44 replies to this topic

[Dragonsblood]

So, I'm new to the game and have enjoyed myself so far. Took me several days to really understand things and by that time I wasted all my cbills on a hunchback 4SP. I enjoy it but in almost all gaming, I play the guy running into the mess and brawl and the 4SP just isn't a badass tank.

Anyhow, I passed up my cadet bonus and sadly signed up for premium well after my 25 match. Since I'm looking at an assault type mech which is going to cost me 13-17 mil cbills should I just buy the one I want with MC? Or should I continue to grind up the Cbills to learn more about the game? I feel pretty competent but at the same time, my mech doesn't fit my playstyle. I'm looking more at the highlander 732 which would be cheap but a good buy imo (and from what I read) for how I like to play.

Thoughts?

I do have enough mc to buy it; sadly only 3mil Cbills... Also, I can't say I'm tearing up the matches either probably averaging 100k per so it's a long way to 15 mil cbills...

I appreciate any advice from some vets.

[Mahws]

My advice is that if you buy an Assualt mech you won't be a badass tank. No mech lasts long on its own, and Assualts often go down sooner in group fights because everyone focuses on the biggest most threatening thing they can aim at.

I'd suggest keeping up with the hunchbacks and learning to brawl in them (maybe switch to a Large Laser or PPC build, SRMs have fairly wonky hit detection at the moment and are generally considered pretty weak).

That being said, that wasn't the question you asked. So in answer to your actual question, I wouldn't recommend paying for an Assualt with MC. For the same price you can get a Hero Mech, with a 30% C-Bill bonus it'll get you a lot more mechs in the long run. A Firebrand would set you back less than an Atlas, and Jager Mechs can make for brutal brawlers with big ACs. Or you could splash out for Ilya, Protector or Dragon Slayer.

[Snegtag]

When I first started I used some MC to "jump start" my mech lineup and I regret it.
So no I wouldn't use your MC for an assualt. If you're going to use MC for a mech get a hero mech and I also suggest waiting for a sale.
Play the trial champion highlander and see what you think, if you're leaning towards a highlander. Just remember to make the mech as efficient as possible you need 3 to unlock the skill tree. Your MC will be better spent on bays.

Good luck

[Redshift2k5]

I would not suggest buying mechs with MC. They simply cost way too much for how much you pay, especially assault mechs which will cost as much as a whole game by itself.

Premium time is a much more economical way to improve your , although you recently missed a chance to buy a one month premium time on sale a few weeks ago. The one-month premium time is pretty good bang for your buck.

If you really regret the way you spent your Cadet Bonus, you can always try making a new account. Get another email address, get a new account, run the Cadet bonus with Premium Time, and look at the difference. Your original account will still have it's Hunchback. Nothing stopping you from having multiple accounts with multiple different mechs.

You definitely want to try trial Assault mechs before making a purchase, the change in speed & mobility from a 50 ton HBK to an Assault is a big difference and many players regret how slow Assaults really are.

[Roughneck45]

Only spend MC on hero mechs, premium time, colors, and single use paint jobs(EDIT: DOH! and mechbays of course lol). Everything else is a waste of MC.

Work that 4SP. It is a great mech to learn the ropes in, and a great brawler. Its less about tanking and more about working the angles and engagements.

Edited by Roughneck45, 11 December 2013 - 09:10 AM.

[Koniving]

Dragonsblood, on 08 December 2013 - 04:43 PM, said:

I'm looking more at the highlander 732 which would be cheap but a good buy imo (and from what I read) for how I like to play.

Note that mechs can be 'changed' to suit how you play.

If you're considering buying a Highlander and the option, I'd advise a Heavy Metal sometime down the line. In the mean time, if you're on I'll throw you an invite to the Zhizhu teamspeak to help customize and escort a starting Highlander 732 bought with . However, in terms of cost the 732 is more expensive than both the 733 and the 733P for starters when considering the bare minimum changes (double heatsinks; in the 732's case removal of ferro armor). 10.9 mil versus 11+ mil.

I have a very low-cost, very effective 733P rig involving a large standard engine, 2 large lasers, 2 medium lasers, and several streaks as well as an anti-missile system for defense. High speed, jump capable, well armored for low-cost, general use if you go that route (and will even escort you using it).

A first assault mech at the pre-basic unlock level will have a very hard time on its own so joined with us we can escort you for a few matches while you unlock the basic mobility mech skills.

Edited by Koniving, 08 December 2013 - 06:36 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

Aside of the fact that I agree all of those above, here's a bit side note of how to pilot a Hunchback....

[Wildstreak]

If you want to spend MC on a Mech, either wait until it is on sale or get the Heavy Metal but you have to want that.

As for your 4SP, I do not know the SRM issue people talk about but you can also try using twin LRM5s or just go all laser ignoring the Missile slots.

I do not recommend more than 1 PPC on a Hunchback from when I tried it on a 4P. You could try Large or ER Large, the second gets more range but less heat than a PPC and fewer tons + criticals used up. Just watch your heat if you use 2 Large of either type. I once saw someone run a 4P with 2LLs and 2MLs, tried it myself, it is doable just watch the heat scale.

Here is a link to a post with one version of the 4SP someone did with all Lasers, 2 Large and 3 Medium. That whole topic is good for Hunchback advice.

Meantime, you can keep earning CBills for other Mechs.

Edited by Merchant, 08 December 2013 - 07:27 PM.

[Victor Morson]

Roughneck45, on 08 December 2013 - 06:13 PM, said:

Only spend MC on hero mechs, premium time, colors, and single use paint jobs. Everything else is a waste of MC.

And 'mech bays.

That said yeah, if you want to buy in for your first 'mech buy a hero. I recommend the Heavy Metal, Ilya Muromets or Dragon Slayer. All three will serve you well.

[Tarl Cabot]

And before making a purchase, wait until Friday evening US time or you may kick yourself (due to sale on mech you just purchased the day before )

[Dragonsblood]

So when you buy a hero mech do all the elite/master unlock for that mech? How does that work? Do you need to buy the other variants (non-hero) to unlock them?

I really appreciate all your input, thanks!

[Modo44]

You always need 3 variants of a mech to unlock the elite level, and 3 mechs of the same weight class to unlock the master level.

[Buckminster]

Have you unlocked all of the efficiencies on your Hunch? I've found that a mech doesn't begin to shine until I have Elite finished.

But to answer your actual question, I'll echo what everyone else here has said - do NOT spend MC on something that you can buy with C-bills, and don't pay full price. Sales always come through, and you can get more for your MC if you wait.

[Redshift2k5]

Dragonsblood, on 09 December 2013 - 05:14 AM, said:

So when you buy a hero mech do all the elite/master unlock for that mech? How does that work? Do you need to buy the other variants (non-hero) to unlock them?

I really appreciate all your input, thanks!

you will need to buy a Hero then two more regular variants to complete the skill tree.

[DrSlamastika]

Modo44, on 09 December 2013 - 05:28 AM, said:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . , and 3 mechs of the same weight class to unlock the master level.

WTF?

[The Basilisk]

You need to have finished 3 Variants basic skills level of the same chassis to unlock elite and 2 variants of the same chassis finished elite to unlock master.

And by the way.
In MWO the rule "the bigger the better" is not valid.
It is quite likely that you will have a larger dmg potential and more armor but essentially you also get shoot more often and you are much too slow to simply walk away.
Piloting an assault mech can be quite fustrating especially for certain mechs like Atlas, Victor and Stalker who are instantly identified to be prime targets on the field.
Even worse you need to level them until their clumsiness is somewhat alleviated by your increasing skill level.
So be carefull not to sink a lot of money into a mech you will find quite hard to get used to.

Edited by The Basilisk, 09 December 2013 - 06:20 AM.

[Junkman7mgte]

Buckminster, on 09 December 2013 - 05:37 AM, said:

But to answer your actual question, I'll echo what everyone else here has said - do NOT spend MC on something that you can buy with C-bills, and don't pay full price. Sales always come through, and you can get more for your MC if you wait.

Exception to NOT spending MC on a mech you can buy with C-bills ... The sales you mention in your last line. One sale I was able to get 3 mechs I knew I'd use, and the bays, and still had enough MC left over for a couple more bays, from a $15 package. It was a bargain IMO, compared to the time investment.

[Shade4x]

Dragonsblood, on 08 December 2013 - 04:43 PM, said:

So, I'm new to the game and have enjoyed myself so far. Took me several days to really understand things and by that time I wasted all my cbills on a hunchback 4SP. I enjoy it but in almost all gaming, I play the guy running into the mess and brawl and the 4SP just isn't a badass tank.

Anyhow, I passed up my cadet bonus and sadly signed up for premium well after my 25 match. Since I'm looking at an assault type mech which is going to cost me 13-17 mil cbills should I just buy the one I want with MC? Or should I continue to grind up the Cbills to learn more about the game? I feel pretty competent but at the same time, my mech doesn't fit my playstyle. I'm looking more at the highlander 732 which would be cheap but a good buy imo (and from what I read) for how I like to play.

Thoughts?

I do have enough mc to buy it; sadly only 3mil Cbills... Also, I can't say I'm tearing up the matches either probably averaging 100k per so it's a long way to 15 mil cbills...

I appreciate any advice from some vets.

Hunchies are one of the best tanks ton for ton in the game. They have small CT (center torso) and have very good load outs usually. I would strongly picking a mech, getting 3 of the variants to master before moving on. The difference playing a mastered mech is night and day to even an elited mech. That being said, yes the SP is the weakest of the hunchie line, which is kinda like being the slowest olympic runner.

This will go two ways. You will either buy a new mech, and get outfit it with some {Scrap}-tastic build, do about 500 damage in spread damage (spreading all over the mech and being useless) and convince yourself your good, or you will stick with a tanky mech, learning to torso twist and squeeze the most out of the mech. This is not to be mean, this is something every one who plays this game goes through. If you follow the first trek, you'll be like 90% of the players in this game, sitting back and shooting over a hill with ER Large Lasers, doing almost no real damage, and occasionally stealing a kill. If you follow the 2nd trek you'll be part of the 10% that decides matches and is generally feared in a match.

If you want to start a new line buying MC, i would suggest to find a hero mech you like, of a mech type that is extreamly versitile, The Muromets of the Cataphract is one of the best Hero mech's in the game. The Cataphract series all are extreamly versitile, and offer differn't play styles on differnt variants. The Orion Series are extreamly solid, and fairly versitile as well. Basicly they act like upgraded AC/20 hunch backs. I would stay away from any mech that's max speed is 70 or slower (because it severly limits your options in what you can do) and i would go for a heavy, not an assult. If you want an assult, go victor, they are one of the most versitile mech's, if not the most versitile mech in the game. Your going to be spending alot of time playing these mech's to farm C-Bills, so mess around with some build idea's in your head.

DO NOT get an Atlas, light mech, or a Jager, while all are great mech's, they are complex and complicated, and shouldn't be your first serious mech, unless they fit your playing style to a T, and even then, i wouldn't advise an atlas.

[Junkman7mgte]

DrSlamastika, on 09 December 2013 - 06:04 AM, said:

WTF?

That was correct. Ie. - Basic out 3 Jenners. Basicc out 2 Ravens. Hate 1 Jenner and 2 Ravens, No problem. Eltie the 3 you like, and master opens up for those 3.

[DrSlamastika]

Hmm . . that's new information for me, but worthless. I can easily leveling also not so good mechs, its called challenge I dont need this kind of cheats.