32 replies to this topic

[Jacon Ceronia]

So, I've painfully struggled my way through mastering the Victor/Dragon Slayer-- because someone told me that it was an entirely different mech after Elite.

I had faith. However, this is so not proving to be the case for me. Bummer too, since I love everything about this mech (on paper). Love the feel, love the speed, Love the JJ's, love the canopy design, love it's own personal sound effects (I could torso twist all day, with that sound).

I just can't find a niche for it though. I mean, all the weapon load outs I've tried don't feel right. I do too little damage with STD. engine builds, and it ALWAYS feels far too fragile with XL builds. Even with max armor it feels squishy. Especially, when compared to my Jagermech and Battlemaster, which are always XL. What gives?

Who likes the Victor, and how have you been able to become effective with her? I know it's a favorite here by all the comments, and Smurfy links. I would like to master this on more than just the MWO skill tree. Thanks in advance.

[lsp]

Xl350 2ppc 1ac20 2JJ full armor, if you can't do well with that, then VTR's aren't for you. They're not a squishy mech at all. Specially the ST, they're very small.

[FupDup]

The Victor is tied against the Highlander for being the overall best mech across all weight classes, in the entire game. Any complaint about them not being effective enough is completely invalid, barring the 9B variant's single ballistic hardpoint without the ability to hold an AC/20. And even that "crappy" variant is better than most of the other mechs in the game.


On a side note, you can try taking some of your rear armor and putting it on your frontal torsos. Not like fast mechs are usually a threat, anyways. There are even some Highlander players in the topmost tiers (i.e. LORD VILLZ) who can get away with a single point of rear armor.

Edited by FupDup, 24 February 2014 - 08:11 PM.

[Adiuvo]

FupDup, on 24 February 2014 - 04:44 PM, said:

There are even some Highlander players in the topmost tiers (i.e. LORD VILLZ) that have only a single point of rear armor, and it never comes back to bite them.

Well, never is a bit of a strong statement...

[oldradagast]

Quick correction - the 9K has the single hardpoint with 3 energy in the left arm. The 9B has 3 ballistic hardpoints.

As for the Victor, they don't have the most hardpoints and their missiles are rather strange thanks to the missile tube limits, but other than that, they are excellent mechs. They can pack a good mix of ballistics and energy weapons, and while not perfect snipers - since their main weapons are mounted on low, wide arms - they perform jump-sniping very well, and are good at brawling with proper use of the jump jets.

Everyone has different builds. XL engines are rather common. I admit that I have mixed feelings about that on Victors, but I also admit that a lot of it comes down to my own playstyle and desire to make assault mechs as frustratingly difficult to kill as possible. As for weapons, a good mix of autocannons - or just one big AC20 in the 9B and 9S - will work nicely, and then toss on some solid energy weapons on the left arm. Missiles are questionable. Some folks use small SRM packs or SSRM's. Me, I leave them off. I find that I spend so much time jump and holding my arms on targets that the torso-mounted missiles never really hit anything.

Anyway, good luck and I hope this helped.

[lsp]

FupDup, on 24 February 2014 - 04:44 PM, said:

The Victor is tied against the Highlander for being the overall best mech across all weight classes, in the entire game. Any complaint about them not being effective enough is completely invalid, barring the 9B variant's single ballistic hardpoint without the ability to hold an AC/20. And even that "crappy" variant is better than most of the other mechs in the game.


On a side note, you can try taking some of your rear armor and putting it on your frontal torsos. Not like fast mechs are usually a threat, anyways. There are even some Highlander players in the topmost tiers (i.e. LORD VILLZ) that have only a single point of rear armor, and it never comes back to bite them.

Nevermind, someone beat me to it.

Edited by lsp, 24 February 2014 - 06:35 PM.

[XX Sulla XX]

I only run Xls in my Victor and it can take a beating if you pilot it correctly. Many times I can get down to around 12-15 health before being killed. As others have said the Victor can do great things. And they can do it as close in brawler high alpha builds like mine. Or DPS builds or jump sniper builds. So I know for a fact the tool works. You just need to find the play style and loadout that matches how you like to play and then master it.

[Sagamore]

FupDup, on 24 February 2014 - 04:44 PM, said:

There are even some Highlander players in the topmost tiers (i.e. LORD VILLZ) that have only a single point of rear armor, and it never comes back to bite them.

Duly noted.

[Cerberias]

The Victors essentially a more mobile HGN. Most of them have the sniping disadvantage of having their weapons on arms, so they use speed to get off those shots instead. The Dragonslayer, however, gives the speed of a Victor with the single side weapons (enabling better sniping due to less exposure). I kind of see them as a more aggressive Highlander, which isn't as good at sniping/taking damage, but can get around flanks easier and does better in short range due to its arm mounts and extra mobility.

I personally dislike the Victors because I dislike XL engines against competent enemies who can blow out a torso. Sure, against people who can't aim amazingly well (99% of the population), that XL engine won't blow unless you get unlucky. I just find that the shield side of the HGN to give a much longer durability if played well, compared to the Victor. Remember, taking damage through an already destroyed left torso, will result in 50% less damage taken to CT!

Edited by Cerberias, 24 February 2014 - 06:44 PM.

[Lightfoot]

With a big XL engine you have speed. Move laterally while attacking to use that speed to spread damage. If you don't do that well put an ST engine in it and still move laterally and just guard the CT.

[Trauglodyte]

Quote

There are even some Highlander players in the topmost tiers (i.e. LORD VILLZ) that have only a single point of rear armor, and it never comes back to bite them.

That's also because he never runs solo so his group/4 man is made up of people that know how to protect each other. Plus, he's got quick enough reflexes to abuse the current broken state of JJs to keep his back away from opponents. He's gone down before so it isn't like that 1 point of rear armor always protects him fully. But, the Highlander has enough internal health that it isn't enough to make it that huge of an issue. Of course, that is barring that he/his group is able to keep that pesky light off of him.

As to the torsos being squishy, if you're getting focus fired, no amount of armor is going to protect you. Just fire, twist, and you should be ok. But, you need to either rely on a lot of speed (ie, huge XL engine) or you're selective about your attack route, cover, and targeting.

Edited by Trauglodyte, 24 February 2014 - 07:44 PM.

[mekabuser]

idk which one i run, but ac10 in one arm, 3 er med in the other and a bunch of srms and the thing is OP.
the only drawback to the mech is the way it interacts with terrain which is just TERRIBLE.. even with JJ.
terrain in this game is just oppressive.

[Turist0AT]

Use STD engine or torso twist. It sounds like Victors are not for you. Get a hunchback maybe

[YueFei]

Turist0AT, on 24 February 2014 - 07:55 PM, said:

Use STD engine or torso twist. It sounds like Victors are not for you. Get a hunchback maybe

If he finds Victor side torsos to be vulnerable he will hate Hunchbacks. Even if you don't die, losing your right shoulder sucks.

[SirLANsalot]

DRAGON SLAYER

I love this build.

Its a "Zombie" mech style and is billions of times fun to run. Just jump everywhere, MG everything you see, and twist around laughing all day. Your main guns are in the torso of those twin LL, and SRM backups.....just so much like a cent its....funny.

You can also undo Artemis and take another ton of SRM ammo and the last JJ

Edited by SirLANsalot, 24 February 2014 - 09:30 PM.

[Jacon Ceronia]

Ok, so I swear I was not leading you guys on eariler. I was having crap for luck, I post this, and tonight I start to find a niche for this chassis. *chuckle* Next time I'll post here sooner, and maybe it won't take me quite so long to turn things around. This is with a STD. engine, Gauss, and 2 PPCs. Hope to continue to improve. Thanks all.

Edited by Jacon Ceronia, 24 February 2014 - 09:48 PM.

[Mister Blastman]

mekabuser, on 24 February 2014 - 07:50 PM, said:

idk which one i run, but ac10 in one arm, 3 er med in the other and a bunch of srms and the thing is OP.
the only drawback to the mech is the way it interacts with terrain which is just TERRIBLE.. even with JJ.
terrain in this game is just oppressive.

The terrain didn't use to be so bad. Back in closed beta you could run like a champ. Then for some reason Paul decided jump-sniping wasn't powerful enough. So he nerfed terrain. And he nerfed SRMs. And then he nerfed our joy for playing the game.

[luxebo]

Jacon Ceronia, on 24 February 2014 - 02:34 PM, said:

I do too little damage with STD. engine builds, and it ALWAYS feels far too fragile with XL builds. Even with max armor it feels squishy. Especially, when compared to my Jagermech and Battlemaster, which are always XL. What gives?

If you complain about the Victor, then think of the Awesome...

[Cyborne Elemental]

9k, is pretty much your poptart setup, slot limit on the right arm won't allow for AC-20 though.

9B, great brawler, pack an AC-10 with 2 mg, whatever lasers and a couple streaks, or go AC-20 for poundy pound.

9S, good missle support mech, has alot of tubes, but you if you pack 3 lrm 10's it does that ripple effect for constant annoying plinking in your enemy's face, also good for bashing lights with 3 s-srm's or go Artemis SRM-6 usually rips anything apart standing still.

DS, jack of all trades, but setup for poptarting mostly.

[aniviron]

Glad to see you have figured out a playstyle that works for you, OP. As others have stated, the Victor does well when you heavily frontload its torso armor, as you're mobile enough that you can almost always keep enemies out of your rear arc if you're smart. I run between 5-9 rear side torso armor; given the small rear side torso hitboxes, I almost never ever die from XL blowout there, and the extra armor in front has saved my bacon on many an occasion.

If you ever get bored of sniping and want to live dangerously, the 9S brawls like a beast. Load it up with an XL380, AC20 + 3SRM6 with the option for two medium lasers to taste (I always do) and you carry the same payload as the classic brawler AS7-D-DC but at close to double the speed, and with jumpjets. You'll need to shave a little armor to make it work, but since you already have the cooling efficiencies doubled, it shouldn't be too bad for you.