11 replies to this topic

[Duellica]

Hello I decided to Elite and Master the Spider mech.

So far I am grinding the XP with a XL255, ERLL in the torso with 2 Jump jets and 2 extra heat sinks as a standard on all variants.

I will of course go DH, FF, ES etc. when I get enough extra CB and XP but I see a lot of builds that vary in armor settings.

I decided to go full armor on everything but the arms since I don't use them for any weapons. Although I still am not sure how to adjust the armor settings for front and back since I am new to the mech.

So how do you Pro's set the armor front to back for each sections based on experience of what gets hit most often, let me in on your secret settings : )

Also if I don't use the arms yet and leave the armor say at 2, does it affect my side torso when I loose a arm so easy or with so little armor? Does damage bleed through the arm and into the torso or does the explosion damage from loosing a arm add damage to the torso?

Thanks.

[Jenkss]

Which Spider version are you running that build on?

Spiders and Locusts are where it's at.

[aniviron]

I don't run a spider, but really, it's trial and error. On everything I own, I start at about a 90-10 or 85-15 split of front-back, as you can control which direction you take damage from most of the time. From there, if I play and find that I am dying to shots in the back frequently, I adjust as needed until I'm no longer dying from rear armor shots. Case in point, my Awesomes have just 10 rear CT armor and about 90 in the front, which leads them to be particularly durable (for an Awesome, anyway) whereas my Ravens have a huge rear CT profile and a fairly small one in front, so I wound up splitting that about 2/3 in front 1/3 in back. Just keep adjusting until you find what works for you- the goal is generally to put as little on the back as possible, but usually for lights you'll need more back there than on heavier mechs, as you do more running away, and a heavier mech has more internal hp and thus more margin for error.

[kesuga7]

This thread is very good for seeing what mechs need more armor where

http://mwomercs.com/...x-localisation/

[Duellica]

kesuga7, on 27 October 2013 - 06:39 PM, said:

This thread is very good for seeing what mechs need more armor where

http://mwomercs.com/...x-localisation/

Thanks for the link that is good information.

BTW How do you know what part of armor got you killed? Is that the short window that pops up when you die showing damage by AC20, cause of death was engine etc?

Or is there a damage log I am missing?

Edited by Duellica, 28 October 2013 - 02:27 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

Last time I checked, my Spiders have a roughly 2:1 front/rear armor ratio. Legs and Arms should always be fully armored, and you could probably strip your Head to like 5.

Although I'm not entirely certain about 2:1. Maybe even 1.5:1, consider your Spider would have the rear facing enemies when running away.

[Duellica]

Given that information from the Link what do you "Pro" Spider pilots think about this build.

SDR-5D

Any advice ?

[Bront]

Duellica, on 28 October 2013 - 02:27 PM, said:

Thanks for the link that is good information.

BTW How do you know what part of armor got you killed? Is that the short window that pops up when you die showing damage by AC20, cause of death was engine etc?

Or is there a damage log I am missing?

When you die, you see your mech doll and you can see what armor locations are missing entirely, and figure it out from there.

If you're missing both legs, you got legged.

If you're missing torso internals, it was a torso kill.

If you still have torso external armor on the front, chances are it was a rear kill.

If you're missing armor from the front and rear of a missing torso location, well, you have to guess which side you got hit on, but you were screwed either way.

[William Mountbank]

Duellica, on 02 November 2013 - 05:17 PM, said:

Given that information from the Link what do you "Pro" Spider pilots think about this build.

SDR-5D

Any advice ?

Something like this might do you better:
SDR-5D
It definitely runs hotter, but the extra JJ gives you the chance to reach good sniping spots, and the two SLs are for when an enemy light gets to you or your dogfighting and ERPPC is too hot anyway. Also, leg and rear armour is less important on sniper builds.

It's fun build, particularly on Alpine, but less effective now than it used to be.

[CosmicSpeed]

I have all 3 spiders and the 5D was my first and favorite of the bunch. Right now I run the max engine it will allow (151.1kph) with Cap Assist and Sensor Range (haven't decided on the 3rd module yet) and 3x Med Lasers and 5 JJ's. (Fero & Endo)

It is harassment central, with speed quick enough to leave the scene. ECM is a help on this model. Dont expect to get a high damage count but that isn't the point of this Spider IMO.

[Duellica]

The ERPPC is hot but so far it is the best all around weapon for me.

I can "Snipe" with it, I can pop lights limbs off with it in close. I get more pinpoint damage and thus more assists and component damage and some kills. I did grind with ERLL but drawing lines on other mechs seems less effective than a PPC.

I really don't see any reason for more lasers since I don't loose my arms that often. The one jump jet has not been a factor to get to some good spots or jump over a mechs arm reach or even pop tart. One JJ even lets me spin 360 mid air to distribute laser damage as I run away.

I may put a TAG in the torso since I see a few LRM boats here and there but so far so good.

Edited by Duellica, 09 November 2013 - 05:14 PM.

[Adiuvo]

You want to frontload your armor and learn not to expose your back much. The Spider has excellent hitboxes and the arms can be used to actually block things. Use the arms to take fire when retreating.

I run 5 armor or less on the back of all of my mechs.