22 replies to this topic

[mualmoli]

Hi, being a fan of the Golden Harvest Trilogy, I decided to name one of my Commando Mechs "The Ninja Turtle Mech".

I decided on this name due to the fact that this mech build plays out like a kung fu fighter. Most mech pilots these days enjoy stomping around in a 100-ton behemoth going around 50 kilometers too slow. BUT NOT THIS MECH!!! With this mech you can lead your troops to battle or stay hidden for that all too satisfying surprise attack which catches the opponent off-guard.
Being one of the first mechs available to a new pilot, little respect is bestown upon the Commando but with this build you can dart in-&-out of battle like a Urban Ninja Assassin.

Here are the basic requirements towards this build:
1 Commando-3A
Double Heatsink Upgrade
Ferrous-Fiber
Endo-Steel Upgrade
STD Engine 150

Here are the final stats for this mech:
Speed: 97.2
Tonnage: 25
Firepower: 22
Heat Efficiency: 1.74
Armor: 161

Here is the weapon-loadout for this mech:
Right Arm: Tag Laser
Streak SRM 2
Center Torso: SRM 6
Left Arm: Medium Laser

That's it!

Think of this. A turtle is one of the most energy-efficient organisms on the planet. When tired it holes up in its shell for rest-and-relaxation. When in danger it does a backflip and busts out kung pow fuey! Add in the element of radioactivity and you got yourself the super-soldier of MechWarrior Online! Give it a shot. You just may like it.

Edited by mualmoli, 01 November 2013 - 10:45 PM.

[Void Angel]

PLEASE run around in a 97 KPH light. The only thing that'll keep you alive is hit registration errors. Sorry, but even with how small the Commando is, that build is way too slow to survive. Lights will hunt it down like a dog, even most mediums can keep up with it, and you're not small enough to avoid taking a lot of hits at 97 kph.

What you've built here is a 25-ton Hunchback with a really good turning rate - you'll need to hide behind your teammates to survive, but your punch is low, even for a light. Another light will outclass your firepower (especially with hit registration on that SRM6) and an actual Hunchback will be just as fast with more than double the toughness and firepower.

On the other hand, if it seems interesting, by all means try it! All it can do is fail, and I can easily play Devil's advocate and argue that since you're punished for sticking your head out into Kintaro Streak Land, you might as well adjust your build to reflect the loss of the scouting role... Just recognize that your ability to survive is partly dependent on bugs - so when hit detection is fixed and Streaks nerfed, you'll probably have to re-adjust your build.

[Kain]

+1 for the effort to try to bring a commando to the battlefield

But for a light mech, you are too slow, anything slower than 130 KPH is cannon fodder

[stjobe]

I encourage anyone and everyone to try out Commandos, they're my favourite 'mechs - I have Mastered all five variants and have well over 1,000 drops in them - so it pains me to have to agree with the other posters; that build is simply bad. Running a Commando with a STD engine is a major no-no; it's too slow and doesn't pack enough punch to compensate for it.

If you want to go the SRM route, this is a much better build: COM-3A 2xSRM-4, 2xML.

If you want to go with SSRMs, this build goes 171 kph: COM-3A 2xSSRM, 2xML.

Either of those builds can just swap a TAG for a ML if you want to TAG things.

And if you want to trade a bit of speed for some more range, this build reaches out to 900m: COM-3A 2xLL. It also happens to be my favourite 3A build (although it can be done equally well with a 1B or TDK).

Edited by stjobe, 01 November 2013 - 02:03 AM.

[Mogney]

Not to discourage a Commando pilot, there are far too few of us who share a love of this fantastic mech. It's my favorite and run them all the time.

Keep working on it, keep experimenting with your builds, and play your Commando the way you want to.

Having said all that, I would agree that your Commando is too slow and will be eaten alive by all other lights, also it lacks the speed to escape LRMs, and with a Commando's armor, you are looking at one or two volleys before dying.

The Commando's strengths are.

1. Size: Its itty bitty and hard to hit
2. Speed: It's crazy fast and hard to hit
3. Joke Factor: We are often ignored by the enemy as being the crappiest of the lights, then they are surprised to see us have 3 kills and 500+ damage at the end of the game that we just won (My best game with a commando was 5 kills and 962 damage, these mechs are no joke in the right hands, and I am a far cry from the best Commando pilot out there)

The builds in stjobes posts are all great builds, try one of them out and see if you like it better. I suspect you will enjoy the higher speeds.

IMo currently the best Commando is the Deaths Knell with 172kph and 4 medium lasers.

The COM-2d with an XL-195 and 3 streaks with 4 tons of ammo is also extremely good.

good luck and happy hunting!

[Mechteric]

Lights must use XL or die a quick death due to moving too slow.

[Alabraxis Hyperion]

Am I the only one who clicked this topic and was disappointed at the lack of appropriately-themed pictures?

[BarHaid]

Alabraxis Hyperion, on 01 November 2013 - 07:12 AM, said:

Am I the only one who clicked this topic and was disappointed at the lack of appropriately-themed pictures?

Yeah, I was hoping for a good camo pic here. To the mech bay!

Back on topic: Despite my speed misgivings, can you tell us how you have been doing with this build? Horrible death every round, but more fun than normal? Commando Zombie surprise?

[Darkblood]

Alabraxis Hyperion, on 01 November 2013 - 07:12 AM, said:

Am I the only one who clicked this topic and was disappointed at the lack of appropriately-themed pictures?

Yeah! I came looking for a paint job too

[Hex Pallett]

Now to think about it, Commando DO look like TMNT...look at the chest!

[Bhelogan]

Don't ask me why I wasted 5 minutes of my time doing this... I honestly don't know why.

[TercieI]

Bhelogan, on 01 November 2013 - 07:59 AM, said:

Don't ask me why I wasted 5 minutes of my time doing this... I honestly don't know why.

I'm really glad you did. Made me laugh out loud.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

Nice start, but I got lost thinking of Oogway.

[mualmoli]

The games are far and few between however if there were more sewer grates in city maps I think he would perform better.

[Cactus In The Rear]

i actually did run a death's knell with a STD 200 before the engine size buff and it was ok,but now with the engine size being 240 max im using an XL 235 (max blackjack engine) and doing 500+ damage per match

[Hazar Kath]

Bhelogan, on 01 November 2013 - 07:59 AM, said:

Don't ask me why I wasted 5 minutes of my time doing this... I honestly don't know why.

It was totally worth it. Made my day.

[TripleEhBeef]

Bhelogan, on 01 November 2013 - 07:59 AM, said:

Don't ask me why I wasted 5 minutes of my time doing this... I honestly don't know why.

WIN!

But OP, your build does need some work. Mixing streaks and standard SRMs isn't really the best idea in a mech with such tonnage limits. Either run just streaks if you're having issues with lights or just SRMs if you want to sucker punch bigger mechs. You can survive with that speed but only if you stay very close to your main force. Be an Atlas' little buddy until you have the cash to shove in a bigger XL.

And if you're going to play Commandos long term, elite the chassis. Having speed tweak and super fast arm and torso twist speeds will make you a real battlefield Ninja Turtle.

[Voivode]

So as soon as they raise the speed on Commando you decide to make a slow one? Bravo sir, you are truly not a follower. I admire your dedication and respect your prowess.

Please don't drop on my team.

[Hex Pallett]

Three colors, perfect for a custom paintjob pattern. Work on it, PGI.

Bhelogan, on 01 November 2013 - 07:59 AM, said:

Don't ask me why I wasted 5 minutes of my time doing this... I honestly don't know why.

Edited by Helmstif, 12 November 2013 - 07:02 PM.

[Claviger]

Considering the CMD just got an engine buff use it. WHO DOESN"T WANT TO GO 171 KPH?! lol


Just get teh biggest engine you can and some streak/medium lasers, done

Edited by Claviger, 18 November 2013 - 12:35 PM.