13 replies to this topic

[Duellica]

Hello I mastered the Spider and as much as I like the Speed I want to try out a Ballistic mech next.

I want a pure Ballistic long to mid range mech that can at least keep up with the pack.

Both the CTF-4X and the JM6-S seem to fit his role and are within my CB budget.

I will not grind out Elite or Master, so only one chassis but I will upgrade the mech.

High mounted weapons vs Jump jets is what I mainly see as a play style difference, but can someone please help me out with the specifics.

Until the game adds content this will/may be my last mech.

Thank you.

[AntharPrime]

The JM6-S has a smaller profile and the arms are higher so you can peek over hills better than the CTF-4X. Obviously the ten extra tons on the Cataphract means you get more armour but as for speed and hitting power, you can get the same out of both mechs. The Jager can however fit 2 AC20s in those arms if you are interested in trying out a new flavour of cheese.

[Duellica]

I was thinking something like this.
JM6-S

or

CTF-4X

I will be using my XL250 from my spider for the build, so is one or the other better with a XL ?

After playing with Smurfy I found out that the 4X has no JJ : (

So maybe the 3D with twin AC 10's like this?

CTF-3D

[Grey Black]

*Dons flame retardant suit*

Much as it pains me to say this, if you're going for an AC boat, the JM6-S is your better choice. The way it seems you're liking to build is maximum dakka, which the JM6 line can do in spades. AC/40? Check. 6 AC/2? Check. 4 AC/5? Check.

By comparison, the Cataphract line is better at burst damage, with its variety of hardpoints and jump jets on certain variants. A build such as 4 MLas and an AC/20 on a CTF-3D can bring you far.

In my opinion, the Cataphract line is the better overall chassis with more options overall for building, but an AC boat is going to be better served in a JM6.

EDIT: You may also be better served by something like this, feel free to play with it.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...38b2aa7cc7a3306

Edited by Grey Black, 24 January 2014 - 02:43 PM.

[Konril]

I think if you are going to do a four AC/5 build, you probably want to do it with the Cataphract and not the Jagermech. Quite honestly, I can easily go through 8 tons of ammo on my 3 Ultra/AC5 Jagermech. So I really can't imagine that 5 tons would be enough for 4 cannons. The high arms on the Jager are certainly convenient. But in this case I think the 4 extra tons of ammo are more important.

Though as you noticed, none of the Jagermechs and only one of the Cataphracts has the option for jump jets.

For a jump-capable cannon mech, the CTF-3D is just about your only choice. Honestly, the two AC/10 combo has been proven on the battlefield. However, I'm used to seeing them with a slightly bigger engine and laser backup. If you're going to be using the XL 250 or 255 engine, it would probably be worth putting a PPC in the opposite arm to help with Alpha strike power when jump-sniping.

[Davinelulinvega]

I agree with Konril here the most.
Still I would say it's necessary to get 3 mechs of a chassis to get speed tweak and double basics, it' just another world of handling.

[990Dreams]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2f03fb3328b932a

Set that to chain fire and you're all set.

Edited by DavidHurricane, 27 January 2014 - 11:12 AM.

[MetalBacon]

Jm5DD four MGs and 2 ac/10s or 2 aclbxs. Thing rapes.

[UnHolyLegion]

DavidHurricane, on 27 January 2014 - 11:12 AM, said:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2f03fb3328b932a Set that to chain fire and you're all set.

glass cannon much??

im liking my 4x with 2xAC5 and 2xAC2 and full armor to boot

[Zordicron]

4x is going to be slow as get out compared to a spider. Even max engine the thing runs like an assault. Be warned. especially if you decide not to elite the chassis.

Either will do XL ok, but usually people do XL's for a bigger XL, not really so much a tonnage savings. Slow XL on a jager is a deathtrap IMO. Your 250XL might be fringe on that. It is almost the top engine rating for a 4x though. Something to consider.

overall, the jager is very versatile, and the other variants will play similar, if with different loadouts somewhat. A phract, the variants can be loaded wildly different, and things like JJ on one, slow as slow on the 4x, along with different hardpoints makes each phract its own beast. Entertainment wise, i got more interesting fun from the phracts I mastrered then the jagers, mostly because of mechlab fun and whatnot because there are a pile of ways to load a phract, both engine and weapons, and not so many for a Jager and still be effective. All jagers rely on a solid ballsitic weapon system, whereas some phracts you can ignore the slot if you want.

if you are set on just one variant, i would go phract 3D, because jump jets, and also variety of loadout and the engine rating can go higher. 4x is certainly fun, but as a first heavy mech(it was my first mech ever in a time before HSR code in beta) it is brutal learning curve for sure. If you try a pair of AC10 on it, you will need to practice the armlock toggle thing because the 3D has torso and arm mount points.

On my 3D I did 2 ppc in the torsos(one each) LBX in the arm, and I think some Ml or something. LBX in arm is super easy to aim in brawls, and PPC in torso is high mount and easy to aim also. Pretty sure I went XL engine for it, but maybe not. been a long time since I ran that mech, but it was solid.

[Xoxim SC]

1) Boating is lame.
2) Jager is a good fire support mech.
3) Cataphract is good at fire support, but can also brawl.
4) Boating is lame.
5) Dual AC20 Jagers are even more lame, and you gimp yourself by running such a stupid build.
6) Cataphracts have jump jets in their 3D model, and have some very nice hardpoints in general.
7) You get more variety more or less out of a Cataphract as opposed to Jagers.
8) Boating is lame.

[Smitti]

Take the 'phract. I prefer the 4x to any jager personally, it feels a lot tougher. Added bonus, if you've got some cataphracts in your stable already, you can go pick up the Ilya Muromets for some boaty goodness _{(sorry Todd)} and run the triple ultra/triple Lb10x or even triple AC/10, all the way to variant mastery. You'll make a ton of coin along the way, 'tis a very good cbill grinder.

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

The phract you can do 2xAC5 2xUAC5 for a crapton of burst damage.

The Jager you can do interesting things like hill hump with 4xAC5, 6mg gun 2x PPC or any other oddity.

Double AC20 is a good flanking / ambusher, and the higher mounted guns do help.

The biggest issue with the 4x is that its an absolute knuckle dragger, and you'll have a hard time clearing hills with your shots. Opposite with the Jager.

Both are good at Double Gauss, but the phract can usually pack in a few extra support weapons with it, along with the ability to aim sideways with its guns.

Naturally, the 4x is a bit beefier, and you'll have to eventually master either the CTF-1X which is a great laser boat, the CTF-3D which can jump and is arguably the best mech since its inception, and alternatively the Illya, which does 3xUac and can serve as essentially a direct upgrade to the 4x by allowing bigger energy weapons and significantly more speed.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

I have been grinding my dual gauss JM6-S for couple of days now (endosteel,60 rounds,std 260)

Pros:
- pinpoint damage,two dual shots to ct from 1 km away is enough for anything lighter than a centurion
- no heat
- mobility is nice,does not bog down badly in uphills with std 260

Cons:
- cardboad armor,even thinking about brawling will most likely lead in a giant explosion or fireball or both
- NEEDS advanced zoom module


Overall,very good fire support/sniper-mech,other than that,its garbage

Haven`t tried the Cat,but it seems to be better suited for brawling than long range fire support