50 replies to this topic

[Wintersdark]

Yeah, gotta say, 3xmg -AH's make me sad. It's a bad build. Not about effectiveness, just about propriety. A centurion's right arm needs to be its sword, or the whole concept is just wrong.

Like running 3xMG HBK-4G's. You ought to get kicked in the nads for that.

[UrsusMorologus]

I mastered my -AH with an -A and an -AL, didn't really like the platform much, felt like a lower-caste mech, too easy to shoot the arm and then ignore it

[Good_Cat]

Pjwned, on 02 December 2014 - 04:32 PM, said:

Just recently decided to try this build because of the 2.5x XP weekend making it a little easier to grind out the skill tree (which still sucked, just not as much as usual) and it seems pretty good with the quirks now, although there are a number of ways I could change the build to perhaps make it better.

Too much SRM ammo and not enough LBX10, IMO anyway.

Think i run this @work at the mo so can't check CN9-D

[Koniving]

Something from back in the day when stock mechs were trials.

[Good_Cat]

ThaMa Gebir, on 02 December 2014 - 04:54 PM, said:

This, this and so much this.

Preaching to the choir man...

Alistair Winter, on 02 December 2014 - 04:32 PM, said:

As a CN9-veteran, it makes me sad to see so many Centurion pilots out there who avoid anything bigger than MGs in their ballistic arm in order to combine SRM6+Artemis with the biggest engine possible.

You're not a real CN9-pilot unless you have a massive AC. Gauss... is acceptable. LBX is good.

CN9-AH with 3 MGs?

As above where any Atlas is full or LRM's.

LRM50 -or 60 (who cares) and a machine gun Atlas-S pro build or Atlas-DD with twin machine gun and more LRM's.....just GTFO.

[Butane9000]

I remember way back before closed beta me and my previous merc corp we're using MW4 for training and the Centurion is what I used. I used it throughout closed beta and since and remember soloing at Atlas with it. It's had a rough transition since but it's still a solid mech.

[LordBraxton]

AC10 quirks for the A damnit!

That's the primary weapon of the classic centurion!

:<

echoes to the cannonless cent pilots, never leave home without ATLEAST a uac5. anything lighter will not do alone.

[Greenjulius]

I hate to be that guy... but... I don't understand how to pilot Centys. I can run with the best in Shadowhawks, lay waste to masses with Stormcrows, and terrorize with Firestarters and Jenners. I learned to love the Ice Ferret's epic speed combined with 2xERLL.

Heck, I even do well with a 4xSPL Mist Lynx, and get 600-900 damage, 2-5 kill games with the little rodent.

But I can't figure out Centurions. I currently have the CN9-A(C) given out for free back in April, and the CN9-AH. I did okay with the A model but haven't run it since probably... July after building too much XP up in it. I ran it with the classic zombie 3xSRM4+A, 2xML / 2xMPL builds and did "okay."

The AH? I can do about the same with it, but can no longer zombie without the CT lasers. I find I can't put enough firepower on the mech if I use an AC20, as that requires I downgrade the SRMs and use them less.

I became one of the "unwashed MG centys" and tried 3xMG, 3xSRM4+A and had modest success. But the lack of ranged punch usually kills me on all but the most suited brawler maps.

I will probably get the AL model as my 3rd Centy for 2xLPL because it seems more my style, but I just don't see the purpose of these mechs. I've seen little evidence of the much celebrated survivability of the series, especially with XL engines. I lose side torsos far too quickly, even when I do a good job blocking shots with the shield.

So, am I just Centurion-Cursed, or am I doing something wrong? Are pulse boats just so common in higher ELO matches now, that the centy is outmatched?

Edited by Greenjulius, 02 December 2014 - 06:21 PM.

[cSand]

The Boz, on 02 December 2014 - 03:37 PM, said:

I only dare to XL my -D.

Hey you got that email too eh?

I KNEW THE PILLS WORKED

Edited by cSand, 02 December 2014 - 06:22 PM.

[Rufus Ingram]

Love 'em. 3 YLW+AH = Drop deck. Bring on the Clans.

[Barantor]

Greenjulius, on 02 December 2014 - 06:18 PM, said:

I hate to be that guy... but... I don't understand how to pilot Centys. I can run with the best in Shadowhawks, lay waste to masses with Stormcrows, and terrorize with Firestarters and Jenners. I learned to love the Ice Ferret's epic speed combined with 2xERLL.

Heck, I even do well with a 4xSPL Mist Lynx, and get 600-900 damage, 2-5 kill games with the little rodent.

But I can't figure out Centurions. I currently have the CN9-A(C) given out for free back in April, and the CN9-AH. I did okay with the A model but haven't run it since probably... July after building too much XP up in it. I ran it with the classic zombie 3xSRM4+A, 2xML / 2xMPL builds and did "okay."

The AH? I can do about the same with it, but can no longer zombie without the CT lasers. I find I can't put enough firepower on the mech if I use an AC20, as that requires I downgrade the SRMs and use them less.

I became one of the "unwashed MG centys" and tried 3xMG, 3xSRM4+A and had modest success. But the lack of ranged punch usually kills me on all but the most suited brawler maps.

I will probably get the AL model as my 3rd Centy for 2xLPL because it seems more my style, but I just don't see the purpose of these mechs. I've seen little evidence of the much celebrated survivability of the series, especially with XL engines. I lose side torsos far too quickly, even when I do a good job blocking shots with the shield.

So, am I just Centurion-Cursed, or am I doing something wrong? Are pulse boats just so common in higher ELO matches now, that the centy is outmatched?

Honestly the Centurion is how I learned to use arms effectively, because you have to in order to get anything done.

[Milocinia]

Oh man welcome to my world OP!

It doesn't have the best tonnage or hardpoints but everything it has just works so well. Sadly it might be a bit unintentionally p2w but the Wang is definitely the cream of the crop. I run it with a '20 and 6.5T of ammo, a 255XL and a large laser and I just completely wreck face in it more often than not. I always stick on the Envious Eardrum warhorn because that sound when you core someone with a perfectly placed '20 sums everything up.

The AL is a great skirmishing little wub b*****d. The quirks mean that 3x LPL can be fired off without penalty. If heat does become an issue then you can just chain fire and laugh all the way to the salvage bank... if we had one.

Not a fan of the "D", that's the Centurion variant not a vocal shout that I'm definitely no ****. I find that you need to be focused on your target too much with the D compared to the Wang and AL. You have to brawl much more than the mech is capable of when the Cent is more of a striker.

But yes, Cent love. Mucho Cent love my friends

Edited by Kyocera, 02 December 2014 - 07:04 PM.

[Greenjulius]

Barantor, on 02 December 2014 - 07:02 PM, said:

Honestly the Centurion is how I learned to use arms effectively, because you have to in order to get anything done.

I find the Atlas easy to do this with... I use an Atlas AS7-S with AC20, 4xML, 4xSRM4+A, and swing the arms to soak damage. I usually lose both arms, but keep my torsos, and wreck the opposition.

The Centurion? It's gun arm gets blown off, I lose the torsos, and usually get rekt.

[Barantor]

Greenjulius, on 02 December 2014 - 07:11 PM, said:

I find the Atlas easy to do this with... I use an Atlas AS7-S with AC20, 4xML, 4xSRM4+A, and swing the arms to soak damage. I usually lose both arms, but keep my torsos, and wreck the opposition.

The Centurion? It's gun arm gets blown off, I lose the torsos, and usually get rekt.

That's what I mean, it teaches you to get the gun on target but not take damage in return. Some folks learn the torso twisting from the hunchbacks, but I learned it from the centurion and the awesome.

[Zetrein]

LordBraxton, on 02 December 2014 - 05:44 PM, said:

AC10 quirks for the A damnit!

That's the primary weapon of the classic centurion!

:<

echoes to the cannonless cent pilots, never leave home without ATLEAST a uac5. anything lighter will not do alone.

Basically my feelings on the CN9-A's quirks right there, I always mount an autocannon when I take it out. Sometimes it's the classic 10, sometimes it's an LBX, often it's a standard or Ultra-5. If I really want to spray and prey, I'll mount an AC2. You get the idea.

For me, that freebie CN9-A last year was what got me back into the game. I'd just come back from being gone for around eight months, having left after the mass forum censorship incidents that ended with the General Discussion forum as a whole getting deleted. At the time, I just had my trusty old Jenners, having been (and still being) a light pilot.

Before that Centurion, I hadn't been interested in mediums. I had last played during the days of poptarts and one shot kill alphas, speed was life for anything below seventy tons. By the time I came back, things had changed. Personally I feel the increased variety of mechs had a lot to do with making the game better, with people running all manner of builds. That's kinda why I've got mixed feelings about the recent quirk pass, but that's another topic.

Anyway, the Centurion got me interested in mediums, and I've slowly been branching out into them. Or trying to, anyway. I've tried a Shadowhawk twice, and the best thing I got out of it was a 275XL engine. Seems like every time I get into a 55 ton chassis, it ends... badly. Been having somewhat better luck with the Hunchback. The CN9-A though, has joined my Jenners as one of the mechs I play when I want to enjoy myself.

Edit: Possibly of relevance to the CN9-A, just saw this in the December Roadmap post:

Quote

IS Quirks pass update – Minor update to change or improve upon the original pass. An example was changing the Dragon 5N to UAC5 instead of AC2, also changing the Grid Iron to Gauss. So in more cases considering the stock load out. I cannot list exact changes yet as I am not sure how many of these improvements we can get in before patch time.

We can hope, eh?

Edited by Zetrein, 02 December 2014 - 07:51 PM.

[CycKath]

Until the AH dropped, I forgot how wonderous the Centurions were to pilot, having mastered them long ago for that reason. Will likely get the AL to complete the set and hopefully recapture the magic for a little longer.

[Milocinia]

Greenjulius, on 02 December 2014 - 07:11 PM, said:

I find the Atlas easy to do this with... I use an Atlas AS7-S with AC20, 4xML, 4xSRM4+A, and swing the arms to soak damage. I usually lose both arms, but keep my torsos, and wreck the opposition.

The Centurion? It's gun arm gets blown off, I lose the torsos, and usually get rekt.

Taking too much fire dude.

I always pit the Cent as a "Striker" mech, somewhere between a brawler and skirmisher.

Keep a minimum of 8x kph with speed tweak and you're good. Always twist to your shield arm, always run when you don't have a clear shot. Never get hell bent on getting off a shot.

I have to reiterate this, always run when you don't have a clear shot. Just do not try to readjust your position to get your epeen shot off, just run and set up in another position. The longer you stay in any one single position, the more likely some metawhale is going to **** over anything you have on show. Make your mobility and torso twist speed work for you.

Duck and dive, pick your targets and when you know you have a vulnerable mech to prey on then go full bore on it.

Then you will get matches like this:



I'm not the 5th best Cent pilot in the game for nothing

[Wintersdark]

Lefty Lucy, on 02 December 2014 - 04:20 PM, said:

Or instead of an LPL just use two medium lasers, because they're better.

Pfft. Totally different purposes.

They're better per ton, but tonnage isn't a constraint here. The LPL does 11 damage vs. 10 for 2ML's, and it does that damage in .67 seconds instead of .9. 2.81DPS instead of 2.56. Most importantly, the LPL sports a 365/730 range profile, extending the YLW's threat range substantially. LPL 7 vs. ML 8 heat.

So.... Short of freeing a few tons that aren't really needed, how are the ML's better?

* Ignoring the cooldown quirk for energy weapons, as it's applied to both equally.

[Nathan Foxbane]

The Cents were not my first 'Mech, that particular honor goes to Catapults. But once I got one I was hooked. I rolled in the original Gauss Cent, complete with standard tech level one equipment. Being one of the fastest mediums around (people put much more emphasis on weapons than speed on mediums in CB) my CN9-A was pretty much the harbinger of steam rolls. CN9-D became my baby when it came out because I was a 106 kph Gauss Rifle packing 30 shots of suffering. Course the Gauss nerf came and I had to relearn how to use ACs, but that was no big problem. Cents were my 'Mech of choice until the Shadowhawks came out. They are still my go to 'Mech for just having fun. Need to get the AL and finish mastering it one of these days. Hangar just does not feel right without it.

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 02 December 2014 - 08:17 PM.

[Zetrein]

Wintersdark, on 02 December 2014 - 08:00 PM, said:

So.... Short of freeing a few tons that aren't really needed, how are the ML's better?

* Ignoring the cooldown quirk for energy weapons, as it's applied to both equally.

The amount of tonnage is how they're better. You could replace the MLs with an LPL (and I have, on occasion), but you need to free up an extra five tons to do it. On a Centurion, that's 10% of your total tonnage, and you can do a lot with those five tons. A couple LRM5s with a ton of ammo? A bigger engine? A bigger Autocannon? Five tons can make a big difference.