26 replies to this topic

[theta123]

And i tought my warhawks were poor in armor
But why on earth do my maddogs die so goddamn quickly...

[Night Thastus]

Large arms where all the non-missle weapons are.
Large torso's where all the other weapons are. (Also, easy as hell to spot out and focus)

[Vlad Striker]

MDD is not for brawl. Keep range 250-400m and he's reward you with excellent survivability.

[Tahribator]

This is a 'Mech you have to be careful when torso twisting. Twist too much and you start tanking exclusively with that side, resulting in quick torso loss. Get jumped on from an unknown angle and the same thing happens.

You have to be very conscious about how you take damage with this 'Mech and you have to know when to face-tank and when to twist. Surprisingly when you lose a side it becomes much easier to tank due to the dead side becoming a huge shield side.

Edited by Tahribator, 06 May 2015 - 09:58 AM.

[Tiamat of the Sea]

It's worth pointing out that while the hex-LRM-5 and hex-SRM-6 builds that are popular are very effective in their own way, several of the most dangerous Mad Dogs I've seen (usually moments after getting hit really hard by them) are the ones that sit way off far away with a pair of Gauss Rifles and snipe from ranges that make their poor shape a virtual non-issue.

Edited by Quickdraw Crobat, 07 May 2015 - 10:25 AM.

[Mad Ox]

Hmm didn't notice an real issues with my Mad Dogs was working on them during CW Tuk weekend. Same issue as alot of mechs HUGE body.

Of course this is after rolling my Dragons and Awesome's to mastery, without torso twist those things will drive you mad. As such I have gotten good at torso twisting when needed assuming I remember too, D'OH!!!

[MarineErrant]

I play my Mad Dogs almost exclusively. Yeah, they're fragile. Rolling does help a little. During Tukayyid one of my mechs was Mad Dog B with 4 ERLL. Basically what I got from it was: alternate peek spots often, pull back and make wide sweeps to keep the enemy at near max range and the terrain favorable for fall backs, fire and twist as you pull back, thenmove away. Pretty generic stuff I guess.

When twisting and running away I try to roll the torso as close to 360 as possible, even spreading damage on rear plates purposely. You need to stay back behind friends. Stay at range. You're the vulture on the hill looking for opportunistic moments. Don't wade in unless it's game over. Rambling over...

[Achilles59]

I'm having the same problem; tearing my goddamned hair out with my Mad dog A, like seriously.

I cut my teeth on Hunchbacks and my only other heavy is a Jager, so I thought I would be good to go with the Dog's playstyle.

HELL no. I feel like my CT is cored no matter which direction I'm hit from within about 2-3 volleys from anything. I was actually impressed with the stock weapon loadout since I consistently get 400-800 damage in my SRM Hunchies, but I die after literally 1 or 2 volleys every single match.

Just what the hell. This has got to be the most frustrating mech in the game. Why did they make it suck so hard? Why?

[IraqiWalker]

theta123, on 05 May 2015 - 12:52 PM, said:

And i tought my warhawks were poor in armor
But why on earth do my maddogs die so goddamn quickly...

From Sarna itslef:

Quote

it was codenamed Vulture and Hagetaka ("Vulture" in Japanese) by the Inner Sphere forces which first encountered it. The name also fit the battlefield role of the Mad Dog; the main role of the Mad Dog is to act as a support 'Mech, and it often holds a hill maintaining constant watch over the entire battlefield, like a vulture waiting for its prey. With its ample firepower and decent speed of 86.4 km/h, it makes a highly mobile firing platform,

Could be a role application problem. The MDD is not as survivable in a brawl as other mechs. Courtesy of the really wide arms, that shield NOTHING. So your STs are always the first to go. You have to be a second line mech for a good period of the match.

[Panzerkampfwagen IV]

Wrong Wrong Wrong.

The Mad Dog is an excellent brawler.
The trick is you have to build asymmetric and load all of your weapons on one side of your mech which you use as a gigantic shield.

Once you lose that side torso it serves as a 40% damage shield and if you are torso shielding correctly, there is no way the opponent can get your weapons because the side torso profile will completely block their view of your opposite side. When paired with SRM/ballistics, this is a lethal combination that will allow you to solo almost any other mech.

I have been quite successful running a 4 brawler MDD dropdeck in CW.

[Thunderchild]

Asian Tupac, on 05 June 2015 - 01:09 AM, said:

The trick is you have to build asymmetric and load all of your weapons on one side

This....

Get MDD-A. LBX20, 3SRM6 all on one side and it will wreck almost anything in it's path up close (not to mention LBX's chance for extra dmg so you're doing more then 20. You can have 2 MDD-A's with 2LPL+3SRM6 build as well for some extra range.

I run MDD-A as a streakboat as well. 2xSSRM2, 2xSSRM4,2XSSRM6, Large laser, BAP, 8 Tons, 14DHS. Different reload time of streaks induce pretty much constant cockpit shake wihout causing too much or skipping the ghost heat completely.
Depending on how you build it... MDD is an excellent brawler

[Escef]

Mad Dogs tend to die fast because people want them dead. Have you actually LOOKED at the firepower a Splat Dog brings to the field? 6xSRM6+4xERML=100 Alpha. It has 60 ton mech durability paired with firepower that puts many assaults to shame.

Edited by Escef, 09 June 2015 - 07:59 AM.

[B0oN]

Mad dog and survivability ?
Hmmmmm ...
`tis a good joke actually, BUT : sometimes it just magically works ... *points finger accusingly at HSR*

[operatorZ]

What survivability?

[NUJRSYDEVIL]

The Mad Dog needs to be viewed as a piece of artillery. It is an excellent LRM'er due to the 'A' torsos but cannot hold its own with other heavies, and some mediums can tear them apart. You wouldn't take a missile launcher into a fight.

[SeventhSL]

I love my mad dogs but it is on the light end of heavies and its durability can be summed up as "best block not be there".

It has a massive alpha (6xSRM6 & 4xSPL) that can be delivered very quickly to avoid face time with the enemy and if you front load your armour and use seismic, you will find it is durable enough to trade around cover with the big boys.

You absolutely have to manage heat well or your dead. If caught in the open chain fire the SRM as it tends to panic the enemy mech and extend your life span.

[Carl Vickers]

Personally I run my Maddog with 4 Lurm 5's, 2 steak 4's and 3 med lasers. Stay back early and if any sneaky lights get close use streaks and lasers to chase them off.

Later in the game get closer with steaks and lasers taking advantage of the open armor.

With this mech I have gotten over 1k damage quite a few times. If u do get caught alone against multiple enemies u are in trouble though so good battlefield awareness is needed.

I find with the lurm 5's that around 80% hit CT unless u are shooting them from side on, on assaults they hurt bad and on mechs running away they hurt even more.

[Nightshade24]

This mech lore wise was NOT made to go into close range and out fight an enemy.

It was a mech to use LRM's before engaging up close to have an advantage over an enemy.

Let's say a stock mad dog Prime like-build versus somethign like a thunderbolt with SRM's and medium lasers and machine guns and maybe an LBX 10.

Thunderbolt wins.

Now if the Mad dog uses it's LRM's first and to weaken the mech, the thunderbolt is now cored in a torso, lost an arm containing the LBX 10, and may have lost some ammo for the SRM's and heatsinks, his other areas are orange and red in armour while some is still yellow, you use your lasers to pick at the weakest areas and boom.
Mad dog prime wins.

[O F F - W H I T E]

The mad dog is the only thing i bring to CW, they're perfect for my playstyle, and i brawl in them FYI.

[Mike Oakenwall - the khadoran]

So really interested in buying a mad dog(old mech warrior player)
Figure i play it as a better katapult.

Right now I only own IS mechs..

I want 4 er-med lasers and either 2xLRM20 or srms..

Which variant should I buy, prime or?? only have 15k so can only buy one variant.

I could buy a timberwolf iinstead but hear they got nerfed.. and kinda like the mad dog looks.

Edited by deanon, 21 June 2015 - 01:38 AM.