21 replies to this topic

[Varik Ronain]

I know that the whole 6 missile hardpoints and no laser tag thing is a major turn off for a lot of people but I have found it to be quite versatile when it comes to loading out the mech. I always toss in an XL engine (300 mostly) but depending on how much hardware you want to pack into it I sometimes use the XL255 and with speed tweak you still can get up to 69.9 KPH. Recently I have been having a lot of success with 2 LRM 15s and 4 streaks with a BAP, extended sensors + target decay. Sure you have to position yourself and find ways to work around ECM bubbles but if you have to at least you can fight with the streaks after you knock out the enemy ECM cover.

With everyone poptarting it seems to be easier to find people out of position for ECM protection and you can do a lot of damage with 2 LRM 15 racks or 2 LRM 10s if you want the 300XL and the 82KHP speed. The best part is when a light races to get behind and "ambush you" only to find himself armed with a knife in a gunfight. Streaks have a random hit location and I found it to be pretty easy to leg a light even if they have ECM cover if you use BAP+Art. I know art does not help streaks but it does allow you to lock on faster with whatever missile it is you are using.

So does anyone out there still pilot an A1 that is not the LRM5x6 variety?

Let me know what your loadout is and what success or hardships you come across?

I know with this set up I dont really fear any mech 1 on 1... it is just a wolfpack with multiple ECMs that get to me now.

Edited by Varik Ronain, 12 December 2013 - 01:31 PM.

[Dimitry Matveyev]

Yes, I use the same - x2 LRM15, x4 Strikes, XL280, x2 JJ, BAP. One of the best A1 loadouts I had. If PGI would return old style launchers (not these C4 style) - I would be happy )).

[Soulscour]

The A1 was used extensively before they made changes to SRM damage, and ecm. Everyone was using them in various 6 SRM6 and 6 Streak configurations. Now that SRMs and streaks are no longer broken as hell, people are more inclined to use other mechs. I still have a 6 SRM build and bring it out for fun but its not a mech I would regularly use, even when they were overpowered.

[Varik Ronain]

I have only been playing for about 2 months but have managed to master the catapult and the jager and have tried about every type of mech. For a heavy the catapult with JJ seems pretty quick and agile for a 65 ton machine. I have read the horror stories about when streaks used to always hit the CT and I have read about LRMageddon before they were changed and the ECM was added. It seems there was a huge drop off A1 pilots after the fixes made to make it more in line with other weapons.

Even if the A1 is not so overpowered anymore it sure as hell is still a fun mech to use! And if you catch your prey within the sweet spot (190-270M) it is amazing how much damage you can do.

I have used the splatcat SRM6x6 before but the heat is hard to manage in a brawl, but man it can do a lot of damage when the hit detection gods are looking down favorably on you.

Edited by Varik Ronain, 12 December 2013 - 02:14 PM.

[Yiazmat]

I still roll my A1 at least once a log in. it really is a fun mech, and very difficult to master the play style. also,   mostly because it's HATED so much. I get people rushing me all the time trying to get inside my lrm deadzone. I just run and run back to my friendlies and they eat him alive because now he's totally surrounded and cut off.  
oh, yeah,  i am one of those alrm5 x6 guys. I know I didn't invent or coin the build, but I know I'm the guy who people want dead more than any other machine in the match Lol.

Edited by Yiazmat, 12 December 2013 - 02:20 PM.

[Varik Ronain]

Yiazmat, on 12 December 2013 - 02:19 PM, said:

I still roll my A1 at least once a log in. it really is a fun mech, and very difficult to master the play style. also, mostly because it's HATED so much. I get people rushing me all the time trying to get inside my lrm deadzone. I just run and run back to my friendlies and they eat him alive because now he's totally surrounded and cut off.
oh, yeah, i am one of those alrm5 x6 guys. I know I didn't invent or coin the build, but I know I'm the guy who people want dead more than any other machine in the match Lol.

I used to run the LRM5x6 build but I got tired of every light and their brother hunting me down like I was some sort of escaped serial ******... hence why I LOVE it when they rush me now... there is no greater joy than killing a light mech after you have been owed by them so often while boating.

[LORD TSARKON]

I see these mechs all the time.......












....in piles of scrapheap next to my Atlas after I"ve killed them...
I wish we would see more of these!!! My Kill to Death Ratio would be higher than
2.98

[PappySmurf]

Its real simple you don't see a lot of the =NON CHEESE BUILDS or NON DPS BUILDS or NON HIGH ALPHA BUILDS because the mechbays cost money if they=mechbays were free or a small Cbill cost you would see tons of regular mechs and NON OP builds.

Plus they really need to eliminate the ALPHA STRIKE mechanism.

[Malleus011]

I used to drive Cats as my primary 'mech, but then they uglified the launchers with the dumbo C4 box and extra VCR's.

So you aren't seeing any of mine, at least, until they get fixed.

[Amsro]

The A1 Missile Pods.... that is the reason you don't see them anymore. Trollcat A1 DerpLauncher!

[MonkeyCheese]

Because reasons fixed catapult geometry has broken the a1

[FupDup]

Because missiles are usually underwhelming, and being unable to carry backup ML with your missiles is terrible. Missiles in MWO are not autonomous enough to warrant using a mech that carries nothing but missiles (unless those missiles are extremely broken). Also, giant ears are horrible hitboxes hurt Catapults further.

Edited by FupDup, 12 December 2013 - 08:00 PM.

[Alistair Winter]

About a week ago, I had the fun idea of running a good old Splatcat for sheets and giggles with a friend of mine. Such a hilarious idea! Two minutes later, we were running around on Frozen city without ears, like a pair of wild ostriches caught in the middle of a battlefield.

Long story short: They're so easy to disarm, it's a joke. But don't worry, PGI will probably fix this soon. Right?

[Varik Ronain]

Now mind you this was the high of the day, the other was in the 1000s as well. But it is common to do 500 damage a match with "underwhelming" missiles. I was in a premade 4 man lance but I broke off with the raven down there who is also highlighted and used tag! We were not on teamspeak and did not even chat 1 word to each other we were just another pug to each other.... sometimes you just get lucky and have teammates that complement each other. All that damage was 2 LRM 15s and 4 streak launchers. (map was frozen city)

Yes they love to shoot our ears off... they also like hitting our giant center torso.... my fav is when I get my ears shot off is to jump wildly with my jets and power off in mid air and play dead and drag my butt to the enemy cap lol <----- most are smart so dont expect it to work often.

I do like that the missile pods are all in the arms so I can aim them better when brawling with light mechs... or when you jump jet onto a building or rock behind the enemy that is blasting a lancemate and just rain hell on him with the streaks because your arms allow you to lock on at ridiculous angles.

Edited by Varik Ronain, 12 December 2013 - 08:39 PM.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I sold my A1, it just wasn't THAT great.

I ran the 6 LRM5 builds, 4 SRM4/2SRM6, or 6 SSRM2 builds for a while. I just got bored. It is a mech I like when I am in the mood for cheese, but haven't had interest lately.

I MIGHT buy it again for a 6 LRM15 build. It is possible, but pretty usless. Again, it is for cheese purposes for me.

[Malleus011]

The Splatcat builds can be made to work if you get the right map. Against veteran shooters, though, expect to get disarmed almost immediately. My Splatcat has the highest damage output of any of my Cats, even though its my least favorite loadout.

[Bobdolemite]

I used to love the 2 x ALRM 15 // 4 x streak - its fast, has JJ, and can really dish out the damage at 180-260(effective)

Problem is due to a number of issues this build does not play as well as it used to when missiles weren't {Scrap}. My Cplt-A1 is now almost exclusively a 6 x LRM 5 boat, though I cant wait to bring back the mixed srm/ssrm builds once they fix srm dmg and hit detection.

Tried a 5 x LRM 10 donttouchmeharassment build, due to ghost heat penalties it was Meh...... but I wanna give it another go.

[JediPanther]

I've been runing the 6 lrm 10 build. On chain fire and riding the heat up to 98% it is fun. Or just wait a bit and fire all in a hail marry move.

[Varik Ronain]

I wont lie I tried the LRM10x6 getup but it was just to slow and had issues when you get separated or attacked by lights. The must success I have had in terms of damage/kills/assists is hands down the LRM15x2 + SSRM x 4. Once you get the hang of it no map is a problem for you. Terra Therma? No problem!

Victor Morson may not agree and call the A1 an inferior LRM boat but I have yet to see a kintaro or any other version of the C1-C4 do 1250 damage, 8 kills 3 assists and a 153 match score ever.

[eFTy]

Well, I tried a few setups on the A1, and in the end I have to say the most versatile is the 2x LRM15 w 4x SSRM & BAP - it got me through the Elite grind all by itself. It kinda sucks when the enemy has well protected ECM, but other than that, you can do surprisingly well in this thing, both supporting far off engagements with your LRM and telling cheeky lights to ****** off whenever they try and pester you (as long as there's not too many of them, in which case you're pretty much dead if you team doesn't drive them off).