22 replies to this topic

[Scyther]

Generally I favor Standard engines in anything as big as a heavy. I would rather have the extra survivability than more speed or weapons tonnage. My Stalkers, Atlas, Cataphracts etc all follow this inclination.

I still haven't completely elited my WarHammers (got 1 or 2 skills to go), but so far I find I die to CT coring unusually easily. Damage spread may improve once I get all the skills in and some more practice with the chassis.

That being said, if the CT is an easy target on the WHM, there is less reason to avoid XL. With more speed and/or more weapons/DHS I might eke out a little more damage before faceplanting.

So... do you XL in your WarHammer? If so, do you put the tonnage into more engine or more weaponry? (I already max out armor and front-shift most of it.)

If you do XL, do you find you are dying to ST loss enough to go back to STD, or is that rare?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Edited by MadBadger, 25 January 2016 - 02:02 PM.

[Malleus011]

I'm running all STD builds on mine, and die with both ST more often than not. However, I'm using 280-300 rated engines while unlocking skills, so twist speeds may be slow.

I'm going to promote one build to a 325XL and see how long it lasts.

[627]

from a I-shoot-at-it point of view, I find it rather easy to take out a,side torso. it is not as bad as with the marauders, but from the front ST is easy to hit.

Don't forget you have a front profile like a battlemaster but the armor of a cataphract...

[Curccu]

XL FTW.
Works well in Warhammer.

[Druarc]

Std in all 4 have found in games I don't get cored I'll lose a side 50% of the time. So will stick to std engines as those are the games I get 700+ damage.

[cSand]

In my LRM / ERPPC warhammer I do

In my closer range ones I don't, but I am reconsidering. This mech seems to be a mediocre brawler but a good support mech

[Whiplash!!!]

XL for most builds. Maneuverability is key in this game. You need to be able to keep up with the mediums so they can help you.

Staring contests are not smart... especially with all the laser vomit.

The one build I have with a STD engine has shown me that I may lose a side torso first, but it is quickly followed by the center torso. You really don't get much more damage off before being killed in a fight. I'll stick with XL's.

Another advantage of XL's is that a big XL engine will fit more Double Heat Sinks in it, freeing you to use Endo-Steel and consequently bigger weapons.

I'd also like to note that I feel that the Warhammer's hit boxes are perfect right now.

Edited by Whiplash!!!, 25 January 2016 - 02:23 PM.

[Apnu]

Curccu, on 25 January 2016 - 02:12 PM, said:

XL FTW.
Works well in Warhammer.

Yup had no problems running XL in the Whammy. Running a 320 or 340 in it makes it pretty zippy. I skip the Endo Steel, need slots for DHS.

[CDLord HHGD]

Haven't decided yet though I will probably end up using a standard engine.

[Apnu]

cSand, on 25 January 2016 - 02:14 PM, said:

In my LRM / ERPPC warhammer I do

In my closer range ones I don't, but I am reconsidering. This mech seems to be a mediocre brawler but a good support mech

Half my brawlers pack XLs. I've learned two things from using them in a brawl.

1) the TTL after losing a side torso, while running a STD engine is pretty short.
2) Knowing I have an XL, I've learned to hit and fade, using the faster speed of the XL to make my point and get out before I become the center of attention. Its also taught me when a good time to pounce.

Some brawlers I will never run a XL in, mostly because they have such huge side torsos, its is a liability. Like the HBK or the AWS.

[CDLord HHGD]

Apnu, on 25 January 2016 - 02:39 PM, said:

Half my brawlers pack XLs. I've learned two things from using them in a brawl.

1) the TTL after losing a side torso, while running a STD engine is pretty short.
2) Knowing I have an XL, I've learned to hit and fade, using the faster speed of the XL to make my point and get out before I become the center of attention. Its also taught me when a good time to pounce.

Some brawlers I will never run a XL in, mostly because they have such huge side torsos, its is a liability. Like the HBK or the AWS.

There's a guy driving a 3% Atlas with a different experience. Seriously, hats off to this guy...

[Apnu]

cdlord, on 25 January 2016 - 02:44 PM, said:

There's a guy driving a 3% Atlas with a different experience. Seriously, hats off to this guy...

That's nuts. My worst was 15% and that was in a Trebuchet that did have a XL engine. Here you go:



However the above occurrences are rare. More often than not, mechs don't live very long with that much damage.

So my point stands. XLs are viable when brawling, but the mech's body type matters and the pilot's decisions matter. I brawl in XL grasshoppers, I do fine in them. The trapazoid torso shape helps. However I generally run standards in the Orions when brawling. That boxy torso is a fire magnet.

[Lorian Sunrider]

Yep. I find it twists well enough that running an XL works for me. Still usually die of CT anyways.

More fun builds as well.

[Palor]

I find that my hammers with XL always die to CT death, only a couple of ST deaths so far. I find almost no longevity difference between STD and XL engines.

[N a p e s]

I've got a mix and some build switch back and forth. Both have worked for me and there have only been a handful of times where I've cursed the XL engine.

[Karl Marlow]

I xl them and it works really well.

[Lightfoot]

I use XL if it's long range or won't get above 70 kph without an XL.

[Bishop Steiner]

MadBadger, on 25 January 2016 - 02:00 PM, said:

Generally I favor Standard engines in anything as big as a heavy. I would rather have the extra survivability than more speed or weapons tonnage. My Stalkers, Atlas, Cataphracts etc all follow this inclination.

I still haven't completely elited my WarHammers (got 1 or 2 skills to go), but so far I find I die to CT coring unusually easily. Damage spread may improve once I get all the skills in and some more practice with the chassis.

That being said, if the CT is an easy target on the WHM, there is less reason to avoid XL. With more speed and/or more weapons/DHS I might eke out a little more damage before faceplanting.

So... do you XL in your WarHammer? If so, do you put the tonnage into more engine or more weaponry? (I already max out armor and front-shift most of it.)

If you do XL, do you find you are dying to ST loss enough to go back to STD, or is that rare?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Yes, I XL.

I find ALL the torsos squishy, to some extent, and twisting is of only moderate advantage. The CT inparticular is always pretty easy to hit.

With STDs, I cannot engage/disengage easily enough, Tist fast enough to help spread dmg, mount enough DHS to keep a reasonable RoF, or pack enough firepower to matter.

So even though it's not hugely XL friendly (about the same, IMO as the CTF, JM6 or ON1) I feel I do more damage and last longer with one, than without.

[RestosIII]

With how powerful alphastrikes are in this, I run STD engines whenever possible in all my mechs. Only real exceptions are mechs that have ST weapons that make up most of my firepower, where I'll be worthless once that's gone. For instance, my LRM MAD.

[Luscious Dan]

I might give it a try on something like my 6D, using a big XL I have from the champion Cicada giveaway. Some of my favorite Warhammer builds can't take an XL (dual AC20 Black Widow for example) but the pure energy ones might be worth a shot. All that extra speed (going from STD280 to XL340) increases the survivability of the mech a decent amount. Going from STD280 to 300 was already noticeable.

Edited by Luscious Dan, 25 January 2016 - 04:07 PM.