35 replies to this topic

[Jaegerwulf]

I am trying to decide what other mechs to buy; I have my founders CAT, 3 jagermechs (JM6-A, JM6-DD, and FIREBRAND) and a couple of phracts. on some of these i do okay, some not so well.

so I am hoping that based on the following descriptions of what I like, you will be able to advise me as to what role I should play and what mechs I should consider.

I Like sitting at range and shooting targets I can see, but i find using lrm's in pugs (to which I am limited) somewhat meh, but I can tolerate using them, i much prefer the ballistices and to some extent the energies.

I also find I like getting closer to the main action and taking shots of opportunity with more mid range weaponry, including streak srm2s, but if I get into brawling range I get easily confused and paniced and my first reaction is to hide then turn around and choose targets from atleast mid range.

as far as weight classes go, I seem to prefer heavies, but haven't really tried assaults or mediums, but I know that i am absolutely horrible with lights.

so based on this what role(s) should I be focusing on and what mechs fit those roles?

EDIT to update the OP with pertinent info from later in the thread:

Okay I wanted to add some anecdotal evidence to see if that can help you guys advise me here (btw so far there have been really good responses, I am just still having issues deciding stuff)

so lately I have been trying to not so much follow the pack as picking an assault and trying to follow him (or her). when the assault pilot knows what he is doing or at least what he wants to do, I find that I have reasonable success in waiting for him to engage and then peek around and add my fire to his target.

conversely, if I try to just peek over a ridge line to snipe at a distance or try to get close enough to use the srm's on the cn9-a trial mech, I get pounded. in the case of the sniping attempts it is mostly getting pounded by enemy mechs that aren't showing up on my radar yet (no red triangles at all)

finally I have purchased the guardian tier and saber package for project phoenix.

this addition to the thread (and my op for those who are just now comming to this topic) brings me to the following questions

-what mech(s) should I add and what role does what I have describe in this new post (and edit to my op) indicate?

-should I add any mechs to my hanger now or wait for the project phoenix mechs to arrive in october?

-as I seem to be having success when I support an assault or another heavy, at about mid range, what weapons, and what gxp unlockable modules should I be considering?

thank you all for your patience with me in trying to figure out how to be a better mechwarrior

Edited by Jaegerwulf, 29 September 2013 - 04:38 AM.

[Veranova]

You've got all of the popular/best Ballistic mechs so you're set there.
Why not go for a change in play style with your next mech?

Grab a Spider-5D and run a scout, if you're good with these you can also pull some serious damage. Playing with a lance the Spider is a great moneymaker as you can call in LRM's and get lots of spotting assists.
You're running energy weapons in this alongside ECM here, so it's limited combat ability when solo.

Grab a Victor-9S and run a brawler/flanker. The Victor in speed is closer to a Medium/Heavy, but in armour and firepower it's an assault. This can run an AC20 in the right arm, with lasers and SRM's to compliment it. It's a very balanced mech.

If you want to go medium you might like a Blackjack, as it's the little brother to the Jagermech.
Mediums are going to become extremely relevant once weight limits come in to play.
So now's the time to start grinding if you want to be ready.

[scJazz]

To extend and amplify I'd say you need to get a Centurion and learn how to Skirmish/Brawl. In other words... get a medium and go do the thing you don't like to do.

[Joe Kid]

scJazz, on 22 September 2013 - 04:59 PM, said:

To extend and amplify I'd say you need to get a Centurion and learn how to Skirmish/Brawl. In other words... get a medium and go do the thing you don't like to do.

Or get a hunchback and use it to support the assaults. You swoop in, then swoop out and stand behind your big brothers.

[StarGeezer]

You may want to look into something like Sean Lang's "BAM!" Blackjack BJ-1. It sports an AC20, several medium lasers, and of course jump jets. It offers plenty of stand-off capability, and can be pretty durable in a firefight. He does quite well with his, and has mentioned it's probably his favorite mech to play.

Spoiler

[Jaegerwulf]

well I already have the shadowhawk preordered, and have been wondering if I should preorder the thunderbolt, and/or the griffin and wolverine....

and what's this about weight limits?

and what about the orion? I ask because i read here on the forums that you only need 3 mechs of the same weight class to unlock the master effeicientcy modlule slot....

Veranova: you mention trying a different role which is also what I am asking advice on, which other role(s) I might do well with based on my descriptions in my OP.

Edited by Jaegerwulf, 22 September 2013 - 06:13 PM.

[Dan Baxter]

You need to obtain all 8 basics for three different variants of a 'mech to unlock elite efficiencies (for example, gaining all basics for your Firebrand, JM6-A, and JM6-DD). Unlocking all elite efficiencies doubles your basic efficiencies for that variant. If you master the Jagermech (elite for all 3) you will be able to unlock an extra module slot.

[mailin]

If you like sniping, you can fit an ER PPC on a Spider 5D. This will let you use jump jets to get above the battlefield and because of the ECM you will be able to snipe without being seen. Also, it's a serious amount of fun. The only drawback is that with only the ER PPC you suffer if a light gets on your tail. There are some who have supplemental weapons like small lasers, but I didn't like that build. (I felt I had to give up too much for such weak weapons.) Otherwise any of the above advice is also sound. It's really a question of how fast and nimble do you want to be. Fast & nimble ==> Spiders and Jenners all the way to plodding and cumbersome ==> Atlas and Stalker.

[Redshift2k5]

Weight limits are not in yet, but they released a few details explaining team minimum/maximum tonnage. When that system arrives, good medium pilots will be a benefit to the team as they can free up tonnage for their teammates

[mailin]

When they implement weight limits, those who are good at driving lights and mediums will be sought out. Also, it should severely curtail some of the issues that people are having with teams being made up of several assaults. Assaults will become the exception, rather than the norm.

[Jaegerwulf]

oh, so in other words the tonnage of all mechs on a side must be equall or lower to a certain ammount? that might make things interesting hehe

[Lycrin]

Given that mechlist it appears you have an affinity for mechs that sacrifice either speed or armor in favor of additional weaponry. Another heavy mech that is designed with this premise is the quickdraw but none of them have ballistic hardpoints which you seem to fancy. Another suggestion I would make is that maybe go hunchback since those are really good brawlers that have either ballistics or missile based weapons depending on the route you want to go, note that one of them can only use energy weapons but if its using medium lasers it's pretty good at medium to close range since you can't run out of lasers.If you panic with one of them its okay since you're also able to move faster as a medium. If you really like steaks I've seen people make some really evil kintaro's that boat mostly steaks. As far as assaults go atlases and stalkers tend to have good boating capabilities with lrms if you find yourself really taking a liking to lrms that is. The awesome can boat exceptionally well too pefhaps better in the energy department but their hitboxes are much larger than all the other assault mechs. Overall, I would suggest just combining the weapons you like with different weight classes of mechs in general since it also seems like you're still trying to find your niche.

[Euphor Kell]

victor.
the stock engine is pretty slow, but get a nice XL and you can reach 75+kph before speedtweak.
you like ballistics? the vic's got an arm full of em, the 9s and 9b can hold an ac/20 in the left arm, or maybe two uac5's or 3 ac2's... nothing to sneeze at, the 9k can't use a ac/20 because of the lower arm acturator but can still mount a gauss or any other ballistic.
then there's room for streaks in the chest (my favourite on the victors) and either lasers (i prefer mediums) or PPC's on the arm.
oh, it also comes with jump jets
good for flanking with a decent engine, can brawl pretty good and evade when things when they go bad cos of JJ's.

[Jaegerwulf]

I have somewhat decided that I will give a try and speed dieing aka "Jaegerwulf trying to brawl" lol. what medium and heavy mechs would be best suited to learn to brawl? I might eventually try assault mechs but perhaps not yet. also, even though my mech list is heavy on mechs with ballistics hardpoints, you don't have to confine suggestions to ballistics also, should I consider upgrading my phoenix pre order to include the thunderbolt? how about the saber package?

oh and while i kinda perfer heavies, I am interested in mediums because of the above mentioned weight limits that might be comming soon....

[SethAbercromby]

If you find yourself torn between close and lang range, take a 'Mech that can provide both! The Stalker might be the 'mech for you.

The Stalker uses an infamous weapons layout that takes advantage of overlapping ranges. It all begins a 1000 meters with 2 LRM 10 launchers for some indirect fire support. Once the enemy gets into a range of 500 meters, you can melt their armor with two Large Lasers. You can either keep 'em there or if they are stupid enough to chrage at you, you can link in 2 pairs of medium lasers and for the finale, two SRM 6 launchers. With 450 points of armor inclded in the mix, the Stalker is one of the meanest all-range fire support 'mechs that does not need to be afraid of brawling range (don't run, point your front armor right at them and make THEM run). Because of its bulky shape, it is not very agile though making it very dependant on lighter 'Mechs to keep others off their backs.

[Dracus Steamwork]

if you wish to play a brawler medium Centurion 9A and hunchback 4SP are good to it (kintaro too but i can't provide information 'cause i don't play them..) but i don't recommend them for now as the hit detection of the SRMs are pretty messed up.

You said earlier you seem to have a skittish gameplay, the hunchback could be for you as you MUST play very cautiously or you will just be useless (this mech is very unable to duel most of the actuals battlemechs), you could like the blackjack, it can carry mutiple roles depending of if it's the BJ-1 (ballistic support brawler, sniper) or the 1X (very fast support laser boat, flanker), trebuchet is a hard battlemech to play but quite fun, the 7K can be used as an alternate hunchback (ac10/ac20) as you can use your arms as shield quite easely protecting your side however the trebuchet is taller.

i don't talk here about the cicada as it's a special case("heavy" armed light with ECM)

Edited by Dracus Steamwork, 23 September 2013 - 01:17 AM.

[scJazz]

Jaegerwulf, on 23 September 2013 - 12:06 AM, said:

I have somewhat decided that I will give a try and speed dieing aka "Jaegerwulf trying to brawl" lol. what medium and heavy mechs would be best suited to learn to brawl?

Right now you are in luck... The Trial Centurion (C) is a version of the 2ML + 3ASRM6 classic Centurion Brawler. Set the MPLs to chain fire and take it out for some fun. The Centurion CN9-A is widely considered a "competitive" mech so you will not be wasting any time in it.

Even though I despise mechs without JJ even I have built up enough XP in it to complete Basics using the Trial. It was just a smart thing to do.

[Euphor Kell]

centurion.
the Yen Lo Wang is my favourite medium brawler, if you gots the cash, the AC/20 is just so much fun on the arm.
the others can mount an Ac/10 with lasers and SRM's at your leasuire better yet, the Champion centurion is currently on trial, give it a spin without any risk of losing your moneys.

[Nick REX Trebla]

Being the game as it is, get an Assault: maps are too small for letting light 'mechs use their skills at max unless they act in close and well coordinated lances. Rise up your rear armor in case you meet some lights left around and have a med/heavy whatch your back just in case... all this is works if you're playing in a team. If you are a solo one (who doesn't care about winning or loosing and only aims at Xp/C-bills) then max your front armor, get some med/short range weapons, plant your shoulders to a rock or a building in a decent cover and have fun smashing everyone coming to face you.

[Sadistic Savior]

Jaegerwulf, on 22 September 2013 - 04:39 PM, said:

I Like sitting at range and shooting targets I can see, but i find using lrm's in pugs (to which I am limited) somewhat meh, but I can tolerate using them, i much prefer the ballistices and to some extent the energies.

I also find I like getting closer to the main action and taking shots of opportunity with more mid range weaponry, including streak srm2s, but if I get into brawling range I get easily confused and paniced and my first reaction is to hide then turn around and choose targets from atleast mid range.

as far as weight classes go, I seem to prefer heavies, but haven't really tried assaults or mediums, but I know that i am absolutely horrible with lights.

so based on this what role(s) should I be focusing on and what mechs fit those roles?

Catapult or Missile-Jager. Both can mount Gauss and lots of streaks. Both are easy to maneuver and have decent speed stock. Catapult has better torso twist, Jager has better arm movement. Gauss + quad Streak SRM2s.

For you I'd lean more toward Catapult, since you will not really need arm range of motion for SRMs.