1821 replies to this topic

[RF Greywolf]

I'd be ok with a 50 ton per player as well, then again I usually run 50 ton mechs so it doesn't really change anything for me. I guess we can just test it out tonight and see how well it works.

[General Taskeen]

As far as tonnage, before each game begins, there could be an agreement to choose a specific company lance style.

What I mean is stuff like this:

(Heavier Lances)
2/2/5/3 - Heavy/Assault Company
3/3/4/2 - Independent/Ad-Hoc Command Lance
2/6/3/1 - Line Company

(Lighter Lances)
3/5/4 - Pursuit Company
4/6/2 - Battle Company
6/4/2 - Striker Company

So for instance, an agreement for one game would be for both teams to have (3/3/4/2) the entire time for simplicity, or switch up each game and choose something else, so the next game both teams have (3/5/4) instead. Generally tonnage would balance itself out to be fairly close if both teams are taking the exact same number of each weight class.

Edited by General Taskeen, 25 August 2014 - 05:36 AM.

[Tesunie]

IraqiWalker, on 25 August 2014 - 12:48 AM, said:

Might sound rough, but I have a suggestion, or two, for each weight class:

1- Lights: Locust, or commando

2- Mediums: Centurion, Trebuchet, Kintaro

3- Quickdraw, Dragon, Orion

4- Assaults: Highlander, Awesome, Stalker.

Hope those entice you.

The concept is to challenge me to play X mech, preferably one we don't often see in SMM. I want to experiment, and will probably preform poorly. But I want to jump into one of those rarely seen mechs and play it. I just don't know which one...

I'm thinking Blackjack, Kintaro (ugly mech though) or...

[General Taskeen]

@Tesunie,

Here are some other ideas.

BJ-1DC (the hottest blackjack of them all, heat management city)
RVN-2X (most use the 4X, but the sister 2X is rarely used... yet)
CDA-2A (Does not get used much, and its speed is the same as a Locust or Spider with the same armor)
TBT-5J or 5N (I don't see these much, but they can take a beating)
KTO-18,19,or 20 (Decent, but pretty hot - the "20" is the best with Tech 2)
SDH-2K (I haven't seen anyone use this yet, gimped in terms of PGI's "min range")
AWS-8T (An Awesome without PPC's)
BNC-3M (Fast Banshee with 2 PPC's)

[Carl Avery]

General Taskeen, on 25 August 2014 - 11:32 AM, said:

BJ-1DC (the hottest blackjack of them all, heat management city)

Interesting thing about that 1DC -- it's actually got a higher sustainable DPS than the BJ-1. While it's hotter in that you'll overheat faster if you're firing all of your weapons constantly, it's also cooler in that you can shut down the (very heat-inefficient) mediums and fire just the (heat-efficient) smalls for a higher sustained DPS at close range.

The BJ-1DC also has one more heatsink than the BJ-1, which also means that the AC2s (the most heat-efficient weapon on the stock Blackjacks) can be sustained for longer (until you run out of ammo, which is very soon). The downside is that you don't have jump jets, but those jump jets generate so much heat, and, as a result, the BJ-1 can barely utilize them in combat.

As an added bonus, the 1DC has its heatsinks in the legs (unlike the BJ-1), which can be a great relief on maps like Crimson Straight. All in all, I think that the BJ-1DC has to be generally superior to the BJ-1 in stock matches, despite the former's lack of jump jets.

Edited by Carl Avery, 25 August 2014 - 02:38 PM.

[Carl Avery]

We had a good time in the Stock 'Mech Monday European Edition today, but I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the evening one due to pesky RL things. I wish you all an excellent evening of stockish goodness, and leave you with the ominous threat of future Locustness. Yes. [touching fingertips]

Edited by Carl Avery, 25 August 2014 - 02:44 PM.

[Paulie771]

I'm out for the evening as well - have fun, everyone, and I look forward to seeing videos.

[Tesunie]

General Taskeen, on 25 August 2014 - 11:32 AM, said:

@Tesunie,

Thing is, I'm not exactly looking for "the best performer". I just want to shake things up a little and try something different out. I wish to try and expand my skills, and I always find SMM to be a great place to gauge where my skills are at, as I feel playing with stock mechs really takes more skill than a mech custom-fit to you personally.

I'm thinking (at the moment), either one of the Blackjacks (4 med lasers, 2 AC2s. I want to use the dual PPC version, but it's tech 2 and doesn't work for SMM) because it's on sale if I can earn enough c-bills, I could have it tonight. Or a Kintaro, which would still keep me with some LRMs (where my skills really are at), but introduce me to SRMs. Each should be light enough to easily fit into team compositions.

However, if someone else wishes to see "this mech" in the SMM match ups, I wouldn't mind bringing it in. I know Wednesday we were talking a bit how we never see "this mech" or "this mech" in our stock matches. Got me thinking that maybe I should challenge myself to pilot one of those said mechs that we never see. I've seen a Griffin and a Treb in the game so far, and a Wolverine. But I don't think anyone has brought in a Blackjack or Kintaro yet...

[General Taskeen]

Carl Avery, on 25 August 2014 - 02:34 PM, said:

Interesting thing about that 1DC -- it's actually got a higher sustainable DPS than the BJ-1. While it's hotter in that you'll overheat faster if you're firing all of your weapons constantly, it's also cooler in that you can shut down the (very heat-inefficient) mediums and fire just the (heat-efficient) smalls for a higher sustained DPS at close range.

I meant in terms of PGI's not super great heat system, but in general yes. In TT the DC was definitely more heat efficient, just a lot less mobile (no jets). My favorite is the Davion BJ-1DB variant, the ammo-less all energy guerrilla fighter that I wish they would have just added to the game (but it can built with the BJ-3).

For stock days, I recently got around to re-stocking more stuff: CN9-A and the HBK-4H. Also bought a TBT-5N and ON-1VA.

Edited by General Taskeen, 25 August 2014 - 05:11 PM.

[Tesunie]

A lot of good stock matches.

And I think I need to find another mech beyond the 4J. I might be getting a little... predictable?

[Carl Avery]

Tesunie, on 25 August 2014 - 04:46 PM, said:

Got me thinking that maybe I should challenge myself to pilot one of those said mechs that we never see. I've seen a Griffin and a Treb in the game so far, and a Wolverine. But I don't think anyone has brought in a Blackjack or Kintaro yet...

I have a Blackjack BJ-1, and have used it a number of times in SMM. However, you don't see me in it very often -- partly because I'm not crazy about the medium class, partly because I have no sentimental attachment to the Blackjack, and partly because it's fairly worthless in general. : )
It's easily the worst stock 'mech I own, and I only bring it out when I need to in order to balance out the tonnage.

Mowhawk occasionally brings out his Blackjack BJ-1X, and this variant generally does quite a bit better than the BJ-1.

I don't believe I've ever seen a Kintaro in SMM, so if you're looking to try something really unusual, this would be my recommendation.

Edited by Carl Avery, 04 September 2014 - 05:37 PM.

[Tesunie]

Carl Avery, on 25 August 2014 - 09:54 PM, said:

I don't believe I've ever seen a Kintaro in SMM, so if you're looking to try something really unusual, this would be my recommendation.

I was thinking the same thing. I haven't seen a(n ugly) Kintaro yet. Might give them a try, but it's not a favorite.
Oh St. Ives Blue... why do you have to be a Hero mech...

[Sergey Kosinskiy]

Jaeger Gonzo was runnig a Kintaro 18 a couple time... maybe not in SMM, But its a good mech.

[Malleus011]

50 ton limit is fine by me.

My best Stock mech is a 65 ton Thunderbolt - not because it's a world-beater of a chassis, but because I drive it a lot and am comfortable enough with the load out that I don't have to think to play it. I have bigger 'mechs and smaller 'mechs, but none of them are as good a fit as the Thud.

[jamesajones5]

I had fun battling with you guys last night and look forward to the next time. Hopefully we can play on a greater scale than lance vs lance next week.

[RF Greywolf]

Yes, it was a lot of fun last night. I think the challenge is what caused the low turnout.

[Bishop Steiner]

RF Greywolf, on 26 August 2014 - 08:03 AM, said:

Yes, it was a lot of fun last night. I think the challenge is what caused the low turnout.

it kept me out, yeah. Took me till less than an hour before patch on Tuesday to eke out enough non fail teams to get my 50th win.

[Tesunie]

I have to say, my experiences from SMM (and from the original Trial mechs, which were stock) I feel have made me a better Mechwarrior.

Just picked up the Kintaro, and played my first match in it stock, in public matches! Needless to say, I scored rather well thanks to a lot of skills picked up from playing mechs stock. You really learn your heat management skills!

So far, my opinion of the Kintaro 18 in stock mode in public matches: It's a good mech. It just needs DHS to really be a great mech for PUG matches! (Or to get endo for additional SHS, which might be rather nice still.)

Plan on me trying to sneak in 5 more tons on monday (if we are playing considering holiday and all)...

[Carl Avery]

Due to our unit practice, the Falcon Guards aren't going to be able to attend SMM European. Hope you guys get it going anyway. See you tonight, I hope!

Edited by Carl Avery, 01 September 2014 - 06:01 AM.

[Hamish McPiton]

I just mastered the Griffins but left the N and S stock - AND.....then my cooling fan died on the computer this morning. So I 'll see you all next time, dammit. I really wanted to be an annoying jump sniper for about 4 shots until I overheated...