16 replies to this topic

[darqsyde]

I've a bit of a fondness for trying to keep mechs similar to there stock roles/loadouts, Upgrading to make them more competitive, yes, but same "feel" as a stock variant.

Additionally these mechs tend to be relatively cheap to upgrade/can be upgraded in stages and are therefore good for starting players.

Here are three examples for you:

JR7-K

CN9-AL

CTF-2X

If you've got similar builds, please post them.

Edited by darqsyde, 23 September 2013 - 04:05 PM.

[DEMAX51]

You're wasting a half a ton on your JR7-K with that CASE. CASE does not help whatsoever if you're using an XL engine. You'd be better off taking it and one of your 5 JJs out for an extra heatsink.

Personally, I'm of the opinion you need no more than 2 JJs on a Jenner, so I'd pull out three of 'em and the CASE and pop in two extra heatsinks.

Edit: Also, put your SRM ammo in your head. It's almost impossible to intentionally headshot a Jenner unless it has overheated.

With regards to Pseudo-stock 'Mechs, I have a K2 Catapult that has two PPCs two MGs and two small lasers, but with a big XL engine, DHS, and near-max armor. It's a pretty decent sniper, but you do need to have support in case something gets too close.

Edited by DEMAX51, 25 September 2013 - 08:59 AM.

[Jaynestown]

Why BAP on the 2X? I wouldn't recommend that particular upgrade as "good for starting players" unless their mech has lock-on missiles. I would take that off, strip off half a ton of armor, and add +1 ton of LBX ammo and +1 DHS. What is BAP like 400k? Just not worth it in my opinion. Not if you're already on a budget.

[SethAbercromby]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b020e4800299db1

The only deviation of this Stalker from its canonical weapons systems is the replacement of the Large Pulse Lasers because i personally prefer the continues fire and increased range od the Large Laseres, basiaclly making it a reroll to the orginal all-range overlapping wepon ranges design while taking advantage of the dual AMS. The frightening total costs can be broken down in 3 upgrade cycles the Stalker can be used to full extend.

Cycle 1: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...357aa385859de50
Removal of one Heat Sink, upgrade from the Large Pulse Lasers tor Large Lasers and Installation of the second AMS and one additional ton of AMS ammo. Lots of leftover tonnage to max the armor to the disired value and one addtional Ton of LRM ammo in the head.

Cycle 2: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cc8a929ec78f616
Installation of Double Heat Sinks, I didn't really know what to do with all the leftover tonnage so I just maxed armor in the legs and threw in 2 addtional tons of ammo.

Cycle 3: (see top of post)
Leg armor back to 65 and removal of the 3 tons of additional Ammo, installation of the XL 300 Engine and the 2 internal Heat Sinks. I've noticed that one ton of ammo for each weapon is more than enough to get you through an entire 12v12 match.

[Wolfways]

I keep my mechs as stock....sort of.

I keep the original weapons (primary) and try to fit the same engine (secondary) but may change engine depending on how much weight i have after DHS (a must have) and maybe Endo.
My Jagermech JM6-S works great, but energy-based mechs suffer a lot and i find them to be fairly useless compared to the Jager.
Oh, and i always up the armour.

My K3 (K2 with 2xERPPC's, 2xML's, 2xMG's and 20DHS) was my favourite mech for a long time...until i discovered the power of autocannons

[Lord Ikka]

Look into the Hunchbacks for good Pseudo-Stock base. All you need to do for most of them is upgrade them to DHS and maybe Endo-steel for some more ammo/heatsinks.

[Toronaga]

Oh Really nice topic going. I do not consider myself a brilliant player, and I am still trying to learn, but this is what I did for my
Quikdraw 4G.

Step 1
Strip 3 JJ, add all to armour : http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e1c381edb7aed6d

Step 2
Bought DHS added more LRM ammo since I was preferring to stay at range during early stages and close in for late game brawl. : http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=82&l=0e87895f7284acc9004268594b428286e27a515b
Placement of ammo : Personal to be honest, I keep srm in head and lrm in feet.

Step 3
Bought Endo Steel, added more ammo and more armor. I went for more 1 more ton of lrm and 1 more ton of srm and another 0.5 tons of armor. Alternative would be to get Artemis and forgo the extra ammo.
This is what I ended up with : http://mwo.smurfy-ne...10ef6383ab86066

There's probably other builds out there that are way better, but building it like this worked for me.
Especially the LRM, granted it's only a '10 but it gave me much needed range.

[42and19]

Lord Ikka, on 26 September 2013 - 12:52 AM, said:

Look into the Hunchbacks for good Pseudo-Stock base. All you need to do for most of them is upgrade them to DHS and maybe Endo-steel for some more ammo/heatsinks.

This is so true. A friend and I run hunchbacks together we are running basically stock build (ac/20 2ML 1 SL) He went armor heavy and I went for speed when we upgraded. We make a nasty team.

[Jaynestown]

HBK-4SP

Upgrade to DHS (1.5M). Move SRM ammo into side torsos. Replace SLAS with MLAS (80k). Add 0.5 tons armor (10k). Add 10 DHS (120k). Total cost to upgrade less than 1.8M CBills.

Later you can upgrade the engine, add an extra ton of SRM ammo, and upgrade to Endo-Steel structure. You'll probably strip three or four of the existing DHS out, but you'll be sure to use those in your next mech designs anyway.

[darqsyde]

SHD-2D2

SHD-2H

Both of these are DHS, ES, and other minor enhanced versions.

The 2H is good as a long-range support, and the 2D2 as support/light fighter.

They also do okay as brawlers.

[Satan n stuff]

Hunchie 4G. Already one of the better stock mechs, you only really need to upgrade it to endo steel and DHS, you can swap the engine for a standard 250 and depending on your preference you can lose some armor to free weight, swap the small laser for a medium or just remove it, add ammo or move it somewhere else, install CASE and/or equip AMS. However you build it that AC/20 will probably stay right where it is.
For example: HBK-4G.

Edited by Satan n stuff, 18 October 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[Nick Makiaveli]

Jaynestown, on 25 September 2013 - 09:06 AM, said:

Why BAP on the 2X? I wouldn't recommend that particular upgrade as "good for starting players" unless their mech has lock-on missiles. I would take that off, strip off half a ton of armor, and add +1 ton of LBX ammo and +1 DHS. What is BAP like 400k? Just not worth it in my opinion. Not if you're already on a budget.

Canceling ECM isn't just for your own personal Streaks. Lights work best in packs, so if you run into a DDC for example.....

Also, it's extends your sensor range, and allows you to target mechs inside a ECM bubble so you can spot weak points, call in LRMs etc.

Also the OP did say these designs were generally meant to be upgraded over time etc.

[HlynkaCG]

darqsyde, on 23 September 2013 - 04:01 PM, said:

I've a bit of a fondness for trying to keep mechs similar to there stock roles/loadouts, Upgrading to make them more competitive, yes, but same "feel" as a stock variant.

It's nice to meet a kindred spirit


I too have a certain sentimental fondness for stock and near-stock builds and as such I "role play" my builds by trying to to keep pretend that things like Repair/Re-arm are still applicable and ensure that they are TT legal. Most of my mechs are essentially stock builds with DHS, extra ammo, and CASE added where applicable.

My HBK-4G is probably the purest expression of this philosophy but there are many others. For instance, my CTF-1X and 2X are almost stock except that I've used Endo-Steele to free-up enough tonnage to upgrade the AC10s on both to AC-20s.

My STK-5S is very similar to Toronaga's but I use a STD 255 in place of his XL 300. My 3F variant is essentially identical to my 5S. The only difference between them is the addition of a BAP in place of the second AMS.

My STK-3H also runs a stock weapons load, but uses Endo-Steel and DHS to free up tonnage for Artemis and more ammo.

ETA:
All in all I've used this philosophy to master out, Commandos, Hunchbacks, Jaegermechs, Cataphracts, and Stalkers. I am currently working my way through the Pheonix mechs

Edited by HlynkaCG, 29 October 2013 - 12:17 PM.

[Marmon Rzohr]

I'd like to introduce the Victors

When I started with the chassis I was surprised how potent and cheap it actually is. Let's start.

Victor 9S:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fc16db1063d067a

You can use this exact same build with the 9B. Both are excellent mechs. You get great hitboxes, jump jets, lots of firepower and lots of fun for just under 10 mil C-Bills. They work with their stock engines and weapons really well. The additional costs are: 800,000 for Endo Steel, 1,500,000 for Double Heat Sinks, and I added an SRM 4 and 1 ton of AC20 ammo.

The only real drawback is that the stock armor is atrocious. You really do need Endo Steel to free up some weight so you can fill up on armor.

All in all, it's one of the most fun (near)stock mechs I've tried

[New Day]

darqsyde, on 15 October 2013 - 11:30 PM, said:

SHD-2D2

SHD-2H

Both of these are DHS, ES, and other minor enhanced versions.

The 2H is good as a long-range support, and the 2D2 as support/light fighter.

They also do okay as brawlers.

Horrible.

[f38stingray]

CPLT-C1

A medium laser can be replaced with TAG, if so inclined.

Costs quite a bit, though.

[Buckminster]

Either Centurion (A or AL) makes a good semi-stock mech. They are better off without XL engines, which is really the biggest cost when upgrading a mech.

Switch to ES, max armor and add an additional heat sink, and you'll have a solid performer for just over 4.2 mil C-bills. There's still room to upgrade down the road, but it's a very solid starter.