53 replies to this topic

[oldradagast]

Underrated:

Trenchbuckets and Quickdraws. I can't even recall the last time I saw a Trenchbucket, and while I've seen a few intentional Quickdraw lance drops recently, they are still very uncommon. Both are rather oversized for their tonnage, which is part of the problem... and even having jump jets doesn't seem to make up for that. Still, they are not terrible if played right, though they are often better options for most players.

Locust: Discussed already. Small and fragile. Not bad, but it has a specific role that does NOT involve getting into close range of several enemy mechs and hoping none of them can hit you.

Awesome: Problems are well known here. Not the "auto-kill" it is made out to be, but it still needs help in comparison to better options. I like them, but I understand their issues.

Thunderbolts: They are generally not a high DPS platform, so they have fallen by the wayside as Jagers continue to dominate at this tonnage. Still, the Thud is very durable and can outlast many other mechs in the game.

Overrated:

Jagers, Victors, and Highlanders: All top-tier mechs, but they are not invincible or "I win" buttons if piloted without understanding what you're doing. Jagers are incredible DPS machines - and generally made of glass. Highlanders are the king of pop-tarting, but can be crippled if you remove the right torso. Victor's are all around good jump-jet assaults, but they often run XL engines, which leaves them open to torso deaths. Again, all good mechs, but not auto-wins.

[Jonny Slam]

Fantastic thread!

unfortunately, I'm going to be broke because of it. To many good ideas and tips, and way to many Mechs to buy.

Dam ye all! Dam ye eyes!!!

Edited by Jonny Slam, 11 February 2014 - 11:06 PM.

[_____]

Most underrated, Spider 5V.

Um, actually no. It does suck. Worst mech I was ever forced to pilot.

AWS 8Q, rarely seen in the game now, but I do pretty well in it. Play it like a long range medium mech that's slightly less squishy and stay far back from the brawl, and it'll do fine.

[White Panther]

here are my picks,

Underrated: Hunchback 4P, with 8 med lasers it gives a really nice staggered alpha strike. With 5 in the hunch, 1 in the head and 2 in the arms its pretty good on heat and you can put a good size standard engine for respectable speed (98 with speed tweak I believe). Popping in and out of cover to shoot and minimize exposure works best for this setup.

Overrated: Any of the locusts, because they are so bad that even when people call them terrible that's an understatement. The clear cut bottom of the barrel mech in the game (shouldn't even be in the game).

[Arnold J Rimmer]

To echo a few earlier sentiments: The Venerable Centurion.

Fo' serious.

The competitive 'can't take a risk' battalion will tell you that mounting anything in the right arm is a losing proposition, because you lose 'the majority' of your firepower. Only time that's true is in a Yen Lo. Every time I've lost an arm in my CN9, I've had three quarters of my guns intact and ready to show you why wasting time on my arm was silly.

My -AL, "Trust in the Rust", does 98kph with a 45-point alpha and max armour. It does the job.

[Dagon Zur]

Commando, Trebuchet, Quickdraw.....Orion is uderplayed too

Edited by Dagon Zur, 13 February 2014 - 04:10 AM.

[Magna Canus]

Asmudius Heng, on 06 February 2014 - 06:57 PM, said:

The locust is so underrated.

Wait, i mean terrible i get those two confused ... its trash

I quite like my battlemaster but only because of the high mounted energy slots on the shoulders that allow better sniping from cover. I see a lot of people ragging on the battlemaster but for a non JJ Assault mech its not bad imo

I feel the cataphract is over rated. Its a good chassis - i do not own any but i never FEAR them like some other mechs for some reason. I respect them but not like the killing machines some make them out to be

The Battlemasters high shoulder slots are really nice.

I tend to see a ton of crazy Cataphract builds; last night it was 3xGaus, or the usual 3xUAC. I tend to get a look at the loadout on my target display before getting into a commited engagement with a Cataphract. Those builds are slow, but damn if they get you with a surprise shot (3x Gaus =45 damage...) or you make the mistake of brawling vs. 3UAC. Fortunately the ballistics are mounted low so they are not the born snipers like the Jager.

[Vidarok]

I like the Battlemaster a lot too, it has some serious amount of firepower and versatility too. Lots of energy, ballistics and missiles if you want that. It's the only assault I've been successful with.

[Tustle]

Arnold J Rimmer, on 13 February 2014 - 03:46 AM, said:

The competitive 'can't take a risk' battalion will tell you that mounting anything in the right arm is a losing proposition, because you lose 'the majority' of your firepower.

Well pants to that lot then, cause' I'm finding an AC2 and Artemis SRM6 x3 combo is working fantastically in mine. The AC2 takes over the long-range job of the LRM's I was mounting while the SRM 18 pack provides a heavy knockout punch that can even give Assaults a good thrashing. The Artemis helps with this; a lot, what with that whole issue with SRM hit detection. The Centurion's shield is still FTW in keeping everything else in working order as long as possible, and the twin medium lasers are still mounted for a quick shot at passing enemy light mechs.

Only thing is the fact that I'm now venturing far out of stock...only part of the original CN9-A left are those two medium lasers. And a good chunk of the standard armor...and the dashboard...shiny lights...

Edited by Tank Man, 17 February 2014 - 09:19 PM.

[luxebo]

Tank Man, on 17 February 2014 - 09:17 PM, said:

Well pants to that lot then, cause' I'm finding an AC2 and Artemis SRM6 x3 combo is working fantastically in mine. The AC2 takes over the long-range job of the LRM's I was mounting while the SRM 18 pack provides a heavy knockout punch that can even give Assaults a good thrashing. The Artemis helps with this; a lot, what with that whole issue with SRM hit detection. The Centurion's shield is still FTW in keeping everything else in working order as long as possible, and the twin medium lasers are still mounted for a quick shot at passing enemy light mechs.

Only thing is the fact that I'm now venturing far out of stock...only part of the original CN9-A left are those two medium lasers. And a good chunk of the standard armor...and the dashboard...shiny lights...

I think Artemis SRM18 is best with only the med lasers, the AC2 would make it somewhat hotter and slower. This would be going pretty far from stock though.

[Evogenesis]

Underrated

The most underrated mech has got to be the Golden Boy. Yea the KTO-18 can do everything the GB can do without the engine cap and agility restrictions, but the GB has an extra energy hardpoint! It's a bad trade for sure, but the TAG you can slip on makes it a potent light hunter. Ever since the Firestarter, I'm seeing large numbers of light mech swarms. The GB eats them for lunch.

The engine cap forces you to downgrade your speed. The max 290 engine gives a top speed of 94kph with tweak. The downgrade lets you upgrade the medium lasers to large. The speed lets you stay close to the pack while chasing away any lights with the 5 streaks and large lasers. The BAP and TAG gets you ultra fast locks and counters ECM lights. A solid alternative to the KTO-18 in a light hunter role and the two large lasers lets it punch at heavier mechs. You don't go fast enough to go on any light mech goose chase, but it does let you quickly respond to lights wherever they engage your team.


Overrated

I find the Atlas is overrated. I think many new players are attracted by its heavy armour and high alpha loadouts. In skilled hands it is a formidable opponent. Too often it is a 100 ton paperweight.

[Tustle]

luxebo, on 17 February 2014 - 10:36 PM, said:

I think Artemis SRM18 is best with only the med lasers, the AC2 would make it somewhat hotter and slower. This would be going pretty far from stock though.

SO very far from stock, ha ha! XD

That being said I like having a big freakin' gun to back up everything else, and as I said, that AC2 is more for worrying targets at range. As you say, there -is- a heat issue when closing in...but that's why it's called 'heat management' and personally I think the extra punch shaking up enemy mechs' helps. If but a trifle.

Evogenesis, on 18 February 2014 - 07:55 AM, said:

Overrated

I find the Atlas is overrated. I think many new players are attracted by its heavy armour and high alpha loadouts. In skilled hands it is a formidable opponent. Too often it is a 100 ton paperweight.

I don't know how I got more wins and more kills in Atlases then losses and deaths, but I'll have to agree with you there. About the paperweight thing.

Edited by Tank Man, 18 February 2014 - 06:51 PM.

[IraqiWalker]

White Panther, on 12 February 2014 - 10:20 PM, said:

Overrated: Any of the locusts, because they are so bad that even when people call them terrible that's an understatement. The clear cut bottom of the barrel mech in the game (shouldn't even be in the game).

My 500 damage 3M and my 4 kill 1v would like to have a word with you on that front.

They require a very specific style of play that is not encouraged in the game in general, but if you know how to pilot them, they are devastating and hilarious.

The worst you can do is rush a stalker head on and stand under it's "crotch" and shoot it to death without it being able to fight back.

traded an 85 tonner for a 20 tonner.

Fun fact about the 1V, my best prey have usually been victors since for some reason they put ammo in the legs, and STILL strip armor from there.

In my signature I have a simple guide about how to play the Locusts right (well the first two, I admit I am awful with the 3S and the input there is from a friend who loves it and swears by it). Check it out.

[Thrudvangar]

Mazzyplz, on 07 February 2014 - 12:01 AM, said:

i have to say first of all the obvious, the awesome. i am an awesome pilot so yeah. very underrated


another very underrated mech is the trebuchet!!

the trebuchet was amazing when it came out but people seem to have forgotten it.
it is one of the most tactical mechs in the game, raining doom from above, while flying, it's like the trebuchet can play as a knight in chess, making these great jumps between positions and attacking indirectly, while most other mechs are stuck with LOS like we're rooks or pawns. i wish more people used the trebuchet for guerrilla lurming at high altitudes

shhhhhhhhhhh!

Trebuchet is my fave too.