37 replies to this topic

[Voivode]

Cicadas and Trebuchets are great mediums. Not much for ballistics in them though.

[N a p e s]

Giffins and Vindicators are what I would have compared them to.

Griffins share part of the shield arm philosophy in common with the Centurion, while also having great agility and torso twist like the Hunchback. The Vindicators are like smaller slightly more agile versions of both these chassis but with less specialisation in ballistics and more energy.

The Vindis don't pack the same kind of punch as the HBK and CN9 but they work well as jumpy skirmishers/strikers. They're also quite tanky if you can find a loadout that uses a standard engine.

[CygnusX7]

SHD's are great mechs. Are yours leveled? I find them to be one of the tougher IS mechs when equipped with an XL engine.

[Rorvik]

Yes, they are all Elite-d. However, getting them there was probably the worst experience I've ever had in MWO. I was playing with my Sparky today and I was able to maneuver very well with it even though it only has the Basics unlocked. Even without the Basics the Griffins seem to handle hundreds of times better than a Shadow Hawk.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Rorvik, on 15 January 2015 - 06:25 PM, said:

Even without the Basics the Griffins seem to handle hundreds of times better than a Shadow Hawk.

Now be grateful you were not doing it back when they had the worst torso-twist range of all medium mechs.

[Rorvik]

Shar Wolf, on 16 January 2015 - 09:08 AM, said:

Now be grateful you were not doing it back when they had the worst torso-twist range of all medium mechs.

Are you talking about the Griffins or the Shadow Hawks?

Edited by Rorvik, 16 January 2015 - 04:13 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Rorvik, on 16 January 2015 - 04:13 PM, said:

Are you talking about the Griffins or the Shadow Hawks?

Shadowhawks.

Griffins have always had amazing twist (and an equal view)
Shadowhawks used to have ~15 points less torso twist (if I remember right)

[Rorvik]

Shar Wolf, on 16 January 2015 - 05:47 PM, said:

Shadowhawks.

Griffins have always had amazing twist (and an equal view)
Shadowhawks used to have ~15 points less torso twist (if I remember right)

Yeah, I leveled up my Shadow Hawks when the Phoenix Pack pre-orders were delivered, which I believe is when they had the bogus torso twist. Like I said, it was the worst of times for MWO.

[Rando Slim]

See I thinkthe Vindicator 1r is actually pretty good at what the OP is asking. They aren't super nimble until you elite them, but they can absorb damage considerably better than I thought at first. Try the 1R with a max sized Standard engine, 2 jumpjets, ams, 5 medium lasers, and an srm 6. Its easily the best Vindicator for me.

I have mastered 4 Trebuchets and they simply cannot absorb damage like a Cent......but they can still be quite effective at various things. Theres a Treb for anything really.

I agree that Shadow Hawks feel sluggish but I disagree about their hitboxes somewhat, in general it is skinny and can absorb damage ok, better than most mediums still IMO. You can get away with running an xl in it as long as you don't go too big to where it tips people that you have one.

Honestly most of the mediums are pretty different. I suppose a Griffon is probably the "best" answer, but really damage rolling is kinda the Cents thing, hard to copy it exactly.

[Brizna]

I don't understand how most people are forgetting the blackjack. It's a great mech to go rampaging with an AC20, a bit on the weak side sure but very nimble and manoeuvrable to get those AC20 rounds where they hurt.

BJ1 AC20
BJ3 PPC
BJ1X doesn't jump but very solid laser vomit.

[LT. HARDCASE]

Definitely the Griffin. You could even run the 3M with a STD engine build, giving yourself an entire side with which to shield.

Brizna, on 17 January 2015 - 05:20 AM, said:

I don't understand how most people are forgetting the blackjack. It's a great mech to go rampaging with an AC20, a bit on the weak side sure but very nimble and manoeuvrable to get those AC20 rounds where they hurt.

BJ1 AC20
BJ3 PPC
BJ1X doesn't jump but very solid laser vomit.

AC20 Blackjack lacks the amazing quirks that the Hunchie and Cent received.

[Pacifist]

Brizna, on 17 January 2015 - 05:20 AM, said:

I don't understand how most people are forgetting the blackjack. It's a great mech to go rampaging with an AC20, a bit on the weak side sure but very nimble and manoeuvrable to get those AC20 rounds where they hurt.

BJ1 AC20
BJ3 PPC
BJ1X doesn't jump but very solid laser vomit.

I've got over 900 games with my BJ1 AC20 and have loved it. However it requires an XL for any kind of speed and with the TTK being reduced every time they patch. It has lost the survivability I needed to skirmish.

Edited by Pacifist, 19 January 2015 - 12:45 AM.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Shadowhawk 2K is just like Cent A but with jump jets and extra laser,i really do not get it why people run this as a sniper,its a great brawler. ASRM18 + 3 medium lasers,engine XL300,solid brawler,you can switch to that lame 3 er LL setup at your leisure too.

Treb 7M (on sale BTW) is quite squishy,but with minimum of XL300 and 3 SRM6:s + lasers does the job too,do not forget to max those jump jets.

[Rorvik]

Pacifist, on 19 January 2015 - 12:34 AM, said:

I've got over 900 games with my BJ1 AC20 and have loved it. However it requires an XL for any kind of speed and with the TTK being reduced every time they patch. It has lost the survivability I needed to skirmish.

To be honest, most mediums require an XL engine to get the most out of their max engine ratings.

Cookiemonter669, on 19 January 2015 - 01:41 AM, said:

Shadowhawk 2K is just like Cent A but with jump jets and extra laser,i really do not get it why people run this as a sniper,its a great brawler. ASRM18 + 3 medium lasers,engine XL300,solid brawler,you can switch to that lame 3 er LL setup at your leisure too.

I have the Phoenix Pack Shadow Hawks, but not the 2K. Even though I hated the SHDs, I might give them another go now that they have been adjusted and quirked. The 2K looks especially nice, but it's probably more like a mini-Banshee with JJs; interesting, and one I'll probably pick up on sale, but not exactly what I'm looking for at the moment.

Cookiemonter669, on 19 January 2015 - 01:41 AM, said:

Treb 7M (on sale BTW) is quite squishy,but with minimum of XL300 and 3 SRM6:s + lasers does the job too,do not forget to max those jump jets.

When I'm done mastering my Griffins and Vindicators, I may get around to trying the Trebs out. It really sucks you have to buy three of them to get any one of them Elited.

[Pacifist]

Rorvik, on 19 January 2015 - 03:55 AM, said:

Pacifist, on 19 January 2015 - 12:34 AM, said:

I've got over 900 games with my BJ1 AC20 and have loved it. However it requires an XL for any kind of speed and with the TTK being reduced every time they patch. It has lost the survivability I needed to skirmish.

To be honest, most mediums require an XL engine to get the most out of their max engine ratings.

Very true, however the 93kph BJ1 AC20 is required to engage at short range for effective damage and to accurately hit damaged areas.

It used to have a sweet spot when carrying the 20, of having more armor and being able to hit harder with pinpoint fire anything that was faster than it. As well as being manuverable enough to escape anything with more armor and firepower save the Hawk.

With the introduction of the Clans specificly the stormcrow and madcat this was no longer the case. Being as fast or faster, carrying more firepower and 2-3x the survivability. Add to that clan missles fast enough to do the lightly armored BJ extensive damage before it could find cover and causing screen shake preventing pinpoint damage from hitting weakened areas.

Then the quirks reduced TTK from the innersphere mechs without any equivilent bonus to the BJ.

Love the mech it simply isn't balanced against what it faces.

Edited by Pacifist, 19 January 2015 - 06:36 AM.

[mad kat]

Wolverine.....Job done.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Rorvik, on 19 January 2015 - 03:55 AM, said:

When I'm done mastering my Griffins and Vindicators, I may get around to trying the Trebs out. It really sucks you have to buy three of them to get any one of them Elited.

7K : AC20 + 2ML stock engine FF Endo DHS

5J : 300 XL + 2 LL 3 ML Endo DHS

those both work fine. 7K is surprisingly tanky with those shield arms.

[Kmieciu]

Shadowhawks were probably the best IS mediums before quirks. They are tall but with a narrow profile and are extremely XL-friendly. Thanks to JJs, they tank damage with their legs. That alone gives them about 100 more HP than Hunchbacks.
If a SHD torso twists, the arm completly shields it's torso, while the HBK cannot use it's arms as shields.

Edited by Kmieciu, 20 January 2015 - 02:43 AM.