30 replies to this topic

[Zemo Kerensky]

Still have yet to commit my Cadet bills into an owned Mech, and am liking this Thunderbolt "on paper."

Please have a look and tell me if it has any glaring weaknesses as a brawler, and yes, I really do insist on running regular SRM's.

Thanks in advance!

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...aac88501d9c1cc4

[Hex Pallett]

Before going to everything else...XL on a brawler??

[Zemo Kerensky]

Helmstif, on 22 December 2013 - 02:45 PM, said:

Before going to everything else...XL on a brawler??

I simply couldn't find any firepower using those hardpoints without it....plz share any other options!

[Hex Pallett]

How about not a brawler at all?

[Tahribator]

You really don't want an XL in brawler T-Bolts, since they tend to take damage in side torsos. Otherwise you seem to have nailed the build right. Here's my take on your build, with STD engine and a few tweaks to the armor distribution:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c81ac673cfc60ce

[Darwins Dog]

I've been running something similar with a STD 280 and no SRMs. I find it works quite well. Durable, but able to put out a lot of damage.

[Xeno Phalcon]

TDR-9SE drop to a 275 standard, lower the SRM rack side to a 4 , removed AMS and its ammo think I also lost a heat sink. Upped the leg armor a smigin, I find that people leg my tbolt alot even with the extra armor, I cant imagine with out it.

Dont XL a tbolt unless you intent to be extreme range fire support, they are BROAD as a barn which makes them easy to hit in the side torso but with a standard engine those massive side torsos become shields for your CT.

[Zemo Kerensky]

I'm carefully considering all your advice and am also open to the non-jumpers, I just really want to like / buy a Tbolt as my 1st mech!

The ballistic mech looked good too, but fitting more than stupid MG's seemed difficult....

Edited by Zemo Kerensky, 22 December 2013 - 03:22 PM.

[Kalteh]

Here is the variant I'm having fun with at the moment...

Be aware that the single LRM is just for getting assists and psychological warfare , it deals very little damage... if you want a true brawler, swap it out for another srm6 and a faster engine... (i believe a std300 should fit)

TDR-5S

[Alcom Isst]

I'm too scared to use an XL on my Thunderbolt. The side torsos are such massive damage sponges.

[Zemo Kerensky]

How does this brawler with a bit of range look with a standard 295?


http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2119c8b7e0af97e

Better?

[Hex Pallett]

Zemo Kerensky, on 22 December 2013 - 03:47 PM, said:

How does this brawler with a bit of range look with a standard 295?


http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2119c8b7e0af97e

Better?

Let's just say that 295 is not a good engine, for both compatibility and price. Fresh cadets are short on CB, so I'd say just stick with stock engine for the time being.

[FireSlade]

Zemo Kerensky, on 22 December 2013 - 02:41 PM, said:

Still have yet to commit my Cadet bills into an owned Mech, and am liking this Thunderbolt "on paper."

Please have a look and tell me if it has any glaring weaknesses as a brawler, and yes, I really do insist on running regular SRM's.

Thanks in advance!

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...aac88501d9c1cc4

What do you think of this? http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2e252073ccc45c6 You lose the AMS (just have to be smarter when the enemy has LRMs) and a few heat sinks but 15 DHS is good enough with 2 LLs. I would get rid of 1 of the MLs for an extra ton of ammo. From my experience twin ASRM6s really hurt (have them on my Heavy Metal) when they register (24 damage). Use the LLs or range and the ASRMs when your brawling to allow you to twist to spread damage (use your left arm as a shield). The MLs are for backup if you lose that right arm and if you have low heat for that extra damage. I kept your JJs (too low for my tastes) so you should have similar performance. The 310xl is because I had 2 tons left over and no crit slots. Good luck and good hunting.

[zagibu]

Zemo Kerensky, on 22 December 2013 - 03:47 PM, said:

How does this brawler with a bit of range look with a standard 295?


http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2119c8b7e0af97e

Better?

I would change it a bit...lower leg + arm armor, put in std 300 + 1 HS: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...80105050d32863d
Maybe a regular large laser would be better for brawling (because it creates less heat and thus ups your sustained DPS). I see the utility of more range though, so it's probably a question of taste.

This would be a reasonably cheap upgrade of the stock layout. Should get you going until you can afford endo steel and the larger engine: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...32481b901c83402

Actually, as a first mech, you should probably not going to buy the one you will keep, eventually. I always first unlock the basic efficiencies of two other variants, which I then sell. This way I can take the third directly to elite. I don't really care for master.

Edited by zagibu, 22 December 2013 - 06:49 PM.

[Zemo Kerensky]

FireSlade, on 22 December 2013 - 04:49 PM, said:

What do you think of this? http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2e252073ccc45c6 You lose the AMS (just have to be smarter when the enemy has LRMs) and a few heat sinks but 15 DHS is good enough with 2 LLs. I would get rid of 1 of the MLs for an extra ton of ammo. From my experience twin ASRM6s really hurt (have them on my Heavy Metal) when they register (24 damage). Use the LLs or range and the ASRMs when your brawling to allow you to twist to spread damage (use your left arm as a shield). The MLs are for backup if you lose that right arm and if you have low heat for that extra damage. I kept your JJs (too low for my tastes) so you should have similar performance. The 310xl is because I had 2 tons left over and no crit slots. Good luck and good hunting.

I think we have a winner!

I will keep zagibu's build for STD motor brawling, but this one is what I wanted, although pugging will make me wish for that AMS, lol.

Here's my take on it using an XL 300 and more JJ, AMS, full armor!

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a2936596d9622d6

Thoughts?

Thanks guys!

Edited by Zemo Kerensky, 22 December 2013 - 07:00 PM.

[Darwins Dog]

Zemo Kerensky, on 22 December 2013 - 03:21 PM, said:

I'm carefully considering all your advice and am also open to the non-jumpers, I just really want to like / buy a Tbolt as my 1st mech!

The ballistic mech looked good too, but fitting more than stupid MG's seemed difficult....

You could do a lot worse than the Thunderbolt. The three chassis are all fun to play, and have different loadouts available so leveling them won't get boring.

[zagibu]

Before you install Artemis, you should play a bit with the AMS installed. Artemis is still a mech upgrade (although this will change in the future), so if you suddenly don't want it anymore, you have to remove it and later repurchase it if you change your mind. At 750k, you should be pretty damn sure it's the better option than AMS, before you install it.

Also, if you drop some leg armor or unused arm armor, you can put in the largest XL engine. Only need a half ton more.

[xengk]

Helmstif, on 22 December 2013 - 02:58 PM, said:

How about not a brawler at all?

I think the 5S makes a better LRM support.
TDR-5S
But it is rather pricy to build and might not for someone just fresh from cadet to get.

Zemo Kerensky, on 22 December 2013 - 02:41 PM, said:

Still have yet to commit my Cadet bills into an owned Mech, and am liking this Thunderbolt "on paper."

Please have a look and tell me if it has any glaring weaknesses as a brawler, and yes, I really do insist on running regular SRM's.

Thanks in advance!

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...aac88501d9c1cc4

This is my current favourite TBolt.
TDR-9SE
The loadout is quite similar to your original build, except it is running a STD 275 engine and have no Artemis IV upgrade.
The single SRM6 can be replace with 2 SSRM2 if you want.
STD 275 give you good speed and a heat sink slot, plus surviving a side torso destruction.
17 DHS keeps all your weapon running cool, as long as you try not to alpha strike often.
The whole setup only comes up to about 9mil CBill.

With the currently problem with SRM hit detection, I wouldn't recommend investing heavily on them yet.
From experience, group firing more than 10 missiles will have most of them not detected by the system.

[Zemo Kerensky]

With both large lasers, even with trigger control, heat was murder in Terra Therma.

I swapped em both for one PPC, cut some armor a JJ, and added DHS. Now I can chain fire my mediums, and shoot everything all day for a 49 alpha with Artemis too.

Two JJ's showed me little to no difference to three, but I also had to undo Endo, grrrr.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...971073315e99935

This thing is a crit space puzzle compared to every other heavy chassis I smurfy'd around with!

[Hex Pallett]

I still don't understand your obsession with Artemis....