29 replies to this topic

[Fang01]

These were both from yesterday in two Very different builds.

[Bromineberry]

To be honest, I really hate the change with the CT and ST armour. Roughly 70% of the time my death is now because one of my ST gets blown to pieces. Often, my CT even has armor left. I want the old armour distribution back. Why did they have to fiddle with the dragon besides from giving it the thong? Why? WHY?

[Snowcrow]

Bromineberry, on 15 December 2013 - 05:06 PM, said:

To be honest, I really hate the change with the CT and ST armour. Roughly 70% of the time my death is now because one of my ST gets blown to pieces. Often, my CT even has armor left. I want the old armour distribution back. Why did they have to fiddle with the dragon besides from giving it the thong? Why? WHY?

Just change to a std engine.

[Verrue]

Or even better, raise the front side torso armor and lower the rear armor. Since the hitbox change, missile have a greater chance to hit side torso.

[Modo44]

Go faster, torso-twist more. Never, ever be in a fair fight.

[Motroid]

Snowcrow, on 26 January 2014 - 04:49 AM, said:

Just change to a std engine.

Standard Engines ruin the poor hardpoint layout completly. They are no solution to the increased ST.
Dragons HAVE to be fast. 100 km/h minimum. I'd prefer the classic XL360/106,9 setup. Fast in - fast out while carrying some gauss or AC.
I think the new hitboxes, especially the sidetorso did harm the DRG even more. Being able to sport a big XL without having ST problems was the big Dragon deal. They nerfed the Dragon in that regard. And I REALLY LOVE my 1C and Flame (1 Gauss and 4 ML) but it's a kinda hard-knock-life out there in a DRG with all those HGN, VTR, etc blasting 30+ alphas to my sidetorso...
But they used to be more fun back in the days. Especially with no engine limit and a 400XL....ahh I miss the old days.
Edit: typo

Edited by Motroid, 26 January 2014 - 08:00 AM.

[Bromineberry]

Snowcrow, on 26 January 2014 - 04:49 AM, said:

Just change to a std engine.

The XL-friendliness is the only selling point for a Dragon. If I used a STD engine, I would have to downgrade from a 325 to a 250....or significantly reduce weapon load.

Verrue, on 26 January 2014 - 07:24 AM, said:

Or even better, raise the front side torso armor and lower the rear armor. Since the hitbox change, missile have a greater chance to hit side torso.

Not an option, because the rear armour is already paper thin (I think 6 points).

Modo44, on 26 January 2014 - 07:26 AM, said:

Go faster, torso-twist more. Never, ever be in a fair fight.

Torso twisting is now part of the problem. If I torso-twist, the ST gets hit all the time. If I don't, the ST STILL get'***** a lot. Ironically, I survive longer, if I don't torso-twist anymore.

Edited by Bromineberry, 26 January 2014 - 09:19 PM.

[Modo44]

Bromineberry, on 26 January 2014 - 09:18 PM, said:

Torso twisting is now part of the problem. If I torso-twist, the ST gets hit all the time. If I don't, the ST STILL get'***** a lot. Ironically, I survive longer, if I don't torso-twist anymore.

Go faster. Never, ever be in a fair fight. Torso twist smarter. Never, ever, EVER be in a fair fight. You are the flanker and light chaser, not the main tank.

[Bromineberry]

Modo44, on 26 January 2014 - 11:11 PM, said:

Go faster. Never, ever be in a fair fight. Torso twist smarter. Never, ever, EVER be in a fair fight. You are the flanker and light chaser, not the main tank.

You don't have to tell me, how to play the Dragon. I know it...or should I say I knew? Torso-twist does NOT help anymore. If I torso-twist, the hits go mostly to the ST. If I don't...they very often also go the the ST. With the hitboxes now, I'm sometimes exposing my CT to the enemy ON PURPOSE, just to not get hit in the ST!

Before the patch, I died due to ST destruction maybe five times. It was always a "WHAAAAT?" sort of moment. Before I died I usually lost one or two arms before, some armor on the ST, and then got cored. Now, due to the bigger ST hitboxes, it happens quite often, that at the very beginning of the game a 30+pinpoint alpha hits the ST, dropping nearly all armor. That means, that I'm hampered in gamepaly immediately, because I always have to watch out for this nearly stripped ST. And once it's stripped,,,you're dead. You get crit-seeked by some Spider, or, because the ST is now easy to hit, the next enemy that sees your paperdoll simply takes it out.
And thanks to that, most of the time I die due to ST destruction. My average damage roughly halfed after the patch. simply because I die much quicker. Torso-twist or not.

And since these experiences, I always aim for the ST when I meet a Dragon. Why? Because I manage to hit it most of the time...and even if I miss it, damage goes to the CT, which, if it turns red and/or gets stripped, is still very easy to hit and I can always change to firing at it.

[Flagrant]

Bromineberry is right. Torso twisting is a myth for the Dragon at least. It's better to be facing the target to shoot while running to the left or right of target. Hopefully you have an exit, because If you are circling your target and he is aware of you, your side torso is going to be red in no time. If out in the open, the trick is to 180 once in awhile so the other side torso can get some hits absorbed. And always look for an exit from the fight so you can use your speed to attack something else that's preoccupied.


Dragon gameplay is so unforgiving. Lights come right at me. Even I see them as easy pickings. But it feels so awesome when some red mech comes at me thinking easy and realize every shot I make is hitting him hard and he turns around to run away.