81 replies to this topic

[Koniving]

Iron Harlequin, on 16 July 2014 - 07:09 PM, said:

Also the "real" nova was short and stout, as it did not have a torso.

Pelvis, did not have a pelvis. But yes.
Same with the Kitfox actually. Though the Kit Fox is still taller than the Nova by 0.x meters.

What's funny is how tall a Firemoth is. 20 tons, yet taller than many mechs with ultra high-reaching arms.

[Ursh]

I have the Flame. Used to play it all the time until they nerfed my 4xL-laser build that I did pretty well with.

[Deathz Jester]

Koniving, on 16 July 2014 - 09:43 PM, said:

Pelvis, did not have a pelvis. But yes.
Same with the Kitfox actually. Though the Kit Fox is still taller than the Nova by 0.x meters.

What's funny is how tall a Firemoth is. 20 tons, yet taller than many mechs with ultra high-reaching arms.

Pelvis yes lol thats what I meant, I was thinking torso twist while typing and I guess thats what came out..

[Red Line Pilot]

Dragons are also one of my favorite chassis.

In the current context of mechs they could do with a small buff imo. One additional weapon hardpoint for example :-)

Flame is still boss though.

[MonkeyCheese]

Still got an occasionally use my mastered 1N dragon, and it still works fine for a big fat heavy going 106.9kph http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e9c95106db7176a

[pulupulu]

I used to be a dragon pilot for majority of the drop. However nowadays, if I drop as a dragon, I am taking the heavy slot away from having more timberwolves, and that's not a good thing.

For the good of my team... my dragon is now collecting dust.

[BOWMANGR]

The amount of noob Timber Wolfs out there is epic, I don't think that suppressing your fun to let some Timber Wolfs in is viable. What if your Dragon can do way more damage to the enemy than a Timber Wolf. It's not only about the mech, it's about the pilot.

A good Dragon pilot can ruin the day of many enemy pilots. The fact that the Dragon is so underestimated makes it even funnier when you wreck them.

Also, I'm willing to bet that the Timber Wolf is going to get nerfed the following months, especially when everyone can buy one with c-bills and some really good pilots can get their hands on them. Then you will hear the screaming...

PGI will nerf them but I assume they will let the paying crowd feel a bit superior before doing so.

All in all they did a good job with balance but the Timber Wolf is OP.

Edited by BOWMANGR, 22 July 2014 - 02:19 PM.

[pulupulu]

I think along the line "there is no way me in a dragon can beat myself in a timberwolf", and since timberwolf is so much easier, I rather have newbs do better in a timberwolf than a dead weight in a medium. (I play mostly light and medium nowadays)

[MonkeyCheese]

pulupulu, on 22 July 2014 - 08:43 PM, said:

I think along the line "there is no way me in a dragon can beat myself in a timberwolf", and since timberwolf is so much easier, I rather have newbs do better in a timberwolf than a dead weight in a medium. (I play mostly light and medium nowadays)

Honestly I think these days the dragon is best used as a fat 106kph medium with a max engine

[IraqiWalker]

Bigbacon, on 08 July 2014 - 09:23 AM, said:

SO...does any one actually use this mech? I didn't even know it existed until yesterday and only because I was in Crimson Straight in the testing grounds.

i had a total WTF mech is that when I saw it.

the variants seem kinda bleh in the weapon hardpoint department but was just curious.

The Dragon is one of the most underrated mechs out there. The problem is that people play it like a regular heavy, when it should be piloted like a light mech. You know my opinion of it from my Locust thread.

It's the same issue as the locust, people use it like a regular mech in it's weight class when it's built for a very different purpose. Never run it with anything less than an XL 335, your CT is huge so get used to torso twisting when possible, and front load the armor on it like no tomorrow. Run snap shot weapons, not long duration ER LLs. Hit and fade all day long, and use your high speed to outmaneuver and outflank your opponents at all times.

It's definitely one of the mechs I want to get back into.

Also, as a note, it's convergence is off if the enemy is extremely close to your mech.

[JC Daxion]

You know, this is the mech i learned to play on Dragon 5N... (got over 100k XP in a trail mech.. and never even unlocked a single upgrade slot! not even basic as you have to own the mech) Did not even know about that till after i bought my first mech lol


I bought the dragon and moved onto others, and still wanting to go back.. But i had a blast with my Gauss + 2 LL's it is a very fast and fun hard hitting LR mech. (though on the one i own, i swapped to 2 ERLL's They also have some interesting load outs for Fast light escort.. wolf pack with some lights and pack on damage, while you and your lighter buddies swarm.. Makes for a much better Pack if you have a skilled pilot.

2 lights, a cicada and a dragon running into a light Pack capping... You will roll um.. (or should at least run um off)

Dragons are very underrated IMO and take very different skills to be used properly. I have been told they also work awesome with the hill climb module.. (though i never tried it.. When i finally get back to these boys to finish my mastering, i will make sure that module is in my arsenal...) The Hero Flame and the 1N will round out my mech lab.. Can't wait !

[Siegegun]

I am a long time fan and pilot of the Dragon. Second mech chasis bought and mastered. I own all of them. This or the Commando is my fave chasis. As many have said it is a very under rated mech in my opinion. They really seem to shine when you stop trying to make them fill a "traditional" heavy role and treat them more like "super heavy" lights.

Here are a couple points about the Dragon chasis I think some people over look

-The Dragon with a 300 and up engine moves very freely and quickly almost like a light mech, I am not talking aout thespeedof the mech but its response when the arms are unlocked.

-The Dragon arms themselves have a very long range of movement, when the arms are unlocked you can almost touch the edge of the screen. This is VERY good to have and important when doing the circle dance (close in brawling), as everyone should know.

-Dragons move up and down slopes in the "medium" class. This is important, as it actually gives the Dragons coupled with their high speed for their size, a ton more mobility than people give them credit for. Couple this with Hill Climb Module for maximum "I go where I want". Also note while they have no JJ, because they climb slopes and move the way they do all you need is a hill nearby and when you are brawling run up the sides of hills around you, it tends to have a similar effect as having JJ in a brawl. (also note Dragon DO NOT get hung up on rocks on the terrain. Like lights they just coast over it.)

-Excellent defensive movement mechs. Because they are as agile as they are, Dragons are great for the ability to spread damage (which good, because they have fat stomachs).

Here are a couple things I do in regards to my dragon build "rules"

-Always take a large engine, as others have said Dragons shine moving quickly. While I have some 300 engine builds, as other have stated for me it is usually 325 and up. 107kph is quick for a 400 armor heavy, that moves up slopes in he medium class.

-Always take maximum armor, doing this helps to mitigate your fat tummy. Also and this is just how I prefer to set up my armor on all my lights (remember I am treating the Dragon, arming the Dragon, and piloting the Dragon like I do my light mechs), I even the armor up all around the torso. I.E. I make my front and back armor the same on center, left and right torso. While this will obviously lower the fronts ability to tank damage, it allows you to survive longer when making attacks and brawling by mitigating enemies shooting into your back, mitigating his friends shooting you in the back, allows you to disengage and expose your back without much worry, allows you to torso twist and use your whole back as a shield. This is just my preference but it seems to work out well. (This armor setup also works out well when lights sneak up behind you and alpha you for all they have thinking it will waste you and you just turn around and swat them.)

Now lately I do not play them as often, but that is because I am grinding masteries on other mechs. Seems to be the only real concrete goal in the game so that's what I am doing while waiting for CW. I still regularly take them out however.

Edited by Siegegun, 25 July 2014 - 08:54 AM.

[Bigbacon]

but what loadout do you fit on one when you have a 300+ engine on it? only engine I have not being used is a 245XL and even then I feel totally under-gunned and out gunned by everything using the Flame. I can't find a good grond where you can keep up the damage and keep the heat under control after a while.

Clan mechs just melt your CT in an instant.

[IraqiWalker]

Bigbacon, on 26 July 2014 - 05:04 PM, said:

but what loadout do you fit on one when you have a 300+ engine on it? only engine I have not being used is a 245XL and even then I feel totally under-gunned and out gunned by everything using the Flame. I can't find a good grond where you can keep up the damage and keep the heat under control after a while.

Clan mechs just melt your CT in an instant.

That's the beginning of the end for you.

In a Dragon, you don't bother keeping up the damage, you blast and dash. Rinse repeat, using cover, terrain, and superior speed and mobility to break down your opponent. This is not a stand and deliver mech so much as a smack them in the back when they're not looking, mech.

As I stated earlier, don't put an engine smaller than an XL 325.

I'll edit this post with loadouts in a second.

EDIT:

Use Radar deprivation instead of AMS and you should be fine with that one.
DRG-1C (Large Lasers are more preferred in my opinion since they generate less heat, and you should probably not engage at ranges about 600 meters anyways.

DRG-1N

Hit hard, and hit fast. You could chain fire the AC5s or burst them together. The MLs shouldn't be used very often, and you really need to abuse your XL 350.

Again, keep hill climb, and slap radar dep on top of it. Seismic might help you when you stop behind a corner to see what might be there.

DRG-5N

The good thing about most of these builds is that they can be recreated on each of the other variants.

The real challenge with the Dragon is in understanding it's piloting style, and getting into the mood with it. Your play style with the locust will help you a lot, but getting used to the arm movement might not be easy for it.

Just play it like an over-sized locust.

Edited by IraqiWalker, 27 July 2014 - 01:05 AM.

[IraqiWalker]

Siegegun, on 25 July 2014 - 08:49 AM, said:

I am a long time fan and pilot of the Dragon.

I would like you to modify the builds I suggested, or post some of your own builds.

[Bigbacon]

IraqiWalker, on 27 July 2014 - 12:42 AM, said:

Just play it like an over-sized locust.

it isn't fast enough

[gunghoblazes]

The mech I have the most fun in since closed beta...

[IraqiWalker]

gunghoblazes, on 27 July 2014 - 01:57 PM, said:

The mech I have the most fun in since closed beta...

I would love to see some of your builds as well.

[Spheroid]

@Iraqi: Your 1N is oversinked. You should use the 360XL instead.

[gunghoblazes]

IraqiWalker, on 27 July 2014 - 02:10 PM, said:

I would love to see some of your builds as well.

1N Max armor FF ENDO DHS
2xDHS
gauss rifle x35rounds
2xer LL
300 xl

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a0c8a86b1dd371a

1N Nearly Max Armor Endo DHS
3xDHS
AC2x150rounds
AC5x120rounds
x2 Med L
Strk 2 x100 rounds
Ams x 1 ton ammo
300xl
You could get rid of the ams for more ammo for the ACs

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d315ec95646a385

These are the two most common i use, however sinces the clans I have been using the 1st one
as it offers the best range tradeoffs.

]