31 replies to this topic

[Kampfer]

DS is my very first assault mech and I am getting rofl stomped. I usually play light mechs (mastered all variants of Raven) and heavies like catapult and jeager, and figuring out builds have been really easy for them so far, but I'll be darned if I know what to do with my Dragon Slayer.
Anyone out there have some decent load outs to share, I haven't won a single game since I bought the DS am I a decent pilot but right now I feel terrible

[Bishop Steiner]

TBH, the best builds for it that I have found have been near stock. I trade the MPL for MLs, and the SRM 6 for 2 SSRM2s, and then add lots more Gauss ammo.

It doesn't really excel as a high alpha boat, but seems (IMO) to require one to fight like one's in a MEdium like a Centy or Hunch, and patiently fight the edges of the fight. Biggest difference is the JJs (which kinda suck in the current terrain environment with lack of forward thrust) and LOTS more armor. Firepower though is only mildly better.

Still playing with Standard Engine variants, but the ballistic really feels like it locks you in there, as dual AC2, or Gauss or a AC5+2 seems about the the options.. but weigh a fair bit.

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

I can suggest this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bcb205c1819e9a0
The reason you are being stomped is the XL engine. They can just focus a torso and kill you as fast as a medium mech. I know because thats what i do to DS i shoot their right torso because if they have XL they die and if they don't they lose their ballistics ad 2 energy. Here is another that i have had tons of fun with: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...21d15020ceec66d
They don't have massive punch but can take the damage of an assault and dish out the damage of a heavy at the speed of a heavy. The gauss/ll sniper does an amazing job at mid to long range and with small tweaks can be an extreme range sniper. The other is a very snappy and strong brawler. The jjs help with the new walking changes and you have the ability to run away from any mech that you can't take head to head. I recommend staying away from XLs as much as possible in this mech because of its big side torsos. Unless you run something like this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...81ecc7fabeadcd8
The only gain you get from XL engines in this mech is speed. Otherwise stay with a standard for survivability.

[Wintersdark]

Going from lights to assaults is hard. Assaults are very unforgiving of mistakes - over extend yourself and you'll be torn apart in short order. Its worse as well because you're starting out in a much without optimizations from skills. That's very noticeable in an assault, and it definitely makes things worse.

Just be sure not to run ahead without support. You'll draw much more fire that will hit much more often than if you did that in a light, and it'll take much longer to get into cover.

When you're new to assault mechs, stay back. Pick another assault and shadow/support him. Don't let yourself get isolated, because escape is rarely an option.

Yup. While there certainly are good ways to manage XL engines in assaults, don't use them at all until you get better at assault play.

Much better to learn survival first.

[Dawnstealer]

I haven't played it yet, but remember that you're in the middle of the pack, weight-wise, and really at the low-end of the brawler/heavy hitter category.

Anything lighter than 80 tons is probably a skirmisher and should be doing hit-and-run and *most* things heavier are designed to deal out and take a lot of punishment. At 80 tons, you're kind of a tweener.

I'd say play it as a slightly heavier skirmisher and don't be first into the fight. While the Victor's mobile, it's probably not quick enough to really get out of trouble if it gets surrounded. Let the fight develop, wait until the enemy's engaged, attack targets of opportunity, medium mechs, and flanks. Use cover.

Really, that's good advice for anything, but I think it would apply even more in the Victor's case.

Edited by Dawnstealer, 03 July 2013 - 10:11 AM.

[Kampfer]

POOTYTANGASAUR, on 03 July 2013 - 10:05 AM, said:

The reason you are being stomped is the XL engine. They can just focus a torso and kill you as fast as a medium mech.

You say "they" but I distinctly remember you stomping my face in the exact same manner this morning lol

[Dawnstealer]

I'd say go with something like this:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bb7c0f0828490a2

Slower, but no XL, which might be something that's leading to early death.

[The Pug Commander]

I am running mine with a Guess rifle, 2 Medium lasers, 2 srm6s and a large laser. It does pretty well with 600 being my Best round so far. Its best to use to support the other Assualts and heavies. I tend to stay a little behind the brawl and pick on week targets and then when the time is right move in. I have found that this mech can soak up some damage real well if you torso twist to spread it around

[Brink Contro]

I personally haven't had an issue with using an XL in this. I've played about 12 matches in it and only died from side torso loss once. that was after I lost all my armor on L, C and RT's so pretty much any shoot would have taken me out at that point. If my deaths by side torso increase I'll reassess it at the point but for now I'll stick with XL's.

Been running this recently
DRAGON SLAYER

Hot, I know. I don't alpha that much though so I don't have too many issues. I also tried it with the SSRM's dropped for 4 tons of heatsinks to see how different it was. I could sustain fire longer but felt the ssrms were better use of the weight if i end up in a brawl or harrassed by lights. I think it really comes down to play style.

[Nauht]

As a Dragon pilot I cant wait to put an XL and run the Victor at near base Dragon speeds.

[Carrioncrows]

Originally I had a 400 XL but I ended up backing it down to a 380 XL and it is working extremely well

The two things that is going to make all victors successful are

1. It's Mobility. - Push it, Slap on the fastest engines and the most jumpjets. With the new mobility changes the victor dances around obstacles and goes faster than most other mechs

2. It's heat efficiency. Don't look to slap on ppc's after ppc's instead lean heavy on the ballistics to keep your mech running exceptionally cool.

Combined with the Mobility and the heat efficiency you be a hell of a high intensity fighter.

Just never stop using your jumpjets, once you touch down it should only be to take a few steps then right back into the air.

http://goo.gl/Z93dT

[Devil Fox]

My base build is around the 330XL, it involves the Guass and an ERPPC in the amrs backed up with 2 ASRM4's for close range brawling. The mobility is what saves the machine most times and the sheer low-heat alpha strikes in a brawl allow you to demolish your foe whilst you soak their damage.

Other variations include dropping SRM's and putting 2 ERPPC's into the RT, giving a lopsided alpha with the Guass. Otherwise it's just playing with laser sizes and missile types, the guass is the only thing I would consider for ballistic because the other DPS based autocanons just leave you too vulnerable to being cored or torso'd by enemy alpha snipers.

Looking at those 380XL builds has got me wondering if I should try those speeds... and been curious about trying an LBX.

[LordDeathStrike]

Kampfer, on 03 July 2013 - 09:53 AM, said:

DS is my very first assault mech and I am getting rofl stomped. I usually play light mechs (mastered all variants of Raven) and heavies like catapult and jeager, and figuring out builds have been really easy for them so far, but I'll be darned if I know what to do with my Dragon Slayer.
Anyone out there have some decent load outs to share, I haven't won a single game since I bought the DS am I a decent pilot but right now I feel terrible

have you tried hanging back with the pack and using a gauss rifle lrms and large laser build with double heat sinks? xl engine survives better as a long distance fire platform, or just the gauss and lrm with a regular engine and some med lasers for when the close on you.

and if youre feeling lucky punk, a couple er ppcs and g rifle with ammo, combined with the ability to jump into sniper nests, can make you very annoying to the enemies brawlers when you start picking them off as they engage your brawlers.

im waiting for the full release of victors, but ill undoubtedly end up with this dragonslayer as well, i have them all so far (hero mechs)

[TheFuzzyBunny]

The Dragonslayer is a tricky cookie. It is NOT a traditional Victor in that you CANNOT put an AC/20 into the arm. That still irks the pooh out of me.

Also this chassis has been one of the hardest to get through basics on. Granted I am a test pilot so I try to run every build imaginable as I am trying to level it, but still.. I found it to be slow to accelerate, turn, break, do anything. Now that I have gotten through the basics it is much more manageable. I also imagine once it gets elited it might even be 'nimble' for an assault.

I have also found the Victor's 'niche' is that of a fast and maneuverable assault. Sure you can run a standard 300 in it and still mount some decent weapons, but at that point why not run a Highlander? With that being said I am working on running XL's in mine to get at least decent speed out of them. I personally think if you don't get the engine to at last a 350 you truly are not taking full advantage of the mechs special abilities.

On the note of XL engine's I would say this. Don't go above an XL380, and really make sure you want to go even that high. I have an XL400, XL380, and all the way down. I've run them all in this mech. The weight you lose, even with an XL, starts to take just to much firepower when you go over the XL380, and is debatable even at that level. I personally think the XL350 is just about right for speed and firepower.

On to weapons. The Dragonslayer has the same exact weapon hardpoints as the Heavy Metal, the only difference being 2 of the energy hardpoints are in the right torso as opposed to all 3 being in the left arm. That being said with the XL350 you can easily run every weapon load out the Heavy Metal does. I personally prefer the Mid Range build as it can still brawl when needed, runs a bit cooler than PPC builds, and can still reach out.

Smurfy: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a51d7c582d561a9

Mechspecs on the original Heavy Metal build: http://www.mechspecs...php?topic=838.0

Edited by TheFuzzyBunny, 04 July 2013 - 05:36 AM.

[NRP]

Basically, what Wintersdark said. Assaults are actually pretty difficult to play. Very unforgiving.

For what it's worth, this DS build has been the most successful for me by far:

XL350
Gauss
2 PPCs
3 JJs

And even then, it isn't really that great. My Cataphract 3D does it better (it's faster). At least with this build, I can be of some use to my teammates, and I don't have to get close like you otherwise would with a ML + SRM/SSRM build.

[Kampfer]

I've been Running an LBX 10 build with SRMs and Meds and I have been doing a ton better, but I am still getting wrecked on maps that favor distance, short range I'm doing great. I have tried staying back and letting others get in there first except that nearly 9 times out of 10 people always stand behind me and let me go first because all the other assaults are doing trial mechs and they think I know what I am doing...
I can't seem to stay back to save my life because everyone else just runs behind me...

[NRP]

Kampfer,
Try a long range sniper build. The DS has the speed and mobility to make pretty good use of it. It also has the advantage of keeping you outside the fur ball.

[Kampfer]

I tried a sniper build early on, and the low torso mounted PPCs were too hard to aim compared to Jaeger, Stalker snipers.
I'm seriously tempted to sell the sucker for Cbills at this point, I'm just not having a good time with this mech

[Xeno Phalcon]

VCT-DS 3LL/UAC5/STND

[Skydrive]

I found that the stock setup wasn't all that bad, though didn't like where the medium pulse lasers were, would miss with them too much. I tried running a STD 330 engine, and noticed most of my deaths were from CT destruction before a side torso loss, so went back to an XL 330. The side torso's may seem big, but remember that the CT also fills out the sides somewhat. Personally for the right torso, I prefer either small lasers or small pulse lasers, harder to miss with them at their range, making your mech run cooler, and allowing you to put more tonnage elsewhere.

Heres how I had it with a STD: DRAGON SLAYER.