47 replies to this topic

[Asimov Battleborne]

Hello all

I’m ne MWO player, in fact haven’t played any mech or robot games ever. I decided to give this a go.
I watched some tutorial videos, read some guides and started trying out different trial mechs and noticed how heavy mech Catapult CTPL-A1 (C) worked best for me (did most damage etc., got more money and exp). Quite soon (first day) I had enough money to buy Cataphract CFP-3D (which I thought is going to be cool) – but oh boy am I in trouble! My damage output went down 90% and same with all other stats, I’m making money barely 50.000 in a match when before it was much much more. So at this rate I’ll be playing forever before I get enough money to try something else, or most likely give up. Also seems that I’m quite high target for enemies because I’ve noticed that no matter how many other mech’s are next or front of me, I get attacked more likely. This makes learning even harder.

What tips you might give new player who chose wrong mech? I hesitated to ask first but I’m at lost, first game where that has happened.

[Ewigan]

Hi Naur,

actually that is the right place to get help.
Your first choice as a mech is not a bad one, but from what you described you loved to sling some rockets. And Cataphracts are really badly suited for that task.
They shine when you use ballistics (preferably bigger ones), so you will have to adapt your play style a bit.

At first try around with some builds for your mech at: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/
And notice, that in your first 25 games you have a huge CBILLS bonus, after that you just get the same money that everyone else does.

[Ingga Raokai]

probably too often the side torso gets blown up, remember that 3D comes with XL engine

XL engine = side torso destroyed, you dead (Xtra Large and Xtra Light, literally)
STD engine = heavier, but only take space in center torso, so, no worries on side torsos

and that site is important, to plan.

[scJazz]

Your first 25 matches have a bonus to earnings called the Cadet Bonus. During those matches you'll get 8m CB on top of normal match rewards. Once that bonus expires however you are down to normal earnings which are around 75k per match on average.

You chose a Cataphract CTF-3D which is a great mech! Very excellent! Everyone knows this as well so given a choice of shooting you or someone else you will probably be the choice! You also went from a Missile using Support mech to a Direct fire ballistic/energy Sniper/Brawler. The two play styles are entirely different! I doubt you even have much in the way of CBills for upgrades either.

Two choices really... stick it out with the great mech that you have and learn to be great in it while upgrading
or
Start a New Account

[Tolkien]

I know it's probably against the TOS to start a second account but you will probably have to try out the cadet bonus twice to find a build you really like. I don't want to advocate gaming the system but if you spend your cbills to build something you don't like it's a problem because it takes a long time to save up for the 2nd mech.

[Ewigan]

Some more stuff:

I guess you still have your CTF-3D as stock, and most mechs are TERRIBAD when they are stock.
What you want to do is change a few things and make your build more viable.
Try this build for example, what is actually still not a "good" build, but it is cheap for you to set up and handles like the build you use now:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2375372671dba56

What i did:
- i exchanged Heatsinks from Single to Double
- removed the two C.A.S.E.
- maxed out your armor
- moved the ammo to safer places
- added more ammo
- added an Anti Missile System (AMS) and one ton of Ammo for it

[Enigmos]

Side torsos on the Cataphract are not a huge problem: the chassis is cored more often than it loses a side torso. Recommend trying out this build. Put the Gauss and ER PPC on button 1 and the AC5 on 2.

[Ngamok]

CTF-3D

This is what I run in mine. I unlock my arms from my torso if you have not done that I recommend it unless it's too hard for you to follow two reticles. I use the Large Lasers in my arms to semi snipe and to sweep the legs of any lights that come near me trying to circle. And I use the AC/20 and Medium Lasers to punch through people that are facing me.

[Ewigan]

Guys, he says that he doesn't have much CBills right now.
So rebuilding his mech from scratch is a bit much right now

[Asimov Battleborne]

Thanks for replies all.

I have been reading info about possible builds for this but problem is that I’m making so little money that it takes forever and I’m not sure if I want to get Hunchback, which takes even longer. This game for sure doesn’t make trying and testing easy. There is testing area so why I cannot try out different mechs there and then decide do I take it or not??? Because it is free to play? I wouldn’t dream (even in nightmares) to spend real money to buy mech when I have no idea is it for me or not. I don't see any harm if players can do this, especially when it might be that none of the trial mechs are for you and then new player has no idea what to buy.

[Ngamok]

Do not get a Hunchback until you've played more. Reason is that the hunch is easy to target and take out and it's where most people will try to aim. If you want a Medium Mech, I would suggest the Centurion since it's "perks" make it more durable. But I would stick it out with the CTF-3D. It's a good mech once you get the loadout to where you want.

[Asimov Battleborne]

True, this plays very differently. I most likely need to upgrade or change it a bit. Thanks for those builds I will look into those and buy things later. Those will give some ideas about different possibilities etc.

[scJazz]

There is no way to try a mech out except the Trials. There is a lot of complexity here that we haven't even gotten into... like the reason why you did so well with the Trial Catapult is that it is a Champion design (comes with upgrades) that you don't get buying a Stock mech like the Cataphract 3D.

The two most commonly suggested new player Mechs are the Centurion and the Hunchback. Each has strengths and weaknesses. The mech you chose is again... a superb mech! You just don't have it setup correctly yet.

Again your call...

Start over with a new account and this time post on the forums asking for advice before buying your first mech!

Make that Cataphract 3D the beast that it is and be beastly in it

[Asimov Battleborne]

I like that build with heavy lasers. Need just more patience and start to team up with other players. Just don’t get that AC/20 to fit in right torso because cannot remove engine slot .

Edited by NaurDragar, 29 August 2013 - 06:44 AM.

[scJazz]

First thing you want to do with your Cataphract is remove that LBX10 and put in a good gun.
Second thing get the Double Strength Heat Sink upgrade (1.5m CB)
Third thing get the Endo-Steel upgrade (700k CB)

These 3 things make your Cataphract ready to be awesome!

If you tell us how many C-Bills you have in the bank right now and what your current Design is we can help further.

[Ngamok]

NaurDragar, on 29 August 2013 - 06:29 AM, said:

I like that build with heavy lasers. Need just more patience and start to team up with other players. Just don’t get that AC/20 to fit in right torso because cannot remove engine slot .

The AC/20 in the torso requires there be a Standard Engine rather than the XL Engine because of the slots the XL Engine takes up.

[Asimov Battleborne]

After playing like crazy I have now about 1mil (it’s my second day), cannot get many upgrades.

[MavRCK]

The Cataphract 3d is an AWESOME mech. You've chosen the best heavy mech in my tier list and it's there for a reason.

It kicks ***.

But jumping into a Ferrari after driving a Pinto is going to be a difficult transition. You're in a big boy mech and you need to know how to pilot one!

Let's start with the build that made KaoS Legion famous - the jumping PPC sniper:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ab46cf72bc24b3f

This is the build to master. It's great. It's balanced. It is hard to play well... but once you master the weapons, the heat, the XL engine (easy to kill).. you'll be awesome at this game..

If you want something to play that is fun and easier to master and will take a TON more punishment, try this guy:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bf8c90dda0b3488

It won't be your competitive build.. but it's a good start to playing the game well and being a threat!

NaurDragar, on 29 August 2013 - 07:24 AM, said:

After playing like crazy I have now about 1mil (it’s my second day), cannot get many upgrades.

The new grind sucks. We told PGI but they don't believe us vets!

This is your upgrade path when on a budget:

1) Double Heat Sinks
2) Gauss Rifle
3) Endo Steel
4) PPC / ERPPC
5) XL300 Engine

[Xione87]

I don't think it's against the rules to just create another account to again get your cadet bonus. It's not a good idea to keep doing this though as in the long run you'll want to have your mechs on the same account so you can upgrade them with XP.

That being said, the CTF-3D is a pretty good mech and the cataphract family in general are some of my favorite mechs. If you do stick to this line of mechs; the CTF-1X is a very versatile mech for whatever playstyle you prefer (except indirect fire support a.k.a. LRM boating of course).

Have fun and see you ingame

[Asimov Battleborne]

Thanks so much for tips and links. I have to admit that I like the mech itself but what it carries as default isn’t good, for me at least.

Well let’s hope they believe us noobs then, grinding is no fun !