90 replies to this topic

[Arctourus]

My 5m has a gauss with several tons of ammo, an erllas and a mlas in the arm and no missiles. Works great if you're a good hunter. Hang back, haunt the shadows and strike from the darkness. It also handles pretty good in tight quarters. You won't last forever, but if you run into something you have some punch and the mobility of the JJ and decent speed to help get away.

[Trauglodyte]

You all are making me feel self conscious about wanting to slap a 340xl in my SHD

[Bishop Steiner]

Trauglodyte, on 22 November 2013 - 08:22 AM, said:

You all are making me feel self conscious about wanting to slap a 340xl in my SHD

don't do it!

[Escef]

All of my SHDs use 300 XL. With tweak you go a little shy of 100 kph. The stock 275s aren't bad, and keeping them makes for a good budget option.

[N a p e s]

I don't mind the XL275/280 engines if my hawk is running around with ballstics but if I've got a mixed loadout the XL300/325 really helps it shine. All personal preference of course.

[Finn McShae]

All my SHD's have a UAC/5, as many streaks as I can cram and either MLAS or LLAS depeding on what space is left.

All have worked great.

[Inflatable Fish]

I've had plenty of fun and not at all bad results with this build: SHD-2H Mid-Range Support

stick around the second line and provide suppression LRM fire for your team's brawlers. don't waste ammo trying to hit distant targets with missiles, the arm laser is enough to scare any scouts from afar and corral the enemy herd where you want them most of the time. machine guns are there to finish off wounded enemies.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

Inflatable Fish, on 23 November 2013 - 12:33 PM, said:

I've had plenty of fun and not at all bad results with this build: SHD-2H Mid-Range Support

stick around the second line and provide suppression LRM fire for your team's brawlers. don't waste ammo trying to hit distant targets with missiles, the arm laser is enough to scare any scouts from afar and corral the enemy herd where you want them most of the time. machine guns are there to finish off wounded enemies.

SHD-2H

I like this build a bit more. Slightly less jump capacity but more ammo, faster cycle time on the LRMs (and only 5 fewer missiles per volley with far more weight and space efficiency), and a bigger engine. Also full armor everywhere but your left arm, which doesn't have anything on it. It has better heat efficiency too, if you find yourself dumping LRMs and ERLL shots during a sustained battle on Terra Therma.

[Captain Stiffy]

Joseph Mallan, on 21 November 2013 - 05:45 AM, said:

I had tonnage but space left!

Not a fan of Streaks, but I do like the build. I can see the reliability in it.

You are an elite founder... you put case in XL... don't know how to use your tonnage up right... and you posted 14,000 things on this forum while doing all that kind of stuff. Great. I don't get it at all man I just don't. I love all people but sometimes they amaze me.

[Deathlike]

Trauglodyte, on 22 November 2013 - 08:22 AM, said:

You all are making me feel self conscious about wanting to slap a 340xl in my SHD

Already done that for the Steakhawk. The others don't/shouldn't need the treatment.

[Vimeous]

A few alternatives to try:

SHD-2H
SHD-2D2
SHD-5M

I need good value and survivability in brawlers so no XL but keep the JJ's for manoeuvrability. I also want something with range.
The 2H/2D2 are close-support brawler builds setup as 'sweepers' for stalling light-rushes and protecting the slower hardware.
The 5M is mid-range support most likely on the flanks supporting the main body.

[Joseph Mallan]

Captain Stiffy, on 24 November 2013 - 05:23 PM, said:

You are an elite founder... you put case in XL... don't know how to use your tonnage up right... and you posted 14,000 things on this forum while doing all that kind of stuff. Great. I don't get it at all man I just don't. I love all people but sometimes they amaze me.

I'm Sorry Cap'n, I didn't know I had to have your approval! Next time send me a memo to let me know I am suppose to care. Now if you wanna be constructive, get in line with the others!

Edited by Joseph Mallan, 25 November 2013 - 06:04 AM.

[Joseph Mallan]

Arctourus, on 22 November 2013 - 07:35 AM, said:

My 5m has a gauss with several tons of ammo, an erllas and a mlas in the arm and no missiles. Works great if you're a good hunter. Hang back, haunt the shadows and strike from the darkness. It also handles pretty good in tight quarters. You won't last forever, but if you run into something you have some punch and the mobility of the JJ and decent speed to help get away.

That is going to be my one hang up. Since I got a better system, I lost my patience to hang back! And since the trigger delay I really don't like Gauss as much as I have the last 25 years.

[Bishop Steiner]

Joseph Mallan, on 25 November 2013 - 06:03 AM, said:

That is going to be my one hang up. Since I got a better system, I lost my patience to hang back! And since the trigger delay I really don't like Gauss as much as I have the last 25 years.

Gauss is such a waste in a Shad. I don't dislike the Gauss in general, but with it's mechanic, it's not really a cavalry weapon anymore, and that is exactly the role the Shad excels at. The Shad works so much better with an ac10, dual 5, UAC, etc IMO. the 2 guns on a Shad that make me cringe are ac20s and Gauss. Both just take away too much from what the Shad does best.

It CAN be used, but it certainly isn't a weapon I fear while driving my own Shad.

[Randalf Yorgen]

Joseph Mallan, on 21 November 2013 - 06:41 AM, said:

For me since we don't have to pay for repairs, C.A.S.E. is not a necessity as much as a luxury.

Joseph, if you have an ammo explosion you still loos that section of your mech, Case just stops extra damamge from moving into the next section of your mech. with three engine slots in the side torsos with an XL engine, you lose the torso you lose the engine. Clans only have two slots in the side torso so losing a torso only gimps them but it doesn't take them out completely. However Clan Case also is built in and takes no crits and weights nothing, if I remember correctly, it's just a weak spot in the armour (for outward pressure) and the Clans figured out two hundred years ago.

Having Case on an Inner Sphere mech with an XL engine is a waste of 1 crit and .5 tons.

[Bishop Steiner]

Vimeous, on 24 November 2013 - 06:16 PM, said:

A few alternatives to try:

SHD-2H
SHD-2D2
SHD-5M

I need good value and survivability in brawlers so no XL but keep the JJ's for manoeuvrability. I also want something with range.
The 2H/2D2 are close-support brawler builds setup as 'sweepers' for stalling light-rushes and protecting the slower hardware.
The 5M is mid-range support most likely on the flanks supporting the main body.

Shad brawls fine with an XL in it. Just twist more. on that 2H, you leave so much firepower in the table. Being able to kill fast does as much to enhance survivability in a brawler as being able to take a beating. The PPC seems an odd duck choice, since a good portion of the time, in brawling it will be unavailable. And 3 SSRM and 3 MG is laughable.

At the very least, add ferro to your 2H, and free up another ton. Add a DHS and swap to an ER PPC so at least you can hit with more than spitwads at close range. Up armor that left arm and use it to absorb incoming fire.

The 2D2.......... the ac2 is basically a waste of tonnage, as the only thing a single ac2 does is suppression fire. Which only works against noobs.

And the 5M? Hot and not enough ammo. the PPCs and LB-X don't make very complimentary weapon groups. And no JJ? Take the most air mobile Shad and then ground it?

Not going to go out and call them bads, but I certainly would not fear any of them. Twist more. I run XLs in ALL of my Shads, and I tank damage better in it than in my Victor.

Randalf Yorgen, on 25 November 2013 - 06:26 AM, said:

Joseph, if you have an ammo explosion you still loos that section of your mech, Case just stops extra damamge from moving into the next section of your mech. with three engine slots in the side torsos with an XL engine, you lose the torso you lose the engine. Clans only have two slots in the side torso so losing a torso only gimps them but it doesn't take them out completely. However Clan Case also is built in and takes no crits and weights nothing, if I remember correctly, it's just a weak spot in the armour (for outward pressure) and the Clans figured out two hundred years ago.

Having Case on an Inner Sphere mech with an XL engine is a waste of 1 crit and .5 tons.

Gotta agree with you on this. CASE serves zero purpose if you run an IS XL, or carry leg ammo, as the explosion transfers to the CT from legs, not the STs.

[Arctourus]

Joseph Mallan, on 25 November 2013 - 06:03 AM, said:

That is going to be my one hang up. Since I got a better system, I lost my patience to hang back! And since the trigger delay I really don't like Gauss as much as I have the last 25 years.

I'd prefer no delay myself, but I like the weapon. I outfitted this one like this because I wanted a change of pace. So many people have their three variants of shads outfitted as identically as possible.

Captain Stiffy, on 24 November 2013 - 05:23 PM, said:

You are an elite founder... you put case in XL... don't know how to use your tonnage up right... and you posted 14,000 things on this forum while doing all that kind of stuff. Great. I don't get it at all man I just don't. I love all people but sometimes they amaze me.

when this game started (hence a founder) there were repairs as part of the game. Even though case wouldn't stop an xl from getting destroyed, I understand it made the damage much less expensive to repair. Thus, the inclusion of a case was important, even it if it isn't anymore. It's considered the proper way to build a mech (if you look, most of the purchaseable mechs with xls come with case if they hold ammunition.)

[LowSubmarino]

The 2D2 is my favourit mech atm.

Have tried some loadouts which were all fun and then refined it to my personal style and havent changed it since.

XL280, 3 ssrms (200), 2ml, ac10 (45). Almost forgot: Beagle active probe is important for this build. I lost count on how often it was what brought victory against basically anything with ecm be it raven, spider or atlas.

Do not, and I repeat it, do not forget you active probe hehe! Least not for this build.

Heat efficiency is at 1.33.

Has 3 jjs and 365 out of 370 armor.

Modules for this build are advanced target decay and seismic as well as improved gyro. Seismic could be changed for something else like cool shot or what not but I rarely ever overheat.

I truely love this mech and loadout. I have defeated pretty much any mech in a 1vs1, or, if I was injured already or took too much dmg and new I cant make it I could outrun a lot of the heavier mechs. Does well against lights, mediums, heavies, assaults.

Whoever designed the shadowhawk should get a raise.

Edited by oneda, 25 November 2013 - 08:40 AM.

[LordBraxton]

Shadowhawks NEED Xls

they distribute damage like a centurion, but excel at mid range support

Slap an xl275-300 and as many light and medium auto cannons as you can fit

[LowSubmarino]

LordBraxton, on 25 November 2013 - 09:36 AM, said:

Shadowhawks NEED Xls

they distribute damage like a centurion, but excel at mid range support

Slap an xl275-300 and as many light and medium auto cannons as you can fit

In brawl, and especially 1 vs 1, situations I realized that I get the best results using an ac 10 as I can only briefly look at the other mech, shoot it, to then look away again or jump and fire the ssrms while flying. Thats how I take out other shadowhawks with ac 2s or ac 5s in a brawl. With anything smaller you can definitely get as good, or maybe even better, results. But not in the brawl as you face other heavy hitting mechs too long and take a lot more damage to your torso.

For mid to long range ac 5 or ac 2 is the choice of course.

Edited by oneda, 25 November 2013 - 09:59 AM.