13 replies to this topic

[Uragiru Sasori]

So I am looking at piloting mediums, and I would like to know what they are like.

Please help!

[Royalewithcheese]

Unfortunately Mediums are pretty weak as a weight class right now. The one exception to this is the Centurion - it's agile and amazingly durable if you run a Standard engine and use the arms as shields. The traditional one is the CN9-A with two Medium Lasers and 3 SRM6.

If you want to tonnage up a bit, the 65-ton tier lets you run things that approach Mediums for agility but hit and take hits much better. Of the Catapults and Jagermechs, I'd recommend the Catapult K2 and the Jagermech S, both of which let you run really solid energy/ballistic loadouts. If you're not sure what you want to run, the Jagermech A is very flexible and can carry any weapon in the game. These also have the advantage/disadvantage (depending on what you want to do) of not being able to move their arms left and right, so if you liked how the trial Cicada handles, these handle pretty similarly.

[Joe Kid]

Mediums have a decent of amount of fire power, are usually rather mobile, but are very fragile as compared to there larger or smaller counter parts. If you can play mediums, survive, and get good damage output then you have learned how to pilot anything heavier. Lights, of course is a different beast altogether.

[BookWyrm]

Personal opinion only. Centurion, Cicada, or Hunchback in that order. They all can do well if piloted right and many will suggest Hunchback as a first medium. I myself find the Centurion more suited to my tastes. Let us know which one you pick and we can help kit it out!

[Joe Kid]

I think a centurion would sure teach you to torso twist, and that is a very important skill, but it also teaches you bad skills. For example, like only twist right. Once that skill is learned it is hard to unlearn, speaking from experience here. Centurion is in my book is an advanced mech and should wait until you get basic skills to utilize fully.

[BookWyrm]

Joe Kid, on 29 August 2013 - 07:38 PM, said:

I think a centurion would sure teach you to torso twist, and that is a very important skill, but it also teaches you bad skills. For example, like only twist right. Once that skill is learned it is hard to unlearn, speaking from experience here. Centurion is in my book is an advanced mech and should wait until you get basic skills to utilize fully.

I know what you mean though, I started with Cents, it took me a bit:)

Edited by BookWyrm, 29 August 2013 - 07:50 PM.

[Gambit001]

I personally started out with the Hunchback chassis and settled on the SP variant for good long while.
It is forgiving enough since it has enough armor even at default setting, and fast enough (once you have upgraded the engine) to get you out of tight spots.
I agree with Joe Kid that once you get better at piloting them, it will be easier for you once you transition to Heavies and/or Assaults.
I transitioned to the Cataphract chassis after the Hunchback. You'll find out that they handle in a similar way.
In any case, let us know once you've settled on a chassis so we can try to help you out with builds with the role you want to play: Brawler, Direct / Indirect Fire Support, Scout, Hybrid, etc.

[Thorqemada]

The Cicada 3M is the only Medium that can equip ECM.
Its a Mech that has all characteristics of a Light Mech but is easier to hit.

The Centurion is a nice Medium that needs to protect its Legs against any experienced Enemy.
It can take quite a Punch to its Torso and deliver as well (CN9-A), can go speedy (CN9-D) and carry an AC20 in its arm (Heromech Yen Lo Wang).

The Hunchback got a nice buff recently to its enginesize and its a Mech that should be used for opportunistic piloting as it can not take as much beating as the Centurion but deliver more pain with some of its variants.

Do you like Short-Range-Missiles? Go CN9-A.
Do you like LRM? Its the Trebuchet.
Do you like Guns n Lasers? Go Hunchback.
Do you like Electronic Warfare and Speed? Go Cicada 3M.
Do you like Jumpjets? Trebuchet or Blackjack is your choice.

Its very helpful to make your choice that you identify what piloting and fighting style you like the most so you can get the Mech that fits you the best.

Avoid the Kintaro for the moment bcs its bugged (Hitbox weakness) and will not be fixed until some more weeks.

Have Fun!

Edited by Thorqemada, 30 August 2013 - 02:43 AM.

[BookWyrm]

Just a quick note. Any Hunch variant that is not the SP, adjust the armor so that you have very little in the back on right torso and far more forward. I use 2 on the rear myself. The hitbox is very small rear, and huge in the front, and that is the Hunchies major downfall.

[Zordicron]

IMO, hunchbacks almost require you have enough cash to buy DHS and an engine upgrade before you can enjoy them. Stock, they run hot, slow as molasses, and arent really loaded for weapons, minus an AC20 on the G of course.

Hunchback variants I liked best: The P and SP, both with a STD. 260 engine(upgraded to 275 on my P) and light weapons, mostly medium lasers, added 2 SRM6 on the SP. Move armor to the front.

So if you are strapped for cash, I think a hunchie would be better to save for later.

Cicada, is basically an overgrown light, but it is a good mech if you can maneuver worth a hoot. Can be somewhat efective(especially ECM one) in stock-ish loadout, and become really quite good in the right person's hands after DHS and ENDO etc. You want it to go fast, and you want one decent heavy weapon, like an ERLL, and some additional really light stuff, like a ML or two. I prefer STD engines at cost of a tiny bit of speed and firepower, because if you pilot the thing right you can actually tank a lot of dmg with the thing because it spreads dmg pretty well. If you go XL to fit an ERPPC, well, you will probably get insta ganked by the first well aimed PPC+gauss HGN you run into. Some people like that, IMO, a STD and a lot of speed and twist/turn with a fair bit of weapons is a lot more fun. BTW, it is pretty easyy to get lined up for an easy shot with an ERLL on an unsuspecting foe. PEW PEW and then duck behind cover and move.

Centurian, tough. But needs some upgrades like the hunchie to be really solid, DHS and Endo for sure so you have room to put more then some token weapons on the thing. Really solid chassis though if yuou have the cash or patience to earn it.


Others: Blackjack- dunno, havent run one. I hear they are an aquired taste of sorts, solid performer if it fits your style.

Kintaro- eh, here lots of bad stuff about them being to easy to hit, but I have seen some take abuse pretty well. I think they do better with a mixed range loadout then as a brawl only mech. havent bought any myself, just what I have seen in matches when I am shooting at them.

Treb: sort of like the Kintaro, it is pretty big and not superb in close range. These can be pretty good mechs, but the variants are actually kinda pricey IMO, but that is because some come with upgrades, some with expensive weapons or engine. Tends to do best out at range, PPC fire support or LRM. The jump jet ones are the most fun to play.

IMO, I wouldnt steer anyone to a Treb, Kintaro, or blackjack as a first medium chassis. If you want something easier to get into, I would go Cicada, if you want something that is pretty much the most average of all the medium mech attributes, the hunchie. If you want to commit to a chassis and have the money or patience for the upgrades, I would go Centurion.

[Zordicron]

Uragiru Sasori, on 29 August 2013 - 07:13 PM, said:

So I am looking at piloting mediums, and I would like to know what they are like.

Please help!

I gotta add some playstyle stuff too, so you dont pick one up and then get trampled all the time.

Mediums are pretty fragile. You cant scout, you arent fast enough(Cicada can do it, mostly the ECM one) but you do have good mobility and speed compared to a heavy. Yo also can carry quite a lot of firepower, though doing so usually limits your range to brawling. This is ok though, especially for a centurion or hunchie.

Use your speed, not to get in front or chase lights across the map, but to react to a brawl. NEVER be the first guy to go look over a hill in a medium to get a shot at the enemy. You take a gauss or PPC, you will be hurt bad. What you want to do is stick to you team mates. Dont engage the enemy first, you want to let the big boys do that. if you are caught on the fringe, lure the enemy back to your team for help. Unless you are a superb pilot, you will have a really hard time dueling it out with a HGN or a victor, so take them back with you so your team can help blow them away.

Once a fight starts, you need to help out the team. Pay attention to where the enemy is, and when they start shooting your team mate, go help that team mate. you have good speed, so you can close in quickly to add that extra dmg your team mate needs to survive the fight. If the enemies all turn to start shooting at you, you need to break off and let your bigger team mates get their attention again.

you are sort of like a badly armored big gun. You can rush in, do quite a bit of support dmg, but if you start taking fire you will get destroyed fast. You mobile high dmg is the attribute you need to focus on. React to the fight, help the team mates that are outnumbered. Help your LRM team mates when they are getting brawled because they dont usually have enough firepower for close range fights.

Mediums arent kill machines. They are assist machines. Once you figure out how to be that damage adder assist guy on your team, you can earn pretty good c-bills and your win/loss ratio goes up.

Big assault mechs are always glad to have a speedy medium like a laser hunchback or centurion with some SRM hanging around, because they have someone then who "has got their back".

Just keep in mind, if it seems like you are dying way to much in a medium, it's probably because you are getting into the front to much, or picking the fights instead of letting someone tougher start it, or running to far from your team.

[Reslin]

If you're interested in the hunchback my guide, which you can find here, has everything you need to get started in one. Someone else earlier recommended a hunchback in this thread. I can tell you that it was my first mech and I use it to this day. If you like to fight up close, watch a heavies back, smash light's to pieces, and throw a mean punch it might be just what you're looking for.

[Training Instructor]

Don't get the trebuchet or kintaro. I love the blackjacks. Try a bj3 with a standard engine, 6 medium lasers, and loads of double heat sinks + ams.

[Johnny Reb]

I would actually wait till sept 3. The Kintaro has great hardpoints just needs hitbox fixes. That said, Cent-A and D are great starters. Same with the Hunchie 4sp or P (if you wanna laser, watch the ghost heat). Kintaro 18 is the only one I would recommend currently and then as only a support mech, you get close to the enemy you are toast. Here is my mastered bread and butter build for it:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...862c26618de3ed7
Just an fyi chain fire to mess with ppl till you see ams then send then all as a group.