117 replies to this topic

[Raide Six]

This is the AA build I use - It is quite fast & agile once elited, I use it to move between cover & snipe at the beginning of a match and then move in during the brawl phase to pick off already damaged mechs (works especially well in the maps with city areas).

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e86f6762e5ddba4

*EDIT - Just saw that this build has already been posted above, but I traded a jumpjet for an extra double heatsink.

Edited by SeccaBravo9, 19 September 2014 - 08:51 PM.

[jper4]

finally bought a 1R- kept a std 200 or 210, i forget which, engine and went with a basic 4ML and a ALRM 10 w/ 2tons of ammo, ams w/ 1 ton and 2JJs, i just lob LRMs for the early part of the match to get some assists until i run out or the fight reaches me. then at that point being mostly untouched i can be effective with the MLs and vulture at the end against heavier but more damaged mechs. need to stay with the group for the most part though. not up for solo adventuring like the AA

[dr bongstorm]

I play the ballistic vindicator when I feel like a challenge. 3 MGs, one large pulse, one medium laser and one SRM six with a standard engine.

It is a fun little mech, but I can only recommend it as a way to mix things up.

Edited by dr bongstorm, 20 September 2014 - 06:55 AM.

[VagGR]

overall underwhelming...it can be a fun mech for pug and fun drops..but for group and competitive play is a no-go

Edited by VagGR, 20 September 2014 - 07:19 AM.

[Stingray Productions]

I threw 1 UAC5 + 1 ERPPC + 1 medium laser on my vindicator and have done very well, I like him a lot!

[jper4]

Stingray1234, on 20 September 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

I threw 1 UAC5 + 1 ERPPC + 1 medium laser on my vindicator and have done very well, I like him a lot!

i tried that briefly though regular ac5 not the uac5- died horribly and hideously with little positive result. probably because my lousy eyesight doesn;t help me with PPC sniping so i tend to be closer to the fight and thus more noticable.

[Stingray Productions]

I tried other autocannons and did bad too. Once I switched to the UAC5 I started getting a lot of games in the 500 damage range.

[n r g]

juxstapo, on 06 September 2014 - 08:38 AM, said:

I've been working out of town for the past three weeks and my gaming has been extremely hit and miss. To reward myself for my long hours doing constructionally work, I was going to snap up three of the new chassis, even if I have to snag some MC to do it.

I know, I know. There are legions who will cry "foul", "Fool", and "Fornicator"... well mebbe not that last one; but I'm going to be travelling for work quite a bit here now that our company has moved back into commercial construction, which means until I get a dedicated gaming laptop I'll only get a few games in on weekends. Not enough to grind up c-bills for new chassis.

Now being a BlackJack lover I was excited over a new jumpy 45-tonner, but it's gotten seriously mixed reviews from the Corsairs. (Ranging from "Terrible" to "really bad" to "very tough").

So Vindi owners sound off. What do you guys think of it? (As usual with my mech discussion posts, I'm not looking for a long list of Smurfy links, rather I'd like to spark of a discussion of impressions, vibes, overall karma of the machine, etc.)

I don't own it because it's a Piece of S****

[C A R N A G E]

I have the hero and 2 others and they all suffer from the same thing,lol a clan mech looks their way and they just burst into flames!
No luck here with them but I do like the looks of them.

[n r g]

Stingray1234, on 20 September 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

I threw 1 UAC5 + 1 ERPPC + 1 medium laser on my vindicator and have done very well, I like him a lot!

[C A R N A G E]

Lol.

[juxstapo]

Bought a SIB, just snagged a 1AA.... haven't ran either. So there, lol.

Gonna get around to it... enjoying my Anansi right now (which I also just purchased... I like to buy things)

[process]

I mastered the three non-hero variants, but I decided to sell them. Overall, I felt that despite being a very nimble chassis with excellent damage-rolling, there wasn't quite enough firepower for a 45 ton mech due to low energy and missile hardpoints. The 235 engine cap on the 1R and 1X didn't help either.

The 1AA was my best performer, with its XL 280 engine. I ran it with 2 medium lasers, 1 large laser, and an ASRM-6.
My 1R had 2 large lasers, 2 medium lasers and a NARC.
My 1X had a number of meh builds, the last of which was an ER PPC, medium laser and and ALRM-15.

I suspect that the hero variant is probably the best, thanks to its slightly more generous engine cap and extra missile hardpoint.

[TripleEhBeef]

The AA is a keeper IMO. I got a max engine in that guy and it definitely moves and jumps like nobody's business. I love it!

I run the 1X with an STD 235. It's surprisingly tanky for its weight with a STD engine, though your firepower is limited. It's not bad, but I'd like it more if it had a higher engine cap, especially since there's an XL 250 sitting in my garage. I know the SIB can run that, but I've got other missile strikers and don't feel like buying it.

Gotta buy and basic out the 1R. Not really looking forwards to that since it's pretty much a worse AA. Not sure if I'll master the chassis, I might just elite out the AA and dump the other two.

[TheRealAbray]

After playing with these guys a bunch (2x basics on SIB and at least speed tweak on others), I have really only found niches for two of the variants.

The SIB is extremely versatile with the 250 engine rating. I personally have found extreme success using it as a brawler/initiator, despite everybody else thinking they are terrible at front lining. With a standard engine and full JJ, you can brawl and tank like a ******* champ. I've dropped in pugs AND in groups where just a little aggression with this little guy makes some big friendlies feel safe enough to follow you around a scary corner. Most times, I can even run back out without any opened up components. IDK if it's the 99 kph speed, or the STD engine, but it's great at initializing*

The 1AA is the other variant worth keeping. slap a big xl in it and sprint around with dual ams, covering your assaults and heavies. I personally put a narc on it and it's the ultimate support mech, but that's just me. The energy hardpoints are pretty nice if you want to go for a heavy dps medium vs a support medium.

The 1X is simply too slow, and can't field a coherent build with the ballistic hardpoints. I have it, but if I don't start seeing improvement soon, I might ditch it for that free cent I'm supposed to be getting sometime.

*as long as you DO have backup. You can't Leroy. I think the "no front lines" crowd might be Leeeeroying.

Edited by TheRealAbray, 02 October 2014 - 07:31 AM.

[xxSilverWolfxx]

I'm a new player. How noob-friendly this chassis is? especially 1AA and 1R. I've tried all trial mechs, nothing seem to suit me well.... ironically, the best match I had was in the Nova prime trial stock....

[Stingray Productions]

xxSilverWolfxx, on 07 October 2014 - 07:03 AM, said:

I'm a new player. How noob-friendly this chassis is? especially 1AA and 1R. I've tried all trial mechs, nothing seem to suit me well.... ironically, the best match I had was in the Nova prime trial stock....

I think there are probably other newb friendly mediums. I personally think the hunchback is one of the best mediums for new players. Of course, you can't go wrong with clan mediums.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Inflatable Fish, on 10 September 2014 - 02:02 AM, said:

I've lately mastered the 1SIB, and good lawd, this thing tanks damage like nobody's business. its innate agility coupled with hitbox allocation AND double basics allowed me, for instance, to tank a 5xAC/5 DWF long enough for the team to take it out. I did lose both arms in the process, but that just shows how amazing the Bluesmobile is at shielding and spreading damage.

and double ASRM6 chews through leg armour in no time.

agreed,the torso twist and with max jump jets its just assault pilots worst nightmare

[IllCaesar]

xxSilverWolfxx, on 07 October 2014 - 07:03 AM, said:

I'm a new player. How noob-friendly this chassis is? especially 1AA and 1R. I've tried all trial mechs, nothing seem to suit me well.... ironically, the best match I had was in the Nova prime trial stock....

How noob-friendly is it? Not very. I basic'd all three C-Bill models. I would not say its a bad chassis at all, but its a support mech, and can't really play any other roles. It doesn't vary too much from model to model either. It does nothing wrong, but its not the best way to start out MWO. You don't have too much room to grow in them, is my main point.

I'd recommend starting off with the Hunchbacks because of their large variety in chassis. There's two ballistic oriented, a LRM-oriented one, an energy oriented one, and a missle/energy mix in the SP. The major problem with the Hunchbacks, though, is the hunch, and if you don't know how to twist, you'll get your arse kicked.

Centurions and Shadowhawks are also good ways to start off with a medium, though I don't have too much experience with them.

And the Nova is not a bad mech at all to start with if you've got heat management down, its a good choice. Only problem with it is that its very expensive, and will make basic'ing it difficult.

[tuffy963]

I own three Vindicators, including the Hero version. I wanted to love it. I loved it on TT.

It is not competitive. Why?

• Weight Class vs. tonnage limits - Since PGI implemented weight class limits instead of tonnage limits, there is no good reason to bring a lighter mech in the weight class unless it has some unique attribute that cannot be found in the heavier chassis (ECM, unique hardpoint configuration, speed). The Vindicator does not have any of these advantages, so bring a Shadowhawk and be done with it.
  
• Slow - The engine cap on three of the four available variants preclude the vindicator from being an effective striker. Why bother taking it when you can take a shadowhawk that can mount more weapons AND GO FASTER?
  
• Uninteresting Hardpoints - The hardpoints are fine, but they are a bit sparse and don't provide any uniqueness in a crowded field of mediums that have some really competitive builds (9 laser Hunchies & AC20 Centurions anyone?)
  
• Symmetrical hardpoints > asymmetrical hardpoints - This does not represent a huge advantage, but trying to manage similar hardpoints from multiple asymmetrical locations (head, left arm, right arm location) results in some shots hitting cover. I prefer mechs with similar hardpoints at roughly the same height (shoulder or arm level). Vindicator energy hardpoints are asymmetrical.

I am still waiting for a 45 tonner that is speedy AND has great hardpoints (sorry Mr. Blackjack).