36 replies to this topic

[Timicon]

I am normally a Medium - class and a Heavy-class pilot, but have been thinking in recent weeks of branching out into the Assault-class and since i am a devout Inner Sphere pilot, I was thinking of investing in a Zeus, but do not know that much about them, game-wise, so I was wondering if anyone who owns a Zeus (or has in the past) could give me a little heads up information on if they are a good investment or if I should think about trying out some other 'Mech, possibly another Heavy-class 'Mech instead?

I have heard both good thinks during in-game match chats when asking about the Zeus, but i wanted a more in-depth answer on what they are like to pilot and if they are any good during most of the maps? Is there anything to be weary about, should I end up buying a Zeus anf I do buy one, which chassis are the best to buy? I am more a long-range support fire pilot, bt I do like to get down and dirty in brawling occasionally and the Zeus seems an excellent 'Mech for that role... so any hint or tips from those of you who use them or have had used them in the past?

Thanks for anything you all can tell me about them

- Timicon.

[Karl Marlow]

It depends on what you like. I like mine alright. You are a medium pilot going to a assault so it's going to feel. Wet sluggish to you. The closest analog as to what it will play like is the hunchback SP. Missiles and energy.

I usually set mine up for brawling. Stacked srms and some LPLs. At 80 tons it sits in an odd place. The meta right now favors black knights for brawling at 75 tons. So I dunno. If you like how it looks then get it. Its a decent mech. If your thinking only abouts it's stats you might want to look elsewhere.

Edited by ThomasMarik, 18 April 2016 - 12:10 AM.

[Timicon]

ThomasMarik, on 18 April 2016 - 12:09 AM, said:

It depends on what you like. I like mine alright. You are a medium pilot going to a assault so it's going to feel. Wet sluggish to you. The closest analog as to what it will play like is the hunchback SP. Missiles and energy.

I usually set mine up for brawling. Stacked srms and some LPLs. At 80 tons it sits in an odd place. The meta right now favors black knights for brawling at 75 tons. So I dunno. If you like how it looks then get it. Its a decent mech. If your thinking only abouts it's stats you might want to look elsewhere.

Well, I have a lot of experience with the Hunchback - 4J (my favourite of the Hunchback chasses) but limited experience with the SP chassis, so hopefully it is not that much different from playing the 4J. But lately, I have left the 4J behind and been piloting thr Centurion and Griffin, in th Medium-class, but alternating a lot with the Quickdraw -4H, which, with the load out I have on it is both a brawler and a long range support 'Mech, so maybe the Zeus is not going to be much different in terms of brawling as the Quickdraw - 4H.
I am not a fan of SRMs or SSRMs all that much, and have limited experience with pulse lasers, but have been meaning to try them out (just never had the time to really invest in them to load them them on a 'Mech).

I do not know that much about the ablack Knight, but if what you say is true, I might go and do a bit of reading on it in a tic. Thanks for your advice, mate!

[z3a1ot]

You wont be leading any charges in it that's for sure. At least that's what I feel about the mech.

You can outfit 9S to mimic banshee 3M with 4 LPL using your entire right side for shielding, but be sure to run STD engine on it for this to work. With rest variants you can do what you want, I ran mine wits SRMs and LL or LPL, experiment and see what you like.

[Duke Nedo]

The Zeus is an excellent mech imho, especially the 9S laser wubbeus. Some recommended builds (reallocate armor):

ZEU-9S
ZEU-5S, ZEU-5S

Then I used the loyalty Zeus as third mech, not as good but worked OK with 3x SRM4, 2x LPL and 1x Gauss

Edit: Always use a big XL in Zeus, they can carry one well.
Edit2: Replace 6S with 5S, my bad but you can use the same builds.
Edit3: Perhaps with a XL350 or 360, my build library is wrong for the 5S...

Edited by Duke Nedo, 18 April 2016 - 01:20 AM.

[C E Dwyer]

Big engine, wubs and srm's seem to be the preffered way of playing it.

Smallest assault in the game, and some people swear by XL in it, as in all mechs if its focused on it crumples real quick but as all people seem to do these days is corner poke, it happens rarely, it has a wicked torso twist so sword and board works well

[Guitar Czar]

It's a good assault to start with for a medium/heavy pilot, it's what I transitioned to from the same role you're in. It's smaller and faster (usually) than the other assaults and not down right terrible like the other 80 tonners. You can try an XL in it if you'd like, and it is fun, but I like to avoid XL if at all possible since I kind of become involuntarily reckless on occasion and don't find that my speed or weapon loadout is compromised too much by taking a 300 STD engine.

Eventually you'll want something heavier to feel more assaulty I imagine. I did. But for the transition you're making it's great.

[Black Ivan]

I love my AC10 + Large Pulse Zeus, it kicked *** more than once . I always use STD engines for survivability 325 I think

[jss78]

As far as XL's, I'll agree that they distribute damage well, so that's definitely a possible route. My experience though is that they're also exceptionally "STD friendly" in that they can make great use of the tanking ability. I don't think I have a single mech that's reduced to a stick as often. And most builds still pack an LL/ERLL/LPL in the CT.

I believe I have the stock engine in all of mine, STD-320 for ~70 kph. My FP workhorse is the ZEU-9S with 3xERLL (CT, LT), 3xML (LA) and lots of heat sinks. Full shield side, it can reliably take a lot of damage before going down. Another that seems to work well is ZEU-6S with 2xAC5 and 2xERLL. Neither of those are frontline mechs, but sturdy fire-support platforms. 6T is fun with the 3xASRM6 "Thunderfist" and some lasers.

Edited by jss78, 18 April 2016 - 02:03 AM.

[El Bandito]

Gargoyle is the best medium mech in Assault disguise. Pilot Gargles.

[theta123]

El Bandito, on 18 April 2016 - 02:11 AM, said:

Gargoyle is the best medium mech in Assault disguise. Pilot Gargles.

And anyone who still claims that gargles are terrible, obviously havent met one..

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Dont recall the variant, but one of them has got some really strong structure quirks. Makes for good use of XLs

[Corrado]

Timicon, on 17 April 2016 - 11:30 PM, said:

I am normally a Medium - class and a Heavy-class pilot, but have been thinking in recent weeks of branching out into the Assault-class and since i am a devout Inner Sphere pilot, I was thinking of investing in a Zeus, but do not know that much about them, game-wise, so I was wondering if anyone who owns a Zeus (or has in the past) could give me a little heads up information on if they are a good investment or if I should think about trying out some other 'Mech, possibly another Heavy-class 'Mech instead?

I have heard both good thinks during in-game match chats when asking about the Zeus, but i wanted a more in-depth answer on what they are like to pilot and if they are any good during most of the maps? Is there anything to be weary about, should I end up buying a Zeus anf I do buy one, which chassis are the best to buy? I am more a long-range support fire pilot, bt I do like to get down and dirty in brawling occasionally and the Zeus seems an excellent 'Mech for that role... so any hint or tips from those of you who use them or have had used them in the past?

Thanks for anything you all can tell me about them

- Timicon.

i'll make it quick since i'm in a hurry. Zeuses aren't the best assaults out there, but they are pretty funny. agility and hitboxes is what makes em good brawlers.

i did ran the 9S with 3LPL 3ML, STD300, AMS+1T.

ZEU-9S

the structure quirks works wonders with STD engines because you can brawl longer and the CT hitbox is pretty small. they arent glass cannons IMO. that's why i run STD zeuses

or the 6T with 4MPL 3SRM6+ART STD325

ZEU-6T

this is fast and nimble, has a good punch, the SRM6ART are all in one location for low spread.

[Dale Grible]

medium to assaults? Good friggin luck. whole new animal when u are the size of a barn and slow as a ford. Zeus may have more speed but as u get to bigger chasis that go 55 to 60ish u will learn "I'm committed" and hopefully the mediums dont run away and leave u for dead which will happen 70% of the time.

If u were a coward in mediums and left your teammate to die you will understand what so many assault drivers agonize over....no support

[LookUpGaming]

Zeus can be fun. I have them. Did not use them too much.

I'll have to tell you, right now my favorite assault is the Mauler. Have all of them. Have them outfitted with 5 AC5s (the one I like the most), a dual Guass and ML set up (can be fun but not the best hardpoints for that style) and I have a SRM brawler type as well.

Gives you 3 different playstyles to master the chassis.

The 5 AC5 Mauler is a true beast. You can volley fire the AC5s for a solid 25 points of damage. I do that when I am not taking much return fire. Once I have my targets attention then i'll switch to either alternating 2 and 3 or go full ******* and chain them for the screen shake and frustration factor. Once 2 or more mechs start to pay you too much attention just back off behind cover and change your angle of attack. Rinse repeat. You can pack enough ammo that you can do over 1,000 dmg a game.

[Jetdrag]

Zeus is a great machine. Tough, small for an assault, and still has the agility of a heavy if you put a fair sized engine in them. They are OK with STD, and can even zombie with ST lasers, but I think they are best with a big XL. I think they are often underestimated. I actually prefer my Zeus to my Banshee, but I value the mobility.

[LordMelvin]

The Zeus is easily my favorite assault mech. It's the mech that taught me to pilot assaults. I run STD 320s in all of mine because having an entire arm and torso for shielding is amazing. I've seen a lot of people use XLs to fit more guns and speed in.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

Zeus is the best IS 80 tonner, but that isn't saying much, you are better off going Battlemaster with an XL if you want an assault pretending to be a heavy.

[Gas Guzzler]

I've always been a fan of the 3LL-Gauss build on the 5S or the 6S, with an XL 350-360 it moves around pretty good and corner pokes well.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

Gas Guzzler, on 18 April 2016 - 07:36 AM, said:

I've always been a fan of the 3LL-Gauss build on the 5S or the 6S, with an XL 350-360 it moves around pretty good and corner pokes well.

This is ok, provided you are low enough in the tiers. Otherwise I would suggest a 9S with all the LPLs, I think I ran mine with a 325 XL and 5 LPLs to get the master module slot, probably the only time I really enjoyed that thing.