21 replies to this topic

[Racer Xonclar]

Yes, that's right, a thread asking the Awesome pilots out there for advice on fielding one myself

I've got the cash saved up to grab one and I'm looking at the 8V. I know (from a bit of experience and a lot of forum reading) that the Awesome is much better suited as a support Assault rather than a full-on front-line brawler like the Atlas or even Stalker. This is fine; kind of what I'm looking frankly since I already have a STK-4N that pick a fight with anything under 500m.

So I'm thinking of dual LRM15s with artemis and dual ER PPCs. Long range fire support with the chance to actually core something at extreme distance thanks to the armor stripping power of PPCs and the tight pattern of artemis. Thanks to the energy slot in the head, I can even fit a TAG on it. The biggest problem I see is heat...a ******* hot build, but I don't know if that would matter as it's supposed to be in the back anyway. And since the 8V has a useless left arm, I'm thinking it could pull off Centurion-like torso twisting to compensate for it's barn-sized CT.

So...for people who actually like Awesomes... is this a good idea? Something that would work? Need some tweaking? Or do I just need to blow my C-Bills on something completely different?

[Angel of Annihilation]

Tip 1: Avoid enemy fire.

Hehe.

Anyway, dual ER PPCs can be managed by around 16 DHS if you stagger fire them. You will be able to fit that your mech. However if your considering the dual ER PPC/dual LRM15 set up, I would probably recommend a 8R since I think it has a much better Hardpoint config.

First on the 8R you mount your ER PPCs on the RA. This allows you a fully articulated aim. Second this allow you to edge out of cover, just exposing that right arm and maybe RT to fire, rather than exposing the entire torso. This is a huge advantage since the Awesome has such a large CT hitbox. The you do 2 LRM15s+ Artemis, 3 tons of ammo and 16 DHS. Make sure to keep the Std engine.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

[Racer Xonclar]

Viktor Drake, on 30 June 2013 - 04:12 PM, said:

Tip 1: Avoid enemy fire.

Hehe.

Anyway, dual ER PPCs can be managed by around 16 DHS if you stagger fire them. You will be able to fit that your mech. However if your considering the dual ER PPC/dual LRM15 set up, I would probably recommend a 8R since I think it has a much better Hardpoint config.

First on the 8R you mount your ER PPCs on the RA. This allows you a fully articulated aim. Second this allow you to edge out of cover, just exposing that right arm and maybe RT to fire, rather than exposing the entire torso. This is a huge advantage since the Awesome has such a large CT hitbox. The you do 2 LRM15s+ Artemis, 3 tons of ammo and 16 DHS. Make sure to keep the Std engine.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

Hmm...interesting. I actually discounted the 8R specifically because of the arm mounts, as arms tend to get blow off really quickly But I guess with the Awesome's glowing target of a CT, the arms might live longer than the mech. I'll have to keep that in mind

[AntiCitizenJuan]

Don't do the 8V. It's arguably the worst standard AWS variant. Doesnt do anything good.

And Awesome arms really dont get blown off as often as you would think.

Go for the 8R if you want to run the 2 ERPPC 2 LRM15 build.

Give or take a DHS or so

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...598a38447e8de74

Edited by AntiCitizenJuan, 30 June 2013 - 04:38 PM.

[Racer Xonclar]

AntiCitizenJuan, on 30 June 2013 - 04:34 PM, said:

Don't do the 8V. It's arguably the worst standard AWS variant. Doesnt do anything good.

And Awesome arms really dont get blown off as often as you would think.

Go for the 8R if you want to run the 2 ERPPC 2 LRM15 build.

Give or take a DHS or so

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...598a38447e8de74

I notice this doesn't have artemis or TAG. Not worth it? Or just better to keep the ER PPCs cool instead?

[aniviron]

The best variants are the 9M, 8Q, 8T, and 8R.

The 9M is for going fast.

The 8T is a decent mixed brawler, with flexible symmetrical hardpoints and four arm energy hardpoints.

The 8Q is good for hardcore energy boating (6llas, anyone?)

The 8R is does LRM60s in one volley, and is brutal when SRMs aren't worthless.

The thing about being in an awesome is that you can never ever ever get into a fight where you are outnumbered, unless you want to die. 1v1 you can stand a chance with extreme torso twisting power, or in the 9M, hoping to outmaneuver your opponent. If you have a buddy, you can hope he takes the fire. But you have to know that your CT is larger than some entire mechs, and your side torsos can only be called small because they are being compared to this leviathan ct. If you have two mechs focusing on you, one will be hitting your ct at all times, as it is impossible to miss and even sticks out from the side.

Anyway, if you insist on buying an awesome anyway, you can make the same build as in your OP but on an 8T, meaning symmetrical hardpoints, and better due to more loadout flexibility in the future. I used to run 2xalrm15, tag, 2x pcc, std275 (or std 300 w/ endo) on my 8T, and it was pretty decent.

Viktor Drake, on 30 June 2013 - 04:12 PM, said:

First on the 8R you mount your ER PPCs on the RA. This allows you a fully articulated aim. Second this allow you to edge out of cover, just exposing that right arm and maybe RT to fire, rather than exposing the entire torso. This is a huge advantage since the Awesome has such a large CT hitbox.

Unfortunately, you cannot shoot at things you cannot see in this game, so you have to expose at least half your mech to do this. If you insist on piloting an awesome, get used to having the lowest, widest arms in the game; you will never be in partial cover when you shoot over a ridge, you have to stand fully exposed. Firing around buildings is only slightly better, at best you can fire half your weapons while being in half cover.

[tigerija]

Like most people say. Awesome is not mech for direct combat.

My tips:
Learn to use envronment and be aware of your current situation.

I'm never about direct encounter.
1v1 is like flipping a coin.

Go in groups and be the one who doesn't get noticed.

Awesome is good for dealing damage but bad when taking it - but can avoid damage easely due to his high mobility.

[AntiCitizenJuan]

Racer Xonclar, on 30 June 2013 - 05:06 PM, said:

I notice this doesn't have artemis or TAG. Not worth it? Or just better to keep the ER PPCs cool instead?

PPCs need to be cool. LRMs are secondary weapons if anything.

[Blue Hymn]

Awesomes are one of the few mechs that require you to develop situational awareness on the battlefield. Its wide cockpit should give the pilot a good view of anything at the front or sides of the Awesome, with the arms able to turn a good degree to take that tight shot when you really, REALLY need it.

I've been running an interesting build as of late with the 8R version:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6dbf7fb1ff31ab4

Your best range is anything less than 750m with tag lock. 2 medium lasers help give you close punch against opponents pushing towards you. The 4lrm10s act as 2lrm20s, with the ability to switch with chain fire - for continuous missile bombardment - or alpha strike with the lrm10s as one salvo, instead of two separate salvos from an lrm20.

[SleepnGiant]

Wow i think you guys are looking at this all wrong. I like the 8T for long range fighting. And I know most dont like the XL but you can get some decent speed to hide in cover if need be. The part your forgetting is sensor abilities. If you can get a advanced sensors x2 and BAp you can target around 1200km, which is more than 80% of your enemy from my experience. That gives a huge tactical advantage. Run two erppcs, 1 lrm 20 and a srm6 with tag to help out on ecm and its pretty good. You need the xl style engine tho. So far no ones busted one of my sides yet, always center. ITs worth it. imho

[aniviron]

Blue Hymn, on 30 June 2013 - 11:00 PM, said:

Awesomes are one of the few mechs that require you to develop situational awareness on the battlefield. Its wide cockpit should give the pilot a good view of anything at the front or sides of the Awesome, with the arms able to turn a good degree to take that tight shot when you really, REALLY need it.

I've been running an interesting build as of late with the 8R version:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6dbf7fb1ff31ab4

Your best range is anything less than 750m with tag lock. 2 medium lasers help give you close punch against opponents pushing towards you. The 4lrm10s act as 2lrm20s, with the ability to switch with chain fire - for continuous missile bombardment - or alpha strike with the lrm10s as one salvo, instead of two separate salvos from an lrm20.

That left arm scares me!!

[Kyynele]

Blue Hymn, on 30 June 2013 - 11:00 PM, said:

Awesomes are one of the few mechs that require you to develop situational awareness on the battlefield. Its wide cockpit should give the pilot a good view of anything at the front or sides of the Awesome, with the arms able to turn a good degree to take that tight shot when you really, REALLY need it.

I've been running an interesting build as of late with the 8R version:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6dbf7fb1ff31ab4

Your best range is anything less than 750m with tag lock. 2 medium lasers help give you close punch against opponents pushing towards you. The 4lrm10s act as 2lrm20s, with the ability to switch with chain fire - for continuous missile bombardment - or alpha strike with the lrm10s as one salvo, instead of two separate salvos from an lrm20.

If you'd switch the ferro-fibrous armor for endo-steel structure (for the same critical cost), you'd have 2.44 extra tons to use.

[Appogee]

Tip 1: Don't buy an Awesome. Slow, easy to hit, and the worst of the Assaults.

Tip 2: If you don't follow Tip 1, at least make the variant a 9M.

[Lightfoot]

You won't be able to guard the CT. You will have to use range. If you are only going to use 2x LRM launchers the AWS-T does that and gives you 5 energy hardpoints which could come in handy when LRMs get too buggy to use. Double Heatsinks, maybe Endo Steel.

Most Awesome pilots agree the only working one is the AWS-9M because it can fit 3 PPCs and 3 MLAS and mount a 380XL. That's a very expensive mech though once it's all put together.

Awesome missile boats are slow and can't be tough because they have a 300 engine cap and the barn door CT. 300 engines don't get you enough speed on an Awesome to deflect much damage.

LRMs, of course force you to face the target constantly to maintain the lock-on. So you have to be sneaky and strike from outside the furball. Don't shoot first except to soften up stuff, let the battle join, then start picking your targets.

[Damocles69]

buy a stalker

[Alistair Winter]

Don't listen to these pharisees, young one, for they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen. And lo, the Lord said, the meek shall inherit the Inner Sphere. And also the Awesome pilots, who are blessed in my eyes.

All the Awesome variants are fine. I recently mastered the 8V, and it's actually not one iota worse than any other variant. Slap three SRMs on there and it's basically a poor man's 9M, which is not bad at all. My 8V has 1 PPC, 2 Large lasers and 3 x SRM4.

I will eventually write a tutorial for the Awesome, but for now, I will share the following advice

• Start out with the 8Q. Get 3 ER PPCs and 21 double heat sinks. After all, you need to learn how to walk before you can run. And it's easier to learn the secrets of the Awesome when you don't have to worry about firing two or three different weapon types
  
• Learn to torso twist. Hit detection is crap these days, so expect to lose your front center torso when someone shoots you in the rear left torso, but nevertheless, you will need to torso twist if you want to live,
  
• Think of yourself as a support mech. You're not the star of the show, you're the guy in the background, who no one pays attention to. Never go first.
  
• Get the STD engine, unless you're running the 9M. If you're getting killed by losing the center torso all the time, you're doing it wrong. Yes, that is the achilles heel of the Awesome. No, that's not an acceptable excuse. If you die before losing one or both side torsos, you have failed and I am disappoint.

Edited by Alistair Winter, 01 July 2013 - 01:37 PM.

[Blue Hymn]

aniviron, on 01 July 2013 - 02:35 AM, said:

That left arm scares me!!

It should, and make you more conscious about positioning yourself in relation to your team and the enemy. But 4 extra tons of lrm ammo is like an extra 720 rounds of missiles for use. Of course, you can just start off with 4 tons of lrm ammo on your legs, but since you're hanging back as a support mech, what's the harm in a bit of risk?

Better start spamming those missiles on the hostiles.

Alistair Winter, on 01 July 2013 - 01:35 PM, said:

Don't listen to these pharisees, young one, for they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen. And lo, the Lord said, the meek shall inherit the Inner Sphere. And also the Awesome pilots, who are blessed in my eyes.

All the Awesome variants are fine. I recently mastered the 8V, and it's actually not one iota worse than any other variant. Slap three SRMs on there and it's basically a poor man's 9M, which is not bad at all. My 8V has 1 PPC, 2 Large lasers and 3 x SRM4.

I will eventually write a tutorial for the Awesome, but for now, I will share the following advice

• Start out with the 8Q. Get 3 ER PPCs and 21 double heat sinks. After all, you need to learn how to walk before you can run. And it's easier to learn the secrets of the Awesome when you don't have to worry about firing two or three different weapon types
  
• Learn to torso twist. Hit detection is crap these days, so expect to lose your front center torso when someone shoots you in the rear left torso, but nevertheless, you will need to torso twist if you want to live,
  
• Think of yourself as a support mech. You're not the star of the show, you're the guy in the background, who no one pays attention to. Never go first.
  
• Get the STD engine, unless you're running the 9M. If you're getting killed by losing the center torso all the time, you're doing it wrong. Yes, that is the achilles heel of the Awesome. No, that's not an acceptable excuse. If you die before losing one or both side torsos, you have failed and I am disappoint.

Amen to that. It is good to see another fellow Awesome pilot around here. We're almost a rarity these days, with the Host State Rewind, missile nerfs and ppc boats everywhere.

[Kiiyor]

Try to play as support, unless you are running a fast 9M or PB (and even then, you need to concentrate more on battlefield awareness and positioning than gunnery). There are differing opinions on the playstyle of a support player, but IMHO it means positioning yourself behind the advance of your teammates so as to avoid the focus of fire as much as possible, and still be able to fill the enemy with holes. This is hard in an Awesome, as your profile behind cover is best likened to a Sumo wrestler cowering behind a flag pole.

The Awesome's main weakness is it's Oprah sized CT - this is a fact that has been entered into the MWO Grimoire of Tears many times, with hundreds of footnotes and addendums. In a support role however, this can actually be an advantage, as your CT can take far more damage than your side torsos - meaning that a hit from any of the innumerable GAUSS+PPC abominations striding the battlefield isn't necessarily a death sentence.

You need to play like Mohammed Ali - float like a bloated, obese butterfly and sting like a bee.

Here's my fave - which landed me in the #2 spot in the recent...ish Awesome tourney behind the venerable Bata.

The 9M is where it's at, IMHO - everything else is far, far too slow and is utterly overshadowed by the Stalker.

[N a p e s]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fb85388be8d8caa

Been busy grinding for other mechs but every time I play this I have fun. Usually stick to the single ERPPC in the arm with occasional volley from the double torso PPCs. Streaks for swatting at lights or keeping up pressure on bigger targets.

Its running PPCs but it doesn't play like an all day alpha striker build.

[Lightfoot]

Some folks have been saying 3xERPPCs, but you can't run 3xERPPCs even with 22 DHS. Your firing cycle with 22 DHS looks like this: Fire 3x ERPPCs twice, wait 10 seconds for heat to drop to 50% fire again, wait 10 seconds for heat to drop to 50%. So what happens dynamically is you are missing 3.5 ERPPC firings to carry that third ERPPC. In effect you are firing 6 ERPPC rounds over ten seconds. If you don't wait for the heat to hit 50% your mech will shutdown, and most opponents won't let you restart that Awesome.

If you drop to 2x ERPPC you gain 7 tons, your heat won't cap so in effect you get 7 ERPPC rounds off in a 10 second period. It's stupid I know, but you can blame DHS 1.4 for the weirdess in MWO's heat mechanics. Up to you, but that 3rd ERPPC becomes mostly deadweight. You never use it except for the opening salvo.

You can run 3xPPCs though, but you need back-up because they will rush to 20 meters to negate the PPCs.

Also, I have piloted the Awesome to mastery many times over. It's a nice moving (except for the PB) mech, but since HSR it dies too quickly and everyone knows you are the blue plate special so you draw attackers from far away. Some players might think the Awesome is okay, but I think once we are in matches where ELO doesn't chose your opponents, the Awesome will just be hangered. It really can't compete with mechs like the HGN, CTF, CN9, HBK, not to mention the Stalker. For a Missle support mech I would choose the Trebuchet-5N over the Awesome. TBT-5N can hit and fade at 80 to 90 kph while carrying almost the same loadout as the Awesome. It's hard to hit and even scares Lights off because it can turn on them. Light mechs will see your Awesome with LRMs and swarm in like piranha.

Here is my AWS-8V LRM support mech btw. Putting TAG in the arm allows you to keep an angle to your target while also keeping them locked and TAG-ed.

Edited by Lightfoot, 02 July 2013 - 09:06 AM.