317 replies to this topic

[Bishop Steiner]

First and foremost.... hey, we got what we paid for. The Hardpoints were known long ago, so this is no QQ about that.

Firstly, the in game Model?

GORGEOUS. Might be my favorite mech, visually since the old K2. It's pretty well scaled, perhaps 5% larger overall than I would have called perfect, but close enough to not matter.

Hitboxes? Well, only a dozen matches so far, but nothing stands out in a bad way. The STs everyone feared would be bullet magnets, haven't appeared to be yet, nor does the CT seem particularly prone to coring. In general, it feels a little more fragile to me than a BJ or VND, but only a little bit, and with no component really standing out as the "culprit". Part of that might be related to the relative lack of firepower though, requiring more facetime to achieve much. More on that later.

Agility? Feels great, even without anything unlocked. Am a little underwhelmed with MASC on it, but I might just not be used to it yet, so am not maximizing it's potential. Good twist rate, good turning and speed, easy to keep my guns on the enemy. No complaints here.

Jumping? Oh baby. Baby, baby. Does she like to to jump. Feels like it jumps better than my Arctic Cheetah, which is doubtful, but that's how it feels. Nimble, good thrust, with more than enough power to stay airborne, or even stall in the air, or hover then gain altitude. Add a MASC sprint to the jump, and it almost feels like a Spider, or at least a Mist Lynx.

Firepower? Well, here's the downside, so far. We knew the tonnage, we knew the hardpoints. It definitely doesn't boat (unless you have the "P" and want to MG boat). Tonnage is low to make much use of ballistics, otherwise, though. Missiles are about 1 hardpoint shy of ideal (4) and likewise with Energy, where it really feels like it could use a pair of dual Energy Hardpoint arms.

So it kind of combines the weaponry issues of the Summoner and the Nova. And....for such moderate firepower....it tends to be a bit warm. The firepower isn't horrible, but it's not the easiest mech to build, IMO, because no single weapon role just jumps out at you, like with most mechs. Perhaps in the upcoming rebalance it will get some extra offensive quirks?

Anyhow, have varied a whole lot of weapons in it, and probably my most successful has been my most basic, running a UAC10, 2 ERMLs and ECM. Been experimenting with missiles and lasers, but haven't had one of those yet that I have fallen in love with.

Current Test Loadouts
SHC-PRIME
SHC-A
SHC-B

How about you chaps?

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 21 July 2015 - 06:32 PM.

[Wintersdark]

2 LPL's works well, but isn't interesting. 2 ERML and 3xSSRM6 is fun but unreliable due to the numbers of ECM mechs about; 2 MPL 3xASRM6 is pretty damn brawly.

Its not fragile, but it is a 45 tonner, so it certainly can't tank much either.

So far, I've found MASC most useful for pushing up speed prior to jumping, or for escaping/closing range. Unlike the EXE-D, the shadowcat is already so manoeuvrable and agile that you don't really notice the impact of MASC on it for acceleration or quirk reversing. It does help, but isn't really amazing.

[pbiggz]

Iv had the most success with 2 LPLs and 6 Machine guns. Trying to look for something with a bit of punch but double ppc is too hot, and missiles are kind of lackluster. It has magnificent potential but im not in love with it yet. YET.

Edited by pbiggz, 21 July 2015 - 06:33 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Probably my next test subject
SHC-A

[Quicksilver Aberration]

My only real complaint about the model is the dynamic geometry bothers me, especially the missiles. I understand they made it so if it could mount hands, it would be able to mount missiles and energy, but that's not how it worked out.

Would love to see the dynamic geometry be more dynamic like the Cicada, so that if you use the A arms, the laser barrel is in the hand position.

The MASC does feel a bit underwhelming, but it is still useful. I do find myself not using it as much as I do on the (S)Exe.

Firepower, it would be nice if it could Gauss vomit, but it still feels better in the firepower department than the Fridge, and has more toys (ECM, JJs, and MASC) to play with.



That said, I do enjoy the ERPPC + UAC5 SCat quite a bit even if it isn't as good as the Nova poptart.

Edited by WM Quicksilver, 21 July 2015 - 06:40 PM.

[Light-Speed]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 July 2015 - 06:36 PM, said:

Probably my next test subject
SHC-A

Try small pulse lasers.

edit: NVM, you are using artemis SRM + med lasers just for the sake of range, right?
Each to their own then.

Edited by Nightingale27, 21 July 2015 - 06:49 PM.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I was thinking the Shadow Cat was kind of the Clan version of the Cicada (at least from the Sean Lang vids), does that seem about right?

Obviously they aren't the same (like the Cicada not having JJs or MASC), but the general feel and theme seemed about right (fast and agile medium with maneuverability and sneakiness (ECM) over pure brawn).

[Kiiyor]

I love the thing. It's like a little ninja.

I've just got to get used to co-ordinating MASC with JJ's, because my muscle memory stubbornly refuses to acknowledge it as a tactical aid. JJ's for direction chances, MASC for stops and starts - and that's where it shines.

The speed boost is of marginal value, but the acceleration is freaking awesome. You can stop and start on a dime.

[ScarecrowES]

It's kinda in a bad space. It doesn't seem to get trade-off benefits for its negatives the way a lot of other mechs do. Like... the Cicada gets good speed and decent hardpoints to balance out its fragility. The Shadowcat is slow. It's got good pod space, but no hardpoints to optimize it. If MASC worked better, it might get the speed trade-off it needs. If it got a few extra energy hardpoints, it'd have better firepower options. It probably should have had hardpoint inflation for energy hardpoints in the arms. A set of 4ERMLs would have have better complimented the available primary hardpoints.

I'm going to have to reserve judgement until it's elited. A bump in speed and agility might be nice. We'll see if the better elited heat scale helps run the bigger weapons more reliably. Who knows. It looks fantastic, and it really should be sitting in a sweet spot, but... meh.

[Light-Speed]

MeiSooHaityu, on 21 July 2015 - 06:39 PM, said:

I was thinking the Shadow Cat was kind of the Clan version of the Cicada (at least from the Sean Lang vids), does that seem about right?

Obviously they aren't the same (like the Cicada not having JJs or MASC), but the general feel and theme seemed about right (fast and agile medium with maneuverability and sneakiness (ECM) over pure brawn).

Only reason I brought the Shadow Cat was that it can do my favorite medium build (which was on the Cicada) better than the Cicada can before, due to obvious superior mobility.
So you are quite right.

[Tallyn]

If you want firepower, go with this build: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...41c91352a59c121 Low armor and ammo, but the firepower's there.

[Bishop Steiner]

Nightingale27, on 21 July 2015 - 06:39 PM, said:

Try small pulse lasers.

I prefer to be able to hit past 300 meters

[MeiSooHaityu]

Tallyn, on 21 July 2015 - 06:48 PM, said:

If you want firepower, go with this build: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...41c91352a59c121 Low armor and ammo, but the firepower's there.

I like the out-of-the-box thinking, but those legs are FAR too fragile. You might have to ditch the SRM4 launcher and something else to build up some armor.

[Bishop Steiner]

MeiSooHaityu, on 21 July 2015 - 06:57 PM, said:

I like the out-of-the-box thinking, but those legs are FAR too fragile. You might have to ditch the SRM4 launcher and something else to build up some armor.

Yeah, I find a solo srm rack largely pointless, TBH, for me, anyhow.

[pbiggz]

I think of the shadow cat more like a clan vindicator, which itself has some hard point issues, but I had a lot of success with double standard PPC vindicators, and double LPL-medium laser vindicator jumpers, so thats what I think im going to do with the shc at the moment. Double LPL 6 machine gun, and double LPL ER medium laser.

[Wintersdark]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 July 2015 - 06:58 PM, said:

Yeah, I find a solo srm rack largely pointless, TBH, for me, anyhow.

It's because of utilization, I think.

A SRM6 rack throws nearly gauss rifle damage downrange, so it's not insignificant. However, it requires separate leading for aim, close proximity, and is sandblasting that damage all over the place. The SRM4... eh. Down to 8 damage, tighter but still spread? In respect to the posted build, I'd take armor over that any day.

Overall, I find a single SRM rack is mostly just not worth using not because the damage isn't worth it, but because of the situation you need to be in to use it - when you've got lots of SRM's, it's worth going there and dealing with the hard range cap. With just one launcher, you're usually better off hanging back more as your weapons typically have much longer range. The added danger isn't worth the limited impact.

[Light-Speed]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 July 2015 - 06:49 PM, said:

I prefer to be able to hit past 300 meters

You would rather hinder your ability to continue fighting AND lower your DPS that you can may scratch your opponents better?

[Bishop Steiner]

Nightingale27, on 21 July 2015 - 07:16 PM, said:

You would rather hinder your ability to continue fighting AND lower your DPS that you can may scratch your opponents better?

Call it what you will. But yes, I would prefer to be able to hit things outside knife fighting range too.

Wintersdark, on 21 July 2015 - 07:05 PM, said:

It's because of utilization, I think.

A SRM6 rack throws nearly gauss rifle damage downrange, so it's not insignificant. However, it requires separate leading for aim, close proximity, and is sandblasting that damage all over the place. The SRM4... eh. Down to 8 damage, tighter but still spread? In respect to the posted build, I'd take armor over that any day.

Overall, I find a single SRM rack is mostly just not worth using not because the damage isn't worth it, but because of the situation you need to be in to use it - when you've got lots of SRM's, it's worth going there and dealing with the hard range cap. With just one launcher, you're usually better off hanging back more as your weapons typically have much longer range. The added danger isn't worth the limited impact.

Only thing I pretty much ever use a single missile hardpoint for is an LRM15. At least that I get SOME degree of utility out of.

BTW...did I mention this thing can jump?

I mean like... I'm bounding rooftop to rooftop like Jason Bourne, and squeeeing all the way!

[Rebas Kradd]

In other words, it's a true medium mech? About time.

[Mcgral18]

As I'm grinding out efficiencies...I think it's a ******* piece of ****.

CW it might have a place, but the PUG LIFE is a painful experience.


2 tons from MASC would let it mount a Gauss and ERMLs. Shame it's wasted.