44 replies to this topic

[Gas Guzzler]

So with the banshee coming out I've started accumulating C-bills so I'm ready when it is available for c-bills. I've noticed I'm already close to being able to afford a D-DC (obviously the first Atlas I would want to get, and if I have enought C-bills its hard to resist). I usually like to get a hero mech of a new chassis I'm getting into, which is where the Boar's Head comes in. The way I see it, the only good thing about it is that it comes with a XL400 which I can pull off and use for something else.

So for those of you who have bit the bullet and bought this monster, is it worth it? It sounds like going D-DC, D, and RS are all better, so not worth the MC...

[Hex Pallett]

BH is probably the weirdest Hero, mostly because it doesn't really feel like an Atlas. If you want the speed, you'll have to load a XL400 in those massive side torsos, meaning being a frontliner would be a bit more risky.

I myself don't see that too much of a problem. Mine goes with a TAG, five MLas, a LRM20 and a Gauss, with the stock XL400 engine. Worth it? Prooooooobably. But certainly not satisfying as Firebrand or Ilya.

[xXBagheeraXx]

Its workable...Ive tried ever build under the sun tho, and they were mostly too blasted hot to brawl with. Finally settled on 6 meds, 1 ac20 and 1 srm6 with artemis....Has TONS of ammo, a 350 standard and a managable amount of sinks...its pretty nippy for an atlas with that engine, but "nippy" is relative as all my other atlases have been built around the 325 engine. I only nabbed it because it was half off, and why not? Not as powerful as my founders atlas but i have toss up a suprising number of 700+ damage games in it.

[Amsro]

I've been using 6 Large Lasers on the arms since I got it. And havn't looked back since. More kills then matches played and is nimble compared to the other Atlas, it is different from the rest that is for sure. The single missile hardpoint is mostly useless and the ballistic increases the torso size too much for an XL engine.

Tough mech to make work I would say, but great if you can fire 2+2+2 and chain fire with your Large Lasers. 71 kph is nice.

Edited by Amsro, 06 March 2014 - 07:40 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

I've actually started to fall in love with mine.
AC/10
ALRM 10
6MPL or 2LPL
(6MPL gives you an 18 point shot in each arm and really scares light mechs let alone the bigger stuff)
(but the 2LPL gives better heat efficiency)
340STD engine.

It didn't even start to really shine till after the doubled basics though.
2nd highest match damage I've got, and the highest average match damage

[Macksheen]

I have one. I don't enjoy it. I do enjoy it more than the RS though, and once I got through skilling on my RS I stripped it - the DDC and BH I'll use (DDC for reals mostly, BH for daily XP + bit o extra cash).

It just doesn't mesh with my brain as well.

[Roughneck45]

It is a fun mech but probably not worth the MC. I bought one and after I finished the pilot tree I barely take it out of the garage. The 1 ballistic hardpoint is what makes it worse than the standard variants.

If you LOVE AC20 brawling atlases and think having 6 mlas is cooler/better than multiple missile racks you might enjoy it.
BOAR'S HEAD

I really enjoyed the 6 Large Laser build too. Not super strong because it gets hot but it is unique and fun to use.
BOAR'S HEAD

Sometimes I'll throw an LRM10 on there just for a ranged option, which is nice when your team won't push anywhere and you have to wait for the fight to come to you.
BOAR'S HEAD

Edited by Roughneck45, 07 March 2014 - 05:46 AM.

[ObiWan Kenobi]

I like 6 M Lasers, ac 20, lrm 20 with art, and 300 standard. Great C-Bill farmer. LRM 20 is for softening up while I get close and for assists ($$$), and then when I am close, I hang back and wait for either our push or theirs. A 50 pt alpha on a softened up mech is killer, and I can usually pull off 3 or 4 before having to worry about heat. Of course target their weak components ($$$).

The big thing about the Boars Head (and every Atlas) is not to get caught alone, and learn to torso twist. You will draw a TON of fire because everyone either fears the Atlas, or wants to kill the fatty. Use this to your teams advantage by absorbing as much fire as possible during the push.

[Josef Koba]

I love my Boar's Head and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes piloting assaults, though it is pretty expensive. The BH is a pretty speedy 100 ton monster with the 400 installed. Frankly I don't see the point of using the BH without a 400 installed, and it's the only Atlas I have with an XL. My set up is Gauss, two Large Lasers, four Medium Lasers, and an SRM6. It can run a little hot (1.14 heat efficiency), but it will still dish out some serious damage if you're patient. And if you're practiced with the Gauss, that'll allow you to cool down. My current KD ratio is 2.31 which isn't as high as my other Atlases but you can chalk that up to the XL engine. But it's nice to be able to move so quickly and respond to threats.

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

I have this loadout: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5533c638d1b6c8f
Now it seems that that setup has too much ammo for the ac20 (i normally carry 28 shells). But with this build I use the ac20 alot more frivolously because it is really this builds only ranged weapon. Normally I average around 400 damage with this build but I have a few games where it performs freakishly well and i deal 800+ damage. Also though some people are dumb enough to do it. Never run an xl in this mech. The reason to drive an atlas is the massive armor and survivability and people always focus the ballistic torso. So if you die in this 100 ton mech after only losing 70ish right torso armor why not just drive a cataphract 1x? I run std 325, std 350, std 360, std 365. They are all that the mech needs to be fast and with the standard 350 you can fit the build that the guy who posted before me runs but with survivability.

Edited by POOTYTANGASAUR, 07 March 2014 - 06:20 AM.

[Mycrus]

XL400/AC10/6ML/ALRM20

1CTR armor

my ave is 1wlr/1kdr on this BH it is 1.65wlr/2.14kdr

[Clownwarlord]

If there was ever a hundred ton mech i could pick to take with me to a deserted island out of the mechs I have now, it would be my Boars Head, yes even over the DDC with ECM. Why because when I shoot the left arm of 3 medium lasers I get 15 damage dealt to enemy, and then I shoot 2 large lasers and do 18 damage. After all that I have an AC20 to wave in your face and see what you do then.

So yep have fun and kill them all!

Edited by clownwarlord, 07 March 2014 - 06:51 AM.

[Macksheen]

I'd do this:

BOAR'S HEAD

You have to remove the structure back to basic though; heat sinks take space.

If not that, 2 LL, 4 ML and just be careful when you fire them all.

[Strig]

The Boar's Head is the least favorite of the Atlases that I have mastered (all except the K .. which needs something besides its extra AMS to make it at all worth even thinking about).

That said, its still an Atlas and packs a decent punch. I build mine like an improved stock D with a STD 350, 6 medium lasers, AC20 and Artemis LRM20. It runs hot, but not as hot as it looks since you seldom want to use the LRMs and the AC20 on the same target (and if you do, that target is probably gonna pop or run, giving you cool-down time)

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3a6dcc5e8d7cfde

All in all, the bonus is nice and its not bad at all, just a bit limited by its hardpoints (and ghost heat).

Edited by Strig, 07 March 2014 - 07:16 AM.

[Josef Koba]

POOTYTANGASAUR, on 07 March 2014 - 06:15 AM, said:

I have this loadout: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5533c638d1b6c8f
Also though some people are dumb enough to do it. Never run an xl in this mech. The reason to drive an atlas is the massive armor and survivability and people always focus the ballistic torso. So if you die in this 100 ton mech after only losing 70ish right torso armor why not just drive a cataphract 1x? I run std 325, std 350, std 360, std 365. They are all that the mech needs to be fast and with the standard 350 you can fit the build that the guy who posted before me runs but with survivability.

Opinions may vary, but for me it's not just about min/maxing. Sure, I could drive a Cataphract 1X, but sometimes I want to drive the BH. Everyone has their preferences and I've not found survivability to be that much of an issue with the BH even running the XL400. I'm still killing over 2 people for every death. As I stated, it's the only Atlas I use an XL on. Some may not like XLs in any Atlas, but I'd not consider those who do inherently dumb. As with everything else, it's a tradeoff; if people are willing to make that tradeoff, so what? For me, the 400 is the main reason to run this mech, otherwise I would just run the D-DC. The speed afforded by the 400 is what gives the BH flavor. Nine kph faster (350 vs 400) is quite noticeable and I enjoy the extra speed. I'm averaging 460 damage and 1.5 kills per match, which is not nearly as good as with my D or D-DC, but I'll take it when I want the C-bill bonus. It's not for everyone, but I assumed the OP was looking for some options and/or feedback from those who use the BH.

[Shabahh Kerensky]

It's become probably my favorite Atlas. Granted I got it when it was on sale as the initial price seemed like too much for one mech, but it's easily my most played mech now. Funny enough I do best with the stock loadout, with just the upgrades needed. Going 71 kph with 6 mplasers is so much fun on this big mech. Just have some discipline when firing them and you're good. Plus it feels very unique compared to the other Atlases. Yea I'm more vulnerable but whatever.

So yea I feel like it's a huge hit or miss to people with how it's built, and it just feels like a waste to turn it into the usual cookie cutter Atlas.

Edited by Shabahh, 07 March 2014 - 08:59 AM.

[Gas Guzzler]

Thanks for all the info guys. Sounds like I'm gonna be one of the "silly" folks who tries to run the 400 XL. Here's what I came up with:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...8dd36819b043028

Yeah, gauss in the torso with an XL is foolhardy, but I'll still try to take my chances

[Koniving]

Gas Guzzler, on 06 March 2014 - 06:56 PM, said:

So for those of you who have bit the bullet and bought this monster, is it worth it? It sounds like going D-DC, D, and RS are all better, so not worth the MC...

It's closer to an Atlas K and RS rolled into one. Atlas K's side torsos, Atlas RS's arms with the CT lasers shoved onto the arms too.

But it's far more accurate to say it's a Misery with 15 more tons and 1 extra laser slot.

If you have a Misery and like it, imagine a Misery with arms that work. There you go.

Edited by Koniving, 07 March 2014 - 09:02 AM.

[NRP]

It's alright. When my friends want to run an Atlas lance, I usually take my BH.

If you're working on Atlases, I recommend the DDC, D, and BH. The K and the D are pretty similar, but the D is straight up better in just about every way. The BH is pretty unique with most of it's firepower on the arms (it's both a blessing and a curse), and the C-Bill bonus doesn't hurt either.

[Gas Guzzler]

Cool. Well you guys convinced me. I'm gonna try to wait for the BH to go on sale again. It may be a while its definitely worth it to wait for the sale on this guy, to me anyway.

And yeah, DDC, D, and BH is the way I would go. Would only consider the RS if I wasn't doing the BH.