88 replies to this topic

[levitas]

I've been using almost the exact same build as scromboid (ERLLas instead of LLas), and it's awesome. 41% heat efficiency is pretty misleading, as it's more like 80% if you're only using the ERLLas at a range or the MLas close up, which keeps you very cool while swatting lights that come too close.

If you're getting close enough to use MLas on other heavies, you'll probably run hot before they do, but with the 350 you should be able to maintain a range beyond what a brawler prefers to engage in. Dual ams helps with indirect support mechs, leaving direct support mechs as your worst matchup.

Only downside is that there's a lot of direct fire support mechs.

[Roosterfish]

The 340 or 350xl looks to be the sweet spot for this mech.

[Volts]

I went with a PulseCat build on my JOKER

It's ok, really looking for something a little more robust though.

[Voivode]

Macbrea, on 05 November 2013 - 08:19 PM, said:

Ghost heat would kill that. You cannot run 3 LL.

I have been playng around with my K2 while I wait to purchase the Jester. Trying to test a build that seems to work for me. 2 LPL and 2 Flamers + 2 MG. On the theory, I can up that 2 either 2 flamers and 2 spl or 4 flamers. Depending on which works out better.

That with the jump jets and +30% c-bills may work out to be my farming mech.

3LL is subject to some ghost heat but the penalty for 3 is really quite light. You don't get a serious LL penalty until you hit 4 of them. I run 3LL on a few things and while I avoid firing all three at once most of the time (and therefore avoid the heat penalty, it is a penalty for firing them all at once, not for equipping them or using them period) in situations where I do find the need to fire all three at once the extra heat is not much of a hindrance.

[levitas]

Even running 4 is ok, if you group them in 2s. I was running 4ERLLas with my xl295 until I got the xl350.

[Burke IV]

Macbrea, on 05 November 2013 - 08:19 PM, said:

Ghost heat would kill that. You cannot run 3 LL.

It doesnt have 3 LL at least try it before you condemn it to heat death! Its a cut down version of a stalker build im fond of, it has 1 less dbl hs and alot less fire power.

[NRP]

I tried LPLs, but found that you really don't want to brawl with the Jester. It's much more effective (for me anyway) to hit from range then move in closer near the middle or end of the engagement.

I've settled on the 2 LL, 4 ML build for now, but I would really like to use 2 ERLLs after I elite it. Add the Advanced Zoom module and, holy {Scrap} you can do some damage.

[SkyHammyr]

So, what am I doing wrong?

I have much the same build- XL350, 2x ERLLas, 4x MLas- as you guys are running. Advanced Zoom and Seismic as the modules.
But, I'm getting mauled out there!
I don't play it stupid either, I run a K2 with a similar weapons arrangement- XL300, 2x ERLLas, 2x AC5s, 2x MLas- which I excel at.
So, I know the strengths and weaknesses of a Catapult.

I'm barely breaking 300 damage on my Jester and it's frustrating as heck! I don't understand how you guys can be lighting up the scoreboard like you are in these. /flails
Is there a special technique to running these that I'm missing? Or do I need to find eleven more guys to team up with before I can make this work?

P.S- How do you guy get the cool mechbay screenshots? My mechbay window is so tiny because of the UI. Is there a special image dump command that I'm missing?

Thanks!

[RavenGenesis]

SkyHammr, on 06 November 2013 - 09:24 AM, said:

So, what am I doing wrong?

I have much the same build- XL350, 2x ERLLas, 4x MLas- as you guys are running. Advanced Zoom and Seismic as the modules.
But, I'm getting mauled out there!
I don't play it stupid either, I run a K2 with a similar weapons arrangement- XL300, 2x ERLLas, 2x AC5s, 2x MLas- which I excel at.
So, I know the strengths and weaknesses of a Catapult.

I'm barely breaking 300 damage on my Jester and it's frustrating as heck! I don't understand how you guys can be lighting up the scoreboard like you are in these. /flails
Is there a special technique to running these that I'm missing? Or do I need to find eleven more guys to team up with before I can make this work?

P.S- How do you guy get the cool mechbay screenshots? My mechbay window is so tiny because of the UI. Is there a special image dump command that I'm missing?

Thanks!

I just upgraded to this build moments ago, with 3 kills, 6 assists, and 400ish damage. But in general all my Jester damage has been extremely strong going over 400 a match on average and very above average k/d

I'm a very tank heavy player, using assaults and AC20s LOL but I've been grinding the battlemaster for 2 weeks now so I got used to LLs again.

Basically my style is just to rush out with the lights and give them all the fire support they need to counter scouts and then i'll return to the fat pack and have my AMS help out against LRM boats and just charge at anyone coming close.

I don't rambo out like the fluff but generally use terrain to move around, but are you using your JJs effectively? since you named K2 but not the other cats.. I find the JJs and laserboat/ppc cats to be a real nice mix... assault poptarts are fat and slow so I actually snipe those mid air.

answering your PS, you go into your camo page, you can rotate your mech around and SS then paste to paint to crop and resave

[NRP]

Yes, you have to use the JJs. You should be in the air almost as much as you're on the ground. Anyway, I've had some great matches and some terrible ones. I won't say this is the best mech ever, but it's fun. It's a K2 that can fly.

[chevy42083]

I'm just pissed that I JUST finished eliting my K2... after grinding out it's purchase/upgrades.

I found I liked the ERLL more than the PPCs because of weight. Would prefer 3 LL rather than 2 PPCs. And the chainfiring of PPC mixed with lasers didn't work well at any decent range for tracking targets. I usually run 2 or 3 ERLL, and load up the rest of the slots with ML (and 2 machine guns? I think, unless I'm confused)... set ERLL to chainfire to avoid heat penalty and just keep clicking. When in close range, right click the ML/Machine Guns... When it gets near heat threshhold, I simply quit firing LL and only right click the close range weapons.


I still want Jester... just not sure it's worth the <real> money when I already have something so similar. Thinking i may just hold out on all purchases for awhile and wait for "sales" and "releases" of mechs I want so this doesn't happen again.

In the end... I'll have to beef up the leg armor... I found all that jumping did was kill my legs in other Catapults. But I do OFTEN find ledges/buildings I wish I could hop onto in my K2.

Edited by chevy42083, 06 November 2013 - 10:20 AM.

[Eaerie]

I use the jumping to spread damage over my mech more. Cats have big CT's so any little extra damage I can spread to other areas helps me last longer. On that note you arent suppose to hold the jump until you are out of fuel and land so hard you damage your legs.
At 95+kph it is fast enough to strafe targets and dance from cover to cover while taking some shots.

[Iacov]

that's my JESTER
i don't like

[Dawnstealer]

If you are playing against me, you definitely need to run this build:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...eef2bfb5c37170c

[RavenGenesis]

chevy42083, on 06 November 2013 - 10:18 AM, said:

I'm just pissed that I JUST finished eliting my K2... after grinding out it's purchase/upgrades.

I found I liked the ERLL more than the PPCs because of weight. Would prefer 3 LL rather than 2 PPCs. And the chainfiring of PPC mixed with lasers didn't work well at any decent range for tracking targets. I usually run 2 or 3 ERLL, and load up the rest of the slots with ML (and 2 machine guns? I think, unless I'm confused)... set ERLL to chainfire to avoid heat penalty and just keep clicking. When in close range, right click the ML/Machine Guns... When it gets near heat threshhold, I simply quit firing LL and only right click the close range weapons.


I still want Jester... just not sure it's worth the <real> money when I already have something so similar. Thinking i may just hold out on all purchases for awhile and wait for "sales" and "releases" of mechs I want so this doesn't happen again.

In the end... I'll have to beef up the leg armor... I found all that jumping did was kill my legs in other Catapults. But I do OFTEN find ledges/buildings I wish I could hop onto in my K2.

get the Quickdraw 5k, it's everything the jester is.. minus a few tons and bonus MC.. though the high slung arms makes it easier to peek and shoot compared to the quickdraw

and PPC has a great advantage of fire and forget, run out of the situation faster, with the ERLLs you're stuck waiting for the dmg to sink in

[Eaerie]

overheat much? not nearly enough cooling on that thing. Besides why buy a jester and then make it a normal K2? I prefer to use the unique abilities of the mech if possible. mainly JJ's and more speed for the Jester, though I am playing with the 2 AMS still just for giggles.
The only thing you achieved with your Jester over a normal K2 was the 2 SLas instead of 2 MG's and a serious problem with heat.

[Hex Pallett]

chevy42083, on 06 November 2013 - 10:18 AM, said:

I still want Jester... just not sure it's worth the <real> money when I already have something so similar.

Precisely why I decided to build my Jester different from K2 to differentiate the playstyle. The incredible range of ERPPC makes it a brilliant long-range anti-tank (and by tank I mean Heavies and Assaults) weapon, and K2's 110-degree torso twist and its agility with XL300 serves it just right. Also I use ERPPC along with MG for brawling too, and uses MLas only for quick finish-off and when the heat is too high for another round of ERPPC.

Jester is quite more versatile in many ways. You could load it with XL325, twin-PPC and 4xMLas, or you could take the full advantage to make it a laserboat and go XL350. It covers less range than K2, but is a lot more mobile within the range.

Also I have to post this:

Edited by Helmstif, 06 November 2013 - 02:01 PM.

[ShortBusBully]

I ran a K2 for awhile with 2ll and 2 uac5s. The Jester looks a little better if you can run it without an XL. XL=poor survivability IMO

[Mabru]

The cat's side torsos are small enough that you generally get center cored most of the time so there is no real negative (other than slot usage and cost) to running XL engines. I hesitated to buy the Jester but I'm loving it. A jumping K2 (I do miss those ballistic slots), the dual AMS are nice to have with so many guys running smaller LRM racks now. There are a lot of mediums out there using LRM 10's as a filler long-range weapon. This thing eats all the incoming up and as a bonus it also helps your team mates.

As previously stated, you have jump jets, use them whenever they're available. I'm averaging over 500 in this with a 790 high so far. I'm running 2LL and 4ML right now, I tried 6 MPL but the heat was a bit too high for practical use. I might swap out to twin PPC 4ML's, that way I won't generate as much heat when things get down and dirty.

[Walks_In_Circles]

SkyHammr, on 06 November 2013 - 09:24 AM, said:

So, what am I doing wrong?

I have much the same build- XL350, 2x ERLLas, 4x MLas- as you guys are running. Advanced Zoom and Seismic as the modules.
But, I'm getting mauled out there!
I don't play it stupid either, I run a K2 with a similar weapons arrangement- XL300, 2x ERLLas, 2x AC5s, 2x MLas- which I excel at.
So, I know the strengths and weaknesses of a Catapult.

I'm barely breaking 300 damage on my Jester and it's frustrating as heck! I don't understand how you guys can be lighting up the scoreboard like you are in these. /flails
Is there a special technique to running these that I'm missing? Or do I need to find eleven more guys to team up with before I can make this work?

P.S- How do you guy get the cool mechbay screenshots? My mechbay window is so tiny because of the UI. Is there a special image dump command that I'm missing?

Thanks!

I can't say weather you are doing anything wrong. My rule is never go head to head. Strike then run away, jump or hide. working in pairs and near dense cover (like a city) is a good plan. Use those jump jets to maneuver yourself and stay at mid range; don't get up close unless you have too. but that's basic cat piloting. To be honest, I Joust with this mech. I keep at mid range as much as I can, then charge enemies firing everything I have then jumping at the last second to get over them or on to nearby cover then hit them in their backs or run depending on the circumstances. You're fast and can jump and inorder to do well in this mech, you have to take advantage of these attributes.

As for the Mechlab screenshots, I can't say what the other guys are doing, but I go to the camo spec screen (it has a full view of the mech) and then capture the screen. After I crop it this is what I get. no tricks really.

Edited by Hrothmar, 08 November 2013 - 12:44 PM.