26 replies to this topic

[Mercer Skye]

So, I was not around for the reign of the Centurion-AH, but I understand it can be built similar to a Yen-Lo, and as I've yet to buy or use Centurions, figured I might as well grab a couple for the incoming free one.

If the AH can be built like the Yen-Lo, no point in getting a Yen-Lo, right?

So then it's a matter of which two cbill variants...

The Cent-D looks like it has a pretty good harpoint layout, but dat XL....much expensive, very cry.

So, are the A and AL variants worth picking up in preparation of the AH?

Is the Cent one of those mechs that's fine keeping 1 of, or are they capable of doing more than the Medium Mech brawl game?

I don't have as many mechs as Blake, but I have enough that I'm not hurting for medium mech choices, so I'm not concerned so much with them being able to perform as well as other mediums in a roll. I know they're brawlers, and having faced them, they're pretty darn good with a good pilot.

So if the only thing the other variants bring are LRM boat, SRM boat, or what have you, I don't really care, I have medium mechs that do those things, unless one of the other CBill Cents does it better.

Sorry, this is starting to look like rambling...I'm pretty much just in need of knowing if the Cent-D is any shinier of a brawler than the A or AL, and after that, will any of them be worth it in a brawler build to outshine the AH/Yen-Lo?

Edited by Mercer Skye, 22 September 2014 - 10:41 AM.

[bossclan]

The cent is a great Brawler mech imo.It can take alot of damage before it dies if you use a standard engine and use the left side as a shield.
The cent can do almost every role well but it really shines in a knife fight.
But yea unless you want the ac/20 cent AH brawler you can just stick with your other mediums and not worry about
getting skilled up in centurions.

[Enigmos]

The Yen Lo can mount an AC20 in the arm.

The advantage of the Centurion is in its survivability: it is simply a tough mech to take down.

The strongest Centurion build, from ages ago, focused on a pair of torso SRM6. Most pilots didn't even bother putting a ballistic on the arm.

[Aleski]

Jack of all trades and anti light :

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...310167d2db04629

Centurion are not only brawlers. The CN9-AL deserve a try has a lasers boat. And you can do crazy builds with XL engine at long range.

Ho and the CN9-AH will never be like the Yen-lo. It will never have his torso twist of crazy. You just don't know how good is the Yen-lo if you don't have try it. You just have two missiles instead of two energy hardpoints. And if it's the same as the old CN9-AH it will have 3 ballistic hardpoints.

If PGI has a hero Yen-lo, they will not screw it by release something too close =)

Edited by Aleski, 22 September 2014 - 10:52 AM.

[Wintersdark]

OriginalTibs, on 22 September 2014 - 10:50 AM, said:

The Yen Lo can mount an AC20 in the arm.

The advantage of the Centurion is in its survivability: it is simply a tough mech to take down.

The strongest Centurion build, from ages ago, focused on a pair of torso SRM6. Most pilots didn't even bother putting a ballistic on the arm.

It was a very different game then, though. Most significantly, SRM's did VASTLY more damage than they do now (not that they're bad now!), and all of the maps where very small, with Caustic being the largest map (by a large margin) and every other map featuring almost exclusively close quarters fighting.

These days, an SRM12 cent is kind of a joke.

[Ruccus]

In light of the free centurion, I brushed off the mothballs from my previous free Centurion and cobbled together a build that ended up performing pretty well: CN9-A(C)

Two Artemis LRM15s causing most of the trouble, with two medium lasers in the torso for the pesky lights and a standard engine to zombie.

[Bigbacon]

how odd....I just built out a cn9-d with the same setup just without artemis and 2 MGs.

i have been in a odd LRM mood lately having fun in fast mobile LRM machines. So far my Golden Boy with 4xLRM5s and Narc. Quite fun to narc things for your benefit and your teams and 3 MLs still packs a decent punch.

still tempted to swap it with an SRM6 to get the best of both worlds.

Edited by Bigbacon, 22 September 2014 - 06:09 PM.

[Escef]

According to guys that were in the closed Beta, the CN9-AH is 3 ballistic hard points in an AC20 capable right arm (no lower arm actuator) and 2 missile hardpoints in the left torso. The YLW is 2 ballistic in an AC20 capable right arm and 2 CT energy, with a higher engine cap.

I expect the AHs to be mostly built with AC20 and 2xSRM4, though 2xSRM4 with 2 MGs and an AC10 or LB10X may be viable.

As for other Cents, the CN9-D stand out for its HUGE (390) engine cap, the A has triple missile hardpoints, the AL forgoes ballistics for 2 more energy, and the YLW is the fastest practical AC20 carrier (you can get faster with other mechs, but you lose a lot of armor, and may not even have room for backup guns).

[Garandos]

I wouldnt stamp the Cent as "brawler", he can do it, he is not bad at it, but even moreso, the Cent is a perfect Bodyguard/rearguard mech,

the best ecample would be, Cent and Treb, can be a devastating combo, if you use your Cent to take the incoming fire with your shield, and have the Treb lob missiles over your head into the enemy, while you add your direct fire weapons to the mix.

Thing is, you ALLWAYS want to stand between your mate and the enemys, soaking as much damage as possible with that left arm, you can use it, to escort heavier mechs across open ground aswell, but all in all,

i would take the Cent for the Staying power he adds to other mechs of your team, and would build him arround that.

If you want to guard LURM boats mostly, get a TAG for one energy hardpoint.

About the C20 build, i would not really focus hard on that thing, problem is, a lot of mechs can do better in the pure brawler range, and while the 20 is nice and you will keep it for quite some time, you need to forfeit a lot of the Cents benefits for it.

I rather take an LB-X and stay back, to fight of lights from the support mechs.

[Mercer Skye]

Thanks all for the information.

At the moment, and I may be wrong, the only driving point for the Cent-D is the huge engine cap, but a lot of what I'm playing around with on Smurfy's just look like par or subpar builds that can be done on a Shadowhawk. Not that they don't look fun, but that 10mil cbill price tag....I already have a 300XL that's collecting dust, I don't need another, even if selling it would recoup a good chunk of that price tag.

So, for now, I'm going with the A and AL, and hopefully that will pan out as a decent and economic decision , without feeling like I low-balled too hard.

[Tarl Cabot]

For those who are new, or are not aware of what is meant by its ability to take punishment is how full damage is not applied when already hitting a destroyed section, thus the importance of torso twisting.

Will get some cent pics but when someone shoots into a destroyed section of a mech, iirc only 50% of the damage is transferred, and Centurions, especially the ones with weapons in the CT, becomes great zombie mechs. If some of you have noticed when dropping with veterans they take out the legs, first to SLOW down the mech (and crit any ammo located there) so they can kill it, otherwise they could be wasting 50% of their shots that may go into the side torsos.

At the time, it was thought it was a game bug

http://mwomercs.com/...age-allocation/

This is the same scenario when shooting a destroyed leg, if you continue firing on a destroyed leg only 50% of the damage is being transferred to the side torso and once the side torso is destroyed only 25% of the damage is transferred to the CT.

Quote

Upcoming Patch - Tuesday June 19th @ 10AM EST – 1PM PST

Damage Transfer:
Attacking a destroyed component will now transfer the damage inwards to the next component.
Damage transferred in this manner is reduced by 50% for each component it passes through.

And for all who shoot at lights, take the above into consideration and shoot the frakking legs!!! Slow them down then take them down...

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 23 September 2014 - 07:18 AM.

[totgeboren]

I went from hating the Cent to loving the Cent, now it's my favourite mech to pilot.
The build I do best in is a CN9-A with 3 LRM10+A with 6 tones of ammo, a TAG, a MLAS and an XL235 engine. It is fast enough to get into good positions or get out of the way of bigger mechs, it has got arms for shielding and it often does over 600 dmg per game.

My favourite is my CN9-D with a huge XL370 engine, 2 machine guns, 2 MLAS and 2 SRM6+A. It almost goes 132 kmph which is fun! Great for killing slow Assaults and really nice for killing Lights who only go around 130 (I often face Ravens who move at this speed, they have no chance at all).

The problem with both these is the XL engines, and that the Cent really shines when using standard engines. When you get good at torso-twisting you can absorb a huge amount of damage and still give as good as you get provided you can sacrifice your side torsos.

I also have a CN9-AL which I use as a sort of energy YLW with a STD260 engine and 2 PPCs in the right arm (and 2 MLAS in the torso). This one is much more durable than the other two, but on the other hand the arms on the Cent will come off, and they come off fast in a brawl. It works well for harassing though, and being able to do a pinpoint 20 dmg at 540 meters is pretty nice. I once had a long duel with a Summoner who managed to shoot off my PPC arm, but not before I had taken off one of his arms and damaged the other bad. Luckily my centre torso had those two MLAS who were enough to take off the other arm and then I could kill him at my leisure. There I was, a centre torso with two legs standing, health at around 30%. Fun.

The CN9-A with 3 SRM6+A and 2 MLAS was something I ran for a while, but I stopped using it before they fixed SRMs. I might have to give it a spin again, it should be pretty brutal in theory with those 45 damage from the SRMs in one go.

Edited by totgeboren, 23 September 2014 - 01:25 PM.

[DragonsMaw]

I've had a lot of fun with the CN9-A(C) as a line mech. STD180 with speed tweak, AC10/2xML/2xLRM5 with or without artemis. Not a lot of ammo but with deceleration quirks you can make really good use of cover. Something for all ranges with 400m being the sweet spot.

[juxstapo]

I've been attempting to run mine (got all of 'em) as close to lore as feasible (super stock, if you will); So I've been rocking some flavor of 2x mLas, LRM10 and AC/10 on everything except the Yen Lo (which gets the 20 of course).... The CN9-D has that initially overlooked 2nd Ballistic slot, so I set it us thusly:
2x mLas, LRM5, 2x AC/5

annnnd... profit.

[ShadowbaneX]

I disliked my Centurion's so much I accidently sold 'em before unlocking the Master slot...and I don't mean I sold them after getting the elites done, I actually racked up the 21,500 XP for the extra module, but just forgot to spend the XP since I wanted to get rid of 'em so badly. Yes, this includes the free champion. I got all the XP I needed, so the 10% extra XP wasn't useful any more.

We'll see what the AH does. I've got a Hunchback for my AC/20 needs...and if that's not enough I've got Shadow Hawks as well.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

CN9-A with this loadout seems to be pretty good in this current clan mech situation,with STD engine Cent is only marginally faster than clan heavies and lacks firepower and not that hard to bring down,with maxed XL engine,its fast,has lots of ammo and really nice firepower.

2 hour session approx stats yesterday: average damage: 500, over 900-damage games: 3

But if the AH has those 3 ballistic and 2 missile hardpoints,and 260 engine cap,i think ill be running a maxed STD engine,2 ASRM6 launchers and 3 machine guns in it.

[The Basilisk]

The Centurion shares the same Problems as most medium Mechs.
He is as large as the Atlas, has half its armor and you can either put weapons or speed in it.
In addition it can't jump.
There are ppl who say it has Zombi potential cause of its dual med lasers in center Torso but when you think of what boddy part is mostly destroyed by infighting mediums (leggs) ... yea well go figure.
CN9-A the uninspired SRM brawler works pretty well in pugs, in groups....well even there are some clueless victims to be found.
CN9-A ERLL+Gauss terribad dps but your range and speed will make you a pretty elusive and annoying target. So stress and annoy the hell out of enemy heavys and assaults.
CN9-A *Brawler* while I still think brawling in a 10 meter warmachine is just hillarious this guy has a mean, mean punch up close but its as slow as a heavy, as large as an assault and has half its armor.

CN9-AL ERLL well there is realy nothing much to say. Snipe around corners and be elusive. The 2 ER LL will give you an unexpected range and the medlasers and streaks will drive of most lights.
Beware of SRM Kitfox. You are an effin large target and those guys got quad ASRM6.

Edit: while I will probably keep the free Centurion out of nostalgia I don't see Cents as viable Mechs.
Due to their stature they are broken by design. Two well placed alphas from next to every heavy or assault will either reduce the mech to useless or just kill him.

Edited by The Basilisk, 25 September 2014 - 12:48 AM.

[Revorn]

1 Gauss, 2 Medlaser, 50 Shots, 107 Kph, have Fun.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d60d8d5971409eb

[Escef]

Revorn, on 27 September 2014 - 12:24 PM, said:

1 Gauss, 2 Medlaser, 50 Shots, 107 Kph, have Fun.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d60d8d5971409eb

If you cut down to 3 tons of ammo and get rid of the 11th heat sink you could go up to a 320XL.

[Dracol]

Cent-A with trip SRM4 for their tight spread, dual med lasers, and a standard engine has always been my favorite zombie mech. Cent zombies in general are the reason shooting a medium's legs out has become standard practice for me.