28 replies to this topic

[Mookan]

I've bought and played a few mech types and learned the nuances of them and their weapon loadouts but now I've hit a point where I'm not too sure what to look for in a mech.

I started out with Hunchbacks, due to their history. A hard hitting urban combat specialist. After a few games it became apparent that it's armour was low and the side torsos would almost always get shot off before the arms suffered any damage. Clustered hardpoints often meant the bulk of your weapons were gone easily.

So I upped my tonnage to Orions. A nice balance of hardpoints spread across the mech, but that centre torso was an absolute magnet to damage. It didn't matter how much armour was put forward, I was cored in a game in seconds by an AC/20 (ie. I was hit once) and medium laser despite having 80+ armour. And it's slow speed meant that it was more than likely lunch for light mechs.

Next I tried Kintaros. Great survivability for a smaller mech, the arms would absorb a lot of damage before the torso. But my big issue was the hardpoint choices. I'm not a huge fan of missile systems and the limited energy points meant paying careful attention to arm or torso aiming

I know a lot of it is based on other players aiming for particular points of different mechs and that my own play-style and weapon choices can influence the decisions (Mediums shouldn't lead the charge etc.). But I would like to know what makes people choose one mech over another? Could you learn to love a bad mech if it treats you right?

Edited by Mookan, 11 October 2013 - 02:36 PM.

[Adridos]

Comfy looking cockpit, decent enough hardpoints, preferably suited for more situations and kind of a hipster mech (as in, something that's not the top of the food chain in the meta at the moment).

[FupDup]

Good hitboxes, fairly maneuverable, and can carry a decent payload.

[Bishop Steiner]

no option for stunning good looks?

[LauLiao]

Mookan, on 11 October 2013 - 02:34 PM, said:

I was cored in a game in seconds by an AC/20 (ie. I was hit once) and medium laser despite having 80+ armour.

No you weren't unless you only only had 25 points of forward armor or had taken damage previously. Chances are you took several hits at once and it just SEEMED like a single AC/20 took you out.

[101011]

I'm one of those guys who isn't competitive. I never played any MP in any of the previous MW titles, and because of that, I generally tend just to go for the 'Mechs I like aesthetically, or at least have used in the past (the whole nostalgia thing), such as the Orion, or, in the future, the Bushwacker, which is probably my favorite IS 'Mech.

[Qurin]

ahh.. the Bushwacker when it was... 3052 when it was upgraded with shield for engine ... but back too topic weight of mech means your play style... hardpoints... well it depends what you like too use. I like mix but it depends on your play. To find best option you need too play even if it means to lose 90% of matches. At closed beta trial mechs were much worse than todays...
Learn too play means you need too make mistakes and die often...

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

The Cataphract

Because it is so similar in purpose, style, and role to the Grizzy and Avatar

All three are fast moving, hard hitting 70 ton jump capable second line mechs.

Edited by mwhighlander, 11 October 2013 - 08:21 PM.

[Alek Ituin]

Anything that is rugged, dependable, and adaptable. Which is why I mainly pilot Atlas, because they fit all three criteria, and speed isn't really important to me.

Also, the more function over form and industrial looking the 'Mech is, the more I prefer it. The Phoenix 'Mechs are looking to be more and more up my alley in both design and performance everyday... Can't wait for the 15th so I can finally reap the rewards of my Overlord package!

[Narcissistic Martyr]

I've got the need... the need for speed. Anything under 150 kph is unacceptable.

[Oppresor]

In one word Survivability. I am happy to trade of weapons for armour every time. I run three variants of the Atlas all of which are set up for primary role Sniper; this means they need as much armour as possible because they invariably operate outside of the covering envelope of my Light and Medium units.

[Ngamok]

Look > Hardpoints > Survivability from your choices.

My favortie mechs are the ostrich legs and of those the Ebon Jaguar / Cauldron Born. Mad Cat, Catapults, Cataphract, Stalker, almost anything neat looking like those are my favorites. I also like the look of the Hunchback, Summoner, Hellbringer, Highlander.

LauLiao, on 11 October 2013 - 04:00 PM, said:

No you weren't unless you only only had 25 points of forward armor or had taken damage previously. Chances are you took several hits at once and it just SEEMED like a single AC/20 took you out.

When you get hit by multiple weapons of the same type, the damage recap only lists one of it. So if a Dual AC/20 Jager hit you with both barrels and you died, the recap will list 1 AC/20 damage line.

[Flyby215]

Nostalgia #1! Hardpoints #2.

Mechs that I have enjoyed in previous games are wholeheartedly on my roster in MWO.

[Sandpit]

I tend to like my stalkers, hunchies, and jenners. Those chassis have tons of options for loadouts, carry great armor, and can fill multiple roles depending on the variant. My fav right now is my 3LL Stalker running 6SSRMs to make sure those pesky little gnats don't run circles of death on me. I've thought about snagging a BJ and Jag though simply to have a good ballistic style mech. The hardpoints are definitely the first thing I look at when it comes to deciding on a mech for me.

[Blue Hymn]

Good FOV (Field of View) from the cockpit, targeting and specialized roles. I pilot the Awesome primarily, followed by light mechs in general. The wide field of view from the Awesome's cockpit is particularly helpful, especially when you're scanning the horizon for enemy mechs. That, added with its arm movement, allows me to fire at really nice angles at targets when on the move.

Light mechs, while not having as good a field of view as others sometimes, have fast enough movement for me to turn my head about to target mechs while on the run. Things like that.

[Utilyan]

I like character of a mech. I get inspired by the fluff, although might not be effective builds I enjoy playing them.


The #1 mech I'm waiting for is Urbanmech. There is a grunt-like simplicity to them, like very stock-like no matter how customized.

I hope to pilot faction specifics and play the role best I can.

[Radbane]

Bishop Steiner, on 11 October 2013 - 03:52 PM, said:

no option for stunning good looks?

This! It has to look good, and imho only chickenwalkers look good. Mmm, those sexy legs...!

[Barghest Whelp]

I need an option for speed. Speed is life on most mechs. At least, for me it is. So I look for a combination of speed and armour. Good hardpoints is a close third.

[Xeno Phalcon]

Aesthetics are #1 for me
High positioned weapon hardpoints #2
Doesn't suffer from PGI Growth Hormone Syndrome #3

[CheeseThief]

Aesthetics are what will get me to drive a mech, followed closely by lore.

Style over substance and all that, but I'm still going to be going the most effective varient, with a preference towards balanced builds.