30 replies to this topic

[Destro1000]

Great informative thread I came here looking for info on the Enforcer but now you guys have me wanting a Blackjack too which never crossed my mind before. I think I will pick up one of each and start the long grind for the others.

[Bluefalcon13]

Destro1000, on 28 May 2015 - 03:23 PM, said:

Great informative thread I came here looking for info on the Enforcer but now you guys have me wanting a Blackjack too which never crossed my mind before. I think I will pick up one of each and start the long grind for the others.

I recommend picking up the enforcer with the xl250 first if you don't have one yet. The xl250 can be used in builds in the other two enforcers (and it is great for the panthers too).

[jper4]

the 4R is about the only one of the enforcers i really like. i run ac10 and 5SPLs and it does well as a finisher late in the match. i kinda like the dual uac5 one (i forget which one that is) but tend to have unimpressive matches with it, the third one i don't like at all.

i do love blackjacks though. the 1x i keep tweaking my pulse lasers with currently going with 8SPLs for the hell of it, my favorite of the bunch. the 3 i just keep basic with 6MLs- probably my least liked of them. the DC i felt sorry for since it was slow and JJ-less so i put the ac20 in that one while currently i have dual ac2s in the 1. i liked them even when they were DOA. oh wait forgot about the arrow- MG spam is fun, probably my second favorite to the 1x.

the vindis are a tough sell. the 1X i don;t like at all. the AA is ok i guess but i find i like the 1R better. simple 4ML and an ALRM10 to keep busy at the start of the match. also a great ams burner. last match i played it on HPG i don;t think i had a single volley actually reach the target because 7+ AMSs started blowing them to pieces even when there was only one mech visible in the open with no cover. unfortunately no one else had any LRMs so our side couldn;t take advantage later on in the match when they ran out.

so blackjacks would be my pick of the three. enforcer/vindi is tough to decide between since i only like one of each of them.

[Destro1000]

Bluefalcon13, on 29 May 2015 - 09:19 PM, said:

I recommend picking up the enforcer with the xl250 first if you don't have one yet. The xl250 can be used in builds in the other two enforcers (and it is great for the panthers too).

Thanks for the advice I ended up getting the Enforcer 5D and the Blackjack 1X which was recommended also. Still experimenting with builds but I like the mechs so far!

[Bluefalcon13]

Destro1000, on 30 May 2015 - 04:00 PM, said:

Thanks for the advice I ended up getting the Enforcer 5D and the Blackjack 1X which was recommended also. Still experimenting with builds but I like the mechs so far!

For the 5P, I just removed the extra heatsinks, added endosteel, removed ff, upgraded the slas to an MLAs, and shoehorned as much uac5 ammo in.

Just saw you said 5D, when I was thinking the 5P dual uac5 one.

Edited by Bluefalcon13, 30 May 2015 - 04:07 PM.

[Bluefalcon13]

I run my 5D as a modified stock, xl255, lbx10, erllas, dual mlas, 4 tons of ammo, max armor, max jjs, and endo/dhs. I like to keep my mechs close to stock, but I'm an odd-duck like that.

[Sigilum Sanctum]

eFTy, on 20 May 2015 - 12:15 PM, said:

That's a very nice analysis, Nullmancer. It's left me wanting both even more. AND you reminded me of th Vindicator, another mech that's been tempting me to fill some mech bays. How do you feel about that one? I've not seen lots of praise for the poor thing :/

Vindicators are by and large one of the worst medium mechs in the game. However, I pilot them very habitually and they are VERY fun.

The biggest negative outliers on the Vindicator are as followed:

-Over sized ST hitboxes
-Poor amount of hardpoints, this leads to mounting larger energy weapons, which can force an XL engine.
-Oversized model in general.
-Low mounted weapons (aside from the single head energy point.)
-Aside from the 1AA, the relatively average speed of the Vindicator hovers around 90KPH, which wouldn't be a bad thing if the mech was a tad smaller.
-Hero variant is a tad lackluster IMO.

With that in mind, I absolutely love them. They're some of the best LOOKING mechs in the game in my opinion. They're awkward and fragile, but I love them. These are the builds I use for mine:

VND-1R
VND-1R MKII
VND-1AA
VND-1X
VND-1X MKII

These are the loadouts I use. In my 1R I can average as high as 700 damage per game If I'm on my toes.

As for the Blackjack vs the Enforcer? Honestly, get them both. They're both very good mechs and I adore them equally. Though I tend to run my Blackjacks more.

[ShadowbaneX]

Bluefalcon13, on 30 May 2015 - 04:13 PM, said:

I run my 5D as a modified stock, xl255, lbx10, erllas, dual mlas, 4 tons of ammo, max armor, max jjs, and endo/dhs. I like to keep my mechs close to stock, but I'm an odd-duck like that.

While I can appreciate the sentiment of this the only quirks you get on the 5D that aren't related to the LB-10/X is a shorter laser duration. I drop the LL and the MLs for 3 MPLs and an extra head sink or whatever. That's very near an AC/20 in pin point damage which when followed up by the insane RoF and all the other quirks for the LB-10/X it can be very deadly.

As for the Vindicators, try this on the VND-1AA

Edited by ShadowbaneX, 31 May 2015 - 07:35 AM.

[Bluefalcon13]

ShadowbaneX, on 31 May 2015 - 07:26 AM, said:

While I can appreciate the sentiment of this the only quirks you get on the 5D that aren't related to the LB-10/X is a shorter laser duration. I drop the LL and the MLs for 3 MPLs and an extra head sink or whatever. That's very near an AC/20 in pin point damage which when followed up by the insane RoF and all the other quirks for the LB-10/X it can be very deadly.

As for the Vindicators, try this on the VND-1AA

I can totally understand that ShadowbaneX. My thing is I dislike lacking a longer ranged weapon in puglandia.

[ShadowbaneX]

Bluefalcon13, on 31 May 2015 - 07:40 AM, said:

I can totally understand that ShadowbaneX. My thing is I dislike lacking a longer ranged weapon in puglandia.

Yeah, I get that too. Thing is, trading that close range damage for a single ER LL isn't much. I mean Locusts are running around with them are going to be more use sniping with it than you...there's also plenty of cover to use to your advantage. Lastly, heat efficency. MPLs are just as hot as the MLs and the ER LL are twice as hot. So, yeah, I'm trading the abiliity to splash some damage at range and a little damage in close, for less heat and much more concentrated damage bursts.

That said, yeah, go ahead and play however you like, I'm not say your wrong or anything, just saying why I'm going with my version.

[Josef Nader]

The Blackjack is one of the most surprising mediums in the game for me. I picked it up after having some fond memories of it from a Battletech tabletop RPG I played a while back, and it ended up being my favorite medium. It's not the one I perform best in, but it's definitely the most rewarding. I feel like I earn all of my successes in a Blackjack, but it's not so frustratingly difficult that you won't have sucess in it. I run it with stock weapons and engine. I add endo to add more ammo and DHS. It's a fantastically fun fire support platform with enough of a CQC punch with those four medium lasers that it ends up surprising a lot of wounded mechs looking for easy pickings.

It's a rock solid fire support platform with an extremely low profile and a respectable punch. It looks bad on paper, but in game, it's a champion. I'm a big fan.