10 replies to this topic

[Yellonet]

Is there some more hidden difference between these sidegrades than just exchanging weight for space?
If I can only have one I always use Endo steel because that seems to always take more weight off, but are there other differences that I'm not aware of, so that taking Ferro first may sometime be the better choice?

[Appogee]

Nope. in this game, it's only tonnage and crit slots.

BTW: New Player Help sub-forum is a better place to ask questions like this.

Edited by Appogee, 12 August 2015 - 05:28 AM.

[Yellonet]

Appogee, on 12 August 2015 - 05:27 AM, said:

Nope. in this game, it's only tonnage and crit slots.

BTW: New Player Help sub-forum is a better place to ask questions like this.

Thanks and sorry.

The descriptions are a bit confusing, at first I thought that Ferro gave better protection and endo stronger structure.
Maybe for game purpose they should just be called weight saving 1 and 2...

Edited by Yellonet, 12 August 2015 - 05:31 AM.

[Escef]

Nope, endo is ALWAYS the better choice. Ferro armor gets just shy of 36 points per ton, as opposed to standard plate getting a flat 32. Endo steel halves the weight of your internal structure, bringing it down from 1/10th total tonnage to 1/20th. Neither has any other effect (except, of course, for those 14 crit slots they soak up). Most lights can run both, a large number of mediums can, a small number of heavies.. and maybe one or two niche assault builds.

[Wronka]

Nope, there is nothing hidden, endo steel is always the better choice over ferro-fibrous because it saves more weight and both cost 14 critical slots.

Oh, I should probably also note these only take up 7 crit slots for clan mechs, but you cannot change those at this time anyway.

Edited by Wronka, 12 August 2015 - 05:34 AM.

[Paigan]

Appogee, on 12 August 2015 - 05:27 AM, said:

Nope. in this game, it's only tonnage and crit slots.
[...]

Which is SO sad.
I always wondered why this is so ever since TT as a teen.
My only explanation up to know is: moronic game mechanics (just like a 20tonner having equal "space" as a 100tonner, etc.)

[Coralld]

Endo is always the best, Ferro, not so much, but as mentioned by Escef, most Lights and Mediums can run both and can come in handy, but if you really had to choose, Endo all the time.

I wouldn't be against a Ferro buff by say making it so that all sections of a mech other than its head gets 5 points of armor.
This will mostly help Lights and Mediums most as well as being a small buff to Clan mechs who only have Ferro and no Endo.

Paigan, on 12 August 2015 - 06:12 AM, said:

Which is SO sad.
I always wondered why this is so ever since TT as a teen.
My only explanation up to know is: moronic game mechanics (just like a 20tonner having equal "space" as a 100tonner, etc.)

That's because if you look at the size comparisons between the weight classes in classic BT you will find that Lights and Mediums were the same size as Heavies and Assaults. However, if that was the case is MWO, then no one would ever run those classes, we have seen what kind of effect size and shape of a mech has in a shooter.

[Yosharian]

Yellonet, on 12 August 2015 - 05:24 AM, said:

Is there some more hidden difference between these sidegrades than just exchanging weight for space?
If I can only have one I always use Endo steel because that seems to always take more weight off, but are there other differences that I'm not aware of, so that taking Ferro first may sometime be the better choice?

It's never an advantage to use Ferro over Endo.

Some mechs are able to take both; that's the only time you use Ferro.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Basically, use Endo. Can you take Ferro too? If yes, take Ferro, if no, don't.

Often I use Endo to fit bigger weapons, but if Ferro fits and I don't need the extra crit space for DHS or anything else, I then equip Ferro as a way to often increase my engine size and speed/maneuverability.

Something like that is about the only use for Ferro really.

[Lynx7725]

MeiSooHaityu, on 12 August 2015 - 06:29 AM, said:

Basically, use Endo. Can you take Ferro too? If yes, take Ferro, if no, don't.

Not always. Endo's crit soak becomes a problem as you go up the weight scale, which can afford the weight for big weapons but may not find the space.

Ferro's really that much more important for lights, as they need to squeeze every ounce of performance, and are usually restricted by weight to smaller weapons anyway.

Inner Sphere Ferro only have a marginal improvement, which as you use larger mechs, the relative effect is much less. Clan Ferro gives a bigger boost for less crit soak, which makes it much more relevant for heavier designs.

[FupDup]

Ferro saves you some weight.
Endo saves you more weight.

The BT/TT excuse was that Ferro was the "Space Poor" upgrade. If you were too much of a hobo to afford Endo, your only choice was Ferro. But once you did have enough money for Endo, you always used Endo (unless you could fit both).