204 replies to this topic

[Greenjulius]

Kyocera, on 10 August 2015 - 06:45 PM, said:

Levelling my Shadow Cats has got to be the most painful experience I've ever had in this game. I've tried to give it the time of day, I've tried to find a role for it and I've encouraged others to give it a chance but it's taken me 6 matches to earn the remaining 5,500 XP to master one of them. Yes, that's 6 matches during this double XP weekend to earn 5,500 XP.

I know not every mech is meant to be god tier and that even bad mechs can be fun to pilot or useful in some way. However the Shadow Cat is absolutely appalling in every single way.

That's... similar to my experiences.

However, I may have turned a new leaf by running a 2xERPPC build. It's hot as hell, but I just had a great game in it. I've been wanting to try it out for a while, but have been scared away by my previous terrible experiences with PPCs.

The jumping, speedy accel/decel and high mounted hardpoints are the reasons it works.

Edit: I just took it to therma and had another decent game despite the overheating. This mech really needs a PPFLD weapon, and PPCs seem to be it. If only I could put a gauss on with 1 PPC, this mech would really be quite a treat.

I have to say, I hate it for everything except for this ridiculous hot build.

Edit: Annnnddd just like that, the server crashed and ate my mech. I LOVE THE OCEANIC SERVER!

Edited by Greenjulius, 10 August 2015 - 07:02 PM.

[Deathlike]

FupDup, on 10 August 2015 - 06:49 PM, said:

I can get roughly 2000+ XP per match (with the double weekend) with derpy Urbanmech builds like 2 LL + 3 MGs...

Might it be a build thing? Did you frontload the torso armor? Probably want to use the legs that give the highest structure quirks (do this across all 4 variants).

Using UAVs helps as well (exchange spacebucks for XP).

Been derping with Urbies this weekend. Doing more work than most solo PUGs. It's sad, but true.

Kyocera, on 10 August 2015 - 06:45 PM, said:

Levelling my Shadow Cats has got to be the most painful experience I've ever had in this game. I've tried to give it the time of day, I've tried to find a role for it and I've encouraged others to give it a chance but it's taken me 6 matches to earn the remaining 5,500 XP to master one of them. Yes, that's 6 matches during this double XP weekend to earn 5,500 XP.

I know not every mech is meant to be god tier and that even bad mechs can be fun to pilot or useful in some way. However the Shadow Cat is absolutely appalling in every single way.

Actually make it 7 matches because on my 6th I just got insta-cored from being because this thing is easier to hit than a stationary Atlas.

Brawl first, brawl early, brawl often.

The best way to practice brawling is knowing when to show up. Use ASRMs and use ECM+Seismic to make life a little easier.

There's no better way to practice... especially with the fragility of the Scat.

The event is forcing me to practice this anyways.

[Bishop Steiner]

Greenjulius, on 10 August 2015 - 06:49 PM, said:

That's... similar to my experiences.

However, I may have turned a new leaf by running a 2xERPPC build. It's hot as hell, but I just had a great game in it. I've been wanting to try it out for a while, but have been scared away by my previous terrible experiences with PPCs.

The jumping, speedy accel/decel and high mounted hardpoints are the reasons it works.

Edit: I just took it to therma and had another decent game despite the overheating. This mech really needs a PPFLD weapon, and PPCs seem to be it. If only I could put a gauss on with 1 PPC, this mech would really be quite a treat.

I have to say, I hate it for everything except for this ridiculous hot build.

Edit: Annnnddd just like that, the server crashed and ate my mech. I LOVE THE OCEANIC SERVER!

my latest attempt to front load, and not roast alive
SHC-PRIME
Doing about as well as the PPCs, for me, but I can't stand sitting back and running the low volume of fire the dual PPCs require. Basically, IMO, it makes one into one of those Sniper Builds Braxton is railing against..... you simply are not a real benefit to the team in the 2x PPC build because of the horrendous RoF, IMO.

I also run an ER PPC and 2x ERMLs....it's decent but can get in heat debt pretty fast, too.

[Milocinia]

On my 7th match, needing only 300 XP to get the module slot unlock, after taking 6 matches to earn 5,200 XP, I finally get this match:



At least I got a laugh out of the sheer irony of it and the mental torture I've been through

[Greenjulius]

It's been two matches in a row where I've gotten tons of hits, probably decent damage and few kills, then the damn server blows up and eats my mech. Seriously? I'll be really happy when I get my last 3 matches in on the Oceanic server.

[Crosell]

two ppc seems tro be the best way to go. tried two er large and some srms, but its just a good poker mech peak shoot run, ive been enjoying it quite a bit. fun little mech.

[Greenjulius]

Crosell, on 10 August 2015 - 07:38 PM, said:

two ppc seems tro be the best way to go. tried two er large and some srms, but its just a good poker mech peak shoot run, ive been enjoying it quite a bit. fun little mech.

It just evaporates if you use ERLL. Anytime you fire, the enemy has so long to shoot back that you're bound to receive more damage than you dish out. 2xLPL isn't bad, but it's just so damn mediocre. Adding an extra ERML doesn't cut it either.

[Bishop Steiner]

Greenjulius, on 10 August 2015 - 07:43 PM, said:

It just evaporates if you use ERLL. Anytime you fire, the enemy has so long to shoot back that you're bound to receive more damage than you dish out. 2xLPL isn't bad, but it's just so damn mediocre. Adding an extra ERML doesn't cut it either.

basically, 2 PPCs, at best, are mediocre. Just less mediocre than 2LPL.

I'll 2xERPPC a Nova and wreck Shadowcats with 2ERPPC all day.

[Greenjulius]

Bishop Steiner, on 10 August 2015 - 08:29 PM, said:

basically, 2 PPCs, at best, are mediocre. Just less mediocre than 2LPL.

I'll 2xERPPC a Nova and wreck Shadowcats with 2ERPPC all day.

Oh, I totally agree. It's just that the SCat has so few options, we have to make the best of what we've got. Which is a burning hot 45 tonner with less hardpoints than most lights. Because the LPL builds are so disappointing, I'm really scratching the bottom of the barrel here to make it work.

I tried your UAC5/ERPPC build and found it fun. The speeds of the projectiles are obviously very off past 500m, but it works quite well.

As usual, the key is to keep this thing continuously moving, or else you explode instantly. And stay away from Cheetos and Firestarters. They will eat you for breakfast no matter what you bring. STAY AWAY!

[MechWarrior849305]

3C-ER-LLs+ECM, guyz. One of two working options on dat Sh!tCat. Made them all to master with this build, not that easy, of course, yet acceptable. Now I can happily forget about this piece of crap forever Can't believe I've spend 30 bucks on dat

Edited by DuoAngel, 10 August 2015 - 09:13 PM.

[bad arcade kitty]

yeah, imagine, 30$ it's enough to feed a whole village of hungry african ne... blacks, and you spent those money to make yourself suffer mastering a mech which you hate

[Corrado]

the SHC is surprisingly good... can cover many roles.

SHC-PRIME poptart

the ERPPC poptart is a classic

SHC-PRIME annoying eye of sauron

this. in most maps, when you can reach the highest spots, you'll be the sauron's eye, not a killier build, but can suppress snipers, LRM boats or add damage to the death ball targets.

SHC-PRIME griffin like brawler

this is more like a griffin 2N srm build. well the griffin does put damage out better due to the extra hardpoint and tight torso mounted bays.

[Widowmaker1981]

Bishop Steiner, on 10 August 2015 - 08:29 PM, said:

basically, 2 PPCs, at best, are mediocre. Just less mediocre than 2LPL.

I'll 2xERPPC a Nova and wreck Shadowcats with 2ERPPC all day.

ALL the nova has going for it on that role compared to the Scat is heat endurance. The Scat is faster, smaller, has better mounts, has ECM, has MASC for insta accelerate, jumps better (though the Nova does jump fine)..

If the Scat had the same heat endurance as the Nova it would be vastly better, so.. seems like its personal choice to me - but i get that the low DPS kills the mech for you. It doesnt for me.

Edited by Widowmaker1981, 11 August 2015 - 12:17 AM.

[Livewyr]

I'm not afraid of them in the slightest, but when I drive them- I do remarkably well in them. (Granted.. there is really only 1-2 builds it does well with, IMO)

It fits my playstyle, even if part of that is because PGI decided ECM needed to be VoidSig too.

[NephyrisX]

I actually went for a more general build with my Shadowcat.

CERPPC, 2XCSSRM6, CERML.

Suprisingly effective.

[bad arcade kitty]

c-uac-10 + 2 ml look as the most fun build imo

[spectralthundr]

bad arcade kitty, on 11 August 2015 - 01:11 AM, said:

c-uac-10 + 2 ml look as the most fun build imo

That's one of the builds I run, and consistently do 500+ a game with it. The 3 ER LL build also works just fine. As does the 2 ERPPC build. I'm kinda amazed people are having that much issue doing well in the scat, it's mobile as **** and is an awesome hit and run skirmisher.

[Bishop Steiner]

Widowmaker1981, on 11 August 2015 - 12:14 AM, said:

ALL the nova has going for it on that role compared to the Scat is heat endurance. The Scat is faster, smaller, has better mounts, has ECM, has MASC for insta accelerate, jumps better (though the Nova does jump fine)..

If the Scat had the same heat endurance as the Nova it would be vastly better, so.. seems like its personal choice to me - but i get that the low DPS kills the mech for you. It doesnt for me.

Jumping is pretty unimportant in most cases. Very seldom is 70 meter jumps useful in battle. But please play like a balloon, so I can shoot you even easier! It's nice for the maneuvering, that's about it. Nova also has more armor and reinforcement.

Also? Nova get's velocity boost to the PPCs if you build it right., +15% velocity, -6% heat generation, on top of having 4 more DHS over the Scat. Yes, it's slower, but then, the Scat isn't a Light mech either, it gets run down easily by Lights, and killed. So yes, please separate from the pack, and snipe, so my Cheeto can hunt you down and kill you.

The important trait though IS that it runs cooler. That means you can maintain a decent RoF, which the Scat cannot. So now if forced into a close fight, you actually have a snowballs chance in hell of survival, which is about twice what the Scat has. Also, with faster PPCs, intelligently played ghosting the main body, you can maintain a significantly higher RoF, meaning you are actually somewhat useful to the team, as you are actually hurting things fast enough to help the team, instead of being a vulture like Scat snipers.

[Bishop Steiner]

spectralthundr, on 11 August 2015 - 01:22 AM, said:

That's one of the builds I run, and consistently do 500+ a game with it. The 3 ER LL build also works just fine. As does the 2 ERPPC build. I'm kinda amazed people are having that much issue doing well in the scat, it's mobile as **** and is an awesome hit and run skirmisher.

Aside from with all the face time with 3ERLL any decent enemy will core you out while you stare, sure. And that I can lay out the same damage almost twice as fast in my 2x ERPPC Nova, thus helping the team a lot more(front loaded match damage means enemy dies faster, and your own team is less likely to experience CLG. Slower fire means a person might have a decent personal score, but usually at the cost of the team, who get to be meat shields while you scoot and shoot, and play vulture)

UAC10 and 2ERML is the most consistently useful build I have found on it, and even then, you better scoot and hope you can jump and hide from the stormcrows that scoot with you and hit a lot harder, while absorbing a heck of a lot more damage.

[Lugh]

One day I'll remember the carry harder picks of my recent Nova Exploits. It is easier to pilot than the SHC, the problem teams run in to, is that TOO many SHC on the field degrades their effectiveness. It's a mech that is best when it is being ignored. It's fragile, lacks sustained firepower, overall firepower, but it has EXCELLENT repositioning abilities. I'd rather it had a 3 ton heavier engine than the masc though, masc is underwhelming most of the time.