43 replies to this topic

[Koniving]

Considering an Earthwerk GRF, better known as Griffin as either a first mech or your next mech?

You're in for a treat! But before you get started, I wanted to let you know about a few things that just might help you out.

First off, inside a Griffin you're gonna feel this wonderful feeling. It's called Comfort. Spacious and roomy, the piloting area feels quite nice. From the cup holder to personal grooming mirror that you can hang fuzzy dice on you will be right at home in an instant. For those long base captures you can just kick your feet up and relax. Then there's so much Transplast shielding -- that's the translucent metallic 'glass' protection of our cockpit -- you will as if you're in your own little bubble connected to the world.

If you use your Left CTRL key, you can take this time to look around and truly enjoy life. After all, you only live once and there is so much to see.

...By now you're getting a completely different kind of feeling. One of vulnerability and exposure. The view is clear in front of you, to your left, to the right, above you. You can see everything, and they... they can see you inside.

I bet you won't even be able to pick your nose without some sharp shooters seeing it from a kilometer away with advanced zoom turned on. Your pilot suit is already turning brown and no one will notice! It's okay. Really! You have nothing to fear. Most of your cockpit is protected by the vast amount of armor allocated from your center torso. Although there is a special spot that has its own dedicated 18 armor and 18 structure to protect you as well. Wouldn't want someone to ruin that wonderful smile of yours! Also that space is so small you will probably spill your coffee or beer there at some point and never even notice. See? The transplast looks green. Can't tell I spit my drink up earlier. Ahem.

That's right! Before you can enjoy the view and the seat you have to get one. I bet you're wondering which one to get.

Tell you what, Earthwerk, Inc. has a special deal going on that you should hear about.

Together with the help of Defiance, Vandenburg Mechanized, and Victory Industries we are offering you the sale of a lifetime! And no, it's not on Kaboom!™ or Oxi-Clean™. It's on Griffin Battlemechs. We've brought the factories back online for the first time since October and now you can save before we ship the units to the stores for full retail. It's true! We have the Griffin 1S and 1N for very reasonable prices.

Unlike Shadowhawks, Griffins can mount a 20 tube launcher in addition to multiple 10 tube launchers. It also features the classic tried and true drum-style launcher for that sleek, retro look!

The 1S comes with 4 energy mounts on the right arm and 2 missile mounts on the left side. Stock and cheap, but you got quite a bit of work to do on it and your engineer won't be happy. Ready to deliver for 4,466,783 .
The 1N comes as a Right Side Wonder, 3 energy mounts and 3 missile ports with a nearly bare left side. It's a fair deal. Ideal for those into sacrificial limbs. Delivered to your Mechbay for the low, low price of 4,696,843 !

But that's not our great deal, oh no. Wait til you hear this!

If you act now you can get our souped up, factory-upgraded 3M Variant for a lot less than retail by ordering direct! We're looking to cut out the middle man. Get it now for 8,277, 351 ! C'mon down before you start having to pay bluebook value at more than 10,000,000 !

(10+ million is what you'd have to pay to buy one of the other Griffins and then get the same engine and DHS on it. Save now! Get the 3M first. You'll be using that XL 275 for most of your MWO career.)

The 3M comes with the ultra expensive 275-rated Extra Light Fusion Engine, left torso and right arm mounted energy points (1 each), and 4 missile launchers ideal for boating or for mixed payloads. Don't forget it comes with extras like a leather seat, jumpjets, great armor, and most importantly double heatsinks pre-installed. Your engineer will thank you for saving him the trouble...and then call you a cheapskate for not paying him!

Edit: Brought Griffin gameplay from page 3 to page 1.

To get the same view, create a notepad file called "User.cfg" in your MWO folder. Add this line.
CL_Fov = 90
Save the user.cfg file. Load the game. Go into testing grounds to see the difference (and to make sure it's working).

Edited by Koniving, 22 February 2014 - 06:47 AM.

[Parappaman]

That's the feeling I had the first time I piloted mine.

All that shiny glass to look through.

Also, am I the only one who named the thrree variants Peter, Stewie and Brian?

[Koniving]

Translated in a less lore-friendly and much more direct way: MWO's pricing quirks give you a Griffin 3M with Double Heatsinks already installed (a 1.5 million value) in addition to an incredibly expensive engine for barely 4,000,000 more than the price of the engine by itself. And that engine is more expensive than about 90% of the mechs below 50 tons.

If you buy any other Griffin + the DHS + the engine alone before anything else, you're looking at a price of considerably more than 10,000,000 . You're saving between 2 million and 3.5 million . That savings you can use to help deck it out how you like.

Just a good thing to mention in general, if you're just starting out look at the variants for those mechs that are pre-upgraded. They are always cheaper than trying to start from the ground up with one that isn't. (Other prime examples: Shadowhawk 5M, Orion M, and the Wolverine 7K [Wolverine is not yet available for cbills].)

Edited by Koniving, 18 February 2014 - 04:40 PM.

[Wintersdark]

Simply put, Griffons are awesome.

People complain about their one-sided layouts, but people also complain that HGN's one-sided layouts are an advantage for them.

Sure, you lose the "good side" and you're losing most of your firepower, but on the other hand you get a full shield side to soak incoming fire too.


But as Koniving so aptly says in his OP... The Griffon cockpit is *outstanding*. It's so wonderful and open. I can haz loves for the Griffon cockpit.

Edited by Wintersdark, 18 February 2014 - 05:39 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Wintersdark, on 18 February 2014 - 05:39 PM, said:

But as Koniving so aptly says in his OP... The Griffon cockpit is *outstanding*. It's so wonderful and open. I can haz loves for the Griffon cockpit.

Will we get people to start realizing how not open the Shawk's cockpit is though?


Probably not.





....On a happy note - yes, the Griffin rocks

[Victor Morson]

Griffins are rather good in missile roles specifically. Be it Streak, SRM or LRM. They've got great missile ports and maneuverability, and are even superior to Shadow Hawks in this specific niche.

They are also very, very durable with some of the best hit boxes in the game.

Highly recommended.

EDIT: I think it's unfair to compare it to the Shadow Hawk. It's better to compare it to the Centurion; it is effectively a super Centurion in terms of role, with the same kind of sturdy hitboxes and load out, but with jump jets and better maneuverability.

Edited by Victor Morson, 18 February 2014 - 09:00 PM.

[Redshift2k5]

I drive one of my Shawks as a super Centurion and it works well

[RiotHero]

If I get these I will have two XL275's one from my shadow hawk and one new one. Is there any reason not to sell off the 275's since I have the XL280 from my Firebrand that weighs the same?


I can't think of any but, I'd like to know if there is some strange quirk before I do. I already purchased an XL 355 by mistake when tired, I thought I was grabbing my XL350 from inventory. That was a huge hit.

Edited by RiotHero, 19 February 2014 - 04:12 AM.

[Parappaman]

RiotHero, on 19 February 2014 - 02:28 AM, said:

If I get these I will have two XL275's one from my shadow hawk and one new one. Is there any reason not to sell off the 275's since I have the XL280 from my Firebrand that weighs the same?


I can't think of any but, I'd like to know if there is some strange quirk before I do. I already purchased an XL 255 by mistake when tired, I thought I was grabbing my XL350 from inventory. That was a huge hit.

No quirks, just the peace of mind to keep more than a single 'mech ready with that kind of mobility.

[Redshift2k5]

Depends on if you value your balance more, or convenience more. I like keeping all three of my Shadowhawks equipped and ready, especially if I'm running in a group and I don't want to bog down the lance drops with constantly switching engines.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

A big, expensive engine like that? And mechs that have a 275 cap? May as well keep it. It's not as if you have a 300-ton maximum capacity here like you did in MechWarrior 3. Personally, I'd only ever sell sub-200 XL engines, and I'd still keep at least one of whatever rating I was selling.

[wanderer]

The 3M also is unique in Griffins in that it's also got a torso ENERGY hardpoint as well.

Want to use those big arms as shields like an oversized Centurion? Here's your chance.

And as noted, it's the best bargain for those included upgrades. If you've already got a 275XL? Well, consider the sell-back a "rebate" on a -3M.

[TercieI]

RiotHero, on 19 February 2014 - 02:28 AM, said:

If I get these I will have two XL275's one from my shadow hawk and one new one. Is there any reason not to sell off the 275's since I have the XL280 from my Firebrand that weighs the same?


I can't think of any but, I'd like to know if there is some strange quirk before I do. I already purchased an XL 355 by mistake when tired, I thought I was grabbing my XL350 from inventory. That was a huge hit.

The "other" Ravens are the only 275-cap mechs that are XL-friendly, so I think it's silly to keep more than one XL275. I have bought four between SHD, GRF, WVR and the Heavy Metal and I've sold three. That's about 10MM c-bills. Too much liquid cash to not have "just in case."

The prevalent "never sell" attitude you see around here is fallacious and belies a misunderstanding of both time value and personal risk tolerance, IMO.

[YaKillinMeSmalls]

You'll also notice the funny noise Griffins make when torso twisting.

[jper4]

yeah was thinking about getting these after i finish my cicadas (or maybe firestarter first... decisions, decisions) not sure if i want to get the wolverine though. depends how my cbills look by then i guess.

if i act now though will i get a free Lois bobblehead (cause c'mon who'd want a Meg bobblehead) and a shiny new reflective coat guarenteed to deflect lasers at a .0000000001% improved rate?

[Duncan Longwood]

RiotHero, on 19 February 2014 - 02:28 AM, said:

If I get these I will have two XL275's one from my shadow hawk and one new one. Is there any reason not to sell off the 275's since I have the XL280 from my Firebrand that weighs the same?


I can't think of any but, I'd like to know if there is some strange quirk before I do. I already purchased an XL 355 by mistake when tired, I thought I was grabbing my XL350 from inventory. That was a huge hit.

275 is the max engine for the Raven 2X and 4X, the Centurion A and AL, and the entire line of Hunchbacks. So if you are leveling Ravens or you are feeling particularly brave/suicidal then there is some use for an XL 275.

[TercieI]

Duncan Longwood, on 19 February 2014 - 06:31 AM, said:

275 is the max engine for the Raven 2X and 4X, the Centurion A and AL, and the entire line of Hunchbacks. So if you are leveling Ravens or you are feeling particularly brave/suicidal then there is some use for an XL 275.

Emphasis on "an XL275." Not an engine you need multiples of.

[Macksheen]

Terciel1976, on 19 February 2014 - 06:46 AM, said:

Emphasis on "an XL275." Not an engine you need multiples of.

I have a few mechs I like to keep "ready", and try not to swap their engines ... but the rest of them go to the garage without a heart.

[Satan n stuff]

Duncan Longwood, on 19 February 2014 - 06:31 AM, said:

275 is the max engine for the Raven 2X and 4X, the Centurion A and AL, and the entire line of Hunchbacks. So if you are leveling Ravens or you are feeling particularly brave/suicidal then there is some use for an XL 275.

XL 275 isn't suicidal in a Centurion, it just requires a different playing style. For a Hunchie I wouldn't recommend it.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

Satan n stuff, on 19 February 2014 - 06:59 AM, said:

XL 275 isn't suicidal in a Centurion, it just requires a different playing style. For a Hunchie I wouldn't recommend it.

I'll echo this, since I use one in my -AL. Does the job nicely.