37 replies to this topic

[Johnny Two Legs]

Gawd, I remember the days when a K2 running STD300, 4 LL, no ghost heat was a great machine.
Was a competitive build too - what was that seasonal/annual fan made competition that kinda started the "meta' builds? Anyway, the K2 with those 4LL and no ghost heat was great.

Sigh. Now it's all about "no skill" high alpha's...

J2L

[cranect]

The OP said he only had those Standard engines so thats what I built one with for him. Plus it works well for me so why not.

[Sylow]

cranect, on 25 January 2015 - 10:48 PM, said:

The OP said he only had those Standard engines so thats what I built one with for him. Plus it works well for me so why not.

True. But he also spoke about single heat sinks. And if no somebody is seriously suggesting to use single heat sinks, he immediately looses all credibility of understanding the game. Running any catapult with a standard engine is just wasting a lot of potential. For any good setup of a catapult the XL engine is mandatory, everything else will just perform worse and will result in a disappointing experience.

Thus my advise here for the OP is: don't run your catapult in a lousy setup just because you can't or don't want to afford double heat sinks and a good XL engine. And while my prefered setup runs with a 315 XL, it might be better to get a 300 XL, as that one is very useful in many other mechs, where the 315 XL is quite situational. (See the setup posted by nightshade. It sacrifices a little speed by using a 300 XL, but compensates for that by bringing medium pulse lasers. Alternatively you could pack an AMS. While experienced players usually skip it, it still is a good asset for a less experienced player, as it softens LRMs punch a bit and even now can be quite effective when moving in a group and several people carrying it. ) As long as those two essential components (XL engine and double heat sinks) are not available better use another mech. Don't frustrate yourself with a disappointing experience by running the Catapult on a subpar setup, rather save up and enjoy it with a good setup.

Edited by Sylow, 26 January 2015 - 01:14 PM.

[SethAbercromby]

I once saw a crazy person running his K2 with dual LB-10X and somehow managed to evolve it into a machine of absolute terror.

The trick is to play it much more akin to a slower medium, ambushing weakened targets and harrassing at range with Large Lasers until it gets close enough to smash the LB rounds into weak spots. This tactic does suffer a little through the lack of Jump Jets of course.

This is a quick mock-up of how the thing probably looked like (using stock armor distribution) and it certainly is designed to fit to an oddball playstyle, but if you can make it work, it can be quite the surprise to an enemy mechwarrior.

[Sagedabluemage]

Depending on yer situation i would think peeps have already pointed out

2 AC 10
4 mediums

( nice brawling have fun giving a good scare to peeps)
----------------

4 Large Laser
(fun not to hard to run)
-----------------
2 er ppc
2 ppc
( peekaboo)
-----------------

2 guass (7-9 tons ammo)
2 medium lasers or 4smalls (optional)
( cuz y not)
------------------

2 ac20 (5-7 tons ammo)
2 medium lasers or 4 smalls(optional
(cuz cheeze its)
-------------------
3 Ppcs or erPpcs

or

3 larges lasers or ERlarges

( works very well even with ghost heat)
-------------------

2 ppcs or-er
2 large lasers or-er

depending on the situation i either run one of each.


--------------------------------------


for space in side torsos' 255-265 standard engine - aka ac 20 builds

all others can run from an (xl280- max XL )if u feel like being a speedy one

I always max armor out( im that weirdo )
most armor converted to the front leaving rears about 8-16 depending on how much back time i think im gonna give an enemy. more if i face away from the enemy when repostioning

[Ultra-Laser]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9dabfbc0c573685

Running my current -K2 with 2 PPCs, 2 Large Lasers and a standard 260. I'm happy with the speed and overall fighting style of that machine, how does this look as a potential upgrade? The biggest change from what I have right now being the 2 MGs to help deal with the larger heat load of the LPLs when things start getting hairy. Note that I already have the endo-steel and DHS if you have suggestions for alternative configurations in mind.

[Tiamat of the Sea]

SethAbercromby, on 26 January 2015 - 01:36 PM, said:

I once saw a crazy person running his K2 with dual LB-10X and somehow managed to evolve it into a machine of absolute terror.

The trick is to play it much more akin to a slower medium, ambushing weakened targets and harrassing at range with Large Lasers until it gets close enough to smash the LB rounds into weak spots. This tactic does suffer a little through the lack of Jump Jets of course.

Are you sure that wasn't me in my CPLT-K2 Ballista?

As to the 'Standard vs XL' issue- the only reason I don't run an XL in that thing is that it forces important equipment out into the arms- which then makes the 'mech reliant on keeping the arms. Part of the key to how I use my current K2 is that people go to the trouble of trimming the arms off and it doesn't affect performance in the least bit. Catapult arms make amazing targets, particularly with how they're tall enough to poke up over cover when the rest of the 'mech doesn't (although this is less of an issue with the K2 and Jester than with the box Cats), and I like to play with the perception that this can be leveraged to neuter Catapults.

[SethAbercromby]

Quickdraw Crobat, on 26 January 2015 - 01:47 PM, said:

Are you sure that wasn't me in my CPLT-K2 Ballista?

It's triggering all kinds of PTSD, so it probably was

[RiotHero]

I did all of my best games in the K2 with:
1xGauss Rifle
2xERLL
2xML
XL300

I don't remember if I had ams or not I've since changed to a different load out for fun. Now that build does run very hot but, the trick is to try and forget about your ER lasers when the enemy gets in range and switch to your ML'S. Then you can use your ER'S for a death blow if you need to.

Best kills where 6 kills and best damage was 928 or so. You can cause some big problems at range though. I run 1 Gauss and 2xPPC now and it's a solid build but, I haven't done nearly as well as my last one. That said, I still love playing the mech and think it's one of the better looking ones in the game.

[Dauphni]

The old AC/5 + PPC combo works quite nicely on the K2 too, since with the quirks their projectile velocities line up again. Stick two of each in your side torsos, and you're getting very nice long range pinpoint damage.

Edited by Uite Dauphni, 28 January 2015 - 07:31 AM.

[Mazzyplz]

saw a guy do 2 erppc and 1 gauss and it was wrecking the enemy, i don't know about the engine though

[eFTy]

2x UAC5 & ERLL worked pretty well for me (with XL 275).

Tried 4x LL but it just didn't do the damage I was hoping for.

There's also the 'old reliable' 2x AC5 & 4x ML with either STD engine (cheap, so good for newbies) or XL315 (faster, needs a bit of experience though).

I also recently tried putting PPCs in it again. I did get the odd kill here and there, but it still didn't feel like a performer. Those quirks on the TRD-9S should've been given to the K2...

[Mazzyplz]

eFTy, on 28 January 2015 - 07:47 AM, said:

2x UAC5 & ERLL worked pretty well for me (with XL 275).

Tried 4x LL but it just didn't do the damage I was hoping for.

There's also the 'old reliable' 2x AC5 & 4x ML with either STD engine (cheap, so good for newbies) or XL315 (faster, needs a bit of experience though).

I also recently tried putting PPCs in it again. I did get the odd kill here and there, but it still didn't feel like a performer. Those quirks on the TRD-9S should've been given to the K2...

if you're interested in doing 4 large laser try the dragon 1c - you can put the 4 large laser on the left side so you can pop your left side out and shoot from cover all of the laser and dissapear.

you can also get the cooldown module for it. i'd recommend that.

it is tough if you get light mechs on your tail but as a fire support mech it is amazing!!

you can also forego the cooldown modules and put 4 ER LL on the dragon 1c, which i did before but it is even MORE vulnerable to people flanking you. even if it snipes amazingly

[Andy Frost]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a14a7fd3d6cf5fc

[John Mechlane]

I find the title "Any Way To Make The K2 Not Suck?" offensive TBH

I've been running the K2 with UAC5s since the closed beta days (no jamming back then). The only time it was a little less useful was when you had to f*ck with the weapon groups to unjam them. Thank god that didn't last long.

Mine has only 4MLAS as secondary weapons, but i bring 7 tons of ammo for the dual UACs. You won't run out of ammo, even if you're shooting just to suppress enemies. (recommend stagger fire for that) It may run a little hot, but those lasers are only there of you need that extra 20dmg quick in CQB.

For me, this build has stood the test of time....take a look:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...866a312449304b1
(not home right now, so i can't check the exact loadout, but this one should be close enough...maybe a few armor points are different, and HS or ammo locations)

Edited by JaniTheWeedman, 23 February 2015 - 07:18 AM.

[Macksheen]

If you want to get a bit asymmetrical, try XL300, 2xPPC then 1xAC10 or 1xGauss.

[HlynkaCG]

K2s suck? That's news to me.

The dual-Gauss Katapult is the orignial OP.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ef6efdd2447c9f4

I've also had a fair amount of luck in my Super-K2
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...419e0931c9b83b0

...and UAC troll build
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...974be7e88090008

Macksheen, on 23 February 2015 - 12:49 PM, said:

If you want to get a bit asymmetrical, try XL300, 2xPPC then 1xAC10 or 1xGauss.

Ah yes. the pre-thunderbolt thunderbolt.

Edited by HlynkaCG, 23 February 2015 - 01:36 PM.

[Macksheen]

HlynkaCG, on 23 February 2015 - 01:34 PM, said:

K2s suck? That's news to me.

The dual-Gauss Katapult is the orignial OP.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ef6efdd2447c9f4

I've also had a fair amount of luck in my Super-K2
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...419e0931c9b83b0

...and UAC troll build
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...974be7e88090008



Ah yes. the pre-thunderbolt thunderbolt.

Yeah, totally.

I mean, I wish it had hotter quirks - and frankly it suffers from being not different enough in the IS heavy class from lots of other options that mix ballistic and energy - and doesn't have the JJ or quirks to make it different enough.

Still works though.