10417 replies to this topic

[DavidStarr]

So I should review my UAC loadouts. Thanks, good to know.
LBX seems to be a poor alternative to UACs, the range is nowhere near the same. UACs were great for their projected DPS. Up close, I doubt LBX will outperform SRMs (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Edited by DavidStarr, 16 December 2016 - 01:47 PM.

[Leone]

So, you're wrong. Lbx has a shot cluster instead of a rapid fire shot, which means more shots per second as you don't hafta wait for that last shell to leave the barrel afore your weapon cooldown begins. (I've tested many an Ac vs Lbx build. Only on the one shot ac2s did I find the acs superior.)

As for outperforming Srms, its more that they compliment each other.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 16 December 2016 - 01:54 PM.

[Tesunie]

DavidStarr, on 16 December 2016 - 01:47 PM, said:

So I should review my UAC loadouts. Thanks, good to know.
LBX seems to be a poor alternative to UACs, the range is nowhere near the same. UACs were great for their projected DPS. Up close, I doubt LBX will outperform SRMs (please correct me if I'm wrong).

LBX has increased chances to crit, which means once the armor is gone, it can hurt a lot.

ULBxACs also shoot faster than normal ACs, and faster than SRMs. I believe they also tightened up some of the LBx spreads a bit.

It's suppose to be a choice now between spread, range and DPS. Each weapon has it's place, depending upon what you wish for it to do.

I know the UAC changes has messed up my favorite Huntsman build, UAC10 and 3 ERMLs. Placed fairly well with that build on the leader boards, and now it barely pulls over half it's expected damage from before (unless I get really lucky). Some builds can still use UACs reasonable well, so test it out first and see how they feel to you.


Edit: Still needing to proof read. I hope everyone knew I was talking about LBX and not UACs on my second paragraph...

Edited by Tesunie, 16 December 2016 - 02:24 PM.

[DavidStarr]

Leone, on 16 December 2016 - 01:54 PM, said:

As for outperforming Srms, its more that they compliment each other.

In what way?
What I meant is there are different close range mechs in every class, some favor SRMs and some favor ballistic weapons. I expect the former to be superior.

[Leone]

They're both awesome sounding close range weapons with some expected spread. Generally if I'm putting one on a mech, I'll add the other as well if'n there's the room/hardpoints.

Edit: Oh, I'm talking large bore Lbx.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 16 December 2016 - 02:23 PM.

[DavidStarr]

In Escort mode, the attacker side is the one that's preventing enemy Atlas from reaching destination, right?

And another question: have IS MPLs been nerfed in the last 8-9 months, by any chance? I'm struggling dealing as much damage as I used to do, not sure why (could be simply because I'm playing poorly).

Edited by DavidStarr, 17 December 2016 - 12:29 PM.

[TercieI]

DavidStarr, on 17 December 2016 - 12:17 PM, said:

In Escort mode, the attacker side is the one that's preventing enemy Atlas from reaching destination, right?

And another question: have IS MPLs been nerfed in the last 8-9 months, by any chance? I'm struggling dealing as much damage as I used to do, not sure why (could be simply because I'm playing poorly).

No, the attacker side is the one "attacking" the Atlas. (That's not how I would have thought of it but it's the memory trick I'm using.

IS MPLs haven't been nerfed per se, but many quirks were scaled back, especially energy range, so a number of builds that let short-range MPLs play like mid-range guns are much less effective.

[ingramli]

New pilot here. Just played for 3 days, i got the cadet funds bought a timber wolf tbr-c, and got a free Centurion with CB bonus from the redeem code, after getting used to the timber wolf, i found that the stock Centurion is just almost inferior in every way (speed, fire power, armor, and etc.), the only advantage seems to be it takes shorter to jump into a game because it is a medium, and earns the 30% CB bonus, now the question is, should I learn using a lesser mech (some said it prevents having bad habits) for a while to save funds or should i continue to use the timber wolf straightaway ?

BTW, it is really bad gaming experience for a rookie like me riding on the Centurion, i almost constantly die within 20~30 seconds after being spotted. On my timber wolf, i do have good chance running away and stay alive much longer..........ouch!

Edited by ingramli, 19 December 2016 - 08:34 AM.

[Koniving]

DavidStarr, on 16 December 2016 - 01:47 PM, said:

So I should review my UAC loadouts. Thanks, good to know.
LBX seems to be a poor alternative to UACs, the range is nowhere near the same. UACs were great for their projected DPS. Up close, I doubt LBX will outperform SRMs (please correct me if I'm wrong).

This should answer the comparison.
On one arm, there's a UAC/20 with 1 ton of ammunition.
On the other arm, there's an LB-20x with 1 ton of ammunition.

Now watch it in battle.

Which would you prefer to have?
(Note I did not take advantage of the double shot function of the UAC/20 due to severely limited ammunition).

[Koniving]

ingramli, on 19 December 2016 - 08:30 AM, said:

New pilot here. Just played for 3 days, i got the cadet funds bought a timber wolf tbr-c, and got a free Centurion with CB bonus from the redeem code, after getting used to the timber wolf, i found that the stock Centurion is just almost inferior in every way (speed, fire power, armor, and etc.), the only advantage seems to be it takes shorter to jump into a game because it is a medium, and earns the 30% CB bonus, now the question is, should I learn using a lesser mech (some said it prevents having bad habits) for a while to save funds or should i continue to use the timber wolf straightaway ?

BTW, it is really bad gaming experience for a rookie like me riding on the Centurion, i almost constantly die within 20~30 seconds after being spotted. On my timber wolf, i do have good chance running away and stay alive much longer..........ouch!

Okay. First thing is first.
"Mech Lab"
It is time that you put that to use. You can change, modify, enhance the mech.
Try something like an XL 200 or XL 250 engine, Double Heatsinks, Endo Steel.
Now change the weapons and figure out what you like.

This is a stock Centurion CN9-D.

I'm the one leading the pack. The video is made by the first challenge/tournament 4th place medium mech champion. The mechs are pure stock, and supremely fragile compared to the CN9-A. They are also using XL 250 engines, allowing for the weight to carry their equipment as well as be faster (81 kph), and sport LB-10x shotguns.

The video should give you some good advice as far as using the Centurion and a playstyle to go with it.

Before you actually modify your mech, use this application to 'practice'
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab
This link below jumps straight to the Centurion you described.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...lab#i=7&l=stock

An example setup demonstrated:

Yes the video uses the YenLo Wang (who can argue with a 30% cbill bonus?), but the build can be copied and imitated perfectly on a CN9-A.
Simply:
Change engine to something between XL 225 and 250 (mine is less than 250).
Change medium lasers to medium pulse lasers.
Drop the missiles.
Change AC/10 to AC/20. (Sorry, having the ability to aim left and right prevents the access to the AC/20.)
Either maintain the AC/10 or change it to a LB-10x or to a UAC/5.
Change ammunition accordingly.
Add AMS with 1 ton of ammunition (store this ammo in the Head as if this ammo were to blow up, it'd probably devastate you. Thus we store them in the cockpit, by the time something could detonate it you'd already be dead anyway).

Note: Some people prefer the SRMs, and if the engine is too hard to acquire, replace the AC/20 with 3 SRM-6 or 3 SRM-4... now beef up the engine with a Standard 250 (or higher if possible). Bring about 4 tons of ammo, do the medium pulse laser change.

Edited by Koniving, 19 December 2016 - 11:14 AM.

[Tesunie]

Koniving, on 19 December 2016 - 08:42 AM, said:

Change AC/10 to AC/20.

Ummm... Only the AH and the Yen Lo Wang has the crit slots in the arm to handle an AC20. All other Centurions can't mount an AC20. I think you forgot about that little tidbit. That Lower Arm Actuator kinda gets in the way with the other Cents. Something the AH and Yen lack (to their benefit for the most part).

[Koniving]

Tesunie, on 19 December 2016 - 10:54 AM, said:

Ummm... Only the AH and the Yen Lo Wang has the crit slots in the arm to handle an AC20. All other Centurions can't mount an AC20. I think you forgot about that little tidbit. That Lower Arm Actuator kinda gets in the way with the other Cents. Something the AH and Yen lack (to their benefit for the most part).

My bad. (I've been using the AH non-stop since it got released.)
>.>
You're right.
Still the AC/10 is more than sufficient, or twin AC/5s (but I do not believe the CN9-A can handle it due to crit slots).

Edited by Koniving, 19 December 2016 - 11:13 AM.

[Tesunie]

Koniving, on 19 December 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

My bad. (I've been using the AH non-stop since it got released.)
>.>
You're right.
Still the AC/10 is more than sufficient, or twin AC/5s (but I do not believe the CN9-A can handle it due to crit slots).

AC5 and AC2 make for a reasonable combo, if hit reg is on your side.

LBx AC10, some med lasers and SRMs can also make for a very potent brawler build as well...

Lots that the Cent can do. I never found it to be a mech for me, but it isn't a bad mech either. I just like my Crabs better...

[IraqiWalker]

ingramli, on 19 December 2016 - 08:30 AM, said:

New pilot here. Just played for 3 days, i got the cadet funds bought a timber wolf tbr-c, and got a free Centurion with CB bonus from the redeem code, after getting used to the timber wolf, i found that the stock Centurion is just almost inferior in every way (speed, fire power, armor, and etc.), the only advantage seems to be it takes shorter to jump into a game because it is a medium, and earns the 30% CB bonus, now the question is, should I learn using a lesser mech (some said it prevents having bad habits) for a while to save funds or should i continue to use the timber wolf straightaway ?

BTW, it is really bad gaming experience for a rookie like me riding on the Centurion, i almost constantly die within 20~30 seconds after being spotted. On my timber wolf, i do have good chance running away and stay alive much longer..........ouch!

One thing that is skewing your perspective is the fact that the Timberwolf is one of the top mechs in the entire game. Whereas the centurion requires more skill in order to bring out it's true power.

For instance, I assume you still haven't learned how to torso twist in order to shield the important side of your mech (in this case, it's the gun arm. Let them hit and even break the shield arm, that's why it's there.)

Then there's the fact that you need to modify the centurion and customize it to make it work.

The Timberwolf is an omni mech, they come equipped with most upgrades anyways. Hence their higher price. However Battlemechs will usually have no upgrades and you will need to pay extra for them. So they start out cheap to buy, but by the time you upgrade them, they could cost you as much as an omni mech.

Check This Guide for tips on how to customize and build your battlemechs.

[Koniving]

Tesunie, on 19 December 2016 - 11:21 AM, said:

AC5 and AC2 make for a reasonable combo, if hit reg is on your side.

LBx AC10, some med lasers and SRMs can also make for a very potent brawler build as well...

Lots that the Cent can do. I never found it to be a mech for me, but it isn't a bad mech either. I just like my Crabs better...

AC 2 and 5 combo.

Edited by Koniving, 19 December 2016 - 07:27 PM.

[Tesunie]

Koniving, on 19 December 2016 - 07:26 PM, said:

AC 2 and 5 combo.

It use to work very well on my King Crab (2 AC2s, 2 AC5s and 2 PPCs) back when CW first came out. Then, something changed in a patch, and since then it's been random on if enemy mechs will take the damage or not...

I call my AH "Half King", with an AC2, AC5 and 3 SRM4s... It works when it wants to...

[DavidStarr]

I have a mind to buy my first non-Cbills mech to celebrate Christmas and my return to MWO, seeing that a 50% sale on hero mechs is coming up. I like mechs that can do something other than the typical laser boating, and so far I'm thinking about the Archer lineup (the basic $20 pack + hero for MCs during the sale). Both 2R and 5W seem like a great missile boat that would make Catapult obsolete, and the hero "Tempst" is a decent hit-and-run chassis with ECM, 3xSRM4 and 4xML, the only downside being a lack of JJs.

Is there a catch to these Archers? Are they really as good as they seem to be?

Edited by DavidStarr, 21 December 2016 - 02:47 AM.

[TercieI]

DavidStarr, on 21 December 2016 - 02:45 AM, said:

I have a mind to buy my first non-Cbills mech to celebrate Christmas and my return to MWO, seeing that a 50% sale on hero mechs is coming up. I like mechs that can do something other than the typical laser boating, and so far I'm thinking about the Archer lineup (the basic $20 pack + hero for MCs during the sale). Both 2R and 5W seem like a great missile boat that would make Catapult obsolete, and the hero "Tempst" is a decent hit-and-run chassis with ECM, 3xSRM4 and 4xML, the only downside being a lack of JJs.

Is there a catch to these Archers? Are they really as good as they seem to be?

Archers have lousy hitboxes and are a kindof difficult weight. You can SRM brawl with them moderately well, but the Tempest is the best because you can laser vomit (3LPL/3ML or 3LPL/2ML laid out a bit better) with ECM. If you're looking for something other than typical laser boating, that's not really the right mech, IMO since that's the one thing it does well, and that only in a PUGgy sort of way.

[DavidStarr]

I'm primarily interested in LRM platforms, hitboxes are not incredibly relevant for those, I think. It's just that I thought if I'm going to buy LRM Archers, I might as well pick up a hero on sale, too. It did look more than fine on paper. Thanks for the info.

For ARC-T, I was thinking something like this. Or this. Are those bad loadouts?

Edited by DavidStarr, 21 December 2016 - 09:56 AM.

[TercieI]

DavidStarr, on 21 December 2016 - 09:44 AM, said:

I'm primarily interested in LRM platforms, hitboxes are not incredibly relevant for those, I think. It's just that I thought if I'm going to buy LRM Archers, I might as well pick up a hero on sale, too. It did look more than fine on paper. Thanks for the info.

For ARC-T, I was thinking something like this. Or this. Are those bad loadouts?

I'm not in love with either of them. The first seems undergunned, the second a bit misgunned. Pulse lasers work better on brawlers than standard lasers, especially in torso mounts. After spending a few minutes trying to build a brawling Tempest, I don't find a build I really like, I might try this modification of your second build.
Ferrigno is mine. It's a pretty good PUG mech (where ECM matters most).