37 replies to this topic

[Tinside]

Hey guys, sorry about having a newbie asking the more basic questions, but the community seem helpful here so I was wondering if I could get some help with the more abstract questions of what Mech would suit me for my first buy.

What I'd want from my mech

• Good survivability (Perhaps even ECM, I haaate LRM boats)
  
• Armaments focused on the medium range direct damage, staying away from brawling and LRM
  
• Decent heat efficiency should I find myself one on one
  
• The Yen-Lo-Wang as what I thought it would be rather than the fragile nature of it. I quite like the ballistics.

If its any help at all here's what Ive found from my gaming so far:

I'm finding the BJ-1X to be a great trial mech, the ability to fire 4 lazers on a distracted enemy is great and helps me get some damage up rather than just rely on being an Atlas to blast away. So I'm looking towards a strong Energy or Ballistic mech that can unload on a weakspot pretty well. Of my rare kills I tend to be better at taking out Heavy Mechs that are distracted or otherwise 200-400m distances. So although i certainly dont have the skills for brawling yet, Im a decent shot and can pick a fight well.

Overall, I'm looking at a support role non-lrm. Also, feel free to point me in the direction of a Heavy, the reason I never opted for heavies was simply because I didnt like what I'd seen, whereas the Centurion, Hunchback and Blackjack all appealed to me.

[Ornonge]

Sorry to disappoint you,

but there really isn't a Medium in this game that can mount a ballistic that lasts longer than the 2nd alpha of the enemy (which is around 8-10sec), since 90% out there are Heavy- or Assault-'mechs. So in case you mind underperforming and beeing a liability to your team you should stick to a Heavy (except the Dragon) for fighting.
The other possibility is using a lightmech with lots of energy weapons and abusing HSR-bugs until its fixed (tapping JJ shorttly to neglect damage and stuff). They carry almost the same amount of firepower anyways.

[Tinside]

Hey thanks. The ballistic point would just have been nice. is there an energy focused medium you have in mind or a heavy ballistic perhaps? Again, sorry for missing some of the basics.

[Ornonge]

Mediums in general isn't a smart choice in the current Meta. I'm not so sure about PUGing, but the only Mediums I come across are some Cents (CN9-A for its Zombi-capabilities). And thats 1 or 2 in around 20 matches.

If it absolutely needs to be a Medium, the BJ is probably a good choice. Probably the safest one to use a Gauss/ AC20, too. Running it as an energy boat might work, but since its max-engine is 235 on all variants you are hardly faster than the heavys (93 with speed tweak) and miss out on that valuable 2.0 engine-heatsink.

The only competetive ones are really the Cent's for their Spider-syndrom (small hitboxes with considerable speed).

Edited by Ornonge, 01 August 2013 - 09:13 AM.

[Tinside]

Im thinking I should head over to the heavy forum... Heh, thanks!

[Ornonge]

Imho: Thats better for the moment. Good luck on finding your 'Mech.

[An Ax Murderer]

Tin, the medium you described sounds to me like a Cicada. There is a variant with ECM (The only medium, I should say). The builds for this are based heavily on medium/close range fighting, they have a modest survivability due to their speed (most efficient speed is around 130kph). For the weight, there just isn't much you can do with ballistics.

The centurion has excellent survivability, and can pack a pretty good punch with it's missle/energy based builds. Two of the C-bill vairants have ballistics, but you have to sacrifice a lot to make them work.

Lastly, the Hunchback. Two variants have ballistic hardpoints, and both work quite well. The G has three, and the H only has one. Both can equip an A/C 20, as well as 3 (for the G) or 5 (for the H) backup energy weapons. There are also a few variants that focus on Missle/Energy combos, and one that has a whopping 9 energy hardpoints.

I haven't played much of the Trebs so I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about them.

All of these are quick, and will play as a flanker/fast attack, with some usefullness in a brawl (depending on the situation). Do not be so easy to give up on the Medium weight class, regardless of what people may say about it.

Edited by An Ax Murderer, 01 August 2013 - 09:33 AM.

[heleqin]

all the Mediums are good, though survivability in a medium in the current meta emphasizing Heavies and Assaults is heavily dependent on your teammates and careful play. each chassis has a different playstyle

Centurions are the most easy to get used to and generally have the best survivability due to some hitbox issues with the stumps left after their arms are blown off.all centurions have a liability issue in that their right arm is fairly large, and since much of your firepower is concentrated there, its usually going to be targeted heavily, so you'll need to learn to protect it. but the Centurion chassis is one of the most flexible in the game with many many ways to build each variant.

Hunchbacks are probably my favorite Medium, though they are not a good choice for beginners. hunchbacks are specialist mechs, there are lots of options on how to use each variant, but as a general rule they are short range brawlers focused around a single weapon system with lasers as backup. the hunchback is going to be slower than a Centurion or a Trebuchet, and the hunch on the right torso tends to be a big target, Hunchbacks are probably #3 on the list of worst mechs to run an XL engine after the Atlas and Stalker.

Trebuchets are also specialist mechs, with the added benefit of jumpjets on several variants. mostly Trebs are LRM focused, though they can easily be built with SRMs or SSRMs, and with their large engine caps make excellent light hunters when loaded with SSRSms and medium lasers. the 7K variant is really a sniper specialist coming stock with a PPC and AC5, its excellent when slightly modified or fitted up with a Gauss for extra sniping punch.

Blackjacks have lots of options, they come with nice symmetrical hardpoints, but i've had best results when setting them up asymmetrically around a single big weapon and lots of medium lasers as backup. the BJ-1 and BJ-3 have jumpjets and the BJ-1x trades the jumpjets for a bigger engine cap. the BJ-1DC trades the jumpjets for additional energy hardpoints, but most players do not find this to be a valuable trade.

Cicada's are essentially light mechs, but do have quite a bit of variety. i'm less fond of this chassis, but it is a popular one, with an ECM varient and a Hero varient, all are best built as fast as possible, though slower sniper builds are becoming popular


Based on your interests i'd recommend Centurions, they're extremely reliable and easy to get used to as well as offering lots of build options.

[Ornonge]

Sorry if I drove him away before your Medium-Advertisement started kicking in (I feel like an *** -.-)

Just thought, its better to get the new guys a thing in which they could more easily get into the game with, than having to learn everything at once (which is required to get a medium on a competitve level).

[Bront]

Mediums are in an odd middle ground where they excell at nothing at the moment, and the result is that they're just a little bit lacking.

The Cicada is basically a light and plays like a Raven's or Jenner's bigger brother (few more weapons, but similar role). The Centurian is durable for a medium, but can be outdone in most ways by many heavies. Hunchies can have some fun builds, but end up either squishy, slow, or heat starved. Trebs are an odd beast, but can function as anti-light mechs with the right build, but they're easy targets due to being larger than some heavies. Blackjacks are smaller, faster Jeagers of sorts.

That said, plenty of people enjoy playing them, and they're not so bad they're unplayable, they're just not quite as good as other mechs quite often. With upcoming patches addressing medium maneuverability, there should be some fun things to do with them,

Edited by Bront, 01 August 2013 - 09:53 AM.

[Liev Andropov]

I love the Cents, even in the current all-assault meta. Given the ridiculously heavy punches that are being thrown around at the moment I'd recommend speed over survivability though. My favorite loadout for awhile was a CN9-D (expensive, I know, but you get a 300XL out of it) with MLs, a UAC5, and some SRMs. Either hide behind the big guys or (my preferred) flank and start sniping weak spots with the UAC. You can also serve as a pretty effective striker with the SRMs, MLs, and rapid firing the UAC.

[Spheroid]

You should get a BJ-3 or BJ-1X and equip 2-3 standard PPC. That will work perfectly fine for 200-400 meters. Its going to run hot until you get that 2x basics though.

Edited by Spheroid, 01 August 2013 - 10:23 AM.

[Tezcatli]

BJ-1X is pretty much what you're looking for if you ask me. Get double heatsinks. Endo steel. Then mount a large laser and five mediums. Fit as many double heatsinks as you can. It delivers great firepower. Fire all lasers at least twice, then alternate between just the large laser and four mediums to mitigate heat build up. I use the engine it comes with.

I find with patience and positioning. You can get a lot of damage out of this build. Or you could drop the large laser for a medium and get a bigger engine. Could go for an XL engine and get more damage or speed.

I've tried the BJ-1 with an Ultra AC5 and 3 mediums. It's pretty decent. But the UAC5 is more of a burst weapon, be ready to go into cover when it jams, course generally I play with cover in mind.

[Darwins Dog]

I really like the Cicada 3M with UAC/5 and 3-4 ML, ECM, and a 300XL engine. Great speed for hit and run attacks, and ECM is always helpful.

BJs are really good fire support with stock weapons and XL engines. The BJ-1X with lots of medium lasers and DHS is a mean little mech as well.

[Elizander]

He will be happier in the heavy forums for now. Most of the heavies can move as fast as most mediums anyway. He'll probably end up in a jagermech.

Mediums are still fun to play for me though, but not everyone shares the same opinion.

[jper4]

as others have already said only ecm medium is the cicada which is pretty much the jenner's slightly bigger brother. i tend to use mostly ML/srms on my mediums which does mean you have to get a bit closer than what you're saying you prefer.

Blackjacks would be your ballistic choice as you can toss a couple ac2/5s to stay at longer range or squeeze an ac20 (BJ-1 and DC) on for a bigger punch (won;t leave you much for backup weapons- but that's why they're backups). for whatever reason i've been having a lot of success with the BJ3 w/ max std engine and 6MLs which was unexpected. the 1X i like but i use more as an ankle biter with ML and SPLs but is the fastest medium (i count cicadas as lights). except for the treb 3C and one of the cents (don;t have any so i forget which one it is).

the only treb i've had luck with is the 3C, 110kph with 4 ML and 2 SRM4 + artemis. speedy harrasser. a lot of people like the 7M but that's my worst mech personally. trebbies do tend to be more of the lrm boats of the mediums because of their bigger size so the best way to avoid getting shot at is to stay further away. the 7K is an odd one due to the hardpoints but i've have average success with it.

hunchies the 4sp is the go to one for the most part (except for the 4P laserboat fans) as it doesn;t have the big hunch with the "shoot me here" sign on it. most balanced hardpoints of the hunchies. can get it up to 92kph. the 4P works but is more of a high alpha, hide til heat goes down, repeat mech while the 4sp is steadier but lower alpha. i haven;t had much luck with the others.

cents and cicadas i haven;t played. but the key to surviving as a medium is to stay with somethig bigger and shoot what it shoots and hope the other mech doesn;t notice. which may mean you're wating for the snipefest to end and the close combat to start for a bit. another role i tend to play is rear guard/mobile support. hang back from the fight a bit, see where fighting is going on and if you see a 1v1 somewhere go over and make it a 2 on 1. or watching the backs of all the lrm boats from those pesky basecapping rear attacking lights until your part of the fight takes place. going off on your own or getting in font of the group in a medium is generally going to turn into "hmm whose mech shall i spectate from?"

of course i tend to not follow my own "rules" some,ok a lot, well alright most of the time but i find when i do listen to myself i have much better matches.

Edited by Tanar, 02 August 2013 - 05:06 AM.

[Xeno Phalcon]

I run around in a blackjack quite often, I suggest the BJ-1 or BJ-3 both for their nice hardpoints and jump jets. (the BJ-1 has ballistic hardpoints in its arms, but I tend to use these for machineguns, still I was watching the NGNG twitch cast yesterday and i think paul had a ac20/3ML BJ-1 using a XL).

Also note that the Kintaro 55ton mech is likely to come out later this month (Look around the 16th) though it is mostly missile and energy, more so missile. Not many mediums have ECM sadly with the exception of the Cicada, which is just a fat light.

[slayerkdm]

I dissagree with the ballistics not lasting on the Hunchbacks. I used to have real issues with it, but rarely now. The game has changed, and most everyone shoots at legs or CT's. Why cripple when you can kill is the meta now.

I do think Mediums are the ugly step child now, though in my opnion, they are the most fun mech to play. MWO isnt rocket science, but I think the Mediums take a higher degree of caution than some other mechs. In heavy's you can often just try to shoot your way out of trouble, relying on firepower and armout to see you through. Mediums that doesnt really work that well.

If you like balistics though, I would reccomend anything you can mount an AC20 on. They are a difference maker on the battlefield still. If you want a laser fighter, I really think a light is better. LRM rig, heavy or assault.

My HBK 4G is having its greatest succes now (PUG's). I think they are so rare, no one shoots at the hunch anymore, and are often taken off guard by its quicknes (relative) and fire power.

[spectrefang]

I run a BJ-1X with full MLAS. If you follow a Heavy/Assault and wait till they engage to attack you survive really well. You do have to watch your heat though. It builds very quickly.

[Smokeyjedi]

Centurians are so awesome........100+ kph speed demon face rippers.