19 replies to this topic

[Joey Tankblaster]

Forget about the Gauss/2xPPC combo

Thats the new king of the battlefield: 2xUAC5/2xPPC

Likely to be fitted on Assaults only. However, Catas, Cats and Jägers may fit this combo as well.

Some examples:

AS7-D-DC

HGN-733C

VTR-9S

You can do the math: 30 points pinpoint damage upon alphastrike followed by a constant rain of dual UAC5 shots during PPC cooldown. Very heat efficient and viable. Minimum 4 tons of UAC5 ammo. ER-PPCs may be used as well.

I am a mediocre player, far away from high elo ratings. However, used that build on a Highlander 733C yesterday and cored almost every mech within seconds. Top score > 1000 damage points, average damage score 500-600 per match.

You should give it a try

Edited by Joey Tankblaster, 29 August 2013 - 01:05 AM.

[Amsro]

Been using this loadout on the 733C Hghlander and the 9S Victor since they were released! Even got a jamming buff recently.

[Impavid]

I've been exploring this on my victor and have been loving it. Continuous fire from the ACs mixed with the hit from the PPCs is like holding someone down while you punch them in the face. My only dilemma at the moment is whether to go PPCs or ERPPCs.

[Lugh]

Been using the Dual to Triple UAC5 build combos since closed beta.

The reduction in jam rate means it's way more accessible for the common user.

[Lightfoot]

Yep. That's why I have been saying don't nerf the Gauss. Because I was already using this config as soon as someone said Gauss de-sync. It does get pretty hot though, the UAC-5's don't allow the mech to cool down until you stop firing. It decimates Lights and Mediums though. Lights because it just sprays damage in a cone-like pattern and Mediums for the same reason really.

I wasn't going to post it on the forums, but you already did. Now everyone will be using it.

Oh well, I hope it stands as a good example in MechWarrior balancing because it makes the Gauss PPC thing look very underpowered. Now you could go nerf this that and the other, but there will always be something better and that would be Clan Tech. The better way is to dump all the weapon nerfs and just make the Mechs tougher. They are too weak for 2xRecharge. If you just keep nerfing the weapons down in damage and usefulness you will eventually nerf just about every weapon in Battletech and that's going to take a long, long, long, time.

Actually, this loadout has that de-convergence effect working at full force because the UAC-5's spray the damage around so much.

Edited by Lightfoot, 29 August 2013 - 12:16 PM.

[Joey Tankblaster]

Sry that i whistleblowed the loadout
Nonetheless I think you are right. PGI might learn from it.

MWO is lightyears away from a balanced stage. If PGI decides to nerf that particular weapon combination players will find a good alternative such as 2x AC5/PPC or something similar. Adding more armour points would be a viable way-changing convergence or pinpoint is maybe even more effective. Thinking of many 1st person shooters you could also have in mind something like a recoil or bullet spread. In MWO the bullet/charge is exactly there where my crosshair is and that is far too easy.

Edited by Joey Tankblaster, 29 August 2013 - 12:26 PM.

[Amsro]

ER/PPC's with anything is a good combo right now, guess which weapon needs a heat bump?

[151st Light Horse Regiment]

Sorry, I dont see it. I dont think youre packing enough ammo or heatsinks. Just tried it on the HGN and got owned after doing just 175dmg.

[Lightfoot]

151st Light Horse Regiment, on 29 August 2013 - 01:08 PM, said:

Sorry, I dont see it. I dont think youre packing enough ammo or heatsinks. Just tried it on the HGN and got owned after doing just 175dmg.

Takes a little practice. You may run out of ammo.

Amsro, on 29 August 2013 - 01:02 PM, said:

ER/PPC's with anything is a good combo right now, guess which weapon needs a heat bump?

Actually I think this works better with Large Pulse Lasers instead of PPCs. More crit chances.

And it does spread the damage around quite a bit, so it's not just coring the mech. It's got the natural de-convergence effect going. It's kind of like a long range shotgun, scary.

[Khobai]

Quote

Actually I think this works better with Large Pulse Lasers instead of PPCs.

Nope you cant snipe then. The point of the ERPPCs is to snipe. The UAC5s are for when you know you can hit.

[Lightfoot]

Khobai, on 29 August 2013 - 08:03 PM, said:

Nope you cant snipe then. The point of the ERPPCs is to snipe. The UAC5s are for when you know you can hit.

Naw, there is really no difference between ERPPCs and UAC-5's, except the UAC-5's do alot more damage. I use the UAC-5's to snipe just fine. It would be map dependent whether you took ERPPCs or LPLAS, at 350 meters or less the LPLAS burn stuff down, they get more crit chances and crits are what destroy things. Of course ERPPCs are really too hot on this config unless you use an Atlas I suppose. PPCs are what you use.

Edited by Lightfoot, 29 August 2013 - 08:28 PM.

[Khobai]

Quote

Naw, there is really no difference between ERPPCs and UAC-5's, except the UAC-5's do alot more damage.

Uh yes there is. ERPPCs dont use ammo. ERPPCs have almost double the projectile speed making them much easier to hit with at a distance. ERPPCs also do 20 damage instantly as opposed to UAC/5s which take several seconds to do 20 damage.

These weapons are fundamentally different in how theyre used. ERPPCs are for sniping. UAC/5s are for DPS.

[Joey Tankblaster]

151st Light Horse Regiment, on 29 August 2013 - 01:08 PM, said:

Sorry, I dont see it. I dont think youre packing enough ammo or heatsinks. Just tried it on the HGN and got owned after doing just 175dmg.

Took me some games to adjust my gamestyle. Regarding the ammo I wouldn't take less than 5 tons of ammo. Its critical to use the UACs only when you have a good chance for solid shots.

Start the engagement with PPCs, close in, and start full UAC5 salvos once you have him clearly in sight. Whatever opposes you is usually down with the second or third PPC salvo, which is actually 4-8 secs of engagement. As Lightfoot outlined you may run out of ammo in late-game but than you have still 2PPCs to take down damaged mechs.

Lightfoot said:

It does get pretty hot though, the UAC-5's don't allow the mech to cool down until you stop firing.

Smurfys says 43% heat efficiency with the HGN-733C build and in MWO its something like 1.49, which is pretty good and one of my 'coolest' mechs. Typically I have a cool shot 9 as a backup but I use it sparsely.

[Lexx]

Khobai, on 29 August 2013 - 08:42 PM, said:

Uh yes there is. ERPPCs dont use ammo. ERPPCs have almost double the projectile speed making them much easier to hit with at a distance. ERPPCs also do 20 damage instantly as opposed to UAC/5s which take several seconds to do 20 damage.

These weapons are fundamentally different in how theyre used. ERPPCs are for sniping. UAC/5s are for DPS.

It takes several seconds to fire 2 shots with a pair of UAC/5s?

This is definitely a good weapons option to the PPC/Gauss combo. There is a limit on what mechs can run this, since it takes the same amount of crits as an AC/20. The mechs that can't run ultras can just replace the Gauss with AC/5s.

I really don't think the Gauss recharge is going to be as bad as some players seem to think it will be. .75 seconds is about as long it takes to aim and line up a shot normally, unless you are really fast at doing that. Even poptarts won't really be effected much since they can charge the Gauss on the way up.

For raw DPS this loadout will outperform PPC/Gauss, with the disadvantages of having to stay exposed longer and increased heat generation. I think that's a fair tradeoff and we will probably be seeing a lot of these soon.

[Khobai]

Quote

It takes several seconds to fire 2 shots with a pair of UAC/5s?

No it takes several seconds to do 20 damage to the same location. The UAC/5s tend to spread out damage against moving targets. Unless your target is an Atlas, standing still, or walking straight towards you, which does happen, because PUGs are bad.

ERPPC/UAC5 is a great combination because it covers all your bases. You have UAC/5s for killing assaults and heavies. And ERPPCs for killing mediums and lights. Plus its a strong mix of energy and ballistics so youre not ammo dependent.

Edited by Khobai, 29 August 2013 - 11:03 PM.

[Lightfoot]

hmm, I think the UAC-5's decimate lights and fast mediums because they spray the damage around guarenteeing you hit each time, much better against Lights and Mediums than PPCs anyway. I don't have any trouble hitting with UAC-5's at full range because they fire a stream that lets you see any adjustment you need to make. They are great for sniping and beat the Gauss Rifle by 200% or more. If you hit a sweet spot where you get alot of extra rounds firing they will melt any Assault.

That's how they work for me anyway. They are not insta-win, but the set-up is quite remarkable at times. And, uh, it's PPCs, not ERPPCs. ERPPCs will overheat too much to be worth the piddling extra range.

[Roughneck45]

It is a good combo, but PPC gauss is still better because you can jump snipe and ridge hump with it. UAC 5's make you expose yourself the whole time you lay down fire.

2 ER's and a gauss will still be king after the desync. It will just increase the skillgap to use it, so you may see less of them.

Edited by Roughneck45, 30 August 2013 - 03:45 PM.

[Anjian]

I got those configs on my 9S and 733C before, when there was a 25% jam rate. I should revisit them.

[Sagamore]

I still prefer the AC20 to the dual UAC5 on most builds that can carry it.

Edited by Sagamore, 30 August 2013 - 10:14 PM.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Sigh... I was hoping it was going to take a while for y'all to come up with this config.