24 replies to this topic

[Soultraxx]

Hello all.

Im sure I've read somewhere that Clans and ballistics are a sub-par mix. As one of my 'crows runs C-uAC10 /Mpls Im wondering if Im gimping myself

If someone could explain why that would be super.

Many thanks in advance

Edited by Soultraxx, 18 February 2015 - 11:37 PM.

[SnagaDance]

Because Clan autocannons fire a stream of bullets instead of a single shell they run the 'risk' of spreading their damage across multiple sections of the target mech (due to enemy and own movement) instead of a single location. The latter of which is know as 'pinpoint damage'. As concentrating your damage on a single location is more efficient in taking an enemy mech out Clan autocannons are considered sub-par. This is not so much a problem outside of high elo and competitive groups IMO and the screenshake caused by Clan autocannons can be considered a benefit.

[Soultraxx]

Thank you for the reply.

Something Ive wondered is - when I fire my uAC10 is each of the shells worth 3.33 damage?

[unFearing]

Clan UAC/10 fires 4 shells, 2.5 dmg / shell. If you have not checked out Smurfy's Mechlab, there is much information to be garnered.

[Soultraxx]

Thank you for the reply and the link.

[Sadistic Savior]

Soultraxx, on 18 February 2015 - 11:36 PM, said:

Hello all.

Im sure I've read somewhere that Clans and ballistics are a sub-par mix. As one of my 'crows runs C-uAC10 /Mpls Im wondering if Im gimping myself

If someone could explain why that would be super.

Many thanks in advance

The main reason I don't like them is the firing mechanic. Your AC/20 will not fire a single bullet, it will fire like 4 bullets, each doing 5 damage. To me this completely defeats the purpose of an AC. The whole point is point-specific damage.

In essence, you have an AC behaving like a laser, except that it doesn't have unlimited ammo. ACs (at least 10 and 20) are far more dangerous on an IS mech IMO.

[B L O O D W I T C H]

Sadistic Savior, on 19 February 2015 - 09:40 AM, said:

The main reason I don't like them is the firing mechanic. Your AC/20 will not fire a single bullet, it will fire like 4 bullets, each doing 5 damage. To me this completely defeats the purpose of an AC. The whole point is point-specific damage.

Actually, all AC's should behave like clan AC's to begin with. there's no such thing as a single round ac 10/20 in battletech. expect the demolisher and cauldron born. pin point AC's is a MWO only.

[Sadistic Savior]

LOADED, on 19 February 2015 - 09:58 AM, said:

Actually, all AC's should behave like clan AC's to begin with. there's no such thing as a single round ac 10/20 in battletech. expect the demolisher and cauldron born. pin point AC's is a MWO only.

It might be like that in lore, but for game balance purposes, that was supposed to be an advantage of ACs. In the original Battletech boardgame, all AC damage was point specific...it was never spread. So this is not a new thing with MWO. It's old.

That being said, I have always interpreted the lore version as multiple bullets that fire so quickly they hit only one area.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

only good clan ballistic is gauss

other are just useless firehoses

[Repasy Cooper]

unFearing, on 19 February 2015 - 02:03 AM, said:

Clan UAC/10 fires 4 shells, 2.5 dmg / shell. If you have not checked out Smurfy's Mechlab, there is much information to be garnered.

Ok, now I'm REALLY confused, I thought each round from the C-UAC5 deals 5 dmg. What am I missing here?

Edited by Repasy, 19 February 2015 - 11:41 AM.

[ShinVector]

Repasy, on 19 February 2015 - 11:24 AM, said:

Ok, now I'm REALLY confused, I thought each round from the C-UAC5 deals 5 dmg. What am I missing here?

Wrong... Each can UAC/AC Burst = the Rated damage. It is as simple as that.
x4 Rounds at 5 damage each would be crazy OP.... Just think about it.

Edited by ShinVector, 19 February 2015 - 11:47 AM.

[Repasy Cooper]

hrmmm... I need to revisit the mechlabs clearly... T_T -1 for knowledge fail.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Repasy, on 19 February 2015 - 12:14 PM, said:

T_T -1 for knowledge fail.

Think of it this way - now you know, and now you can do even better

[Nori Silverrage]

I've tried several of the clan UAC weapons and with the exception of niche builds they don't hold a candle to IS AC/UAC weapons. The niche build is a dire 4x UAC5 BTW.

The issue is that for the weight they suck. A cUAC5 is 7 tons and you will want at least 3 tons of ammo. So you are at 10 tons. Now that would be ok if each shot was 5 damage. But since they are actually 1.33 it acts a lot more like a laser, except no hitscan so it is even easier for some of those 4 shots to miss. Thus you should be comparing it to a laser. A clan large pulse laser is 6 tons, does 13 damage and takes 1.1s to apply it all. Range is about the same. So it takes slightly longer to apply the damage, but it hits instantly and does a lot more damage for each shot. It does take about twice as long to be able to fire again though.

Seems like a straightforward choice to me. There is a reason that outside of gauss and niche builds you very rarely see clan ballistics.

[RedDevil]

I remember reading in some other threads that the current clan AC's are placeholders. Any truth to that?

Can't wait for LBX ammo switching.

[Rogue Jedi]

reddevil, on 19 February 2015 - 01:32 PM, said:

I remember reading in some other threads that the current clan AC's are placeholders. Any truth to that?

Can't wait for LBX ammo switching.

Originally the Clan LBX ACs were supposed to be select fire as in you load up slug and shot and can select which to shoot and when, however PGI realized they could not get this ready for Clan launch so put in standard Clan ACs which are identical in size, weight and price to the LBX ACs, when ^(if) PGI get select fire LBX ACs working the standard Clan ACs and current Clan LBX ACs will magically transform into select fire LBX ACs.

The current ACs and LBX ACs are effectively the 2 fire modes that select fire LBX will have, and the UACs are as intended

[BigBenn]

There is a reason most Clan mechs are laser pimps. Until the Clan laser/heat sink combo finds balance in the Force, there is no reason for Clan mechs to take ballistic weapons.

[SnagaDance]

Nori Silverrage, on 19 February 2015 - 12:41 PM, said:

I've tried several of the clan UAC weapons and with the exception of niche builds they don't hold a candle to IS AC/UAC weapons. The niche build is a dire 4x UAC5 BTW.

I've seen the 6 UAC2 Dire also used to great effect. That build manages a ridiculous stream of bullets for quite respectable damage, but its true strength lies in screen shaking its target into ineffectiveness.

[Lily from animove]

LOADED, on 19 February 2015 - 09:58 AM, said:

Actually, all AC's should behave like clan AC's to begin with. there's no such thing as a single round ac 10/20 in battletech. expect the demolisher and cauldron born. pin point AC's is a MWO only.

in townhall they did not talked about such a change, instead they wanted to change velocity of bigger clan Ac's

also, isn't Waaagh only written with 3 A's ? 4 a should already explode your heads.

Edited by Lily from animove, 20 February 2015 - 01:38 AM.

[SnagaDance]

Lily from animove, on 20 February 2015 - 01:37 AM, said:

also, isn't Waaagh only written with 3 A's ? 4 a should already explode your heads.

Only if you're a Weirdboy. You can just pile up the 'A's otherwise. (please note that you might still be caught in the blast of a Weirdboy standing next to you).

'EADBANG!!!

Edited by SnagaDance, 20 February 2015 - 01:43 AM.