35 replies to this topic

[RLBell]

You can lay down the beats with it, but it is a poor choice for a new player. The stock STK-3F was a bad enough choice for a new player, but had the virtue that it would last long enough under fire to give you practice against live targets (my confession: it was the only trial that I lasted long enough in the LRM Hell to enable me to shoot at the enemy [LRM's were truly overpowered in Jan. 2013] and I bought one as soon as my cadet bonus was finished).

As a trial mech, it seems to be best used for learning about inflicting missile spam. If you do not already have a good chassis for an LRM boat, they cost a bundle.

[Barkem Squirrel]

In the hands of someone that runs LRM's almost all the time, the champion stalker is good, but I do see some problems.

The XL engine is a problem with the big side torso hit boxes. I would go to two LRM 15's, two LRM 5's all with artemis, STD 300 engine (62 kph with speed tweak) or a STD280, BAP some heat sinks, ammo or AMS with adding some more armor or removing some.

Other than that not a bad mech, but one that I would focus on to take out, once identified.

I took one out yesterday with a shadow hawk LRM boat going 90 kph. I just rushed it and used JJ to stay behind him at about 190 m. I did send a question to him in chat, he was new and the rest of the team went to another point on alpine and he went to the fight. we charge up the valley and took the lance there out quick instead of going to theta to join our other lance. So I ran in two matches after that in the champion stalker. In the first one lights mauled me as the fast mediums and lights left me on Crimson straits and the next was on alpine for skirmish and it was great. two kills, 9 assists. I ran out of missiles and finished with using ML's and tag. The number of spotting assists and TAG bonuses was worth it. I was not in the front, and staying 200 to 300 m from the target. I had just above 600 damage. Still I would change the load out.

It is almost the same issue I have with the Battlemaster, run a 260 STD or a 280/300 XL engine. Is the speed worth it for more ammo and heatsinks?

[Flyer101999]

I have a regular 3F and I thought that it was hard. Reading this, I'm glad I didn't try that. My jenner does appreciate these Stalkers though.

[Tesunie]

For a "Champion" mech that will sit in the trial slots (practically created to be run by new players), the Stalker itself isn't a bad choice. However, this loadout of the Stalker is poor for new players because of it's heavy dependance on the LRMs and the XL engine.

Something more rounded and balanced would have benefited a new player far more than an "LRM boat". I know it has 4 med lasers, but my own Stalker carries (in my opinion) a far better balanced loadout. I find that most mechs my own Stalker build doesn't fear. Only thing it really fears is ECM heavy teams, and mechs that are in the same weight class as itself.

My Stalker has 2 ALRM15s, 8 tons ammo, 4 med lasers, 2 SRM2s, 1 ton ammo, BAP, STD 300 engine, DHS, Endo. It can easily support the team (without as much LRM spam, and no ghost heat), and can protect itself from any strays that come into it. (Though some people would disagree) I feel that this would have been a better Champion mech loadout, as it would be more friendly and ideal to newer players. They can engage at distance, mid range, or close fast hard to hit targets. It can easily work with a 2 button mouse too (what I feel is the most common mouse to be used by any player, so it makes it easier overall). It runs cool, and survives well because of the Std engine. (They could have even dropped a ton of LRM ammo for TAG if one desired.)

Heck, to be honest, something like this could have been better: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3c3308695acbf8b
2 Large (ER or normal), 4 med pulse lasers, 4 SSRM2s, BAP, Endo, Artemis, Std 310 engine. Would run hot, but they have two range "brackets" to worry about, long range (LLs) and short range (med lasers and SSRMs).

Or

This would be a little more advanced, but still relatively new user friendly: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c9a88bda5eb29c2
2 PPCs, 4 med lasers, 4 SSRMs, 3 tons ammo, Artemis, BAP, Endo, Std 310 engine. PPCs minimum range would be the hardest part, but get things close, and you have plenty of close range punch to kill/scare most things.

There are so many very easy and viable builds to the Stalker that could be very user friendly, and they made the "new user trial mech Champion" into a harder to play custom. And if they want to make the (C) mech worth "buying", the build doesn't overly matter, as one can freely customize after they have bought the mech...

[Igchy]

627, on 06 February 2014 - 08:56 AM, said:

actually I hope I can get some of you to write some guides for the other trial mechs

I think from all the dragon is the best bet. the gauss should be changed to an AC10 and the 3 free tons should go into AMS and BAP or Armor/Heat sinks. But even with the gauss it seems to be the most useful one.

just that mechanic needs to be explained...

If PGI dont care to explain about ghost heat , guass , why 3rd person sucks, etc.. to new players.Then why we have to.

Edited by Igchy, 10 February 2014 - 12:25 AM.

[That Dawg]

yurusei, on 05 February 2014 - 11:06 PM, said:

In the hands of experts masquerading as newbs, we get massive LRM rain.

maybe I'll post some screens...we ran drops 3-4 at a time in the 3Fc tonight sort of as a joke at first,
but they are a dandy mech in its native form, would I make changes? Probably, but its well blinged.

When all of us could target and fire at a mech, (do the math) four of us, getting two or three salvos off in 30 seconds, that was nearly 2000 missiles hitting about the same time, on very specific mechs-we watched mechs just MELT away.
First battle we sort of hung back, but by the end, we were making advancing firing lines, losing one or two but wiping out half the other team and scattering them in short order.
We made lots of creds tonight.
Best battle we got cursed by our own team for stealing kills and making it too dangerous to get anywhere near a targeted mech.
It looked like rainbows of fire, and they need to be nerfed.

[condor1X1]

thinks i might troll around in this trial mech and pretend to be new.... ...it can do a bit of damage in the right hands.

[Void Angel]

What? Are you trying to insinuate that handing an XL deathtrap Stalker to new players was not the most astute design choice available? I cannot fathom any possible way you could have come to such a conclusion. =)

Seriously, though, I think they were wanting to encourage LRM use - and it's not too bad if the user can stay out of direct combat.

[Ghostchips Condensate I and II]

i like the trial stalker, i can even manage the heat, everything about it, except for the XL which is bad when you get located by lights with nobody to help you.

[Igchy]

I dont know with Lrmagadon going on now , maybe its a good time to use Trial stalker.

[That Dawg]

Trashforged, on 18 March 2014 - 09:15 PM, said:

i like the trial stalker, i can even manage the heat, everything about it, except for the XL which is bad when you get located by lights with nobody to help you.

Lemme ask you this, which heavy/assault would you prefer to be in when surrounded by lights, and no one is around to help?

[William Slayer]

I happen to love this champion mech. As a player who enjoys the 'fire support' role its right up my alley. Chain fire on the 'hot' maps and keep moving with the main group. Letting the teams that you are on know that you are 'boating' helps, but just about every one knows by now what you are packing. You've filled your mission when the ammo bins are dry and then you join the front lines for some target practice with your lasers!

To be honest I had no idea it had an XL in it!

[AlmightyAeng]

ThatDawg, on 19 March 2014 - 02:34 AM, said:

Lemme ask you this, which heavy/assault would you prefer to be in when surrounded by lights, and no one is around to help?

A Victor. Something with Streaks and JJ. My Firestarter. Light's aren't THAT scary...unless you're in an XL Assault that's boated something, leaving it with a tiny engine.

William Slayer, on 19 March 2014 - 05:36 AM, said:

I happen to love this champion mech. As a player who enjoys the 'fire support' role its right up my alley. Chain fire on the 'hot' maps and keep moving with the main group. Letting the teams that you are on know that you are 'boating' helps, but just about every one knows by now what you are packing. You've filled your mission when the ammo bins are dry and then you join the front lines for some target practice with your lasers!

To be honest I had no idea it had an XL in it!

The Trial Stalker of post-patch 3/18 is a COMPLETELY different beast. With the change in missile speed, the time to get into cover is reduced, and in capable hands, this thing owns (and is still a fragile little glass cannon, lol).

What I want to know, is how it does in a week? When people have adjusted to the time required to get back into cover...how effective will it be then? But yeah, we dropped 4-mans in these last night...coordinated missile fire with speed that wasn't SLOWER than light mechs worked out pretty well. +1.

Edited by Ghost Badger, 19 March 2014 - 05:57 AM.

[Votanin FleshRender]

I've been playing a week now.

Playing the Cat trial, I average 20 damage done
Playing the spider trial, I often die first with 0 damage done
Bought a hunchback for my first mech. I average around 10 damage

With the trial stalker, I average 300-400 damage. Often with a kill or two.

I cannot hit ANYTHING with direct fire weaponry. I'm amazed, impressed, and jealous of some of the abilities ive seen with light mechs moving around, but I simply dont possess that kind of hand/eye/mental coordination, and as a father of 4 that owns and runs my own business, I highly doubt I will ever have the time to acquire it. Between the cockpit shaking and my moving and the target moving, I just can't hit the broad side of a barn. Or the hill the barn sits on. Or the time zone the barn is in. But those LRMs = godly, to me.

I haven't had too many problems with the little guys. I learned quickly to stay with my group, and if a little guy is dancing around, I get my back to a building/hill as fast as I can.

$.02 from a noob.

[AlmightyAeng]

Votanin FleshRender, on 19 March 2014 - 08:45 AM, said:

I've been playing a week now.

I cannot hit ANYTHING with direct fire weaponry. I'm amazed, impressed, and jealous of some of the abilities ive seen with light

Try lowering your mouse sensitivity. In the training grounds, practice running perpendicular to your target. Not all weapons 'lead' the same.

[luxebo]

ThatDawg, on 19 March 2014 - 02:34 AM, said:

Lemme ask you this, which heavy/assault would you prefer to be in when surrounded by lights, and no one is around to help?

Actually, the best would be a Dragon/Quickdraw with 90+ speed designed to take out lights little legs.

Edit: @Votanin, Catapult is Cat, not Cataphract. Cataphract mostly called phract to avoid confusion. For the Spider, you should be scouting and sniping from long range, never stop moving. Same as Cicada, but torso twist to dodge fire. Cataphract is a harsh brawler and part sniper, which is going to be tougher due to aiming problems, you'd get slowly better though! Just keep trying.

Edited by luxebo, 19 March 2014 - 03:15 PM.