51 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

So, the poor old Vindicator.

Never respected in TT, never given any love before in the Video games. And along it comes, the Camel of the Mech world, the compromise, slow Medium Mech built by a cash strapped nation to protect their pitiful few remaining resources, into MWO.

Where it got no more love, even by the legions of people with those green , limp sword patches I see driving everything BUT the Badger of Tikonov.

And overall, can you blame them?

45 tons is hardly "optimal", it's slow, exacerbating its light armor and over sized model...and compared to the other 45 tonner (let alone any other Medium Mech) it's hard points.... are kind of "MEH" inspiring, on first glance.

So what happened? I found that even though it's a little tall for my likes...it drives very nice. It is nearly as agile as my Griffin, and jumps much more like a Light mech. Once they fixed the head/CT fiasco, it even has decent enough hitboxes to spread some pain.

But what really happened....is I found I could run every one of them, and do well, with very distinctly different loadouts, despite the homogenous nature of the design.

My VND-1AA "Avenging Angel" is probably my favorite.
VND-1AA

Fast, and agile, is a fun harasser, and the 4 Mediums are sufficient to put some hurt on anything.

My St Ive's Blues "Alphonse" come next.
ST. IVES' BLUES

Built for city fighting, like it's Paint Job suggests. Decently fast and agile, with a nice, hard hitting alpha for those nice back stabs. Then jump away and do it again. Love the Wub and BOOM of the ShRooMs.

My 1X "Carrion Eater" is just what it's name implies, a Vulture.
VND-1X
If it gets caught alone, or tries to hard at the beginning of the fight, it's in trouble. It's not fast, or pretty. It IS really good at making components pop though as the battle wears on, and is fun because I have to drive it totally different to the other 3.

And the VND-1R. My Honey Badger.
VND-1R

In truth I had no plans to get it. Didn't see the point. But, I got bored, and did. And decided to make a std Engine, Zombie out of it. While not on par with Cents or HBKs for running around like the undead, it's proven plenty tough, and can surprise people.

So, am I saying they are some great, Elite Tier mech? A danger to the Meta?

No. They are mid tier, at best Medium. But for those tired of cookie cutter metas, and EZmode Shadowhawks and Stormcrows, they CAN provide a fun and fulfilling challenge to master and contribute from. And they FEEL great to drive.

So, anyone else become a convert to the old Wind-Indicators? If so, what are your builds?

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 10 September 2014 - 07:52 PM.

[CycKath]

Didn't need to be converted, like the Griffin its in a good place mobility wise and is just a nice 'Mech to pilot. Another 'Mech I'll have mastered out far too soon

[J0N3S]

As i mentioned before: like this little Guy very much...

Prefer the AA - 295xl 6!JJ 2PPC + Srm4 ... works well for me. Jumping like a Light ;-)@116kph

[Impyrium]

Still trying to get my 1R to work right, I think I might gives yours a try Bishop.

I wish they'd finish the 'Mech, though- it still doesn't have start up sounds, and the animation sequence is kinda screwed up, as if they ran out of time.

[Mechteric]

Yes bad configurations can still be fun sometimes.

But most people don't have the free time to waste on underwhelming mediocrity.

[Jeon Ji Yoon]

Its not a bad mech but it is certainly not very competitive lol

[Carrioncrows]

2 things -

1. In the 1R why not have the PPC in the Left arm as it is a higher hard point mount. Unless you prefer having the ppc on the right -even though it's lower- just because that's the way maps flow.

2. in the 1X have you considered 1 Large pulse laser, 1 medium pulse and a UAC5? Its Snazzy.

[Bishop Steiner]

CapperDeluxe, on 10 September 2014 - 05:02 PM, said:

Yes bad configurations can still be fun sometimes.

But most people don't have the free time to waste on underwhelming mediocrity.

So spend it on OVERWHELMING mediocrity instead, then!

Wait....that didn't sound as inspiring as I hoped.....lol.

Carrioncrows, on 10 September 2014 - 05:30 PM, said:

2 things -

1. In the 1R why not have the PPC in the Left arm as it is a higher hard point mount. Unless you prefer having the ppc on the right -even though it's lower- just because that's the way maps flow.

2. in the 1X have you considered 1 Large pulse laser, 1 medium pulse and a UAC5? Its Snazzy.

Honest answer on the 1R? I don't like how it looks in the LA. I'f I'm gonna challenge myself in a sub-optimal build, I want it to at least LOOK snazzy!!!!!!

On the 1X.... cuz I like my loadout better?

[DAYLEET]

Struggling with mine except for the 1AA, the rest feel slow and clunky. SIB and 1X are elited and mostly meh, 1AA not elited yet i keep the best for last.

Ofcourse i use weird interesting build when i can, my VND-1X is 2ac2 + 1ERPPC, ive had very good and very bad games in it, he depends on too many variables and yeah i could do "better" with other weapons but im bored out of my mind.

The SIB has a rather standard loadout or ppc/2srm6art/2ml, heat is terrible but duh, if only it was more twitchy. Gona play him more tonight after im done eliting my 1aa.

The 1AA is 3ml 1lpl 2ams+3.5ton ammo, a loadout i realy like, 2 ams adds helps the team a lot, 3ml 1lpl with 106kph on a mech i can shoot in my back is realy nice too, i was fleeing a SCR and was consistently shooting him all the way to my death lol. This mech is going to be in my FAV section when the favorite is added back into the game in 2017.

Certainly is not easy to play like the Blackjack. Don't mean it's bad though.

[Kassatsu]

Didn't like any of the builds I tried on the hero mech on test, tried various zombie and non-zombie builds on the standard variants. Still didn't like them. I'll stick with Blackjacks for my underperforming medium needs, though those are arguably a "good" mech, so I don't even know.

It's almost like people are trying to have fun in a "competitive" shooter.

[Diss]

I only have the 1R so far, 2 large lasers right arm and 3 mpulse left side. Its a tad slow at 81 but still pretty fun and nimble.

This is not a rambo mech, support a heavy or assault and flank flank flank, then it shines.

Edited by Diss, 10 September 2014 - 06:09 PM.

[Tastian]

Trying my best to finish mastery of the 3 non-hero variants of the vindicator. It is truly horrific. Sure, with good positioning and piloting (and a bit of luck and non-priority targeting) I have some okay games. But I play my butt off to get 300 damage.

[Bartholomew bartholomew]

They are slow as all get out. But they match well with assaults.

And I would say they will probably make you a better player running with them. Since they really can not got it alone. So you team focus too all get out with those things.

Will probably keep the AA and the 1X. But the other one is getting ditched as soon as I basic it.

[Impyrium]

Carrioncrows, on 10 September 2014 - 05:30 PM, said:

1. In the 1R why not have the PPC in the Left arm as it is a higher hard point mount. Unless you prefer having the ppc on the right -even though it's lower- just because that's the way maps flow.

Because having anything but a PPC in the right arm on any of the variants is heresy and will be treated as such!

[Cyborne Elemental]

Each variant being given 2 missle hardpoints for its torso would have made it alot better.
So you could at least put cheap LRM10 (2x LRM5) in, or rock with some SRM's after your paper arms fly off

It has the armor caps barely above the Firestarter, is as large as the Blackjack, and unless you're putting only 4 armor on your back, a couple gauss shots and you're done.

Either way, any medium doing less than 92kph is a deathtrap.\

I don't mean to sound down, it is a nice looking mech, but it really has no place compared to what its up against nowadays, especially with the clans.

Edited by Mister D, 10 September 2014 - 07:55 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mister D, on 10 September 2014 - 07:33 PM, said:

Each variant being given 2 missle hardpoints for its torso would have made it alot better.
So you could at least put cheap LRM10 (2x LRM5) in, or rock with some SRM's after your paper arms fly off

It has the armor caps barely above the Firestarter, is as large as the Blackjack, and unless you're putting only 4 armor on your back, a couple gauss shots and you're done.

Either way, any medium doing less than 92kph is a deathtrap.

Lol, simply not true. 90% of my Mediums do about 89 kph and those are my bread and butter mechs.

Also, my AA does over 100, and my SIB, 99.

[Cyborne Elemental]

I dunno man, I go out in my hunchies, my shadowhawk, or any of my Blackjacks and I'm tearing people a new one.
I go out in the 1 vindy I own so far, and I see a guy and its SPLAT.. I'm dead

[Johnny Reb]

When the shinny and new if off, its to the garage, Thats why I want the Urbanmech, it will always be bad but a fun lets run it mech and if groups run all Urbie/Urby mechs.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mister D, on 10 September 2014 - 08:01 PM, said:

I dunno man, I go out in my hunchies, my shadowhawk, or any of my Blackjacks and I'm tearing people a new one.
I go out in the 1 vindy I own so far, and I see a guy and its SPLAT.. I'm dead

takes a different mindset to succeed, than in those mechs. More of a pester and harrass for the early part of the match, then move in and pick people off like a parasite later.

But it is also one of the tougher mechs to find solid builds for, for sure. (It's also, as I noted NOT in the same caliber as the ones you mentioned)

Johnny Reb, on 10 September 2014 - 08:49 PM, said:

When the shinny and new if off, its to the garage, Thats why I want the Urbanmech, it will always be bad but a fun lets run it mech and if groups run all Urbie/Urby mechs.

Doubtful, for me. I tend to have a highly specialized mix of attributes I look for, and agility/mobility tends to be the top of the list. That, they have in spades, even if they are a bit on the slow side.

[Johnny Reb]

Bishop Steiner, on 10 September 2014 - 08:52 PM, said:

takes a different mindset to succeed, than in those mechs. More of a pester and harrass for the early part of the match, then move in and pick people off like a parasite later.

But it is also one of the tougher mechs to find solid builds for, for sure. (It's also, as I noted NOT in the same caliber as the ones you mentioned)


Doubtful, for me. I tend to have a highly specialized mix of attributes I look for, and agility/mobility tends to be the top of the list. That, they have in spades, even if they are a bit on the slow side.

Well, regardless hopefully mc prices might come down now. Still want an Urbie just to have one!

edit: preferably a Deputy Dawg (still my homepage pic)!

Edited by Johnny Reb, 10 September 2014 - 09:01 PM.