11 replies to this topic

[Durian Poh]

Hi everyone,


Need some advice.

Now that I have leveled up all my centurions enough to unlock elites, I am on to the next phase.

Would really like to purchase a heavy mech with the funds I have. Trouble is, i'm not sure which one to pick.

My only requirements are

(a) That the mech can take an XL300 (because I have a spare one from one of my centurions and don't want to spend money buying a new engine)

( That it has at least two ballistic slots

(c) That it is one of those mechs that can "stand and deliver" rather than depending on mobility to survive (i already have lots of practice doing that with my centurions so I would like to try a more "macho" approach with my first heavy)

So far I've seen that the Cat 3d fits my requirements and also one of the Orions has 2 ballistic slots so may be appropriate as well

Please let me know what you guys think

Thanks in advance!

[Alaskan Nobody]

Stand and Deliver+XL do not jive well with eachother.

Those mechs that are XL friendly are so because their CT is much more likely to go before the sides do.
(making it irrelevant which engine type you use)

On that note though - Dragons do very well with an XL300 - and generally have 2-3 ballistic slots if I recall correctly
(haven't really used them yet)
But probably play a bit to close to your Centurion to really fit the bill.
Catapults are not really stand-and-deliver, but are rather XL friendly.
Cataphracts can make decent use of it as well - don't know about Orions

[dragnier1]

Haven't played orions, but from playing around at smurfy they seem friendlier with standard engines. CTF-1X and 2X seems close to "stand and deliver" styles, but with the use of standard engines. Others tend to target the ballistic side at higher elo.

[Durian Poh]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I take the point regarding standard engines vs xl

[Redshift2k5]

I run XLs in my Orions too. 300xl in some of them and a 315xl i my Protector. They have the most armor of all the heavies, but also the tallest. When I get home from work Ican share some Orion builds.

Dragons & Quickdraws are more like mediums. Lightest Heavy, they don't really bring much more firepower tha a 55 tonner.

Catapults work well with 300XLs, and that engine is certainly compatible with all of the Heavies but whether it works for you or not is a matter of build & playstyle. The K2 can bring a 300xl and dual ballistics but the other Cats will have you relying on missiles.

Jagers let you use ballistics on all variants, with optional missiles on the JM6-A. Jagers have relatively easy to hit side tiorsos, but with an XL it becomes about "the best defense is a good offense" by sending enough firepower down range other mechs can't safely face you directly. A lot fo them run with engines clsoer to 260 for more dakka.

XLs on a Catapract, you'd better keep your distance. PPCs, large lasers, AC10s, AC5s, etc let you bring plenty of firepower whle also maintaining range.

Long story short, use Smurfy or Mechspecs to plan your builds and look for something you think you'll enjoy, and feel free to tinker to suit your tastes.

[Durian Poh]

Thanks chazz. Yeah would appreciate seeing a couple of your orion builds. Would give me a flavour of what to expect

I'm leaning towards on Orion at the moment mainly because its the heaviest so I just assume they can take the most punishment?

[Redshift2k5]

Well the Orion has the most maximum armor, but it's also the biggest target and the slowest Heavy. It also tends to rely on a mix of all three weapon types unlike most of the other heavies which can function with one or two weapon types.

[990Dreams]

Check out Operation Ugly Day if you have s to spare.

The Leo ON1-V doesn't need an XL but packs a punch.

The TDR-5S is good too (this one is an example build).

[Koniving]

John Poh, on 08 March 2014 - 03:48 AM, said:

Thanks chazz.

Chazzwazzer is his forum title, which he kinda got as a joke from one of the devs at the mention of custom forum titles being handed out to helpful members of the community.

But that said.. I dug some skeletons out of the closet and pulled these out.
Orion V streak, ML, fast AC hitter.
Orion V LRM, Streak, ML, AC/5.
Standing and Delivering from the back line. 3 LRMs (chain fire them), 2 ML, some optional MGs.
Standing and Delivering from the Mid Line. Twin ER PPCs, 3 smaller LRMs, some optional MGs.

Orion K. Gauss Rifle. 4 ML. 2 Streaks as anti-light backup. Very cool running.

And for builds I currently run..
Orion K Brawler.

It's watching you...

Orion V support.

Protector Code Enforcement.

[Durian Poh]

Thanks konniving. Gives me lots of food for thought there.

[Koniving]

You're welcome.

The Cataphract 4X is another stand and dish it sort of mech. But the 3D is not -- that depends on how you build it, though.

My favorite dish it out mech is the ROFLpult, a Catapult A1. Problem is by the specific design, it cannot take the abuse.

Spoiler

The big public debut.

Definitely can't take it.

How to build, and the huge success after it.

[Redshift2k5]

Conversely, I would not be happy with a 64 kph Orion. Even a 300 engine I find sluggish!

My Protector runs 2 large lasers, AC10 and a PPC. Link-firing the AC10 and PPC has a good solid hit at long range, and large lasers + a cool AC10 means even below 90m you still have plenty of firepower. Big engine for almost 80kph with near max armor and plenty of torso turn rate.

not 100% impressed with my Orion A, but it's got 2 large lasers, 3 LRM15, and goes 71

My Orion-VA is a new build. I bought it because I wanted MISSILE FISTS but SRMs aren't working quite well enough to be a core element of the build. An Ultra/5, four SSRMs with a Beagle, and more large lasers.