29 replies to this topic

[HuskerUK]

I only play meds, I don't know why I just chose the Founders HBK at the start and stayed in that weight class, I'm a bit off and on with this game though I love it so I don't have hundreds of millions stashed away. I'm looking to get my first Heavy, I want something fast and more of a flanker, using ballistics and missiles over energy even though the PPC is reigning supreme.

I've looked through the forums and can't decided what I want so I wanted some input from anyone who plays this play style.

Thanks in advance

Edited by HuskerUK, 13 July 2013 - 04:40 AM.

[Booran]

Dragon is your go-to heavy flanker.
It is hard to learn to pilot good but when you do you'll be more hated than a 5V.

[Nebuchadnezzar2]

HuskerUK, on 13 July 2013 - 01:18 AM, said:

I want something fast and more of a flanker, using ballistics and missiles overs energy even though the PPC is reigning supreme.

By the current roster you only have 1 mech fitting that description anyway

[Modo44]

You want a Dragon. You run around almost never stopping, twisting and turning like a madman. You use heavy ballistics and/or PPCs on the arms to shoot stuff when out of cover. Other weapons are only for support. Keep in mind that you need an XL engine (300, 325 or 350 depending on the weapons), ES, FF, and DHS, so the total cost of a Dragon kit is way over 10 million Cbills. If you have the MC, buy the Flame. It can do some seriously badass builds thanks to its unique weapon layout.

[HuskerUK]

I was looking towards the dragon as I had some fun in it during closed beta, is the quickdraw no good at hit and runs then?

Nebuchadnezzar2, on 13 July 2013 - 02:15 AM, said:

By the current roster you only have 1 mech fitting that description anyway

I'm not completely against using energy weapons I just prefer AC and SRM. If the best build is energy based I will use it

[Nebuchadnezzar2]

Go with quickdraw for mobility or dragon for more firepower and sustainability. I'd prefer dragon since quickdraw feels very limited in firepower. When flanking usually i stay there until my prey is destroyed and usually dragon fit perfectly to this. I have too much heat problem with QKD. But if you prefer hit and run maybe QKD is better choice.

[Lord Perversor]

HuskerUK, on 13 July 2013 - 04:37 AM, said:

I was looking towards the dragon as I had some fun in it during closed beta, is the quickdraw no good at hit and runs then?




I'm not completely against using energy weapons I just prefer AC and SRM. If the best build is energy based I will use it

Both Quickdraw and Dragon can fullfill your roles.

With up to 360 engines you can put both mechs in the 100+kph with a nice turning ratio to move around the Battlefield.

Right now the Dragon it's mean to be a bit slower harder hitting due ballistics and more balanced weaponry while the Quickdraw excel a bit in the movement part due smart usage of the JJ.

Despite the current Meta, you need to mentalize in the flank, await for friends engage then Shock and Awe and retreat quickly if anything attemps to look at you.

Aside of that Quickdraw it's mostly energy oriented with missiles as backup, while the Dragon it's 1x good ballistic with energy and some missiles as backup.

[John MatriX82]

The requirements of the OP lead only to the Dragon, especially the 1C (or the Flame). I also have the 1N, that it's dusting off due to the uselessness of the SRMs (build runs around dual SRM4), and I use GR in every DRG build I have, anything else is worthless.

However the Dragon in the current gameplay it's very hard to use due to its enormous CT, with the plus that the side torsoes are so tiny that XL is the only way to go. As other adviced xl 300, 320/325 + endo or higher engines (these with FF also) are required to run them at their best.

However, don't underestimate the QuickDraw, thanks to its heavy energy and some missile loadouts, it's a good flanker and it can be even faster than the Dragon, since you're not "forced" to go ballistic. Dragons might avoid ballistic weapons (the 1C and FLAME can) but I only own the 1C and it's so asymmetrical that it drives me nuts without a ballistic in the RA.

Also the quickdraw can go XL with good reason, jumpjets allow to soften its mobility issues (it's treated like a stalker in the current silly terrain movement behavior) and even jumpsniping (2x are required, otherwise hold 1 to 180° air twists and basic mobility), the best variants are 4H and especially 5K, which is quickly becoming one of my most successfull mechs as a flanker.

[Modo44]

HuskerUK, on 13 July 2013 - 04:37 AM, said:

I was looking towards the dragon as I had some fun in it during closed beta, is the quickdraw no good at hit and runs then?

I found the Quickie too big and unwieldy. On paper, it looks like a fine upgrade to the 4SP -- jjs, more armor, more firepower. However, it turned out to be easy to spot and core. It also had to run hot to pack a decent punch, since there is no Gauss or AC10 option for cool firepower. If you can live without jjs, stay with the Dragon.

BTW, when talking about mobility, please remember that the Dragon is actually in the medium category for movement archetypes. It will walk up everywhere the Hunchie can, and then some (higher max speed).

[HuskerUK]

Cheers for the input guys

[Valdemaar]

I haven't piloted a dragon since the start of open beta so I don't have much to say about it. Being capable of all three weapon types certainly gives it an advantage but with SRMs gimped at the moment and the prevalent Gauss and PPC usage at the moment the large CT of the Dragon seems like a bad idea.

If you can live without ballistics then the Quickdraw is great. I'm currently leveling all three variants and it's hard to say which is my favorite. I've got my 5K equipped with 2 Medium Laser on the arms, 4 Medium Pulse Lasers in the torsos, XL 340 engine (91.8 KPH before speed tweak), and 4 JJ's. Pace your firing and alternate the Med and Med Pulse lasers and you'll stay cool for a good while.

My 4H is a bit more of a mid-range support mech since it is more reliant on missiles. It's current load out is 2 Med lasers, 2 ERPPC, 3 SSRM, XL 300, and 3 JJ's. I've had a blast with that one because of how well it can alternate between ranges. River City is great for this build. At range take some quick shots with the ERPPCs as you move to engage. When you get closer you can bring your full arsenal to bear. If it gets too hot you can easily use the terrain to get out of there.

The 4G however is a bit of an oddball. I'm currently using it for long range support and have it equipped with 4 Med Laser, LRM 10, LRM 15, XL 300, and 6 JJ's. I've just purchased this one so I don't have any thoughts on it's effectiveness but it so far appears to doing well.

If the SRM damage gets buffed with the next patch I'll likely redo my 4H and 4G builds but until then they do their jobs nicely.

[Redshift2k5]

The Quickdraw is fine for it & runs, and you have the option of jumpjets as well. But you requested a fast Heavy with a ballistic. If you'r willing to use a PPC instead of a bullet, the the Quickdraw may have what you want.

Think hard about what weapons you want to carry. The Dragon and Quickdraw have the same speed but different weapon options plus jumpjets or no jump.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Honestly, I'd choose the dragon. The ballistics arm offers unique capabilities that no medium chassis can duplicate. Most of the Quickdraw's builds can be done with a Trebuchet with no decrease in available tonnage at 106 kph if you're using at least 2 jump jets while having a slightly smaller to hit profile and faster turning. You do however lose a good deal of arm movement in exchange for not having to face down an extra boomjag or dakkaphract and slightly less armor.

[BlackIronTarkus]

Dragon is a good suggestion but the frame is so UP its not even funny. Anyway personnaly I would go with a cataphract, put a 340 in there and without tweak you go over 80KPH which I find plenty to flank.

[RF Greywolf]

The Dragon is a solid flanker. High speed, quick turning and a nice punch make it very deadly when coming in from a flank. Using med lasers or even small laser to make very nice damage without the massive heat buildup. You can be the bane of any long range mech in a Dragon.

I haven't played the Quickdraw yet so the other posts are the only thing I can go with.

Greywolf

[Rasc4l]

HuskerUK, on 13 July 2013 - 02:24 PM, said:

Cheers for the input guys

Honestly, I don't understand the enthusiasm in dragons. I have one and I'm clearly not the best dragon pilot but in general it's good to keep your distance rather than go near because it cores so easily. And that's not fun unless that's the mindset you're after. I also run a ac40+2ml jäger and I usually drop dragons with 2 shots. However the new quickdraw, which was also suggested, seems interesting. I don't have one myself so it's no good to take my word but I can tell they are much harder to kill with the jäger than dragons. Also, if you're used to hunchbacks, quickdraw has the one build with a lot of energy slots so you can try to make large 4P. As a hunchieowner, I'd like to test that knowing the quickdraw will be operational much longer than the hunch's ML-hunch.

[Brkojle]

Quickdraw is pretty fast but personally, I think it sucks. All Mechs with weapon slots in hands have same problem: its like that hands are ground pulled behind mech, somehow they are unproportional. On pictures you can see that hands are in middle position of whole body. If Mech is, lets say, 10m high, hands should be on, lets say again 5m high...but they aren't.

So, I vote for any other but Quickdraw, waste of C-bills and waste of time to reach elite....beter go with Dragon as someone mentioned above.

Go go Dragon! (which looks like a 50T truck if you ask me)

[Appogee]

I wrote an identical thread back when I started playing MWO 4 months ago. I ended up with a Cataphract 3-D. It was a great choice. Despite all the Mechs I've mastered since then, it's still my go-to Mech in team games because of its mobility, firepower and survivability.

However, please do follow the advice above and choose a Dragon. I love to core them .

[HuskerUK]

I went for a dragon and I'm enjoying it, I will probably get a quickdraw after if I'm honest.

Thanks again for all the suggestions

[Redshift2k5]

I'm happy with my 2 ERPPC/ 2 MLAS Quickdraw, 96.5 kph, a couple of jumpjets. Good for fire supper, flanking, base capping, and running the **** away when necessary