22 replies to this topic

[etarm]

I've been playing for a few months, so I decided to take the plunge and plunk down some real $$ to thank our hosts for the game. I've been focusing on Jagermechs so was considering either the JM6-DD or the Firebrand. Since the FB is only available through MC's, and I liked the stock dual PPC-AC2 weapons load-out, I went ahead and got it, even though the paint scheme yells "shoot me now". So far, I'm loving it. Posted a personal best of 2 kills, 6 assists and almost 500 pts damage on a game last night (small potatoes to you pros, but exciting for this older rookie). Of course, two games later I got taken early out by a missile barrage when a Spider tagged me with a targeting laser after I only scored 34 pts, but as they say, we learn more from our mistakes...win a few, then lose a few while swearing at the computer ;-). The FB definitely packs a bigger wallop than my triple AC-5 JM-6S, but the XL engine does make it more vulnerable. Anyways, I think I'm going to like this mech!

Edited by etarm, 06 May 2014 - 09:30 AM.

[Not Bob]

The firebrand is fantastic! In order to make it more survivable, just toss a Standard engine in it. Yes, you'll be a fair bit slower, and less maneuverable, but you'll be able to live once your juicy SCT gets blown off. Personally, I like to run a STD 200 in mine, and pack it with 2 AC5, 2 LL, and 2 ML. I find that build to be a beast!


Anyways, I'm glad you like it, the FB is a really fun mech to play!

[Buckminster]

I know the XL means that you're a bit more vulnerable, but I've found that it's a really important part of my "FIT ON ALL THE GUNS!" that I tend to do with my Jagers. The ballistics are heavy enough, but then you have to go and add ammo...

I've been running a quad AC5 -S lately, and that's been stupid amounts of fun, but it's slow as all get out. I needed to jam a 225XL in it to make it work, but when it does work it's really pretty.

My FB is set up like the old Rifleman - 2 AC5, 2 LL, 2 ML, XL260 (from my -DD) to allow me to fit some more ammo. I also toned down the paint some - I used similar primary and secondary colors, and a dull tertiary color. It still stands out, but not nearly as bad. Another option is to set all three colors to basic green - people won't know you're in a FB until they look at the target lock. I've done this with my Yen-Lo before - that starburst pattern just screams "shoot my arm off!"

My -DD is twin LBX and quad MGs - on it's own it can be rough, but in a group where you can take advantage of other people stripping armor, and it just makes components fall off.

My -A is twin UACs and quad Streaks - the UACs provide good covering fire, and the streaks help tag those pesky lights.

Hands down the Jager is my favorite chassis. I have other mechs that I still need to skill up, but I keep going back to the Jagers.

Edited by Buckminster, 07 May 2014 - 05:32 PM.

[etarm]

Buckminster -- sounds like some fun builds you have going there. I've swapped out the PPCs in my FB with ERPPCs, downgraded the pulse ML's to standard ML's and dropped on a couple of more heatsinks. I'm still overheating more than I'd like, but I expect I'll find the balance point soon.

I'm going to try the -A as soon as I fill out my basic skills on the FB. The twin UAC/quad SSRMs sounds like something I might try. Cheers!

[Goldfish300]

I have had great success with this build. It can get a little hot after 3-4 alphas, but the ML's can be chain fired to manage the heat. Ammo can be a bit tight, but as long as I only shoot when I'm confident it will hit it isn't much of a problem. Sometimes I hold off on the AC20 if the enemy is weakened. Save the shots for better condition mechs. It can be a bit tricky to play at times. I find positioning and being able to spread damage well are essential to getting to the 800's, but it is possible. And I'm pretty much average.

FIREBRAND AC20 - LL - 4ML - XL315


This is the build that I used to create the one above. I don't have an XL340 so I used a larger laser instead. More ammo and slightly better heat make this a bit easier to play.

FIREBRAND AC20 - 5ML - XL340

[etarm]

Goldfish - interesting build. Looks like it packs a wallop. I'm enjoying my ERPPCs, but if I can't get my heat under control, I may try something similar, but with a Gauss Rifle instead of the AC20. I have fond memories of gauss rifles from my Traveller days (if anyone remembers that old RPG).

[RushOutlaw]

Firebrand is a great mech, i run XL and feel the extra speed and guns i get is worth it, i die to CT deaths mostly anyway.

2 X AC20 4 X ML

60point alpha NOM

[TheStrider]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7678b5bcb8c88dd

2xUAC5, 2xLL, XL300. Was supposed to be a "leveling" build, but it wrecks face so bad I kept the loadout!

[RiotHero]

I never liked the Jager until I got the Firebrand. It was too cheap on the half off sale to pass up and was also my first(only) hero. I just recently got the DD and now have every jager mastered.

On my Firebrand I keep going back to the same builds:
2xERLL,2xAC5 for long range support
2xLL,2xUAC5 for mid range support and that extra heat efficiency.

Both builds work incredibly well at what they are designed for and having all of those strong weapons up top is great. The key is trying to find places to just get those big guns out from cover and keep your wide torso hidden. I haven't even tried any other builds because those have done so well for me.

My S has 3xUAC5,2xML
My A has 4xssrm,2xLBX,2xML,Bap
My D has 2xAC10,4xMG,2xML


I love being able to just jump in one and have such different builds all in the same mech.

[etarm]

@Strider -- you don't have a heat problem with those two LL's and only one double heatsink? I don't use lasers that often, but I have quite a few (five or six?) heatsinks on my Firebrand, and with the dual ER PPC's, I have to watch my heat carefully.

@Riothero -- Interesting variety you're running there with your builds. My S is similar to yours, though I'm thinking of moving my XL engine to my S and trying a gauss/AC5 combo. My A is stock with 2 LRMs, 2 AC2's, and 2 ML's. Not a bad combo, but I run out of ammo pretty quickly.

[Ultimax]

etarm, on 16 May 2014 - 07:31 AM, said:

@Strider -- you don't have a heat problem with those two LL's and only one double heatsink? I don't use lasers that often, but I have quite a few (five or six?) heatsinks on my Firebrand, and with the dual ER PPC's, I have to watch my heat carefully.

2x ER PPC = 30 heat
2x ER LLAS = 16 Heat

I'd probably try to get one or two more heatsinks onto a build like his, but honestly on a mech like the Firebrand you always have the ballistics to fire while the energy weapons cooldown.

For example, I run 2x AC 10 + 1 PPC and 0 extra heatsinks on my Firebrand sometimes.



To be honest, I really don't think you need 2x ER PPCs shifting to standards will drop your heat to 20 points per twin shot, 1/3rd less.

[Buckminster]

The more I play, the more I feel that ERPPCs just aren't worth it. The amount of heat they generate is insane. I know that they're trying to stick to TT values, but with the way the current heat mechanic runs it's just hard to make it work well.

The only time I use them is on lights, where I don't have enough room to incorporate enough proper back up weaponry.

[etarm]

Thanks for the advice guys. I switched to the ER PPC from standards because I wanted the greater range, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra heat, particularly since I usually play as mid-range support. I may try switching back and see how I like it, now that I have some time under my belt with the FB. Cheers!

[Flak Kannon]

I continue to and have done so since the FB was released, use the following load out to GREAT effect.

XL255
(1) AC20
(1) AC10
(5) ML

Crush face. Rinse, repeat.

I play it as a second line punch Mech. I follow the slowest brawler on the team, and then pop to the side at the right time to drop massive short range damage. If played foolishly, you will get hung out to dry by PPC/AC5 meta or LRM boats..But over 5 Seconds I can almost pinpoint 110 points of damage. Two Salvos of everything. And the heat isn't terrible.. it's hot, but not shutdown hot except on Mt. Doom map.

Need to play SLOW, and smart, until its time to rush the line and decimate the Assault mech that has gotten your of the other Assualt mechs attention inside that magic 300meter number... outside that range, this mech is not great.

Many, many 7-8 kill games in this face wrecker. I do have one 10 kill game in her on Crimson Straight, by hiding in the bldgs and waiting for mechs to round the corner..

I fire both AC's together, and often chain fire the ML. On cold maps I alpha the medium lasers as well. I think I have 28 AC20 rounds and 30 AC10 rounds ( Maybe 45.. can't remember). Sounds like a low number of rounds, but I have been running this build since the FB was released and have almost never run out of ammo. That's where the 5 ML really shine.. when you get down to a few shots of AC left, go laser heavy.


I do sometimes build up the FB for ***** and giggles with 2 LBX10's and 6 ML. Its a great finisher.. but isn't super great early in battles.

But the AC20&AC10&5ML is my bread and butter.

Flak Kannon out.

[etarm]

Ooh, sounds like fun! I was playing around this build on an S chassis as a longer range support mech:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...20fd130dc1d5a74

but I might try your AC combination instead.

[etarm]

Just thought I'd report back on that little experiment with the gauss/AC5 on my S. I REALLY wanted to like the gauss rifle, but I was terrible with it!! I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a great Mechwarrior, but with my S with 3 AC5's (as well as my A and FB), I could pretty reliably get in the 200-300 pts damage range and even had a few matches in the 400-600+ range. With the gauss/AC5 combo, I was struggling to break 100! I felt like I was totally new all over again. The recharge rate on the Gauss meant that I had to 1) spend too much time getting into position where I could snipe effectively (which position was then soon negated by the battle having moved on), and/or 2) focus on my target long enough that they either moved into cover or I was vulnerable to incoming fire. I'm sure the gauss could be highly effective in the right hands, but alas those hands aren't mine. I switched my S to an AC10 & AC5, which seemed like a good mid-range combination, and immediately turned in a 380 pt game, so the gauss is going on the shelf. Maybe I'll try it again someday, since I spent good creds for it, but not on the Jaeger.

Edited by etarm, 27 May 2014 - 08:33 AM.

[Abaddonis]

2 AC10 (4 tons of ammo)
4 ML
XL280

This is my favorite mech. Useless on some maps at times (alpine, river city assault). Wrecks face, runs hot, 3 module slots when mastered. Love it.

[White Bear 84]

This mech is one of my favorites.

etarm, on 06 May 2014 - 08:37 AM, said:

Posted a personal best of 2 kills, 6 assists and almost 500 pts damage on a game last night (small potatoes to you pros, but exciting for this older rookie).

Yo dawg - that's a good contribution to the team, you clearly did your fair share of carrying and got in some hearty damage!! Id have you on my team

My personal favorite for the FBis dual UAC/5 and 2 LL. Jamming can be a pain, but it can really pump out the dps when it wants to

[DarthPeanut]

I love the bonus from running my Firebrand but had some issues with it at first.

Settled on a loadout similar to White Bear 84... 2 ultras and 2 large larsers. Works pretty well.

[The Great Unwashed]

I really enjoy the 2Gauss/2ML build. Ammo is a bit of a problem.