38 replies to this topic

[Chiron]

I've dusted off my mastered Jester, but, after this weekend, I'm just not having fun with a mech that seems like half the firepower of a stalker 4N, just as slow, and worse hardpoint heights. It's just not fun like other mech can be, and I find that if I'm having fun seems to matter more than if i"m running a meta/op build



This is what I'm running.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3b344c73338e7ac

I'd love suggestions about what you guys have found to be fun in your Cheshire Cat!

Edited by Chiron, 27 June 2015 - 08:45 PM.

[Bloodweaver]

I just bought one yesterday, and I've honestly greatly enjoyed it stock so far. Although I'm surprised you think the Jester is/should be as slow as a Stalker... It's a Catapult for Christ's sakes, put an XL in there! In fact, I just finished swapping the stock engine for a 350XL, upgrading the CT lasers to mediums, and adding two more heat sinks over stock. The 'Mech does feel like it could use something more, admittedly. Two energy hardpoints per arm, instead of one, would be lovely - but then the K2 would hardly have a reason to exist.

Edited by Bloodweaver, 27 June 2015 - 08:50 PM.

[Chiron]

Bloodweaver, on 27 June 2015 - 08:46 PM, said:

I just bought one yesterday, and I've honestly greatly enjoyed it stock so far. Although I'm surprised you think the Jester is/should be as slow as a Stalker... It's a Catapult for Christ's sakes, put an XL in there!

I did. I am using the build that I linked in the OP.

[Outcast1six]

I forgot what engine I run in mine, but I run 2 Large and 4 med pulse. Keep the 2 AMS and jumpjets. Its a fun mech and the arm mounted lasers are pretty high up.

[Chiron]

Outcast16, on 27 June 2015 - 09:00 PM, said:

I forgot what engine I run in mine, but I run 2 Large and 4 med pulse. Keep the 2 AMS and jumpjets. Its a fun mech and the arm mounted lasers are pretty high up.

That sounds like fun! Could you post a link, I'll take a look.

[Nightshade24]

JESTER

My preffered build...

Uses all the advantages... 6E hardpoints, quirks, JJ, double AMS, larger then norm engine. etc...

I left 1 ton for YOUR prefference... that can be XL 355 (faster), 1 more ton AMS ammo (more ams cover), or 1 more heatsinks. Your choice

[Chiron]

Nightshade24, on 28 June 2015 - 02:20 AM, said:

JESTER

My preffered build...

Uses all the advantages... 6E hardpoints, quirks, JJ, double AMS, larger then norm engine. etc...

I left 1 ton for YOUR prefference... that can be XL 355 (faster), 1 more ton AMS ammo (more ams cover), or 1 more heatsinks. Your choice

Nice idea, I like how its a jester build, not a wanna-be stalker or generic energy boat. What do you think about making it asymmetrical? So both 'LL are on one side, for poking. Also, I always move my ams ammo to the legs, since an ammo explosion + XL = adios.

[Athalus]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...687db2f9e8268be

Making use of NONE of the advantages of this chassis No JJ, no AMS and a small engine.

Still loving it!

Update: Actually got into the top 50 with this, so I guess it's viable.

Edited by Athalus, 28 June 2015 - 09:57 AM.

[Nightshade24]

Chiron, on 28 June 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

Nice idea, I like how its a jester build, not a wanna-be stalker or generic energy boat. What do you think about making it asymmetrical? So both 'LL are on one side, for poking. Also, I always move my ams ammo to the legs, since an ammo explosion + XL = adios.

It was a quick build rather then a strict copy pasta, on top of that I do not force people to use a build I post 100%. for eg some people like ST mounted ammo like this due to how ammo drains across the mech, others would do it in the head and CT while others see it a death sentence.

Anyway, you could have it on the same side, however this slightly takes away it's high E hardpoints that the Catapult K2 (and jester) is famous for, and switches it for a mech that has 1 strong side and 1 weak side which will be awkward when say your Large lasers are on your left but the cover in X situation is on the left.

In 'my' build it's ballanced and can use hills and buildings as cover from over the top rather then the sides.

All to do with play style. I am not a meta guy who preffers high mounted hardpoints always, but in this case lore wise and the made up jester does it anyway with the arms.

The arms pitch also allows it to be very nasty to UAV's even in mid or long range so that's a bonus

[RedlineHunter]

I have had lots of fun with this:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b15717afdde960e

[TheLuc]

if i had a jester, that would be my setup

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5b0b5428d011549

[CygnusX7]

After playing with them last night I ended up following a friends advice skipping the LL quirks and running what fills out the mech best.
2LPL, 4 MPL, 2 JJ's XL300.

JESTER

[Darwins Dog]

Chiron, on 27 June 2015 - 09:05 PM, said:

That sounds like fun! Could you post a link, I'll take a look.

I've been running the same weapon loadout with this build. It can easily drop 2x DHS for the AMS if missiles are a problem for you. LLs in the arms for poking and hill humping, and the MPLs for close range fighting. the 325XL makes for good speed and torso twisting.

Depending on your heat management, you can drop more DHS for a bigger engine. I tend to mash the fire button as fast as I can, so I try to keep mine above 40%.

[Wyest]

4xLL, XL350, dual AMS.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...812c5e6dc745c9b

3xLL, XL350, dual AMS.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6c9014eae99d4ce

3xLL, XL355.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3b7cf8846d3e10d

Latter two don't hillpoke as well without the arm LL's but get better heat management. They're all as fast as mediums, have reasonably survivability for such a large target, and you have decent range. Drop the AMS for DHS if you need more heat management.

Tweak to your preference.

[SmoothCriminal]

I have been toying with picking one of these up for a while - I will do so when it's next on sale. The below is the build I would run, to make use of the duration quirks (pure wub):

Wubster

[JC Daxion]

With so many mechs these days, i do tend to learn towards what mechs are good at.. To me for the Jester that means a fast heavy flanker/scout.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...73ffec8a19a9f78

It has Dual AMS, so use it, with 2.5 tons. These days, i don't run AMS unless i can use doubles, then skip radar dep, so it helps the team more.

Stuff in a XL325 at 90KPH your a heavy for scouting, and lance flanking maneuvers, it is pretty much one of the fastest heavies around outside of Dragons.

I also run a BAP, verse stripping a bit of leg armor, and dropping for 2 more doubles, you only gain 2% cooling, and .2 DPS, to me it isn't a trade off worth taking, as is jumping to an XL-330 for a little over 1KPH improvement. That Bap is really worth it for the amount of ECM on the field these days. Seeing i got to skip Radar dep on this mech, i go with improved sensor range+Bap, you can really target from afar. My other module i run is seismic, as when scouting, or leading a flank, you need that extra info.

A pair of LL's in the arms, and 4 MPL's for up close and personal, or when you get Hot, just fire 2 MPL's, the rest is armor and double heat sinks.

Finally a pair of JJ's to finish the mech off. What you end up with is a highly maneuverable, energy boat. It might not brawl as well as the TDR-5ss, but it is respectable, and you are 10KPH faster + JJ's which really is a big difference in handling. It's actually fun to run into one of the field, you have the speed to get out of it's range, then hammer it with LL's, till it's beat up, and you can move in for the kill.

To me it is kinda the faster more maneuverable TDR-5ss.. Just don't try to tank like in the TDR, cause the CT is just to big, it's a mech that works better on the flanks/ambush, or protecting the lance, and canceling ECM.

Edited by JC Daxion, 07 July 2015 - 04:12 AM.

[Audacious Aubergine]

Having a terrible time levelling one of these so far. Running it mostly stock but upgraded the CT lasers to mediums for a total of 4, and 2 LL in the arms
Pulse lasers seem to be the way to go, so I might work towards those. Would PPCs make sense to put onto the arms?

[B L O O D W I T C H]

Basically a fat stormcrow with a jumpjet

*edit wrong engine

Edited by LOADED, 13 July 2015 - 06:29 AM.

[Alekzander Smirnoff]

This is how I run my JESTER, pretty similar to everyone else's, I stuff an adv zoom, LL range+CD mod and a ML range mod in mine. Zooming around, hill humping, it wrecks pretty good even in brawling. Since I'm moving around so fast it makes it more difficult to focus damage in one spot but I try to stay back a little bit from the rest of the group. I may have to try that quad LPL build above for that face wrecking 44 damage wubfest!

EDIT, need to fix that signature... LOL.

Edited by Alekzander Smirnoff, 13 July 2015 - 06:40 AM.

[Richard Hazen]

I just got a catapult today and I'm shocked by how bad the armour is on it, even when maxed up and front loaded two shots from a ppc and it's nearly broken where as two shots against my thunderbolt or wolverine and I laugh it off, I dunno what is wrong with it but it can't stand up to any fire power at all, I'm deeply regretting buying it atm.