20 replies to this topic

[ExtremeA79]

I have a CPLT-C4 and a RVL-3L and the next mech I am planning to get is the Trebutchet. However I am worried that it has been replaced as I never see them on the battlefield anymore. The last time I saw 1 was months ago.
So I would like to ask if it is still viable.
And if it is, what variants would you recommend and what are some good builds?

[ExtremeA79]

Shameless bump.

[Amsro]

I use them fairly often, they are my second most effective mech (highlander #1)

The 7K is the runt of the litter, I'm still trying to tweak an effective build out of it, its just hard to use heavy ballistics in a medium efficiently.

7M - 3 Missile 3 Energy JJ
I'm currently running this mech with;
-3xSSRM2
-3 Medium Laser
-336 Armor
-325XL
-12 DHS
-3 JJ
-BAP

5J - 1 Missile 5 Energy JJ
I've had many different builds I am currently running this with;
-3xLarge Laser
-336 Armor
-300XL
-14 DHS
-2 JJ
-BAP

5N - 2 Missile 4 Energy
I havn't used this mech much since the SRM nerf but it was great then;
-2xSRM6 Artemis
-4xMedium Laser
-338 FF Armor
-325XL
-13 DHS

3C - 2 Missile 4 Energy
With the SRM nerf I went from 2 SRM6 and 2 Med Lasers to;
-4xMedium Laser
-338 FF Armor
-370XL
-16 DHS
-BAP

I use the 3C the most of all the treb variants, at 132 kph its quite a blast to pilot. The 5N can be deadly and the JJ on the other 2 make for different play style. As far as tactics with trebs go, I wouldn't be standing still at any point as you are a huge target.

I wish you luck in your treb battles!

Edit Endo-Steel and DHS on all variants.

Edited by Amsro, 16 June 2013 - 07:23 AM.

[ExtremeA79]

Thank you so much for your post. I will be looking forward to piloting a Trebutchet! >

[BP Raven]

If the treb was smaller and had more favourable hitboxes it would be an excellent light brawler, as it stands however, the centruion seems to fit that bill better as they're harder to kill.

Having said that, trebs can be a blast to pilot as long as you're not the centre of anyone's attention, but as Amsro said, the 7K is the hardest to get a build for right now. If the LB 10x was more potent a nice build is 2 med, 2 streaks and one shotgun, but tbh i would avoid the varient unless you have a really solid idea of what you want to do with it.

As to the others, the 3C is the uber fast one that you can plonk a massive engine into, but you're then limited to MLas and streaks (may as well be in a light in which case). The stock loadout on the 3C is actually pretty good, i'd just tweak it with a tag laser, get rid of the CASE and have an extra ton or armour (or ammo) and use it as a mid range fire support mech.

The 7M is probably my favourite, i use Endo, XL300, 16DHS, 3 SSRM2, 2 MLas and either an ER PPC or LLas plus BAP depending on how good a shot you are with PPCs and how much range you want. With the PPC you can fight out to 900-1000m easily, and up close use it to turn off enemy ECM so you can fire with the streaks.

The 5N should be the best brawler of the bunch as it has all it's energy weapons arm mounted for better convergence plus the best torso twist (although the 7K ties it, but with the aforementioned lousy hardpoint selection) If SRMs ever get a buff, Endo, XL 300, 17DHS, 4MLas and 2 SRM6 + Artemis is a nice fit, goes over 100kph with tweak, cools fairly well and is precise with the lasers.

Not tried the J model so can't comment on that one. Still, you'll probably find it dies really easily with the current meta, and is outclassed by the cent and blackjack...

[Urdnot Mau]

I had the 7k and i had a good time with it. 2 streaks, Large+medium and AC/10. Very fun... you can use PPC+someCannon to avoid being the center of attention. Or you can go AC 20. Better than the hunchie AC 20 version because of the hitbox size. The important thing about the 7k is that it is different from all other variants. That's why you have to buy him, to test, to know something different, you know?

[BP Raven]

AC20 on the 7k can be good, but you have to gimp on engine size so much that you lose the ability to be able to twist to track light mechs so they'll end up shooting you in the back with no recourse.

[Shiro Matsumoto]

I like my 3 Trebs. Favorite: 7K, with (tweaked)106,9mph, 320 FFB-Armor, ES, AC/10 (45 Shots) and ER-PPC. Close to a Scout Mech.

Sad to say, the mech feels too big für a medium, my wish would really be, having it like 1/6 smaller or so.

Edited by John McFianna, 16 June 2013 - 09:39 AM.

[LordBraxton]

I love the trebuchet, I owned them all when they first came out.

Sadly the trebuchet was hurt the hardest by the SRM nerf, like the CN9-A but every variant

I relied on ridiculously high speeds and maxxed out SRM payloads to do serious damage with my trebuchet

in the current meta you are just a huge undergunned target

so I cannot in good faith, suggest the trebuchet to anyone

buy a cataphract

[NighterRO]

The 7K is actually my favorite among the Trebuchets and my top mech to pilot in.

My build looks like this, with good speed, nearly full armor, all-around weapon range and surprising firepower:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...99dd69ea2d18f14

Dual ER PPCs being your main weapons, function as both shotguns and sniper rifles, fire both at once and you got an AC/20 with unlimited ammo. Keep in mind though, if the right torso is destroyed, you will pretty much become useless on the field. (Well, not completely useless actually, you still got your sidearms:))

When you become too hot to fire them, normally after 3~4 shots in a row with my build, either switch them into chain fire mode or use the dual Machine guns and dual SSRMs to keep circling and harassing the enemy and wait for the heat level to come down.

The two sidearms (Machine guns and SSRMs) serve as closing finishing blows pretty well, when the enemy’s armor is ripped apart by ER PPCs. Also, they are useful when dealing with light mechs.

Got 3 kills, 4 assists and 500+ damage in a match with the build. Still better fit in a fire support role instead of a direct brawler, take cover constantly and avoid engaging heavy or assault mechs directly unless you know you can take them down in 1 or 2 ER PPC shot. Even with high armor rating, trebs is still very easy to get cored .

Most importantly, always pay attention to your heat level.

I’m considering switching to a XL-Engine in the future, maybe add some supporting module such as AMS or BAP. But I am pretty satisfied with the efficiency of the current build.

Hope this give you some thought on TBT-7K build

[CB Cyrix]

Its an amazing mech, just need your clan to give you a good build for it.

[Dracol]

I was using jj capable ones exclusively with an erppc and a ppc.... then jj shake hit.

Now, the 3M as been regulated to light mech hunting. Biggest engine possible, 3 streaks, bap, 2ml and 1 LL. Very effective in this role.

[Pater Mors]

3C - 300XL Endo DHS Artemis 4x ML 2x ASRM6
SRM's might be weak now, but this build is still a premium light hunter and fast-medium skirmisher. See how long heavies and assaults last when they choose to ignore you in favour of that Atlas and you smack them in the back repeatedly with 12 SRM's. They're weak, but it just means you need to put it into the back armour and get the whole volleys in there. Still does the job very well.

If played right they are great, but I certainly admit it's gotten harder in the last few months.

[Angel of Annihilation]

LordBraxton, on 16 June 2013 - 09:09 AM, said:

I love the trebuchet, I owned them all when they first came out.

Sadly the trebuchet was hurt the hardest by the SRM nerf, like the CN9-A but every variant

I relied on ridiculously high speeds and maxxed out SRM payloads to do serious damage with my trebuchet

in the current meta you are just a huge undergunned target

so I cannot in good faith, suggest the trebuchet to anyone

buy a cataphract

The Trebuchet is not a huge target nor is it undergunned for a medium. However it is still a medium and requires you to play a support role just like all the other medium.

I do have to agree about the SRMs though, there is just too much spread to them anymore for them to be useful. Honestly I don't get why they were even changed from closed beta. I mean past 100m even then you couldn't expect them to concentrate on just one section of the torso but at least they all would hit generally in the upper torso area out to max range if you aimed center mass. Now past 50m, your lucky if half you SRMs don't completely miss the target. Hope they do something soon to revive SRM usefulness.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

BP Raven, on 16 June 2013 - 08:42 AM, said:

AC20 on the 7k can be good, but you have to gimp on engine size so much that you lose the ability to be able to twist to track light mechs so they'll end up shooting you in the back with no recourse.

I always mounted a pair of SSRM2 with a single ton of ammo to deal with just that issue. Doesn't work on ECM mechs of course but you've got the hard points so you might as well use them. I just wish the arms moved more so you could freelook and hit the buggers more easily.

[Gozer]

I'm running three of them right now to build up and keep one. I enjoy my Trenchbucket as it makes a good mobile LRM platform.

[One Medic Army]

I own 3 variants each of 4 of the Medium Chassis (and a single Cicada), I'd say they're O.K.

How I see the Medium Class (excluding Cicadas, they're fat lights and we all know it):
Top tier: Centurions, BJ-1X, Hunch-P, Hunch-SP
Mid-tier: Trebuchets
Bottom-tier: Blackjacks (not 1X), Hunch (G, J, H)

Trebs get a decent speed and max engine size. They're as large as Centurions but with easier to hit CT. They also suffer more when they use their arms to shield compared to Centurions, since Trebs mount a majority of their weapons on their arms (7K aside).

Edited by One Medic Army, 17 June 2013 - 04:12 PM.

[jper4]

messed around with a few trebbies. i like the 3C best of the ones i have. 4MLs, 2SSRMs, BAP and speed boost to 106kph, max armor

for the tricky 7K i tried mix and matching weapons but i've settled for an AC10 and 2LLs, max armor- works ok if you're able to lurk 300- 400m or so away from the target while it's fighting something else. i never seem to get noticed by the target for a bit- until that ac40 jager notices me just standing there firing away...

7M i've nearly given up hope on. by far my least effect mech- wait i forgot founder's hunchy again-, turned it into a 3ML, dual lrm 10 (or was it a 10 and a 5? i forget now) long range annoyance. had tag at one point but switched to the extra ML given how quickly i tend to end up with a light chasing me around.

[TheCrazySteve]

The 5n is probably the best lrm skirmisher in the game. 2 alrm15, 3 medium lasers, and a tag. Use your decent speed to run around engaging people with you're lrms at 400-600 range.

[Pastor Priest]

I find the Trebs immensely entertaining and certainly viable. My favorites is the 7M with a 300XL and ASRMs. It does well at blowing holes in armor. If you can close the distance, the jumpjets give you the ability to run circles around (and over) assaults. My 5J has. 280XL and dual ER PPCs. With 4 jjs, it makes a fun mobile fire support mech. Lights also have a tendency to over estimate my maneuverability. I have the 3C with a 350XL, BAP, and use it as a light hunter or heavy scout. It is a new build, but a couple times out it did well. It was a LRM platform, but with the large engine cap, I felt it was more suited to that role. I might pick up the 5N to get my mobile missile platform back.