27 replies to this topic

[Gibson Ibanez]

Hello everyone!

I am not a new pilot. I have been around and I am a self styled assault pilot. I am nowhere NEAR the best assault pilot by any stretch of the imagination and I need help.

I own every Kodiak available and I am trying to get them all mastered before the new skill system goes online. Just so I can do it "old school" -- even though my playing time is still considered novice compared to the grognards that have been around since beta.

I have mastered the Spirit Bear and the KDK-3. Those are my personal favs so far but I really need help with effective builds for the KDK-1, 2, 4 & 5. I just unlocked elite for the KDK-1 but it will be a grind for the 21,500 to unlock the module slot.

I have come to DESPISE the jam rate on the clan uacs and lately have gone to lbx 20 but I have not found a build that clicks for grinding with the mechs I mentioned. I have been to Metamechs and have the site favorited but I cannot run those builds. I do not like gauss... check that... gauss is fine, it is me that stinks with it.

Please help. Thank you.

Also, if you have been in a match with me and want to offer criticism of the way I play or mistakes I have made, please feel free. I welcome it.

Edited by Gibson Ibanez, 25 March 2017 - 06:34 PM.

[Steel Raven]

What builds are you sporting right now?

[Gibson Ibanez]

On the KDK-1 I tried running uac20 with 8 spls in the arms and lpl in the ct. I switched to an lbx 20 instead of the uac20 because of the jam issue and heat issue.

I am now trying three mpls in each of the arms an lpl in ct and either 2 lrms or 2 srm6s.

On the KDK-2 I need to withdraw that request because I forgot that I have a pretty effective - for me it works anyway - build on that bear.

On the KDK-4 &5 I really have not started yet... so yeah I am being a mooch with those.

Edited by Gibson Ibanez, 25 March 2017 - 07:18 PM.

[Gibson Ibanez]

That is ok. I will just tinker with them some more on my own. Thanks anyway.

[Ragnahawk]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d1e98f690d63b8f

KDK-1? Looks good on paper... Got the 20 ERPPC Combo in one group. Pulses in the other.

Edited by Ragnahawk, 26 March 2017 - 07:11 AM.

[Ragnahawk]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0cd5184158ad787

[Ragnahawk]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5d18276807f2ede

[Odd Thomas]

Ragnahawk, on 26 March 2017 - 07:02 AM, said:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d1e98f690d63b8f

KDK-1? Looks good on paper... Got the 20 ERPPC Combo in one group. Pulses in the other.

Excuse the tangent, but Smurfy has been giving PPC's a 15 damage for a while. In-game shows 10. I take it Smurfy is in error?

[Gibson Ibanez]

Thanks for the builds!

Odd Thomas, on 26 March 2017 - 09:17 AM, said:

Excuse the tangent, but Smurfy has been giving PPC's a 15 damage for a while. In-game shows 10. I take it Smurfy is in error?

Wondered about that meself.

[oldradagast]

Clan ERPPC's deal 10 damage to the location hit and 2.5 to 2 adjacent locations. So, it is hard to say if it should be treated as 10 or 15. I tend to think of them as 15 damage since you ARE dealing 15 damage total, even if some of it is spread out. After all, we don't pretend scattered damage from LBX's and SRM's doesn't count, even though pinpoint damage is more powerful.

[Void Angel]

Odd Thomas, on 26 March 2017 - 09:17 AM, said:

Excuse the tangent, but Smurfy has been giving PPC's a 15 damage for a while. In-game shows 10. I take it Smurfy is in error?

Gibson Ibanez, on 26 March 2017 - 10:55 AM, said:

Wondered about that meself.

Smurfy's is correct, though the data is misleading. The weapon does 10 damage with 2.5 splash to up to two adjacent components. This adds up to a total of 15 damage unless it hits an arm or leg - there's a special icon in the weapon list that you can mouse over for a tooltip. It might be a better fit to list it as 10 base and then add the tooltip, though; I'll poke Smurfy about it.

Smurfy's pulls its data directly from the game's own files, so with a few exceptions it's always accurate once updated after a patch.

Edited by Void Angel, 26 March 2017 - 01:56 PM.

[Steel Raven]

Build recommended by Meta Mech, I would modify it to your play style but not a bad start.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f6e72f5573199bb

I would keep the Ultra AC20 myself but make sure you have a back up like a pair of Large Pulse Lasers so you can still hurt whatever you aim at regardless of a jam.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...34edfd0d9f3f480

[NRP]

You can completely avoid ballistics on the KDK-5 by running an LPL+3 MLs in each arm and loading it with DHS. I think you can fit 31 or 32 DHS. It's very hot, but dissipates heat very fast. You have a high damage scalpel in each arm. If you can ride the heat curve this build can work, but it's unforgiving.

I think you can do this build on the KDK-1 too.

Edited by NRP, 26 March 2017 - 08:13 PM.

[TheLuc]

Well maybe the following KDK-1 build would suits you
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a6cdee9d29528c0

Suggestion for KDK-2
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a624a039371ea4a

The infamous KDK-3
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...417c798f83abfb6

KDK-4 with a Mechwarrior 2 old School feel to it
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...27413bec7dd3039

KDK-5, pulse lasers
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fb6099c1f736428

KDK-5 B33F Special
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...aa039b4c2d8ca8b

KDK-SB
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e96d2fc0ecb6048

hope it helps

[justcallme A S H]

KDK2 - LBX20/6MPL - I have much fun in this. It's a bit hot but the MPL pinpoint and then LBX20 finish is powerful. It's a good kill machine for a laugh as it's fast.

KDK4 - Gauss/LPL - Little lacklustre now since the cLPL/Gauss range nerfs, but still good at 700m

KDK4 LBX20/LPL/MPL - It's a bit silly this one, no real weapon synergy but can work

Edited by justcallme A S H, 26 March 2017 - 09:51 PM.

[Cyrilis]

KDK-1

8 mplas and aaall the heatsinks in theworld

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...1a32502bca9f852

[Gibson Ibanez]

Thanks for the many responses.

I am still leveling my KDK-1 and got fo frustrated I rage built a build that has gotten me 1-2 kills a match and 500-700 damage. (For me, that is alot. I suck.)

RT - LBX 2O
CT ERPPC
LT - 2 SRM6s
Active probe
TC 1
Full armor except legs get 73 each
2 tons srm ammo
4 tons LBX 20 ammo

Need to learn to use smurfy. T

his build has only overheated once because I was surrounded and fighting in desperation.

On a bad game where we get pushed and rolled it still gets 200-300 damage without overheating.

Edited by Gibson Ibanez, 27 March 2017 - 01:14 PM.

[TheLuc]

Hi Gibson, so I played around with your setup and my guess is that it looks like the following

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d42f2c924f4863f

While trying to optimize the build you did, I realize that all the weapons you have do have a spread or an area of effect to them and that is probably helping you in the end. Here is the optimized build.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a5eae09ba08632d

And the link to Smurfy if you need it

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab

Edited by TheLuc, 28 March 2017 - 12:02 AM.

[Gibson Ibanez]

TheLuc, on 27 March 2017 - 11:53 PM, said:

Hi Gibson, so I played around with your setup and my guess is that it looks like the following

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d42f2c924f4863f

While trying to optimize the build you did, I realize that all the weapons you have do have a spread or an area of effect to them and that is probably helping you in the end. Here is the optimized build.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a5eae09ba08632d

And the link to Smurfy if you need it

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab

Thanks bro.

That's pretty close. I run more forward armor 8 in back for side torsos and 10 in rear CT. Maybe your setup would be better to help with pesky lights. I have changed it some and put 4 er smalls in the left arm. People tend to focus my Kodiaks right torso and the arm goes with it so I did not want to put anything there. The smalls make the build hotter but they also give it more pain to share.

Should I use spls instead?

Edited by Gibson Ibanez, 28 March 2017 - 01:14 PM.

[Burning2nd]

Gibson Ibanez, on 25 March 2017 - 06:30 PM, said:

Just so I can do it "old school" --

thats funny.. Im old school and im like.... Ive got enough to buy them all right now flat out and just dump the gxp to master them... but i dont want to do that, lets ride this out...

Im kindda afraid that after the new skill tree the billions of cbills and xp isnt going to be worth ****.... so do i do what your talking about or sit?