28 replies to this topic

[DjPush]

Who has these things mastered out? Im in the elite tier and at the moment the Mad Dog feels like it is made of rice paper. I have been having some degree of success with these load outs:

Prime:
2 x ERLL
2 x ML
2 x SRM 6

MDD-A
1 X UAC10
3 X ML
3 X SRM 6

MDD-B
1 X UAC2
1 x ERLL
2 x ML
4 X SSRM 4

I dont last very long if I'm in any kind of brawling dual. Torsos just seem to disappear in a flash.I'm having a hard time doing better than 500 damage in this mech. Anyone having better luck with it? What builds are you using?

[Brody319]

Mad dog is just mech. Its sides are easy to hit, and it doesn't carry a lot of armor. I'm a threat to them in my Kit Fox. They need a damage resistance buff if they wanna be viable. otherwise TW and Summoners will just steal their slots.

[Frytrixa]

forget brawlin, its an intermediate LRM Boat :'<

[Lynx7725]

Dude. It's a 60 ton mech. With the same maximum armour and internal structure as any 60 ton mech. Do you particularly see Dragons or Quickdraws as particularly tanky/ survivable?

For that matter, you're just 5 tons heavier than medium mechs. It's not much of a difference. Treat the Mad Dog like a medium might serve you better.

Edited by Lynx7725, 29 September 2014 - 10:54 AM.

[Asyres]

It's less about the build than the playstyle. I've been running a mixture of LRM and SRM boats on it. The LRM boats are pretty self-explanatory, but the SRM boats I play like a Centurion - twist constantly when not firing, then always keep the destroyed torso towards the enemy once you lose one. Damage transfer imposes a 50% damage reduction, which means that your (hopefully mostly undamaged) CT ends up surviving for a long time this way. Once your CT armor is stripped off, switch and keep your intact side towards the enemy. In doing this, you're using the generously proportioned side torsos to your advantage, rather than your detriment.

Beyond that, keep in mind that you're 60 tons - you're a baby heavy mech, and have more in common with the Stormcrow than the Timber Wolf. Play accordingly.

[FupDup]

Lynx7725, on 29 September 2014 - 10:53 AM, said:

Dude. It's a 60 ton mech. With the same maximum armour and internal structure as any 60 ton mech. Do you particularly see Dragons or Kintaros as particularly tanky/ survivable?

Actually, I'd reckon that a well-piloted Kintaro could somewhat out-tank a Mad Doge due to hitboxes and agility. I know for a fact that my Griffins and Shadow Hawks are generally tougher.

[Lynx7725]

FupDup, on 29 September 2014 - 10:55 AM, said:

Actually, I'd reckon that a well-piloted Kintaro could somewhat out-tank a Mad Doge due to hitboxes and agility. I know for a fact that my Griffins and Shadow Hawks are generally tougher.

Maybe. I made a mistake, was thinking Quickdraw and brain-farted. Even then, Quickdraw has jump jet mobility to help a bit.

I won't even brawl per se in a 65 ton Jager with twin AC20s.. I just want to appear, FLD someone, and disappear. Trying to brawl in a lighter chassis with not much of an edge in mobility, well.. I won't try, doesn't mean it's not feasible, but I'll just prefer to splat someone and run away.

[Angel of Annihilation]

DjPush, on 29 September 2014 - 10:45 AM, said:

Who has these things mastered out? Im in the elite tier and at the moment the Mad Dog feels like it is made of rice paper. I have been having some degree of success with these load outs:

Prime:
2 x ERLL
2 x ML
2 x SRM 6

MDD-A
1 X UAC10
3 X ML
3 X SRM 6

MDD-B
1 X UAC2
1 x ERLL
2 x ML
4 X SSRM 4

I dont last very long if I'm in any kind of brawling dual. Torsos just seem to disappear in a flash.I'm having a hard time doing better than 500 damage in this mech. Anyone having better luck with it? What builds are you using?

You do realize that 500 damage is actually alot of damage right? I think I only average 425 on even my best, most damaging mechs.

[SI The Joker]

DjPush, on 29 September 2014 - 10:45 AM, said:

Who has these things mastered out? Im in the elite tier and at the moment the Mad Dog feels like it is made of rice paper. I have been having some degree of success with these load outs:

Prime:
2 x ERLL
2 x ML
2 x SRM 6

MDD-A
1 X UAC10
3 X ML
3 X SRM 6

MDD-B
1 X UAC2
1 x ERLL
2 x ML
4 X SSRM 4

I dont last very long if I'm in any kind of brawling dual. Torsos just seem to disappear in a flash.I'm having a hard time doing better than 500 damage in this mech. Anyone having better luck with it? What builds are you using?

4 CERLLAS

My opinion? Don't waste your time brawling in this Mech. The 107pt alpha is tempting (and absolutely deadly when it works... note - WHEN it works) but I've had much better luck scaling back and putting more damage downrange more regularly in addition to having much better range.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Whenever people had complained about the Catapult's CT or Head hitbox, we were told..."it was meant to be a support mech. Your supposed to launch LRMs, not get into a fight".

So for the Mad Dog...

It's a support mech. It should pack LRMs and engage targets at distance behind cover.

Ok...ok.. In all real seriousness, it packs a ton of power with those SRMs. It does remind me of the Splatcat, but it has it's missiles torso mounted keeping them a bit safer and has energy weapons as backup to boot. It has some good positives in that regard (plus throw in a Clan XL for good measure).

Still, I have seen some nice LRM5 builds with it. That stream of LRMs can be pretty brutal, plus firing all 6 at once is like firing 2 LRM 15s.

I guess it comes down to what works with that mech. Just need to find your niche with it. It sounds like brawling isn't one of its strong points.

[Jacob Side]

I find if you play it like it's a Catapult and you'll be good.

[Lynx7725]

MeiSooHaityu, on 29 September 2014 - 10:59 AM, said:

Whenever people had complained about the Catapult's CT or Head hitbox, we were told..."it was meant to be a support mech. Your supposed to launch LRMs, not get into a fight".

When I was running my Cats, my favourite build had 4 Streak2s. I was bait for harassing ECM lights, and I ate my share of them. Playing counter to type can be rewarding.

MeiSooHaityu, on 29 September 2014 - 10:59 AM, said:

So for the Mad Dog...

Ok...ok.. In all real seriousness, it packs a ton of power with those SRMs. It does remind me of the Splatcat, but it has it's missiles torso mounted keeping them a bit safer and has energy weapons as backup to boot. It has some good positives in that regard (plus throw in a Clan XL for good measure).

My feel is that it doesn't need to brawl. It just need to appear, splat, disappear. Or go in with a partner, splat the guy, tank a bit of damage, and between the pair, drop the target quickly and move on.

[Christof Romulus]

MeiSooHaityu, on 29 September 2014 - 10:59 AM, said:

Whenever people had complained about the Catapult's CT or Head hitbox, we were told..."it was meant to be a support mech. Your supposed to launch LRMs, not get into a fight".

So for the Mad Dog...

It's a support mech. It should pack LRMs and engage targets at distance behind cover.

Ok...ok.. In all real seriousness, it packs a ton of power with those SRMs. It does remind me of the Splatcat, but it has it's missiles torso mounted keeping them a bit safer and has energy weapons as backup to boot. It has some good positives in that regard (plus throw in a Clan XL for good measure).

Still, I have seen some nice LRM5 builds with it. That stream of LRMs can be pretty brutal, plus firing all 6 at once is like firing 2 LRM 15s.

I guess it comes down to what works with that mech. Just need to find your niche with it. It sounds like brawling isn't one of its strong points.

Ah the memories - the poor catapult. So easily headshot.

Remember back in the day when you could head shot a catapult from the SIDE - 100% from the side, side torso for reals you could hit the cockpit. Oh man, those were the days.

[Bishop Steiner]

DjPush, on 29 September 2014 - 10:45 AM, said:

Who has these things mastered out? Im in the elite tier and at the moment the Mad Dog feels like it is made of rice paper. I have been having some degree of success with these load outs:

Prime:
2 x ERLL
2 x ML
2 x SRM 6

MDD-A
1 X UAC10
3 X ML
3 X SRM 6

MDD-B
1 X UAC2
1 x ERLL
2 x ML
4 X SSRM 4

I dont last very long if I'm in any kind of brawling dual. Torsos just seem to disappear in a flash.I'm having a hard time doing better than 500 damage in this mech. Anyone having better luck with it? What builds are you using?

Mad Dog simply does not work well as a Brawler. It's the wrong end of the weight class for that, and has relatively large STs.

That said, it can work well as an ambush flanker, and it is a great little support mech, fighting from mid to long range, overlooking the battlefield like the "Vulture" the FedComs and Dracs named it after.

I also find it excels with lots of little guns,and to be very mediocre with big guns.

[JackPoint]

Mad dogs are clans answer to the catapult not brawlers, they are support units and should be played similar to Summoners/Catapults in providing support fire. You want a clan brawler get a tbr or a crow.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

I think they work best as a long range weapons platform. Not because of the lore but because of how they worked out in game. In the mean time, when taking fire don't do a full twist to the side. Instead, shake your head back and forth.

Since your CT is out front it moves a lot when you twist, so you should be able to spread damage while only twisting a little bit. Still more fragile than the lighter Stormcrow, though.

[Angel of Annihilation]

Jacob Side, on 29 September 2014 - 11:02 AM, said:

I find if you play it like it's a Catapult and you'll be good.

Honestly, this is really what the mech is designed to do. For all intents and purposes it is supposed to be the Catapult of Clan mechs mostly acting as a support LRM boat. and this is a role is seems to preform well in.

[DarthPeanut]

Well considering it is a 60 ton mech with 60 ton armor values and fairly well defined torsos... it is not going to tank dmg like a Timberwolf.

It can run setups like 6x c-srm4 and 4x c-meds doing 76 point alpha strike though.

Risk/ reward.

Edited by DarthPeanut, 29 September 2014 - 12:19 PM.

[Almond Brown]

Also good as a CerPL Mech. 2 Large + 3 Meds. chews holes in things real fast.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d11950d50a3cebe

Edited by Almond Brown, 29 September 2014 - 11:31 AM.

[Mystere]

Play it like the vulture that it is. Pepper the enemy from a distance while looking for potential prey that's already half a carcass. Then move in for the kill.

Edited by Mystere, 29 September 2014 - 11:30 AM.