30 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

Carrioncrows, on 03 November 2013 - 12:36 AM, said:

Unless a variant is going to come with ECM

The Shadowhawk 2D2 Takes the cake by a mile.

Keep in mind out of the 6 saber variants only 1 has ballistics on it. The other 5 are almost identical in hardpoints - Energy + Missile and basically all in the same locations.

So i think you'll see a lot faster variants int he saber packages. Wolverines and griffins running around at 100kph speed simply because they don't have the heavy ballistics to weigh them down. But I also don't think they will be able to knock the 2D2 off it's throne.

Now the Wolverine 6K might have a chance depending on it's hitbox. If it has a tiny ct that encourages a STD engine to increase it's toughness then it might stand a chance. But I suspect it will get the same treatment as the shadowhawk. Big Ct.

I think he mean (P) variant, aka 2H, 6R or 1N, the ones with the PHX cbill bonus.

Otherwise, totally agree, though my 5M is wicked nasty and those extra JJ have been handy quite often. I wannna see how my miffedweasel variant above does with it's 110 kph spd and 7 jjs for icbm jumps!

[Fate 6]

Escef, on 02 November 2013 - 08:38 AM, said:

I've had very good results running the SHD-2H(P) with 300 XL, 11 DHS, endo, 3 jets, LL, AC2, 3 Streaks, BAP, AMS, 368 armor, and 2 tons of ammo each for the Streaks and AC.

The Wolverine I'm having trouble thinking of load outs that really take advantage of it. The Griffin, I'm thinking 3xSRM6&Artemis, 2 MLs, 325XL, full jets, endo, 11 DHS, 3 tons ammo, 368 armor. Which pretty much just makes it a CN9-A© with jump jets... But that might be worth it.

2D2 is already a CN9-A + JJ and another missile (either SRM4 or SRM2 depending on your heat preferences).

It's impossible to tell how good the mechs will be on arrival because we don't know if PGI will finally fix SRMs or not. Currently SRMs are terrible, you can run a 50 damage alpha and in 5 alphas only do 150 damage despite landing every missile. There's a reason everyone runs ACs and long range energy weapons right now, and it's because you can't brawl effectively with the weapons meant for it (or you'll die trying to get in range if you have a slower mech - I miss brawler Assaults escorting my mediums into the fray).

I'd say if SRMs get a buff that we'll see some interesting builds with the Griffin basically being an alternate to the the 2D2. The Wolverine seems like an inferior 2H - it can hold more SRMs, but it is limited in ballistics and energy (and MLs are the lifeblood of mediums so it sucks to only have 1).

[Vassago Rain]

At best, the wolverine is a stockier shaq, with higher jumps, and worse hardpoint layout (headlaser. Really?) At worst, it's inferior to the shaq.

Griffin is strictly worse than both.

Basically, if you have the shaq already, there's no reason to get either of the other ones.

Edited by Vassago Rain, 04 November 2013 - 10:55 AM.

[Escef]

Fate 6, on 04 November 2013 - 10:51 AM, said:

2D2 is already a CN9-A + JJ and another missile (either SRM4 or SRM2 depending on your heat preferences).

In some ways better, in some ways worse. The CN9-A has that shield arm that can be sacrificed with no worries, the CT energy points are great for playing zombie, and the ballistic point (if you choose to use it) has great mobility up close.

OTOH, the 2D2 can mount two LLs or PPCs, but doing so means you'd rather not sacrifice either arm. And most prefer to pack a large XL engine to take advantage of the higher speed cap of the SHD, so the whole zombie thing just doesn't really happen. The highly mounted ballistic point on the torso has less lateral range, but is good taking shots from cover.

Honestly, I prefer the SHD, but I really think it's a matter of preference.

Vassago Rain, on 04 November 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

At best, the wolverine is a stockier shaq, with higher jumps, and worse hardpoint layout (headlaser. Really?) At worst, it's inferior to the shaq.

If you go with a STD engine that head laser has zombie potential, but at best it's just a ML or MPL. And I really do expect people to XL the {Scrap} out of that thing. So I doubt you'll ever see it happen.

Edited by Escef, 04 November 2013 - 11:06 AM.

[MeiSooHaityu]

IMO, Shadowhawk

[Carrioncrows]

Vassago Rain, on 04 November 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

At best, the wolverine is a stockier shaq, with higher jumps, and worse hardpoint layout (headlaser. Really?) At worst, it's inferior to the shaq.

Griffin is strictly worse than both.

Basically, if you have the shaq already, there's no reason to get either of the other ones.

Arm mounted ballistics work in your favor on two accounts.

Engaging while moving to better track your targets, both on the ground and in the air. it really does make a big difference on both accuracy and how fast you can bring a weapon on target.

And engaging targets obliquely. Either at the max of your torso twist + Arm reach or just by holding CTRL to engage with your arm while leaving your torso facing a different direction. Not giving them the entirety of your front profile goes away's towards keeping you alive longer.

Down side is no 20, less slots and less armor protecting it.

[Pariah Devalis]

I expect the Wolvie to be a fantastic medium mech. Not, perhaps, for the same role as the SHawk, but a fantastic medium. I tested a build on my SHawk that I intend for my Wolvie, and it should perform better than the Shadowhawk simply because of its weapon placements and increased jump capability:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...02617e0d6ef93d0

Designed specifically to handle light mechs. The head medium laser is only there in case it runs out of ammo, but could easily be turned into a TAG instead.

[Bishop Steiner]

Pariah Devalis, on 05 November 2013 - 06:03 AM, said:

I expect the Wolvie to be a fantastic medium mech. Not, perhaps, for the same role as the SHawk, but a fantastic medium. I tested a build on my SHawk that I intend for my Wolvie, and it should perform better than the Shadowhawk simply because of its weapon placements and increased jump capability:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...02617e0d6ef93d0

Designed specifically to handle light mechs. The head medium laser is only there in case it runs out of ammo, but could easily be turned into a TAG instead.

I like it. I find AMS to be overrated currently, so I modded it to have more armor and the extra JJs to compensate.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified
Might be my inaugural version.

[Pariah Devalis]

Bishop Steiner, on 05 November 2013 - 06:06 AM, said:

I like it. I find AMS to be overrated currently, so I modded it to have more armor and the extra JJs to compensate.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified
Might be my inaugural version.

Thanks. Yeah, I was unsure on the AMS, but as it tracks SSRMs it is beneficial against streak packing lights and Kintaros. Unless they group fire. You would be amazed how slow people react to AMS on their chainfired SSRM mechs. My AMS just gobbles them up.

[focuspark]

If the current meta maintains, the Shadowhawk will dominate because it can mount 3x AC. 3x AC2 and 2x AC5 + AC2 builds are plain scary to face off against.

[focuspark]

Fate 6, on 04 November 2013 - 10:51 AM, said:

2D2 is already a CN9-A + JJ and another missile (either SRM4 or SRM2 depending on your heat preferences).

No really. CN9 has it's primary attached to its arm, meaning it can aim them. A better CN9 is the WVR-6R "Centurion"... and remember, everything is a Centurion.