13 replies to this topic

[cfreman]

Hi all,

I've recently started playing solo FW (yeah, I know I should join a unit but my availability would be an issue for good units since it's pretty erratic) and I was wondering what'd be the community suggestion for a good general drop deck. Assume there is no limit on choices (I have most of the clan mechs and enough CBs to buy whatever is needed).

My current deck is:

NTG-PRIME (2xGauss, 1xCPP)
TBR-PRIME (2xCPP, 1xGauss)
HBK-IIC-A (laser vomit)
JNR-IIC(O) (SRM6)

But I'm more than willing to hear any option.

Thanks!

[Ironically Ironclad Irony]

3 HBR and a shadowcat for solo dropping; all with ecm. If the pugs are not organized/organizable you can take care of yourself with range/trade builds.

Edited by Ironically Ironclad Irony, 24 June 2017 - 08:33 AM.

[Leone]

Honestly, it depends on what you want. You seem to favour a ranged approach, so the line up looks fine for an open map. However, this being a Faction Warfare thread, I would point out those'ren't the best for a closer midrange to brawl map. If it doesn't hurt the bank too much, or you've a spare, I'd suggest trying a nice Five small pulse, srm 6 brawl Madcat (Timber Wolf.)

Also, if you've teamspeak, you wont need to join a unit to drop with one. Mine's currently running in the Inner Sphere right now, but hop on some servers and check with a few groups. Most'll be happy to have an extra hand willing to listen an work with the group rather'n a random pug, who may or may not be a team player.

Jep Jorgensson, on 24 June 2017 - 07:00 PM, said:

Come by the Clan TS server and try dropping with some of us there.

STRANAMECHTY.INFO

PW: StranaMechty

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 24 June 2017 - 09:00 PM.

[cfreman]

Ironically Ironclad Irony, on 24 June 2017 - 08:32 AM, said:

3 HBR and a shadowcat for solo dropping; all with ecm. If the pugs are not organized/organizable you can take care of yourself with range/trade builds.

Thanks! I'll consider it as a second drop option, but even if it's a solo drop I'd rather be a team player than go by myself.

Leone, on 24 June 2017 - 08:54 PM, said:

Honestly, it depends on what you want. You seem to favour a ranged approach, so the line up looks fine for an open map. However, this being a Faction Warfare thread, I would point out those'ren't the best for a closer midrange to brawl map. If it doesn't hurt the bank too much, or you've a spare, I'd suggest trying a nice Five small pulse, srm 6 brawl Madcat (Timber Wolf.)

Also, if you've teamspeak, you wont need to join a unit to drop with one. Mine's currently running in the Inner Sphere right now, but hop on some servers and check with a few groups. Most'll be happy to have an extra hand willing to listen an work with the group rather'n a random pug, who may or may not be a team player.



~Leone.

TBH, I like all play styles, I have focused in ranged builds mostly influenced by metamechs and the fact that I hadn't played FW for almost a year. I used to be in a unit and do a decent amount of FW, but they were mostly IS and 115 of my 125 mechs are clan, so it was a bit of a waste (plus them being in US and me having moved recently to Europe from there didn't help with the times).

For a brawler, I think I'll get a second drop deck with mid to brawler range mechs, with the Timberwolf (got a few of them, so no problem there) and a few others. Shame there is no effective way to drop with both the TBR and a Spirit Bear

Thanks a lot for the answers to both!

[Leone]

cfreman, on 25 June 2017 - 08:57 AM, said:

Shame there is no effective way to drop with both the TBR and a Spirit Bear

Well, the thing about the spirit bear is, it's slow. I mean, yeah, a Kodiak's a vicious mech, but for a more opened map, or one where you think you'll want speed, a kodiak'll slow down the team, or get left in the back.

If you've tonnes of mechs, I'd suggest a Timberwolf or Night Gyr, EbonJaguar or Hellbringer, and then two Novas or Hunchbacks. You can get some impressive mid range to brawl from em, and they've all the same movement profile (Save the Hunchie Two C,) which is an area the Clans shine and have an edge against the Inner Sphere mechs.

cfreman, on 25 June 2017 - 08:57 AM, said:

Thanks a lot for the answers to both!

No Problem.

~Leone.

[Jep Jorgensson]

I suggest a particular theme for each deck (Brawler, Hot Map, etc).

[Pariah Devalis]

It's good to have specific drop decks for specific maps. For example, I have three. One for long range, one for close range, and one for a bit of both/intermediate range. I personally use "Superman" decks. One SNV, at 90 tons, and three Huntsmen, at 50 tons each. Puts me at the full 240 tons, with each mech capable of dishing out a ton of damage. I try not to over-saturate any one drop with assaults, so I generally save the SNV for drop 2 or 3. My HMN vary between 4x ERLLas, 2x ERPPC, 6x MPLas, 2x UAC10+2x ERSLas, 4x ERMLas+Gauss, or 4x ERSLas+4x ASRM6.

Maps like Boreal Vault pay to have long range pokers if you are defending. On attack, assuming your team is willing to be aggressive, brawlers might be preferred. Grim Portico, on the other hand, is a pure brawling map, both as attacker and defender. A little bit of both works on several other maps, so it's always good to have options available, depending on the map you will be on.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 29 July 2017 - 08:55 PM.

[DavidStarr]

Can you give me some options for a great brawling deck?
Especially interested in specific TBR and EBJ build, but any advice is welcome (I do have to buy a lot of new mechs, after all).

Edited by DavidStarr, 01 August 2017 - 09:10 AM.

[Pariah Devalis]

DavidStarr, on 01 August 2017 - 08:38 AM, said:

Can you give me some options for a great brawling deck?
Especially interested in specific TBR and EBJ build, but any advice is welcome (I do have to buy a lot of new mechs, after all).

If that sale is still going on, get a Pakhet. Then put this on it:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...07dfb18dbf5a6b9

You can build a similar TBR if you want, but I never found TBR particularly great brawlers. The SMN, especially with the durability quirks, is a solid option with massed ASRM6. The 2xLB20X 4xSRM6 Scorch is a good option, as well, for an assault pick. Linebackers make solid zoom and boom mechs, too, with ERSLas and SRM launchers. Jenner IIC with SRMs makes for a solid light splat option, too. I also tend to favor a 3x ASRM6, 2x ERSLas, ECM Shadow Cat (soon, come new omnipods, 4x ASRM6 2x uERLas).

[DavidStarr]

Pariah Devalis, on 01 August 2017 - 01:37 PM, said:

If that sale is still going on, get a Pakhet. Then put this on it:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...07dfb18dbf5a6b9

Already done that Also done the Scorch you've described. BTW, it feels extremely weak in CW (MAD-IIC, in general, but Scorch especially - it loses its arms with LB-20Xs almost immediately).
Are TBRs even good for anything at all in CW?

Edited by DavidStarr, 01 August 2017 - 09:21 PM.

[Brethren]

DavidStarr, on 01 August 2017 - 09:02 PM, said:

Are TBRs even good for anything at all in CW?

TBRs are good for almost everything because that chassis is a swiss army knife of a mech.
Specialist mechs often perform better in faction play, though, as long as the team can agree on a strategy.

I agree having 3 decks (brawl, medium, long range) is pretty much the optimal approach.

Often it is useful to bring a light mech. Sometimes you need the speed for something (e.g. Gen rush) and all the other times one will be greatful for the extra tonnage on the other 3 mechs.
JR-IIC (SRM) is one of the meanest glass cannons out there. Keep that one.

I hardly bring assault mechs, because they take up too much tonnage for my taste. But if I do I usually stick with 80 or 85 ton assaults.

There are some interesting, you might say odd, choices for brawl mechs. My unit focuses more on mobility and armor/structure quirks then on firepower.
ON-IIC, SMN, GAR and IFR are good examples for tough and mobile. They fall behind a bit in the firepower departement, but that is actually not that bad because they tend to run cool, which is also very helpful in a brawl.

Lucky for us there's hardly a bad clan mech for medium or long range. As long as you don't 'mess up' the armament you can pick anything you're comfortable with.

@cfreman:
I'd say your drop deck is a good medium range deck.
For a long range deck you might want to switch the HBK and maybe the Jenner to something that has long range weaponry.

Edited by Brethren, 02 August 2017 - 02:07 AM.

[PUFNSTUF]

How are people outfitting their linebackers? I've seen a lot of linebacker rushes...

[SeventhSL]

The HBR drop deck is excellent. That said my balanced deck is:

TBR-C: 2xLPL, 5xERML
TBR-C: 2xLPL, 5xERML
MDD-A: 6xASRM6, 4xERSL
ACH: 6xERSL
Double cool shot and strikes on each mech.

I find the TBR stands up better to the insane tonnage IS can bring in the first couple of waves. The Mad Dog wrecks damaged and medium mechs so it really puts out the hurt as third drop. Battles normally move to a brawl at that point no matter how the game goes. ACH is there to catch and leg the final locust plague.

[justcallme A S H]

EBJ/EBJ/HBR/SHC (or similar last mech)

One of the better Clan decks you'll get for skirmish ranges. Means you don't need to bring a light, especially since cSPL nerf into oblivion.... ACHs etc are just not strong right now.

Drop a EBJ for a HBR if you want to free up tonnage. Or drop the HBR and bring 2x HBKIIC (pretty sure that fits off the top of my head).

That is how you beat the IS tonnage. Bringing TBRs is 20T wasted IMO. A EBJ does it just as good with only a tiny reduction in available armour.

Edited by justcallme A S H, 14 August 2017 - 06:55 PM.