14 replies to this topic

[Bassie]

So, looking to start a new mech. The only assault I run so far is the Executioner, which I love.

I was looking at the KDK, because, well everyone says they are amazing.But part of me wants to not follow the crowd. And lthere seems to be a bit of ill-feeling regarding the latest patch and KDKs. I normally don't like slow mechs, so am loathe to buy dire wolves. Maybe a warhawk?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

Edit:
To make it more interesting / helpful, I thought I'd rate how good they look in theory, and seek your comments:
1. Kodaiak.
Pros: relatively fast, tanky, variation between variants, strong weapon load-outs. Cons: very popular, negatively affected by recent weapon nerfs.
2. Marauder IIC. Pros: high weapon mounts, variation between variants, ecm capable variant. Cons: £€¥ only, bad side profile.
3. Executioner. Pros: unique play style, fast, tanky. Cons: limited pod space, horrible weapon mounts.
4. Dire wolf. Pros: big weapon load outs, tanky. Cons: slow as f###, horrible turn speed.
5. Highlander. Pros: no idea - seems kinda quick, runs missiles well?
6. Warhawk. Pros: quicker than most assaults, has ppc velocity quirks which is rare on clan tech. Cons: limited hard points.
7. Gargoyle. Pros: no-one ever sees them, so won't know what to expect, quick, can laser vomit well. Cons: limited hard point options, not particularly durable for an assault

I am sure you'll disagree with the rankings. But that is why I'm posting!

Edited by Bassie, 18 December 2016 - 02:57 PM.

[Jay Leon Hart]

I would go for either (as you said) a Kodiak or the new (real £££ only for now) Marauder IIC.

The Kodiak benefits from being a Battlemech so you can swap the engine, Endo/Ferro a even use Single Heat Sinks if you're feeling crazy. Other plus points are high side torso mounts for Ballistics and Missiles. The KDK-2 has JJs and the Hero, Spirit Bear, has MASC. The Hero can run a somewhat-mirrored AS7-S build of LB20-X AC, 4x ASRM6 with greater agility thanks to Clan XL engine and MASC, but less armour due to lack of quirks.

As for the Marauder-IIC, it also has high torso mounted Ballistic and Missile hard points, as well as Energy. It has a good frontal profile but a horrible side profile. It is also a Battlemech, so the same customisation applies. You mentioned the Warhawk, well... almost anything the Warhawk can do, the Marauder IIC can do it too. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. The MAD-IIC-B and MAD-IIC-C variants come with JJS and the MAD-IIC-D comes with ECM. This makes the MAD-IIC the only Clan Assault 'mech that can mount ECM.

[NRP]

If you don't like slow speeds, then don't get a Dire Wolf. Other than that, all the Clan Assaults are workable (some more so than others).

[Calebos]

KDK-3 without any doubt.

KDK-3 UAC 10

KDK-3 Gauss
i am not sure with ballistic order in torsos now. But the mg is useless weapon serving just as the underlay to get gauss riffles up to its highest mount positions.

Edited by Calebos, 19 December 2016 - 09:52 AM.

[epikt]

You might be interrested by this survey. It's one month old so votes for the MAD-IIC are based on specs only, but it's a good measurement of how the community rates the mechs.
Favourite assault is, no surprise, the Kodiak, then come the Battlemaster and Mauler, followed by the Direwolf and Atlas.

Edited by epikt, 19 December 2016 - 10:11 AM.

[TercieI]

@OP: I like your list, though I might switch HGN-IIC and WHK. The better HGN-IICs are pretty good (the dual UAC/10, dual LPL/ERML one is beastly) but the bad ones are horribad and any WHK can run 4ERPPCs/4LPLS/2&2 and be pretty solid.

Also, the Gargoyle is very limited, but one with a dozen ERSLs/SPLs late in a match is something nobody wants to run into. With its quirks, it's better than its rep, even if it is an 80-ton NVA. If you can run an EXE well, you'll find a way to succeed in any of them, I think. The KDK-3 is the clearly best, but the EXE is my favorite.

[Ximi Prime]

The Gargoyle mech it's the only one assault clan (or maybe from all assaults) that can run at 81. Not very firepower but mobility.

[Jay Leon Hart]

Bassie, on 18 December 2016 - 07:47 AM, said:

To make it more interesting / helpful, I thought I'd rate how good they look in theory, and seek your comments:

5. Highlander. Pros: no idea - seems kinda quick, runs missiles well?

7. Gargoyle. Pros: no-one ever sees them, so won't know what to expect, quick, can laser vomit well. Cons: limited hard point options, not particularly durable for an assault

I am sure you'll disagree with the rankings. But that is why I'm posting!

Didn't notice you edited the original post

For the Highlander-IIC it can run some decent enough builds;
2x ERPPC, Gauss (HGN-IIC or HGN-IIC-B )
2x LPL, 2x UAC10 (HGN-IIC-C)
2x (or 4x) ASRM6, UAC (or LBX) 20, lasers to taste (HGN-IIC-B )

I'd avoid the HGN-IIC-A since it lacks a Ballistic hard point. The Highlanders have a low engine cap so they kind of force you to bring the big guns. That low engine cap also makes them slow, at least compared to other Clan 'mechs.

For the Gargoyle, you have the opposite problem. That locked XL400 really limits your options. Now, you said you like the Executioner and while that only has 6 more free tons (at near-max armour) than the Gargoyle, that's a lot more than it seems. It's 3 less tons than a Stormcrow, plus it's a bigger target, plus it's slower. The Executioner gets MASC and JJs to help with mobility, whereas the Gargoyle just moves faster.

Take one of my favourite builds for those 3 'mechs (EXE, GAR, SCR)
6x SPL, UAC20
On the GAR, you can only fit 2 tons of ammo
On the SCR, you have room for another 3 tons of ammo, or 2 and a DHS, or 1 and a TC1 and a DHS... you get the idea
On the EXE, you have that extra 6 tons for ammo, DHS and/or a TC

Now, maybe I'm just bad with Gargoyles, but I found nothing it could do better than any other Clan 'mech. It's not a bad 'mech, it's just worse than pretty much any other option.

[Edit] CURSE YOU, B ) ! [/Edit]

Edited by Jay Leon Hart, 19 December 2016 - 10:32 AM.

[no one]

If you aren't hung up on the assault class the Night Gyr ticks most of the boxes for a good Omni 'Mech.
Endo, Ferro, 300XL, good hard points, jump-jets, head laser zombie. No ECM, and your AMS competes for your zombie hardpoint.

[Bassie]

Jay Leon Hart, on 19 December 2016 - 10:26 AM, said:

Didn't notice you edited the original post

For the Highlander-IIC it can run some decent enough builds;
2x ERPPC, Gauss (HGN-IIC or HGN-IIC-B )
2x LPL, 2x UAC10 (HGN-IIC-C)
2x (or 4x) ASRM6, UAC (or LBX) 20, lasers to taste (HGN-IIC-B )

I'd avoid the HGN-IIC-A since it lacks a Ballistic hard point. The Highlanders have a low engine cap so they kind of force you to bring the big guns. That low engine cap also makes them slow, at least compared to other Clan 'mechs.

For the Gargoyle, you have the opposite problem. That locked XL400 really limits your options. Now, you said you like the Executioner and while that only has 6 more free tons (at near-max armour) than the Gargoyle, that's a lot more than it seems. It's 3 less tons than a Stormcrow, plus it's a bigger target, plus it's slower. The Executioner gets MASC and JJs to help with mobility, whereas the Gargoyle just moves faster.

Take one of my favourite builds for those 3 'mechs (EXE, GAR, SCR)
6x SPL, UAC20
On the GAR, you can only fit 2 tons of ammo
On the SCR, you have room for another 3 tons of ammo, or 2 and a DHS, or 1 and a TC1 and a DHS... you get the idea
On the EXE, you have that extra 6 tons for ammo, DHS and/or a TC

Now, maybe I'm just bad with Gargoyles, but I found nothing it could do better than any other Clan 'mech. It's not a bad 'mech, it's just worse than pretty much any other option.

[Edit] CURSE YOU, B ) ! [/Edit]

The uac20,6spl Exe is a thing of beauty. I'd like to say I invented it,but I'm sure others were running it before I discovered it. It is probably the best non-stormcrow I run! Gargoyle seems like a lesser version of same.

[Bassie]

I own the night gyr a/b/c and can't make them work for me. The seem hot, slow and fragile. My experience with them is part of why I'm not so keen on the dire whale.

Damn those assaults being so expensive! I really can't decide. So far I've only ruled out the gargoyle...

[Jay Leon Hart]

Bassie, on 19 December 2016 - 04:32 PM, said:

I own the night gyr a/b/c and can't make them work for me. The seem hot, slow and fragile. My experience with them is part of why I'm not so keen on the dire whale.

Damn those assaults being so expensive! I really can't decide. So far I've only ruled out the gargoyle...

Well then, you should give the Battlemechs a go.

The Kodiak does most of what the Dire wolf can do and more, the main exceptions being using 5 or more Ballistics, which honestly isn't much better than 4 with the decreasing AC sizes. Plus, there's that MASC variant.

The Marauder-IIC is a mostly improved Warhawk with the option on JJs and ECM.

Then the Highlander-IIC if you really want to give it a go.

So scratch the Dire Wolf and Warhawk off your wishlist

[Kimberm1911]

In my opinion, the Kodiak and the Marauder IIC are the "best" clan assaults at the current moment. I would recommend staying away from the Dire wolf, because it is too slow for the current meta game. The warhawk isn't too bad, but it's difficult to build for, and it's a bit squishy. I haven't seen one on the battlefield since the MAd IIC came out. The Gargolye is just bad. It doesn't really have any redeeming qualities.

[Black Lanner]

everyone that naysay the side torsos of the Marauder Chassis, remember, when you torso twist to spread damage, you only need to do a 45 degree "wobble" to effectively spread the damage.

I hate to say it, but unless you really decide to learn the play style associated with the less popular 'mechs (that can still be great), you should consider the bandwagon...

[Nerd Incognito]

TLDR: KDK-SB or MAD-IIC


I started with heavies, with the TBR being my first love, so I'm not a big fan of slow assaults, either. I've tried piloting a Dire Whale and hated it. I can have all the fire power in the world, but crawling behind the rest of my team is a terrible feeling for me. I also tend to enjoy brawling, so the inability to manuver at speed and get into the action is not fun for me.

I currently own: the MAD-IIC, the Kodiak (3 and SB), the Stalker, and the HGN-IIC-A.

Obviously the Stalker is out, as you're looking for Clan, but it's also the slowest of the bunch. The HGN-IIC is next slowest (a 325 engine cap), and I only have it because I won it in a supply cache (I know, right? I'm the 1%, apparently). I do kind of enjoy it, though, with 4LPL and 2LRM15A. It's also the mech I got my Ace of Spades achievement on, so I don't do too badly in it.

Next up is the Kodiak. The Kodiak 3 isn't impressively fast; it's strength is in its dominating firepower, even after the UAC nerf. It's probably still the best assault in the game, but I honestly don't enjoy playing it all that much. The Spirit Bear, on the other hand, I enjoy the hell out of, because of the addition of MASC. MASC lets that big bear run like its chasing down a pronghorn; it is a thing of beauty and terror, and I highly recommend it!

Lastly, is the MAD-IIC. This is the only mech pack I have bought; I'm generally cheap enough that I wait for mechs to come out for cbills. I absolutely ADORE the MAD-IIC, particularly the A and B variants (I didn't buy the reinforcement pack or the hero--though I will probably buy the hero soon). The A variant I run with 3UAC5, 4MPL, and *I think* a 375XL. With speed tweak, it goes 76.8kph, which feels ridiculously fast in something so tanky (and it really is, with just a little wobble to spread damage). The B variant I run with a 400XL, I think, 2ERPPC and some MPL. It's a little toasty, but I don't quite have it elited yet, so that should get better. I know it's real money and all, but I would say the MAD-IIC is completely worth it, if you like mobile assault mechs.