36 replies to this topic

[Amsro]

Play a Phoenix Hawk 2

Great utility mech, get in and out of skirmishes and just be a general pain for the enemy team.

One of my favorite mechs currently.

Can't really say I like the rest of the variants much, worth the grind to get elites at least.

[Y E O N N E]

Appogee, on 15 March 2017 - 04:55 AM, said:

I'm thinking your STD version with 2ML+4SRM4 might be the better idea.

Swap ML for flamers or SPL. I ran it for awhile with the ML and found those to generate too much heat and just not really be all that useful due to unsynchronized with the SRMs. IMHO, you should just go all-in on the brawl for the BJ-2.

I also had some success running it on a STD engine with only 4xSRM6 (no artemis). The weapon mounts are clustered close enough that the spread is not really that bad.

[MacClearly]

Appogee, on 15 March 2017 - 04:19 AM, said:

Now that the Skill Tree is Postponed™, there's no longer any need for me to grind 57,650XP on my best Mechs.

So I need to set myself a new goal.

Here are my options:

a. Buy another two Phoenix Hawks and level them, so that the one Phoenix Hawk I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (Note that I didn't particularly enjoy piloting that Phoenix Hawk.)

b. Buy another two Linebackers and level them, so that the one Linebacker I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (Note that I did greatly enjoy leveling that one dual-PPC Linebacker. However, there doesn't seem to be many other viable loadouts for Linebackers.)

c. Buy another two Huntsmans and level them, so that the one Huntsman I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (ERPPC+Gauss Hunstman is kind of fun, albeit a bit slow.)

d. Finish Mastering my first Trebuchet. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I did enjoy Eliting the LBX10+2LPL TBT-7K.)

e. Finish Mastering my Loyalty Blackjack 2L. (Note it's the only Special Mech I haven't Mastered. Because it's crap.)

f. Finish Mastering my first Rifleman. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I didn't particularly enjoy any of them.)

g. Finish Mastering my first Catapult. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I didn't particularly enjoy any of them. 2AC5+2PPC CTP-K2 might be ok, however.)

h. Finish Mastering my first Awesome. (Note the 9M is kind of fun.)

i. Buy my first Commando. (The super-quirked missile version seems like fun.)

j. Buy my first Cyclops. (I'm not really a fan of Assaults, but the SRM splat Cyclops seems like it would be an interesting experience.)


Your advice...?

I love the Linebacker. Probably because I am not that good, so its speed gets me out of trouble. Saying that I have been running a six med pulse and it runs hot. However being so quick it is working better than the Ebon or Hellbringer versions because of its ability to alpha two or three times and jet.

The all splat is pretty fun too.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Bud Crue, on 18 March 2017 - 10:18 AM, said:

My experience with the K2 is similar. Tried the AC5 2PPC. Nope. Tried 4LL and 4ERLL. Nope. Last night I gave up on my ERPPC build. Now I'm going to try the 2AC10 and 4ML build, that I often see people having good luck with. I hate the thought of it because damnit the K2 looks so good with PPCs and it seems a waste to lose the high hard points with measly MLs, but, well, if it works, it works.

Dual AC/10 and medium lasers? Better off doing it on the rifleman TBH

[Y E O N N E]

Snazzy Dragon, on 18 March 2017 - 03:42 PM, said:

Dual AC/10 and medium lasers? Better off doing it on the rifleman TBH

K2 Does it just as well. You sacrifice a half of the velocity bonus (20% vs. 40%) but you get a generous range boost to go with it.

Personally, though, I run my K2 with an AC/10 and 2x PPC...and a STD 275. The quirks let that AC/10 synchronize with the PPCs extremely well.

[Deathlike]

The best leveling goal is where you grind all the meta mechs to shoot some member of PGI on the opfor (ideally our balance overlord) and reach Tier -1.

Too bad seeing PGI on the battlefield is the equivalent of looking for the Dartboard of Balance.

[Appogee]

Updated to show that I Mastered my first Catapult. I ended up with 2AC10s+1ERPPC on it, having also tried 2AC10s+4MLs, which may have even been a little better. 2PPC+2AC5 just never worked for me.

I found the Catapults a real chore to level. They have some of my worst stats of any Mech, for some reason. No doubt that has something to do with low Win:Loss ratios (courtesy of endless failed potato carries). However, even when we won, I didn't seem to be able to contribute my usual level of kills or damage.

Note: I am certain the problem is me. I think perhaps I am too aggressive for that chassis, and it can't take much punishment. Perhaps also people realise it's an easier kill and so shoot for it first. I dunno, whatever the case, Catapults are not for me.

Edited by Appogee, 19 March 2017 - 01:39 AM.

[Elizander]

Bud Crue, on 15 March 2017 - 04:32 AM, said:

I -out of a pure refusal to accept historical precedent- still think a skills tree will happen at some point soon so I am still trying to get all the mastered mechs I care about to 15,500 XP over mastery, so that when they change the numbers again I can piss and moan about it.

Why just 15,000? I thought you need like 73,000-74,000 xp over mastery to get it all done.

[Appogee]

Elizander, on 19 March 2017 - 01:36 AM, said:

Why just 15,000? I thought you need like 73,000-74,000 xp over mastery to get it all done.

No, in PTS2 the XP requirement was lowered to only 16000 or so over the Mastered level.

(This was after I'd done +76000XP on my best Mastered Heroes and Specials.)

And who knows what they will come up with next.

Edited by Appogee, 19 March 2017 - 01:41 AM.

[Appogee]

My first Rifleman - the 5N - is now Mastered.

Gauss+6ML seemed to work remarkably well; I had several 600 damage 3-kills (or more) matches in it.

I think I'll finish Mastering my first Treb next. But I'm looking forward to getting onto more Linebackers. Or maybe I should try that Phoenix Hawk build posted earlier in the thread.

Decisions!

Edited by Appogee, 21 March 2017 - 12:26 AM.

[Skanderborg]

Appogee, on 15 March 2017 - 04:19 AM, said:

EDIT: I am updating this post to show my progress in my leveling challenges. I'm adding to the thread to share my tips/experiences in leveling the target Mechs. (Please note, I don't expect you to find this fascinating... . I'm just being thorough with closing out my post.)

---

Now that the Skill Tree is Postponed™, there's no longer any need for me to grind 57,650XP on my best Mechs.

So I need to set myself a new goal.

Here are my options:

a. Buy another two Phoenix Hawks and level them, so that the one Phoenix Hawk I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (Note that I didn't particularly enjoy piloting that Phoenix Hawk.)

b. Buy another two Linebackers and level them, so that the one Linebacker I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (Note that I did greatly enjoy leveling that one dual-PPC Linebacker. However, there doesn't seem to be many other viable loadouts for Linebackers.)

c. Buy another two Huntsmans and level them, so that the one Huntsman I already bought can be leveled beyond Basic. (ERPPC+Gauss Hunstman is kind of fun, albeit a bit slow.)

d. Finish Mastering my first Trebuchet. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I did enjoy Eliting the LBX10+2LPL TBT-7K.)

e. Finish Mastering my Loyalty Blackjack 2L. (Note it's the only Special Mech I haven't Mastered. Because it's crap.)

f. Finish Mastering my first Rifleman. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I didn't particularly enjoy any of them.)

g. Finish Mastering my first Catapult. (Note I have three of them all sitting only Elited. I didn't particularly enjoy any of them. 2AC5+2PPC CTP-K2 might be ok, however.)

h. Finish Mastering my first Awesome. (Note the 9M is kind of fun.)

i. Buy my first Commando. (The super-quirked missile version seems like fun.)

j. Buy my first Cyclops. (I'm not really a fan of Assaults, but the SRM splat Cyclops seems like it would be an interesting experience.)


Your advice...?

I would finish the trenchbucket , but the commando is one of the funnest mechs i have ever piloted. It goes as fast as a locust (faster but with max engine , constrains to much tonnage) has great hit boxes and drives like a fighter plane. However its weapon loadouts are not the greatest.

[PAQUERA]

Travel to India, africa, soudamerica... forgot all timetables, visit varanasi, understand how can the people live happy without all our stuff. Travel to nepal, make a trecking and discover a place where u cant buy anything except food and a place to sleep.

Travel by yourself, no agencies, improvise, adapt and discover how u can resolve the adventures. work like a voluntier, discovering how u can enjoy and live cleaning old people and teaching childrens or cleaning animals, learn how the life can be diferent but the people is always the same

Level urself!!! u will discover that u dont need goals to enjoy something

Edited by PAQUERA, 21 March 2017 - 04:24 AM.

[Appogee]

I leveled the Treb 7K. It's a solid little Mech.

While I mostly leveled it with 2LPL+LBX10, I had more fun with Gauss+ERPPC.

Not sure what I'll do next. I think I get to buy something new. A Commando, perhaps.

But patch time is here!

Edited by Appogee, 21 March 2017 - 09:00 AM.

[LordNothing]

i still got another linebacker to do. im kind of waiting to win that banshee, since i already have one, im gonna sell it for its mech bay and the resulting funds should pay for the rest of it. the others all are bout a third to halfway through elite. most get dun b4 madiic.

Edited by LordNothing, 21 March 2017 - 10:51 AM.

[Malrock]

I vote J, A, and C, but not necessarily in that order.

[Appogee]

I'm in a bit of a quandary.

I don't know whether the Rule of Three is going to apply in future. Buying another Phoenix Hawk or Hunstman - which are ok Mechs, but not great - may prove unnecessary. Similarly, a new Cyclops might or might not be the start of a 3-Mech commitment.

I guess it makes sense to wait until PGI eventually unveils whatever it has in mind for the Skill Tree.

Linebacker is fun. I like the idea of the Redline, and even when it's eventually 30% off in some future sale, that will still be more than the $15 I can buy it for now if I buy a Linebacker pack. So I'm kind of leaning to buying a Linebacker pack.

Hmmm.

[Jay Leon Hart]

I would recommend the Huntsman Pakhet purely for the 2M torso pods, they open up some lovely options (and lots of 'mech innards!).

The main reason to buy the Linebacker Redline is the 3E right torso (and the paint job). The Ballistic left arm isn't too useful and the rest are no better than any other pods.

If I could only keep 1 Phoenix Hawk, it would be the 1B. I just adore that chest PPC too much