129 replies to this topic

[John Hartson]

AC/20 for sure!

I just love it!

[PANZERBUNNY]

I do fine sniping at decent range with AC 20. Just takes some getting used to when you try and line up shots.

Gotta make every shot count though. Especially with the Cata sporting AC 20 x2

[Broceratops]

when you're trying to shoot someone in the face and you're right next to them, and they're trying to shoot you in the face as well, its hard to argue for AC/10 over AC/20

i dont like the AC/10. if you're 500 meters out trying to do 10 damage, just shoot a couple medium lasers. they weigh way less even after adjusting for heat sinks, they dont need ammo, and they're a faster projectile since they're a beam of light compared to a ballistic.

only time I'd use an AC/10 is if i have to put in a ballistic hardpoint and I absolutely do not have the room for an AC/20.

Edited by Broceratops, 08 July 2012 - 09:50 AM.

[Sean Casey]

I tend to stick to energy weapons and missiles, but when I do use AC's I tend to stick to AC/5's.

As far as a question about the bigger gun having less range, I don't know the canon, but here is my theory:
The weight of the round is heavier on the bigger AC's and a bigger bore, but due to packaging limitations the case length remains the same or is shorter on the bigger rounds, thus giving a equal or less powder charge pushing a heavier round giving lower muzzle velocity and worse terminal ballistics, while still giving superior killing power at close range due to the sheer power of the round. For an attempt at an analogy:

AC/2 = 5.56x45
AC/5 = 7.62x39
AC/10 = .45-70
AC/20 = 12 gauge slug

[Tezkat]

I'm not a fan of the AC/20. They're big, bulky, short range, and have severely limited ammo supplies. The latter means you have to be much more careful with picking your shots than with comparably ranged weapons (such as medium lasers). Outside very restricted terrains (like cities), most of the things you want to shoot at will be in a position to dictate engagement ranges.

There are few situations in which an AC/20 is not vastly inferior to a Gauss Rifle, which has almost three times the range for only 25% less damage, carries more ammo, weighs a mere extra ton more, and takes up far less crit space. For roughly the same weight, you can also install four medium lasers and a crapload of heat sinks, giving you range and damage on par with the AC/20 but much more staying power. Among autocannons, the AC/10 is a significantly more versatile weapon.

Furthermore, MWO doesn't look like it will implement the tabletop rules for sharing crit space between parts, so the 10 critical slots for an AC20 mean that you can never put it on an arm with a hand, a torso with an XL engine, etc. It's pretty much only for mechs that are built around that type of loadout... and likely to be a gigantic target for anyone skilled enough to aim their shots.


That said, in MWLL, the various UAC/20 armed Mediums have lately become my go to early mechs of choice. There are a lot of maps well suited to fast, stealthy mechs running around to pick off stragglers at close range. The AC/20 has such absurd burst DPS that you can easily disable/destroy an enemy or two and use your speed to exit the engagement area before taking too much return fire. To be honest, however, that playstyle is a little too dependent on MWLL's easy access to repairing/resupplying your mech, which is something that reportedly will not be in MWO. There isn't much that's still standing after you pump a ton of AC/20 ammo into it, but once you've blown your load, you're left standing around holding an enormous impotent gun.

[XxZylonxX]

As long as you play at your chosen distance either is good.
It depends on the weapon loadout and speed of the enemy Mech.

[Undaunted5137]

In the old 'unltd ammo/no heat' slugfests in the city map, I was more inclined to use AC's. With a stock limited ammo and heat game, if I really need an AC, I want the biggest one I can use as close as possible. Good vibes from watching the big pieces fly off. Otherwise, stand off and use beam weps is my preference and use tactics over large clumsy assualt mechs. Itching to get back into MW after a few years off.

[Murku]

A note on the 'AC20 only weights 2 tons more and does double the damage', remember to factor in ammo and available space.

Therefore total potentual damages for a weight are:

AC10: 13t (8 slots) = 100dmg, 14t (9 slots)= 200dmg, 15t (10 slots)= 300dmg.
Stopping there as its unlikely you'll have opportunity for over 30 shots.

AC20: 15t (11 slots)= 100dmg, 16t (12 slots)= 200dmg, 17t (13 slots)= 300dmg, 18t (14 slots)= 400dmg, 19t (15 slots)= 500dmg, 20t (16 slots)= 600dmg.
Again thats our 30 shot time limit, but remember that to pace our AC10 a lot of those would likely not be at ideal range.

While an AC20 will spread damage less you also have more chance of ALL your applied damage hitting a different location than you were after, and between double armor and the DEVS stating there are no 'one hit kill spots' attrition is still the more likely way most showdowns will be decided.

I guess in a brawler damage over time is more relevant, but beyond that it's hard to see how AC10 is inferior...

Edited by Murku, 08 July 2012 - 10:49 AM.

[grimzod]

Future Perfect, on 08 July 2012 - 05:10 AM, said:

The AC-10 has a longer range and ten shells per ton than the five shells per ton for the AC-20.

What do you think?

Like any good economist my first answer is: it depends.

[cinco]

Psweet, on 08 July 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

Ah, but all of those are, in fact, fruits. As well as vegetables. Vegetable is a culinary term, fruit is both culinary and biological. Same goes for tomatoes, squash, and other vegetables that have seeds inside of them

nice first post

[Future Perfect]

Broceratops, on 08 July 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:

when you're trying to shoot someone in the face and you're right next to them, and they're trying to shoot you in the face as well, its hard to argue for AC/10 over AC/20

i dont like the AC/10. if you're 500 meters out trying to do 10 damage, just shoot a couple medium lasers. they weigh way less even after adjusting for heat sinks, they dont need ammo, and they're a faster projectile since they're a beam of light compared to a ballistic.

only time I'd use an AC/10 is if i have to put in a ballistic hardpoint and I absolutely do not have the room for an AC/20.

The maximum range for Medium Lasers are 270 meters just the same as the maximum range for the AC-20.

Edited by Future Perfect, 08 July 2012 - 10:56 AM.

[Adrian Carino]

Here's my take on it. The AC 20 is a brawlers weapon. In Mechwarrior I am not a brawler. I'm very much a long range, beat your armor down to nothing while you're trying to get close to me. Which is what would make the AC 10 and the smaller Autocannons ideal for me.

[Hayden]

I prefer the AC/10, but the AC/20 will get the job done, too.

[Zynk]

I'd pick the LB10X over either of those.

[Fiachdubh]

For me the extra difference in damage dealt in combination to the small weight difference make it an easy AC20 win every time.

[Future Perfect]

Hayden, on 08 July 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

I prefer the AC/10, but the AC/20 will get the job done, too.

Yeah but you have to consider the 180 meters longer range of the AC-10.

[Hayden]

Future Perfect, on 08 July 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

Yeah but you have to consider the 180 meters longer range of the AC-10.

...which is why I prefer it?

[Future Perfect]

Hayden, on 08 July 2012 - 12:27 PM, said:

...which is why I prefer it?

Ah, right!

[Skadi]

Step 1 acquire Atlas
Step 2 equip with 2 AC10's and 1 AC20
Step 3 ???
Step 4 Lololololololol

[Deathz Jester]

I think there's more to it then saying one is better than the other. A few points would be the AC10 has more ammunition, but the AC20 deals more damage in one hit. The AC10 presumably has more range, and the AC20 is less range. The accuracy, idk, I think that depends on the pilot. If I place a shot on someone's cockpit with an AC20 just right their dead, I dont think an AC10 can do that in 1 shot, I could be wrong. I would certainly say though that the AC10 has more useability on more mechs since it weighs less and has less drawbacks than the AC20. But then again thats going off of what I've seen in previous titles, and from readings.



*edit* I spelled presumably wrong lol

Edited by Iron Harlequin, 08 July 2012 - 12:39 PM.