18 replies to this topic

[crazy10101]

I've just started playing again, after being part of beta for a while, and I remember absolutely loving the dual gauss build. Been playing the trial Dragon lately, and while it doesn't seem to have the same hitting power as it used to, it's still definitely a strong weapon. So, set up a build for the CAT-K2, and looking for advice.

Already have the two gauss, lasers, and AMS on my K2, no engine yet.

[Sowaka]

I'm inexperienced but I think you should drop one AMS ammo and then move ammo from the RL&LTs into the chest, then move your MLs into the RL&LTs. That way you can drop your arm armor to 1 and use it to reinforce your torsos.

[Phlinger]

You're gonna get your butt blown off by the first sniper/light that sees you wit that build. I cleaned it up a bit, not really my tastes, but it should work a bit better now.

CPLT-K2

[Geek Verve]

Having just tried a single gauss Cat, I can tell you that the left and/or right torso is frequently the first to go. I had to put a lot of effort into shielding the gauss side from damage, and it still frequently blew up on me. Unless you're staring down their weapon barrel, the hit boxes on the Cat are such that a shot at CT often hits the side torso instead. About all you can do is pack any non-explosive equipment in with it that you can. That's where I kept my gauss ammo, as from what I understand, it won't explode, and more crit slots used reduces the chances of the rifle being the slot(s) that take crit damage.

Someone feel free to correct my assumptions, if they're wrong. I've still got a lot to learn.

[Burke IV]

I am not a fan of the gauss cat and i have never used one so what i say is guess work.

The ballistic slots have been placed in such a way that you have to show the entire top half of your mech to use them. The only viable build relys on the fact that the gauss out ranges everything. This means you are basicly looking to position yourself in plain sight 1100m+ from the brawl and peashooter people. Fit the gauss rifles, the ammo you want (i wouldnt go with less than 4 tons) and then take off as much armour as you can handle. Then fit the biggest engine you can, no need for hs. Drop everything else.

Its a specialised skill. Most of the time people wont even know whats hitting them.

[crazy10101]

I know how the ballistic slots are placed, played it in beta. AMS I fit since this -is- a long range build, and missiles are nothing but long range. Dropping a ton of AMS ammo for more armour? I can see that. Not exactly sure how much I should fit anyway.

As for moving mediums into torso and giving up on arms; arms shield the ST hitboxes right where they're largest; side on. So while I could give up on them, only so much I could put onto ST as extra, especially if I take the extra ton of armour over ammo. That's not even including the extra pitch putting lasers in arms offers, which is 100% nneeded against lights. Or being in a better position to ridge snipe, if it comes down to that. Think I tried it in beta, too, found it didn't help much.

In terms of ST being easy to hit, I thought that the reason XL was such a great choice for any CAT build was because being side-torso'd is incredibly rare? So why is worrying about Gauss exploding a thing then? Would probably be CT'd by the time a gauss crit happens, anyway, 50% chance with all the buffers (approx?)

Edited by crazy10101, 04 October 2013 - 01:07 PM.

[Greyrook]

yikes, talk about glass cannon. You won't lose much on dropping to a 250xl and has already been stated:drop a ton of AMS. That'll give you 2.5 tons more armor, meaning you can max out the torso and get some respectable leg protection. Remember that gauss explodes on you with surprising ease; you want all the defense against lucky scrapes over those sides as possible.

[Greyrook]

crazy10101, on 04 October 2013 - 12:39 PM, said:

In terms of ST being easy to hit, I thought that the reason XL was such a great choice for any CAT build was because being side-torso'd is incredibly rare? So why is worrying about Gauss exploding a thing then? Would probably be CT'd by the time a gauss crit happens, anyway, 50% chance with all the buffers (approx?)

in most matches yes, but even with AMS missiles are going to patter all around your mech and are good for digging into sides

[Geek Verve]

crazy10101, on 04 October 2013 - 12:39 PM, said:

In terms of ST being easy to hit, I thought that the reason XL was such a great choice for any CAT build was because being side-torso'd is incredibly rare? So why is worrying about Gauss exploding a thing then? Would probably be CT'd by the time a gauss crit happens, anyway, 50% chance with all the buffers (approx?)

That is conventional wisdom and the reason I went with an XL300 for mine. I wonder now if that thinking is based on the unusually slight profile of the ST from the front. The fact is, if they're shooting at you from the side or just offset from your nose, the ST makes up a third or so of the torso profile. Gauss weapons, taking up 7 crit slots, are going to stand the greatest chance of taking crit damage in that ST over the three engine slots.

Hit box localization.

Edited by Geek Verve, 04 October 2013 - 01:02 PM.

[crazy10101]

Greyrook, on 04 October 2013 - 12:53 PM, said:

in most matches yes, but even with AMS missiles are going to patter all around your mech and are good for digging into sides

So that's why I remember-learnt how to hide behind buildings in the trial dragon.

But yeah, made the AMS change, but I didn't drop my engine's weight that much down; CATs rarely get legged b/c CT is such an easy target. New build is here.

Geek Verve, on 04 October 2013 - 01:01 PM, said:

That is conventional wisdom and the reason I went with an XL300 for mine. I wonder now if that thinking is based on the unusually slight profile of the ST from the front. The fact is, if they're shooting at you from the side or just offset from your nose, the ST makes up a third or so of the torso profile. Gauss weapons, taking up 7 crit slots, are going to stand the greatest chance of taking crit damage in that ST over the three engine slots.

Hit box localization.

Notice that the ears block a good portion of STs, and that even side on it's only 50% side, the nose sticking out so much that people are still likely to hit it on outside shots.

Edited by crazy10101, 04 October 2013 - 01:10 PM.

[GreyZ7]

crazy10101, on 04 October 2013 - 12:39 PM, said:

In terms of ST being easy to hit, I thought that the reason XL was such a great choice for any CAT build was because being side-torso'd is incredibly rare? So why is worrying about Gauss exploding a thing then? Would probably be CT'd by the time a gauss crit happens, anyway, 50% chance with all the buffers (approx?)

The prob is the gauss has reduced hitpoints and if it blows up, it will deal 20 dmg to your internal structure. And considering the size it's very likely to get hit once you're out of armor in that location.
XL+Gauss in a side torso makes you extra squishy.

Edited by kai hohiro, 04 October 2013 - 01:34 PM.

[Phlinger]

crazy10101, on 04 October 2013 - 01:06 PM, said:

So that's why I remember-learnt how to hide behind buildings in the trial dragon.

But yeah, made the AMS change, but I didn't drop my engine's weight that much down; CATs rarely get legged b/c CT is such an easy target. New build is here.



Notice that the ears block a good portion of STs, and that even side on it's only 50% side, the nose sticking out so much that people are still likely to hit it on outside shots.

I undertsand you like that build, but this is what you will be up against hitting you.

JR7-F

Do the math...

[crazy10101]

Ronyn, on 04 October 2013 - 02:20 PM, said:

I undertsand you like that build, but this is what you will be up against hitting you.

JR7-F

Do the math...

That Jenner just looks broken...

But anyway, you give up a ton of useful ammo, AMS (1+0.5t), and drop a level of XL (0.5t) for more armor. And as much as I say arms are nice, they also don't need much armour against a Jenner like that; back armour would be more useful.

[tib3r]

Running twin gauss is inferior to running 2x AC20 in every way sans heat generation.

Edited by tib3r, 04 October 2013 - 02:50 PM.

[Graxus]

tib3r, on 04 October 2013 - 02:48 PM, said:

Running twin gauss is inferior to running 2x AC20 in every way sans heat generation.

Have you ever looked at the range ??? My gausscat CPLT-K2 Sniper

[tib3r]

Long range is all its good for. I brawl.

With 4ac5s.

[AlphaTango7]

2xPPC
2xMed Lasers
1x Gauss Rifle (2 tons ammo)
300XL Engine

I die by ammo explosion here and there (keep 1 ton on each side torso) but the CT is normally the first to go.

Im no pro but on average I get

1-2 kills
300+ Dmg + Assists
and a few comp destructions

Plus I love watching a Guass round go into a mech for the kill. Much cooler then a PPC kill

[Eaerie]

if you want dual guass use a jager. much better hardpoint allocation for it.

[MungFuSensei]

CPLT-K2

This loadout is quite a bit similar to the champion dragon. However, I find it better, because I don't like trying to snipe with arm mounted weapons. You can put out quite a bit of sustained damage from really far away with this. Not quite the punch of the dual gauss, but a lot easier to use. I've set it up so that it's fairly fast, so it can avoid brawling with assaults and LRM volleys. The arms are sacrificial, and since I intend to be sniping the whole time from far away (which, really that whole "you're gonna get in brawl range eventually" idea is {Scrap} because if you set up right, you'll never see an enemy closer than 500m), having rear armor is a waste, so I dumped it all into the front.

This mech is a team player, as are all catapults. It's disingenuous to look at them on a 1 vs 1 basis. They are not dueling mechs. Find where the front line is, set up 500-700m behind it, and snipe at whatever is distracted by your teammates, just like in any other FPS. Almost every map has a place of cover overlooking a wide open area. That's where you want to be.