11 replies to this topic

[Gaden Phoenix]

I am interested in what you all think ballistics are now or going to be with the new heat capacity. Specifically UAC/AC boats.

Ballistics to me need a far bit of face time to shine, thus is sort of against the meta. Although on certain mechs (kdk3, mauler,etc) they are too good, on many others I not quite sure.

I not looking/saying that "omg ballistics suck" but more of a, please help me figure out how to best use ballistics (in normal mechs <not kdk3, mauler, dirwhale> and where are they now.

Currently, I find that to do well with ballistics (for me), I got to really play it a bit like laser vomit.

I find that staying behind the laser mechs, then when enemies are distracted, peek out and vomit like mad. When enemy start to notice me or uac(s) jam, run back to cover. Repeat.

Is like laser vomit but with longer face time for high-risk rewards.

I am just curious and want to learn more about ballistics and it's current state. I finding playing ballistics now am either doing really well in one match and then crap in the other.

Edited by Gaden Phoenix, 10 December 2016 - 08:10 AM.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Ballistics? Against the meta? What game have you been playing recently?????

I expect more AC+PPC builds for IS to resurface and for clams to maybe run backup lasers on their double gauss ppc builds since the heat capacity is being buffed.

[Gaden Phoenix]

Snazzy Dragon, on 10 December 2016 - 07:56 AM, said:

Ballistics? Against the meta? What game have you been playing recently?????

I expect more AC+PPC builds for IS to resurface and for clams to maybe run backup lasers on their double gauss ppc builds since the heat capacity is being buffed.

Sorry let me clarify. I asking specifically about UAC or AC boat builds that are not AC+PPCs or Gauss+PPCs.

Always considered ac/gauss+PPC as PPFLD, so opps.

Edited by Gaden Phoenix, 10 December 2016 - 08:04 AM.

[Kangarad]

my 4x uac20 build will finaly alpha without overheating.... nice

[Xmith]

There is still the jam chance. That hasn't changed.

[LordNothing]

jam free alternatives are viable now. though its still hard to justify the extra slot they use up. just wont fit in some cases.

Edited by LordNothing, 10 December 2016 - 10:37 AM.

[razenWing]

The reason something is meta, as I have come to learn, is not that one particular set of weapon is truly stronger than the other.

All weapons have the potential to become dominant, if they are grouped and used en mass. There were laser vomit meta because pre warhammer and other ballistic releases, Clan omni with lasers were unmatched in efficiency.

Then came the ballistic meta because of the release of night gyr and KDK-3.

You see? Meta, unlike the myth that some veterans will perpetuate, has always been led by power creeping mechs.

If PGI decided to release a 87 kph assault with 8 srm slots. Trust me, SRM will become meta SUPER fast. (In fact, Huntsman threatened to dictate the meta toward that direction, except that the boating SRM pods were hero, and not all pre-ordered people got the hero... thus stymied the transition of SRM meta. Also, it's after all, just a 50 tonner. It's not that hard to deal with)

So regarding ballistics... if you are by yourself dakka-ing, you will be singled out. The power of ballistics come from the constant pressure and lock down. When 12 people pushed like crazy with constant screen shake and much lower heat cap, a team of laser vomit that can only fire off 2 shots before shutting down, will be at a severe disadvantage.

Now, reverse that, and 1 person dakking... as you get into closer range for that sure shots, you are isolated and singled out. You might lock down 1, but 11 other people are shooting at you. So in that case, ballistics is a poor choice.

(That's why ppc/gauss works now... because virtually EVERYONE is doing it. the floor is spread so far, the range is ridiculous, and everyone is being supported from the same range. basically... a range death ball)

Hence, your fluctuation in performance. If you are in a good game with a good mix of people, then statistically, your chance of being targeted is a lot lower. My advice would be to observe the opening. See how everyone is prep-ed. If everyone is engaging at range, you know what they brought, then just patient and wait for openings. IF your teammate pushes, you know their stuff, push with them for maximum effort.

Indeed, a lot of it is dependent on your teammate, but unless you are proton, very few people in MWO can change the course of combat just by themselves. Your goal is not to win every game, but like gambling... lose small, and win big. (when your team sucks, play conservative and try to milk damage. When your team is rofl-stomping, make sure you are ultra aggressive and push to top of the contribution list)

Lose small... win big.

[Tordin]

I just wish they renamed the darn placeholder Clan AC for Clan LBX slug (ammo) and the existing ones Clan LBX scattershot.

[El Bandito]

I tried out 3xCUAC10 NGyr post jam nerf. It worked just fine.

Edited by El Bandito, 10 December 2016 - 05:23 PM.

[RestosIII]

El Bandito, on 10 December 2016 - 05:17 PM, said:

I tried out 3xCUAC10 NGyr post jam nerf. It is worked just fine.

I still mourn the cUAC changes just because it really hurt single large ballistic builds like the Stormcrow B and Mr. Gargles C, who both run a single cUAC/20 and lasers.

[fat4eyes]

The Kodiaks ate them all. They were tasty.

PPC/AC5 Firebrand is still good. Triple UAC5 Ilya still works sometimes.

[Tombs Clawtooth]

I stopped playing when they decided to nerf UAC10s.

Just because kodiaks are overpowered in every capacity doesn't mean all my builds need sent to the scrap heap. Some of my builds relied on a single UAC10 to be viable.

Laser vomit isn't fun and it's extremely boring. UACs were the alternative to that.

They could AT LEAST refund me the money for my UACs so I could get ACs instead.

Edited by Tombs Clawtooth, 10 December 2016 - 07:49 PM.