151 replies to this topic

[HighlandWolf]

I personally like them both, and since both can and WILL be customised..you'll find that both be used for a bunch of different roles..though the stalker will mostly be support..and atlas mostly in your face..but since both can carry a bunch of stuff..expect to see both of them in your face and at a distance

[Tadakuma]

Grokmoo, on 09 June 2012 - 05:03 AM, said:

On a related note, why so many mechs where the base variant has 4 medium lasers? Jenner, Catapult, Cataphract, Stalker, Atlas. In fact, every single mech so far except the Commando and Awesome has either 2 or 4 medium lasers. I know it is a common configuration, but a little more variety would be nice.

Because it's an incredibly efficient way to pack 10-20pts of close range damage onto a mech.. 2 mediums for 2 Tonnes gives 10 pts of damage and six points of heat., 4 mediums gives 20 pts of damage for 4 tonnes and 12 pts of heat.

After the primary weapon systems are done most mechs can find the space to add some mediums as back up weapons. At a rough guess i'd say about 90% of mechs in the TRO have 2 to 4 medium lasers, and most of the rest have a single medium laser.

[Bleakheart]

I prefer the Atlas because if it falls over, it can get up again. The Stalker would look like a T-Rex doing push ups.....

[Graymage]

That and although the Medium Laser might hit as far as a Large Laser, hit for just a bit less and has far less heat generated.
Overall the Medium Laser is not bad weapon.

The stalker is a example of a really good offense is better than a really good defense.

[DonEffe]

Its really simple, the Atlas just looks badass. An Atlas towering over a smaller mech and punishing the mech at close range is how i would describe Battletech to a person who doesnt know the game.

[eZZip]

FrostPaw, on 09 June 2012 - 04:28 AM, said:

Since you can pick the Atlas at the start and you can't pick the Stalker, I'm guessing you didn't think too hard why someone would choose Atlas ;-)

What a horrible reason to support the Atlas. If that was the only one, then every Atlas player would change to a Stalker as soon as possible, and Atlas mechs would become rare to see in a few weeks.

[Sundiver]

There's nothing wrong with the Atlas it fills it's role nicely. However, a lot of the fear of the Atlas is psychological. Turning the corner in a Jenner, running into the leg of an Atlas and looking up and up.. and "OMG it's an ATLAS!" Hell it's probably even the first knee-jerk response of other Atlas pilots upon seeing one. "**** it's an Atlas! Oh wait...nevermind!"

[Namwons]

around a corner: atlas vs stalker = atlas
over a hill: atlas vs stalker = stalker

[Mechwarrior3]

Atlas is just so..so.. CLASSIC!

[Lt muffins]

Bleakheart, on 09 June 2012 - 07:30 AM, said:

I prefer the Atlas because if it falls over, it can get up again. The Stalker would look like a T-Rex doing push ups.....

I would almost pay to see that

[Shiinore]

Shoot a Stalker in the rear and it dies.
Shoot an Atlas in the rear, it turns around and you die.

[wanderer]

Shiinore, on 09 June 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

Shoot a Stalker in the rear and it dies.
Shoot an Atlas in the rear, it turns around and you die.

Eh. Lot of designs that can punch through even the back armor on an Atlas- and it carries quite a few tons of AC and LRM ammo to crit-boom if you do. Stock ones pack a hefty five tons of ammo in the torso- two in the right, three in the left. Heck, a Jenner can even pull it off on one well-placed salvo, as it has just enough protection to soak a pair of laser hits, but not nearly enough to stop four plus the SRMs.

Edit: And the Stalker only has two, one ton in each side torso for it's SRM's- the LRM ammo is in the arms.

Edited by wanderer, 09 June 2012 - 02:34 PM.

[EvereadyGold]

I'm thinking that once streaks show up we're going to be seeing a ton of SSRM boat stalkers

[TriggerhappySOB]

zzzuk, on 09 June 2012 - 04:42 AM, said:

When you compare them, you see that the standard weapon loadout of these Mechs has one big difference: Atlas carries an AC20 autocannon and Stalker 2 Large lasers. Other weapons are quite similar: both of them have Medium lasers (Atlas 5, Stalker 4), LRM´s (Atlas LRM20, Stalker 2x LRM10) and SRM (Atlas 1x, Stalker 2x). So advantage of Atlas is definitely in heat management, as you can see. Atlas also has one of thickest armors in it´s class. And about the profile: Atlas and it´s skull-like looking head is designed to be visible and to create fear in minds of enemy pilots. It´s kind of honor to hold your head risen up and don´t try to hide. Personally I´m not a fan of Atlas, but I understand perfectly, why would someone choose it.

Logic'd

[Blu C]

EvereadyGold, on 09 June 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

I'm thinking that once streaks show up we're going to be seeing a ton of SSRM boat stalkers

Depends on how SSRM's are implemented, as always. In fact there are reasons why even the Clans continue to use standard SRM's.

The most important aspect is a matter of control. The way SSRM's work is they have a firing control logic that prevents them from firing unless ALL tubes associated with the launcher are aligned with the target. On the one hand this is good because it ensures maximum efficency and best use of ammunition, however even if most tubes are aligned it will balk and refuse to fire.

This ends up being disconcerning to pilots who just pulled the trigger and didn't see any missiles launch because the system logic overruled their command. In some cases it can be viewed as a flaw because sometimes it is more important to deal what damage you can then the theoretical maximum possible.

When you also add in the potential of specialty munitions like SRM-Narc or Inferno rounds that SSRM's cannot use there is a real solid argument to keep the older launchers in service, and perhaps even favor them over the somewhat pricier SSRM.

[BoydofZINJ]

EvereadyGold, on 09 June 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

I'm thinking that once streaks show up we're going to be seeing a ton of SSRM boat stalkers

Why not streak SRM Atlas?

The main difference between these armless mechs versus armed ones is a table top issue. Sometimes you can fall down, to your back or belly. An Atlas or other arm based mech (with traditional hands and traditional arms) can regain their balance better. Likewise, it is much easier to punch with a traditional hand and traditional arm. 'Mechs like the Stalker can not punch, they can kick - but so can the Atlas. On the Table top, the traditional arm and hand based 'mechs like the Atlas can also use their hands to grab trees and other objects to use as a blunt weapon. Why is this important?

Sometimes in the HEAT of the battle - a Battlemech is overheating and can not use their weapons effectively. So, why not throw a punch or two. A 100 ton Atlas can do some impressive damage and has a chance of hitting the weak cockpit and kill the pilot. The stalker can not. There are even some 'Mechs that have specialized hand to hand weapons (melee weapons to use against other Battlemechs). I am guessing punching and melee weapons will not show up in MWO.

[EvereadyGold]

Boydsan, on 09 June 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

Why not streak SRM Atlas?

The main difference between these armless mechs versus armed ones is a table top issue. Sometimes you can fall down, to your back or belly. An Atlas or other arm based mech (with traditional hands and traditional arms) can regain their balance better. Likewise, it is much easier to punch with a traditional hand and traditional arm. 'Mechs like the Stalker can not punch, they can kick - but so can the Atlas. On the Table top, the traditional arm and hand based 'mechs like the Atlas can also use their hands to grab trees and other objects to use as a blunt weapon. Why is this important?

Sometimes in the HEAT of the battle - a Battlemech is overheating and can not use their weapons effectively. So, why not throw a punch or two. A 100 ton Atlas can do some impressive damage and has a chance of hitting the weak cockpit and kill the pilot. The stalker can not. There are even some 'Mechs that have specialized hand to hand weapons (melee weapons to use against other Battlemechs). I am guessing punching and melee weapons will not show up in MWO.

Just thought of the stalker more as a missile boat is all I guess (also, can't wait to get my hands on ATMs once clan tech starts trickling in)

[Jack Gammel]

Both the Stalker and the Atlas are fine Assault Mechs, but they serve very different purposes and have vastly different pros and cons.

The Stalker is only 85 tons as opposed to the Atlas' robust 100. The Stalker has a decent weapons load-out and overall better long-range firepower than the Atlas, but the Atlas has better heat management. The Atlas also has a boatload more armor. In the TT setting the Atlas' fully realized hands also give it a huge advantage in close combat. This translates into the Stalker's 1,559 BV and the Atlas' 1,897 BV for the stock variants.

The Stalker will likely be cheaper than the Atlas in game-terms, giving it an advantage over the Atlas in that respect.

Edited by Jack Gammel, 09 June 2012 - 04:06 PM.

[KANE LIVES]

Because the Atlas, IS THE ATLAS. Woohoo! Lyran!

[LackofCertainty]

The thing I find funny about this thread is that it's asking the wrong question:

OP is saying "What is the point of using an Atlas when the Stalker exists"
Well there's a couple reasons to:
1. Durability
2. Close range punch
(yes, a stalker can putout almost the same/possibly more point blank damage, but it doesn't have the focus of the AC 20, so it's less likely to punch through armor in 1 salvo)


The -better- question is "What is the point of using an Awesome When the stalker exists?"

Both have very strong long range punch:
2 LRM 10's + 2 LL's is about the same firepower/range as 3 ppc's.

Stalker has waaay more mid-range punch:
2 LRM 10's + 2LL's + 2 SRM 6's + 4ML's vs. 3 PPC's + 1 SL

Stalker has waaay more point blank punch:
2 LL's + 4 ML's + 2 SRM 6's for the stalker vs. 1 SL on the awesome.


Stalker also has Indirect Fire capabilities with the LRM's whereas Awesome is only direct fire. I personally think this is one of the examples of "Varied Loadout > Pure Energy loadout."



P.S.
Of course I'm not being series about all this. Yes, I prefer the Stalker to the Awesome, but I fully intend to get both unless there's a strict mech limit on my garage.

Edited by LackofCertainty, 09 June 2012 - 03:15 PM.