81 replies to this topic

[Pr8Dator]

Having a hard time finding a weapon mix for my MADs that cannot be better fulfilled by other mechs... what are you guys doing with your MADs?

[BigBenn]

the -3R is my favorite so far. I put an XL300 in (swap w/ another MAD to test for yourself), then mounted a gauss, 2PPC, and 2ML for weapons. I have 3 tons of ammo for gauss and the rest is DHS. Remember, you have some major quirks for the PPC and ballistics so make full use of them.

I have gauss cool down and PPC range mods for weapon modules, and advanced zoom for mech. UAV and airstrike for consumable.

Get as many shots off at long range as you can, as the ranges close the PPC's will be more primary.

The other variants I have AC10, LPL, and MPL on one, the other I have the ERPPC mounted up top, LRM 15, and dual LL.

Good stuff.

[Jun Watarase]

Well i saw a marauder with LRMs earlier...

[GRiPSViGiL]

Pr8Dator, on 03 December 2015 - 07:28 AM, said:

Having a hard time finding a weapon mix for my MADs that cannot be better fulfilled by other mechs... what are you guys doing with your MADs?

Funny you say that....considering mechs become redundant really fast once you have the few good platforms. Which makes it laughable PGI chooses to pump out mechs instead of give us a long term reason to play the game.

[Euklides]

MAD Puns, I like making puns, don't have one though, can't sadly say much else.
But it looks like the weapon placements are rather high and the profile is slim on the front, should make a good long distance poker.

Edited by Euklides, 03 December 2015 - 08:08 AM.

[El Bandito]

Pr8Dator, on 03 December 2015 - 07:28 AM, said:

WHAT IS MAD GOOD FOR?

For further confirming that the Timberwolf is still the best 75 tonner?

Marauder is one of the most iconic mech of BT. I am sure many players are satisfied with the nostalgia factor alone.

Edited by El Bandito, 03 December 2015 - 07:50 AM.

[Lily from animove]

pew pew and bang bang

[Monkey Lover]

I'm finding mine to be good mech but not great mech. With the gauss nerf and not really having ballistics quirks I'm having a hard time pulling in the big damage scores even on my best games.

[0bsidion]

If you were hoping for/expecting power creep with the MAD, well, you were bound to be disappointed. Barring PGI going super crazy with the quirks, it wasn't bloody likely to happen.

The MAD is a decent entry for IS heavies. It's fairly durable, and has a nice shoulder ballistics/energy mount depending on the variant. That aspect is pretty unique IS side in the heavy chassis department. I wanted it for my IS only account because I didn't have a full set of IS heavies yet.

So if you don't already know why you would want a MAD you shouldn't bother getting one. It's not an "I Win" button mech, so I doubt it's going to hold much appeal for the Min/Maxers. They've pretty much got all they need in mechs like the Tbolt, Timber, and Jaguar.

[Pr8Dator]

GRiPSViGiL, on 03 December 2015 - 07:45 AM, said:

Funny you say that....considering mechs become redundant really fast once you have the few good platforms. Which makes it laughable PGI chooses to pump out mechs instead of give us a long term reason to play the game.

Been with the game for 5 years and each time, its the new mechs that made me come back, so at least its a strategy that works at least on me. I came back this time after a 6 months breaks due to the MAD... so again, that worked.

[FupDup]

It makes PGI a lot of money.

[CDLord HHGD]

On all my MADs I use MLs and AC20 (except on the one with an energy HP, then I use a ERPPC). I'm finding a lot of success with it. It's a great mech.

[GRiPSViGiL]

Pr8Dator, on 03 December 2015 - 08:16 AM, said:

Been with the game for 5 years and each time, its the new mechs that made me come back, so at least its a strategy that works at least on me. I came back this time after a 6 months breaks due to the MAD... so again, that worked.

Which is fine, collecting mechs is a thing. It won't keep the game alive though. It won't make for an engaging long term macro part of the game. Collecting mech is nothing more than a novelty when they all do pretty much the same thing and there is no role warfare. I could care less what geometry my opponents and teammates see me in. I would rather have them focus on putting some actual substance in a stale game at this point instead of cashing in on the next BT enthusiasts favorite mech. I can't think they garner enough income from that alone but they must since it is all you can count on here. Wish they targeted actual gamers that require great engaging gameplay than milking nostalgia.

[MeiSooHaityu]

So far the Marauder seems like a pretty decent heavy. It has 1+ high mount ballistic slots and even the low mount arms are close to the cockpit so it doesn't feel like a knuckle dragger. It has a LOT of good things going for it.

BUT it's major crutch that holds it back is the side torso vulnerability and the STD engine it forces on the mech.

The Timber Wolf isn't a magical beast, but it is good because of the big Clan XL. Really, the Timber Wolf has vulnerable side torsos, but it can lose one and still keep fighting (although more hampered now). Combine this with an ideal locked equipment and it is a monster.

Now the Marauder could have ideal equip (nothing locked) and it does have side torsos vulnerable like the Timber Wolf, but without a good XL to fall back on the Marauder is kind of forced into a STD engine that just swallows tonnage.

It comes down to...
Run an XL for Timby like firepower, but die quickly; or run a STD engine and take a beating, but have less firepower and lack that real punch. This means a Marauder always has to make a compromise and compromises hurt overall effectiveness against something that compromises nothing.

Really this is an issue with any IS mech, but mechs without vulnerable hotboxes (maybe a tiny bit CT hitbox biased) can excellent with that IS XL drawback. Something like a side torso vulnerable Marauder feels it the most.

I don't hate the Marauder. I like it actually. I just know the sub-par engine tech and big 'ol scoops hold it back from being the great heavy people wanted. People will just have to settle for ok ~ good instead.

[Pr8Dator]

FupDup, on 03 December 2015 - 08:23 AM, said:

It makes PGI a lot of money.

Well, they made mine! LOL!

cdlord, on 03 December 2015 - 08:24 AM, said:

On all my MADs I use MLs and AC20 (except on the one with an energy HP, then I use a ERPPC). I'm finding a lot of success with it. It's a great mech.

AC20 + MLs can be done on almost every mech... how does that make use of the MAD platform? In fact, you are not using any of its Quirks too... perhaps you should try that setup on another mech and perhaps have better success? I had lots of success with a Dragon with shoulder mounted AC20 + ML too and it runs WAY faster.

[Pr8Dator]

MeiSooHaityu, on 03 December 2015 - 08:24 AM, said:

So far the Marauder seems like a pretty decent heavy. It has 1+ high mount ballistic slots and even the low mount arms are close to the cockpit so it doesn't feel like a knuckle dragger. It has a LOT of good things going for it.

BUT it's major crutch that holds it back is the side torso vulnerability and the STD engine it forces on the mech.

The Timber Wolf isn't a magical beast, but it is good because of the big Clan XL. Really, the Timber Wolf has vulnerable side torsos, but it can lose one and still keep fighting (although more hampered now). Combine this with an ideal locked equipment and it is a monster.

Now the Marauder could have ideal equip (nothing locked) and it does have side torsos vulnerable like the Timber Wolf, but without a good XL to fall back on the Marauder is kind of forced into a STD engine that just swallows tonnage.

It comes down to...
Run an XL for Timby like firepower, but die quickly; or run a STD engine and take a beating, but have less firepower and lack that real punch. This means a Marauder always has to make a compromise and compromises hurt overall effectiveness against something that compromises nothing.

Really this is an issue with any IS mech, but mechs without vulnerable hotboxes (maybe a tiny bit CT hitbox biased) can excellent with that IS XL drawback. Something like a side torso vulnerable Marauder feels it the most.

I don't hate the Marauder. I like it actually. I just know the sub-par engine tech and big 'ol scoops hold it back from being the great heavy people wanted. People will just have to settle for ok ~ good instead.

Yup agreed that the MAD actually feels more like a fan mech than something someone would play competitively in.

[CDLord HHGD]

Pr8Dator, on 03 December 2015 - 08:26 AM, said:

Well, they made mine! LOL!



AC20 + MLs can be done on almost every mech... how does that make use of the MAD platform? In fact, you are not using any of its Quirks too... perhaps you should try that setup on another mech and perhaps have better success? I had lots of success with a Dragon with shoulder mounted AC20 + ML too and it runs WAY faster.

I like the setup because it works. If quirks line up with my build/playstyle, so much the better, but I do not use them as a go/no go criteria for a build. AC20+MLs are good complimentary weapons on any platform. The all energy one is my least favorite so I am playing it the most to get it skilled out sooner.

I could care less about the "competitiveness" of any chassis or variant. I simply don't care. If PGI released a stock mode where we still earned XP/CBills, then I'd be playing that exclusively. "eSports" is a big turnoff for me. You want to impress me, volunteer for the military.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I think the Marauder was designed around the fear of it being too overpowering before it was proven to be overpowering.

I think those scoops and large rear overhang were designed because PGI feared it would be too powerful if the side torso exposure wasn't big enough and everyone was running XLs successful.

My thinking is that they would rather add structure and/or armor buffs if the side torso was too vulnerable than make a side torso too small and either be stuck with it, or impose armor/structure nerfs and deal with a big community backlash.

We may see hitbox and/or quirk buffs going forward if the side torso prove to be too vulnerable in the long run.

Edited by MeiSooHaityu, 03 December 2015 - 08:40 AM.

[Lugh]

El Bandito, on 03 December 2015 - 07:49 AM, said:

For further confirming that the Timberwolf is still the best 75 tonner?

Marauder is one of the most iconic mech of BT. I am sure many players are satisfied with the nostalgia factor alone.

The timers I've killed in my MAD disagree

BOUNTY HUNTER II
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...15e13a6dad8f0e5
Not ammo dependent you can do the same thing with an XL 300 and a UAC 5

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f4fa2da3f6050a9
UAC5 Durable version.
You can go much more firepower with the XL 300 and MPLasers + more ammo if you are feeling cheeky.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9b0c6db18912277

fast is beautiful

Edited by Lugh, 03 December 2015 - 09:55 AM.

[Almond Brown]

2 x AC5 and 3 x erLL with Ballistic Quirks and AC5 Modules takes the AC5's out to 744m optimal with plenty of ammo on board allowing one to continue firing while cooling down after 3 full 27pt Energy burns.