8 replies to this topic

[MortVent]

right now I got the 3 models: 5S(p), 5SS, and 9SE

My gunnery skills are not the best, due to health reasons (not so good at twitch actions with bad hands).

So mostly been playing my catapults, not so hot in a jester or k2. But figure my thunderbolts which are collecting dust would be a good one to move into mixed loadouts with (can't stand light/mediums... and assaults are just meh to me as well so heavy pilot)

So what builds would be good for lack of a better term "trainer" builds to help me get my gunnery skills up to par while still using my missile skills to contribute


Edit: a couple quick configs (KISS builds)

TDR-5S

TDR-5SS

TDR-9SE

Edited by MortVent, 04 May 2014 - 12:26 PM.

[Training Instructor]

I hate to say it, but your gunnery skills aren't likely to improve if you're relying so much on LRMs. I'm also going to assume that you're not too keen on the idea of spending a bunch of cbills on uncommon engine sizes.

Here's a TDR-5S that brawls a lot better. Remember that your large laser is way out to the right, so take positions on corners that are shielding most of your mech while you just poke with the laser. Play the waiting game, and then unload on someone when they come around the corner.

TDR-5SS Can hill hump a lot better because the right torso energy hardpoints are way up high. The medium pulse are for when people get inside your 90m minimum range on the ppcs, and the two mediums are just sort of there.

Your 9SE build will work pretty well I think. Don't forget to take potshots with the Large Pulse up to 600m or so, as you'll still land some damage, which can translate into an extra kill assist at the end of the match, for more money and xp.

[Tastian]

This was my most successful 5S build: (2x Ac2s for dakka, LRM15 to loosen things up, and 3 Med Lasers for up close)

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2ed5dc59e8e0a1a

Don't discount double PPCs on the jumping 9SE:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ab426516d181916

Your 5SS looks pretty good although I'd drop the Med Pulse down to a straight Medium, drop down some armor on the legs and arms a bit and get a bigger engine.

[Tesunie]

My Thunderbolt 5S(P) has been serving me very well since I changed it's loadout to better match my Stalker's build. It's got a good mix between range (LRMs) and close range (Med lasers and SSRMs). If you are having trouble with aiming, it might be a help for you, as even up close it can still preform well for damage. The key with the design is to try and keep people within 270m-180m, where you can shoot all your weapons at them. However, the LRMs provide a lot of flexibility, which can be used to fire indirectly if needed.

The other Thunderbolts I don't feel would serve you as well, as they require far more direct fire skills than my 5S. My 5SS (now replaced by the 9S (Something close to that)) has two PPCs and a LPL, the PPCs are in the high hunch where the flamers use to be.

My 9SE has two LRM10s and a bunch of med lasers, making it play in a similar manner as the 5S, but with more direct fire needs for the med lasers. (It appears to not have Endo... So, if you wish you could always place in Endo and go for a larger engine and more heat sinks.)

[ramp4ge]

My 9S. Hands down my favorite 'mech in the game.

JUG-9S

Epic hill trolling with the shoulder-mounted ER LLs, great frontal close-range punch with the MLs, takes hits forever with all that armor, eats missiles alive with 2 AMS and while heat may spike high if you fire the ER LLs and MLs together, it cools very quickly. Arms are basically meat shields.

I really love this thing.

Edited by ramp4ge, 05 May 2014 - 08:54 AM.

[MortVent]

Well one reason I rely a lot on missiles, bad hands. trying to just use the platform as a way to still provide some lrm support and build up reasonable gunnery skills (doesn't help that my connection will lag like hell at times)

Hence me putting a launcher on all of them for lrms, not really going to spend much cbills on them (later on maybe)

But I have found them all to work rather well as I built them with my skills, the lrms let me get in some damage and help even if my lasers barely scratch the bad guys.

[Tesunie]

MortVent, on 05 May 2014 - 06:04 PM, said:

Well one reason I rely a lot on missiles, bad hands. trying to just use the platform as a way to still provide some lrm support and build up reasonable gunnery skills (doesn't help that my connection will lag like hell at times)

Hence me putting a launcher on all of them for lrms, not really going to spend much cbills on them (later on maybe)

But I have found them all to work rather well as I built them with my skills, the lrms let me get in some damage and help even if my lasers barely scratch the bad guys.

From your play style description, I do think that my Thunderbolt 5S would be most helpful to you. You retain the LRMs for long range (with a single ALRM20, which I find to be sufficient for my play style), and for anything that gets close, you have your SSRMs to aid you. All the while, you can still work on your gunnery skills with the 2 MGs and the 3 Med lasers. (And trust me, if you can keep the lasers on target, they will do plenty of killing power.)

Honestly from your skill description, have you considered a Stalker? My Stalker 3F might be more useful to you than my Thunderbolt is... It has 30 LRMs total, and 2 SSRM systems to aid you, as well as 4 med lasers. If you want something fast and mobile, the Griffin might also be a good concept for you. My Griffin 3M has been preforming well, with an ALRM20, 3 SSRMs and 2 med lasers.


Sounds like SSRMs and LRMs are going to be your go to weapons of choice for this game. (The Shadowhawk 2D2 might also be an interesting ride for you. You'd have to have decent gunnery skills for the ERPPCs, as well as a sense of heat.)

I hope some of this helps, and if not, sorry. I tired?

[MortVent]

Well kinda using the chassis I got that I like. One reason I don't use some options is I ragesold my old mechs in certain classes awhile back.

I may go with mediums down the road, but assault wise I'm not likely to move up in weight (the highlander is a likely pick for me, most can be made missile carriers)

Heavies seem to be the mech I feel and do best in all around.

[Tesunie]

MortVent, on 05 May 2014 - 06:38 PM, said:

Well kinda using the chassis I got that I like. One reason I don't use some options is I ragesold my old mechs in certain classes awhile back.

I may go with mediums down the road, but assault wise I'm not likely to move up in weight (the highlander is a likely pick for me, most can be made missile carriers)

Heavies seem to be the mech I feel and do best in all around.

Understandable. I like to use a large variety of mechs. In fact, I can even agree with selling some mechs like how you describe. I sold my Dragon once, only to later on rebuy it. I did the same with my Hunchback when I thought I found a more favored mech... only to rebuy it back later...

I find there is no one specific class of mech I preform best in, but I do find that I preform best in any builds that are similar to my Stalker's "meta", with a balanced application between some range and a slightly greater focus on close in fighting. (I do love my LRMs.)

If you are thinking about considering the Highlander, I recently made a "what I would do" with the Highlander 733. I have not owned a Highlander yet, and I suspect that the build would need to be tested and balance to be more refined as play went on, but it might be of interest to you if you ever decide to use a Highlander. Use it if you wish. Customize and alter it as you wish.

By all means, use what you have the most fun with. For you, I'd suggest looking at any mech in Smurfy before you purchase. This way you can see if it will have the right hard points for your preferred play style, or can have the weight to equip the gear you need. With LRMs, I find that you don't always need to boat them (though you can still) and find a nice balance between a single large launcher and some SSRMs can complement each other nicely. (Hence a lot of my designs I'm showing here have that balance.) I find this also helps to keep my mech running cool, as you shoot only certain weapons when they are in range.

If you take my approach to mech building, it might help you sure up your close range weaknesses. However, I will say, it might take a while and a lot of fidgeting with a mech to find that perfect balance for that mech for you. Sometimes, it isn't as clear as we think it is. (My Thunderbolt 9S took me about 9 configurations to find the right balance between sniping and close range defense. Ended up with 2 PPCs and a LPL, but I tired lasers, ERPPCs and some other customs before finding the one that worked for me.)

I wish you luck, and feel free to ask for any advice on any builds you come up with! (Speaking of... I didn't give advice on your builds you posted, I just posted my own builds. I'M SUCH A HORRIBLE PERSON! )