Spleenslitta, on 21 August 2014 - 12:15 PM, said:
I don't have much seat time in my Kit Fox prime but i noticed one thing.
I realised that my Firestarter 9S is capable of mounting more firepower and i'm not just talking about the 5 extra tons here.
If you don't change omnipods the Kit Fox is kinda lacking in the amount of weapon hardpoints.
The only way the Kit Fox can outgun a IS light of similar weight is to rely on big guns and SRM's since the Clan SRM's are so light.
That's my opinion anyways.
For me the Kit Fox isn't just slow and oversized. It's almost totaly outgunned by an IS light mech.
My Firestarter has 3 SL's, 2 ML's and 1 ER PPC with 2 JJ's, an XL 265 engine and full armor.
It has only 10 or was it 11 Double heatsinks to cool it down.
But even if the Firestarter runs kinda hot i find myself overheating more often in my Kit Fox with 1ERML, 1ERLL, SRM6 and an LBX5.
That's kinda weird concidering the heat from firing the IS ER PPC.
You really can't play the kitfox like a light. The firestarter has a smaller profile, much faster speeds and usually higher firepower. As a pure fighter, it's the best light in MWO. However, it's only that; a fighter and skirmisher. Like the spider and Jenner, it can operate solo and conduct quick, devastating hit and run attacks.
The Kitfox is basically an above average speed medium with light armor, and quite low to the ground. What you're saying about omnipods is correct, but who would willingly run a clan mech with stock omnipods? It defeats the purpose of omnimechs! For me, it's 100% a support mech. And it's great at that. I can mount ECM, cLRM and long range equipment, and remain quite cool once I figure out the right weapon grouping.
If you only use a stock KFX of any three varieties, you won't have ECM, it's best feature. It's on a separate arm after all. So comparing the KFX to most IS lights isn't really valid. A more valid comparison is the RVN-3L, the COM-2D, the SDR-5D or the CDA-3M. I feel the Kitfox is a better mech for pure support than any one of those 4 mechs. It can also outgun any one of them. (in the right configuration)
As for weapons to use on the KFX, I'd recommend at least 2 cERML. The cERLL is nerfed so bad right now with the 2s duration; I find little reason to use it over the cLPL, which still has great range, does more damage, and produces less heat. It has 1.3s fire duration too, which matches perfectly with the cERML at 1.3s. LBX5 do too little pinpoint damage, so automatically I would recommend the UAC5 instead.
So perhaps what I'm trying to say is it's really difficult to compare any IS mech to the KFX. It's very unique in it's capabilies, but has limitations like any mech. Above all though, it is a support mech. Don't try soloing with it, or you'll likely not last long.
Edit:
One last stat: I ran the build you described, and it came up with 29 firepower, with 2.19 sustainable firepower. That's with 2 additional DHS for 12 total. Definitely a striker. My build of the Kitfox produces 25.96 firepower, but has 4.7 sustainable DPS. That's with 13 DHS. Alternatively you could run it with 4xcERML and 19 heatsinks. That's right... 19. That would produce 28 firepower and 4.17 sustainable DPS. He's a versatile little guy!
Edited by Greenjulius, 21 August 2014 - 01:21 PM.