39 replies to this topic

[Artemis Ellis]

Hey guys. I have been playing for a little while now but I have alot to learn. I played most of the trial mechs except the Ice Ferret. I tried others that had LRMs and I just dont care for them. I did not get along with the clan mechs.

I played the trials until I had 17 million and by then I had fellen in love with the trial Banshee BNC-3M(C). I now own one with STD350, 3LPL, 3MPL.

My point for this thread: I do not want to buy two more Banshees yet even though I know I have to eventually. I want to buy a heavy, medium and/or light to make a CW group before maxing them. I need help with picking a mech from each class that fits my style. You guys know about the other mechs that are not trials that I do not have access to test drive. Please, recommend some according to a list of what works with my style.....

Weapons: (Favorite to least) Pulse lasers, lasers/autocannons, srm..........lrms blech.
Jumpjets: Take them or leave them.
Style: I go with the group and provide supporting fire from cover. I will push but I have been hanging back lately because I seem to push and die alone. My fault for bad timing maybe. I now wait to push when I see another teammate push. USUALLY others will go when two go in blazing.

MECHS

Light: I liked the Raven trial with ecm and erlls best of the trial lights. The Firestarter with pulse lasers I have read about is appealing.

Medium: I liked the Griffin the best of the trials. I did like the shotgun effect of all the srms. The Shadowhawk seems interesting too since it looks like it has higher set weapons.

Heavy: I liked the Thunderbolt with the three lpls the best. (Maybe I am a one trick pony but I know what I like.) I read the Battlemaster is a smaller Banshee and it seems interesting. I watched a Battlemaster with pulse lasers get 6 kills in one match.

I know there have been more than a few threads like this. I hope I gave you enough information to make a suggestion.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Xbwalker]

All 3 of your self suggestions are pretty much what I would recommend.

Light: If you sacrifice some armor do the Raven 4X with 2x LgPlse (very fun)
Medium: SHD is ok I suppose. I didn't like mine much. I am really enjoying the enforcer however. Pretty fast and spammy on the ballistics.
Heavy: Thunderbolt is good for what you like.
Assault: Another one you may wish to consider one day (especially since they are buffing it soon) is the Atlas. I use 3 LgPlse on mine and an LBX Autocannon. Having great matches so far in that.

[Artemis Ellis]

Thanks man. I just did not know if there were some medium and heavy mechs that I did not think of because there are so many that are not available for trial. I did try all of the ones in the academy that we can pilot. I really tried to research before having to ask.

[Fobhopper]

If you like the fire support role, take a CTPL-C1. Its got 2 lrm 15's, and you can stick 4 medium lasers on it, and if you really want you can have jump jets on it (not really worth it on a catapult nowadays, i would drop them and get more LRM ammo). It may not be the most thrill-seeking mech you could play, but you can at least continue the fight after you run out of LRM ammo though.

For heavy mechs, I personally love the **** out of the KGC (king crab). If you love ballistics, get the KGC-000, you can stick quad AC5's in the arms, or run dual ac20's and really put the hurt on people. I recommend putting a 310 standard engine (or 325 if you want an extra heat sink and a little more speed) running 2 AC20's, an SRM6 and an AMS with 1k ammo. take 1 ton of SRM ammo and 1 ton of AMS ammo, and then load up on AC20 ammo (you're going to need as much as you can pack).
If you like LRMs, take the KGC-0000, put on 2 AC5's in the arms, 2 LRM 15's or 3 LRM 10's, and a couple lasers and you have a crab thats dangerous at all ranges. Its an odd-duck build but I have had more than a few games with over 1k damage and several kills to my name. Considering the KGC is a slow mech, having weapons that allow you to reach out and touch someone you cant catch up to is very nice.

For light mechs, I really love the spider. Not because its the most DPS light mech, but because you can get away with some wierd builds that work. 1 or 2 target painters and a couple SPL lets you target paint 2 targets if you unlock your arms. I also really like the commando that can equip ECM. I put a narc launcher and a small laser and SRM on it and run all over the place narc'ing mechs and running away. When I really like going off the rails though, the AC20 Huginn (raven) build is drop dead hilarous (not recommended for serious play).

[Elizander]

Lights I'm not that great and I don't own too many. Raven's always a safe bet if you want long-range and high mounts. I own one and sometimes I put 2 LPLs on it for fun.

The Shadowhawk 2K has 3 high laser mounts and you can easily plug 3 nice lasers on it. The HBK 4P can actually run 3 LL/6ML with a decent engine and lolsvomit on anything. Also has 7 high mounts out of 9.

Heavy Vomit would probably go to Grasshoppers (I don't own them) but I really mostly do Gauss + 3 LL on heavies or 3x UAC/5 since they can take the weight. Oh, people like their Thunderbolts so look at those.

[Leone]

So, first off Let's look at your stated goal.

Artemis Ellis, on 10 November 2015 - 12:22 PM, said:

I want to buy a heavy, medium and/or light to make a CW group before maxing them.

So, we have a BNC, which is 95 tonnes, and we would like to fit a CW load out around it, that leaves us with 145 tonnes left. We have here, two options, try and spread the remaining tonnage, something like two fifty tonners an a fourty-five, or go heavy and bring more lights. Maybe something like a 65 tonne Thunderbolt with only 80 tonnes left to work with

I personally ran 95, a pair of 55's and a 35. However, if you can find a decent 45 tonner, something like the blackjack, you could very well start Banshee, move onto Thunderbolt, bring a blackjack and finish with a Firestarter. Not a shabby drop deck. I think one of those two would do you best.

So, all told, your prolly gonna hafta get a light. As mentioned, you could do without however, if you wanted something like two hunchbacks and a blackjack. However, a 35 tonner fits well in most drop decks, so, perhaps let's start there and work our way up. Raven or FS9, both make pretty solid choices, though each has it's own niche it does better at. A preference for pulses seems to me more of a mid ranged or brawling preference. Raven can do midrange perfectly fine, but the Firetarter excels at the brawl. Raven can bring ECM, and the Firestarter really only brings some ams. So, decide which is more important to you, midrange or brawling, and whether or not ecm is a consideration and pick based on that.

Next, deciding on your middle weight mechs. This'll be a doozy of a choice, since there are so many options. You have 110 tonnes to work with. Two 55 tonners, a 60 an a 50 or a 45 an a 65 seem like the best options, short of getting a second light.

So the question here becomes, if you love the Thunderwub, do you think you could love the Blackjack? Does the wide variety of IS fiftfive tonners have anything you think you could enjoy? Or would you be willing to take a cicada into CW in order to bring a Dragon or quickdraw?

Let's look first at the blackjack, since you know you enjoy the Thunderbolt.
So, you can run it hot and pulse heavy. Technically build more for normal lasers, I'd think most folk would prefer to trade some of those pulses for more heat sinks. BJ-1X, Loves some Wub
Or try out some ACs, the blackjack's a decent ac platform I hear, though I don't pilot one myself.

Then of course there's the top of the medium weight class. The Wolverine is going to always be energy on the right with missiles on the left. With your preference against the missile options, you could just ignore them and shield side with your left. The WVR-6K is a classic, often seen running the right arm Large Laser fist.

Griffins also tend to run all their energy in the right arm, but since I don't have em, can't really give any personal suggestions about em, and have forgotten where they usually stand in beginner mech suggestions, though I seem to recall em being more often suggested than the shadowhawks.

The shadowhawk is usually run as an AC or Uac mech, but can, at most carry three Pulse lasers. Here is a well known build utilizing the high shoulder hardpoints, though not something I run. SHD-2K, the Pulsinator Of course, you'd want something else as back up, and I personally am a fan of the dual uac 5 builds. The shadowhawk is a tall mech though, so beware, your great at hill humping, but often shot at.

You could nab the Dragon 1N, an over-quirked one trick pony that could do you some good until the quirks change and follow up with the venerable hunchback, a solid soldier of a mech.

Lastly, well, could you enjoy piloting a cicada in CW? A medium that plays like a light, I don't see too many in CW, but if you bring one you could round out your load out with a grasshopper or a cataphract.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 10 November 2015 - 04:56 PM.

[InspectorG]

Artemis Ellis, on 10 November 2015 - 12:22 PM, said:

Thanks in advance for any help.

Here are some ideas.

Banshee can do wubs just fine. No need for a Battlemaster, unless you really like Battlemasters.

Banshee M can run pulse lazers and for thrills save up for a 400XL engine.

Banshee E runs dakka. 2LL+3AC5

Banshee S is kinda funny. AC20+8ML or 2LPL+Gauss+4ML.

Thunderbolts or Quickdraws are good heavies.

Mediums have several choices depending on what you like.

For a light, run FS for CW.

[Artemis Ellis]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I mistyped about the missiles though, I do like srms but I am NOT a fan of lrms and tried to.....push them down the list. I cannot seem to keep a lock or hit the broad side of a barn with them lol. Just me.

Firestarter is my light mech pick. TYall.

Medium is tricky. I like autocannons and would like to have a mix of those and lasers. The Stormcrow trial has that but I didnt do well with any clanners. Just me being a rookie bc others kick butt with them. Wolverine is an option to run srms and lasers maybe?

Heavy is another tricky one.

Assaults Banshees until I get them maxed out.

You guys gave me a buffet for thought. Muchas gracias.

[Leone]

Well, in the interest of expediency and savings, I would suggest bringing two 55 tonners to round out your CW drops. That way you've only three mechs to skill up to start.

Again, not sure where griffin's stand.

If you don't mind taking a slow engine, uac 5 Shadowhawks can be real killers. I present the SHD-5M, Downgeared. Fortunately low gear standard engines are relatively cheap.

However, for standard AC 5s, the WVR-6R has better quirks. Granted, the shadowhawk could be built more like the wolverine I showcased, since the 5M comes with an xl engine. ... In fact, I think that's the very engine my Wolverine is using...

Anyways, they're both decent mechs, and I've heard griffins can be nice too, though I don't see 'em as much, so good luck choosing. Oh, and I've sent a friend request, so if you ever wanna seem em in action, I could showcase a wolverine or shadowhawk for ya.

~Leone

[SethAbercromby]

Griffins ended up being too versatile for their own good when it comes to building 'Mechs for Meta. The heavy right-side bias a blessing and curse for most. It got outshined by the SHD in the wake of jump-sniping, though became a fairly popular SRM brawler for a while due to the large amount of hardpoints on some variants in combination with Jump Jets, a role that has been largely taken over by Clan 'Mechs.

Like the Centurion they can take a lot of punishment when you know to shield with your left side, but when you lose the right, that's basically it.

Their quirks also weren't anything to really make them stand out against SHDs or WVRs which offered more hardpoints and more interesting quirks for laservomit (Sparky notwithstanding) and the lack of ballistic hardpoints made them rather unpopular as well.

Personally I enjoy using GRFs in more of a support role. They are flexible and it's easy to get around the map, PPCs and LLs don't require ammo while SRMs allow you to put pressure on anyone that tries to get a jump at your or your teammates' back and can be a solid crutch in a brawl.

[The Basilisk]

An Assault mech in a CW dropdeck is always a problem.
Reason:

-- Those playing CW with a remote plan what they are doing, will play organized enough that your Assault will be more squishy than any other mech you could field.

-- So you are just using up tonnage for a short to med range mech that will be just ripped appart by Clan PPC and Gauss at ~800m ( Or CERLL and Gauss )

-- Since you used so much tonnage on your unmastered Assault you will be severely limited with your choices on other mechs. ( that will be unmastered as well -,- )
You need four of them. 240 - 95 = 2 x 50 + 25 = 2x 35 + 55 ... and so on

-- You did not master the Banshee, that means you are stuck on 1x basics atm
So you get at best 60% of what the mech could be or do.
( unlocking elite means you get doubletime basics and the speed from speedtweak is a MUST HAVE for any assault or you will be left behind and just die )
At the moment.
With the rebalancing done this may change.
Never the less you shouldn't even think about CW without 4 fully mastered chassis and at the moment at least one should be ECM capable. ( ECM Griffin f.e. )

That said....
I would prefer the last solution 2x 35 tonns lights and a 65t mech. I would suggest 2 Firestarter and a Thunderwub
Or maybe two Blackjacks and an ECM Griffin.
Or maybe two Griffins ( 1 ECM ) and Firestarter.

[Arn0ldSchwarzenegger]

You were after experience. Here I am

So your enjoying CW,

CW has a style thats more suited to a pokey style of play, especially if your working alone, the Pulse lasers are the best for this job so generally I'm running with mechs that run LPL's

The ENF-4R is a great corner poker, tanks well and its quirks are great if you fit 3LPL to it. I use this in competitive matches. It really is a great mech. The Blackjacks also do well at poking but over terrain rather than around it. However they are not quite as tanky as the Enforcer.

Firestarters are great mechs, especially for comp but they can struggle in CW unless its a map such as Grim Portico where the fighting is pretty close in. You can use something like a panther -9r which can fit 2 LPL and is very good at corner poking, or the RVN's (2X) with 3LL, the 4X is also an option with 2ERLL's but its never going to put the fire down like the 2X will.

The Jaegers are nice for a heavy in CW if you want auto cannons, 3 x UAC's can put a lot of fire down fast but not the best at tanking. Then uve got the TDR's (thunderbolts). A lot of people design their decks around them and when used well are going to do the majority of your final damage numbers, they are very tanky and very suitible for CW.


I'm glad you dont like LRM's as they suck 9/10 on CW, its just the wrong type of battle for them to be effective.

If you really want SRM's then the GRF-3M or 2N are be far your best option when it comes to IS SRM Mediums. the 3M is going to bring you more speed and/or ammo than the 2N but that ECM can help getting in close to wreck face.

[Morggo]

As for WVRs (wolverines) I've been skilling up three of them, nearly there. I'm finding they do great for (selective!) close in brawling and some corner poking (watch that right arm!) plus they come with a built in left shield arm. Maybe it's not "brawling" exactly, but I do tend to hang with my Assaults keeping their backsides clean and zipping around to flank a mech they are pounding on.

I have terrible success running XL engines, so I tend to run a little undergunned than other WVR pilots to fit in a Standard but am finding you can compensate and still do good by being pickier with your brawls and/or pokes and putting out damage. So if you like a mix of MPLs and SRMs and like to do a lot of flanking brawls WVRs seem to fit the bill at least for me (though as the others have mentioned, success for me seems to pick up once I get them Elited for the 2x basic skills and Speed Tweak).

I recently tried fitting an AC10 to one chassis, and an LPL to another... eats up a lot of tonnage and cuts down on the number of SRMs I usually prefer... but sure surprises folks, more than one light has jumped me.. briefly

It's what works for me, your mileage may vary (and I am still pretty new myself)

Edited by Morggo, 11 November 2015 - 06:42 AM.

[Kurvi]

Not as experienced here, but more or less in the same boat (building a CW deck).

- No matter what you decide, you're going to have to get one mech at a time. As such, if you've already decided on a Firestarter, then get that one first (The FS9-S currently has the best MPL quirks). As you are probably aware, lights run quite differently than assault.

- After that, you've got 110 tons left to play with. Personally, I've got two griffins slotted for that (-2N for the ECM and -1S with 3xLL for poking). Using a single chassis will make things easier later on down the road, so this is a bonus. Other options include the Wolverine (I know metamechs.com suggests the -6K ).

- On the other hand, if you really want to own one mech from each class, then you've got to decide between 60/50, 65/45, and 70/40. I don't have enough experience here, but if you like the Thunderbolt, then I've been told that the Blackjack is pretty good.

- Last piece of advice: If you've got the patience, it might be worth installing trying out the public test server a bit. It creates a totally separate test account that starts with 2 billion c-bills and 2 million each of MC/GXP. This allows you to buy any set of mechs/modules in the game, outfit/skill them up to heart's content, and drive them around in the testing grounds (or even try a match or two). That said, these servers are for testing things out, so your actual experience may slightly differ (notably quirks).

[Artemis Ellis]

I have alot to think about now and I thank you all for your suggestions. I am a little bummed that my first mech would be a bad choice for a drop deck. I feel like I can take on anyone in it.

Leone, when I log in again I will definitely accept your friend request.

Maybe CW is not for me until I build up my collection. I would have a problem using voip or teamspeak anyway. I can hear just fine but I have an issue where I cannot speak. Its embarrassing but that is why I play a support style. I cannot scout and report without typing but I can follow orders without any problem.

[TheLuc]

Hallo Artemis Ellis, most probably you already took a decision but allow me to put it in a different perspective.

So already owning a BNC, great choice btw. Clan tech didn't grab you and can understand so shopping a CW deck can be tricky.

IS drops are at 240 tons for a deck of 4 Mechs, yes it changes from time to time to higher values but to save CBills it is better to stick to the 240 tons value, so 240 tons minus 95 tons leaves 145 tons free for 3 Mechs.

Wishing the Thunderbolt Mech, cant blame you as the chassis is very tanky and on top of that it has a great weapon selection, so 145 tons minus 65 tons, hmm only 80 tons to go.

Now the hard part, 80 tons left so choices get limited, 2 Cicadas ,1 Light Mech and a Medium one or a 60 tons heavy and a locust, that is the part to choose wisely.

[Morggo]

Artemis Ellis, on 11 November 2015 - 03:35 PM, said:

... I am a little bummed that my first mech would be a bad choice for a drop deck. I feel like I can take on anyone in it....

There ya go then! I'll pass on great advice I received in this forum... if you like driving it, then drive it! Heck with the meta-drivers

[Leone]

Artemis Ellis, on 11 November 2015 - 03:35 PM, said:

I am a little bummed that my first mech would be a bad choice for a drop deck.

I disagree.

Artemis Ellis, on 11 November 2015 - 03:35 PM, said:

I feel like I can take on anyone in it.

I know exactly what you mean.

When I started out I got three shadowhawks for IS CW. Then I got three Blackhawks for Clan CW. Then I decided to tour the Houses and grab all the mechbays I could. For that I nabbed Firestarters and then finally, Banshees. So, fourth mech I ever bought, and it served me under all the great houses. I pretty much mostly play CW. And I have no regrets about my purchase.

The thing to realize is, that as one of the tankiest mechs out there, you'll be expected to lead the charge into the enemy base. If you don't mind charging headlong into overwhelming fire, the Banshee is an excellent choice for a first drop, and I can thing of no mech out there better for that role.

In CW you want a strong first wave. If you wipe the first twelve enemy mechs and have some mechs left standing, that allows you to tear up defenses, or rush in and damage the second wave, giving your second run of mechs a leg up on the opposition. Dropping heavy early on is a standard tactic to grab an early edge in the game. The following three waves are usually spent trying to catch upto an early loss, or cinching an early victory.

So, ain't nothing wrong with starting strong.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 11 November 2015 - 05:21 PM.

[SethAbercromby]

I second Leone's advice, however the tactic can go both ways. If you can find space for a Heavy and your teammates got a fairly heavy first wave already, you can drop lighter on the first rush and pressure those the brawlers can't hit hard enough. That leaves you with the option to drop in your Banshee at a time where most of your enemy targets have already been roughed up, either to crawl back up from an unsuccesful first push or to demolish the last line of defense.

My drop deck for example is pretty top-heavy. I got a Zeus Thunderbolt, Stalker (Misery), Catapult (Jester) and Locust (Pirate's Bane). My Jester is a sniper, Thunderbolt is designed for second-line support, Misery a brawler and the Pirate's Bane I pretty much kept stock because the design is just too useful for harassment not to keep. My first drop I choose between PB, Misery and Jester depending on the team tactic. PB for Light-rush, Misery for a heavy push and Jester for sniper trades. Thunderbolt is an extra for the less specialized 2nd and 3rd waves.

Personally I'd reccomend a similar approach with your first drop deck to start out with, as it gives you the flexibility to go into any match regardless of the tactic being used. You may not be 100% as effective as people with their drop deck centered around one particular tactic, but you can get a lot of experience by being able to keep up with any tactic and switch up your style mid-game.

Besides, most CW groups aren't explicitly looking for optimal drop decks but people that are teamplayers and comfortable to hang around with, so having a flexible deck makes you easy to integrate.

EDIT: I realized I mixed up 2 decks. When I drop with a Zeus, the Jester is replaced with a Centurion for a brawler-centric drop deck. For the mixed deck, I have a Thunderbolt instead of the Zeus.

Edited by SethAbercromby, 16 November 2015 - 01:00 AM.

[Artemis Ellis]

I have been in the hospital off and on for the last few days. I have not had a chance to play or do much else.

One of my favorite relatives in the world fell and broke both of her legs. They got caught in her walker as she went down. One of them ended up broken above her knee and twisted all the way around. She is mentally challenged and scared because she does not understand what is going on. It has been rough.

I wanted to log in and tell you guys thanks for the replies and advice.