90 replies to this topic

[Clogsman]

Simple question, are XL engines too big a liability in a dragon or not?

[Xenon Codex]

Nope, they run XL just fine. Though tweaks were made to the hitboxes, you're still most likely to get CT cored. Only time I use a STD is in the Flame with an AC/20 in the side torso (i.e. not enough slots to use an XL).

[meteorol]

If there is one mech that should always use a XL engine (besides ac20 flame) it's the dragon. It's like 3/4 CT, even after the hitbox tweak

[darqsyde]

SPEEEEEED is a Dragons friend. XL = SPEEEEEED!

[KhanCipher]

meteorol, on 11 April 2014 - 07:13 PM, said:

If there is one mech that should always use a XL engine (besides ac20 flame) it's the dragon.

And the Catapult.

[Jin Ma]

might as well your CT is a bullet magnet anyway

[Tw1stedMonkey]

I find the hitbox adjustment was a huge nerf to xls. I almost never got killed at high health % in the dragon before the hitbox adjustment, but now I am frequently hit by one volley of lrms that hit nothing but the side torso and put it from yellow/orange armor into red internals with my CT still in yellow armor. I feel like the whole side of the CT is now the side torso because the frequency of getting hit in the LT/RT vs the CT by pop tarts etc. has at least doubled. And this is with an xl 350 in the 1C!

[Vellinious]

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

[Daekar]

Unless you want an AC20 in a Flame, go XL. You're too lightly armored not to, and the Dragon's hardpoints generally make it difficult to fit a decent bit of firepower on it without weight to play with.

[operator0]

Vellinious, on 13 April 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

For the challenge.

[Rizzelbizzeg]

Vellinious, on 13 April 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

because the beer-belly hood sticking out makes it feel like you're driving an old buick hoopty.

[FupDup]

KhanCipher, on 11 April 2014 - 10:42 PM, said:

And the Catapult.

And all mechs 40 tons or less.

[Amsro]

Vellinious, on 13 April 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

Not everyone wants the ZOMG Easy Button.

[Buzzkillin]

Vellinious, on 13 April 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

Because they are capable mechs if you know what you are doing.

[East Indy]

It's a little less of a no-brainer these days, but you won't regret it.

Vellinious, on 13 April 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Question: Why would anyone want to use the dragon, when there are other mechs out there that are far more capable?

Other 'Mechs aren't far more capable, they're just a little more advantageous and people get swept along with social pressure. Conformity's boring — especially when you're playing this game to enjoy BattleTech.

[Bromineberry]

In the past, my answer would have been "XL-safe? YES!". But things have changed. Imho the XL-friendliness has vanished since PGI messed with the hitboxes. It's now quite easy to hit a Dragon in the side torso, much easier then before. In fact, it's so easy that if happens all the time, quite often just as a coincidence.

With the old Dragon, my survivability was great. I had so much control over where the damage went! If I faced the target, it went to the CT, something you usually avoid when piloting a Dragon. With torso twisting, the damage was distributet over the mech. Sometimes, you still got hit in the CT (bad luck or good aim), but most of the time, the damage got soaked up by the arms, and a little bit by the side torsos (torsi?) It was fairly easy to distribute the damage like you wanted it. Before I died, I usually lost both arms, most armour on the ST and died by CT-destruction. So, I soaked up a lot of damage, dealt a lot of damage in this time (because I usually was one of, if not the, last guy standing) and it was fun. Maybe every 20th or 30th death was due to ST destruction.

After PGI changed the hitboxes from the ST, this all changed. You peak over a hill, around a corner or a simply exposed for a short time...*bam* ST hit! Wit hthe high alpha, the ST is usually red after the first pinpoint alpha. That basically means, game over. Every pilot will go for this ST, because the Dragon always has an XL engine. And because they're bigger now, they actually can! It's so easy, to hit the Dragons ST now. In fact, roughly 50% of the games I die due to ST destruction! I often deliberately show my CT to the enemy, just to NOT get hit into the ST! Does it help? Nope.
I can hear the shouting "lol, l2play, torso twist, n00b!", but I'm sorry, but this doesnt help. Why? Because if you torso twist, the chance is super high, that the enemy will hit your ST. The sad thing is not only the fact, thta I suddenly die by ST so often, the really sad thing is, that the CT armour (!) often is still bright yellow when it happens...

I tried. I really really, tried. But it doesnt matter if I torso twist or not, I die so much quicker since PGI messed with the hitboxes. My survivability has dropped significantly, my damaged output has roughly halfed, so did my kills. Yes, I occasionally can have a good match in it...but before the hitbox "tweak" it was rare for me to have a really bad match.

What saddens me is, that the Dragon was my most favourite mech. I just LOVED my 1C with PPCs. (yes, after the PPC got nerved, with the hot ERPPC and the minrange PPC) and I loved to see the "hood" bobbing up and down. But after I tried to make it work immediately after the patch and then again at some point later....I haven't used it for weeks or maybe even months. I can't even remember, when my last Dragon game was.


TL:DR: The Dragon was super XL-friendly. It isn't anymore. And that is bad, because you need the XL-engine in a Dragon, otherwise, it's utter rubbish. The XL-friendliness was it's redeeming point and it's strength.


Edit: I still hope, that PGI will change the ST back to how it was before. But I don't think they will.

Edited by Bromineberry, 13 April 2014 - 10:01 AM.

[Effectz]

might as well run an Xl in a dragon lol.they're below average in performance so the extra speed will be good.

Edited by Effectz, 13 April 2014 - 09:54 AM.

[GizmoGecko]

The only way I've been able to make the Dragon 'viable' is with an XL (although AC/20, 4ml, std 300 Flame is an exception for me). If they put a ballistic on that hero Quickdraw with jump jets, the Dragon will be pretty finished for me... Possible sadness aside, here's how I play with my XL. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6772a662e5279fc Hill hump with the ERPPC for beginning of match, close in, then run past, hit fast and run back into cover. Speed is the Dragon's friend

Edited by GizmoGecko, 13 April 2014 - 10:07 AM.

[DarkDevilDancer]

The CT is so big you have trouble not hitting it which means an XL is the way to go.

[Vellinious]

Amsro, on 13 April 2014 - 08:24 AM, said:

Not everyone wants the ZOMG Easy Button.

What's a "ZOMG Easy Button"? I'm not familiar with it....is it something the Dragon doesn't have? lol

For the record....I'm a Jenner pilot. There is no easy button.