34 replies to this topic

[Yeknomious]

So, my SDR-5D, outfitted with 2 medium lasers and one ER large laser has been doing pretty well of late (see below). For anyone wondering what to run on this beast I recommend the aforementioned and flanking or sticking with the main force with 3 medium pulse lasers and harrasing. Obviously, being able to pick fights and pilot the spider both horizontally and vertically is paramount, as is well aimed shots!

[The Flying Gecko]

I recommend dropping pulse lasers for regular medium lasers, 1/2 the weight and more range. That extra range often translates into more damage. Pulse lasers are a novelty I use only if I have NOTHING else to spend tonnage on.

[Throe]

I've been using an ER PPC in my spider as of late, for the added ability to counter enemy ECM at long range(or counter two enemy ECMs at close range).

[Fang01]

I run one large, one medium, and one med pulse in mine. Very effective

[Yeknomious]

Looks like people are of mixed opinion with regards to the SDR-5D optimal loadout - dependent on your play style I guess. I have done well with all medium pulse, all medium lasers and a mixture!

[xMintaka]

The Flying Gecko, on 02 January 2014 - 09:38 AM, said:

I recommend dropping pulse lasers for regular medium lasers, 1/2 the weight and more range. That extra range often translates into more damage. Pulse lasers are a novelty I use only if I have NOTHING else to spend tonnage on.

From experience, if you're using a close range loadout I'd suggest a three MPulse build. Less time on target is always a winner.

3 MPulse, 4 JJ and ERPPC 2x Slas 2 JJ are my favourite builds for it, tied first for damage and thrills. Will be giving the ERLarge and Mlas build a go shortly though, as I've never tried it and it seems to be quite effective.

Also, great job OP! Good to see Spider pilots ignoring the hatred that spews from all those who cannot aim AC's at a small, fast moving target.

Edited by Lunatech, 03 January 2014 - 12:19 AM.

[Caswallon]

Yah Spiders the spindly legged berserkers of MWO...

Gonna weigh in on the Pulse laser side of the debate myself. Oh sure take an ErLL on the "D" and "K" but while trudging through the tedium of levelling the "V" 2x Medpulse worked fairly well for me. Never could make PPC spider "D's" work personally but have seen them used to good effect by better pilots than I.

Its all about play style if you make a mad dash in and bounce insanely through the enemy lines (hoping none of them have very good aim) Pulse it. If you think getting close to mechs three times your mass a bad idea then go reg beam lasers always

[Corvus Antaka]

1 ERPPC

+

2 MLaser

or your doin it wrong

Edited by Colonel Pada Vinson, 03 January 2014 - 09:23 AM.

[Hillslam]

Do not come near me in one of these if your ping is anywhere under 100. I will make you go bye bye in 2 shots.

However, if your ping is 140+ then Ima just hit the eject button and go have a whiskey in the dropship canteena.

Filthy anklebiters. BLECK. Mental cases, every one.

Edited by Hillslam, 03 January 2014 - 09:38 AM.

[Caswallon]

Colonel Pada Vinson, on 03 January 2014 - 09:23 AM, said:

1 ERPPC
+
2 MLaser
or your doin it wrong

Dammit Colonel Your right

If only I try just a little harder

Will keep tryin'...

[xMintaka]

Colonel Pada Vinson, on 03 January 2014 - 09:23 AM, said:

1 ERPPC

+

2 MLaser

or your doin it wrong

How'd you manage while still keeping JJ's and having more armour than a Commando?

Also, heat efficiency is overrated.

Edited by Lunatech, 03 January 2014 - 07:50 PM.

[Airu]

before the PPC nerf, 1 ERPPC and 2 smlas + ECM and 2 JJ was the most epic build, I could go against anything, lights included
After nerf, I tried all sorts of things and stuck with 1 LL + 2 mlas, I had the most damage and success with it, but I miss the ERPPC build

[SkkyHigh]

aint no spider till ya do the 2xPPC no armour build.

ask Pwnface.

[Skyfaller]

I run mine with XL200, 1 ER LL, 1 TAG, 1 Med laser, 8 jets and BAP. With sensorx2, infox2 and UAV with both upgrades.

Its a little beast for recon with nearly 1300 targeting range.

Flow of combat almost always goes this way: initial contact, both sides clobber each other for a minute then each side pulls back and starts 'short range sniping/poptarting/peek&hide shooting) then finally the weaker team gets rushed and rolled over.

During the first phase I'm 750m away behind or to the side of the enemy team spotting so my team has full view on minimap of their forces. I do not fire since that would only bring their attention to me. When the 2nd phase starts I cycle through every enemy mech searching for the one with a no-armor or red armor component. When both sides start the peek-shooting I start sniping those hurt components with my ER LL ..making sure to sneak out of view after every lase.

While the enemy team is distracted peek-shooting my team I usually manage to pop off components from two or three mechs... I particularly prefer to target legs if they're red since a legged mech at this stage cant peek and shoot at my team (if it does it dies).

If my team has LRM boats I will tag and call for LRMs on target instead of ER LL'ing it... but I do fire the ERLL as the LRMs hit him so I don't get spotted.

If I have 2 or more 'big' LRM boats on my team I tell them to be ready to spam LRMs on my call... I target their most critical mech (ecm atlai or dual ac20 jager or lrm boat), go behind their peek-shooting spot and rush them from behind as LRMs rain down on them.. jet UP so im in the air in the middle of their group and drop UAV. Then run to my team. This gives my LRM boats 45 seconds of ECCM+Target locks on their entire team. I've seen just 2 quad LRM15 boats wipe out half a team during that time.

When the enemy team has lost 3 or 4 more than my team has and my friendlies start to rush them I jump in to finish off stragglers targeting their weakest components. Usually the 'OMG SPIDER KILL IT' panic makes the enemy team focus on shooting me while my team closes the distance....and its like 'oh hai surprise butssek' when they get rolled over as they're focused on trying to hit a 100kph+ little mech. XD

[mekabuser]

Hillslam, on 03 January 2014 - 09:33 AM, said:

Do not come near me in one of these if your ping is anywhere under 100. I will make you go bye bye in 2 shots.

However, if your ping is 140+ then Ima just hit the eject button and go have a whiskey in the dropship canteena.

Filthy anklebiters. BLECK. Mental cases, every one.

lol. no u wont.. n my ping is around 35.
i ran the erppc spider back when you couldnt get someone to pilot one if you paid them. And i got really really good with it.. There was a time I could hit anything, including other spiders<i hunt them> at range, moving laterally.. it was just sick..
theres no mech thats more fun in game. Its like youre a superhero.. JJ at speed , 360 and snap shot to the face.. just priceless.

when spidergate was in full swing, i switched to a 3er med pulse because I felt it more sporting for the opposition since i had to get in close to put damage on target.. Problem was, for me, that loadout is even MORE deadly and it can really rack up the damage and kills. chain fire for probing or hit and run, and alphas when the opportunity presents itself..
good fun..
strive to take NO damage and prosper.

yep @skyfaller, if you understand the flow of combat, the spider is just psych warfare at its finest. Great scout, communicate, harass, sheep herd em, charge their ranks when appropriate<just like one wolf will do within the pack to panic the prey> and then knowing WHICH enemy to engage, and having the speed to be anywhere on the battlefield is just great.
love it.

Edited by mekabuser, 03 January 2014 - 08:55 PM.

[Haji1096]

I had the best game I've ever had...in a SDR-5D. I ran it with two ER Large lasers, two JJ, and an XL 245 engine.

For context, in 2200 drops, I've scored over 1000 once (this game), over 900 once, over 700 twice. Piloting the locust has made me better at piloting the other light mechs.

[Skyfaller]

Forgive me but how do you take screenshots? Printscreen only results in a black screen when I go paste in PAINT

[Son of the Flood]

Skyfaller - When I hit printscreen it saves a copy of the image to: C:\Games\Pirahna Games\MechWarrior Online\USER\ScreenShots

Do you have files in similar?

[tomoyo]

Given the positioning of the lasers on the 5D, I prefer different weapons for each laser. I run a ERLL, med pulse, med laser build myself. I tried the ERLL + 2XML and I find it's not as good when I'm running max speed and focusing on dodging as well as firing. I keep the ERLL and Med Pulse in my arm so I can aim that anywhere, the med laser in torso is the last priority weapon when I can get a good shot off. The ERLL and med pulse give me more time to move since I don't have to keep focused as long since one can hit from anywhere, and one only has to be on target for .6 seconds. Also imho pulse lasers are much better if you're fighting off other lights. The small tradeoff of 1 more heat is worth the duration advantage of the pulse when you're running at 150 kph.

One extreme example game with the build. On average I'd estimate I get between 300-500 damage on the build when you play it properly.

[Skyfaller]

Thanks I see the folder.

Personally I don't think the Spider 5D's performance is measured in damage. Its measured in cbills and xp at the end.

I've done 1044 damage with 5 kills on it in my setup in a map where for some reason I just could not move/flank to scout without bumping into one of them... ended up fighting nonstop. I got 90k'ish cbills and 600'ish xp. Most of my team got wiped out too.

OTH, in almost all of my games, when I scout/tag/spot/UAV/snipe I do less than 400 damage (avg is 250) but I end up with 160k cbills and 1000+ xp....and most of my team-mates survive when they are clued enough to watch minimap (since I almost always keep their entire force lit up in minimap) and read my chat warnings of critical info (dual ac20 jager moving @ ... etc)

Edited by Skyfaller, 06 January 2014 - 11:48 AM.