80 replies to this topic

[Macster16]

Ok before anybody jumps on my back, this is not a "DOA" topic. I understand we haven't even got a visual representation of the Shadow Cat beyond a silhouette, let alone other important factors such as scale and hitboxes which can make or break a mech. But doing some theoretical speculation going off the details we have so far, I'm struggling to come up with a build that could make the Shadow Cat beyond a mid tier chassis.

I've taken its details and thrown it into SSW. Once maxing out armor, it appears to have a decent 16Ts or so of podspace free, which is not bad for a clan 45 tonner. Also, the 270xl is also a good engine size for it that I feel is just right - not too big that it takes up too much tonnage and not too small that it's too slow. It's a good engine to have for a 45 tonner.

Now where the glaring limitation lies is the fact that it can only carry a max of 3 energy hardpoints at once which in my eyes can really hurt this chassis. Often what makes up the bread-and-butter of a lighter mech's armament are small-mid lasers which the Shadow Cat will not adequately be able to boat. It's limited tonnage unfortunately also means it will struggle to equip more than one "big" energy weapon and enough heatsinks to adequately cool them which leaves it between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making an energy-based build out of it.

Through my theorycrafting on SSW, I've so far only managed to formulate 2 builds that I think could potentially be effective:

- 2 LL + 6mgs. Problem here is this requires scoring the bonus P variant, so it will not be accessible to many for some time. It also has to pass on ECM and mgs are still mgs. I'm not sure how much of a good idea facehugging at 200 metres is in a 45T mech is afterall. It may work on the Ember, but that's because of lolhitboxes....

- SRM bomber. 3 SRM hardpoints with 2 energy backup weaps should do for a 45 tonner. Couple with ECM and JJ maneuverability, I can see it being used for SRMs fairly regularly.

I would like to know what other people's theoretical builds are and what they think could potentially bring out the most of the Shadow Cat.

[Kilo 40]

I think I'll be going with ECM, 3 ERML, and 2 LRM10s.

[Nayru]

If it is 16 tons free, gauss + 2 tons + two mediums.

The wonky hardpoints and MASC tonnage cuts do make things rather difficult, can't take ECM with that distribution even though it's probably one of the better ones, and I think not taking ECM on a mech that loses no hardpoints to it is psychotic.

Could do something like two large pulses + SRM4's if its MASC'd speed is any good, would be terrifying for lights at least, but once again we run into the problem of ECM fitting.

And clan larges are kind of bad.

Two mediums/three streak 6's/ECM, or two larges/three streak 4's/ECM, rest ammo? Something.

Edited by Nayru, 28 February 2015 - 01:48 AM.

[El Bandito]

ECM + dual CERLL + back up weapons. Clan version of the RVN-3L.

[MoonUnitBeta]

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!

[Violent Nick]

OP raises some good points

The only reason I didn't go for the Executioner pack was the low slung arms and uncertainty created by Locked parts..

El Bandito, on 28 February 2015 - 01:45 AM, said:

ECM + dual CERLL + back up weapons. Clan version of the RVN-3L.

But with JJs dude!! I wonder how nerfed it will get.

..

[Hayashi]

mlas/mplas with SRM4/6 will probably work well with JJs

[Talynn DeRaa]

A couple of LPL's with those JJ's and MASC should do it.

I dunno. the Shadow Cat has always been a bit of a tight fit for a 45 ton medium.

[Ursh]

I think it's going to be a good mech. Good maneuverability, decent hardpoints, ecm, 16 tons of pod space.

4 or more energy hardpoints would have been more ideal, agreed.

[Macster16]

Other potential ECM energy builds I could see are 1 LPL + 2 MLs or 2 ERLLs + 1 ML. Could also use MPLs instead of MLs, though that means less heatsinks and the MPLs would have wonky sync with LPLs or ERLLs and less range.

[Macster16]

Ursh, on 28 February 2015 - 02:47 AM, said:

I think it's going to be a good mech. Good maneuverability, decent hardpoints, ecm, 16 tons of pod space.

4 or more energy hardpoints would have been more ideal, agreed.

Oh for sure 4 energy HPs would've been great, especially if it could have it with ECM. 4 MPLs with ECM and 7 DHS would've been absolutely sweet.

[LordKnightFandragon]

shadow cat would be a fine mech if the meta wasnt "stuff as many lasers as you can in".....some mechs dont rely on 14 medium Pulse lasers.....in fact, many dont, kinda why so many mechs are considered bad...

In MW4 I typically put in 1 LL in the arm, an AC10 in the other and some SSRM6s in the torso a few ML as well just for extra punch, maxed armor, lowered speed a little and increased heat eff just a bit and pretty much did just fine with the thing until I got a bigger mech.

Edited by LordKnightFandragon, 28 February 2015 - 12:29 PM.

[Brody319]

2 LPL
6 machine guns.

[FupDup]

"Clan Arrow" with 2 LPL/ERLL + 6 MGs.
Troll Sniper "Fat Raven" with 2 LPL/ERLL + ECM + maybe other backup guns
Fast striker-brawler with 3 ASRM6 + 2 MPL or 2 ASM6 + 3 MPL
Troll Lurmboat with 3 LRM10 + 2 ERML or 2 LRM10 + 3 ERML

Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

[Ultimax]

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.

Edited by Ultimatum X, 28 February 2015 - 12:39 PM.

[the hedgehog]

I would love to see a 4th energy hard point in the right torso. would balance out the choice between ECM and more weapon builds and it's kinda built that way when you look at pictures of it.

[FupDup]

the hedgehog, on 28 February 2015 - 01:29 PM, said:

I would love to see a 4th energy hard point in the right torso. would balance out the choice between ECM and more weapon builds and it's kinda built that way when you look at pictures of it.

It's actually the left torso where the ECM goes.

[the hedgehog]

FupDup, on 28 February 2015 - 01:30 PM, said:

It's actually the left torso where the ECM goes.

My brain isn't working right then.

Okay missiles in left torso.

Edited by the hedgehog, 28 February 2015 - 01:32 PM.

[Greenjulius]

The only choices you have to make for the left torso are 1xAMS, ECM, and 3xBallistic hardpoints. Since the only decent build for that MG hardpoint will be for a 6xMG, 2xLPL BJ-Arrow mock build, all Shadow Cats will likely be carrying ECM.

We've got something like 16+ tons to work with on the SHC but only a handful of hardpoints, pushing builds towards the "heavy energy" builds. 2xLPL/ERLL is obvious, with 2xERPPC for more adventurous types. Perhaps a backup ERML in case the arms get blown off, or just a bunch of extra DHS to boost DPS.

Another possibility is throwing a LRM15 or SSRM6 on for some extra annoyance. The hardpoints, while limited in number, allow for some versatile arrangements.

I think the Shadow Cat is definitely my kind of mech. Stealthy, jumpy and effective at range.

Edited by Greenjulius, 28 February 2015 - 03:08 PM.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

I'll be going 3 x ER LL + ECM. If you don't alpha you have 17 seconds of firing time.

Gauss + 2 x ER ML should also work and the omni pods could probably line up so that only one arm needed armor, freeing up another ton for ammo.

I'm sure a streak/SRM build would work out as well.