so I have all 4 variants now, 2 full elite, one on elites and one nearing end of basic level.
My only major compaint with the vindicator is its ability to climb hills. It seems like even the smallest of inclines just bring it to a halt.
If I had to choose in order of best to worst, I'd probably go
1. 1AA (fasted variant you can build, almost the same as the 1R, very close toss up)
2. 1R
3. 1X
4. St Ives.
St Ives does have 2 missiles bays which do some in handy for brawling but it is essential worse than the others. It sucks as LRM support. You can build beam mechs on the 1AA and 1R with the same weapons and more.
1AA only because it can go fast and still pack a wide range of beam weapons. It is really a close toss up though with the 1R which is essentially the Vindicator beam machine. you can get a good assortment of either LLs + MLs or even PPC/LPL + MLs. 1R can get even more if you want by not using the missile slot at all. so you can get 2xPPC/LPL + 3 MPL + like 13-14 total DHS.
1X is your only ballistic option and it can carry anything but the AC20. Dual 5s being the best option I found and I tried ac10, gauss, uac5, MGs.
Oddly though the hardest one for me so far to level up is the 1R and I'm not 100% sure why.
1R you can go with silly builds like 4LLs which works....but it always ends up with kills and components being stolen from me.
May have posted these in this thread somewhere but these are the current builds I am using (armor/ammo may not be distributed exactly)
1R:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cbf16a96cf83660
backup 1R: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...07022e9a2288c52
1X:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...13f97d2c36591c7
this you can lose a ton of ammo for 2 JJs if you want. I've used it both ways.
St Ives:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b3511205bb7994a
1AA:http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=207&l=5b06b1a482afcc2de635b3e7babf530b486a2270
This could be faster but I am really liking this build and doing well with it.
back up 1AA:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9e3056a814a26fe
Edited by Bigbacon, 01 September 2014 - 10:40 AM.