonly such as Gauss + 2 PPC or Gauss + 2 LL, but 2x gauss is still very scary and viable. I think it's mainly the weight and ammo dependency that's made it less popular lately. In all cases jump jets are part of what makes this mech so great and versatile.

[Pando]

Techno Magician, on 07 June 2013 - 09:49 PM, said:

good to hear, i'm guessing the jumpjets are a major plus in it's arsenal? also is dual guass viable or is that overkill(never used a guass, like a ppc i guess just less heat?)

The jump jets now are more for maneuverability which puts the CTF-3D above the other cataphracts because it's not limited by what hills it can't climb. Before this patch, the CTF-3D was the best heavy sniper chassis by a long shot. However, with recent jump jet changes its no longer possible realistically to jumpsnipe. Never the less, the CTF-3D is an amazing battlemech variant. I highly suggest purchasing one.

Double gauss is viable, but I prefer double ERPPC and 1 gauss rifle. The heat is very manageable once you've completed the elite tier sitting at 1.45 heat eff in the mechlab. Having the range kicked out and being effective at 900 meters and still maintaining the same alpha of 35 at 10 meters...priceless!

I run the following builds on the CTF-3D

ERPPCx2, GRx1
LLx4
AC/20x1, MLx4
ERPPCx3
PPCx4

Edited by Pando, 07 June 2013 - 10:21 PM.

[Redshift2k5]

Obviously if you want missiles the Cataphracts are a poor choice, but for bringing a cluster of heavy ballistic weapons or large energy weapons, they're perfect.

[Techno Magician]

well i've been sold XD, thanks for the input everyone, just need another mil and i'll have it. And while yes i wanted to try some LRMs overall i'd rather try some sniping, every trial mech i've tried with LRM or when i threw them on my raven, i know now why they all got shot down but even without them having anti missiles they seemed to do fairly low damage compared to the snipers who go around one shotting lights

[Relic1701]

Click my sig

(don't tell anyone else )

[Snowcrow]

Lately I've been using xl 300 with 2 LL and 2 UAC/5. I regularly pull 7-800 damage in this thing. It's a beast.
Since I can't fire while hovering I'm thinking about switching the JJs with 2 medium lasers, but on the other hand it's really nice to have JJs on Canyon network.

Edited by Snowcrow, 08 June 2013 - 07:43 AM.

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

It's the Best C-bill Glassaphract in the game. Very versatile, very easy to build a balanced load out or boat, good speed. Next is the 1X and then the 2X in my opinion.4X is to slow and hard to really get anything other then the 4xAC/2 or the 2xAC/2 & 2xAC/5.

[Roughneck45]

XL280, Dual gauss, 5 tons of ammo, 4 medium lasers, one JJ, max armor with some stripped off the legs.

If you want dual gauss, that build is the king of destruction.

[DeaconW]

[Redacted]

Edited by DeaconW, 08 June 2013 - 01:59 PM.

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

DeaconW, on 08 June 2013 - 01:59 PM, said:

[Redacted]

I would really like to know what this person wrote...

[Lugh]

Techno Magician, on 07 June 2013 - 09:49 PM, said:

good to hear, i'm guessing the jumpjets are a major plus in it's arsenal? also is dual guass viable or is that overkill(never used a guass, like a ppc i guess just less heat?)

Some of my favorite kills to date have been JJing on top of building for kills at 1km or more with dual guass

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

The cataphract 1x is better because it is the only mech in the game capable of 5 ppcs and a gauss lol very fun btw.
EDIT: Proof lol- http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5261b79a4975f1f
More viable - http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fff667e1fb40d82
More viable - http://mwo.smurfy-ne...50ff1a2809b876d
Extremely viable and powerful - http://mwo.smurfy-ne...69922f93dc55016

Edited by POOTYTANGASAUR, 10 June 2013 - 06:43 AM.

[norhymes]

Check out Soy's 3xPPC and 340 XL build available on MechSpecs.

I've tweaked it for my own use and you may do so as well, but the 3D with that build is a brutal, brutal 'Mech. Highly mobile. You can do the same build in the 1X really, but the 3D does it with style (aka JJ).

[DeaconW]

Werewolf486, on 10 June 2013 - 06:19 AM, said:

I would really like to know what this person wrote...

Nothing nefarious...I misread your "best C-bill Glassaphract" as best C-bill *earning* Glassaphract and posted that the "Ilya" was better...then I realized that you meant best *can buy with C-bills* Glassaphract. So my point was moot.

[Stoicblitzer]

3D is best phract then the muromets. the others are back now that jump sniping is dead.

Edited by Stoicblitzer, 10 June 2013 - 10:54 AM.

[Techno Magician]

well i just got enough for a guass and a erppc, still need another guass but since getting the long range i've been liking it. Question for other snipers, do you guys generally have arm lock on while sniping, have 2 different buttons for sniping weapons on arms and body, also anything for mixing ppc and guass, as they require different leading lengths(generally doesn't seem to matter too much)