32 replies to this topic

[Mogney]

Hey folks, I want an LRM mech, but I am totally lost as to which one I want.


Here are the obvious options.

TBT-7M: Fast with jumpjets, 2 missile slots with plenty of tubes. I like the mobility and the fact that it's a medium mech because if they ever implement the eventual weight rules for a drop I think it would be a highly efficient use of a medium mech. Also I have another Trebuchet already and the synergy for unlocking elite skills is nice.

CPLT-A1 or CPLT-C1: Catapults are an obvious choice. I don't have ANY heavy mech so this would be my first. They have jumpjets, but are slow. The A1 can sport huge missile volley, while the C1 can sports a 40 missile volley and have some lasers too. Catapults seems to have pretty good armor and a big belly for holding lots of missiles. Although it is sluggish compared to the Trebuchet.

STK-5S: Another obvious choice, 4 missile bays and 2 AMS make this a nasty missile platform. Problem is that it has teh speed and maneuverability of a skyscraper and no jump jets. Plus I fear that when the weight totals for a drop come into play having an assault mech as a missile boat would be a team killer. I do have a Misery, so this would be another step towards unlocking Stalker elite skills.

Any advise will be appreciated before I drop all these millions of cbills on a new mech (and end up buying one that I hate).

Edited by Mogney, 06 July 2013 - 05:47 AM.

[El Bandito]

Easy--pick Stalkers. Every Stalker chassis can support tons of LRMs so you can master them without buying or changing too many things.

However, if you really want the best LRM boat, and can stand the grind, then Highlander-733 is my choice. It will simply murder any other Assaults in 12 seconds. Fires 50+10 LRMs per salvo. Moves only 55 kph with speed boost, but that is compensated by the ability to jump. And unlike Heavy LRM boats, it can withstand a lot of PPC hits thanks to the Standard Engine.




Behold: BADMAW



Most of the times I only get assists but sometimes I get lucky and score good kills.

Edited by El Bandito, 06 July 2013 - 10:06 AM.

[NextGame]

awesome 8R is superb missile boat

[I C Wiener]

I would advice against using a mech without at least one energy slot (such as the Catapult A1) as a LRM boat.

As a matter of fact you need some kind of ECM counter if you wanna play LRM's in a PUG group. I tried both NARC and TAG and only TAG seems to be doing the job well at the moment. If you play in a premade group where someone spots targets for you, thats a whole different story and you won't necessarily need TAG (although I'd still highly recommend it).

Catapult C1 and C4 can be easily boated with LRM's and TAG though.

Edited by I C Wiener, 06 July 2013 - 06:07 AM.

[ExAstris]

When tonnage was balanced for proplerly, the CPLT-C4 was the best LRM mech in the game. You can get TAG and quad ALRM15s in it. It would give you 90% the LRM firepower of its assault LRM counterparts but give your team a 15-35ton advantage over your enemies.

Its still one of the best, but basically anything heavy or larger with 4 launchers and an energy hardpoint will do. Since MM doesn't seem to care about tonnage right now, with team differences exceeding 200 tons, you might as well go Stalker/Highlander/Awesome/DDC for your LRMs.

Once SRMs get fixed, the C4 also has the nice option to use dual ALRM20s and dual ASRM6s with a TAG for the LRMs. Its one of my favorite configs, but is currently broken due to mediocre LRMs and incredibly weak SRMs.

Edited by ExAstris, 06 July 2013 - 06:11 AM.

[Modo44]

You want a Catapult A1 (4xSSRM2+2xLRM15) or C4 (2xMLAS+2xSSRM2+2xLRM20).

An LRM Stalker found by any competent fast-mover pilot is dead meat while the Catapults can defend themselves quite competently, or just reposition. Also, I will rag on you for bringing an assault that is not, you know, assaulting, but instead hanging back holding his {Richard Cameron}.

Edited by Modo44, 06 July 2013 - 06:19 AM.

[Sh4dow78]

I enjoy my 2xLRM15 TBT-7M its really nice support for team 30 missiles is quite effective, u are fast have tag and 2xML and JJ so u can shoot very effective.


I also played my centurion 9a with 1med, tag and 3xlrm10 with artemis and 250 XL and have to say its also working really well as a support.

catapult<awesome<stalker all of them also work really well. U just need some energy hardpoint to be able to use TAG bcoz without it its really hard to aim anything if enemy got ECM.

[Mogney]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I still have no idea what I am going to buy yet though, but I have alot more to think about.

[Hebdomas]

I actually like the Catapult C1, but it represents more of a middle ground than a LRM boat. Should you run out of LRM ammo or have your arms blown off you can still support your team with four energy slots (I use three medium lasers and a TAG in mine.) While it only has two missile slots I don't find it to be a problem, more launchers just means more weight and going through LRM ammo faster.

I'd get a Catapult C1, a C4, and a K2 (just for something different) which means you have three variants and can elite them (skill wise).

[mailin]

El Bandito's build isn't bad, but here's what I would change. Instead of lrm 20s, put in 2 15s. This will give you enough room for an XL engine. I have an XL 320, which frees up some tonnage. I have 12 DHS, BAP, AMS and 8 tons of lrm ammo. Speed is 57.6 before the tweak and heat efficiency is 1.39. I think the trade off for the XL is worth it. Granted, I haven't tried this one in combat yet, so we will see, but it looks very good. Otherwise, what I am using as a missile boat is a Stalker 5M. Std 200, 11 DHS, 5xlrm 10 +artie, 4 mlas, 1 TAG, AMS, BAP and 9 tons of lrm ammo. (1620 rounds). I do between 300-800 damage with this build. The only drawback is the speed is 41.9 after the speed tweak and heat eff is 0.97. Neither is that big a deal, because the heat eff, includes a calculation for the 4 mlas, and missile boats don't need much speed.

[El Bandito]

mailin, on 06 July 2013 - 09:20 AM, said:

El Bandito's build isn't bad, but here's what I would change. Instead of lrm 20s, put in 2 15s. This will give you enough room for an XL engine. I have an XL 320, which frees up some tonnage. I have 12 DHS, BAP, AMS and 8 tons of lrm ammo. Speed is 57.6 before the tweak and heat efficiency is 1.39. I think the trade off for the XL is worth it. Granted, I haven't tried this one in combat yet, so we will see, but it looks very good.

XL version works well too. Only reason I am using the Std Engine for ALRM20s is due to the fact I can shoot 50+10 missiles instead of 45+5 or 45+10, if I put ALRM15s in the torso. Basically, more upfront damage at the cost of mobility, or ammo.

I waste shots a lot (30% hit ratio) so I typically bring 10-13 tons of LRM ammo in my Highlander depending on the engine type.

Edited by El Bandito, 06 July 2013 - 10:10 AM.

[Mogney]

Ok, follow up question. Why do I sometimes see LRMs without Artermis? If all it costs is 750000 cbills why doesnt everyone have it? Is there some other drawback or cost that is not obvious?

[KnightedChaos]

The extra slot and ton per launcher of the Artermis can really cut into what you can do with your build

[JigglyMoobs]

I use a Stalker with 2x LRM20 with Artemis, 2x PPC, and STD 255 engine.

It works pretty well if you chain fire the PPCs. PPCs also disrupt ECM for 4 seconds so you don't need the Tag.

The downside is that for enemies you can't see, you only have 40 LRMS and you are slow as heck.

[FETTY WAP]

El Bandito, on 06 July 2013 - 06:00 AM, said:

Easy--pick Stalkers. Every Stalker chassis can support tons of LRMs so you can master them without buying or changing too many things.

However, if you really want the best LRM boat, and can stand the grind, then Highlander-733 is my choice. It will simply murder any other Assaults in 12 seconds. Fires 50+10 LRMs per salvo. Moves only 55 kph with speed boost, but that is compensated by the ability to jump. And unlike Heavy LRM boats, it can withstand a lot of PPC hits thanks to the Standard Engine.




Behold: BADMAW


Most of the times I only get assists but sometimes I get lucky and score good kills.

I use a highlander, too. But with an AC/20, 2MLAS, 2x LRM10/ 1 LRM20, and no artemis.

[New Day]

El Bandito, on 06 July 2013 - 06:00 AM, said:

Easy--pick Stalkers. Every Stalker chassis can support tons of LRMs so you can master them without buying or changing too many things.

However, if you really want the best LRM boat, and can stand the grind, then Highlander-733 is my choice. It will simply murder any other Assaults in 12 seconds. Fires 50+10 LRMs per salvo. Moves only 55 kph with speed boost, but that is compensated by the ability to jump. And unlike Heavy LRM boats, it can withstand a lot of PPC hits thanks to the Standard Engine.




Behold: BADMAW



Most of the times I only get assists but sometimes I get lucky and score good kills.

WHY, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? You just turned another pilot to the the assault cheese. More like El ********.

[El Bandito]

NamesAreStupid, on 06 July 2013 - 04:06 PM, said:

WHY, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? You just turned another pilot to the the assault cheese. More like El ********.

Why so serious? At least he is not using PPC boats. Now THOSE are the biggest cheese.

[New Day]

El Bandito, on 06 July 2013 - 05:31 PM, said:

Why so serious? At least he is not using PPC boats. Now THOSE are the biggest cheese.

....
......
.....

Well now he will be

[Ordate]

To make things more confusing another one that does fairly well.

I'm a personal believer in good mobility, your own tag, and some defensive weapons. This runs an xl300, 2 Alrm15 and 3 mlas and tag.

[Decoy75]

I have had lot of luck with an Atlas d-dc, 2xlrm15s +armtemis, 2xLlaser and a ac20 to round it out.
ECM to help lance and plenty of armor and ammo played well easy 500 plus damage a game.

Edited by Decoy75, 07 July 2013 - 02:54 AM.