10 replies to this topic

[Discojaddi]

Currently running a simple Boomcrab loadout (2ac20, 2ERLL, XL350) But I've been having a problem getting ST'd and killed with the XL way too frequently. I want to downgrade to STD, but going to a STD350 causes me to cut the ERLL's to just ML's, giving me no option for engaging targets out of my cannon reach. Should I cut engine size (325) and drop heatsinks in order to accommodate the LL's?

[Void Angel]

Possibly. The Crab is a 100-ton Battlemech, as I'm sure you're aware; it's never going to be terribly fast, which means that your engine speed is more about crossing sight lines (such as starting in F3 on Caustic Valley and trying to link up with your team) and maneuvering in the brawl - as opposed to an ability to tactically maneuver at speed. So, - though I wouldn't go lower than a 325, dropping the engine may be an acceptable solution to your side-coring problem.

On the other hand, 325 may drop your speed to a point that you end up taking more damage than you are used to, or have more difficulty keeping up, than you may have experienced before. I gave up my LB-X shotgun Atlas when the Clan invasion first hit because there were so many enemy 'mechs that could both double my speed and project a lot of firepower downrange. I found that while I was still fine in the brawl, that 57kph just wasn't getting me under cover fast enough. I'm thinking about going back to that build, though - because nothing you can do with an Atlas is nastier in close quarters than a Hillbilly Shotgun Atlas. It packs a ton of firepower, but most tellingly, it is efficient doing it - just as your Medium Lasers make you able to sustain your brawling longer at close range, since your primary weapons are the AC/20s.

So, the upshot of it all is that you should try it. If you find you're not getting to the fight fast enough, or behind cover in time to reduce your pre-brawl damage, then by all means go back up to a larger engine and try to play your Crab more like a Boar's Head; a superheavy Medium, essentially. If the expanded reach is worth the lower speed, then by all means stick with that, too. The important thing is that you monitor how you actually perform with the 'mech over a good number of matches. Test it out, stick with it for a while, and see how you do - then adjust accordingly.

[Escef]

I go with a 325 standard, 2xAC20 (7 tons ammo), 2xML, and 2xLRM5 (1 ton ammo), CASE (in left torso with the LRM ammo and 2 tons of the AC ammo), near max armor (81 per leg, everywhere else maxed), 3 extra double sinks (2 in the engine, 1 in the left torso to pad the ammo). It works just fine. The LRMs are there mostly to give me something to do while closing range, as the very aggressive playstyle I usually default to needs something to curb it on this mech (you don't want to commit too early, or you WILL get wrecked).

You can successfully use an XL engine on a KGC, but it should be reserved for long range builds, as the XL will get you murdered up close. I run a 350XL on my 2xGauss/2xERPPC King Crab, and it works just fine so long as I don't get pulled into a brawl.

This highlight shows both my AC40 Crab in action and what happens when an XL Crab gets pulled into a brawl.

[Discojaddi]

yeah, this is exactly why I want to go to a STD, tired of failing my XL check. I'm sacrificing some speed to try the STD 325 but otherwise the same ERLL and ac40 build as above

[Mercworks]

I would never put an XL in a Crab. It's not only that it doesn't really provide that many benefits, but rather the Crab is a long, flat mech, particularly when seen from above. That means that you're gong to get swamped with arcing missiles the whole game, and terrain will be less handy than it would for most other mechs. Besides, there's not much you can do with the extra tonnage. Two ER Large Lasers aren't worth exposing your gigantic frame to enemy fire to use, and you're much better off hanging back and letting the snipers duel until you can go crashing into the enemy front line. If you feel compelled to fight at range, swap your double 20s for quad UACs (which I think are better close up anyway).

[Aggravated Assault Mech]

Boomcrab?

It's just a normal King Crab, I don't think it needs a new name.

[Roadkill]

Speed is overrated in a 100-ton Assault. I've been using Standard 300s in my Atlases, Dire Wolves, and now King Crabs all along. The point of a 100-ton Assault is to come loaded for bear, not to use half your payload to get an extra 15 kph.

I run 2 different builds on my 000s, both using a Standard 300:

2 x AC/20, 2 x LPL
4 x UAC/5, 2 x MPL

The latter build is better, but the AC/20 build is a lot of fun. If you pay attention to your mini-map it's usually not that hard to keep up with the team, even at 53 kph.

[Escef]

Roadkill, on 02 August 2015 - 03:51 PM, said:

Speed is overrated in a 100-ton Assault. I've been using Standard 300s in my Atlases, Dire Wolves, and now King Crabs all along. The point of a 100-ton Assault is to come loaded for bear, not to use half your payload to get an extra 15 kph.

All the guns in the world are of no use if you can't get into a position to use them. Besides, on Atlases (and some King Crab builds) you run out of crit slots and hard point before you run out of tonnage, might as well throw the difference into a bigger engine.

[Discojaddi]

I still like using xl engines on my 4uac and dual gauss builds, because they can and should be hanging back a bit. I usually die by st still, but it's a small price to pay for the extra damage and speed I get.

[TheLuc]

well thats the closest I can come up with to answer your question

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...8fd4e4da05e9c50

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

IMO xl makes sense on alot of my crab builds. I run thing like 2 gauss, 2 ppc or 2 gauss, 3 ppc or 4 ac5, 2ppc or 4 uac5, etc.