151 replies to this topic

[buffmorris69mech]

Not a big fan of misssle in mw4 don't know about mechwarrior online yet ,still don't have beta.

I would take atlas its slow, drop the lrm 20 and ammo, srm6 and ammo, that should be at least 15 tons with only 1 ton ammo for those system. Put 2 PPC and add one ton of ac20 ammo. you still have range weapons with dual PPC and you added extra ton for ac 20 when you finally get into range. You have 4 medium laser for backup.

The atlas will finish the fight if it can get into range and it has not been picked to death.

I usually swap out ac20 for gauss rifle you have range and more ammo per ton but that just me. to me in all other mechwarrior game the missile might be hit and miss especially if your opponent were mounting anti missle system and ammo for it.

Guess when we get into open beta we will see how everything goes then and how everything work in this game.


See you on the battlefield.

By the way I would take the cat and strip it down and put 3 large laser on it and jumpjet and used it as direct fire sharpshooting mech till I got my black knight.

[LordDeathStrike]

Davers, on 11 June 2012 - 08:34 PM, said:

I like the Atlas.

When an assault steps onto the field you know it's going to draw a lot of fire. You need a mech that can take it. Rather have them shooting at me, then at my buddy's Hunchback (which can deliver almost the same kind of damage, but can't take being under heavy fire). But that's why it's a team. I provide a large, tough, target that MUST be dealt with while hopefully the more nimble members of the team get those back shots or sneak up close with their big guns. I don't mind if my Atlas gets trashed every match, as long as we get the win.

hunchback has ac 20 2 med laser 1 small laser
atlas has ac 20 4 med laser srm 6 lrm 20

while they both have an ac 20 and 2 med lasers, the other 2 med lasers srm 6 and lrm 20 give the atlas as much firepower again as the hunchie has!

i prefer alternate loadouts anyway.

swayback hunchie, but instead of 8 med lasers, maybe some large, extra heat sinks
atlas with large lasers G rifle and lrms or more med lasers ac 20 and srms.

i like to pick my mech based on map of engagement, hopefully its not like WoT where the maps are random.

[Seabear]

One thing to consider is the approach of the 3050 mechs. Even without the stimulus of the clan invasions, there are some serious modifications on the way for both these mechs. The AS7K is about to change the Atlas into a mech capable of throwing out a great deal of long range fire power - a Gauss rifle, LRM-20, 2 ERLL, 2MPL and an AMS. Figured against the changes to the Stalker, the Atlas comes out ahead. The fact of the matter is that I would not like to go 1 on 1 with either mech in anything lighter an assault.

[MechRaccoon]

The reason the Atlas has such a HUUUUUUUUGE profile is that Kerensky told the creators to make it scary and intimidating, and a very good portion of everything people are scared of are HUGE. For example, I'm terrified of tarantulas. THEY'RE SO FREAKING HUGE! It's not that Kerensky wanted to basically paint a bulls-eye on the Atlas, but that he wanted to make the enemy whiz in their pants when they see it. That's also why the Atlas' head looks like a skull. To make it look scary.


Anyway, now that that tangent is done, I think the both of them are quite similar. They can both strike at long ranges and short ranges, and both of them can go at 54 km/h. However, i would go with the Stalker. It has a cool look to it and it has more long range weaponry, (2 LRM 10 plus 2 LL as opposed to Atlas' LRM20) so if there's a Jenner on a hill several kilometers out, I can hit him with more STUF, while the Atlas can only use it's single LRM lawnchair. I know it has less tonnage, but I don't care. STALKER! Oh, and it also still has some nice close range weaponry. (2 SRM 6 and 4 Medium lasers) The Atlases may have their fun with their AC20s, but I still prefer a Stalker.

[gamesguy]

MechRaccoon, on 13 June 2012 - 06:14 PM, said:

The reason the Atlas has such a HUUUUUUUUGE profile is that Kerensky told the creators to make it scary and intimidating, and a very good portion of everything people are scared of are HUGE. For example, I'm terrified of tarantulas. THEY'RE SO FREAKING HUGE! It's not that Kerensky wanted to basically paint a bulls-eye on the Atlas, but that he wanted to make the enemy whiz in their pants when they see it. That's also why the Atlas' head looks like a skull. To make it look scary.


Anyway, now that that tangent is done, I think the both of them are quite similar. They can both strike at long ranges and short ranges, and both of them can go at 54 km/h. However, i would go with the Stalker. It has a cool look to it and it has more long range weaponry, (2 LRM 10 plus 2 LL as opposed to Atlas' LRM20) so if there's a Jenner on a hill several kilometers out, I can hit him with more STUF, while the Atlas can only use it's single LRM lawnchair. I know it has less tonnage, but I don't care. STALKER! Oh, and it also still has some nice close range weaponry. (2 SRM 6 and 4 Medium lasers) The Atlases may have their fun with their AC20s, but I still prefer a Stalker.

Any variant of the Atlas can easily be configured to outgun the stalker at every range FYI.

There is a variant that can mount 3 LRM-20s and a gauss rifle(though LRM-15s would be a better choice since they're more weight efficient and leaves room for a couple of lasers).

The 7-K variant in particular can be configured to outgun the stalker at every range.

Edited by gamesguy, 13 June 2012 - 06:25 PM.

[Reported for Inappropriate Name]

face to face stock atlas probably wins, it is quite a bit younger than the stalker and with more armor, plus the atlas has the advantage of ballistics weapons creating less heat. if the stalker can take advantage of some scouting before the inevitable confrontation it will be arguably more in the stalker's favor. the stalker also has more firepower mounted on "arms" so in a strafe fight it will come in handy.

honestly I think it's more down to the pilot's skill on this one more than anything. they're both good and versatile killing machines in relation to each other.

Edited by Battlecruiser, 23 June 2012 - 05:17 PM.

[Adrian Carino]

Battlecruiser has it. The skills of a pilot can be a big deciding factor too.

[Helvetica]

Blu C, on 09 June 2012 - 04:58 AM, said:

Correct, 4 ML on the Atlas. Technically 2 of those should be rear firing, however since that is difficult to actulaly make doable videogames tend to just mount them forward firing.

I just remembered another reason to take the Atlas over the Stalker (though it isn't really relevant to MWO): Two fully articulated hands. In the tabletop that makes the Atlas probably the MOST dangerous close combat 'Mech in the game because it's punches hit for so much damage.

Where the atlas cannot use them for punching you can track targets alot easier with arm mounted weapons than torso mounted like the whole of the stalker. This makes it far more deadly.

[MrM1971]

that stalker sleek profile is missleading in the extreme ( its very very long and with no arms on its sides leaves it open to haveing its right and left torsos shredded by anything that can flank it ) ( arms add a layer of protection to the right and left torso from flank attacks )

Atlas was built to be Feared and anyone who dont fear it on the battlefield is a Fool first and a dead Fool second if they underestimate what it can do ( with the mechlab you can pretty much put any type of weapon system on this thing the only thing it cant do is death from above )


Overall though keep in mind picking a mech is a personal preferance every mech can be made into a viable unit to be used to fill the combat role you wish it to

[Calisrue]

depending on how true to gyro issues they play it, it may also be true that being hit while in a stalker may cause more cockpit knock around than in an atlas - might depend on where you're hit too but sometimes it feels like in stalker body types you just get knocked around alittle more whereas it seems like it takes alot to rock an atlas - this may just be in my head though....

Each has its customizable strengths too. I could be wrong but Atlas prolly has more hardpoint space for ballistics.

Personally I loved playing a Stalker in MW2: Mercenaries but i do know it didn't hold up nearly as well up close as more heavily armored assaults.

[Boneripper]

I have the Atlas already. So I will get the Stalker when I can. The Lg. Lasers and SRM's are good scout killers.

[Joseph Mallan]

eZZip, on 09 June 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

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.

Technically they are supposed to be rare anyway. The Stalker has a much higher heat curve and suffers greatly when Alpha striking! The Mech cannot fire it's full Long range Payload safely!

Now look at how teh heavyweights stack up. WOuld you want to run into a lance that's a Atlas, Stalker, Awesome & Catapult (or Dragon)? Stalker, Awesome, and Catapult laying down long fire while the lance advances, then the pain comes when the Awesome drops back and the Atlas, Stalker & Catapult start hammering at short range under cover of 3 PPCs! Not much will survive that. Remember it's a game of teamwork. You overlap fields of fire, cover your partners weakness ahd bring the pain the best you can.

[PlagueChampion]

Lazer Blazer, on 09 June 2012 - 04:23 AM, said:

Ive looked at the stalker and I thought YES. I looked at the atlas and I though walking target board. I can't understand why anyone would pick it over the stalker.

Stalker: sleek profile 2 LRM 10'S, 2 SRM 6's, 4 medium lasers and 2 Large Lasers. coming up over a hill All of its weapons are shown first.

Atlas: Wide and bulky profile. built to be shot at. Ac20, 4 medium lasers 1 LRM 20, 1 SRM 6 and coming up over a hill you would just see its head.

I do not get it.

a huge disavantage of the stalker is that the stalker's centre torso can be hit from the sides. This is not possible with the atlas whose centre torso is protected from the sides by its arms. this might be a reason to choose an atlas over a stalker

[RabbidFerret]

The D-DC has ECM. If you play on 8-man teams then this really isn't a tough decision.

Plus, the Stalker's huge CT and lower armor is going to severely hamper it in a brawl.

[Cerlin]

How can anyone make a guess if they havent seen it in game? If it is the chubbest mech ever seen from the side or something it will have a huge disadvantage.

still I say the Atlas will have tank, the stalker will have the damage. It will be a good brawl.

[The Helepolis]

The Stalker is weak in the back and its center torso, it trades ballistic capacity for some good energy weapons. So it's entirely up to preference. Honestly, I'll probably get one, but the ATLAS still remains an iconic classic till say the Daishi comes to the fray. Or atleast the Highlander, I prefer close quarters combat, the chaos and fierce brutality of it all. So I like the close range designed mechs, the Hunchie, the ATLAS-D, the YLW on rare occasions. Cause I like the challenge of hiding my 'good' arm, and the Cataphract. Stalker isn't much of a brawler, its a great fire support though. ATLAS is just the front line damage sponge and siege breaker mech. It's far from the work horse common mech, but its a tanky design that's served well ever since Star League Defense. But I believe there needs to be some more Assault varierty, the Awesome just doesn't work with PPCs in MWO, and the Highlander is well loved by myself. I myself am looking forward greatly to the spider. (Yes I know the spider is a light mech, I'd just like to get across I'm not a full on assault monkey) Sure the Stalker gets **** done as it closes in, but in a full on brawl, its lack of assault tearing firepower begins to show, but damn can it hunt lighter chassis like no other. Long live the Stalker!

Edited by IronWolf Vascus, 18 December 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[Bilbo]

wanderer, on 09 June 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

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.

Which is why I never put ammo in the torsos and shift a good bit of armor to the rear.

[MeiSooHaityu]

The Stalker is 15 tons lighter than an Atlas.

15 Tons is a lot of difference. The Atlas with its 15 extra tons is going to have an advantage in either weapons (crit space), ammo, or armor.

Just call it a hunch, but anyone who pilots a Stalker like an Atlas is going to have a bad time.

[The Helepolis]

Lazer Blazer, on 09 June 2012 - 04:23 AM, said:

Ive looked at the stalker and I thought YES. I looked at the atlas and I though walking target board. I can't understand why anyone would pick it over the stalker.

Stalker: sleek profile 2 LRM 10'S, 2 SRM 6's, 4 medium lasers and 2 Large Lasers. coming up over a hill All of its weapons are shown first.

Atlas: Wide and bulky profile. built to be shot at. Ac20, 4 medium lasers 1 LRM 20, 1 SRM 6 and coming up over a hill you would just see its head.

I do not get it.

You kind of imply even a half-brained ATLAS pilot would waste itself with walking over a hill. In ANY mech, you don't want to be the first mech going over a hill. Assaults rely on Lights and Mediums to let the Assaults know where they'd be most useful. I hardly ever die in my ATLAS, and you gave the basic AS7-D loadout. I don't run that, I traded my LRMs another SRM 6 and additional ammunition so that I can still pack a punch late game if need be. I don't get myself into long range trade offs, or give them a nice peek at my head, its the pilot that matters, not the mech. When you write it all down on the table, it can sound convincing, getting it to work in a match is something entirely different.

Edited by IronWolf Vascus, 18 December 2012 - 09:57 AM.

[Omni Tek]

Aegis Kleais, on 09 June 2012 - 05:00 AM, said:

I think the OP has a tendency towards Mech that by default equip pairs of weapons equating to more power. Cause I have the same issue It's some kind of binary OCD

I have this exact same problem I like symetrical mechs... I have no idea why....