80 replies to this topic

[Mcgral18]

Ultimatum X, on 28 February 2015 - 12:39 PM, said:

If I can do this with a Gauss and 3 IS MLAS on an Enforcer, I'm confident I can do as well or better with a Shadowcat using a similar loadout (which only requires 2x CERMLAS, and has better range).

So that will likely be my initial loadout.

Ammo is the only issue there. 2 might be almost adequate in PUG matches. If you sacrifice the Jesus Box. You'd need to use ERSLs for a Jesus Box and 2 tons of ammo.


I'm going to run 7 MGs+ERPPC at least once. I want to make it a challenge to "effectively" use 10 000 MG bullets.


2 MPLs, 3 SSRM6s seemed like a fun light hunter, as with the typical long range laser build mentioned above.

[Macster16]

For a gauss based build, I've got 3 SLs with 2.5Ts of ammo or of course 2 MLs with 2Ts of ammo. If one does not want to forgo on ECM, 2 SLs with just 2Ts ammo leaves the 1T needed for ECM which could possibly work.

[Fate 6]

Gauss+ERMLs or 2LPL. Obviously gotta have ECM, except on the Arrow build with 2LPL+6MG. Another option could be a 2ERPPC poptart.

Edited by Fate 6, 28 February 2015 - 03:48 PM.

[Wrathful Scythe]

I'll definitely try 6x MGs with 2 LPL just because it would be a better Arrow.

[Bishop Steiner]

MoonUnitBeta, on 28 February 2015 - 01:46 AM, said:

might roll with ECM, 3 med las, x4 SRM4's . with jumpjets and masc i think it could be fun
or just two large pulse lasers.
vrooooom!

IS version of the GRF-3M? Works for me.

[Ultimax]

Mcgral18, on 28 February 2015 - 03:32 PM, said:

Ammo is the only issue there. 2 might be almost adequate in PUG matches. If you sacrifice the Jesus Box. You'd need to use ERSLs for a Jesus Box and 2 tons of ammo.


I'm going to run 7 MGs+ERPPC at least once. I want to make it a challenge to "effectively" use 10 000 MG bullets.


2 MPLs, 3 SSRM6s seemed like a fun light hunter, as with the typical long range laser build mentioned above.

Yeah 2T of ammo could be the deal breaker, due to the short range of MLAS the Gauss does most of the heavy lifting on the Enforcer build.

If it doesn't work, I'll probably just find some combination of lasers that makes sense.

[Greenjulius]

I'm not sure I see the Scat being a good platform for Gauss unless paired with ERSL. That would allow it to at least run 2.5-3 tons. Still not enough ammo.

Edited by Greenjulius, 28 February 2015 - 04:45 PM.

[Ultimax]

Greenjulius, on 28 February 2015 - 04:45 PM, said:

I'm not sure I see the Scat being a good platform for Gauss unless paired with ERSL. That would allow it to at least run 2.5-3 tons. Still not enough ammo.

I run 3 tons of ammo on almost all of my single Gauss builds, and all of those builds have some kind of energy solution.

I only have one build at the moment with 4T, and that's specifically because my energy solution is weak and limited and I need to lean a bit more heavily on the gauss.


2T will be rough, we'll see.

[Nathan Foxbane]

Not sure how great a build it is but CUAC/5 + 2x tons of ammo, CECM, C-LRM10 + 1.5x ammo, and 2x C-ER Medium Lasers my work for a general purpose trooper and harasser 'Mech. Or it could carry a LB-10X A/C + 2x tons of ammo, C-ECM, C-SRM4+A + 1x ton ammo, and 2x C-ER Small Lasers/1x C-ER Medium Laser.

[Escef]

A nice alternative to the Gauss is the UAC10. I know it isn't a popular weapon, but so long as it doesn't jam the firepower is beastly. And if it does jam, the Shadowcat has enough speed and maneuverability to avoid the fight until the jam gets cleared.

[Greenjulius]

Ultimatum X, on 28 February 2015 - 05:11 PM, said:

I run 3 tons of ammo on almost all of my single Gauss builds, and all of those builds have some kind of energy solution.

I only have one build at the moment with 4T, and that's specifically because my energy solution is weak and limited and I need to lean a bit more heavily on the gauss.


2T will be rough, we'll see.

The problem is that the backup weapon won't be substantial. At best, 2xERML.

[Ursh]

Escef, on 28 February 2015 - 11:06 PM, said:

A nice alternative to the Gauss is the UAC10. I know it isn't a popular weapon, but so long as it doesn't jam the firepower is beastly. And if it does jam, the Shadowcat has enough speed and maneuverability to avoid the fight until the jam gets cleared.

cuac10 seems to be ignored as a decent mid to short range weapon that works well in conjunction with cerml. Particularly in a mech where you can pop up, shoot twice, and then duck back.

[Nayru]

While I know the UAC/10 is the best clan AC in general, it still weighs too much in relation to gauss, and you're not going to get much effect out of the 'saved tonnage' (lelspreadshots) due to the extremely restricted hardpoints.

If you take the ballistic arm at the cost of the 1e1m arm, it'll probably be gauss, leaving you with 2e1m or 1e2m.

Unless you take the ballistic torso instead of ECM.

In which case you might be insane.

3e2m or 3m2e otherwise, which leaves somewhat decent laser/srm options open.

Edited by Nayru, 01 March 2015 - 02:56 AM.

[Alistair Winter]

• Certainly not as an LRM boat. 2xLRM10 on a Clan mech is just silly, and the Adder is a much better light LRM boat anyway.
  
• Probably not as an SRM boat, because it's too lightly armoured and not quite fast enough to dodge incoming fire very well.
  
• Will definitely try large lasers, this will probably be the most common build.
  
• 6 MGs will probably not be very good. There's also the chance of the Pirates Bane syndrome, i.e. constant epilepsy attack from having MGs too close to your cockpit.
  
• I will definitely play the Prime Shadowcat as a gauss sniper, even if it's not really that good for MWO due to lack of ammo and/or backup weapons.
  
• LPL+ERML medium range sniper / heavy mech escort may work well for this mech too. Depends on its size. Hopefully, it's not bigger than the Cicada.

[Satan n stuff]

Macster16, on 28 February 2015 - 01:28 AM, said:

To make things a bit easier, I looked up a Shadow Cat record sheet ( from the 3058 Upgrades preview on the battletech site ) and here are the available crits and tonnage for it:

Head: Endo steel 1 crit, no free crits.
Center torso: MASC 2 crits ( presumably fixed ) , no free crits.
Left Torso: Endo steel 1 crit, ferro fibrous 3 crits, XL engine 2 crits, jump jet 1 crit, 5 free crits.
Right Torso: Endo steel 1 crit, ferro fibrous 4 crits, XL engine 2 crits, jump jet 1 crit, 4 free crits.
Left Arm: Endo steel 2 crits, 8 free crits.
Right arm: Endo steel 2 crits, 8 free crits.
Left Leg: Jump jets 2 crits, no free crits.
Right Leg:, Jump jets 2 crits, no free crits.

Tonnage:
Endo steel internals: 2.5 tons
XL 270 engine: 13.5 tons
MASC: 2 tons
6 Jump jets class IV: 3 tons
Remaining tonnage: 24
Tonnage for max armor: 8.54

Leaving roughly 16 tons with optimized armor.


Edit: Fixed

Edited by Satan n stuff, 01 March 2015 - 05:45 AM.

[Mcgral18]

Satan n stuff, on 01 March 2015 - 04:09 AM, said:

Does anyone actually know if that active probe is removeable? Because if so I'd like to know so I can edit this post to make it a bit more accurate.

Only the MASC and JJs are hardwired.

16 tons free with max armour.

[Satan n stuff]

Mcgral18, on 01 March 2015 - 04:25 AM, said:

Only the MASC and JJs are hardwired.

16 tons free with max armour.

Ah thanks, I'll edit it now.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

I'm gonna roll with ERPPC + 2 ERML + 2 CSSRM 4 + 1 ton ammo + ECM
then either 13 DHS or 12 DHS and maxed armor.

It'll run hot but I run a similar build on my Kitfox and it works very well for me. It'll come down to the hitboxes and turn speeds for me whether or not I love my Scat. I've marked my calendar and I'm excited!

[Ultimax]

Greenjulius, on 28 February 2015 - 11:20 PM, said:

The problem is that the backup weapon won't be substantial. At best, 2xERML.

2x CERMLAS = 12 heat / 14 damage / 400m
3x MLAS = 12 heat / 15 damage / 270m





If I can work with 3x MLAS, then I can work with 2x CERMLAS.

[Macster16]

Satan n stuff, on 01 March 2015 - 04:09 AM, said:

To make things a bit easier, I looked up a Shadow Cat record sheet ( from the 3058 Upgrades preview on the battletech site ) and here are the available crits and tonnage for it:

Head: Endo steel 1 crit, no free crits.
Center torso: MASC 2 crits ( presumably fixed ) , no free crits.
Left Torso: Endo steel 1 crit, ferro fibrous 3 crits, XL engine 2 crits, jump jet 1 crit, 5 free crits.
Right Torso: Endo steel 1 crit, ferro fibrous 4 crits, XL engine 2 crits, jump jet 1 crit, 4 free crits.
Left Arm: Endo steel 2 crits, 8 free crits.
Right arm: Endo steel 2 crits, 8 free crits.
Left Leg: Jump jets 2 crits, no free crits.
Right Leg:, Jump jets 2 crits, no free crits.

Tonnage:
Endo steel internals: 2.5 tons
XL 270 engine: 13.5 tons
MASC: 2 tons
6 Jump jets class IV: 3 tons
Remaining tonnage: 24
Tonnage for max armor: 8.54

Leaving roughly 16 tons with optimized armor.

That's pretty much bang on with what I have in SSW. Crit space does not appear to be much of an issue at all for the Shadow Cat due to its fairly limited hardpoints.