9 replies to this topic

[JC Daxion]

Ok fellows, I decided to make a newbie guide.. It is basically the advice i typically give, over a very wide range of questions, So instead of just retyping it 3 times a week, i decided i would just make a cool guide, with pictures, and builds, and play styles, ect that sorta thing.. and then just add a link, or pull a copy paste from the guide when needed.

i know it is not the pre-nerf OP flavor of the month mech, but is the tripple Ac-2 build still a valid one? I sometimes wonder if it is, and ya just don't see it as often now as it is not the OP destroyer it once was? Or did it really get nerfed to far in the wrong direction?


But i also would love to know some builds that people use, that they think would be perfect for a new player to use.. Think variety on top of what is just fun. I know the typical ac5+PPC is a popular one, but what are some others that people enjoy?

Please just post builds for the grey death, 2H (C) and is it the 2d2, i forget off hand (the 3rd in the Paid mech pack package)

I thank you for your help

[TwoFistsofFear]

For my Gray Death I use 4 MPL and an AC10, I'm still a newbie myself but this is what I've seen recommended. Paired with the speed and jump jets on the Gray Death I can do fairly decent with it, decent by my standards anyway. Its low heat, good damage, you can carry a good amount of ammo for the AC, and I'm fairly certain my armors maxed out, or at least 95% so. I definitely have fun playing my Gray Death with this build.

[Leone]

So, the only Shadowhawks I ran outta those three was the 2H, (but not the (C) version.) My build was a simple two button mouse affair, meant to be a mech of the line.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4d4ae88b59074e5

Ammo an armour should, of course, be tweaked as needed. I still run that mech.

~Leone

[-Vompo-]

Here are all my current Shadowhawk builds. Armor values and all.

Spoiler

edit. Looks like some of those are not complete... Some of the armor values are messed up.

Edited by VompoVompatti, 29 July 2015 - 12:34 AM.

[FlipOver]

Things to remember when trying to point out builds for new players:

1 - A new player is usually unfamiliar with TorsoTwist, so NEVER USE XL ENGINES unless it is a light mech!
2 - Make it simple, if it has Missile Hardpoints, just put SRMs into them unless the mech cries out for lock-on Missiles. (Yes SRMs and not Streaks or LRMs, due to the fact that the new player will be required to lock and keep the lock for the guided missiles to hit)
3 - Still on the idea of making it simple, every time that's possible, use lasers... reasons: Not ammo dependent; they don't explode like a Gauss.
4 - Always make sure they will have more than enough HeatSinks. There nothing more frustrating for a new user who is unaware with heat management to try and keep fighting against a dying mech and lose due to constant overheat!
5 - Get them faster than usual engines (for SDH I would recommend something above 90kph)
6 - If possible 2 JJs minimum.


So in short:
New users should be tough that surviving longer will help them to deal more damage even with less powerful builds.
And the builds should enable them just that! Speed, less weak spots and maneuverability.

[-Vompo-]

So a massive standard engine and next to no weapons and preferably lasers for a shadowhawk... You must be joking... Why not let new players learn the game with a decent build which gives them a chance to fight back? They may die fast a few times but they'll learn faster to do things like torso twist if they have to do it.

A build like this will only make a new player quit the game and nothing else. This is just as FlipOver suggested. 90kph+ with a standard engine, armed mainly with lasers backed up with srms, 2 jump jets, more than min. heatsinks. I guess I still should put case in there so the srm ammo won't explode in the head.

[Toaster Repair Pony]

My Shotgun Shadow Hawk. I play it as a hit and run skirmisher. Alpha strike and run, turn back to fire the LBX and run. Use the arms as the shields. It's a solid mid-game mech.

[FlipOver]

VompoVompatti, on 30 July 2015 - 01:21 AM, said:

So a massive standard engine and next to no weapons and preferably lasers for a shadowhawk... You must be joking... Why not let new players learn the game with a decent build which gives them a chance to fight back? They may die fast a few times but they'll learn faster to do things like torso twist if they have to do it.

A build like this will only make a new player quit the game and nothing else. This is just as FlipOver suggested. 90kph+ with a standard engine, armed mainly with lasers backed up with srms, 2 jump jets, more than min. heatsinks. I guess I still should put case in there so the srm ammo won't explode in the head.

You may try to take what I say to a ridiculous level but make it as if you didn't want to look snarky.
This is in line of what I propose

STD engine, close to 90kph without speed tweak and over 90 with it, lasers and srms.

What's wrong about it? Oh, I see, it doesn't have the punch of a heavy and it doesn't require for the new player to know how torso twist for it to be effective. I'm such a bad person... I should know better! New players love the challenge of having to understand how to do torsotwist while still learning how to fire properly.... my bad!


Edit - Still at work, the loadout was build at haste and noticed all the ammo in one part, of course people can change it's position or even place them around if they prefer. Don't have time to think about it now

Edited by FlipOver, 30 July 2015 - 08:12 AM.

[Zookeeper Dan]

I disagree with not using an XL engine, especially in a Shadow Hawk. They are XL friendly with very tanky hitboxes. I only use standards in specific brawler builds, but I find that even the XL engine builds can brawl pretty well.

I cut my teeth on this build (or something very close, I can't check online right now).
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0db42f107291999
Stay at range and use the AC5's. If anything gets close use the SRM's. I had a medium laser instead of a ton of ammo, but found I never used it. There should be enough ammo that if you run out your team is already going to win.

My next was a 2K:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...74a61d8dcec852a
Standard 2K build, but I put in a bigger XL engine instead of the standard to fit 3 SSRM2's. Poke at range, send the streaks at any lights that get close.

My final build was for the 2D2, but with a sale I bought a Grey Death and ported the build over.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...29b4a2e7be081c4
This is a dedicated brawler with a asymetrical AC20 and 2 ML's. Fire, twist, fire. With the standard engine it can take a lot of punishment.

I'll probably turn my 2D2 into a missile brawler. Something with an AC10/LBX AC10 and SRM4's.

Shadow Hawks are my favorite mechs! They were the first mechs I mastered and even now when I want a high damage game I'll play my 2H or 2K.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Dakka 2H

Yeah it's slow... yeah it has SHS... yeah it doesn't have enough ammo... but... it hits like a gauss ever 1.6 seconds or so...

The sane version uses 2AC5 some SRMs and calls it a day. But... lets face it the newbie ain't gonna torso twist and they aren't gonna live all that long, so I figure it'll be good while it lasts.

Plus it's just fun.

Pew Pew SHD-2K

Stock engine high mounted laser vomit. Plus it's a good little brawler. Not as good as my version with an XL engine and SRMs but good.