10 replies to this topic

[TheFlyingScotsman]

It doesn't matter if you think you are being a team player or relying on group play, by not having a balanced build, you are more of a detriment to your team than of use. Remember, balance is devoid of extremes. If you hate a map, finding out why can help you fix what is wrong with your build.

Balanced builds are everything.

You need to rethink your playstyle/build if you:

Have so many LRMs that you cannot defend yourself. (LRMs are great, but entirely situational. City maps prove that mixing LRMs with other weapons is key, as cover trumps LRMs, but not direct fire.)

Overheat in less than five salvos, or run out of ammo before you die. (Get more heatsinks, or smaller/less weapons to fit more sinks/ammo. Hot maps like caustic prove that having moderated heat levels is key.)

Have so many different weapons that you cant use them all effectively. (Overfillers beware)

Have so few types of weapons that you can't react in certain situations. (Boaters/2PPC+Gauss beware)

Are too slow to cope with large maps. (Speed is everything, and how you move is more important than how fast. Be smart about where you are going, and the route you take there.)

Die too often. Chances are good, you are too vulnerable. There are certain mechs that simply should not use XL engines. As far as I am concerned, this is anything bigger than a blackjack, but playstyles vary, and I use XLs on my HGNs.)

Playing smart is better than playing blunt. Brains trump brawn, something few men understand. (This is where us girl gamers are at an advantage. ) Being blunt can have advantages, but this is entirely situational. When you throw all your eggs in one basket, you lack adaptability. While you can win against idiots and the unlucky, the player that comprehends your mistakes will always leave you in the dust.

Boats: Have fun being the king of dead idiots, and still a corpse yourself in the end.

[LauLiao]

I would disagree. There is absolutely no problem with "unbalanced" builds and they can in fact be the most effective builds in the game. What you are describing in your post are not "unbalanced" build problems so much as "ineffective build" problems, and quite frankly most ineffective builds are those that try to be balanced.

[Bluecricket]

I love how this community tries to justify their awful snowflake builds as a 'balanced' build. There is nothing wrong with specializing your role in a team game. Assuming equal skill, a team of specialists using each others' strengths to cover each others' weaknesses will win against a team of 'balanced', terrible builds 100% of the time.

[Victor Morson]

2 ER PPC + 1 Gauss

[X] Works up close
[X] Works at medium range
[X] Works at long range
[X] Works on a hot map
[X] Works on a cool map
[X] Easy to use and group
[X] Easy to shoot and hit with
[X] Not ammo dependent
[X] A zero heat weapon lets you always fire
[X] No ammunition to explode
[X] Minimal exposure needed for full DPS
[X] Can make maximum one-shot usage of jump jets

Balanced build.

The bottom line is no matter what weapon combinations you come up with, you're not going to get around this fact.

Edited by Victor Morson, 14 August 2013 - 02:04 PM.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Unbalanced builds require communication. Generallized builds require even more. It requires a ton of coordination to keep your team out of the optimal fighting range of the enemy while still laying down effective fire.

However, I think in general everyone should consider adding a few LRMs to their build. For example, if you have 4 jenners on your team on capping duty and they all have 2xLRM5 and 4xML then you've gained an entire LRM boat that can contribute some suppression fire while they are stuck in the box on the smaller maps at the cost of 2x SRM4 which are useless in mech-in-a-box warrior online. Sure SRMs would be better against other lights but with the current hitreg issues you're not really any worse off. Granted one could switch to MPL instead and that'd dog fight better but we've been conditioned to only put craptons of lrms or none at all on our mechs so when the incoming missile warning pops up I run for cover like a wicked witch runs from rain.

[Nexus Omega]

Victor Morson, on 14 August 2013 - 01:59 PM, said:

2 ER PPC + 1 Gauss

[X] Works up close
[X] Works at medium range
[X] Works at long range
[X] Works on a hot map
[X] Works on a cool map
[X] Easy to use and group
[X] Easy to shoot and hit with
[X] Not ammo dependent
[X] A zero heat weapon lets you always fire
[X] No ammunition to explode
[X] Minimal exposure needed for full DPS
[X] Can make maximum one-shot usage of jump jets

Balanced build.

The bottom line is no matter what weapon combinations you come up with, you're not going to get around this fact.

Sadly this ^

Its still hardcore, I fought off six mechs the other day in my 3D with this load out, and killed 3 of them.

[Saint Scarlett Johan]

Unbalanced? Generalist builds lose to specialist builds all the time, the ONLY time a generalist build can beat a specialized build is if literally catches it out of its element. My HGN-732 with a Goose and 3xPPCs now averages 6 kills a match and the ONLY time I'm worried about a generalist build is if happen to get caught by him within 90m and he has a close range weapon that deals a higher DPS than my Goose rifle. And even then, I can usually back out to 90m and wax him.

The only threats to that build are Jenners and specialist brawlers. Generalist mechs are just too mediocre at everything.

[Tesunie]

I think what is refered to for balance is a build that can work at most ranges, and not just limited to special situations (LRM boats, looking at you). It's always good to diversify a build a little, so you can work best in as many places as you can't without becoming too diverse. It's also okay to try and fill a niche, as we need them too.

Makes me think of my Dragon build. I have an AC10, ERPPC, and 2 LRM5s. Works great at any range, and can provide some support even if I'm not in visual. LRMs also make for a good "as you get close" weapon (I know, AC and PPC can work at range too).

Reminds me of my Hunchback build. 5 Med lasers, and 2 LRM5s (recently downgraded to slower speed, 4 med lasers, and 2 LRM15s). Use LRMs for support as I work my way into a nice 300m range to my foe. Someone got too close? Lasers still work. Running away from lasers? LRMs can do their job. Can't see my target (spotter), LRM can still support. (Have similar builds for my Stalker, Quickdraw and even a Jenner.)

My Jenner even has a more balanced build from most others. An LRM5 rack (or 2 LRM5s sometimes, still playing with it), and 4 med lasers. If I'm on a cap point, I can send in some LRMs on a target. If I need close range, I have plenty of speed and firepower still.



To end, being diverse and balanced does not mean being a "jack of all trades, master of none". You can make a build slightly more diverse, and still do well in a main role. Take the Cat with 6 missile slots. Why can't you place some LRMs for range, and have a few SRMs just encase? Or, take mostly SRMs, and have some LRMs and a ton or two of ammo, just encase?

[Destenin]

I disagree with the generalists are crap opinion. My Highlander 733C has 1 gauss, 2 large lasers and 3 srm6 it doesnt excel at anything much but i rack up 3-4 kills most matches now and do good 400-500. Any ppc+gauss boats i usually encounter tend to melt away before me, only thing that gets me sometimes are 2x AC20 jaggers.

[Appogee]

It all depends how good your opponents are.

[ExplodedZombie]

I am starting to really like generalist builds.

Recently starting messing with this:

Dragon Slayer (my "Command" mech)
XL 330
1 LPL
1 Gauss
1 LRM 10
1 LRM 5

I usually rack up 2 kills now that I understand how to use it correctly. Max has been 5 kills, 6 assists. If things get too close, I can fire LRMs at a teammate's target while brawling another. Not the best brawler but GREAT at medium range. If I successfully stay at that range, sucks to be you.

Edited by ExplodedZombie, 15 August 2013 - 01:23 PM.