39 replies to this topic

[FuzzyNova]

If a new pilot , recruit or someone who has never played before asked you
Which mech they should purchase first, which would it be?

I'm thinking Ebon Jag. But there are so many choices. Too many factors.
Whether they like fast mechs or slow mechs. But it doesn't matter in this case.
Only one. One mech that you would recommend to a brand new pilot.

What will it be?

[cazidin]

Let them pilot a Vindicator. It'll give them a strong understanding of the future frustrations they'll have with PGI and thoroughly test their talent.

[Old-dirty B]

Hunchback / Hunchback IIC

[Lovas]

I wouldn't go IS Hunchie, but the IIC isn't a bad choice. Here is a pretty good video and argument for the Hellbringer by Blackhawk.

[Y E O N N E]

What kind of player are you? Do you want a 'Mech that can mitigate your lack of experience and let you do okay in spite of that disadvantage or are you a player who responds well to tough love and want a 'Mech that is unforgiving and will force you you to learn the game quickly to do well with?

Former, Storm Crow. Latter, Centurion.

[Hit the Deck]

Probably one of Clan Medium so he/she can use it in Scouting besides QP.

So, it would be the HBK-IIC (ugly) just like B3R3ND said, or the Huntsman (pretty).

[Appogee]

Timbie, probably. Fastish, tankish, versatile, JJs.

[Alexander of Macedon]

I'd tell them to play the trials for a bit and pick something like the ones they enjoyed the most. Personally I'd suggest a decent IS medium that favors a med-range support playstyle--cheap, gives them the safety to learn how to play without the pressure of having to brawl constantly, doesn't require the lengthy saving up time of a clam heavy or whatever.

Remember, they are new, and trial 'mechs tend to be frustrating to play since they're often kinda **** setups. Play long enough to get an eye for what they like, not long enough to grind out 15m cb.

[MechaBattler]

Timberwolf. Not as top of the food chain as it once was. But still highly versatile and high performance. With the right pods they can pretty much do it all. So a beginner can get a feel for different builds before investing in their next mech. While having the armor and mobility to not to die right away. And being an Omnimech means they don't have to screw with engines or upgrades.

Now if they feel like a badass. The Vindicator is highly recommended.

Edited by MechaBattler, 06 April 2017 - 02:29 PM.

[Humpday]

People will say Timberwolf is a good starter as it can play any role well, problem is, its targeted.
I did this... I didn't and still don't like driving it and it has the worse K/D ratio of all my mechs. Its my playstyle in it, thats the problem. I pilot it like sh!t.

Personally I'd say buy all the hunchbacks. the 4p, 4sp and 4G will all teach you very quickly what not to do in the game. These tactics will transition forward into every other mech you play after it...mostly because all other variants except the 4sp is a glass cannon and pretty easy to die in if you get reckless. The 4sp is a freaking medium mech with heavy armor and a lights agility. Thing is a tank, and has the best struct. quirks in that class, and possibly the game?(probably the atlas only has better)

Things you should learn are torso twisting, and positioning(battlefield awareness) hunchy wil teach you that real quick after you get slaughtered the first 20 matches you start learning that running out infront of the enemy alone is a no no.


Anyway...just literally follow an assault or anything more scary than you(just about anything except a light) and when he shoots/peaks...just swing wide while the other guy is in cool down and knock off your alpha. This plays into that battlefield awareness thing.

At that point the enemy is vulnerable, and has already blown his load on your assault(pun fully intended) so you take little/no damage, while your opponent gets 2x the damage. They usually wont' prioritize you if your hanging out with a KD3 or Direwolf. If they do, they wont' do that again.

EDIT: also, point that AC20 somewhere away from the rear end of your wingmans back armor...dont' s hoot your friends in the back with your alpha.

The 4G and 4P play similar with the 4P teaching you how to manage heat better, 4G teaching you how to knock off shots and get back in cover quickly. Both will teach you how to torso twist to protect your main armament.

The 4SP is a straight up brawler, once you're confident take that b!tch right into the middle of a brawl and DPS the f*ck out of everyone. You'll have better speed and acceleration than anything other than a light, and your torso twists so far that you can basically shoot backwards while maneuvering around them. This one will teach you how to torso twist real good as its twist rate is super fast and you can spread damage out very well. Plus you have no hunch, so people dont' aim at your shoulder.
This one also plays like fps shooter. You can perform quick snapshots with srms while running at/around any enemy due to the redic twist speed.

If you're any good you should walk out of a match with just your ct, legs and the head med laser. and 2-3 kills.

Oh i should notate that you're going to have to swap out motors for this one, or else the hunchie is going to be slow as crap. So that grinding part may be a turn off.


Second pick I'd say is to go with the Hellbringer-Prime with ecm + laser vomit. I mean the thing is stupid to play, you can literally just be standing out in the open with you in front, 2 mechs to the right a left, and just because people can't hit R and target you, they choose to shoot the other players around you. This still happens even in the upper tiers!!!

I mean if you're having a really lousy day, just take this thing out and start alphing people all sneaky like...thing racks kills. If you're losing I grantee you'll 70% of the time be one of the last 3 mechs standing.

Edited by Humpday, 06 April 2017 - 02:38 PM.

[Pixel Hunter]

I'm a beginner and I really like my thunderbolt build:
(the one with the Large pulse quirks)

3 Large pulse
2 Medium lasers
Xl 310 with 2 double heat syncs in engine
the rest filled with double heat sincs
also radar deprivation

Edited by Gimpy117, 06 April 2017 - 02:59 PM.

[MischiefSC]

TBR is hugely versital and is probably the best overall flexible mech in the game. Mediums are fragile and problematic to learn with. HBK IIC is pretty squishy if you're not twisting.

[Davegt27]

DW

[Monkey Lover]

Pick a mech with ECM that can tank. Maybe a hellbringer or Cheetah.

[Ghogiel]

HBK IIC works for everything.

Has versatile ranged builds (UAC2, gauss, CERPPC even ERLL), Mid ranged poke laser vomit, MPL build, mixed range laser poke/brawler (SPL +LPL), UAC10/5 push dps builds, and decent brawler SRM or LB20 builds(not really a pug build). + JJ, good hitboxes, good engine cap, moslty optimal hard point locations.

[The6thMessenger]

Timber Wolf. 81 KPH, tanky too.

Not hard or easy mech, it relies mostly on pilot skills, if it has decent build.

It's also economical; unlike battlemechs one can simply buy omnipods, and just slap different weapons. You don't have to buy other mechs.

Edited by The6thMessenger, 06 April 2017 - 03:16 PM.

[Dirus Nigh]

Any mech that can perform well and helps you learn how to be a better player.

Hunchbacks, Cicadas, Centurions, and maybe Shadowhawks for IS meds.

Grasshopper, Catapult, and Warhammer for heavies.

They do not have the crutch of clanner tech, and they can be forgiving just enough for some mistakes. They will also give a little bit of familiarity when branching out into lights and assaults.

[Revis Volek]

Stick with CLAN MECHS!


They are more forgiving, and faster would be better for a new player. Not too fast (like a light) as to get yourself into trouble but fast enough to get the heck out of town when you make a mistake.

Stormcrow, Timberwolf, Huntsman heck even the viper isnt a terrible mech. Mainly because CXL survives ST loss.

[MischiefSC]

Ghogiel, on 06 April 2017 - 03:10 PM, said:

HBK IIC works for everything.

Has versatile ranged builds (UAC2, gauss, CERPPC even ERLL), Mid ranged poke laser vomit, MPL build, mixed range laser poke/brawler (SPL +LPL), UAC10/5 push dps builds, and decent brawler SRM or LB20 builds(not really a pug build). + JJ, good hitboxes, good engine cap, moslty optimal hard point locations.

Play it without twisting in QP.

Also abandon all good sense in building a mech.

I love the HBK IIC. It's a (arguably THE) top tier medium.

However it's squishy and there's a lot of ways to make a bad one that will fail spectacularly. While that's true of anything, for a new player?

TBR all but builds itself. Plus they can LRM and, well, nubs and lurms.

Playing a medium is significantly harder than playing a heavy.

I'd say HBK IIC is a great 3rd mech to pick up. When you're wanting to actually learn to play good, twist and understand range dynamics between builds.

[Ted Wayz]

Trial mech. Then base the decision on which mech you feel most comfortable with (light, medium, heavy, assault).