37 replies to this topic

[N a p e s]

With the clans dropping tomorrow and nothing purchase I'm starting to wonder if I won't feel left out as I wait for some new shiny mechs to play with.

So my question boils down to which of these three mechs would you recommend. I am primarily a medium pilot but I do enjoy some of the heavies as well. Since I'd only buy one clan mech I'd like something that's pretty versatile.

Thanks guys!

[Khobai]

Stormcrow is good. TimberWolf is GREAT. Summoner is meh.

The most versatile of those is the TimberWolf Id say. It also goes 90kph so its kindve like a big medium.

Edited by Khobai, 16 June 2014 - 08:55 AM.

[Scratx]

Versatility?... Yeah, I'd probably have to recc the Timber Wolf. It can do just about everything, though others can do some roles better.

Stormcrow is good too, so you wouldn't be going wrong in it either. No JJ's on it, though. TW can have.

I have little to say about the Summoner because I only had one match on it with a test build that didn't work to my standards, so I am very reluctant to recc for or against it. I just don't have good data on it. Only reason I recc TW over it on ground of flexibility is that the Summoner's stuck with the jumpjets it has regardless of your intent to use them.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

Stormcrow and Timber Wolf are both good choices. I can not say much about the Summoner as I did not get one. So far I have had more fun with a Stormcrow brawler with 3xSRM6 and 5xERML.

[Damocles69]

Timber wolf is far and and away the best clan mech.

It is the dragon slayer of the clan pack

[Xoxim SC]

I f'in LOVE the Nova and Stormcrow. The Crow is far more agile than the Nova (obviously), though you lose out on JJ. You can build the Crow more diversely as well, though you can't boat as hard (which is definitely not a bad thing).

I personally though I wouldn't like the Crow (I generally choose mechs by their look, not how they operate), but I was shocked at how amazing it felt to pilot it.

Damocles69, on 16 June 2014 - 09:16 AM, said:

Timber wolf is far and and away the best clan mech.

It is the dragon slayer of the clan pack

Terrific reason to not purchase one. Last thing we need is more unbalanced, meta bullcrap

Edited by Todd Lightbringer, 16 June 2014 - 09:19 AM.

[101011]

The Summoner is actually quite versatile. It can snipe, brawl, boat missiles, or any combination of the three. It easily outbrawls the Timber Wolf, and is nearly as adept at jump sniping, if that is your kind of gameplay. It carries more missile hardpoints than any other 'Mech, equal with the Stormcrow, and can fit more armor. I have had great successes in it.

[Agent 0 Fortune]

I played the MadCat and enjoyed it, I played a pretty simply 4x cERLL with 27x cDHS. But I saw tons of differnt builds, it probably has the most variety of any mech.
The Thor was hobbled by the lack of Endo, but will likely be a more friendly meta-mech if PGI doesn't reign in the current meta.
The Ryoken was an odd bird, but surprisingly effective no matter what build I used. I settled into a 3x cSRM6 + 5 cERSL, which remided me of the old Beta Centurions with no engine limit.

[Damocles69]

Todd Lightbringer, on 16 June 2014 - 09:18 AM, said:

I f'in LOVE the Nova and Stormcrow. The Crow is far more agile than the Nova (obviously), though you lose out on JJ. You can build the Crow more diversely as well, though you can't boat as hard (which is definitely not a bad thing).

I personally though I wouldn't like the Crow (I generally choose mechs by their look, not how they operate), but I was shocked at how amazing it felt to pilot it.



Terrific reason to not purchase one. Last thing we need is more unbalanced, meta bullcrap

Don't hate the players

Hate the two bit deveopers that don't understand how their game works that write the code that allows for stupid stuff to happen

[Koniks]

I wouldn't recommend the Summoner unless you're sentimental about it. The 9 tons that are locked to its jump jets and minimum heat sinks really limit it right now. It has a high skill cap because of that. When 3x4 queues start, it's also going to be competing for drop slots against the Timber Wolf, the most popular mech.

I'd echo that the Timber Wolf seems like the best all-around chassis right now with the Stormcrow a close second. Taking the Stormcrow might also get you shorter launch times by going with the medium class, too.

Edited by Mizeur, 16 June 2014 - 09:36 AM.

[Pygar]

101011, on 16 June 2014 - 09:18 AM, said:

The Summoner is actually quite versatile. It can snipe, brawl, boat missiles, or any combination of the three. It easily outbrawls the Timber Wolf, and is nearly as adept at jump sniping, if that is your kind of gameplay. It carries more missile hardpoints than any other 'Mech, equal with the Stormcrow, and can fit more armor. I have had great successes in it.

So far it's looking like missile boat might be the best way to go for Thor, especially if they get the Clan LRM minimum range trait working. Targeting Computers (also not currently functioning) might make a big difference for Thor later too.

Outside of that, it is capable of some interesting builds, but it is difficult to fit.

[Bobzilla]

Summoner, if JJ nerf is really bad, then stormcrow. Timberwolf is the new black tho, if you're into that, it also seems like a really big target, hard to miss but twists well.

Edited by Bobzilla, 16 June 2014 - 09:39 AM.

[RAM]

Anty up a additional $5 and for $60 get BOTH the Kit Fox & the Nova.


RAM
ELH

[Rhaythe]

I really don't get the summoner hate. I've had nothing but good experiences with it.

[Koniks]

Rhaythe, on 16 June 2014 - 09:41 AM, said:

I really don't get the summoner hate. I've had nothing but good experiences with it.

It's 15 tons heavier than the Stormcrow. 9 of that goes to jump jets and double heat sinks. The other 6 tons seem to go to armor and internal structure. The only things it does better than the Stormcrow are the ability to jump, tank slightly more damage, and carry 2 or 3 ballistics. The Stormcrow has just about the best agility in the game (almost 180* twist and the ability to climb the same hills as a Raven), so jump jets are less necessary. The Summoner doesn't have enough tonnage to make better use of the extra ballistic slots. And the Stormcrow can carry as many missiles and about as much ammo as the Summoner. But it also has the option to add 5 energy hard points. And it goes 107kph.

So overall, the Stormcrow is a better SRM brawler. Better LRMisher. And better energy boat at close, medium, or long range. The only thing it can't do is poptart or tank quite as well. But the Summoner sacrifices max alpha and its DPS for those advantages.

But if you want to poptart, the Timber Wolf is better. And the Timber Wolf has better hard point options.

It's not that the Summoner is bad. It's just that it's completely outclassed.

Edited by Mizeur, 16 June 2014 - 09:54 AM.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

Ryokens are nice balanced packages. Thors are agile heavy brawlers. Mad Cats are a beefy, high-damage classic.

Still, they are Clan, so why bother? The Inner Sphere is and will be triumphant, and we're gonna get all the really snazzy toys in the long run, too. RACs, for one (RAC5 will be super duper OP).

[N a p e s]

RAM, on 16 June 2014 - 09:38 AM, said:

Anty up a additional $5 and for $60 get BOTH the Kit Fox & the Nova.

RAM
ELH

I was considering this option as well but I'm not sure how much fun I'd have using the Kit Fox. On the other hand the Nova actually is quite appealing...

Honestly, the clan mechs I'm really waiting for are the Shadowcat and the Vulture. I would have purchased those almost immediately had they been announced. Right now, I'm mostly buying something to tide me over until those other mechs are released.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Stormcrow.

[Rhaythe]

Mizeur, on 16 June 2014 - 09:52 AM, said:

It's not that the Summoner is bad. It's just that it's completely outclassed.

Hm. Good summary. My time spent on the clan packages is limited (was out of state all Father's Day, and I get up *early*, so last Thursday was limited for me). I've test-driven the Summoner and the Stormcrow, and found both interesting enough. I like niche-builds though (Love my X-5 and my Hunchback), so it wouldn't surprise me that I end up loving a mech no one else pilots.

Napes339, on 16 June 2014 - 10:01 AM, said:

Right now I'm leaning towards the Stormcrow.

To me it's simple value. 2 prime chassis and accompanying variants for 60, vs 1 prime and variants for 55. You can always get the Stormcrow for c-bills down the line once you've mastered the Kit Fox and Nova.

[0bsidion]

I don't own the other 2 so I can't really speak to their quality. I did play my Timberwolf yesterday, however, and while it might not look quite right, even the stock config is quite serviceable. I tweaked it only a little, swapping out the MPL for 2 ER MLs and got 2 kills with it my first drop. I think the heat sinks got nerfed on it though, it seemed I was overheating more than I should be with the loadout of 15 cDHS.

Anyway, over all I like it. It feels and moves like a more advanced mech than the IS ones, it's smooth and quick for a heavy and can carry a nice balanced and flexible array of firepower. I enjoyed running it and I can't wait until Tuesday to ride in it again. I was also amazed at how durable it seemed to be. The best way I can describe is it is a heavy that moves like a medium and fights like an assault.

[Scratx]

0bsidion, on 16 June 2014 - 10:04 AM, said:

I don't own the other 2 so I can't really speak to their quality. I did play my Timberwolf yesterday, however, and while it might not look quite right, even the stock config is quite serviceable. I tweaked it only a little, swapping out the MPL for 2 ER MLs and got 2 kills with it my first drop. I think the heat sinks got nerfed on it though, it seemed I was overheating more than I should be with the loadout of 15 cDHS.

Anyway, over all I like it. It feels and moves like a more advanced mech than the IS ones, it's smooth and quick for a heavy and can carry a nice balanced and flexible array of firepower. I enjoyed running it and I can't wait until Tuesday to ride in it again. I was also amazed at how durable it seemed to be. The best way I can describe is it is a heavy that moves like a medium and fights like an assault.

cERMLs are 5 heat each, no wonder it ran hot. The Timber Wolf can get pretty hot without extra sinks........