1821 replies to this topic

[Alaskan Nobody]

Kinda figured - was looking at the clock thinking "I still have time!"....

Then realized I was looking at Alaska Time.

[Rhaythe]

Glad to hear there's still an interest in these Stock events. I'd be sad to see them lost.

[Crotch RockIt]

One reason I sometimes skip SMM is because I'm usually finishing up the PGI weekend event or challenge on Monday night. For example, last night I was taking advantage of the 2.5x XP bonus and didn't want to squander the time doing private matches. Just food for thought...

[TygerLily]

Crotch RockIt, on 02 December 2014 - 06:35 AM, said:

One reason I sometimes skip SMM is because I'm usually finishing up the PGI weekend event or challenge on Monday night. For example, last night I was taking advantage of the 2.5x XP bonus and didn't want to squander the time doing private matches. Just food for thought...

Yea, I've done the same. It's not a thang... xD

[Jonathan Paine]

Just sprung for a year of premium - should let me do some more stock mech

[Tesunie]

Jonathan Paine, on 02 December 2014 - 09:16 AM, said:

Just sprung for a year of premium - should let me do some more stock mech

This statement makes me happy that someone out there has some disposable income for this event to continue. (Because I certainly don't, though if needed I'd scrape my pennies together and try!)

Those of us without premium time in this event thank you for your sacrifice!

Crotch RockIt, on 02 December 2014 - 06:35 AM, said:

One reason I sometimes skip SMM is because I'm usually finishing up the PGI weekend event or challenge on Monday night. For example, last night I was taking advantage of the 2.5x XP bonus and didn't want to squander the time doing private matches. Just food for thought...

TygerLily, on 02 December 2014 - 08:44 AM, said:

Yea, I've done the same. It's not a thang... xD

Maybe with PGI's new weekend event thing happening just about every week, Mondays is no longer a good day for this event? (Only time I care is when there is a mech/mechbay on the line! Usually.)

[Bishop Steiner]

TygerLily, on 02 December 2014 - 08:44 AM, said:

Yea, I've done the same. It's not a thang... xD

I've been missing for reasons. Will probably be absent til January.

[BarHaid]

BarHaid, on 27 November 2014 - 10:52 PM, said:

All right stock crew, got a question for you all. I'm looking or a set of heavies to grind through in stock mode (natch), and have narrowed it down to two. Dragon or Thunderbolt?

My thoughts for the Dragon are Good ammo supply on the 1N and Flame (ignore pesky endosteel and real monies requirement) and they're fast.
My thoughts on the Thunderbolt are three solid stock units if I convert the 9SE to a 5SE (but everyone sees me as a 9SE) but they are slow. I've got slow with my Centurions and whatever Assault I finally choose.

What are you're thoughts? No questions on my play style; just push your highly subjective opinions onto my (assumed) tabula rasa.

Anyone? anyone?

[General Taskeen]

Both? I've seen pilot Furniture destroy entire teams with a DRG-1N stock in these stock games in the past.

[IraqiWalker]

BarHaid, on 04 December 2014 - 12:13 PM, said:

Anyone? anyone?

I'd recommend the Dragon. Since that baby can MOVE.

[Tesunie]

Dragon also has a lot of armor.

[BarHaid]

Tesunie, on 04 December 2014 - 05:42 PM, said:

Dragon also has a lot of armor.

But so does the Thud. My biggest concern with the Dragon is the one ton of AC ammo on the 1C ( that, and the endosteel on the Flame). I'm trying hard to keep all three chassis stock compliant. Has anyone spent time in the 1C stock? I guess I'm looking for some convincing from all you Dragon lovers. Will I be relegated to only using the 1N (and downgraded Flame)?

[Tesunie]

BarHaid, on 04 December 2014 - 10:38 PM, said:

But so does the Thud. My biggest concern with the Dragon is the one ton of AC ammo on the 1C ( that, and the endosteel on the Flame). I'm trying hard to keep all three chassis stock compliant. Has anyone spent time in the 1C stock? I guess I'm looking for some convincing from all you Dragon lovers. Will I be relegated to only using the 1N (and downgraded Flame)?

For SMM, the flame would be out. As far as I know for the rest of the dragons, they have an LRM10 launcher in the CT and not ammo. I've looked at all the dragons before and the 1n looks really nice, but the other Dragon (without the UAC5) doesn't look bad either.

With stock mech matches, you tend to find that just about every mech is viable.

Edited by Tesunie, 05 December 2014 - 07:26 AM.

[Carl Avery]

BarHaid, on 04 December 2014 - 12:13 PM, said:

Anyone? anyone?

I don't know whether a Dragon 1N or one of the Tech Level 1 Thunderbolts would be a better choice, but the "Hero" Dragons are both Tech Level 2, and so you would very seldom be able to field them (assuming the community is still largely doing T1 matches). Trying to downgrade stock T2 'mechs to T1 makes them not stock, and such a modified 'mech would be illegal in both T1 and T2 matches on SMM. Thus, I recommend not getting a "Hero" Dragon for stock matches.

As for the Dragon 1N, it looks pretty solid in most areas (the armor is a bit weak), but I'd be concerned about having two tons of LRM ammo for a single LRM10. My Centurion AH taught me that there was no way I could use that up before I had to get into brawl range, and the bomb in my shoulder was a great liability. However, the Centurion is a different beast, with less harmonized weapon systems. As Taskeen pointed out, Furniture used to wreck everything in his stock Dragon, and that was before the Dragon got positive quirks.

[Tesunie]

Carl Avery, on 05 December 2014 - 08:38 AM, said:

My Centurion AH taught me that there was no way I could use that up before I had to get into brawl range...

With the Centurion, especially the AH, you really have to play your range well. You also have to keep in mind it was designed as a guard mech of other LRM equipped mechs. However, I have to agree with you on the centurion. (Personally, I preform very poorly in my Centurions. I'd also like to comment: Before you told me that the stock only in public matches would become frustrating. I'd like to inform, yes. HOWEVER, it only becomes tedious and frustrating if it is a stock mech that isn't completely compatible with your/my skillset/playstyle. For me, the Centurion is that mech. It's a cement wall to my head! 4J though... piece of cake! (Even before quirks))

And I'd like to remind, the door is always open if/when you ever feel like joining into a match of stock mech MADNESS!




I have a question for people, and I don't care about a mech's strengths over another mech as I ask this.
I want to push my stock account into the heavy and assault classes and basically get myself a "command" mech. I'm tossed up for either a Dragon 1N, a Cataphract (4X maybe), or an Orion (K or V, thinking V right now).

Before I get answers, I'd like to say I've done Dragons, and I do fairly well in them already (on my main account). I've tried a Cataphract (trial, think it was a (C) mech) and didn't do too well with it. I've never tried an Orion. In the SMM matches, I do tend to see Cataphracts from time to time, and Dragons are next in line, but I don't see many Orions? I'd like to try and play a lesser used chassis instead of "the same thing everyone else does".

My analysis of each mech chassis right now:
- Dragon: Good armor. Good speed. My skills lay with LRM support mostly, with some level of competency in brawling/sniping. The Dragon fulfills all of these skills, and I already know it would work well for me as I've already played an LRM Dragon before and preformed well in it. This is the "safe" bet, but it's also "same old same old" kinda play, just heavier. (Which is funny considering I do so poorly in my Centurion...)

- Cataphract: Good armor and weapons here. However, as my skills are better suited to LRM usage (yes, they do take some skill to use well), this is going to be a hard mech to use for me. I'm more prone to probably get frustrated in this chassis. The most LRM I would gain is a single LRM5 on one chassis, but they all have good direct fire weapons. May be rewarding and different, but also may be frustrating and slow for me to level in public matches. I'd have to try to find out.

- Orion: A good mix of weapons, and most of them have very good armor. A little heavy to squeeze into some of our SMM matches sometimes (depending upon which balancing system we do, I'd like to try and explore the "skill" balancing system a bit before saying anything on if it may or may not work). Got a nice payload of LRMs for support as I close in, and other weapons for direct fire punch. Completely unfamiliar with this chassis though, so it will be difficult to say how it will work out for me in the end.

I've also considered the Catapult as well, but I haven't been overly fond of that mech's performance in MWO. (Was always a favorite in the card game for me though...) I do think it looks cool, but...


For my Assault command mechs, I'm looking at a Stalker (probably a 3F or 3H) or waiting for a King Crab to show up. Also considering the Banshee 3E, because I'm crazy...


So? Any opinion on what mech I might want to work on next? I'm considering the Orion at the moment, but I'm not sure.

[Tarogato]

BarHaid, on 27 November 2014 - 10:52 PM, said:

All right stock crew, got a question for you all. I'm looking or a set of heavies to grind through in stock mode

Actually, you can't grind anything in stock matches. Private matches net you zero C-Bills/XP rewards. =/

[Tesunie]

Tarogato, on 05 December 2014 - 06:39 PM, said:

Actually, you can't grind anything in stock matches. Private matches net you zero C-Bills/XP rewards. =/

Maybe he's taking the same "stock challenge" I am? I play stock mechs in public matches all the time (but just ask Avery, I'm a little loose in the head (read as crazy))... (Of course, I typically do this with my Stock Mech account, Lt Kataren...)

[Alaskan Nobody]

I have had some stock matches give some XP and Cbills (as in, less than a flat loss in pug matches) I have had some not give any.

Not sure why though.

[Tarogato]

Shar Wolf, on 05 December 2014 - 06:56 PM, said:

I have had some stock matches give some XP and Cbills (as in, less than a flat loss in pug matches) I have had some not give any.

In that case I bet it's based on matched matches. I.E., if both sides have 12 players, or it follows the 3x3x3x3 rule or something similar to that where it assumes a fair match.

[Alaskan Nobody]

IF I remember right (and this is a very big if - since I didn't think a whole lot about it until wendnessday when it didn't happen again) the match that payed was me and someone who's username I embarassingly cannot remember were helping teach a new player about things like torso-twisting.