Aresye, on 14 May 2016 - 09:27 AM, said:
1. The main BK variant that comp players use DOES have laser duration quirks.
2. Most comp players are good enough at torso twisting to minimize and/or eliminate the XL disadvantage.
3. Most meta builds (IS and Clan) are asymmetric, so it doesn't really matter if you live or die if you lose that torso.
4. Comp players shoot for center torso, main weapon side, or legs. Specifically trying to go for an XL kill on their shield side is likely not going to work in the end, leaves them as a threat for most of the match, and is generally bad practice.
5. Comp players themselves admit that balance strongly favors IS at the current moment, with a few Clan mechs (ex: IIC's, Gargoyle, Ice Ferret) used in very niche situations.
Also, IS LPL+ML builds are what are called "mid-range" builds, and are used for engagements that are between 300-700m. They are most certainly effective beyond 300m, and if you actually read my previous post on page 7, you'd see that the BK does more damage/tick than the most popular laser vomit EBJ, even outside of its optimal range.
Lastly, in reference to you saying, "I will tell you what most of the comp builds do have," I'd like to hear about your comp experience.
BL6 KNT does NOT have laser duration quirks it has energy range 10% cooldown 10% and cooling efficency 10% and by far the more common Black Knight is the 6 with 350 XL 5 medium lasers and 3 large pulse.
If most comp players are good enough to twist to mitigate the XL engine downsides and let's assume both clan and I.S. pilots have skilled comp players who will win the "twist" battle?the pilot that needs to shield both sides due to being destroyed if either gets destroyed or the clan pilot who has two side torsos to spread damage across because it takes the destruction of both sides to kill the mech? In this scenario the 75 ton Black Knight has one torso to give and it has +12 structure quirk. 12 points better side torso durability traded for the ability to require BOTH side torsos to be destroyed to kill the engine.
Most meta builds are asymmetric...More of an advantage for the clanners actually. You see if you have a build that has most of your firepower on the right side the left can be sacrificed to protect the damage output of the clan mech. The Inner Sphere mech can not afford to lose EITHER side and survive. And if the I.S. mech isn't using an XL it's likely slower,less agile and/or under gunned compared to it's clan counterpart. If those advantages do not tip the scales in your favor then the opposition pilot just totally out classes you.Bottom line is sword and board clan XL is an effective strategy to prolong mech survival with an I.S. XL it's suicide.
If a "comp" player opts to not shoot at a Black Knight's side torso then I guess I'm wrong. Also if torso twisting doesn't somehow expose side torsos to damage then I am wrong. If all players always never get shot in the back before they can react I guess I'm wrong. If somehow Inner Sphere XLs are not half as durable as a clan XL I guess I'm wrong.
Sure a Black Knight using large pulse lasers is very dangerous I never argued otherwise I am however finding it odd that all of the "numbers" never seem to account for the down sides that are very exploitable when yo run up against these mechs.
Inner Sphere large pulse laser optimal range 365m Inner Sphere Medium laser optimal range is 270m. If a weapon is fired outside of it's optimal range it's damage output is decreased yet it's heat burden is not . The black knight also has fairly mid possition hardpoints making it a poor long range poker shooter. Essentially I would be quite pleased if my opposition Black Knight pilot opted to stay beyond his optimal range suffering from reduced damage output all the while building the same heat while my lower profile Ebon Jag is dishing 100% damage with 100% heat to damage efficency all the while not having to poke more than half it's profile over a hill to do it.
Can a Black Knight large pulse laser build do damage from outside it's optimal range? yes. Is it efficent or a good idea? no.
"Lastly"... Honestly who needs "comp experience" if all of the builds are cookie cutter metamechs builds. Anyone with internet can research what is favored "comp" build of any mech. I can read and I do have internet. That asside what is the most commonly seen Blacknight build? is it not a BL6 KNT with 350XL 5 medium lasers and 3 large pulse? Because if it's not my info may be out of date I havn't had time to play in 2 days so...
Also has the practice of front loading armor gone out the window or do players still strip rear armor off to stack the front? Because if it's still done the back side torso of an average metamechs cookie cutter Black Knight will be around 50 points (32 structure + 12 structure quirk + 6 - 8 armor) this is two hits from 6x clan ER small or Sml Pulse lasers (both common builds for Cheetahs) the cycle rate of the clan small pulse is 2.25 seconds meaning that if you line up one shot you have 2.25 seconds to land your next and kill that Black Knight. (for best results use two back stabbers using differing angles of attack.If all goes well "POP" dead in 2 seconds)