Jump to content

The Annihilator...


52 replies to this topic

#21 Aggravated Assault Mech

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Wrath
  • Wrath
  • 825 posts
  • Locationlocation location

Posted 19 July 2017 - 07:14 PM

View PostFLG 01, on 19 July 2017 - 07:03 PM, said:


The engine cap is a quirk, even if you chose to call it by any other name. It is an arbitrary improvement of the Mech outside the regular parameters (which would require a 240 cap). Are you really going to tell me the Annihilator would work with a 240 engine?
And the engine cap quirk does combine with a number of extremely powerful defensive and offensive quirks. I am sure an Annihilator which had stuck to the engine cap rule and came with Javelin-level quirks instead of Atlas-level quirks would not be much of a threat.


I'm not even willing to discuss a 240 engine cap because that was literally never on the table. It was always going to have a 300 cap from the very beginning when it was announced. It's also far from the only mech to have a higher than average engine cap.

It also isn't a quirk because changing it as a balancing measure after release would be unprecedented. Quirks are specifically beneficial (generally) traits added or removed in response to overall performance. You could argue agility traits are being treated as quirks, but not engine cap because it will never change.

It's like arguing that hardpoints are quirks, and that the annihilator would have been DOA if it only had 8 hardpoints on average.

I guess I have to concede the point that the darkest timeline annihilator, with 240 engine cap and 8 hardpoints and no quirks and 5 degrees of torso pitch would have been DOA..

Of course PGI was incredibly generous in making the annihilator, from the very beginning. Good art, good engine cap, good hardpoint numbers, good hardpoint locations, good quirks. I don't deny that- just that there was good reason to be excited pretty much from the beginning.

Edited by Aggravated Assault Mech, 19 July 2017 - 07:18 PM.


#22 Alan Hicks

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The 1 Percent
  • 414 posts

Posted 19 July 2017 - 07:34 PM

Enjoy it if you like it, I don't think I'm going to buy that thing, ever.

The Annihilator was a fun mech to play in MW 3, but after watching some game play today I doubt I'll ever buy one.

For now got my interest on the MK II or the Cougar.

#23 FLG 01

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Leutnant
  • Leutnant
  • 2,646 posts

Posted 19 July 2017 - 07:42 PM

View PostAggravated Assault Mech, on 19 July 2017 - 07:14 PM, said:

I'm not even willing to discuss a 240 engine cap because that was literally never on the table. It was always going to have a 300 cap from the very beginning when it was announced. It's also far from the only mech to have a higher than average engine cap.


Of course it was never on the table. Why? Because the Annihilator would have been useless if it stuck to 240. If you don't want to call it quirk, fine. But you do need to acknowledge it is totally arbitrary, in favour of the Mech, and its saving grace. The Annihilator may not be the first Mech to get a higher engine cap but how many others desperately need it to work at all? UrbanMech?
Hardpoint inflation is another arbitrary mechanism to improve a Mech. In case of the Annihilator I think it is a moot point; surely nowhere near as critical as engine cap. Also, hardpoint inflation is more common than buffing the engine cap from 1.2x to 1.5x - putting it mildly. But again, it's a moot point since the Annihilator needs one of those to survive in MWO, the other not so much.

You are benefitting from a nice, nifty, and exceptionally rare buff because - as you yourself correctly say - the Annihilator would not even be on the table if not for that buff. And it goes along with a boatload of other buffs. Make no mistake, you can give this treatment to any Mech and it would be good.

Edited by FLG 01, 19 July 2017 - 07:42 PM.


#24 Aggravated Assault Mech

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Wrath
  • Wrath
  • 825 posts
  • Locationlocation location

Posted 19 July 2017 - 07:57 PM

View PostFLG 01, on 19 July 2017 - 07:42 PM, said:


Of course it was never on the table. Why? Because the Annihilator would have been useless if it stuck to 240. If you don't want to call it quirk, fine. But you do need to acknowledge it is totally arbitrary, in favour of the Mech, and its saving grace. The Annihilator may not be the first Mech to get a higher engine cap but how many others desperately need it to work at all? UrbanMech?
Hardpoint inflation is another arbitrary mechanism to improve a Mech. In case of the Annihilator I think it is a moot point; surely nowhere near as critical as engine cap. Also, hardpoint inflation is more common than buffing the engine cap from 1.2x to 1.5x - putting it mildly. But again, it's a moot point since the Annihilator needs one of those to survive in MWO, the other not so much.

You are benefitting from a nice, nifty, and exceptionally rare buff because - as you yourself correctly say - the Annihilator would not even be on the table if not for that buff. And it goes along with a boatload of other buffs. Make no mistake, you can give this treatment to any Mech and it would be good.


Yep, it could have easily been terrible, and frankly I'm just happy to be vindicated in advocating for it against the tide of DOA posts- most of which were directed against what the mech could have been based upon TT art or lore, and not what PGI was projecting.

Most of the buffs it received are basically locked in, though. Even without quirks it would have significant advantages over the Mauler and Sleipnir- nevermind King Crab. Lowering the engine cap or completely ruining the hardpoint locations can't be on the table, and as long as those advantages exist together I think it stands to be the best IS dakka assault.

It bears mentioning that there arent any possible usurpers either. They'd all require similarly generous treatment by PGI- shoulder mounted ballistics on the Thunder Hawk, for instance. 6x AC5 or 5x UAC5 is a hard act to follow.

Edited by Aggravated Assault Mech, 19 July 2017 - 08:00 PM.


#25 Lux Monolithic

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Guide
  • The Guide
  • 203 posts

Posted 19 July 2017 - 08:07 PM

View PostAggravated Assault Mech, on 19 July 2017 - 02:52 PM, said:

Anyone that called the mech DOA after the WIP images were posted several months ago deserves to be pointed at and ridiculed tbh.


How very adult of you to take such a solid position on the matter. But you don't factor in multiple things such as every human is different, different ages, different brain development, different experiences and intelligence... So your assessment is rather... well... POINTLESS. Thanks for playing though. I know you mean well. Everybody means well. And I love everybody. So lets all join hands and sing... well, you know...

Love you.

Edited by Illuminous Owl, 19 July 2017 - 08:08 PM.


#26 jonfett

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Bad Company
  • Bad Company
  • 355 posts
  • LocationSitting on a NaCl mountain in a place called Puglandia

Posted 19 July 2017 - 08:08 PM

Enjoy it while it lasts kids...until PGI gives it the ol nerf hammer they give every mech.

#27 Aggravated Assault Mech

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Wrath
  • Wrath
  • 825 posts
  • Locationlocation location

Posted 19 July 2017 - 08:44 PM

View PostIlluminous Owl, on 19 July 2017 - 08:07 PM, said:


How very adult of you to take such a solid position on the matter. But you don't factor in multiple things such as every human is different, different ages, different brain development, different experiences and intelligence... So your assessment is rather... well... POINTLESS. Thanks for playing though. I know you mean well. Everybody means well. And I love everybody. So lets all join hands and sing... well, you know...

Love you.


I guess I was being a little dramatic.

I'm sorry I love you too.

#28 TheArisen

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 6,040 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Posted 19 July 2017 - 09:33 PM

View PostAggravated Assault Mech, on 19 July 2017 - 07:14 PM, said:

I'm not even willing to discuss a 240 engine cap because that was literally never on the table. It was always going to have a 300 cap from the very beginning when it was announced. It's also far from the only mech to have a higher than average engine cap.


PGI has a formula they use to determine a mechs engine cap. According to this formula the Anni should of gotten a 240 cap. Luckily they bumped it up but FLG is correct that it's a buff over what it would have gotten. So yes a 240 cap was on the table until PGI decided to buff it.

#29 TheArisen

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 6,040 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Posted 19 July 2017 - 09:36 PM

View PostAggravated Assault Mech, on 19 July 2017 - 07:57 PM, said:

Yep, it could have easily been terrible, and frankly I'm just happy to be vindicated in advocating for it against the tide of DOA posts- most of which were directed against what the mech could have been based upon TT art or lore, and not what PGI was projecting.

Most of the buffs it received are basically locked in, though. Even without quirks it would have significant advantages over the Mauler and Sleipnir- nevermind King Crab. Lowering the engine cap or completely ruining the hardpoint locations can't be on the table, and as long as those advantages exist together I think it stands to be the best IS dakka assault.

It bears mentioning that there arent any possible usurpers either. They'd all require similarly generous treatment by PGI- shoulder mounted ballistics on the Thunder Hawk, for instance. 6x AC5 or 5x UAC5 is a hard act to follow.

You do know it's only good because of it's quirks right?

#30 Aggravated Assault Mech

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Wrath
  • Wrath
  • 825 posts
  • Locationlocation location

Posted 19 July 2017 - 11:10 PM

View PostTheArisen, on 19 July 2017 - 09:33 PM, said:


PGI has a formula they use to determine a mechs engine cap. According to this formula the Anni should of gotten a 240 cap. Luckily they bumped it up but FLG is correct that it's a buff over what it would have gotten. So yes a 240 cap was on the table until PGI decided to buff it.


It was never buffed. It was announced with an engine cap of 300, just like the urbie was announced with an engine cap of 190 or 200 or whatever. These are things we knew from the beginning- unlike the bounty hunter which had its engine cap buffed in response to complaints. A high engine cap is atypical but hardly extraordinary.

You're really backpedaling onto hypothetical that were never even put up for discussion in public in any case.

View PostTheArisen, on 19 July 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

You do know it's only good because of it's quirks right?


Just like the MX90 amirite?

Quirks come and go but good hardpoints are only beaten by powercreep.

#31 AppleseeN

    Member

  • PipPipPip
  • 84 posts

Posted 19 July 2017 - 11:35 PM

ANH-1XG

1st is more conventional for random clashes...

ANH-1XRAC

And the second one is ...can drop any other 100 tonner in few runs, actually yesterday in Crimson whole assaul lance was ripped and shredded by one such Anny.Posted Image

#32 Appogee

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 10,967 posts
  • LocationOn planet Tukayyid, celebrating victory

Posted 19 July 2017 - 11:38 PM

View PostEl Bandito, on 19 July 2017 - 05:55 PM, said:

It cant be called an Annihilator if it cant, well, annihilate things.

It is also quirk crutch mech. I certainly wouldn't invest real money on it.

^ This. When it eventually gets dequirked it's going to be awful... all of the slow, very little of the tank.

Personally I can't stand piloting slow Mechs, regardless of how many crutches they have.

I do though quite like taking a Viper or Jenner behind Assaults and giving them a kick in the butt... heck, sometimes I even do that to enemy assaults ;)

Edited by Appogee, 19 July 2017 - 11:40 PM.


#33 Hanky Spam

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 202 posts

Posted 20 July 2017 - 12:16 AM

View PostSkanderborg, on 19 July 2017 - 02:54 PM, said:

I just keep shooting it and it doesn't drop Posted Image



Just aim for the cockpit.
The anni will fall so quickly... Posted Image

#34 Lupis Volk

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Mercenary
  • Mercenary
  • 2,126 posts
  • LocationIn the cockpit of the nearest Light Battlemech.

Posted 20 July 2017 - 12:54 AM

So anyone got any builds for the basic bundle annies?

#35 Zergling

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Angel
  • The Angel
  • 2,439 posts

Posted 20 July 2017 - 01:21 AM

View PostLupis Volk, on 20 July 2017 - 12:54 AM, said:

So anyone got any builds for the basic bundle annies?


Here's what I've been running my ANH-1A with; 3x AC10 and 1x SN-PPC
Sadly, it can't run quad AC10 while keeping a 300 rated engine and a decent ammo load, unless it uses an XL.
An alternative for the -1A is 2x Heavy PPC + 2x UAC10.

ANH-2A can run 6x AC5.

ANH-1E can run 2x Heavy PPC + 2x PPC or 6x Large Pulse or 6x ER Large.

Edited by Zergling, 20 July 2017 - 01:22 AM.


#36 Widowmaker1981

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Widow Maker
  • The Widow Maker
  • 5,032 posts
  • LocationAt the other end of the pretty lights.

Posted 20 July 2017 - 01:26 AM

View PostLupis Volk, on 20 July 2017 - 12:54 AM, said:

So anyone got any builds for the basic bundle annies?


6xAC5, LFE300, Endo Steel, 7 tons ammo, 2 DHS in engine on the 2A
5xUAC5, STD300, Endo Steel, 9.5 tons ammo, mostly stripped left arm on the 2A
2xUAC10, 2xUAC5 all in torsos, STD300, Endo Steel, 10 tons of ammo on the 2A

1A can replicate some of those builds but not ideally, since they all use all 4 torso ballistic mounts and it only has 3. Best 'unique' build i could come up with was 2xUAC10 in torsos and 2xHPPC in right arm.

The 1E is junk in my opinion, 100 ton energy boats do NOT want to be stuck with a 300 engine.

#37 Kaptain

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Ace Of Spades
  • Ace Of Spades
  • 1,284 posts
  • LocationNorth America

Posted 20 July 2017 - 01:38 AM

View PostZergling, on 20 July 2017 - 01:21 AM, said:



If I may? Pull off LFF and 2 tons of ammo and you can run a LFE+ES of the same rating with the same armor and a heatsink.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified



If you die with ammo more often than you run out of ammo, the durability of the LFE is probably worth it.

Edited by Kaptain, 20 July 2017 - 01:53 AM.


#38 Kiiyor

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Big Daddy
  • Big Daddy
  • 5,565 posts
  • LocationSCIENCE.

Posted 20 July 2017 - 01:46 AM

ANH-2AAAAAAAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hands down my favourite. Slower than anything I've ever built, frustrating as hell to try and maneuver it's fat *** and actually get to the battle, but hilarious and amazing in every way when it gets there.

It's surprisingly survivable. It's hard for the enemy to focus on any one particular component when you're blowing Jenner sized holes in them every 1.4 seconds or so.

I had a match on Polar earlier. By the time I got to the fight, we had 2 mechs left, to their 6. Everyone was ripped to bits, I was absolutely pristine aside from a yellow leg from a collision at the start of the match. Everyone had forgotten I was there, aside from one dude spectating me. I strolled up behind the enemy at a leisurely 40KPH. I was going to get closer, but the guy spectating me typed "THIS IS GOING TO BE ******* AWESOME" into all chat, and then the dakka cat was out of the bag. I opened fire.

14 volleys later, we were victorious. Hands down in my top 5 MWO experiences so far.

#39 Zergling

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • The Angel
  • The Angel
  • 2,439 posts

Posted 20 July 2017 - 02:34 AM

View PostKaptain, on 20 July 2017 - 01:38 AM, said:


If I may? Pull off LFF and 2 tons of ammo and you can run a LFE+ES of the same rating with the same armor and a heatsink.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified


If you die with ammo more often than you run out of ammo, the durability of the LFE is probably worth it.


Yep, that is definitely a better idea.

#40 Tyroki

    Member

  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • The God
  • The God
  • 109 posts

Posted 20 July 2017 - 02:58 AM

View PostKaptain, on 20 July 2017 - 01:38 AM, said:


If I may? Pull off LFF and 2 tons of ammo and you can run a LFE+ES of the same rating with the same armor and a heatsink.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified


If you die with ammo more often than you run out of ammo, the durability of the LFE is probably worth it.


Don't forget to save the build before posting the link =P





1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users