13 replies to this topic

[Mole]

Hello everyone. So I am a Locust pilot (LCT-3M). I've got a loadout that works well for me, but there is one question I have. I have leftover tonnage to either equip an AMS with one ton of ammo or a BAP. I play the role of a mid-range harrasser in my Locust 3M so I am basically kind of sniping with my medium lasers and then moving. I find the AMS does not do me personally much good because if someone launches a few LRMs at me I find myself far too quick and maneuverable to be hit by them. However I realise that my AMS is also helping to protect nearby friendly mechs. On the other hand, I may be able to spot better for our own LRM boats if I drop my AMS and go for a BAP. What are the community's opinions on my conundrum?

[DONTOR]

Well do you even find yourself near friendly mechs most of the time? If so than maybe bring the AMS. If you stick with other lights bringing a BAP to counter an enemy ECM so that friendy mechs can streak it might be helpful aswell.
Both have their advantages but I think BAP could work more often atleast it would for how I pilot lights.

Edited by DONTOR, 27 February 2014 - 07:24 AM.

[Noesis]

BAP will help with targeting info, useful for your limited surgical shots. And ideally in a Locust you will want to be on the move and provide limited face time where the enemy can shoot you. So hit and run tactics useful here with this kind of harassing role.

AMS whilst useful perhaps not so important a tool when your speed and cover will help for LRMs. For any streak boat light killers trying to catch you however I'd suggest trying to keep distance, even if it means being slightly outside the scope of the ideal range for MLs. Then use kiting tactics for these kind of engagements, drawing your opponent into the ranks of your own team to assist with them.

Situational awareness being more useful to an haraser imho so BAP edges it for me due to the extra intel it provides. Also you can mix it up with other freindly lights in wolf pack mode and help with ECM opponents as a result.

[Fuggles]

Dual ams with the ams range extension module can save your butt against streaks. That's what I run.

On my deaths knell, I had a choice of a heatsink, single ams or bap and I went with bap. I'm more likely to actually fight enemy lights with ecm and with just a single ams, bap is a good choice. Add in the target info module and you get instant target gathering and sensor range module for 1200m spotting.

Edited by Fuggles, 27 February 2014 - 07:44 AM.

[CDLord HHGD]

Mole126, on 27 February 2014 - 07:17 AM, said:

......Locust (LCT-3M)......got a loadout that works well but I have leftover tonnage........

This is a myth......

[Mole]

cdlord, on 27 February 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

This is a myth......

I'm afraid it is not, sir.

Also, I went with a BAP for a couple rounds and I like it. I'm able to target from much farther away and I can gather target info much better than before, which is honestly more valuable to me than a single AMS with one solitary ton of ammo.

[CDLord HHGD]

Very nice, yeah, BAP is a good piece of hardware. The thing that shocked me was the leftover tonnage part. That's hard to come by on a Locust. Mind sharing your build? No worries if you don't want to, secrets an all. I have a build I like too, but again, leftover tonnage...

[Supersmacky]

Go BAP. In most circumstances, unless you have a pack of mechs with AMS it is a waste of tonnage.

[SgtMagor]

you want to scout/base capper with mech install BAP.
want to be defender/harasser for your team install AMS so you can protect yourself an team from missiles.

[Mole]

cdlord, on 27 February 2014 - 08:29 AM, said:

Very nice, yeah, BAP is a good piece of hardware. The thing that shocked me was the leftover tonnage part. That's hard to come by on a Locust. Mind sharing your build? No worries if you don't want to, secrets an all. I have a build I like too, but again, leftover tonnage...

Here's the LCT-3M build I am using.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

AMS provides some small measure of protection against SSRMs, which the Locust needs more than any other mech in the game. BAP is mostly useful if you need to cancel ECM, which the Locust only needs to worry about if you're crazy and using a SSRM missile Locust build.

That said, BAP is a cheaper alternative to Sensor Range and Target Info Gathering modules, at the cost of crits and tonnage. If you find you need and use both then by all means, stick with BAP. Your SSRM- and LRM-armed friendlies will thank you for it.

Mole126, on 27 February 2014 - 08:41 AM, said:

Here's the LCT-3M build I am using.

This is how I'd change it. Lucky head shots do happen, and that extra DHS can keep you from shutting down or let you get in that one last shot.

[DONTOR]

Well if he even had 6 Armor in the head he could take an AC20 to the head and survive. So just take out a point from an arm and add to the head, Id take the BAP over a DHS aswell.

Edited by DONTOR, 27 February 2014 - 09:11 AM.

[Mole]

Levi Porphyrogenitus, on 27 February 2014 - 09:03 AM, said:

AMS provides some small measure of protection against SSRMs, which the Locust needs more than any other mech in the game. BAP is mostly useful if you need to cancel ECM, which the Locust only needs to worry about if you're crazy and using a SSRM missile Locust build.

That said, BAP is a cheaper alternative to Sensor Range and Target Info Gathering modules, at the cost of crits and tonnage. If you find you need and use both then by all means, stick with BAP. Your SSRM- and LRM-armed friendlies will thank you for it.



This is how I'd change it. Lucky head shots do happen, and that extra DHS can keep you from shutting down or let you get in that one last shot.

Yeah, I guess using it for an extra heat sink would be a good idea. I remember thinking about it when I first made the build but ultimately decided that something like AMS was more useful than a heat sink. That was before I played with it too much and then I guess I kinda... forgot about the fact that I could use that extra ton for a heat sink. As for the lucky headshots though, I have never had it happen. I've taken a couple hits in the cockpit before but it's never been what caused my death. It's usually my legs or my CT, sometimes one of my torso sections going out with the XL engine. I think I am going to do what you suggest though. Dunno why I didn't happen to think of it myself.

[Bigg Robb]

I rock the LCT-3M with an ERLL and double AMS with 1 ton ammo. Works great against those damn SSRMs and helps allies. BAP won't help me much, as sniping at 600+ meters is not exactly surgical.

BTW, also have AMS and CAP accelerator modules. When I master the LCT then I'll pack maybe arty.

Edited by Bigg Robb, 27 February 2014 - 04:24 PM.