pwnface, on 11 October 2015 - 02:01 AM, said:
The Atlas has become less of a threat on the battlefield due to the mid-range laser vomit meta that is so prevalent now. It is very difficult to close the distance on your enemy without getting chewed to pieces and I think the ability to do so makes or breaks an Atlas pilot's success. If you are charging the enemy across open ground and don't utilize torso twisting correctly, you are going to have a terrible experience with this mech. However, if you can get within 300m without taking significant damage, there aren't many mechs that will be able to survive that encounter.
I'm not a spectacular Atlas pilot, in fact I only own the AS7-S and AS7-DDC. In the AS7-S without full basics, I've been able to consistently do 700-800 damage by knowing the right time to push and brawl the enemy. AC20 + 4SRM6 absolutely wrecks people at close range. If PGI would buff SRMs to where they belong, brawler builds common on the Atlas would be more competitive with other assault mech options currently available.
I have been piloting the Atlas all the time. But i don't think it's that all candy and roses what you are saying here.
When i jump in it i certainly know because of my name alone i mostly get priortized when running the Atlas. And second because it's a big target, just like the Direwolf.
Especially on the competiteve level, good opposite group play, PUGs who knows (e.g. some unit names, good players) know what they're doing will disable Atlas and other like mechs with ease. They will try to make you impossible to cruise within SRM or brawl range.
But that doesn't say that i am not succesfull at all. In fact i have topped several weeks go about 700-800 range in a hardcore Atlas-K. Group went smooth, i didnt go into brawl range and used any cover to protect my valueable armor. When the time was near and the team decided to have a go i got in and was shooting all over the place.
But i do also have 200 damage matches, 400 and even lowish 100 at times. Fact is i did had a more consistent peformance before more power mechs got added who are just plain better then the Atlas. It makes sense.
I think it all boils down on what experience and skills comes down to that specific match. Too random to say.
I do believe that you can be consistant if you face players who are either inexperienced, or you go pug - or they don't target you as a priority. Seen that enough times before PSR went live.
But i dont believe you that you can put up a consistant high grade peformance in both PUG and groupplay when you face enemies who know who are doing and or are outfitted heavily in the longer range.
That being said i find it a shame that alot of pilots are dropping pretty much valueable hardpoints in order to alpha vomit more and or fit it on the longer range. In my opinion customisation kills more then it does good. But it all depends on balance: customisation can be blessing or a curse. In our current state: its a curse.
But when balance hits the nail on the head; we would see blessing and have more mixed and loadout variety.
Edited by Sarlic, 11 October 2015 - 02:24 AM.
4
) is that it needs serious armour buffs. It doesn't need any geometry changes, weapon buffs or speed buffs, but it really needs much, much more survivability. The Atlas should not be the ultimate firepower mech - that title is definitely held by the Direwolf - but the Atlas should become what it was always meant to be, the most survivable mech in the entire system. If PGI are considering this then I'll be cautiously optimistic.
