34 replies to this topic

[Vashramire]

Don't know if I'm crazy but they feel a bit off. Side torsos eat a lot of incoming. CT is almost always fine. Trying to roll damage half the time still leaves me with a stripped side torso or damage to my rear when I'm sure I'm not showing it. the pylons may be the issue. Arms are immense and the structure buffs do little for the torso or arms that soak a lot. Shielding with the arms basically means you lose it which is troublesome for a mech with most of it's weapons in it's arms. It's mobility quirks aren't compensating for its large hitboxes and it is much more fragile than the BJ.

Those with ECM of course last longer if they can keep from drawing attention but those without it get dropped quick. Some builds that employ short range (SRM ROC) can really get eaten before you even get to do damage. 47 health arms for PXH vs 54 health for BJ's teeny arms that almost never get hit. It's not so much rolling damage as deciding which side to lose first. It's like driving tissue paper in the rain, or at least a light mist. Anyone else having these issues?

[cazidin]

Jet Pylons. That's all I have to say about that.

[Vashramire]

cazidin, on 21 June 2016 - 02:34 PM, said:

Jet Pylons. That's all I have to say about that.

Skyrockets in flight
bweeeeeeoooo
Afternoon delight

[Ryllen Kriel]

I have played a few rounds in different Phoenix Hawk variants and can say the side torsos do get eaten up rather quickly...just shortly after the arms fall off with all the weapons on them. I do a lot of torso twisting but you have to use the arms to take incoming fire. It's a challenge, this mech requires a lot of hiding and sneak attacks to survive. The roughest ride for me so far is the 1K, since it doesn't come jumpjet capable. If you get caught in a brawl with anything heavy and can't get away or get help from friendlies fast, pray.

[Mechwarrior1441491]

If only they were like a Stuka Dive bombers whining whistle when it went into a dive. Jump jetting phoenix hawks with an ominous sound when they descend on you would be cool.

[Alistair Winter]

I took it for granted that the huge f*cking structures (jet pylons) sticking up into the sky would not actually take damage. Similar to Archer's missile doors. But they do take damage.

If you torso twist, you lose your arms and all your weapons.
If you don't torso twist, you lose your side torsos (and even if you have an STD engine, that means half your weapons)
If you try to shoot around corners, you lose your arms and all your weapons.
If you try to hill hump, your jet pylons stick up like a SHOOT-ME sign and again, you lose your side torsos.

This mech feels like the Mist Lynx' big brother. It's easy as hell to disarm, and almost as easy to just kill outright. And it's not like it's inconspicuous, is it? It's the biggest 45-tonner in the game.

[Bluefalcon13]

Alistair Winter, on 21 June 2016 - 04:01 PM, said:

This mech feels like the Mist Lynx' big brother. It's easy as hell to disarm, and almost as easy to just kill outright. And it's not like it's inconspicuous, is it? It's the biggest 45-tonner in the game.

Do tell, how big of a sample size of 45T mechs do we have in game? Just saying...

[Alistair Winter]

Bluefalcon13, on 21 June 2016 - 04:27 PM, said:

Do tell, how big of a sample size of 45T mechs do we have in game? Just saying...

This will be the 5th. It's the biggest front profile, by far.

Just saying.

[Bluefalcon13]

Alistair Winter, on 21 June 2016 - 04:36 PM, said:

This will be the 5th. It's the biggest front profile, by far.

Just saying.

Sorry, in a trolly mood, and the tone I gathered from you post was that it is atlas sized while the other 45T mechs are locust sized...

Either way, I'd take a guess and say the rocket pack is the problem. Not sure if the pylons are bugged, but it would make alot of sense if they are.

[braveheart95]

So a mech that finally knows how the vindicator feels....

[Y E O N N E]

Blackjack is actually very fragile, it's just that it doesn't have to expose all the way to shoot. This is unlike every other 45 tonner in the game save the Shadow Cat. This, combined with the structure, is the only thing making it as good as it is.

[Karl Marlow]

The pylons are probably responsible for some of the issue but from the front it seems like people would have to be aiming high for it to really be an issue. Of course may be people are aiming high.

[Ryllen Kriel]

It helps to pretend you are in a light mech and keep moving at all times. Thankfully the pylons are thin, but keep moving, stay in cover as you move. There is nothing about these mechs conducive to brawling unless you are up against another Phoenix Hawk. I had a couple of good brawls with other PHX players tonight, but everything else is a hit and run attack.

[Vashramire]

It's about a head taller than the Hunchback not including the pylons(as tall as the Archer with them). They seem to soak SRM's like a dream which is terrible and adds to the problems. They either need armor/structure buff there or make part of them like Archer bunny ears and able to be shot through.

[Ryllen Kriel]

Yeah, SRM swarms tend to down my PHXs pretty fast, I try to keep my hit and run attacks at ranges between 350-450 metres if possible.

I do love this mech, but it does have some issues which could be worked on by PGI. It is very damn big for 45 tonnes, I wasn't sure how I would feel about the scaling till after playing it for at least twenty matches or so. It could shrink by about 2-3% and it would help. Right now having many smaller, thinner and heavier mechs does make me wonder where all the tonnage went for the PHX. Looking at my Shadow Hawk I was laughing earlier seeing how little difference in volume 10 tonnes currently seems to make.


P.S. Radar Deprivation Mods are your friends. Buy some if you have the c-bills sitting around or LRMs will eats your jump jet pylons as fast as SRMs, or faster.

Edited by Ryllen Kriel, 21 June 2016 - 05:26 PM.

[Bluefalcon13]

Just took it for a testing grounds test drive. Super stock style. Added case, moved the mg ammo, added ff/end/dhs. Maxed out the JJs and armor. Left the STD270 in. This thing moves even with a 270! Jumps real good too with the extra jjs. Can't wait for the kiddos to goto bed

[Y E O N N E]

These things go down to legging right quick, too.

[Ryllen Kriel]

Bluefalcon13, on 21 June 2016 - 05:41 PM, said:

Just took it for a testing grounds test drive. Super stock style. Added case, moved the mg ammo, added ff/end/dhs. Maxed out the JJs and armor. Left the STD270 in. This thing moves even with a 270! Jumps real good too with the extra jjs. Can't wait for the kiddos to goto bed

I pretty much ran a few variants stock on my first drop too. If you like it this way (as I did) then you will really like it when you tinker in mechlab. Although somewhat flawed, it's a really fun mech! Slip your kids some sleeping pills already, the PHX is more important!

[Deathlike]

Alistair Winter, on 21 June 2016 - 04:36 PM, said:

This will be the 5th. It's the biggest front profile, by far.

Just saying.

Gee, I wonder why this matters.

[Snowbluff]

I gave a pack to my friend as a gift. The arms keep falling off with his MLs and AC10.