25 replies to this topic

[MortVent]

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Had a chat recently with someone over my builds and why I keep things simple. Usually 1-2 main weapon groups, with a third support on some mechs.

Basically I build mechs for the role I want, some support weapons. Heat sinks for reasonable firing times with each group, nearly maxed armor most times, at least 20ish reloads for all of the weapons that use ammo.

May not have ultimate alphas, but have staying power (baring catching a blade of grass like in guild wars)

Tend to prefer jump jets when possible, manuverability is king.

Depending on chassis stock engines over xl and endo always. DHS as needed (some builds singles work fine, locusts and the like)

Edited by MortVent, 04 May 2014 - 01:58 PM.

[Junkman7mgte]

Could not agree more. I run a 4/5 button mouse, and rarely have more than 3 weapons groups. I don't like having to think much about it.

[mailin]

I have a 7 button mouse, but I only have at most 3 weapon groups, and some mechs, like my Spider 5D has only 2 groups.

[dr lao]

Yep same I have a HB 4p 5 lasers on mouse 1- 3 on mouse two then my Modules do the rest accelerated cap and seismic that's all I need my other HB GI has SRM Mouse 1 ac20 mouse 2 and I do just fine.

[Xoxim SC]

Junkman7mgte, on 04 May 2014 - 02:02 PM, said:

Could not agree more. I run a 4/5 button mouse, and rarely have more than 3 weapons groups. I don't like having to think much about it.

Clearly I'm doing it wrong. Most of my builds have 5 weapon groups.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Over 3 weapon groups is just confusing,i myself usually have the best success with only 2

[Buckminster]

Todd Lightbringer, on 04 May 2014 - 05:19 PM, said:

Clearly I'm doing it wrong. Most of my builds have 5 weapon groups.

I'm with you - I even tend to make my simple builds complicated. My 4xAC5 Jager has 4 weapon groups on it - alpha, all four chainfired, left pair and right pair. And I use every group.

Edited by Buckminster, 04 May 2014 - 05:41 PM.

[Ovion]

I opened this expecting to see some KISS related builds / art / camo patterns.
I am dissapointed! xD

[Asmudius Heng]

I tend to have max 3 groups also and never split groups across arms and torso to keep aiming consistent.

Mouse 1 and mouse 2 and a keyboard button for the 3rd which is usually reserved for missiles or splatter weapons as i feel my aiming is superior when i aim and rife with the mouse on the same hand.

In terms of simplicity though it also about making a mech that has a simple concept so you can concentreate on doing a single thing right. You concentrate on being in the correct range you need to be in the right position you need to be in. When you try to do too many things more things can go wrong.

Not to say mixed ranges are bad but there needs to be an easy concept to keep in mind so you are subconsiously erring to that side of things without aven needing to think too much about it

[Tereva]

Junkman7mgte, on 04 May 2014 - 02:02 PM, said:

Could not agree more.

Could not disagre more.

Keep
It
The
Way
You
Want


Since when someone can dictate the way we play ?

[Kaptain]

I ran 3 for the longest time but am a big fan of 4 or 5 now especially for heavies/assaults.The ability to separate your arms is nice. Allows you to shoot around cover or friendly mechs. I also like to have 2 groups for LRMs or MLs, One for alpha and one for chain fire.

Mouse 1 = WG1
Mouse 2 = WG2
Q = WG3
Shift WG4
Caps = WG5

[MortVent]

The main point is don't try to do too much with a chassis.

Take my normal ride. Catapults. Standard loadouts are lrms and medium lasers. (or streak 2s) as backups.

Why, the lrms hit most thing out past 180m. You switch to the mediums at less than than (if you can't catch them in the 180-270ish sweet spot... then overheat and alpha chain them all)

The problem is most stock builds are based on TT rules, which don't handle MWO battles well. the mixed loadouts are good in TT, but if you try to be a jack of all in MWO you will burn out fast with most of your weapons wasted space.

I redid all my thunderbolts tonight, mostly large lasers and mediums as primary. With missiles as secondary or in two cases tertiary weapons (2 can only handle lrm10s so those are just spam out damage while the slow boat closes in on them..). Built them up as mobile laser platforms, with missile support except one which is a lrm25 build with large/2med lasers for backup direct fire. Now my cats are pretty standard missile boats, the k2 I got as a shotgun support mech (4 meds, 2 lbx), the jester I'm still playing around with nearly stock (dropped the small lasers for an extra heatsink)

I've seen too many builds that had long range, mid range and short range weapons... barely any ammo for the ballistics/missiles.. and heat management issues. And they get promoted as good builds. A good build to me is one that focuses on a role. Brawler with mostly short-medium range, Rifleman with mostly mid-long range firepower, archer with lrms, scout with electronics. All with some weapon or such to help out (say a longer range laser on the brawler, some medium lasers on the others, something to pick on others with the scouts... )

Take the current best picks for certain roles, you'll see they have a focus on the role they perform. Often at the expense of other roles/support

[Mad Dog Morgan]

I typically have multi-weapons platforms that utilize as much of the mech's slots and weight as I possibly can, well, at least with my heavies I do. Other times it's just 3-weapon groups.

70+ tons I give 3-5 weapon groups.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

I try to focus on being effective at mid range combat and then try to pick weapons that can allow me to be a little active at long range combat. My most effective builds usually have a combination of large lasers, medium lasers, and an AC20. I usually only run 3 weapon groups. A 4th group for LRMs is pretty rare for me.

[Nehkrosis]

i use 3, max 4.
M 1
M2
M3
Q

easy as sin.
i find Q is nice for machineguns, cause i can just hold it whilst i mince people.

[PenitentTangent]

I've used a two-clicker in my whole MWO career. And while it has constrained me slightly, it has taught me a lot.

[Koniving]

Todd Lightbringer, on 04 May 2014 - 05:19 PM, said:

Clearly I'm doing it wrong. Most of my builds have 5 weapon groups.

You're not the only one.

Reason most people don't like the Awesome is to run most of them you needed 3 to 5 groups minimum.

[Buckminster]

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

Take my normal ride. Catapults. Standard loadouts are lrms and medium lasers. (or streak 2s) as backups.

Right, but take my Catapult C1 - 2 ALRM15s, 2 LLs, TAG.

WG1 - both LLs
WG2 - TAG
WG3 - both ARLMs
WG4 - ALRMs chainfire
WG5 - LLs chainfire

I use joystick and mouse, so 5 groups is easy. Groups 1 and 2 are LMB and RMB, group 3 is joystick trigger, group 4 is joystick thumb and group 5 is mouse thumb.

It may seem like overkill, but it makes heat and ammo management a lot easier.

Edited by Buckminster, 05 May 2014 - 03:47 AM.

[dragnier1]

I was so used to using a 2 button mouse that even after changing to a 4 button one i continued with my old style (plus, side buttons are a little stiff).
Plus, it's troublesome for me to remember what the 4th-6th weapon setup are.

[Bigbacon]

Junkman7mgte, on 04 May 2014 - 02:02 PM, said:

Could not agree more. I run a 4/5 button mouse, and rarely have more than 3 weapons groups. I don't like having to think much about it.

i normally try to have no more than 3 groups with #4 being either alpha or near alpha (or a group of all weapons of one type, IE all beam, ballistic or missile). use 4 mouse buttons for my 1-4 groups.