36 replies to this topic

[Autobot9000]

Bront, on 11 September 2013 - 05:50 AM, said:

Smurfy has the 5M narc point listed as a 6 tube launcher, and I hear folks like LRM15s on normal Stalkers, so just confirming.

Thanks for the help. I'm probably snagging the 5M and debating between the 4H and 5S as the 3rd.

Hello Bront,

6 tube launchers is correct. I run the following build on my 5M
5x SRM6 (5 tons of ammo)
5x Medium Laser
21 DHS
300 std engine
(standard structure!)

About the LRM15s:
Personally I think it's a waste, if you decide to fire in 2 volleys go for the LRM20, but the LRM15 is slightly more effective in missiles/tonnage, so technically you can argue about it. In the end I find 2 volley fire too poor, I have 240k excess experience on my 3F experimenting with every possible loadout. The deal in the end is: LRM20s are so heavy, that you can't mount much on top of it, hence the 3H is here the way to go. With the other variants the LRM10s simply don't pack enough punch, hence I found myself not mounting the LRMs in the end. It's a pretty frustrating experience to see maybe half of your LRM volley hit the target, when the rest just hammers the rocks.

This is a pretty obvious build, that I ran with great success (although the LRM15s really just are a compromise)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...70af1e115caf93c

[NRP]

3F, 3H, 5M

However, with PGI's steep tax on energy weapons via ghost heat, the Misery is now the best stalker in my opinion. An AC/20 doesn't lie.

[Autobot9000]

It's funny, that you say that NRP, because I bought a Misery last week and I can't make it really work. I mean the heat scale system is massive stupidity, but the Misery....

The one, that's working best for me is 2 PPC, Gauss, SRM6, 3 ML, 16 DHS, 275 standard engine. But still it's not as OOHMP! as I imagined it to be.

[Mack1]

Makes little difference which three you get now as all the builds are the same, 2 x LL, 3 or 4 ML and a few missiles. The best one to keep is the 3f due to the turn rate.

[Training Instructor]

3F is the best one, since it can actually torso twist. The 5S is neat because you can mount dual AMS, but that's really for special occasions. Sort of a toss up between the 5M and 3H. The 5M will be a nasty nasty brawler again when they fix SRM hit registration and HSR.

[Asmosis]

I liked the 5M a lot more before the heat nerfs, it was the best boat for 5LL's with pefect hardpoint placement for max DHS. Its still nice to have 5 ssrms for dealing with lights though.

[SgtKinCaiD]

The 3F is a great brawler (ML + SRM6A, and more torso twist).
The 5M is a great laser boat (ERLL + LL). The 5M has one downside though : one of the missile hardpoint is designed for a narc, so it has only one missile tube.
For the last one, i would suggest a 5S for the dual AMS, and the energy hardpoints in the torso.

[RadioKies]

The narc location on the 5m is a 6 tube launcher. I use the 5m with lrm 15 in my RT and dual lrm15 in my LT. The lrm15 that is using the narc spot fires 3 salvo's (6, 6, 3) just like the other spots instead of 15 salvo's. The reason I use the torso spots is that when fireing the 3 lrm15's in single fire mode you get a nice long stream of LRM's. This depletes the AMS systems a lot faster and is verry scarry when you are on the recieving party. The 5M is the only stalker I have after mastering the stalkers. It's a fun build, using 5x mlas, 3x lrm15 with ~1200ammo, max armor and the biggest engine that the rest tonnage allows. Nice support and you have backup weapons for those pesky lights/when you are out of ammo. 3F, 5M and the 3H were my stalkers. The misery (if you want to spend MC on it) is the best stalker out there.

Edited by RadioKies, 17 September 2013 - 03:23 AM.

[Sharp Spikes]

Bront, on 15 September 2013 - 09:05 AM, said:

I thought that was the Commando?

Commando is easy mode. At least if you compare it to Awesome.

Speaking of the best stalkers: 3F, 5M, 5S.
3H is useless, it has two hardpoints less than other Stalkers and the ablility to launch 40 LRMs in one salvo looks great on paper but doesn't give any discernible advantage in battle.

Edited by Sharp Spikes, 17 September 2013 - 03:55 AM.

[NRP]

Autobot9000, on 17 September 2013 - 12:45 AM, said:

It's funny, that you say that NRP, because I bought a Misery last week and I can't make it really work. I mean the heat scale system is massive stupidity, but the Misery....

The one, that's working best for me is 2 PPC, Gauss, SRM6, 3 ML, 16 DHS, 275 standard engine. But still it's not as OOHMP! as I imagined it to be.

My Misery is just a simple two weapon group build. AC/20 + 5 MLs, a STD310, and as many DHS as will fit. It's a damn wrecking ball. I haven't used it much during the sniping era, but every once in a while when I feel like brawling, it's a match for any mech 1v1.

[Autobot9000]

NRP, on 17 September 2013 - 07:35 AM, said:

My Misery is just a simple two weapon group build. AC/20 + 5 MLs, a STD310, and as many DHS as will fit. It's a damn wrecking ball. I haven't used it much during the sniping era, but every once in a while when I feel like brawling, it's a match for any mech 1v1.

Why don't you use the SRM6 spot then? SRM6 seems to make a great addition to a pure brawling mech. But anyhow, if you summarize it on the bottom line this setup just looks like it couldn't touch the Atlas-DDC standard build (AC20, 2 ML, 3xSRM6/Artemis, 350std engine). So that's why I doubt it's efficiency. I think a good build needs to be able to find its niche.

[NRP]

One SRM6 isn't worth it. I'd rather use the weight and slots for AC/20 ammo and/or DHS.

The Atlas is a formidable mech, but it never really "clicked" for me. Not sure why. In a 1v1, I'd choose a Stalker almost every time. My current favorite is the Misery due to the ballistic, but back in the day I rolled a 5M with 6 MLs and 5 SRM6s. No Atlas could stand toe to toe with that thing.

[DrSlamastika]

MISERY, 5S, 3F

Edited by DrSlamastika, 26 September 2013 - 01:19 PM.

[Zordicron]

I always LOL at the hyperbole about the 4. "Stay away at all costs!" "it has no reason to exist!" "It is the WORST Stalker!!" LOL, it has one less missile point. Stalkers are energy platforms, with missile support. You can make a LRM boat, but unless you drop in teamspeak and have someone to spot for you and come defend you, you wont do as well as a stalker with some solid brawl weapons. 4N does lasers just as good as the others.

Stalkers are tough. Boatingg streaks isnt as bad as people say- you sure as hell wont have an issue with lights. The 5M you can run 5 streaks, 25 dmg that wont miss. Circle strafe that you stupid spider! Load up on DHS and LL, put them in chain fire. Use SRM or Streaks in the missile tubes, run a giant std. engine. Go brawl it out, you will lose side torsos but not until after you smash some face.

Really, the 3F is good if you want the twist range, otherwise meh. Personally, LRM boat is better done by the more agile catapult or GASP: the Awesome 8R. 8R awesome will fire out 4x LRM15 with artemis in one giant death blob. Sure, people will say"cockpit shake FTW" but you know, LRM60 blob is pretty well "LOL AMS" andif you have good hit detection, it will pretty well kill stuff in the light medium range, and totally cripple stuff like jagers in one shot.

Stalkers are top notch assault brawlers. all you need is one pal along to help focus down your target and you can march in and wreck face.

[SgtKinCaiD]

RadioKies, on 17 September 2013 - 03:21 AM, said:

The narc location on the 5m is a 6 tube launcher. I use the 5m with lrm 15 in my RT and dual lrm15 in my LT. The lrm15 that is using the narc spot fires 3 salvo's (6, 6, 3) just like the other spots instead of 15 salvo's.

I tested id this weekend and you're right => 5 LRM15 ftw !!!

[SethAbercromby]

My personal favorite is the 5S which uses dual AMS. Combined with 450 points of armor, this variant can stay alive for a very long time while providing second line fire coverage. Since the two AMS are linked, they are more effective than two AMS on two different 'Mechs as well. If you mount the XL 310 you also get a nice cruising speed of 60 kph. I'd reccomend replacing the LgPulse Lasers with normal Large Lasers. Less heat (which is quite important on any Stalker, but I suppose you know that already), less tonnage, only a minor drop in alpha damage. The 5S comes with 2 mayor problems: single heat sinks and a XL 255 engine. Upgrading those comes with high additional cost added to the 10 million C-Bills the 5S already costs.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5031af16ecda054

This is my personal configuration. As you can see, smurfy calculates a total cost of 18 million C-Bills for the entire loadout so it's admittedly not the most affordable option but I personally think it's really fun to play with.

[RadioKies]

SgtKinCaiD, on 22 September 2013 - 11:29 PM, said:

I tested id this weekend and you're right => 5 LRM15 ftw !!!

5*LRM15 is also verry fun, but you have to pass on a lot of things like engine speed and armor + you need a lot of ammo.