14 replies to this topic

[Aelaen23]

I've been avidly reading the multiple first mech posts and they have a lot of good stuff. I've been spending a lot of time with the trial mechs to get an idea of what I like and what I'm successful with, and that doesn't always line up.

I find that I like two playstyles - short range slugging and LRMs, plus one exception I'll mention later. My initial thought is that the hunchback would be a great mech to focus on to start since it supports both of these with different variants. But I'm finding that I'm not having much luck keeping alive medium brawlers. I'm sure part of this is my inexperience, but I'm finding that I'm surviving a lot longer in the brawling if I either go a jump-capable light so I can dodge or an assault that can take the pounding to get into range.

The trial lights I've been using are the JR7-F(C) and ACH-PRIME(C). I can dodge and run all day. Plus I like scouting and tagging for our LRM boats. I've been surviving longer into the matches with them then with the HKB-4P(C) or ENF-4R(C) medium mechs.

LRM is fun but inconsistant. Either I do well or get eliminated early if our position gets overrun. Think I need more practice to really make this shine, but when it does work it's a lot of fun.

That one exception was while I generally aren't hugely fond of long-range sniping, I had a lot of fun with the KGC-000B(C) with 4 UAC/5 and some medium lasers. Range, punch, handled itself if overrun, no laser trails to let the enemy know who is hitting him. Just felt good and powerful and was consistently one of my more successful mechs even if the speed was painfully slow. But none of the cBill variants come with UAC/5 and I worry kitting out a similar mech will be painfully expensive.

Based on the forum recommendations I already have a TDR-9SE, though I haven't refitted it yet. And I enjoy the large pulse laser focus fun, but I find I'm playing the other trial mechs more and being more successful with them.

So I'm doing well and enjoying short range engagements with a jump-capable fast mech, medium range with a assault with autocannons. And may want to get into LRMs in the future. So, this doesn't sound like a single recommendation, but what would you suggest that's forgiving enough for a new player that will give me room to improve?

[SnagaDance]

Getting yourself 4 UAC/5 will cost you 1,6M C-bills. A good amount of money for sure. But you can grind these C-bills while you're using the basic lay-out of 2 AC/20's. Luckily the B already comes with the really mandatory Double Heatsinks upgrade, a 1,5M C-bills in savings.

On the other hand it comes with the sub-optimal Ferro-Fibrous armor, which you'll want to replace (for C-Bills) with Standard armor and take the Endo Steel upgrade instead (another 1M upgrade).

[Spike Brave]

If you are looking to try out multiple builds try the Hunchback. There is one that does well with lasers, one for auto cannon, and one for missiles. They can be a good place to start.

[SethAbercromby]

Assault 'Mechs are always a steep first investment, since you'll eventually want 2 more to get the Elite Perks. On the other extreme End, Light 'Mechs can be a lot more expensive than they seem at first glance since the most popular builds require very large XL engines, each of which being as expensive as a new Medium 'Mech. The benefit here is that builds that require the same engine size can share one engine to cut costs by a good amount, but that also means you only got one of them in an operable condition at any time.

Medium and Heavy 'Mechs tend to be a little easier on the wallet as there are a lot of decent builds that don't need to rely on XL engines and offering a lot of very versatile and beginner-friendly styles. Hunchbacks, Thunderbolts, Marauders, each of these have something unique or interesting to offer and there's just a lot more that might fit your taste as well.

[M0rdresh]

4x UAC5's are very deadly.

I'm amazed people do not call out a King Crab in that loadout OP, because I can take anything with that setup,
I see one mech after the other backtracking and hit and run when I unleash the four UAC5's with precision.

Edited by M0rdresh, 20 December 2015 - 02:28 PM.

[Leone]

Aelaen23, on 20 December 2015 - 09:12 AM, said:

So I'm doing well and enjoying short range engagements with a jump-capable fast mech, medium range with a assault with autocannons. And may want to get into LRMs in the future. So, this doesn't sound like a single recommendation, but what would you suggest that's forgiving enough for a new player that will give me room to improve?

Sounds like you might like Enforcers. (and yes, it can go faster.)

That said, if you like missiles, AutoCannons an brawling, you may love....Shadowhawks. What's that you ask? Why yes... They can go Go Faster... (Not that I think that one carries anywhere near enough ammo, it's a proof of concept build really.)

Also, oddly enough, the only thunderbolt I really care for is the 9S cuz I can slap some AC 5's an SRMs on it.

~Leone.

[Aelaen23]

Oh, I'm liking the Enforcer suggestion. And it looks like there are fun with different variants. The LBX-10 one you posted is one. Heck the stock ENF-5P comes with two UAC/5. How's the knuckle dragging, looks like arm fire from about waist height?

For the longer ranges I'm not a good enough shot to just nail it without stopping or zooming, which makes me a bit leary about how much of myself I need to show to fire. And good ballistic mechs with high mounted weapons?

[Aelaen23]

Though I did just get my 1000+ damage game in a Kign Crab with 4x UAC/5. WOO, that feels good.

[Johny Rocket]

I like to run ACs and Lurm spam together, Mauler, Cataphract, Zues, King Crab, Jager... just a few of the IS that can really do it.

They don't have Cannons or jj but check out the Kintaros, all around great lurmers that can pack a nice laser punch to. Also much faster than the Hunchies so running away from a bad spot is much easier.

[Eaerie]

Question: when brawling in a medium, do you rush in and start pounding on things or do you wait for both teams to engage and then pick on the isolated/lone mechs that are focusing on something else? Cause if i had to guess sounds like you charge in and get wrecked, mediums aren't straight up brawlers, they just don't have the armor for it, nor are they extremely fast (which a couple exceptions) you want to hit from the sides or back, punish the enemy as much as you can, either he will break off what he is doing to focus on you and leave himself open to his original opponent or he keeps focusing on his original opponent and gets crushed by you. If he turns towards you, keep him circling as you move around him so he puts his back to your team. minimizing your chance to be hit with "friendly fire" and avoiding a full frontal alpha from the enemy. do your torso twisting, jumping and direction changes as needed to spread/avoid damage.

[Rogue Jedi]

Eaerie, on 23 December 2015 - 01:04 AM, said:

Question: when brawling in a medium, do you rush in and start pounding on things or do you wait for both teams to engage and then pick on the isolated/lone mechs that are focusing on something else? Cause if i had to guess sounds like you charge in and get wrecked, mediums aren't straight up brawlers, they just don't have the armor for it, nor are they extremely fast (which a couple exceptions) you want to hit from the sides or back, punish the enemy as much as you can, either he will break off what he is doing to focus on you and leave himself open to his original opponent or he keeps focusing on his original opponent and gets crushed by you. If he turns towards you, keep him circling as you move around him so he puts his back to your team. minimizing your chance to be hit with "friendly fire" and avoiding a full frontal alpha from the enemy. do your torso twisting, jumping and direction changes as needed to spread/avoid damage.

in a medium I find it is best to stick with the group and stay out of sight until you are ready to engage, when you are ready then close to your preferred range and flank, as in go off to the side of the enemy team, so they can choose to fire on you or the heavies and assaults, guess what they will usualy choose,
unfortunately in group queue the enemy are often organized enough to assign a few pilots so handle the flank while the main group fights the heavier Mechs

If you prefer a straight up fight just stand next to the largest friendly Mech you can find, who would you shoot at, the 100 ton King Crab, 100 ton Dire Wolf, 75 ton Timber Wolf or 50 ton Hunchback? I am not sure who out of those I would take out first, the TBR, DWF and KCG are all top priority targets but the HBK is not, so in that situation your medium is relatively safe until the heavier Mechs are gone

[Leone]

Aelaen23, on 22 December 2015 - 04:54 PM, said:

And good ballistic mechs with high mounted weapons?

Just looking into cbillable IS mechs, here's what I see.
Urban mech (Woo!)
Blackjack (Bit light for my tastes, but that's me.)
Hunchback (4G for the dual uac 5s is a blast.)
Shadowhawk (My original purchase, an might be where the Hunchback got the idea from.)
Jager mech.

......

Yeah, and those are the ones I recall with head level or there abouts ballistics.

~Leone.

[Aelaen23]

You're spot on with my poor medium brawling. I try to treat it like a light but I don't have the speed and small profile to get away with it. Let me try more flanking and escort duties with them. With Lights I got drilled in never to stop moving except for back shots on a single foe who isn't paying attention, plus scout and tag for lurmers. I was trying to play medium brawlers the same and it just wasn't working as well.

[Princeps Ibram Cain]

I want a repair weapon/tool/thing in my D-DC to heal my team *-*

Leone, on 23 December 2015 - 02:30 AM, said:

Just looking into cbillable IS mechs, here's what I see.
Urban mech (Woo!)
Blackjack (Bit light for my tastes, but that's me.)
Hunchback (4G for the dual uac 5s is a blast.)
Shadowhawk (My original purchase, an might be where the Hunchback got the idea from.)
Jager mech.

......

Yeah, and those are the ones I recall with head level or there abouts ballistics.

~Leone.

Shadowhawk its bassicaly a flying Hunchie

[Kali Rinpoche]

Saving Cbills for a rainy day is also useful, because there are often 35-50% off (C-bill cost) mech sales a couple times a year. Those are good time to pick up mechs you've longed after.