8 replies to this topic

[REllana]

I'm thinking about trying this game out,but the sheer amount of mechs avaliable is somewhat daunting to me,so what's the best one for me? Usually I prefer to pick my targets from long-range,and use cover as needed,so I was thinking about using a combination of PPC's and LRM's to pick my target's off from range with maybe some lasers or Short-range missiles in case anything gets in close.

[Flyto]

If you haven't even tried playing the game yet, then get it installed and jump into some trial mechs. You'll need to do 20+ matches in trials anyway to afford to buy your first one, and by then you should have more of a feel of the weight class and playstyle that you get on with. In the past the trial mechs were all rubbish, so you would just get killed a lot, but now they are mostly decently set up. (You may still get killed a lot, as the game has a steep learning curve, but you'll be able to do some good as well!)

(NB be aware that cash flows in very fast for your first 25 matches, and then slows down a lot. This is to help new players buy their first mech. Do not expect to get the second one as fast!)

Edited by Flyto, 10 February 2014 - 03:50 AM.

[Modo44]

You can put an effective long-range setup on many mechs, from a Raven 3L (35t light) to a Stalker 3F (85t assault). Start with this: Download the client, activate the 24 hour premium time code, play the shit out of MWO during that period. Come back when you know which weight class you enjoy the most. Of the available trial (free) mechs, the Dragon has long-range weapons for you to try.

Edited by Modo44, 10 February 2014 - 03:50 AM.

[Unnatural Growth]

I would start off by piloting each one of the trial mechs and see how you like them. Not all trial mechs are great (understatement), but you will get the feel for the chassis type, the movement type, whether you like jump jets, or ballistics or? At the end of your first 25 matches you will complete your "cadet bonus" and be able to buy a decent mech and outfit it the way you want it. Trial mechs cannot be modified, so just play them as is.

[Victor Morson]

REllana, on 10 February 2014 - 03:37 AM, said:

I'm thinking about trying this game out,but the sheer amount of mechs avaliable is somewhat daunting to me,so what's the best one for me? Usually I prefer to pick my targets from long-range,and use cover as needed,so I was thinking about using a combination of PPC's and LRM's to pick my target's off from range with maybe some lasers or Short-range missiles in case anything gets in close.

PPCs and LRMs is a bit iffy, but I'd recommend one of the following:

Shadow Hawk (All Variants, esp. 2D2) - A really diverse, top tier medium that can run 2 AC5 + PPC, 1 PPC+AC/20 or even 4 Streak/2s + ER LL/MPL. This is also the ideal 'mech (other than the unavailable to cbill Griffin) for LRM skirmishing.
Cataphract 3D - A well respected heavy that can run PPCs + ACs extremely well.
Cataphract 4X - A non-jumping Cataphract that can run 4 AC/5s, very devestating
Victor - With 2 UAC/5 + 2 PPC, it's a brutal ranged 'mech; The 9S is pretty flexible for other builds.
Highlander - Same builds as above with more armor and more flexibility - not to mention bigger missile racks.

Anyway, those are your best options for your kind of play. You might also enjoy (though I would not recommend it as your first 'mech) 2 ER LL Ravens/Cicadas down the line, as they are a great hit & fade 'mech that, despite light weapons, can fire them enough that they often end the round with several hundred points of damage. A lot of fun but I'd say get experience in something else first.

Ditto for the Jagermech, which can run twin Gauss very well - the only 'mech other than the K2 that can. Nice high mounted guns and it fits your description, but it's very fragile and can't jump, so I'd say look at something above first.

EDIT: OP, a lot of people will attack this list because the above 'mechs are "meta", which amounts to "best in the game, what the serious players use" and for whatever reason, a lot of folks here wish everyone would drive 2nd/3rd rate stuff. If you're looking for the best, definitely look to this list first; many people will tell you that have more fun in stuff that's not as good; your call on that one for sure.

Edited by Victor Morson, 10 February 2014 - 05:14 AM.

[Flyto]

Victor Morson, on 10 February 2014 - 05:10 AM, said:

Shadow Hawk (All Variants, esp. 2D2) - A really diverse, top tier medium that can run 2 AC5 + PPC, 1 PPC+AC/20 or even 4 Streak/2s + ER LL/MPL. This is also the ideal 'mech (other than the unavailable to cbill Griffin) for LRM skirmishing.
Cataphract 3D - A well respected heavy that can run PPCs + ACs extremely well.
Cataphract 4X - A non-jumping Cataphract that can run 4 AC/5s, very devestating
Victor - With 2 UAC/5 + 2 PPC, it's a brutal ranged 'mech; The 9S is pretty flexible for other builds.
Highlander - Same builds as above with more armor and more flexibility - not to mention bigger missile racks.

I second the shadowhawks, the 'phract 3D or the Victor, because they are versatile and can be adapted with different loadouts (important IMHO with a first mech, for trying things out). Personally I wouldn't recommend the 4X or Highlander as a first mech, just because I think some experience in the game makes it much easier to play slow mechs effectively. Also the 4X only really has one useful way to play (slow ballistic thing).

Victor Morson, on 10 February 2014 - 05:10 AM, said:

EDIT: OP, a lot of people will attack this list because the above 'mechs are "meta", which amounts to "best in the game, what the serious players use" and for whatever reason, a lot of folks here wish everyone would drive 2nd/3rd rate stuff. If you're looking for the best, definitely look to this list first; many people will tell you that have more fun in stuff that's not as good; your call on that one for sure.

Hmm. I wouldn't advise most people to go the full AC/PPC meta route at first not because it's less fun (they might well enjoy it) but because while it's considered the best way to win by most experienced players, it's almost certainly not the best way to play for beginners. Until you have practice at aiming, positioning, etc., lasers (and perhaps even missles) are a lot more forgiving. But plenty of the mechs listed above can be fitted out either way, so there's flexibility :-)

[Victor Morson]

Flyto, on 10 February 2014 - 05:21 AM, said:

Hmm. I wouldn't advise most people to go the full AC/PPC meta route at first not because it's less fun (they might well enjoy it) but because while it's considered the best way to win by most experienced players, it's almost certainly not the best way to play for beginners. Until you have practice at aiming, positioning, etc., lasers (and perhaps even missles) are a lot more forgiving. But plenty of the mechs listed above can be fitted out either way, so there's flexibility :-)

I entirely disagree with that if only because the reason the weapons are favored - AC5, UAC5 (Feel free to go regular AC/5 OP if you want to not deal with the jamming - they're very good, too) and PPC - is that they are highly responsive, easy to use "point and shoot" weapons that are also very accurate.

If the OP does go Ultra, he can get a lot of nice rapid fire DPS Dakka out of them in any situation, while learning to use PPCs.. well, it's never too early to start!

All around, this is actually a lot easier to use than a lot of builds out there, honestly; it's a good weapons loadout if you've been playing a year or a day.

EDIT: The UAC's fire rate is also nice insuring that a newer pilot still learning the lead times can rapidly fire some shots and get kill assists more often, helping their XP gain.

Edited by Victor Morson, 10 February 2014 - 05:26 AM.

[Baron Cunedda Kell]

I would recommend that you try the trial mechs and get on teamspeak and roll with experienced players...get a feel for the game and see if its right up your alley, before dropping tons of RL money, like I did...of course, I am an old TT (Battletech) & Mechwarrior junkie..so it didn't take long for me to drop RL cash on the game...

[Buckminster]

Just to add, in case it isn't 100% clear...

Of all the mechs in the game, there are always four that are set up as "trial" mechs. It's one of each class (light, medium, heavy and assault), and are modified versions of one of the stock mechs. You can use these mechs, completely free. They'll give you an idea of how different mechs and different weapon systems handle, and will also let you get your feet wet without actually have to spend anything, real money or C-bills.

Also, you'll get bonus winnings for your first 25 matches. This is the "cadet bonus", and it quite nice to start. By the time you've finished your 25 matches, you should have enough C-bills sitting around to allow you to buy and modify a mech. Honestly, I wouldn't buy a mech until you've put in 25 games, because it takes time to get used to the game and to find your style. And while you can always sell a mech you don't like you'll only get 50% of it's value, which can be a hard lesson to learn.

One last thing - don't be surprised if you get killed. A lot. If you're getting frustrated, come back through the forums - there's a lot of people here willing to give advice.