Stalker Purchase Advice
#1
Posted 02 December 2013 - 01:10 AM
Currently looking at the 3F (Best torso movement), the 3H (20 packs), and the 5M (Center mounted Laser for 'zombie'ing, though probably the first thing shot off).
The 5S looks neat, I know 2 AMS on the Locust 3M variant more than double its life expectancy, but it's the same issue I have with the K variant Atlas. NO interest in spending bills on a fairly subpar variant for a gimmicky defense mechanic, would rather just buy the XL engine outright if I really want it.
And the 4N....not very hard to see why it's the cheapest of the variants. One less missile rack, same energy hardpoints as two other variants. It's got a WHOLE lot of heatsinks though...
I just want to make sure my assessments aren't lacking something. I'm kind of trying to min/max here, but more so in how varied I can build the rigs, as I'm not a big fan of 'master and dump.'
Also, apologies if this is too fresh of a thread on the topic, I didn't/failed to see one about it in the recent pages.
#2
Posted 02 December 2013 - 01:18 AM
#3
Posted 02 December 2013 - 02:05 AM
#4
Posted 02 December 2013 - 02:06 AM
Personally, I only kept the obvious 3F, and to master it, I purchased the 5S (to get the XL engine), and the 5M (because it comes with dual heatsinks stock, saving money to master the chassis). The 3H is a good LRM boat, but even an Awesome beats it. And the 4N, as you guessed, is a dud.
#5
Posted 02 December 2013 - 02:09 AM
I will present you the three Stalker variants wich I regard as most usefull and without primary atributes that seem to be flat out handicaps.
Stalker 5S:
-- 6 Energy (4@Arms highest point of mech, 2 side Torso); 4 Missle (2 Arms 2 Sides); 2 AMS (same weapon hardpoints like the 3F but 1 AMS more)
Stalker 5M:
-- 5 Energy ( 1 CT; 4 Arms) Zombi potential FTW); 5 Missles (2 Arms; 3 Sides) highest misslecount of all Stalker chassis; there "was?" a drawback with the 5th missle hardpoint wich had only one tube I'm not quite sure if this is solved today; 1 AMS
Stalker 3F:
-- Like 5S but only one AMS; there are differences in elevation and torso twist but....can't realy quantify them.
The other variants have an overall decreased hardpoint count but (had ?) different missletube layouts and/or other quirks ( torso twist, reaktor rating, elevation ) with them.
There you go. What I see on the field is mainly Stalker 5S and sometimes a 5M missle boat.
Stalkers main drawbacks are ridiculous heat buildup plus they are slow and cumbersome in addition to their huge flanks.
Low front profile but sides as large as continents. So be warned.
Don't get close to meds or lights or you are dead meat.
#6
Posted 02 December 2013 - 09:34 AM
my 3F is a ERLLas build with 4SSRM2's I tend to stay close to another big slow mech and add fire support till something wanders to close then light em up with SSRM's
5S is 2LRM10's 5MLas and 2SSRM2 Keep shooting thos LRM's as I slowly advance into range of the MLas and start shooting
misery is AC20 2ERLLAS and 3MLas I use to brawl a lot.
The stalker has big sides, but if you face your target head on its actually pretty narrow and damage gets spread across the CT and ST's pretty well.
#7
Posted 03 December 2013 - 03:07 PM
I at the very least have a purchase plan now; 3F is a must, will likely buy the 5m second, and depending on how they work out for me, I'll decide between the 5S and 3H later (Though being able to just dump 40 missiles into somebody, or a group of somebodies, at 200m......sweet)
#8
Posted 04 December 2013 - 09:53 AM
With that in mind one option is to simply buy the cheapest variants and just run easy builds like 4erllas or 4large pulse lasers and just sell them off. All of the variants can run those.
#9
Posted 04 December 2013 - 10:21 AM
3F has the greatest and fastest torso twist.
4N turns the fastest, but easily gets stuck on things other Stalkers do not. This is due to it being slightly faster at 'stopping' (which Hills force you to stop, thus if you stop faster you have a harder time climbing).
3H is slightly slower to stop. Because of this and its modestly faster acceleration, it has an easier time climbing than any other Stalker. (Misery is the closest rival in this ability.)
The 5S has twin AMS. This is beneficial against SRMs at range, LRMs, and Streaks.
The 5M has the 5th missile launcher. The 5th launcher no longer has single-tube-syndrome. However, except in mixing SRM 4/6 with 2's or 2 high LRMs with several LRM-5s, or carrying 5 SRM-2s or 5 Streaks, don't expect a whole lot of use.
I do not advise creating a Roflwalker. >.>
#10
Posted 04 December 2013 - 10:27 AM
The 5S is the most expensive, but the extra cost means you're not buying an engine you won't use (an XL255 is a very good engine, just not in a stalker, and most stalkers up the engine to at least 275 anyway). I made mine my missile/fire support boat (2xLRM10, 2xLRM5, 2xLL), which lets me provide cover for other support mechs with the extra AMS, and it does quite well.
My 5M I have setup as a brawler with PPC fire support (2xPPC, 3xML, 3xSRM4), though it's not something I couldn't do on another chasis. The 5th missile hardpoint can be useful for some builds (I've also mounted 5 SSRM2s before, which is fun but only vs lights), and the zombie can be useful, but don't expect to win matches as a zombie, because most likely your missing most of your CT armor and might be red by then anyway. The other good news about the extra missile slot is 3 don't have doors, which is nice for brawling (see my above setup).
My 3F I have setup pretty standard with a balanced (hot) build. It's pretty deadly, I can handle lights in it, and brings a lot of flexibility to a group. The torso twist probably makes this the best one for any non-LRM applications.
The 3H is the LRM20 arm build, which could be interesting, but I find LRM10s or 15s are a better in general (no extra crit slot use, better ROF, slighty better tonnage per missile on the 15 pack), and found my 5S did just fine with LRMs. Not really good for anything else.
The 4N is lacking. Just don't.
Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the top 4, or get a Misery as one if you're willing to spend the dough.
#11
Posted 04 December 2013 - 10:55 AM
#12
Posted 04 December 2013 - 11:30 AM
Fuggles, on 04 December 2013 - 09:53 AM, said:
I haven't played a LRM mech of any kind in probly 6 months so maybe something changed, but I ran a Stalker w/LRMs and it was pretty good:
Of course this was a lot of balancing ago, different heat vision, 8 mans, lotsa new mechs since then.
#13
Posted 04 December 2013 - 05:04 PM
The 3H is one of the best LRM boats in the game. I think it's the best, but I'm biased cause it's the only one I run. 50 LRMs in one volley is no joke. You just have to know how to play it. 3rd highest KDR.
I believe I ran the 5M when I was leveling them. I just put a crapton of large lasers on it and a standard engine. Was pretty fun at the time.
The Misery would be better for that sortof thing and is currently the best stalker. I really really wish it wasn't so expensive.
Edited by Desist, 04 December 2013 - 05:05 PM.
#14
Posted 05 December 2013 - 08:43 PM
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a24ebd214ceb6e1
#15
Posted 06 January 2014 - 10:24 AM
#16
Posted 06 January 2014 - 10:37 AM
No seriously, get your hands down and go buy a 3F.
#17
Posted 06 January 2014 - 03:34 PM
#18
Posted 06 January 2014 - 03:46 PM
Talking about stuff the 3F is superior over any of the other ones because of the extra torso twist. It means you can brawl and snipe easily. With any other you'll find constrained by the torso twist and you'll always have to remember to aid your tracking maneuvers turning the legs along the torso, which is annoying unless you're safe in the distance.
In fact I see the others as snipers (ER LL) or eventually as LRM boats. The 5M can have some brawling chance because it can be nasty with 5 streaks (and BAP of course) and has the CT energy slot that means "LL zombie"; the 5S is for rainy days. Of LRMs. I keep it simply because sooner or later PGI will screw LRMs again so if the missiles will darken the skies.. it's ready.
I find it a better option than the AS7-K for dual AMS purpose, other than the second AMS, the 3F is far better due to the torso twist.. 813 matches (without counting those before stats intro) in the 3F for me, 145 for the 5M and 83 in the 5S.
#19
Posted 06 January 2014 - 04:49 PM
The stalkers are slow and cumbersome, which makes the 3F's greater torso twist range all the more important.
#20
Posted 06 January 2014 - 05:08 PM
On the 5M, 2 ER LL, 2 Md Lasers, and 5 LRM 5s. with 720 round and x2 HS. Does good for me.
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