17 replies to this topic

[JC Daxion]

Ok locust pilots, got a Q for ya.. (rogue jedi, you are a crazy locust pilot right?)


Hero/champion sale here.. So i am thinking about grabbing some mechs to bank for a later date.. Pirates bane is the ECM mech, so i am guessing that one is a no brainer? It also comes with an XL190, so save a bit of cash too right? also has endo and doubles just missing ferro, Worth getting?


What about the champion? It has 6 energy in the arms, is this the mech people run the small pulse build in? Also has a XL190 and full upgrades, for just a shade over the cost of a mech bay on sale., seems like a pretty good deal



I also noticed the commando 1D has full upgrades, and i love commando's to bad it doesn't have a good engine, but again with full upgrades for the cost, it is hard to pass up.. (love me a commando! and it has been on my list to add anyway) so not really asking about this,, I got 650MC sitting so i'm grabbing this one anyway.. But to get the others i'd need to grab a small MC pack, probably just get the 7 buck one, but it would cover the purchases of the two locusts.. I should grab some larger heroes, but i just spent 80 bucks on a steam controler and a cable to play other games on on the old big screen so money is kinda tight.. But i can swing the 7 bucks if it's worth it..

Worth doing? or should i just grab the commado with my bank, basically it is all coming down to deciding if the 1E is worth it or not.

Edited by JC Daxion, 27 May 2016 - 01:09 PM.

[Jables McBarty]

JC Daxion, on 27 May 2016 - 01:08 PM, said:

Ok locust pilots, got a Q for ya.. (rogue jedi, you are a crazy locust pilot right?)

I'm note Rogue Jedi, but I do love me a locust, so I'll try.

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Hero/champion sale here.. So i am thinking about grabbing some mechs to bank for a later date.. Pirates bane is the ECM mech, so i am guessing that one is a no brainer? It also comes with an XL190, so save a bit of cash too right? also has endo and doubles just missing ferro, Worth getting?

Get it, you'll never regret it. One of my most-played chassis. And now that the MG flash has been toned down, the stock load-out is once again useable for more than two games in a row without danger of seizure.

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What about the champion? It has 6 energy in the arms, is this the mech people run the small pulse build in? Also has a XL190 and full upgrades, for just a shade over the cost of a mech bay on sale., seems like a pretty good deal

I don't own the 1E, but my opinion is: Get the PB, save the 380M instead of buying the 1E(C). With the PB, you'll have an XL190 on hand. Then if you like the Locust, buy the 1E for Cbills on the cheap.

If you really like the idea of the +XP bonus on the (C) version, just run the trial 'mech until you rack up enough XP to Basic or Elite it.

Also note that MechBays are 300MC regularly, they are 150MC on sale. So that 1E(C) is either 1 'MechBay or 2 'MechBays on sale--'MechBays you'll need after you become a Locust addict and need to store 7 new 'Mechs.

And also you don't get a 'MechBay when buying Hero/Champions.

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I also noticed the commando 1D has full upgrades, and i love commando's to bad it doesn't have a good engine, but again with full upgrades for the cost, it is hard to pass up.. (love me a commando! and it has been on my list to add anyway) so not really asking about this,, I got 650MC sitting so i'm grabbing this one anyway.. But to get the others i'd need to grab a small MC pack, probably just get the 7 buck one, but it would cover the purchases of the two locusts.. I should grab some larger heroes, but i just spent 80 bucks on a steam controler and a cable to play other games on on the old big screen so money is kinda tight.. But i can swing the 7 bucks if it's worth it..

Worth doing? or should i just grab the commado with my bank, basically it is all coming down to deciding if the 1E is worth it or not.

Can't speak to the Commando. But the PB was the first 'mech I bought for MC, and I've never once regretted it. It turned me into a locust pilot.

[TercieI]

The 1E is the best LCT and the champion is one of the best builds. I have two 1Es and am considering grabbing the champ it's so cheap and selling one of my others. The Pirate's Bane is OK. Honestly, I rank it behind the 1E and the 3M and maybe even the 1V. ECM is not actually that important and it costs you 1.5 tons of 20. Also, all of its four energy hardpoints are in the torsos which is a huge downgrade vs the six all in the arms of the 1E. Mine is mastered and stripped, I'll always take the 1E over it by not even close.

The COM-1D(C) is a horribad build just because of the ridiculous standard engine. Still, it's pretty cheap and as COMs go, the 1D is near the top. On the subject of heroes, though, The Death's Knell is by far the best COM IMO, so if the chassis interests you, I think it's a better buy than the PB.

I've mastered all variants of both of these chassis.

Edited by TercieI, 27 May 2016 - 02:50 PM.

[Rogue Jedi]

Sorry JC,
I do not like the Locust, my only problem with it is that I really hate the cockpit, especially on the Phoenix variant I think the 1V(P) which for some stupid reason has a rollbar which reduces the size of the main window by about 1/3, visibility was already seriously obstructed by the stupid placement of the window frame, compounded by the fact that the pilot sits so far back.

I was put off the locust by the above issues, I tried to like it but I just could not ignore that problem, I love the other IS under 35 ton lights but I have just been unable to accept the locust thanks to the limited visibility on a Mech which really needs it.

the upsides to the locust are;
High speed, the COM-TDK is the only Mech which can outrun a max engined Locust, however a Locust cannot catch a SDR-5V or 5K thanks to almost the same speed with JumpJets

acceleration, there are few Mechs able to accelerate/decelerate like a Locust, I think a Shadow Cat with MASC can match a Locust in acceleration ^{(but not top speed)} and a Commando comes close but the locust significantly out accelerates anything else, which combined with its high speed means it can easily change direction to escape pursuit

plenty of firepower, the Kit Fox which is 50% heavier is the smallest Mech capable of outgunning a locust, some Locust variants are more powerful than Mechs 75% (15 tons) heavier.

fragility, there is ^{(to me)} nothing more invigorating than knowing that 1 good hit will kill you instantly, for that reason I love the Commando and especially the Spider ^{(with its Jumpjets combined with crazy speed as well minimal armour and weapons)} however the Locusts cockpit ruins the experience for me.

I am obsessed with Machine Guns, so thought I would love the 1V(P) but its cockpit ruined any chance of me enjoying it, however a Locust in the right hands is just as dangerous as a Firestarter or Jenner not least because people know the Firestarter is a threat but will often disregard its 20ton wingman

Edited by Rogue Jedi, 27 May 2016 - 02:54 PM.

[Leone]

I love the locust, and whole-heartedly agree with the pirates bane as the most efficient use of MC. As for the Champion variant, meh, you can save the MC and get with Cbills. You'd have ta fix the Champion build anyways, so might as well save the MC for future use. LCT-1E is the classically accepted 1E I like best, though some prefer to swap the ams for an extra heat sink.

It just makes no sense to put midrange weapons on a mobile weapons platform. You are a projectile. Might as well be able to outgun or keep up with anything as fast as you.

~Leone

Edited by Leone, 27 May 2016 - 09:18 PM.

[Spheroid]

Buy only the PB with MC. Later use c-bills to buy the 1E and use the 190XL from the PB to build the standard meta build.

The 1E is the best Locust, but the PB is far from bad.
1E > PB >= 3M > 1M > 1V > 3S > 3V


I say go ahead and buy one and forget Commandos.

Edited by Spheroid, 27 May 2016 - 11:41 PM.

[John1352]

Locusts get hit in the CT and killed. Commandos get their arms and weapons shot off, but are otherwise tough little mechs.

[Helene de Montfort]

PB is really fun to play. It's small, fast, stealthy, and even deadly if used right. My PB is part of my faction play dropdeck, and i wouldn't change it for any COM, or even for a LCT-1E. The sale is a good occasion to get one.

[Fang01]

Strongly disagree on 1E being best. 3M is currently superior per quirk.

[The Lost Boy]

Fang01, on 27 May 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Strongly disagree on 1E being best. 3M is currently superior per quirk.

The important quirk is energy duration. Which equals face time on the burn. The 1 E wins this, and therefore IS the surperior mech.

[TercieI]

Fang01, on 27 May 2016 - 10:38 PM, said:

Strongly disagree on 1E being best. 3M is currently superior per quirk.

1E has better duration, 3M better cycle time. 1E also has 6 hardpoints all in arms vs the 3M's 5 with one in torso. You can make a case for preferring the DPSeyness of the 3M, but I value the all arm mounts too much and if using SPLs, they cycle fast enough and if using MLs, the 25% duration is hugely important to shoot quickly and vanish. I'll take the 1E, but can see a preference for the 3M.

Spheroid, on 27 May 2016 - 09:34 PM, said:

Buy only the PB with MC. Later use c-bills to buy the 1E and use the 190XL from the PB to build the standard meta build.

The 1E is the best Locust, but the PB is far from bad.
1E > PB >= 3M > 1M > 1V > 3S > 3V


I say go ahead and buy one and forget Commandos.

1V should be ahead of 1M on your list. It's gimmicky but the gimmick works. 1LPL that's just always firing is surprisingly effective.

[Koniving]

DPS and firing rate overall depends on both duration AND cool down rate....

Just food for thought. But if using a high speed locust the duration is more important.
If using a slower locust like an er ppc locust, fire rate is what matters.

[JC Daxion]

well i have plenty of bays saved,, last sale i picked up 15 or something like that so space is not an issue, and i already have 3 commando's so i know the chassis, and the 3A is fav missile version, and the DK my fav energy. The 3A has an issue with the missiles being in center, and in an arm, so the track is always off making it very hard to use them in group fire, The lasers track nice though being in the arms. The 1D on the other hand i can run my exact same build but get the missiles from the same spot, making a tighter spread, and i can now have a shield arm too! 400MC, to save almost 5m? Sounds like a deal to me.. 6m costs a ton of MC, so this to me is a steal.


Many of the same reasons is why i will just grab the Champion locust seeing you guys are saying it is a pretty solid chassis. Sure i could grind 12M and pick up both the commando and locust,, but id rather grab 2 modules instead in exchange for a few bucks..


the PB, really no ecm? Seems like ECM would be invaluable in a mech with such low armor, but i guess i will have to play around with it to decide.. I guess Ill just have to figure out which will be my third after i play around with the chassis but seeing these things are soo cheap i don't mind spending 7 bucks to save myself a ton of grinding and get 3 mechs..


thanks for the info guys, you never fail me!


ps, I already own 3 commandos, 3 spiders, and 4 ravens, so i'm no stranger to lights,, Never thought i would grab a locust though to be honest, but hey,.. darn PGI getting me with their sales.. Might as well pick up the 10 dollar booster too.

[TercieI]

JC Daxion, on 28 May 2016 - 07:41 AM, said:

the PB, really no ecm? Seems like ECM would be invaluable in a mech with such low armor, but i guess i will have to play around with it to decide.. I guess Ill just have to figure out which will be my third after i play around with the chassis but seeing these things are soo cheap i don't mind spending 7 bucks to save myself a ton of grinding and get 3 mechs..

Oh, no, absolutely use the ECM if you run a PB, I'm just saying it's not really that great vs. the options. If I were to run the PB now, I'd run it like this, but this is a much better mech and this might be too.

I'm going to be utterly blunt: When I see a Pirate's Bane, what I think is "there's somebody who wants to pilot a LCT but isn't actually good enough to do so." So often, they stop, thinking their ECM makes them invisible and get one-shot. ECM just really seems to be a crutch here, not one of the really good LCT players I know runs the PB at all, all preferring the 1E.

Also, I totally agree with your math. This is why I have JR7-F(C)s and FS9-S(C)s too. Super cheap for expensive XLs...hard to argue if you value your time at all.

Edited by TercieI, 28 May 2016 - 07:54 AM.

[JC Daxion]

heh, outta my 70+ mechs, i own exactly 4 ECM mechs, commando 2D, which i only mastered, (darn lack of ammo even running 3 SRM's it runs out to fast, esepcially if you get in a fight with an assault. where are my ammo quirks!!! i typically play the 3A or DK, and my spider, which i never even leveled, and an Atlas DDC which is till sitting at basics, actually all my atlas's are still there, i am finally just getting around to playing them after they have been sitting in my bays for almost 2 years

The only ECM mech i have actually played for any time is my cicada 3M

though i have been wanting to get a cataphract 0XP, and a hellbringer on my clan account.. But i got about 15 or 20 mechs to finish leveling.. so thats way down the road.. This is more of a i got MC sitting, and might as well grab something for down the road.. Probably will sit 6 months before i even touch um,, unless of course my commando gets a nice little tweak in resize, then i can see myself jamming that next month


But point taken... PB+good player= smurf!!

Edited by JC Daxion, 28 May 2016 - 08:49 AM.

[Jables McBarty]

JC Daxion, on 28 May 2016 - 07:41 AM, said:

...

Many of the same reasons is why i will just grab the Champion locust seeing you guys are saying it is a pretty solid chassis. Sure i could grind 12M and pick up both the commando and locust,, but id rather grab 2 modules instead in exchange for a few bucks..


the PB, really no ecm? Seems like ECM would be invaluable in a mech with such low armor, but i guess i will have to play around with it to decide.. I guess Ill just have to figure out which will be my third after i play around with the chassis but seeing these things are soo cheap i don't mind spending 7 bucks to save myself a ton of grinding and get 3 mechs..

...

I'm one of the newer light pilots posting on this thread and Terciel's comment does come as a stern rebuke (ouch!), but I'll say the ECM is useful if you like to run your light as an assault escort. It's not the best escort 'mech by any means, but when running a PB I often run circles around my assaults until they get within brawling range, then get behind whatever they are shooting at.

[TercieI]

Jables McBarty, on 28 May 2016 - 10:03 AM, said:

I'm one of the newer light pilots posting on this thread and Terciel's comment does come as a stern rebuke (ouch!), but I'll say the ECM is useful if you like to run your light as an assault escort. It's not the best escort 'mech by any means, but when running a PB I often run circles around my assaults until they get within brawling range, then get behind whatever they are shooting at.

It's OK. I was an ECM-addicted light pilot when I started. You'll outgrow it, too, and realize the limits of its uses if you have an open mind. Keep in mind that especially on maps where heat vision is used a lot, MkI eyeballs can still see you.

[Jables McBarty]

TercieI, on 28 May 2016 - 10:19 AM, said:

It's OK. I was an ECM-addicted light pilot when I started. You'll outgrow it, too, and realize the limits of its uses if you have an open mind. Keep in mind that especially on maps where heat vision is used a lot, MkI eyeballs can still see you.

Meh, I don't think it's something that can ever be outgrown for a casual player though. I only have 2 ECM capable 'mechs, and run non-ECM lights more often than not, so I certainly don't rely on it. But it certainly has its uses, and as it relates to this thread, I'm a fan of the PB b/c it's a fun, fast 'mech (ideal for CW scouting), and is a good intro to the locust chassis.