29 replies to this topic

[invernomuto]

I bought the Battlemaster as my first assault mech after reading the forum and guides on Metamechs.
On paper, it has an optimal tonnage for CW drop, good default engine (with a 340 STD it goes up to 65 kph), good hardpoints. Despite this pros, the test on the battlefield was, at least for me, really terrible.
Up until now it has been a pain to play with this mech. I played 25 matches (all PUGs) and basic-ed it, but I have I have an average of 285 points of damage done.

I’ve tried different configurations: LLs and MLs, PPCs + MLs, ERPPCs + MLs, even one with a Gauss rifle in the left arm.

Right now I’m trying this one:
BLR-1G

Still the results aren’t so good, I cannot leave the 200-300 points damage area…

I thought that with almost 100 points of armor the mech CT were more durable. Instead, I usually read the “CRITICAL DAMAGE” message too early in the match. This mech seems to have a huge target painted on his CT, every shot I take from the enemy seems to hit that location. Moreover, even if he has a velocity similar to my Marauder, he is very clumsy: I cannot easily escape from LRMs or from enemy weapons if I expose my mech to shoot.
If I try to close the range and I get caught by 2 or 3 enemy mechs, it’s usually game over.
I have tried heavy, medium and light mechs but neither one was so painful to play like this one.
Any good advice to tame this beast? I do not know if the problem is that this mech does not suit my playstyle (I like to brawl) or if the problem is in the class itself.
It’s the first time I am willing to sell a mech…

[Roughneck45]

It does have a CT that's pretty easy to target, but the mech has a great side profile and arms so if you work on your torso twisting and damage soaking you should survive quite a bit longer. Try to stick to cover that will let you make best use of your high mounted harpoints.

I would remove the machine guns and add another heatsink.
BLR-1G

If you aren't feeling the laser vomit you can swap in some ballistics.
BLR-1G

The Wubmaster is fun too, but that engine isn't cheap and XL assaults are always risky.
BLR-1G

Edited by Roughneck45, 14 March 2016 - 05:43 AM.

[Rogue Jedi]

if you want a tanky 85 ton assault unfortunately you picked the wrong Mech the Stalker is much more durable due to better hitboxes for spreading damage, the STK has huge side torsos so can spread damage well, and is unlikely to loose the CT before a side, also if a shot hits a missing arm or side torso you loose 60% of the damage, if it hits both arm and side torso after they are gone you loose 84% of the incoming damage.

the Battlemaster has a high engine cap but is nowhere near as durable as a Stalker

I run my BLRs with a large XL, usualy 350 or 400 ^{(with the 400 it is slightly slower than the Clan Heavy Mechs)} depending on what weapons I am using, as you said the CT tends to take more damage than the sides so the Battlemaster is relatively XL safe.

While it will be expensive, almost 6 million for the XL400, something like this could be better, in your case, the added speed, especially twist speed could help with durability, despite the fact that on paper an XL makes you more vulnerable, faster twist means you can spread damage more effectively, allowing you to use your side torso armor ^{(just avoid loosing the torso itself)}.

the BLR has high torso energy hardpoints perfect for poking over cover with long range weapons, and most variants can take 6+ lasers giving a good short range punch, I think it is the 1S which has 4 missile hardpoints and makes a great missile boat.

[Spheroid]

Add two more heat sinks, one less mlas and remove the machine guns. Also front load the CT armor.

Edited by Spheroid, 14 March 2016 - 07:02 AM.

[aaykeem]

The 1G is hard to play because of the limited torso twisting range of 60 degrees. This impacts both your ability to take damage (you'll have to turn the entire mech, not just the torso, to roll damage) and your ability to dish damage (in close range you'll often find yourself unable to aim at mechs moving fast through your field of vision, peeking around buildings is hard, etc ). Don't try to brawl in it, you'll just get wrecked. Either build it as a sniper (LL/ERLL/PPC), or switch to the 2C, which doesn't have the same limited twist range and has good structure quirks that make it more durable.

Edited by aaykeem, 14 March 2016 - 06:48 AM.

[Barkem Squirrel]

Just remember, it is a joy to be in an assault chasing down slow medium mechs while watching their desperate attempts to panic fire as you close the distance.

That is almost the mentality you need while running the wubmaster with the 400XL engine.

[invernomuto]

aaykeem, on 14 March 2016 - 06:47 AM, said:

Don't try to brawl in it, you'll just get wrecked. Either build it as a sniper (LL/ERLL/PPC), or switch to the 2C, which doesn't have the same limited twist range and has good structure quirks that make it more durable.

I planned to buy the 1S as LRM boat and 2C for the structure quirks.
I did not think that the 1G was so fragile.

I could try a "crazy" sniper build with PPC AND Gauss

Thanks!

Barkem Squirrel, on 14 March 2016 - 06:52 AM, said:

Just remember, it is a joy to be in an assault chasing down slow medium mechs while watching their desperate attempts to panic fire as you close the distance. That is almost the mentality you need while running the wubmaster with the 400XL engine.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll try an XL engine...

EDIT: why you suggest to remove the dual Machine Guns? I find it useful against light or damaged mech that try to close the range.

Edited by invernomuto, 14 March 2016 - 07:46 AM.

[Roughneck45]

invernomuto, on 14 March 2016 - 07:33 AM, said:

EDIT: why you suggest to remove the dual Machine Guns? I find it useful against light or damaged mech that try to close the range.

If you get use out of and enjoy them then keep them.

I feel that the situations they are useful in are very very limited for an assault mech, where as another heatsink is always useful.

[Koniving]

invernomuto, on 14 March 2016 - 05:15 AM, said:

I thought that with almost 100 points of armor the mech CT were more durable. Instead, I usually read the “CRITICAL DAMAGE” message too early in the match. This mech seems to have a huge target painted on his CT, every shot I take from the enemy seems to hit that location.

One... Torso twisting to protect yourself is your friend.
Two, you are likely facing your enemy far too much. Many weapons have time in which they need to recharge, use this opportunity to deflect the enemy's fire as your enemy is likely doing with yours.

Three: Critical damage is stated when armor on specific body parts (mainly torsos) is below a certain percentage.
For example with 12 armor on your rear torso (very bad idea for a humanoid mech mind you), going down in rear armor by 6 units brings you at 50%... If you lose 9 rear armor, that has you at 75% of it lost and brings up the critical damage alert.

Consider other avenues of attack and other methods. You're doing far too much face-time. You're not in a Clan mech; the IS mechs are made to 'hit and move', not 'walk up and shoot'.

Something very simple that will have you living a lot longer. Move Diagonally. Never, Ever move directly at an enemy, keep them on an angle. This allows many ballistic weapons to miss you and makes energy weapons easier to spread over your body.
Under NO circumstances do you stop moving.

[Orville Righteous]

I did the same thing but with the BLR-3M and I haven't been impressed.

I just can't torso twist fast enough to not get the CT nailed. My build is pretty standard BattleMaster so non-meta, and I don't think there are any Assaults that I really think, "oh, this will be an easy kill." Usually, even if I do kill something, I'm so banged up the next mech will take me out. The CT just seems to draw fire from everywhere. A lot of the heavies seem to outgun me.

BattleMasters seem like such a huge target that you get nailed from across the map too.

I bought two other variants (BLR-2C and BLR-1S), and I like them better but I still don't think they're that great. I'm definitely having buyers remorse (I paid C-bills for all of them).

I think I'm going to stick to Heavies and Mediums.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

BLR's strength is kinda like the Warhawk's, but with better high torso mounts. It's not an in-your-face mech, but rather a tagged-you-from-the-next-postal-code one. At least, those other than the -2C (I like to brawl in it... sue me). BLR-1G with XL400, 3x LPL, 3x ML, and a BUNCH of DHS, is a monster at mid-range. And 5x ERLL isn't TOO toasty in that thing, either.

BLR's E mounts in the torso? They're up HIGH. USE THAT. It's an extraordinary hill humper among IS humanoid mechs. Practice the hill humping A LOT, and get the timing down. And use that extraordinary-for-an-assault-mech speed to reposition whenever you start getting focused fire, or when you've got a dueling enemy anticipating your timing.

You'll probably need to shave down the armor on the arms to fit that, but that's okay. They DO get that armor buff on all the BLRs except the -2C (which gets the kickin' structure buffs instead).

And you're on the right track with the -1G, -1S, and -2C, as likely the best combo of BLRs to get the most out of the chassis.

TL;DR- Go fast, hill hump with mid- or long-range weapons, and get the -2C next.

[invernomuto]

Yesterday evening I tried other matches with my BLR-1G. I used it as a long range sniper with dual PPCs and MLs. I did better than usual, but I feel that 85 tons for a dual PPCs sniper (with a huge silhouette) is a "waste of tonnage". My better game with the BLR-1G was in the Canyon map: I did a very good 900 damage but I stood almost the entire game behind a big rock poking for enemy that were targeting my team mates. Not my idea of an "ASSAULT" mech.
Of course, if enemies are smart and decide to focus fire on me, I am usually toasted very fast.
My last match on Crimson Strait was emblematic: I moved to the upper platform and I joined my teammates that were firing to the enemy mechs involved in a fight below. I fired to a Griffin and a Top Dog, placing some nice shots with my PPCs at 400-500 m. I got some shots back but I was focused on aiming so I did not bother. I looked to my status and my CT was damaged, with yellow internal structure... I died after a few minutes while I was trading shots with the Top Dog. It's annoying!
Now I am torn if I have to invest my C-Bills in an XL400 engine (6,5 mln C-Bills, OUCH!) OR put the Battlemaster aside and move to a tankier mech, like the Stalker.

[iLLcapitan]

the answer is: XL 400

[ImperialKnight]

The Battlehamster(XL400) is more of a trololol build than a serious one. It sounds good on paper, but the fact that you have to run a damn XL400 on it just to make it sort of work, shows how bad a BLR is. You can hill hump all you want, any player worth his/her salt is going to go for that side torso, and you're F-ed. (A Battlehamster is VERY obvious)

I would say sell the Battlemaster and get something else. Instead of throwing good CBills in, after the bad.

You want a 85 tonner for CW? Get a Stalker or Victor

[aaykeem]

invernomuto, on 15 March 2016 - 01:31 AM, said:

Yesterday evening I tried other matches with my BLR-1G. I used it as a long range sniper with dual PPCs and MLs. I did better than usual, but I feel that 85 tons for a dual PPCs sniper (with a huge silhouette) is a "waste of tonnage". My better game with the BLR-1G was in the Canyon map: I did a very good 900 damage but I stood almost the entire game behind a big rock poking for enemy that were targeting my team mates. Not my idea of an "ASSAULT" mech.
Of course, if enemies are smart and decide to focus fire on me, I am usually toasted very fast.
My last match on Crimson Strait was emblematic: I moved to the upper platform and I joined my teammates that were firing to the enemy mechs involved in a fight below. I fired to a Griffin and a Top Dog, placing some nice shots with my PPCs at 400-500 m. I got some shots back but I was focused on aiming so I did not bother. I looked to my status and my CT was damaged, with yellow internal structure... I died after a few minutes while I was trading shots with the Top Dog. It's annoying!
Now I am torn if I have to invest my C-Bills in an XL400 engine (6,5 mln C-Bills, OUCH!) OR put the Battlemaster aside and move to a tankier mech, like the Stalker.

It's also an issue of getting used to the build and how to use it. The fact that you did 900 damage in a sniping build on one of the first tries is very good. You might not have been on the front line using your armor, but that's a load of damage.

It sounds to me like you're looking more for a brawling mech, something to get close and personal in. Look at the 90+ tonners, Mauler (ballistics specialist), Highlander (it is situational, but even if people diss it, you can get some nice builds in some of the variants), Banshee. Atlas and King Crab are a bit more difficult to play, I'd get a 90-95 tonner first, see how it feels.

Also, try to make an effort and start torso twisting / going into cover after every shot fired.

Edited by aaykeem, 15 March 2016 - 04:04 AM.

[iLLcapitan]

knightsljx, on 15 March 2016 - 02:06 AM, said:

I would say sell the Battlemaster and get something else. Instead of throwing good CBills in, after the bad.

You want a 85 tonner for CW? Get a Stalker or Victor

NEVEEER sell mechs unless you really REALLY have to.

Are you serious about that second part?

[Spheroid]

Big mistake to give up on the chassis, big. Also as you own no other assault mechs you should not assume any of them are any better. They all have very serious issues as well. I own every single Battlemaster and I have built them for a variety of roles.

If you purchase the 2C I guarantee you will not accuse it of being inadequately tanky. The 1G has good hardpoints and quirks with a high engine cap. You really need to elite something before passing judgment on it.

[Vlad Striker]

Try this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...353f54bbc369651 . BLS-1G have AC and lasers quirks. Buy AC-5 cooldown module and ML range module.
Battlemaster is a second-line assault so dont rush forward but don't stay in defend position.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

knightsljx, on 15 March 2016 - 02:06 AM, said:

You want a 85 tonner for CW? Get a Stalker or Victor

Had me at Stalker, lost me on Victor.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

without double basics battlemaster is depressing,but use 6 ml 1 ppc 2 ac5,with STD300 or XL370,it works