20517 replies to this topic

[ShadowbaneX]

The Birdeater, on 04 February 2014 - 02:05 PM, said:

Btw, where is the concept art of the FS9? Let's hope that we'll see it, soon! I'm excited.

They still don't have the concept art up for the Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt, Battlemaster, Griffin or Wolverine. I'm thinking the Firestarter will be a while yet.

[Odanan]

ShadowbaneX, on 05 February 2014 - 12:26 AM, said:

They still don't have the concept art up for the Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt, Battlemaster, Griffin or Wolverine. I'm thinking the Firestarter will be a while yet.

[Bishop Steiner]

BarHaid, on 04 February 2014 - 10:01 PM, said:

Dang! What do you run in your 2H? I really struggle in mine.

SHD-2H"Punisher"

Spoiler

I can pull 8 decent screenies from any mech I own just about. But even though I have always done well in the SHAD, the 2H(P) was always my weak sister. Those are 8 drops in a row, that comprise every drop I did with it yesterday (There was a pause right aster Patch to run my Ember twice, then went back to the SHAD to support), and I must say that was the most consistent run I have ever pulled in a ShadowHawk. I had tried to run the ac10 on my 2D2 having both the extra SSRM and the extra medium laser, but you have to give up too much speed, JJs or armor to do it, and the SHAD to me is about finding that perfect balancing point of all the attributes, right on the razors edge.

It's why I find the ac20 SHD and the LightHunter SHD to be such a waste as there are already chassis that can do those roles (yes the SHD has JJs the HBK doesn't, but the HBKs overall agility with it's ac20 is so much better, that the only real advantage of the JJs comes in poptarting, which is a boring ezmode tactic requiring no skill), and the thing with the SHD is it's versatility (and ability to spread damage like a boss). I play this usually as an Escort to the fatties on the team, and instead of haring off to chase Lights, beat them off when they get too adventurous, then roam the battle line filling in any gap, probing any weak points in the enemy team, etc. And I seldom lock onto any single mech, but just pound them until they move, then pound the next guy. On my Heavy Mechs, I expect to do more kills, less damage, as they are all about the focus fire, with this guy, between the spread on Streaks and my not fixating on any one target, I oftentimes strip one guy, then move on to the next without grabbing the kill, but I don't mind. It's a perfect support/escort and flanker, which is a lot more fun than all the poptarting the current meta is built around.

[Nathaniel Kell]

So... This might be a little change of pace, but i'll ask anyway.

When does the Shadow Cat make its appearance? I see that the invasion era clan mechs are listed on pg. 1, but on sarna it says it was built around 3003. It was my favorite clan medium, and I'm really hoping it makes it into the game.

[SgtMagor]

Shadow Cat was my fav Clan medium mech. but since it has MASC it probably was delayed like the flea!

[stjobe]

Nathaniel Kell, on 05 February 2014 - 07:34 AM, said:

So... This might be a little change of pace, but i'll ask anyway.

When does the Shadow Cat make its appearance? I see that the invasion era clan mechs are listed on pg. 1, but on sarna it says it was built around 3003. It was my favorite clan medium, and I'm really hoping it makes it into the game.

From the sarna Shadow Cat page: "First encountered by Inner Sphere forces at the Battle of Luthien", which took place in 3052.

[Nathaniel Kell]

stjobe, on 05 February 2014 - 08:22 AM, said:

From the sarna Shadow Cat page: "First encountered by Inner Sphere forces at the Battle of Luthien", which took place in 3052.

Ahh, thanks. So could be next year (2015) sometime, I guess. Depending on how they introduce the 8 announced clan mechs, and the others they will put in.

I would definitely rather have a Shadow Cat than the Ice Ferret!

[BarHaid]

Bishop Steiner, on 04 February 2014 - 10:02 PM, said:

that's what surprised me...nothing special
ac10, 4 tons ammo, 3 ssrm2, 2 tons ammo, medium laser, 280xl, 3 JJ, 10 DHS. Have had an insanely good run with it though.

It all comes back to the AC-10, doesn't it? I run tens on my other two Shads and do just fine with them; but that 3-point ballistic on the 2H makes it so hard to resist! I'm currently doing better with an ERPPC, Streaks, and MGs, but it feels a little bit off, you know? Ah well, I got my W/L and K/D above 1.00, so it's off to level the Griff and Wolvie.

[Bishop Steiner]

BarHaid, on 05 February 2014 - 10:53 AM, said:

It all comes back to the AC-10, doesn't it? I run tens on my other two Shads and do just fine with them; but that 3-point ballistic on the 2H makes it so hard to resist! I'm currently doing better with an ERPPC, Streaks, and MGs, but it feels a little bit off, you know? Ah well, I got my W/L and K/D above 1.00, so it's off to level the Griff and Wolvie.

Yeah.

Well, I ain't gonna impress the Epeen waving Metarapists and "LEETS" with my skills, but I am happy with the SHAD.

Big thing for me is I don't like repeating builds.

On my 2D2 I have run it with a UAC5, 2x MLasers and 4xSSRMs w/280xl, 3JJ since Project Phoenix launched. Works great. My SHD-5M I have run with the same 280xl, but with 2x LLasers and an AC10.

I really struggled with the 2H, and simply was not happy with any builds. Tried a heavy energy weapon, and MG/AC combo. Used the AC20. TripleDeuce. And was running a .92 KDr. Just wasn't clicking. On a whim I swapped to the current build, originally with a MPLaser and an LB-X, did even worse. Swapped to a standard MLaser and AC10 and the switch was flipped. And it plays different enough from my other 2 that I am OK with it.

Now, well, KDr speaks for itself, and my average damage now has come up to 342 a match, which ain't too shabby (I find most peoples average damage is nowhere near as high as they think), and the curve is really unbalanced, as most of the spike to the positive was in the last 20 matches or so, which makes me very optimistic it will stay pretty high.

So, yeah. I feel a little off not using those other ballistic slots, but TBH nothing really felt right in them anyhow.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 05 February 2014 - 12:38 PM.

[Odanan]

Quite impressive, Bishop.

[Nathan Foxbane]

I run a similar build to Bishop's and it does wonders over anything else. I never liked the concept of the triple deuce, but I did try twin with a medium laser and triple streaks when I was unhappy with how an Ultra performed. It was decent, but ran a lot of hit and miss games. When I was on it munched up everything, when I was off it fell apart fast. The AC10 has been just so much more forgiving than the 2s or an Ultra in the 2H.

[John MatriX82]

Bishop Steiner, on 05 February 2014 - 06:07 AM, said:

SHD-2H"Punisher"

Why don't you use the SHD-2D2 for that?

I know it's that the 2H is you Phoenix, but..I'm also surprised you're not using it with dual MGuns for trolling SHD-2H

Until I was playing I liked much more AC10+PPC metacombo: SHD-2H, you can use this combo on any SHD chassis, preferred ones still remain 2D2 or 5M (the latter it's much better coupling the left energy arm with the ballistic on the same side). I always pack 6/8 srms for backup even if bugged, with the 2D2 that first saw use of a 4xSRM2 backup setup (lol!).





I don't know how it would fare with the recent projectile speed nerf though.

Edited by John MatriX82, 08 February 2014 - 01:37 AM.

[Odanan]

Shadow Hawk... looks like a solid mech.

[Butane9000]

These are the load outs I used and still use on my Shadow Hawks.

SHD-2D2 Light Hunting

SHD-2H Upgraded Original

SHD-2H Meta Hawk

SHD-5M AC20 Jumper

Only builds I've had successes in. I've used a 3xMG SRM build on the 2H but didn't find it effective. But then again that was when SRMs were worse then they were now.

Edit: Odanan, you might want to drop by the first post and clean it up a bit. Some stuff missing, some stuff released since then. etc.

Edited by Butane9000, 08 February 2014 - 04:57 AM.

[SgtMagor]

have the same loadout on my SH(P) and my WVR(P), ac10, 3xsrm2, med laser. and the Shawk feels clunky and slow compared to the Wolverine. guess I'm comparing apple and oranges. SHawk seems better at sniping and the Wolverine is an all out brawler

[Bishop Steiner]

Odanan, on 08 February 2014 - 01:33 AM, said:

Shadow Hawk... looks like a solid mech.

It's fantastic Odanan.

So much so that I fear it will get nerf bat at some point. (Especially as the QQIng gets everything else nerfed, then the SHD will shine more, and the nerf into uselessness cycle will continue)

[Bishop Steiner]

Butane9000, on 08 February 2014 - 04:47 AM, said:

These are the load outs I used and still use on my Shadow Hawks.

SHD-2D2 Light Hunting

SHD-2H Upgraded Original

SHD-2H Meta Hawk

SHD-5M AC20 Jumper

Only builds I've had successes in. I've used a 3xMG SRM build on the 2H but didn't find it effective. But then again that was when SRMs were worse then they were now.

Edit: Odanan, you might want to drop by the first post and clean it up a bit. Some stuff missing, some stuff released since then. etc.

Hey Butane, thanks for being one of the few to post an intelligent Light Hunter. Get so tired of seeing over specialized, over engined and undergunned Shads neglecting the ballistic. Such a stupid waste. Lights are still faster, and haring off to chase them just gets you wolf packed anyhow. 275-280 is plenty and makes you a great escort for the big guys in the unit, which allows you to watch their backs, and them to contribute if the Lights do get adventuresome. Kudos!

Here are my current builds, though the 5M is do for a change, just haven't decided where to take it yet.......
SHD-2D2 "Do Everything-Hawk"

SHD-2H Phoenix

SHD-5M "Super-Enforcer"
The Enforcer being a favorite from TT, so I decided to make it's big brother. Decent mid range sniper, but is the least versatile, and most issues if wolf packed.

Such a good chassis. The "Pros" who want to talk "church of skill" should be driving Mediums. That's where real piloting and tactics, not metarape, seperates the men from the boys!

[Bishop Steiner]

John MatriX82, on 08 February 2014 - 01:27 AM, said:

Why don't you use the SHD-2D2 for that?

I know it's that the 2H is you Phoenix, but..I'm also surprised you're not using it with dual MGuns for trolling SHD-2H

Until I was playing I liked much more AC10+PPC metacombo: SHD-2H, you can use this combo on any SHD chassis, preferred ones still remain 2D2 or 5M (the latter it's much better coupling the left energy arm with the ballistic on the same side). I always pack 6/8 srms for backup even if bugged, with the 2D2 that first saw use of a 4xSRM2 backup setup (lol!).





I don't know how it would fare with the recent projectile speed nerf though.

because my 2D2 is my UAC mech. And this allows me a little more ammo, and a little less heat, which significantly adds to match endurance, in my play. When I used MGs on it, I found my self wanting to use the MGs too much and actually put myself in worse situations frequently. So this is a matter of the way it boiled down for me to be effective.

Been toying with something similar to your meta build on the 5M though.

[Nathan Foxbane]

Bishop Steiner, on 08 February 2014 - 05:36 AM, said:

Here are my current builds, though the 5M is do for a change, just haven't decided where to take it yet.......
SHD-2D2 "Do Everything-Hawk"

Why did you mount the extra heat sink outside the engine?

[ShadowbaneX]

My Shadow Hawks are similar to the last few posted.

My SHD-2H is a bit of a super Enforcer with an AC/10 and an ER LL, although I add a pair of SRM4s for in close brawling.

My SHD-2D2 is very similar to Butane's, but I drop the Heat Sink for an extra ton of LB-10/X ammo. Doesn't make too much difference in the heat department, but sometimes you really need that extra ton of ammo.

My 5M though...I just don't know what to do with it. I ran it as a Gauss sniper for a while, but whenever the Gauss got destroyed, my XL would get destroyed. Then I turned it into a close copy of the 2H, only with a 300 XL, 10 SRM tubes and a pair of MLs. I know lots of people go with the AC/10 & 2 LLs or an jumping Hunchback, but none of those builds appeal to me. There's not enough tonnage to manage a RIfleman build without dropping the engine down...just don't know what to do with the thing. Perhaps I should just run it stockish.

Lastly, about this AC/20 Jumper build, I'm not sure that the ammo with CASE is a good idea over storing it in the legs. Granted, it's more survivable, but if you take a hit there and the ammo cooks off, your AC/20 will be fine, but have no ammo and the MLs will be destroyed, so you're left with no weapons. If you store the ammo in the legs and get either side torso blown off, you still should have something left.

Edited by ShadowbaneX, 08 February 2014 - 11:04 AM.