DavidStarr, on 06 February 2016 - 06:34 AM, said:
I've been thoroughly enjoying the trial Catapult A1 during the last few days and so I've been gathering C-bills to purchase it, as well as gathering loadouts here on the forums. But I've just realized that there's another fun mech in the game (probably more fun and more versatile, too) that can utilize LRMs: the Ebon Jaguar.
This is what I came up with. This is not
the strongest LRM EBJ build you can get, but it's versatile with its 2xUAC/2. The volley damage is less than that of a Catapult, but sustained DPS is on par and even higher. With the speed of over 80 kph and two UACs this EBJ can flank, apply mid-range damage, finish off stragglers and even brawl if it has to just as well as sit behind a safe hill and rain fire down on the enemy mechs. At least that's how it works in my mind - I might be missing something because right now it looks too good to be true.
Please share your thoughts, critique my build and help me pick my first great mech that I will purchase and work on leveling up. The reason I post about it so much is because C-bills come n slowly and it'll be a long time before I can afford the next mech. So I must choose wisely.
P. S. Why can't I equip EBJ with jump jets?
Honestly, both mechs are viable choices, it really depends on what you want to do with them. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to get involved with CW, your choice of mech is impacted. After all, you can't be piloting an Ebon Jaguar while you're defending the inner sphere from the clanners, or vice versa.
Other than that, the EBJ is one of the more flexible clan heavies out there, and because clan tech is so light, it can do what the Catapult does in many respects.
Honestly, if it was a flat choice between both, I would have a hard case to make for why you'd pick the CPLT over the EBJ. The A1 is the only catapult that can boat missiles better than the EBJ, the C1, and C4 will have a hard time competing (they have better quirks for missiles, so they can compete, but I'm thinking past just the builds). The only other thing that can affect your decision is firing modes. IS LRMs are much more effective in bombardment mode, and at countering enemy AMS. Clan LRMs are bout 50% less effective at dealing with AMS than IS ones, because of their stream fire mode. So a clan LRM boat can lose half it's salvo to massed AMS, while an IS LRM boat can brute force their way through enemy AMS by launching a big salvo in one go.
Now I have to ask: Why the UAC 2s? You could have easily fit 3 MLs in there (EBJ-B Left Arm, and EBJ-Prime Left Torso), instead of the UACs, with tonnage to spare.
One thing you also have not thought about is the fact that your ballistic weapons will not synchronize with your missiles. It's the same reason we don't group ballistics with lasers: Leading shots.
In order for your missiles to maintain lock on target, you have to keep your reticle on target. If you keep your reticle on target, and they are moving, you can't fire your UACs, because your shots will land behind your target, or hit sections you're not aiming for. If you lead your shots, and aim ahead of your target, so your bullets land, you will lose lock, and your missiles won't work. So that sustained DPS reading is actually off.
Plus, while the lasers can generate a lot of heat, they are not ammo dependent, allowing you to pick either more LRM ammo, or more DHS, or whatever else you want. Consider something like
this, for example.
Edited by IraqiWalker, 06 February 2016 - 10:15 AM.