93 replies to this topic

[Asym]

Greetings !

I'm thinking of trying an IS mech; just for the experience of the RAC's.

OK, which one, in your opinion is the most effective RAC mech?

[Angel of Annihilation]

RACs are kind of weird. They kinda suck and kinda don't. I have gotten the best use out of them by using a single RAC/5 mounted in the arm of a mech. I use one on one of my Battlemasters and don't regret it in the slightest.

As far as Boating RACs, I haven't had alot of luck. They just aren't good enough to rely on for the bulk of your damage and typically if your using two or more RACs, they tend to make up the bulk of your weapons.

[Ced Riggs]

The best RAC mech is an enemy one.

[VonBruinwald]

Urbie with a RAC5+2xERML

People deprioritise Urbies as targets and the RAC punishes them for it.

[Grayseven]

Threw a pair of rac5's on a Jaeger. At a little over 10 damage a second per rac5, it's a considerable bit of firepower, not to mention the effect it has on an enemy pilot getting rocked by them.

Unfortunately the time on target requirements of a good rac burst mean you are "facing front towards enemy" for an extended length of time. In a one on one situation this is considered "a bad thing" which in my opinion makes the rac's a support weapon alongside LRMs.

Best use of rac's I've seen so far has been in support of an assault push, with the rac5 Rifleman above and behind the pushing mechs. If your targets have something more important to focus on (like say, a brawler assault or a splatdog) then you can push your rac's to the redline without too much worry about return fire.

That being said, rac's are annoying and mechs employing them seem to become "targets that need to die" for the enemy team. This happened to me personally even though I was a couple hundred meters behind the rest of the team. I had cover to go to but I was annoying enough for three enemy lights to come chasing after me.

Ultimately I think I did more damage with the medium lasers than I did the rac's, but ML's don't rattle the cage of players like AC fire does.

[LordNothing]

urbanmech.

/thread

[The6thMessenger]

VonBruinwald, on 22 July 2017 - 01:03 PM, said:

Urbie with a RAC5+2xERML

People deprioritise Urbies as targets and the RAC punishes them for it.

UM-R63 RAC5 Dakka - RAC5 [450] + 2x ERML

Yuuup. Fun, and the best part is that you're low priority target.

[Khobai]

Quote

RACs are kind of weird. They kinda suck and kinda don't.

They definitely suck.


Ramp up time needs to be reduced by another .25s (should be RAC5 = 0.75s rampup, RAC2 = 0.5s rampup)

Damage consistency needs to be increased, theyre still too RNG, and not doing enough consistent damage for the face time they require

Velocity probably needs to be increased


Right now RACs are really only good in a support role if no one is shooting back at you. But they need to be a frontline brawling weapon not a support weapon. The damage output needs to be worth exposing your torso sections for.

Edited by Khobai, 22 July 2017 - 01:26 PM.

[Monkey Lover]

The smallest mech you can get two rac5 on. Rifleman is a good one.

[RestosIII]

If you're scared of having fun in an urbie, the Bushwacker. She can handle spreading damage that comes back her way from staring with RAC's just fine due to how her torso is shaped.

[jss78]

VonBruinwald, on 22 July 2017 - 01:03 PM, said:

Urbie with a RAC5+2xERML

People deprioritise Urbies as targets and the RAC punishes them for it.

This is probably true, I think a derpy weapon like RAC is probably best run on a "fun" 'mech like the Urbie.

Also, it's good for launching a ballistic version of the mythical "Death Blossom" attack.

[Tier5 Kerensky]

I'm having fun with Enforcer, it can either take RAC 2+5 or 2x2 in arm with lower actuator. I think good mobility is required for RAC.

If you have the nodes and patience for it, you can keep RAC continuously throttled up and ready to shoot. It will not build up the jam bar. I don't know if the nodes are actually needed, haven't tested.

I think ECM would really help too.

[The6thMessenger]

Khobai, on 22 July 2017 - 01:19 PM, said:

They definitely suck.

Math says only the RAC2 suck, while the RAC5 is actually too powerful. So even if it loses out by mechanics, it somewhat tips that by being monstrously powerful.

https://mwomercs.com...-time-with-rac/

Khobai, on 22 July 2017 - 01:19 PM, said:

Ramp up time needs to be reduced by another .25s (should be RAC5 = 0.75s rampup, RAC2 = 0.5s rampup)

Damage consistency needs to be increased, theyre still too RNG, and not doing enough consistent damage for the face time they require

Velocity probably needs to be increased

As for how they function, I agree they need to change.

Khobai, on 22 July 2017 - 01:19 PM, said:

Right now RACs are really only good in a support role if no one is shooting back at you. But they need to be a frontline brawling weapon not a support weapon. The damage output needs to be worth exposing your torso sections for.

So is that why my Urbie is actually doing well?

Why would they need be a front-line "brawling" weapon? what's the point of all that range, and you wanted to give it extra velocity so it could hit better right?

No, they're okay as fire-support and fire-suppression weapon, they just suck at it currently.

[Garfuncle]

Marauder 3R has a good, slim frontal profile, decent armor, and most importantly has the RAC 5s mounted high up.

[PAYWALL]

The Highroller is not bad for 2x RAC 5 + 4 ER SLs as backup if you fire your RACs through into jamming, if you want to kill a bigger target like Atlas, Annihilator etc. (The jam time can be long in a fight even if you skill into RACs).
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bf34452d2878c73

You can swap the light fusion with an XL 280 if you need speed over durability, but with RACs you need to expose more. The stripped armor is compensated by the armor quirks (and a few nodes). Weapon convergence for both RACs is perfect and the profile of the mech is low, if not getting cought from the side while focusing on the target (RACs need good target lead or they are useless). Agility is good enough to stay on target.

Remember to skill into heat reduction (i have 9%) and at least 6% dissipation.

[SMDMadCow]

BSW-2X for me, dual RAC/5 and ER ML. Must, MUST flank. Go fast, flank get that tasty back armor.

[Gas Guzzler]

Garfuncle, on 22 July 2017 - 02:19 PM, said:

Marauder 3R has a good, slim frontal profile, decent armor, and most importantly has the RAC 5s mounted high up.

And close together for tighter convergence.

[Gas Guzzler]

Khobai, on 22 July 2017 - 01:19 PM, said:

They definitely suck.


Ramp up time needs to be reduced by another .25s (should be RAC5 = 0.75s rampup, RAC2 = 0.5s rampup)

Damage consistency needs to be increased, theyre still too RNG, and not doing enough consistent damage for the face time they require

Velocity probably needs to be increased


Right now RACs are really only good in a support role if no one is shooting back at you. But they need to be a frontline brawling weapon not a support weapon. The damage output needs to be worth exposing your torso sections for.

Your ****** database is positively teeming with unsubstantiated but precise balance changes.

[Lux Monolithic]

I just found a great build for my IV-4 and I'm loving it.
2x RAC 5 / 7t ammo
1x SRM 6 / 1t ammo
LFE 265

Edited by Illuminous Owl, 22 July 2017 - 04:56 PM.

[Kaptain]

Ive been up against a dual Rac5 bushy and that felt pretty good. Even in reverse they are decently quick so trying to close the gab to brawl him down in my orion punished me.

The only luck I have had with them is on a mauler. 4xERMLs, 2LRM10s and 2rac5s. This lets you hit fast movers and do instant damage at range with the lasers. The LRMs provide indirect fire and the Racs provide covering fire once the other 2 tools have set up the lane for you. This is situational though. It has trouble in anything more than 1v1, suffers up close and is best used as a support mech from 2nd line. It is nice having a tool for any situation though so long as your remember not to try and use too many tools at once.

I would like to see spin up speed buffed along with velocity. Not much, but they need something.

Edited by Kaptain, 22 July 2017 - 04:55 PM.