28 replies to this topic

[Brain Cancer]

So, I thought to myself: I'll try some ATMs. But not too many.

Take out my ol' trusty Orion IIC. Put an ATM 6 and ATM 9 on the arm, A-LRM 15x2 in the torso. Take it for a few spins.

My goodness. Did it change things. First off, ghost heat. LRMs and ATMs share the same GH counter, so firing all four together was toasty fast. I'd usually alternate shots, which led to a steady rain on many targets of 30-15-30-15...or 45 if I needed to get some missiles past ATM flak or only had a passing shot. The ATMs will hit first if you do.

ATMs fire in a much flatter arc than LRMs, which means they'll neatly hit stuff under a roof like in tunnels and on top of HPG. They also fly faster- ATMs are 200 velocity vs. 160 for LRMs, and group better (tighter clusters). The 120m deadzone means that you do want something up close-but ATMs also punish people for doing what comes naturally vs. LRMs- trying to get closer.

At medium range, those 15 ATMs now hit like a very tight LRM 30 salvo to the chest. Inside 270, it's 45 damage- and boy, did a LOT of people closing with that "lurmboat" regret that tonight. Just remember that 120m or closer is no damage at all/low damage with ATM/LRM respectively, and that's what secondary guns are for. They are also more accurate at long range if you have a straight shot (again, higher velocity!), but can be defeated with cover more easily as well.

Learn to position. 500 or less is great (and with LRMs, you should be there anyway), 270m or less is awesome and will make you feel like a god of rockets compared to the usual rain. You will get more of those sweet KMDDs- and you will get more dangerous the better you position. LRMs are still the "easier" shot due to their arcing and allow a constant barrage of lesser damage, while ATMs are a get-your-locks weapon for better damage focus and punch.

Together, they compliment each other wonderfully, allowing you to rain a flexible mix of support and damage that can baffle opponents. I was on Forest Colony. An enemy lance was trying to flank, but I had the back spot and just kept throwing the ATM-LRM 1-2 at them. The mix in velocity and arcs confused the pokers, and when they tried to get in closer, the ATM15 mauled them so badly that people were securing kills as fast as they got in close. One solo kill, four KMDDs, and those 15 ATM tubes (instead of LRM) made the difference.

I hit a near record 1226 damage/5 KMDD game tonight, and that's not even trying to farm damage or using strikes on anyone (just have UAV). While I might not just use ATMs by themselves, they're great in the mix.

[Juodas Varnas]

So what you're saying is... Clans OP?

[Brain Cancer]

Juodas Varnas, on 18 July 2017 - 11:34 PM, said:

So what you're saying is... Clans OP?

LOL no. We just had a lot of "ATMs are DOA" commentary on the forums, and I'm relating my less-than-DOA experiences.

[The Mysterious Fox]

its pretty good on fast mechs who can reposition and keep within that 3 dam mark.

[Brain Cancer]

The Mysterious Fox, on 18 July 2017 - 11:50 PM, said:

its pretty good on fast mechs who can reposition and keep within that 3 dam mark.

500m or less, and you're delivering the same damage as Artemis-LRMs do with better clustering...so they're more effective for the weight (if slightly slower to reload and slightly hotter)
270m or less, and you're just delivering pure pain.

Potatoes who want to hide in the back and use them like LRMs will suck horribly. You must, must, MUST learn to position, especially since ATMs don't go over cover. If you're bad with LRMs, you will be even worse with ATMs.

[The Mysterious Fox]

im also finding pretty good performance with an executioner with a 7 micro pulse power fist, 2 heavy large lasers and 2 atm 9s. its still a good peaker and the ATMs compliment the longer facetimes of the heavy large. the only difficulty im having is that its more weapon groups that normal along with the masc management so its abit of a multi task. Cant wait for the hero omnipods though.

[Vanguard319]

Fun little story: I refitted my Mad Dog Prime with the following loadout:

2 ATM 9s
2 Hvy Lg Lasers
2 ER Med Lasers

So far, even in matches where my team lost, I managed to score kills with this mech. One of the more impressive ones was a final alpha that killed my target a split second before Sean Lang took me out. Even better, I found that these missiles can actually hit targets as far out as 900 m if you can maintain a lock.

[Weeny Machine]

Juodas Varnas, on 18 July 2017 - 11:34 PM, said:

So what you're saying is... Clans OP?

Edited by Bush Hopper, 19 July 2017 - 12:31 AM.

[Juodas Varnas]

Bush Hopper, on 19 July 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

Well, this is the best thing i've seen whole week.

[Requiemking]

The Mysterious Fox, on 19 July 2017 - 12:12 AM, said:

im also finding pretty good performance with an executioner with a 7 micro pulse power fist, 2 heavy large lasers and 2 atm 9s. its still a good peaker and the ATMs compliment the longer facetimes of the heavy large. the only difficulty im having is that its more weapon groups that normal along with the masc management so its abit of a multi task. Cant wait for the hero omnipods though.

So, now Clans get their own Thunderfist, but instead of the Zeus' SRM/MRM Stinkfist, its the EXE's MicroPulse jawshot. I'm actually considering getting a GAR-D and modifying it for a similar purpose.

EDIT: Here is the build I'm considering: GAR-D

Edited by Requiemking, 19 July 2017 - 12:47 AM.

[RestosIII]

I never thought I'd agree on something with someone that has a name like Brain Cancer. From what I can tell so far, the larger ATM launchers are beastly. Quad ATM12's can melt any mech FAST. Not sure how ATM3's and ATM6's perform though, especially since AMS fire already wrecks ATM12's. Gonna have to do some more testing tomorrow.

Seriously, if anyone has trouble with ATMs, equip AMS. Until PGI (hopefully) buffs their missile health, ATMs are neutered by even small numbers of AMS.

Brain Cancer, on 19 July 2017 - 12:00 AM, said:

ATMs don't go over cover.

Eeeeeh. Depends on what you mean. They have enough tracking, and upward oompf when first launched, to clear a lot of cover. Like, most of the small ridges on Tourmaline? Snag a lock, point up, fire, then get back to holding the lock. You're gonna hit 'em most of the time.

[The Mysterious Fox]

Requiemking, on 19 July 2017 - 12:41 AM, said:

So, now Clans get their own Thunderfist, but instead of the Zeus' SRM/MRM Stinkfist, its the EXE's MicroPulse jawshot. I'm actually considering getting a GAR-D and modifying it for a similar purpose.

EDIT: Here is the build I'm considering: GAR-D

Yeah, im finding excessive tonnage for my own GAR-D build, i think both of us will be pretty happy when the GAR-E and hero omnipods come out with its torso missile mounts.

[Hit the Deck]

I think I'm liking this weapon class, especially that we now have the skill tree and Heavy Lasers.

But I can't really love it because an enemy 'Mech can get into your min. range while you are firing the weapon - it's a different story compared to PPCs with their instant fire nature. I don't want to make it too OP either so let's just give it an exponential falloff damage curve from 120 to 0m.

[bbihah]

Oy vey, a good weapon has a counter.

Clams cant have that! I say remove minimum range, increase damage to 5 and add another 270 to the range. THAT'LL SHOW EM.

[Vellron2005]

Bush Hopper, on 19 July 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

Best thing I've seen so far today, by far..

[Reno Blade]

My ATM builds so far:

MC mk2 with 2x ATM6, 2x LRM15, 2x HLL, 2x HML -> runs too hot yet
MC mk2 with 2x ATM6, 2x Gauss, 2x HML, 2x MPL -> my favorite so far, even tho it's hot

Mad Dog with 2x ATM6, 2x SRM6, 2x LRM10, 2x ERSL, 1x Tag + Bap

Just fun to watch the target trying to get closer because of LRMs, then the ATMs bring more pain and then, even in min range, the SRM6s add even more damage when the LRMs/ATMs are close to the min range limits (or inside).
Ofc, that's a toasty mech...

[Brain Cancer]

Vanguard319, on 19 July 2017 - 12:15 AM, said:

Fun little story: I refitted my Mad Dog Prime with the following loadout:

2 ATM 9s
2 Hvy Lg Lasers
2 ER Med Lasers

So far, even in matches where my team lost, I managed to score kills with this mech. One of the more impressive ones was a final alpha that killed my target a split second before Sean Lang took me out. Even better, I found that these missiles can actually hit targets as far out as 900 m if you can maintain a lock.

It's the higher velocity, although I think that's partially because people are only used to LRMs at that range and don't dodge fast enough.

[Pariah Devalis]

ATM on a Shadow Cat is a match made in heaven. Combine a hardpoint starved mech with plenty of crit space with a bulky but high damage per launcher weapon, and you have a nice complementary setup. Fast enough to dictate the engagement range. ECM allows you to be extra aggressive with them, or counter enemy ECM as needed. Keeping a mech in that 120-300 range, and you can absolutely clobber them.

[Andi Nagasia]

ATMs are ok, not bad not good,
but if AMS is present then they are bad,

in tests 3AMS can nullify ATM24(2-3Tons nullifying 14?)

to put things into perspective 3AMS can nullify 15-20LRM(30-35C-LRMs)(7-10Tons / 7-8.5Tons)

as all missiles have the same health only difference is the speed, they need to have a higher Velocity,

Edited by Andi Nagasia, 19 July 2017 - 06:41 AM.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Their tracking isn't too great, and their low angle flight path makes them a bit unwieldy. But boy, oh boy, do they hurt when used properly.

I definitely find it funny there are still people trying to fire them like they're LRMs, though. Hitting even more rocks than they normally did with LRMs