147 replies to this topic

[Ultimax]

Some food for thought on the Zeus:

1) All Zeus get an extra +17 ARMOR on their legs. This means you can shave 17 points of armor and still have the equivalent of maximum 80 ton mech leg armor.

2) I consider the Right Arm irrelevant on both the 9S & 6S. It also has +13 ARMOR on all variants. You can shave down to 20 from 52 armor, have the equivalent of 33 armor there, and pick up a spare ton to utilize.


This is my XL Version Template and this is my STD Engine template.

I keep more on the Arm to cushion the right side XL ST, and because the XL savings are generally enough for both builds.

[sneeking]

Having steered away from lrm for a while ( quite some time now ) I just noticed how nice the missile arm dumb fires on this mech.

From 200 to 250 meters this works quite nice.

First thing I did was strip em out for srm when I got this mech, I think I might run it with lrm for a bit now.

Edited by sneeking, 21 March 2015 - 06:54 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Armorine, on 17 March 2015 - 06:19 PM, said:

What's every ones thoughts on it? I'm a little underwhelmed. I can't seem to find a good build for them. They feel kinda fragile

Just getting around to them. SO far the damage is not huge, but they seem pretty tough, even with an XL.

Loadouts, a little more problematic to be happy with. I really witht eh 6S had more missile hardpoints. I'd love to run ac/10 and 3xSMR6 stinkfist.

[HARDKOR]

Ultimatum X, on 21 March 2015 - 05:53 AM, said:

Some food for thought on the Zeus:

2) I consider the Right Arm irrelevant on both the 9S & 6S. It also has +13 ARMOR on all variants. You can shave down to 20 from 52 armor, have the equivalent of 33 armor there, and pick up a spare ton to utilize.

I thought the point of this was that it should be a left handed sword and board mech.

[D34DMetal]

ThrashInc, on 21 March 2015 - 03:27 AM, said:

I honestly can't find a way to make this mech fun/good.

If you play like a Heavy, you're slow and hot and lack firepower, acceleration, JJ's, quirkening.

If you play like an Assault, you are moderately fast but definitely lack the firepower and armor to do anything but get cored.

I usually take about 8-10 matches to basic a mech (average XP). I did the Grasshoppers to Mastery in the first day without a problem. I've been playing the Zeus since and it's the least amount of fun I've ever had playing this game. I don't even want to play them past first victory of the day bonus because there is absolutely nothing about them that is good.

They take up a slot for a good Assault and that's reason enough to forget about them. Anything you can do in a Zeus you can do in a Stalker, Banshee, Battlemaster, Atlas, or Dire Wolf better.

Except you're not playing a Stalker, Banshee, Atlas, nor Dire Wolf. It's 80 tons for a reason. You hit stuff at long range, and then you move on. I shouldn't even have to mention the fact that the Zeus has front-loaded armor comparable to those mechs, and speed that can beat all of them in a race. Considering how MANY of the regular non-CW drops turn in to nascar races, this gives the Zeus a distinct advantage. Oh, and the torso/arm hardpoints are mounted high.

Edited by DeadMetal89, 21 March 2015 - 07:41 AM.

[DaZur]

I "think" I found my sweet spot with the 6s...

I, like a lot of folks kept focusing around that damn ballistic weapon as the primary, leaving the torso energy slots and the right arm to try and compliment around it.

In this configuration it was a decent ranged striker but really struggled to accrue damage and equally struggled to net "kills". It is particularly vulnerable up close to fast mediums and lights.

What I'm running now:

300 XL, 3 x ER-lLas, + aLRM-10 + LBX10.

In this configuration my primary weapon is the trip ER-lLas fired in alpha. LRMs are essentially ranged opportunity weapon and or a harasser. The Key is the LBX... The LBX gives the -6S a potent short / medium range weapon.

In this configuration I can reach out and tickle with the LRMs, kick you at range with trip ER-lLas and punch you in the face with the LBX up close.

It's highly unconventional but I've had the best luck with the -6S in this configuration, allowing to average 300+ damage (versus sub 200) and at least 2 kills.

Next up is the -6T... I've got ideas for him as well.

That -6S? That ones presently an enigma....

Edited by DaZur, 21 March 2015 - 08:09 AM.

[ThrashInc]

DeadMetal89, on 21 March 2015 - 07:36 AM, said:

Except you're not playing a Stalker, Banshee, Atlas, nor Dire Wolf. It's 80 tons for a reason. You hit stuff at long range, and then you move on. I shouldn't even have to mention the fact that the Zeus has front-loaded armor comparable to those mechs, and speed that can beat all of them in a race. Considering how MANY of the regular non-CW drops turn in to nascar races, this gives the Zeus a distinct advantage. Oh, and the torso/arm hardpoints are mounted high.

Man, it's almost like I mentioned a playstyle that would be similar to those not working, and a playstyle that is dissimilar also not working.

3.5s from any meta Dire Wolf melts this mech to dead - less if anyone has looked at you because being looked at damages your CT. Twist speed isn't as slow as an Atlas, but for what this mech needs to do, it might as well be one.

Mech is bad for Nascar because its hardpoints are on the wrong side forcing it to secure a flank (die, as many mediums/heavies can out dps you) or expose a lot of your mech to pop your pittance of damage off.

LRMs also eat this mech alive, similar to King Crab.

What place does an 80T Assault have that fires LL at a distance in this game? (Which by the way, the hardpoints are not high lol. The Thunderbolt has high hardpoints, this does not.) It can move fast and do that? So can a Thunderbolt, Raven, Timberwolf, Stormcrow, Hellbringer, Cicada, Panther, Adder, Warhawk, and other mechs because anything not the other Assault mechs I listed can do that and they don't take an Assault slot away from a real Assault.

If this was TT or some other RP stuff this mech might have a place but not in MWO. I never piloted an Awesome but I imagine this feels pretty similar.

Edited by ThrashInc, 21 March 2015 - 09:18 AM.

[Voq]

I've been quite enjoying this mech.

I get the sense, like any mech, it's about understanding its role.
I've been a lover of my Orions since they came out, and this to me is an easier to build Orion. I'm able to fit in solid, heavy firepower, while using a STD if I want to. And even better, it's quirked sky high with armor. So in the end it moves about as fast as my Orions do (faster if I really want to XL), but can withstand a ton more face-time.

My builds have mostly been mentioned:
9S - STD, 3ERLL, 3 MPL ----- or 3LPL, 3ML
6T - STD, 3ASRM6, 3LL
6S - I think I'm actually doing something like a STD 2AC5, 4ML, 1LRM15

I've had no issue doing 500 min each round, and don't feel like I crumple quick. But again, you can't play it like you're an Atlas or DW. Yes, a DW can put out a lot more damage with a lot more armor, but it's super slow and clumsy. This mech can zip around pretty handily, faster than some heavies, and engage more tactically with some pretty solid alpha or DPS.

[Wildstreak]

ThrashInc, on 21 March 2015 - 09:18 AM, said:

I never piloted an Awesome but I imagine this feels pretty similar.

Having piloted Awesomes, this is not similar. Most Awesomes have a 300 engine limit and you never want to try an XL except maybe on a Pretty Baby and 9M, the huge side torsos get your Awesome XL gutted quick.

[Dukat281]

This looks like a very good mech, not considering the hardpoint placement though.

I designed 3 initial variants and can't wait to buy a Zeus for credits, accordingly I haven't tried them yet.

Most of my designs are a bit exceptional and these 3 variants are derivated from my mechs from the weight classes above and below:

ZEU-6T:

3x LRM 15
8x LRM Ammo
3x Medium Laser
1x TAG
1x AMS
1x AMS Ammo

320XL Engine
13 Double Heat Sinks
494 Standard Armor

Beagle Active Probe
Command Console
Advanced Sensor Range
LRM 15 Cooldown
Medium Laser Range
Radar Deprivation


ZEU-9S:

2x Large ER Laser
3x Large Pulse Laser
1x TAG
1x AMS
2x AMS Ammo

325XL Engine
17 Double Heat Sinks
494 Standard Armor

Large ER Laser Range
Large Pulse Laser Range
Advanced Sensor Range
Radar Deprivation

ZEU-6S:

2x Large ER Laser
2x Large Pulse Laser
1x AC2
2x AC2 Ammo
1x AC2 Ammo 1/2
1x AMS
2x AMS Ammo

325XL Engine
17 Double Heat Sinks
480/494 Standard Armor

Large ER Laser Range
Large Pulse Laser Range
Advanced Sensor Range
Radar Deprivation

[Zordicron]

Played around again tonight, with two of the Zeus. 6T is waiting for it's turn after my break here.

Anyway, Ran my 3ERLL/3MPL loadout on a couple matches. This thing, it REALLY needs to hang back from the front line. It is superb if you can get into a firefight with someone at 900M. Pretty well nothing can really retaliate well to a triple ERLL alpha, without being ammo inefficient etc. As I mentioned earlier, I changed my STD engine for an XL. it cost me on one match in canyon, where I got insta-ganked(not quite) through RT by a gauss DWF and his mostly dead phract pal that happened to hit me at almost the same time in the RT. before that, I was doing some decent defensive fire. my team had derped to middle and was camping it. We lost in the end, and I was kinda annoyied, but that had more to do with not having anywhere I could go to use my extra long reach. On other matches, the XL did not cause any issues, and the speed bump from my wimpy smallish STD to an XL370 was noticable, but the agility was extremely noticable, including acceleration from terrain slow downs. IMO, with a triple ERLL loadout, the XL is a good trade. I am debating downgrading my MPL to ML, and adding a range module, and using te 3 tons for other things. As it is, the 3 MPL are not potent enough for close defense alone, and firing them with the ERLL as a full alpha, well, thats hot. It makes for some potent firepower, but it is not sustainable at all, and I think i would prefer to move out past 300M with max range of full alpha, I could actually avoid SRM range then.

The other Variant, the 6S®- I dumped my loadout on it. Decided to try something else. i went with 2x AC5, 2x PPC, 2x ML. 4 tons ammo, XL340, buncha DHS. Stripped armor on legs to 40, and have almost max everywhere else. Only one match tonight in that, but I like it best so far of what i have tried. AC5 is cool running and has decent reach. PPC are PPC, put both in LT. ML were enough to keep lights honest near me, no trying to camp a back shot or something, they knew they had to keep moving. I think without the lasers, just AC5 arm at close range would not have that effect. that laser splash sound FX is a big red light to any decent light pilots about moving. The 340 is a nice size engine for this loadout, leaves enough tonnage to add some DHS, and upped the agility some. Range, well with this loadout I prefer to be out at 500M, and that helps with the mitigation of XL survivability.

Honestly, the only Zeus I dont mind being inside of 300M with is the 6T with its LOLMEGABUSTER arm and ERPPC. These other two have performed better tonight by playing back row DPS mode, allowing use of XL which grants a bit more speed to get into position better. getting into brawl range without a SRM18 fist is folly, poor Zeus just gets melted so bad from AC20's and SRM splats.

[Vandul]

Ive been having good luck with this. Just remember, its no Orion. Dakka Dakka, twist, repeat.

Switch to MPL's and the SRM for close up work.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4ee1b600253f38e

[LordKnightFandragon]

It seems fairly survivable, takes a hit pretty well. I took mine into a losing CW match, got hammered pretty heavy before dying. Max armor+quirk armor.....lol. Got the armor of my Warhawk, without the big ass hitboxes.

I cant seem to find a build I really like. One video on YT said the mech is a ranged mech, so I tweaked the base 6s build, more ammo for the LRM and AC5, DHS for extra coolant, kept the engine and maxed armor. It fires alot, but the AC5 doesnt seem to do much. Looking at the other stock builds, I kinda wanna swap the 9t? the all energy one around a little....but my alt acct that has the ZEU is short on cash now haha.

Overall, in 3 different games, 2 CW, 1 pub land, it seems like a good enough mech.

[DasSibby]

I've been running a Gauss and 3x ERLL in mine with 45 rounds of Gauss, 1x AMS with a ton of AMS ammo. STD engine (280 I think...) It runs cool and dishes out the damage and is surprisingly hardy when using the missile arm for a shield. I rarely end up with less than 1 kill and can completely pin down or even stop an enemy lance's advance.

Basically I use her to control the terrain and it WORKS since positioning is key in MWO.

Edited by DasSibby, 21 March 2015 - 10:16 PM.

[Nori Silverrage]

I've been playing the Zeus alot lately and so far it is my favorite Resistance mech. Two of the three frequently put up great numbers.

I made a big long post here on all the resistance mechs with a rather large section for the Zeus: http://mwomercs.com/...53#entry4304453

[D34DMetal]

ThrashInc, on 21 March 2015 - 09:18 AM, said:

Man, it's almost like I mentioned a playstyle that would be similar to those not working, and a playstyle that is dissimilar also not working.

3.5s from any meta Dire Wolf melts this mech to dead - less if anyone has looked at you because being looked at damages your CT. Twist speed isn't as slow as an Atlas, but for what this mech needs to do, it might as well be one.

Mech is bad for Nascar because its hardpoints are on the wrong side forcing it to secure a flank (die, as many mediums/heavies can out dps you) or expose a lot of your mech to pop your pittance of damage off.

LRMs also eat this mech alive, similar to King Crab.

What place does an 80T Assault have that fires LL at a distance in this game? (Which by the way, the hardpoints are not high lol. The Thunderbolt has high hardpoints, this does not.) It can move fast and do that? So can a Thunderbolt, Raven, Timberwolf, Stormcrow, Hellbringer, Cicada, Panther, Adder, Warhawk, and other mechs because anything not the other Assault mechs I listed can do that and they don't take an Assault slot away from a real Assault.

If this was TT or some other RP stuff this mech might have a place but not in MWO. I never piloted an Awesome but I imagine this feels pretty similar.

Man, it's almost as if you have no idea what you are talking about. There are a few things I want to highlight here: First, the ZEU has more armor than all of the mechs listed here including the Thunderbolt, Raven, Timberwolf, Stormcrow, Hellbringer, Cicada, Panther, Adder, and Warhawk. Second, the ZEU has firepower that can match those heavies. Third, it has speed which exceeds that of assaults such as the Atlas, Dire Wolf, Highlander, and Banshee. Fourth, it can poke corners better than all of the previously mentioned assault mechs AND it can hill hump better than an Atlas, or a Dire Wolf. To add to the fourth point; nascar in regular drops can go clock-wise, and counter-clockwise, so your logic just flew out the window. Fifth, comparing the ZEU to an Awesome is silly considering that you have never piloted an Awesome (again, your logic just jumped out the window and killed itself). Sixth, if you take ANY mech and plant it in front of a high alpha Dire Wolf, or are up against opponents that happen to focus fire, you will melt! Case closed.

[Allen Ward]

I just started playing my Zeus from the package recently. And I must say they are the worst heavies/assaults of all. The additional leg armor is worthless, no one ever targets legs. The hardpoints all in one side/one arm are a very bad design. My game experience: someone (let's say a ER Laser Raven,PPC Panther or Laser Vomit Banshee or Timber or you name it) sees a Zeus - they target your left side torso only. bang bang and you are a piece of walking scrap metal. then you are dead. yeah,, torso twist and all...it doesn't help for long. On your side this mech lacks the firepower it should have by it's weight class. This is caused by the dumb right arm missile launcher design, that nobody uses. Because it is a stupid idea and because you look like Captain Hook - without the hook. Packing shitloads of missiles into your exposed and huge arm is simply stupid. The 3SRM6 version works ok, if you choose XL engine and have the speed required to make use of SRMs.

I tested many many builds now and not one was satisfying. Compared to other assaults (Banshee, Stalker) the Zeus is too timid and a design failure. It can compete with the Awesome in some regards, actually it has a bit more survivability than the Awesome, still - surviving without weapons is not what you go for.

I love the looks of the Zeus (except for the arm stump) but if you compare it to other mechs (IS, don't even start comparing it to Clan mechs) it definitely ranks among the weakest chassis. Packing XL into an assault mech is pretty daring and only works in teams that know how to play along. Dropping solo in an XL Zeus will get you killed almost instantly, unless you decide to hide behind a rock for the full match. Not what an assault was built for. But hey, not all chassis can be No.1.

So the weakest part of the Zeus in my opinion is it's left torso and the fact that EVERYONE knows this. Some people can aim really well and if you happen to drop against them, you will loose your weapons before you can score 200 damage yourself. By the way, Gauss is DEAD for IS while you drop against Clan mechs. Currently you drop against 50%+ Clan mechs in every single match. Gauss can not compete with Clan Lasers and PPC.

[Revis Volek]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 March 2015 - 07:09 AM, said:

Just getting around to them. SO far the damage is not huge, but they seem pretty tough, even with an XL.

Loadouts, a little more problematic to be happy with. I really witht eh 6S had more missile hardpoints. I'd love to run ac/10 and 3xSMR6 stinkfist.

I tried this and it was rather lackluster....i dont even know why.

[LordKnightFandragon]

I run the 6s, STD320 it came with.

2x AC5, 3x MPL. AC5 CD mod, max armor and like 192 rounds of ammo for the AC5s. Been doin ok with it. Like 20 kills, 7deaths or so.

You do need Endo/DHS upgrades on them, be default they mostly dont have it, which does make them kinda sucky stock. Part of why I havent done anything with my 6T I think....no $$ for DHS.

Edited by LordKnightFandragon, 17 June 2015 - 01:59 PM.

[Allen Ward]

Just had a match where 1 Ebon jaguar tookout 2 Zeus attacking him frontal. 2LRm20+5ER Med Lasers. your only enemy is weapon heat... he was at 77% armor after this.