14 replies to this topic

[A Gentleman in a Stock Mech]

For fun I have decided that I want to play stock. I have been playing with the HBK-4G, HBK-4P and the HBK-4J and have been getting 300-400 damage a match with these.

I am not crazy and I know that it will gimp me when I hit higher tiers. I also understand I am in Tier 5 and no stock Mech is going to be good in competitive play.

But I was wondering if anyone knew of any other stock Mechs that are at least decent enough to use in the solo queue I don't want to waste too many c-bills on the really bad ones and I do not want to be too much of a drag for my team.

Edited by A Gentleman in a Stock Mech, 03 April 2016 - 06:01 AM.

[ImperialKnight]

Clan mechs. And even then, only select few like the Stormcrow are viable stock.

Also, prepare your **** for the enemy AND your friendly team (once they find you playing stock)

Edited by knightsljx, 03 April 2016 - 06:06 AM.

[A Gentleman in a Stock Mech]

knightsljx, on 03 April 2016 - 06:04 AM, said:

Clan mechs. And even then, only select few like the Stormcrow are viable stock.

Also, prepare your **** for the enemy AND your friendly team (once they find you playing stock)

So I have just really lucked out that I chose the Hunchbacks?

[Nik Reaper]

If you are having fun there and are not frustrated by the general level of play there, I would say stay there, the only thing that changes the higher up you go is pride and more and more current meta mechs and builds, sure the pilots are more competent and know the maps more, but they also try a lot harder,

But on the other hand, few players feel like they should or want to try hard all the time , and every time they do not they get punished with a team that will have a very hard time winning without them going 100%. I should know, I rarely go 100% x) and don't use my best meta mech , and my W\L reflects that.

In tier 5 and 4 you can get away with almost anything , if you do not have any competitive aspirations ( and if you do you can just start trying then ) just have fun there.

As for the main question , most clan mechs can be used but for IS mechs look for mechs that have in build double heatsinks, so something like the light wolfhound -2, medium crab -27B , thunderbolt -9S and quickdraw -5K , those mechs have a leg up on other stock mechs.

Edited by Nik Reaper, 03 April 2016 - 08:27 AM.

[AmazingOnionMan]

I like to run 'mechs close to stock. But the sad truth of MWO is that the twinkied-out boats will always beat the generalists - and most stock 'mechs are generalists by design.
That said, the Wolfhound comes good off the shelf, as does the Crab.

[Exard3k]

I like players that go for a challenge!

[Rogue Jedi]

Any variant ending in -M is likely to have double heat sinks, XL engine and some more advanced equipment, which will usualy help compared to the other variants of that chassis, however that does not mean all the -M variants are good.

the reason the -M variants tend to have better equipment is House Marek did not get involved in the Succession wars so had not lost the good equipment from there Mechs where as most of the other houses had lost access to a lot of stuff (including DHS, XL Engines, Endo Steel, Fero Fibrus, Gauss, Artemus, ER and Pulse Lasers, Streak SRMs, LBX and Ultra ACs) until about 15 years ago in timeline

[MadHornet]

A few stalkers are equipped with double heat sinks, plentiful firepower, and good armor.

[Spheroid]

I don't recommend that, but if I was to make a list.

Wolfhound-2
BJ-3
Enforcer-4P
Centurion-A
Centurion-AL
Crab-SL
Hunchback-IIC-A
Stormcrow-Prime
Stormcrow-A
Stormcrow-B
Nova-S
Timberwolf (ALL)
Thunderbolt-5S
Thunderbolt-9SE
Black Knight-6B
Stalker-3F
Awesome-8Q
Highlander-733C
Warhawks
Atlas-D
Atlas-RS

Edited by Spheroid, 03 April 2016 - 09:42 AM.

[A Gentleman in a Stock Mech]

Nik Reaper, on 03 April 2016 - 08:26 AM, said:

If you are having fun there and are not frustrated by the general level of play there, I would say stay there, the only thing that changes the higher up you go is pride and more and more current meta mechs and builds, sure the pilots are more competent and know the maps more, but they also try a lot harder,

But on the other hand, few players feel like they should or want to try hard all the time , and every time they do not they get punished with a team that will have a very hard time winning without them going 100%. I should know, I rarely go 100% x) and don't use my best meta mech , and my W\L reflects that.

In tier 5 and 4 you can get away with almost anything , if you do not have any competitive aspirations ( and if you do you can just start trying then ) just have fun there.

As for the main question , most clan mechs can be used but for IS mechs look for mechs that have in build double heatsinks, so something like the light wolfhound -2, medium crab -27B , thunderbolt -9S and quickdraw -5K , those mechs have a leg up on other stock mechs.

Thanks for the advice I am not sure I am happy in tier 5 but I am having fun there at the moment.

Exard3k, on 03 April 2016 - 09:24 AM, said:

I like players that go for a challenge!

Thanks, not been doing too bad either (although I understand I am not playing comp players)

Rogue Jedi, on 03 April 2016 - 09:27 AM, said:

Any variant ending in -M is likely to have double heat sinks, XL engine and some more advanced equipment, which will usualy help compared to the other variants of that chassis, however that does not mean all the -M variants are good.

the reason the -M variants tend to have better equipment is House Marek did not get involved in the Succession wars so had not lost the good equipment from there Mechs where as most of the other houses had lost access to a lot of stuff (including DHS, XL Engines, Endo Steel, Fero Fibrus, Gauss, Artemus, ER and Pulse Lasers, Streak SRMs, LBX and Ultra ACs) until about 15 years ago in timeline

I know the BT timeline, just always enjoyed being a stock player in MW3 and MW4 and wanted to try here.

AmazingOnionMan, on 03 April 2016 - 08:28 AM, said:

I like to run 'mechs close to stock. But the sad truth of MWO is that the twinkied-out boats will always beat the generalists - and most stock 'mechs are generalists by design.
That said, the Wolfhound comes good off the shelf, as does the Crab.

I always enjoy using underdogs and turning it into a win so twinked out boats don't scare me.

MadHornet, on 03 April 2016 - 09:40 AM, said:

A few stalkers are equipped with double heat sinks, plentiful firepower, and good armor.

Thank you

Spheroid, on 03 April 2016 - 09:42 AM, said:

I don't recommend that, but if I was to make a list.

Wolfhound-2
BJ-3
Enforcer-4P
Centurion-A
Centurion-AL
Crab-SL
Hunchback-IIC-A
Stormcrow-Prime
Stormcrow-A
Stormcrow-B
Nova-S
Timberwolf (ALL)
Thunderbolt-5S
Thunderbolt-9SE
Black Knight-6B
Stalker-3F
Awesome-8Q
Highlander-733C
Warhawks
Atlas-D
Atlas-RS

That is a very good list! I am going to start with the Innersphere and work up to the Clanners.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

The big problem with stock mechs isnt always the weapons and equipment loadout, but rather the armor distribution.

It is usually a combo of not having armor anywhere near optimal along with having way too much (even for cautious types) on the back

[Kin3ticX]

stormcrow prime

thats about it

after that the "strip all" feature is pretty much how things work

[Fiona Marshe]

I have found the LCT-1V devastating in 3025 stock matches. It really shines.

CPLT-C1 can hold its own in the general queue (due to the 4 tons of ammo). I even get kills with the small lasers in the late match.

[jper4]

blackjack- arrow is pretty decent stock as well. but it's a hero mech

[Husker Dude]

Boogie138, on 03 April 2016 - 04:14 PM, said:

The big problem with stock mechs isnt always the weapons and equipment loadout, but rather the armor distribution.

It is usually a combo of not having armor anywhere near optimal along with having way too much (even for cautious types) on the back

Yeah, a bunch of us were discussing this before a drop, how the stock trial Jager has less than half armor allocated to several components, including CT. That's a real quick death.