45 replies to this topic

[VitriolicViolet]

i really like the 3L with MASC the agility is quite useful.

[The Basilisk]

Played for some hours with CTF-3L and found it a waste of tonnage.
It consumes 4 tonns you can use to get an engine that is 4 tonns bigger.
If you use XL on phracts (wouldn't recommend that) its more than the difference between 300XL and 325XL.
Even if you don't use XL you could spend 5,5t instead of 4 tonns 300s -->320s to get the exact same speed without masc.

For me there are only 2 reasons to equip MASC in MWO.
Max engine reached and still wanting to go faster or larger engine would be much heavier than masc.

For me the 3L works reasonably fine with a 325 standart, endosteel AC20 and 5 medlasers.
Tried 300 standart with Gauss und 2Las and it works too but is more situational and depends on finding lateral cover.

5% pulse heat are ... not even funny. You won't notice if they are there or not.

Edited by The Basilisk, 19 October 2016 - 05:08 AM.

[Zieten]

I'm currently running it with a 280 Standard, 1 AC/20 w 3t of ammo and 2 LPLs. I was rather disappointed by the speedincrease of the MASC - it is much more noticable on the Executioner. Maybe I'll kick the MASC out and use a bigger engine. 71kph is rather slow for a heavy after speed tweak...

Edited by Zieten, 19 October 2016 - 05:15 AM.

[Widowmaker1981]

The Basilisk, on 19 October 2016 - 05:05 AM, said:

Played for some hours with CTF-3L and found it a waste of tonnage.
It consumes 4 tonns you can use to get an engine that is 4 tonns bigger.
If you use XL on phracts (wouldn't recommend that) its more than the difference between 300XL and 325XL.
Even if you don't use XL you could spend 5,5t instead of 4 tonns 300s -->320s to get the exact same speed without masc.

For me there are only 2 reasons to equip MASC in MWO.
Max engine reached and still wanting to go faster or larger engine would be much heavier than masc.

For me the 3L works reasonably fine with a 325 standart, endosteel AC20 and 5 medlasers.
Tried 300 standart with Gauss und 2Las and it works too but is more situational and depends on finding lateral cover.

5% pulse heat are ... not even funny. You won't notice if they are there or not.

MASC is amazing. Its not for straight line speed as much as it is for agility - start and stop on a dime, spin in place, randomly change speed to throw off enemy lead distances. Its more useful on a mech with JJs, granted, because it also allows you to basically not slow down at all on landing.

The problem with the Cataphract is its a bad chassis. It has generally poor weapon mounts and bad hitboxes.

[TAKTCOM]

About CTF-3L. There is one reason to use this mech. MASC. If you do not like MASC, you do not need 3L.That's all.

We use MASC in two cases.
1) You mech slow and fat. Like Executioner. MASC fix at for some time.
2) You mech fast and with MASC becomes even faster. PXH-3S and SHC on MASC boost moving as fast as the light mechs.

So using MASC is all about speed, mobility and flexibility. If you appreciate this features you will like CTF-3L. If not...well it will be always " MASC = waste of tonnage".

So I put in my cataphract biggest engine - XL 340. And of course endo too. As a result, I got speed 78,7. With nearly the same speed that have clan omnimechs. And i still have 29,5 tonn free tonnage. And 90% armor. Bad side what CTF-3L don't have typical IS quirks for turn and accelration. Much worse most of 3L hards if energy and we have only 5% pulse heat quirk.
Now my build for QP look like

Fast, effective at all ranges. But there is one problem: all right torso is one big bomb. You know at, enemy know at. So I tried another option.



This more about medium range. You have 3 big gun, not the biggest course but powerful enough to do the job.

When I finally tired from gauss detonation and XL shutdown, i try this

This is more or less 0X browler build and optimized for close combat. In which 3L does not feel the best way due to lack of JJ, ECM and speed.

So it's matter of preference, I suppose. Cataphract not the best chassis, this is true. But I like the machine with high mobility, so I will continue to experiment with this gear on.

[Bud Crue]

TAKTCOM, on 19 October 2016 - 09:26 AM, said:

About CTF-3L. There is one reason to use this mech. MASC. If you do not like MASC, you do not need 3L.That's all.
...
So it's matter of preference, I suppose. Cataphract not the best chassis, this is true. But I like the machine with high mobility, so I will continue to experiment with this gear on it.

I did 3LPL, 2ML, XL340, Masc, max armor everywhere but legs, rest heat sinks. Its hot (1.24) but my intention is to run like hell and alternate torso (2LPL) and arm mounts (1LPL and 2ML) on the run, alphaing only if I am absolutely certain of a clean full burn hit. If I can't manage the heat I will drop it back to 2LPL and 3MPL with full heatsinks (1.4)...may just do the latter while leveling it during the fun of this nonstop terra therma event.

[jss78]

I started levelling up Cataphracts just because I had the L variant coming.

I like the loyalty 'phract in that at least it's quite different from the others -- and it's free of course. So a cool alternative for one of the three variants you have to level up. I've been running it as a variation of the stock build, keeping the MASC and the LB-shotgun, but putting in an XL300, 2xLPL and 2-3 ML. Working out fine, but definitely a "fun" and not serious build.

I doubt it'll replace the 0XP as my main 'phract though. That one has excellent quirks for the AC/20 + ML's shtick, and it gets ECM.

Just a hint to those dismayed by the tie-dye paint job: if you put in a mixture of gunmetal gray and other colours, it produces quite cool weathered-looking paint jobs.

Spoiler

[Charronn]

I put a standard 280 in it,5 mpl and ac20 with 4t of ammo.rest in heatsinks.Last game in it I got 4 kills.I quite like it,Cataphract was my favourite mech back before the clans arrived.

[Requiemking]

Well, I'm going to be testing an unusual build. Stock engine, MPLx3, LB10, ERLL. The ERLL are in the Side Torsos, the LB10 is where it is, and the MPLs are in the arms. A hill-humper that can brawl when it needs to.

[BodakOfSseth]

So I'm seriously considering going with this build.
Laservomit


hot, but a good alpha and takes advantage of the meager quirks


Thoughts?

Edited by ScottAleric, 19 October 2016 - 05:18 PM.

[WrathOfDeadguy]

ScottAleric, on 19 October 2016 - 04:33 PM, said:

So I'm seriously considering going with this build.
Laservomit


hot, but a good alpha and takes advantage of the meager quirks


Thoughts?

Some tweaks to the armor and other stuff.

18 points in the back is too much even for an assault 'Mech, and definitely too much for a heavy- rear armor is protection against incidental damage, not targeted enemy fire. 40 points is a medium 'Mech's alpha strike, and several lights can do 30 or better, so you can get critted out from the rear even with a third of your armor back there. The front faces 50-80 point heavy and assault alphas; too much back armor, and you're vulnerable from both directions instead of only one.

On the other hand, you can safely take a bit of leg, arm, and head armor off and squeeze in an additional heat sink. It might also be a good idea to move all the LPLs, heat sinks, and the MASC to one side of the 'Mech; since you have a STD engine, that will allow you to shield with the left side and only risk losing your secondary weapons.

[BodakOfSseth]

Thanks - I'm giving it a try. Still runs a bit hot, but I feel it performs a bit more consistently than the stock build.
Also, thanks for the advice on the armor - I'm paranoid about dropping any armor at all, but in thinking back to what kills me, I think you're right - not enough armor on the front.
that said, this CTF feels much more durable than the other ones I run.

[Kuaron]

I am trying the CTF now with:

XL325 + UAC5 + 2 LPL + 3 ML

Arms and legs are armoured lighter than one could wish, but the legs are good enough for tier 3 and the arms good enough for my poor torso twisting skills. ^^

I tried it yesterday with even less DHS and MPL instead of ML. Which was very hot, but worked, if one used the MPL only in close combat for sure hits, while using the heat-neutral UAC when hot.
But if one does the math:
The -5 % heat quirk means -0,2 heat for a MPL compared to a ML. And weights the same as ML + DHS, which one has the space for anyway.
In consequence:
1 SPL: 6 dmg, -0.2 heat in 3,6 seconds (laser CD + duration)
1 MLP + 1 DHS: 5 dmg, 0.14 dissipation. I assume, it means pro second, leading to -0.5 heat in 3,6 seconds.
Since the Mech had heat problems before and spare weight (but with XL not enough for FF), the 0.3 additional cooling is worth the 1 less dmg per shot, I guess, since it continues between the engagements or when only using the LPLs.

Edited by Kuaron, 21 October 2016 - 11:34 AM.

[Mad Dog Morgan]

I'm going to give this a shot: CTF-3L(L)

[3xnihilo]

I have been using the 'phract 3L with max engine, 2 LPL and 3 mpl. It hits 92kph before speed tweak with MASC. I have done fairly well with it so far. The masc is really most useful for the extra agility like quick stops and starts and turning. I know it isn't the most original build and it isn't going to compete with the top tier heavies, but, at least having masc gives it a unique play style.

[VitriolicViolet]

Im using the 3L with 2xPPC, 2xSL, 1xMG and 1xMPL, with MASC and a STD 300. makes for an interesting build, hit them with the PPCs and MPL and save the rest for up close. not necessarily the best build but it seems to work well

[juxstapo]

jss78, on 19 October 2016 - 09:56 AM, said:

Just a hint to those dismayed by the tie-dye paint job: if you put in a mixture of gunmetal gray and other colours, it produces quite cool weathered-looking paint jobs.

I wish it was tie-dyed. It's trying to emulate the behavior of thermal vision back in the day (before the monochrome nerf),.... tie-dyed would be bad arsed.

[Lanny Ansar]

http://imgur.com/a/pkrKq

1496 damage on Terra Therma, using the Loyalty Hellbringer.

Pick up the ECM Side Torso, the Energy Hardpoint Head, and keep the energy hardpoint ST.

I run a ER Large Laser in the head and Right Torso, 3 ER Mediums in the left, ECM and the rest into Double Heatsinks. This thing will EASILY score you 4-5 Alphas in a row before overheating, and as long as you aren't in the front of the push, you can cut apart CT's with no real issue at 500 meters, or make people dive for cover at up to 1200.

[Mumuharra]

Nice. Have 3 HBR and ended up with the same config with the L model.
3 ERLL + 3 ML + ECM
It's the fist HBR I really like.
I was never very comfortable with the HBR but this model works for me.

[Steel Raven]

2 LPL + 3ML + ECM,

More fragile than my Timberwolf but similar Firepower and ECM is a big plus with LRM heavy mechs.

Tried Triple ER PPC, stupid fun but I get more hits in with the LPL.

Could never seem to do enough damage with ERLL.