If I Were To Purchase One Mech For Cw, What Would It Be?
#81
Posted 21 February 2016 - 03:53 PM
TDRs are pretty much some of the tankiest things out there in terms of firepower. Front-loading armor should be priority, as it's not often the enemy will fire at your backside. Even a decent thunderbolt can go toe to toe with most clan heavies, and even some assaults. I don't like telling people this but if your thunderbolt was falling fast, it's not fully on the build or the mech, it's mostly on the pilot. I've pulled myself constant 900-1100 damage rounds before respawning, (and seen) in clan wars a single TDR pull over 1400 damage on its own before dying, and he was in the thick of the fight the entire match. When he respawned and popped out in another, he doubled that and our team won.
There's a reason it's in the current Meta. Ton for ton, what it does makes it the undisputed best IS heavy for CW. But do not take them in if they aren't maxed and skilled.
In terms of assaults, BLRs are great in the right hands and stalkers can fire all day and shrug off damage to the face like no one's business. If I recommend any other assault it would have to be a fully skilled Atlas DDC, and it HAS to be running with ECM, though Atlai are not quite noob friendly.
K2 Catapults can dual Gauss, though that is such an ammo-reliant build and a miss with both gauss is a painful miscalculation that can cost your team.
Believe it or not I run a K2 with ERLLs, a few mediums, and a command console. Sure, it's not great, but the minor benefits a CC offers has helped the positioning and layout of my team and pulled us back from the fringe a few times. It also pulls out solid DPS for a cat with ERLLs.
#82
Posted 29 February 2016 - 07:05 AM
Once you start hitting higher tiers in quickplay you'll notice those damage numbers with missiles going down. The more experienced an adversary, the least effective your LRMs will be. This is the main reason why most recommend not bringing LRMs to CW.
Your luck will run out when the team you face has all direct fire mechs. This is how it will always go: first, your direct fire mechs are up front, getting hammered because they can't get the instant damage down on the pushing team that they need. Their shots are good, but it's no use because the enemy team is balled up and intent on pushing right over them. Meanwhile, you'll be in the rear, struggling for locks as each one of your team mates is focused down with laser precision, one by one, dropping in seconds. Before you know it, you have a wall of angry red Doritos chasing after your big fat, Catapult ears and nose. You'll try to run, to keep distance and maybe get a lock or two, but it's too late. They've shaved your ears off and your rear CT just got slammed by a Jenner IIC with 4 SRM6. The next wave, your direct fire mechs are now demoralized. They saw they got no help in the first wave, so now they're going to play more cautious (if they're smart) with the second mech. You drop on the field with your next Cat, but something is different this time. There are less locks and the enemy team has pushed all the way to your base. This time your Cat might go down first, because they see your big fat nose and know that they can drop you in one alpha strike if one of their buddies hits you at the same time. If not, a single clan mech will drop you with 2 alphas right to the face. By the third mech, things are looking grim. Your skittles team has managed to drop the first wave of marauding Timberwolves, Stormcrows, and Hellbringers. As the enemy team pushes in with their second wave of heavies and mediums, the last of your team is wiped away from the Omega platform and the drop zones, losing maybe one or two of their second wave to dropships, who have now become the MVP.
The alternative is to learn direct fire while using teamspeak. Come see us on the FRR Hub and listen intently to the veterans who have survived two previous cycles of CW. We will learn you how to smash skittles, give organized units a fight of their lives, and how to lose with grace against KCOM, 'cause they're hard to beat regardless of who you're dropping with.
#83
Posted 29 February 2016 - 02:10 PM
#85
Posted 29 February 2016 - 02:34 PM
DavidStarr, on 18 February 2016 - 09:57 PM, said:
It does indeed! Now I just need 40 more million C-bills...
LRMs were impotent for a long time, so I don't understand your mindset. I don't use my missile-armed Catapults any more, and I can't fathom bringing a Catapult A1 with no backup weapons.
LRMs are as powerful as they are right now because of the ECM nerf . We don't know how long that will last.
EDIT: I think the ECM nerf might have been right before you joined.
As Catapults go, the Jester is the king of laser vomit. It averages more damage than my K2.
Also, from your comments on the Thunderbolt, I'm getting the impression you don't torso twist enough between salvos.
If so, I feel your pain. I remember thinking there was an overwhelming amount of stuff I had to get right. I couldn't shoot worth a d@mn, under pressure I couldn't remember to torso twist, the game had a really steep learning curve, and I had no idea when I'd ever suck less. So I, too, leaned heavily on the LRM crutch. For about the first 6 months.
Then, I started to the hang of it with direct-fire weapons.
Then they added that "charging" mechanic to Gauss rifles, and I hated Gauss rifles for the next 2 years.
Eventually, I got better with Gauss rifles because, somewhere in my mind, I had to. Every so often I'd feel like I was up to the challenge, and I'd get out of my comfort zone and play PUG matches with a Gauss mech.
Eventually, I didn't suck so much, and when I saw the build for the
For a long time I hated light mechs because I sucked with them. One day I had a flash of inspiration, and a few matches later I was having all kinds of fun in a Locust with 6xSPL. (I still don't like my
If I still leaned on the LRM crutch like I used to, the guys I hang out with now might not want me in CW with them.
Maybe you can't relate to my specific issues... Maybe you never sucked like I did...
Regardless, this will still be true: You can't stick with LRMs or any one weapon indefinitely. You better yourself by trying different mechs and unfamiliar weapons, even if it sucks at first.
Edited by Liquid Leopard, 29 February 2016 - 03:04 PM.
#86
Posted 29 February 2016 - 02:53 PM
Also if your tbolt is crumbling (I dont know if the trial is fully armored or not) you need to be torso twisting to spread damage.
#87
Posted 29 February 2016 - 02:59 PM
#88
Posted 29 February 2016 - 03:06 PM
DavidStarr, on 16 February 2016 - 01:52 PM, said:
So what heavy / assault would you recommend? But please, no Thunderbolt!
Dave that is a hard question too answer since not every mech fits all players. We can tell you what works for us but might not for you. Definately would not suggest the jagers. They can be a glass cannons and take alot of practice too master. Also you cant take just heavies and assults into a drop deck, too much weight. You will also need acouple of meds or a med and a light. For the med I love the Enforcers. Great maneuvering and can get some great load outs on them. But as I said it is what works for you, not us.
#89
Posted 29 February 2016 - 04:40 PM
Backstab Murphy, on 21 February 2016 - 03:53 PM, said:
...In terms of assaults, BLRs are great in the right hands and stalkers can fire all day and shrug off damage to the face like no one's business.
The Stalker pilot's motto:
"You should see the other guy's fists!"
O.P., maybe it would help your selection process to look at the Hitbox Localization Thread:
http://mwomercs.com/...x-localization/
Using the Stalker as an example: The CT hitbox is a strip down the middle. They take tons of damage to the side torsos.
XL engine in Stalker = BAD
...And even when a side torso is officially blown away, you keep torso twisting, and I believe hits to the "destroyed" side torso are blunted to half damage before transferring to the CT.
I see they've updated that thread and the Catapult's CT isn't huge like it used to be. It's making me rethink having an XL in every Catapult.
But, the Stormcrow and Timber Wolf still have big CT hitboxes that are easy to hit even from the side.
And, the Raven's CT looks like it's a much easier target now. Hmmm...
Edited by Liquid Leopard, 29 February 2016 - 04:43 PM.
#90
Posted 07 March 2016 - 07:15 AM
I've got Stalker 5S (LPLs + SRMs), and don't like it. It kinda works in quickplay, and doesn't work at all in CW. I made a mistake, though - after I completely fitted my new Stalker, tested it and found it it's terrible, I came up with a much better fit but it requires removing endo-steel which I wasn't willing to do. I could try it now that I have some C-bills to spare, but since I already got 20-something thousand XP to master it, think I'll just move onto the next Stalker.
As for Catapults - I can play many mechs (well, not many - I don't have many - but a few) in quickplay OK, but Catapults still remain my main contributor in CW. My typical deck is STK-5S + CPLT-C4 + HBK-4G (4J on offense) + Enforcer (the trial one. 5P?).
I'm experimenting with CPLT-K2 in quickplay now on my way to eliting them all. It's not bad, but I need to play it more to know if it's CW-worthy.
Lupis Volk, on 29 February 2016 - 02:10 PM, said:
Doesn't matter. I have a selection of 65 ton and 50 ton mechs (and some trial lights) to fill the other 3 slots.
Edited by DavidStarr, 07 March 2016 - 07:20 AM.
#91
Posted 07 March 2016 - 07:59 AM
As a clan loyalist id much prefer you bought thunderbolts. They don't scare me like grasshoppers and black knights do.
#92
Posted 07 March 2016 - 09:30 AM
Stormie, on 07 March 2016 - 07:59 AM, said:
That's a good point I didn't really notice. Although I'm not sure I do better with elited AC/20 HBK-4G than with trial AC/10 Enforcer. If nothing else, AC/20 lacks range.
Edited by DavidStarr, 08 March 2016 - 12:25 AM.
#93
Posted 07 March 2016 - 04:04 PM
Stormie, on 07 March 2016 - 07:59 AM, said:
As a clan loyalist id much prefer you bought thunderbolts. They don't scare me like grasshoppers and black knights do.
XL in an Enforcer is fine, actually. People usually forego the ballistic however, and just go with laservomit. It's a better choice than the WVR-6K, since at least you can still have two LL in the left torso in case you lose the left arm. That's how I run mine and it's plenty tanky for a 50-tonner.
#94
Posted 26 March 2016 - 10:16 AM
Thought I'd share the experience in case some other newbie like me comes across this thread.
Edited by DavidStarr, 26 March 2016 - 10:17 AM.
#95
Posted 26 March 2016 - 06:53 PM
DavidStarr, on 07 March 2016 - 09:30 AM, said:
That's a good point I didn't really notice. Although I'm not sure I do better with elited AC/20 HBK-4G than with trial AC/10 Enforcer. If nothing else, AC/20 lacks range.
I have an XL enforcer in my dropdeck.
The Enforcer has great hitboxes and a small size, plus with the AC10 you'll have range. Back that up with a bandolier of Mlas and you can be dangerous and fast and survivable, even with an XL.
#96
Posted 26 March 2016 - 09:08 PM
#97
Posted 26 March 2016 - 11:40 PM
Krocodockle, on 26 March 2016 - 09:08 PM, said:
I did, and I won't. CPLT and HBK-4J are my main damage dealers, albeit Catapult is situational as I need to be extra careful to avoid any CQC. HBK is faster and has a good compliment of MLs so it's not as big a coward as Catapult.
Assaults are good at tanking for the team, but not much else. Once you're seen, you're dead. One game when I got 900 dmg and 5 kills with MPL Banshee notwithstanding, those were stupid enemies.
Lately I've been dropping two Stalkers and two Hunchbacks. The typical game picture is 150-250 damage dealt with each of the Stalkers, then HBK-4J deals 500-600, and if we're winning, HBK-4G cleans up damaged enemy mechs with AC/20 for little damage but lots of kills.
Looking forward to dropping with clans. Their Ebon Jaguars and Timberwolves with 600+ meters LPLs and 300+ meters MPLs are superior to any IS assaults. I can see how clan direct fire mechs work, avoiding return fire with their speed and range.
Edited by DavidStarr, 26 March 2016 - 11:55 PM.
#98
Posted 27 March 2016 - 12:58 PM
Krocodockle, on 26 March 2016 - 09:08 PM, said:
Catapults can actually be pretty darned good in CW.
CPLT-C1 [3x LPL]
CPLT-K2 [4x LL]
CPLT-J [5x LL]
Those builds are at least as capable as well-built Thunderbolts. They'll be even better after the rescale.
#99
Posted 27 March 2016 - 01:18 PM
Edited by DavidStarr, 27 March 2016 - 01:21 PM.
#100
Posted 27 March 2016 - 04:26 PM
For example, JM6-DD, HBK-4G is better for maps like Sulfurous Rift or Vertic Forge, and not so good on Boreal Vault, unless you are about to engage in "GET OF MY LAWN !!!" mode. *(Hide the ammo at your on discretion)
Another example STK-5S is great for maps like Grim Portico, and not so much for Vertic Forge or other hot maps. ( One with out the AMS) STK-5S Could also be refitted in another "universal Stalker build" but it is better suited for STK-3H
Too bad you got rid of the STK-5M, that is the closest to a C-Bill Misery weapons layout you could get to, barring the AC20. (Asymmetric build)
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