19 replies to this topic

[Pastor Priest]

As the title says, I want to get into assaults. I have mostly ran mediums since starting in December, but was going to try the Orion when I thought it was going to be released. Well, we all know how that went...

I ran a CTF 2X for awhile with some success, and recently picked up an Olga. With both the triple UAC5 and dual gauss builds, I am now doing consistently well. Basically, I enjoy lumbering along and throwing rounds down range. Also, for what it is worth, I run a dual ER PPC Treb 5J, which is another fun mech.

So, what would you recommend? Highlander, Stalked, or wait for the Victor?

[Snowcrow]

I like the atlas.

[Pastor Priest]

Not sure how I feel about bing the tank/leader that comes with piloting an Atlas.

[JigglyMoobs]

There's more than one role. With an Atlas I usually play the support role.

Atlas DDC - ECM support, ambush predator. Basically I stand around and try to provide ECM cover to my mates during the long range fight. If some one pops up at 700 m or closer, I take a shot at him with Gauss and LL. During this time I'm watching my map very carefully, trying to build up a picture of where my team is and where the enemy team is. I try to stick to the middle of my own team, having mechs on all sides so I'm never first to make contact. Once I figure out the disposition of the enemy team, I try to attack either with my team mates, or from a flanking position on enemies who are already committed to fighting other mechs. I try to hit them at 200 m to 300 m. This way I bring a lot of fire power into play.

With my Atlas-RS I'm very aware of my lack of stealth and LRM defense, so I almost never venture out on my own.

In typical matches I do about 450 to 750 pts of damage and kill 1 to 3 people with a couple more assists. On a good round I can get 3-5 kills and well over 800 pts of damage. In a bad round where I blunder into a situation where I'm heavily outnumbered and can't retreat (usually when I try to lead a gung ho charge) I do at least 300 something damage, and frequently take out at least one enemy.

My AS7-D-DC
My AS7-RS

Edited by JigglyMoobs, 24 June 2013 - 11:15 AM.

[Pastor Priest]

That RS looks like fun. An Atlas certainly is a possibility. I'm not seeing them quite as much as I used to. However, what are your thoughts on the others?

[Wildstreak]

If you can handle JJ, Highlander/Victor. Highlander all have the 3 hardpoint types in a similar manner.
Else Stalker/Atlas. Stalker is tough at first until you unlock efficiencies.

If you like Ballistic & Energy of Cataphract, go Highlander/Victor/Atlas.

[JigglyMoobs]

Haven't had too much experience outside the Atlas, but this is what I've observed:

Highlanders are like blonds: they prance around on their JJs and have the most fun.
Awesomes look like Rodney Dangerfield and get about as much respect.
Stalker's are like Arnold Schwarzeneger as governor: tough and menacing, bring big guns but rapidly overheat and loose their bite in fights against the girly men (although from what I understand there are some truly good builds, you just don't encounter them all that often).

Edited by JigglyMoobs, 24 June 2013 - 07:17 PM.

[NRP]

You can make any of the Assaults work. It's just harder to make the Awesomes work.

For what it's worth, I like the Highlanders and the Stalkers. Nothing wrong with the Atlases, but the Highlander is more mobile and the Stalker can pack more firepower.

[Shuyen]

JigglyMoobs, on 24 June 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

Stalker's are like Arnold Schwarzeneger as governor: tough and menacing, bring big guns but rapidly overheat and loose their bite in fights against the girly men (although from what I understand there are some truly good builds, you just don't encounter them all that often).

Hahahahaha! Nice!

I recently got my first assault, and decided on a STK-5M. The basic build is OK to start, but runs hot, like you said. I ended up something like:

STK-5M
Engine: 255 STD
HS: 18 DHS
Armor: 478 Standard
BAP
TAG
1xERLL
2xLRM15 (3t ammo)
2xSSRM2 (1t ammo)
3xMPL

Generally speaking, it's been pretty fun. The thing is slow as snot (48kp/h) which is fine. I bring up the rear, lob my LRM's anything I can get a lock on that is < 800m (I know, I know, that's a not as good a % of hits at that range) and use the ERLL when appropriate. Once the LRM ammo is gone, I wade in for closer work. I've gotten a few kills towards the end of the battle with the 3xMPL's converging on already weakened armor.

It is, however, a complete dog when it comes to turning quickly and torso rotation. I have to be really, really careful not to get caught out unsupported against a quicker medium or light with a good pilot. Once one of those is on a STK's back, it's all over.

I am no super ace at MWO, so your mileage may vary. But for a first Assault, I am not at all disappointed.

[Davoke]

The 733 Highlander is a beast. Keep it's stock engine, upgrade to DHS. Mount BAP, 4xSSRM2, Gauss, 2xMLas, 3xJJ. Excellent brawler. Or you can trade that in for 4xSRM6, AC10, 2xMLas. Either way it's a solid close-in fighter. Agile from jets, and the BAP means those pesky cravens aren't an issue.

[Lan]

Any of the assaults has their role, although the Awesome is a little sidelined by the Stalker as energybased boat chassi.

My preference is the Atlas though. He can take it and dish it out. The stalker has more hardpoints and can pack more firepower, the Highlander is more mobile and often considered the Atlas smaller brother.

If you want a ton of reading on the Atlas, here's a guide: http://www.mechspecs...hp?topic=1586.0

[oldradagast]

I run both the Atlas and the Highlander (Atlas-D and Highlander 733) and they are a lot of fun.

The Atlas is probably the most straightforward of all assaults - huge, massive armor and firepower, and scary. However, it is also a big target and has low-mounted weapons. That, combined with the lack of jump-jets and slow speed mean you MUST understand and use terrain probably more than any other mech in the game.

The Highlander is probably more fun overall, though they lose some firepower and armor. The jump-jets let you get over terrain and attack from odd angles, and let you pop-tart (to a limited degree these days.) I personally love this chassis.

The Stalker is brutal. While they are somewhat slow and turn like a barge, they have high-mounted, symmetrical, devastating weapon loads. They also are slender from the front and thus have a terrible habit of not dying. If you can handle the sluggish turning and high-heat, these mechs will apply a hammer to any target.

The Awesome is the odd-man out, at least for now. I like the concept - a reasonably fast missile and energy boat with arm-mounted weapons (vs. the Stalker, that can't track horizontally.) Oversized torso hitboxes limit the usefulness of the Awesome, but that's their only weakness. They pack good firepower and decent armor into a package that, while not as hard-hitting as most assaults, can move a lot faster.

I hope this helps.

[JigglyMoobs]

JigglyMoobs, on 24 June 2013 - 11:14 AM, said:

My AS7-D-DC
My AS7-RS

A particularly glorious run in the DDC today. I ninjaed half the other team. But we still lost.

[Pastor Priest]

Ok, I am doing the RS. Might as well go big or go home, and I love the energy/ballistic combos. That, and my son picked it out. He saw it while I played a bit yesterday and said he wanted Daddy to drive the really big, scary robot I should have the cbills to buy and upgrade it today. That 4LL gauss looks like fun, but what other builds would you suggest?

[JigglyMoobs]

Haha, ok. The other possible build with RS is 2x LRM20, 2x ML, with lots of LRM ammo. Somebody else on the forum suggested that build. It has lots of long range firepower.... but not as fun, as what you end up doing all game is lobbing 1500 missiles down range while hiding behind a hill.

You can also do all the usual weapon combos one does with the DDC, eg, 2xLL, 2xSRM6, Gauss or AC/20,

With all these builds, keep in mind that you don't have stealth like the DDC or speed like a lighter mech. So you have to stick with support, and make good use of cover, especially against teams that are LRM heavy.

Edited by JigglyMoobs, 29 June 2013 - 07:01 PM.

[TurboZombie]

I just bought an RS myself. Here is my build: 2xLL, 2xML, 1xGauss, 2xSRM6. I use the srms the least unless anyone rushes me to brawl. I usually do fairly well with it. And it is my first atlas.

[JigglyMoobs]

How are you guys liking your RSes? I had another fun run:



It was River City at night. The other team unleashed a torrential storm of LRMs on my poor AMSless Atlas.

But I took shelter under the bridge and smacked anyone coming close, troll style!

[flying1ace]

I got the Highlander 733 yesterday, I owned this noob blackjack who went out with a head to head brawl, (my favorite way to fight) I use 1x LRM 20, 3X SSRMS, 2X Med Laser, and 1x AC10. Filled the rest of tonnage with heatsinks. I got some good games. I'm only getting an average of 100 damage, but I still have a lot to learn!

[Yeet_Cannon]

they should add the warhawk and the dire wolf... those mechs are epic

[mack sabbath]

My Misery.

Runs cool if you use weapon groups smartly and the 30% permanent bonuses are no joke either.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...88e7c9ea2e6c154