4831 replies to this topic

[Ovion]

So, I figured I'd post these here as I'm using a 3V as my 'model'.

Doing all the colours.


Was actually most of the way through before all the images decided to corrupt, so I've got to reinsert around 200 of them. YAY.

[Brizna]

I just played a match in a Locust: RIver CIty in LCT-3V (+), I still have to find a build I like for that variant, this time I'm running with 1 ERLL with max speed !!1080¡¡ meters basic range is pretty impressive but the fact that it is a single weapon and that the map doesn't really need such long ranges doesn't bode well. Possibly against my best judgement I decide not to try to snipe from long distances because I deem there is too much cover for enemies, so I simply stroll out in left flank trying to locate enemies for scouting purposes in the hopes it will help my team even if it doesn't help me so much, mind me this map is still new for me so I use a vector that does provide me with cover so I am not located but it does blind me too, so without even knowing how I suddenly stop and my seismic suddenly show several blips, I stop because I'm in the water without good cover to run away and more blips show until the minimap is a red stain so I decide to do the only thing I can think about: power down. Luck is on my side, I'm in the water and as I power down my mech kneels down slightly so I stay bellow water level very hard to spot and I do all I can do, hit team chat and say: "oh **** I'm powered down in the midst of them, full team g5" The rest of the story is me hearing lots of shooting, metal bending and screaming around me and finally powering up to find that my team had actually eliminated over half of the enemy team and rescued me from the enemy's clutches, thank you team mates you saved little Brizna from certain death. I tried to help as much as I could but with 1 ERLL and being shut down most of the match I couldn't even beat the 3 assists and 38 damage mark , 3V is not after all the all mighty 1E and not all bad matches in locust let you walk back home with your mech

(+) Thanks Derek and all donors in that give away.

[Dino Might]

LOL Brizna - wish you had that on video. That's always hilarious fun when you hide right in the midst of them. I have to dig out a video from way back when I decided to go whale hunting on Tourmaline in my 1E. I started shooting the trailing whale, and then their entire light group came back to help him, rounded the corner and had me dead to rights. I juked a bit, firing off pot shots as I ran around the mountain, and got out of sight just as I turned and ran up the mountain into the little ledge in the center, with no way out. Turned around, powered down, and watched as a couple of the lights passed right by. I forget, but I think they might have circled one more time looking for me. Heart was racing for a good 5 minutes during that start of the match. It was a complete thrill. I like this mech more for those harried escapes than any murderbot 9000 rampages (thought it does have a fair amount of those).

[DarthHias]

Nothing better to get your pump running then trying to escape from 3+ lights. dodging and weaving and taking stray over your shoulder shots, all the while breaking locks from their lrmboats

[mad kat]

Brizna, on 20 July 2015 - 05:07 PM, said:

I just played a match in a Locust: RIver CIty in LCT-3V (+), I still have to find a build I like for that variant, this time I'm running with 1 ERLL with max speed !!1080¡¡ meters basic range is pretty impressive but the fact that it is a single weapon and that the map doesn't really need such long ranges doesn't bode well. Possibly against my best judgement I decide not to try to snipe from long distances because I deem there is too much cover for enemies, so I simply stroll out in left flank trying to locate enemies for scouting purposes in the hopes it will help my team even if it doesn't help me so much, mind me this map is still new for me so I use a vector that does provide me with cover so I am not located but it does blind me too, so without even knowing how I suddenly stop and my seismic suddenly show several blips, I stop because I'm in the water without good cover to run away and more blips show until the minimap is a red stain so I decide to do the only thing I can think about: power down. Luck is on my side, I'm in the water and as I power down my mech kneels down slightly so I stay bellow water level very hard to spot and I do all I can do, hit team chat and say: "oh **** I'm powered down in the midst of them, full team g5" The rest of the story is me hearing lots of shooting, metal bending and screaming around me and finally powering up to find that my team had actually eliminated over half of the enemy team and rescued me from the enemy's clutches, thank you team mates you saved little Brizna from certain death. I tried to help as much as I could but with 1 ERLL and being shut down most of the match I couldn't even beat the 3 assists and 38 damage mark , 3V is not after all the all mighty 1E and not all bad matches in locust let you walk back home with your mech

(+) Thanks Derek and all donors in that give away.

[Dagada Moor]

Brizna
Try 1 large pulse by reducing armour on arms and head. You get extra armour on arms on the 3V anyway. Put a range and cooldown module on it. Can put out some good damage. There are only like 3 or 4 builds for the 3 V. 2 med pulse 2 MG , 2 med laser BAP 2 MG , 1 Er large laser 2 MG , or 1 large pulse. You could put a AC 2 with ton of ammo but that would suck. Try large pulse laser with modules and see what you think. Happy Hunting!!!!!!!!

[Ovion]

Wow, this had falling a long way back. Bring it back to 'easy finding' distance.
Being I've lost and need to rewrite the rest of it, here's something at least.
I'll add some bits too.

This is a list of Locust builds, and a bit of Locust Theory for everyone.

These are the Stock Locusts:

Spoiler

Stock LCT-1E
Stock LCT-1M
Stock LCT-1V
Stock LCT-3M
Stock LCT-3S
Stock LCT-3V
Stock PIRATES' BANE

This is what they look like when you get them.
Bar the Pirate's Bane, outside of Stock Matches, it's all pretty bad.

What you want instead, is to craft the following 'blank slates' for each of your Locusts.
Base Locusts (Armour, Engine):

Spoiler

Base LCT-1E
Base LCT-1M
Base LCT-1V
Base LCT-3M
Base LCT-3S
Base LCT-3V
Base PIRATES' BANE
- Base PIRATES' BANE w/ ECM
- Alt Base 0/0/0 PIRATES' BANE
- Alt Base 0/0/0 w/ ECM PIRATES' BANE

Locust Armour Theory is slightly counter intuitive, and more than a little scary to look at on paper, but hopefully it will all become clear as you read the following.

The goal here is pure optimisation.
With how small the Locust is, and how light, you can't put enough Armour anywhere to properly shrug of anything, and you're quite reliant on speed.

Spoiler

So the goal here is to place the biggest Engine possible (a 190), without sacrificing too much Weight (an XL), maximising Weight savings (Endo-Steel Structure and Ferro Fibrous Armour), and carefully arranging your Armour to best effect.
(The exception to Ferro being the Pirates' Bane, which has no need of it.)

As a Locust you have incredibly small hit boxes on the Head and Arms - you can happily strip most of the Armour from these locations.
You don't have the Armour to take a hit if you 'balance' it, so you need to focus it, and use your large torso twist range to compensate.

By front loading the Armour, there at least you have the Armour of a 'mech 10-20T heavier.
The means your Rear Armour suffers - only the minimum 2/3/2 Armour required to take the occasional Laser hit, otherwise you'll be relying on the Front Armour, Torso Twist, outright speed and the map / cover.

Yes, the head only has 1 Armour, but you'll basically never be hit by more than the occasional rake of the Laser - you have 15HP plus that 1 Armour to survive any light brushes.
Anything heavier would probably take off a Torso anyway, and is far more likely to hit said Torso, so getting hit in the head is a minor worry.

The Arms are also small, and not prone to being destroyed before you lose a Torso and die anyway, this combined with the Armour and Structure quirks found on the 'mech.
With 5 Armour an Arm (which results in 7.5 for most Locusts, 9 for the 3V), and 5HP, that gives you 12.5 (and 14 for the 3V) health each arm - enough to survive a solid hit from most single weapons, but again, anything bigger, would destroy a Torso anyway, and is more likely to hit said Torso anyway.

With all of this, as above, you get 7 Tons and 8 Slots free (14 with SHS).
This allows for some reasonable loadouts to go with your 170kph.

You do have two alternatives for Armour distribution (using the 1E as an example):
Base - Extra Armour
For some, the low armour goes too far against the grain, or their playstyle takes more risks, and they take more damage to the arms / head - for the cost of 1/2 ton, you can max the armour on the arms, and bring the head armour up to 5pts.

There's also Base - Extra Armour, Balanced
While technically an option, it's a really bad idea - your largest Hit Boxes, your Torsos are no longer properly protected from any direction - just enough armour to survive something, but nothing significant anywhere.

Additionally, if absolutely necessary, you can reduce the Engine Size for certain builds / gimmicks, this gives you the following speeds:

Spoiler

(There's no reason to use Engines other than the following, as they will have the same weight and size, but be slower).
Engine - Speed with Speed Tweak (Speed without Speed Tweak), Tons Free, Slots Free DHS (Slots Free SHS)
XL190 - 169.3 kph (153.9 kph), 7T, 8S (14S)
XL180 - 160.4 kph (145.8 kph), 7.5T, 8S (14S)
XL170 - 151.5 kph (137.7 kph), 8T, 5S (13S)
XL145 - 129.2 kph (117.4 kph), 8.5T, 2S (12S)
XL125 - 111.4 kph (101.2 kph), 9T, 2S (12S)

Pirates' Bane (no FF) or SHS only:
PB - XL100 - 89.1 kph (81.0 kph), 9.5T, 13S
SHS - XL100 - 89.1 kph (81.0 kph), 9.5T, 11S

Common and Uncommon Locust Builds:
LCT-1E

Spoiler

Common 1E Builds:
6SPL, AMS LCT-1E
6ML, AMS LCT-1E
AMS should be off by default, alternatively switch the AMS+1/2 Ton Ammo for max armour.
Uncommon 1E Builds:
LPL LCT-1E
ERPPC LCT-1E

LCT-1M

Spoiler

Common 1M Builds:
2MPL, 2SRM2 LCT-1M
2ML, 2SRM2 LCT-1M
Uncommon 1M Builds:
2ML, SRM2, SRM4 LCT-1M
2ML, 2SRM4 LCT-1M
2ML, 2SSRM2 LCT-1M
SL, TAG, 2SSRM2 LCT-1M

LCT-1V

Spoiler

Common 1V Builds:
MPL, 4MG LCT-1V (SHS)
MPL, 4MG LCT-1V(DHS)
ERLL, 2MG LCT-1V
Uncommon 1V Builds:
AC2 LCT-1V
ML, AC2 LCT-1V (XL170)

LCT-3M

Spoiler

Common 3M Builds:
4SPL, MPL LCT-3M
3SPL, 2MPL LCT-3M
5ML LCT-3M (Overarmoured)
4ML, MPL LCT-3M
3ML, 2MPL LCT-3M
2SL, 3MPL LCT-3M
3MPL LCT-3M
Uncommon 3M Builds:
LPL LCT-3M
ERPPC LCT-3M
AMS Support:
- 3ML, 2AMS LCT-3M
- 1MPL, 2AMS LCT-3M
- 2SPL, 2AMS LCT-3M
- 2ML, 2AMS LCT-3M

LCT-3S

Spoiler

Common 3S Builds:
SPL, 4SRM2 LCT-3S
SPL, 3SRM2 LCT-3S
ML, 4SRM2 LCT-3S
ML, 3SRM2 LCT-3S
Uncommon 3S Builds:
ML, 2LRM5 LCT-3S
4SRM2 LCT-3S
3SRM2 LCT-3S
4xLRM5, ML, LCT-3S (XL100)

LCT-3V

Spoiler

3V Builds:
2MPL, 2MG LCT-3V
LPL LCT-3V
ERLL, 2MG LCT-3V
AC2 LCT-3V
ML, AC2 LCT-3V
MPL, TAG, 2MG, BAP LCT-3V
MPL, Flamer, 2MG LCT-3V

LCT-PB

Spoiler

Common Pirates' Bane Builds:
4SL, 2MG, ECM PIRATES' BANE
4SPL, 2MG, ECM PIRATES' BANE
4ML, 2MG, ECM PIRATES' BANE
4SPL, ECM PIRATES' BANE
2SPL, 2MPL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL170)
2SPL, 2MPL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL180)
2SPL, 2MPL PIRATES' BANE
4MPL PIRATES' BANE
Uncommon Pirates' Bane Builds:
AC2 PIRATES' BANE
2SL, AC2 PIRATES' BANE (XL170)
AC2 PIRATES' BANE (XL170)
2ML, 2MPL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL180)
3MPL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL180)
ERPPC PIRATES' BANE
Large Pulse Laser PIRATES' BANE
SL, ERLL, ECM PIRATES' BANE
2SPL, 2ML, ECM, BAP PIRATES' BANE
(For a solid Capture and Control mech, add Capture Accelerator, Advanced Sensor Range + either Target Info Gathering or Advanced Zoom.)
2SL, ERLL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL170)
2SL, ERLL, 2MG, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL100)
2ERLL, ECM PIRATES' BANE (XL100)
Not for the faint of heart.

Edited by Ovion, 21 July 2015 - 10:28 AM.

[Brizna]

Yes I've been trying several builds and 1LPL was one of them. It's probably one of the best builds for that mech but it's still meh... ERLL at least does something new even if that is pretty much useless, 2160 meter paint scraping lol, I keep hoping some day I'll get alpine with it, so far it's been a bunch of River Cities and Forest Colonies.

[mad kat]

I run a locust 1m with a tag, small laser (yes really) and a pair of streaks. Not devasting i know but you'd be surprised how effective it is circling a fatty with the streaks either on alpha or with chain fire and if your lucky allies lrm's will really be giving the enemy a bad day.

Also a shout out needs mentioning for my pb build which is an xl180, ecm, 2xmpl and 2xspl. No armour on arms and barely any on head. Works very very well as a rear coring specialist.

Good work Ovion!!! Makes me want to do some more locust renders now.

[Ovion]

mad kat, on 21 July 2015 - 09:43 AM, said:

I run a locust 1m with a tag, small laser (yes really) and a pair of streaks. Not devasting i know but you'd be surprised how effective it is circling a fatty with the streaks either on alpha or with chain fire and if your lucky allies lrm's will really be giving the enemy a bad day.

Also a shout out needs mentioning for my pb build which is an xl180, ecm, 2xmpl and 2xspl. No armour on arms and barely any on head. Works very very well as a rear coring specialist.

Good work Ovion!!! Makes me want to do some more locust renders now.

Added.
SL, TAG, 2SSRM2 is.... strange.

That said, I forget SSRMs in my builds...
My bad.
Partially because they don't work amazingly... suggest SSRM builds!

Edited by Ovion, 21 July 2015 - 10:29 AM.

[3xnihilo]

Ovion, on 21 July 2015 - 10:22 AM, said:

Added.
SL, TAG, 2SSRM2 is.... strange.

That said, I forget SSRMs in my builds...
My bad.
Partially because they don't work amazingly... suggest SSRM builds!

You could run full troll mode with 3 ssrm, tag and 2.5t ammo on a 3s.

2 ssrm, 2ml/spl on a 1m would probably run ok too.

Edit: I suppose FULL troll would be 4 ssrm on a 3s the above is more like 7/8 troll

Edited by 3xnihilo, 21 July 2015 - 12:25 PM.

[Saint Atlas and the Commando Elf]

I've been playing locusts for quite some time now and have always liked them.

That being said, yesterday I bought myself a 3S after i fought one (2xLRM5, ML) earlier on that canyon map and that was one annoying bugger.

I took me 2 or 3 matches to deeply regret my purchase. I can't get it work. Not with 2x LRM5 plus ML and definitely not with 4x SRM2 plus ML (feels like a Mini-Huginn).

So heres's my question:
If i feed that pile of junk to my wolves (timber or dire - doesn't matter) will my other locusts (PB,3M,1E) still want to be friend with me?

[3xnihilo]

Sthtopokeon, on 21 July 2015 - 01:39 PM, said:

I've been playing locusts for quite some time now and have always liked them.

That being said, yesterday I bought myself a 3S after i fought one (2xLRM5, ML) earlier on that canyon map and that was one annoying bugger.

I took me 2 or 3 matches to deeply regret my purchase. I can't get it work. Not with 2x LRM5 plus ML and definitely not with 4x SRM2 plus ML (feels like a Mini-Huginn).

So heres's my question:
If i feed that pile of junk to my wolves (timber or dire - doesn't matter) will my other locusts (PB,3M,1E) still want to be friend with me?

I had pretty good luck with 3srm2 1 mpl. Use Ovion's armor scheme above and you still get 2t of ammo. On chain fire you can fire the srms nearly continuously. Great for causing screen shake and being annoying. It is not my best damage dealer/killer though.

[mad kat]

3xnihilo, on 21 July 2015 - 12:23 PM, said:

2 ssrm, 2ml/spl on a 1m would probably run ok too.

I used to run this and occasionally still do (due to the ml quirks) but i found that A) i used to run out of ammo! And B.) with the ecm obsession i needed the tag to get my streaks now with a little more ammo to work.

Edited by mad kat, 21 July 2015 - 02:14 PM.

[Shadey99]

Dagada Moor, on 21 July 2015 - 02:14 AM, said:

Brizna
Try 1 large pulse by reducing armour on arms and head.

I ran effectively that build on my Commando 2D when leveling it as I couldn't find anything I'd rather do with it. I even broke 400 damage a few times in it, which with a single weapon is not the easiest thing to do. Especially when it doesn't get a huge range boost. However I didn't like the same build on my 3V when I was leveling those. Some of this could be the fact that the Commando weapon mount is in the arm and the 3V is torso mounted. This lets you dash parallel to the enemy and fire on them with still considerable aim in a Commando, but less so in 3V. My 3V was a MPL+MG build pretty much it's entire life in game for me.

[3xnihilo]

I run the 2mpl/2mg build on my 3v pretty successfully. It just suffers from not being the 1e "murderbot". I think I am spoiled by the super quirks the 1e got so I have been trying not to compare my results in other locusts to that one. If I compare my 3v performance to the PB, it is comparable, and it out performs the 1v. I haven't run the others recently enough to make a fair comparison there, but I find I can pull down a couple hundred damage and a couple kills fairly often with an occasional high damage/high kill round so I am satisfied with it. On a more pessimistic note, I just hit a losing streak in my 3v so my stats are plummeting on it quickly

[Tim East]

Takashi Uchida, on 17 July 2015 - 11:15 PM, said:

I need to master the 3v so my collection will be complete... I am not having that much fun though lol. I am averaging just under 200 dmg a round, and a K/D of 1.27. Certainly not my worst numbers by far, or even worst Locust(!). But I playing this thing just makes me want to play the 1V or the Spider-5K.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong. But I've been doing the typical 2MPL/2MG or LPL build. The range on the MPL makes a deceptively good finisher, though I freakin hate the low mounted lasers. Well, I guess that's what the extra health is for, so you can survive longer outside of cover. I'm considering getting the weapon mods for the LPL, but that'll cost me the cbills I've been saving up for the ECM Cataphract (ugh, I'm debating even wanting that because heavy queue is already like 60% these days)

The LPL cooldown module is the difference between suck and SCR-killer for this mech.

Takashi Uchida, on 19 July 2015 - 02:22 PM, said:

The 3v and Peanut Butter are probably a better reflection of your Locust-ing skills, as quirks can make older stats kind of wonky. At least, that's how I would explain it. I do pretty good in the PB, and as much as I hate to admit it, it's probably the ECM that is increasing my survivability. Get a way better K/D than the laser-canoe Locusts.

I actually have almost as many games in the 3M than the 1E, even though I have probably only played like 10 games with it the past half a year. For some reason, I got the 3M before the 1E and just kind of went with it. I found the torso laser nowadays to not be that useful though. It's pretty rare for me in a Locust to tank enough damage to lose both arms but still be alive.

In the Death's Knell however.. (why the everloving a-- did they make the hitboxes on the arms BIGGER?!)

And of course, I have to remind myself.. playing Locusts is not all about the numbers! It's about quick PUG queue wait times and making Jenner pilots mad!

I have the same deal going with the 3M and 1E. The thing I liked about the 3M was that you could squeeze in a BAP and not feel like you were shafting yourself because you used all your weapon mounts. Otoh, the 3M really got obsoleted by the 1E during quirks round 2. That laser duration buff. O_o

[Takashi Uchida]

Well, you've convinced me to grab the mod! Just in time too, with all the rewards this week.

[Ovion]

So pleased that the Light Queue is evening out again now. : D

[Dino Might]

Yeah, but isn't it fun out pulse-lasering the Arctic Cheetos? I love all the new Clan light pilots feeling like they can hands down beat the pants off a Locust only to get their legs sawed off in a duel.