53 replies to this topic

[eminus]

I would think so, the fact that it cannot mount as much weapons as its counterparts and the ridiculous wide spread of its arm.

I rarely see Nightstar in matches right now

[El Bandito]

I don't think you understand what overnight means.

NStar does need some help. Starting by allowing it (or any battlemechs) to remove hand actuators.

Edited by El Bandito, 01 January 2018 - 03:27 AM.

[Juodas Varnas]

Well, it started off as a garbage mech, so it didn't really become one 'overnight' unless you're talking about the night it was released.

[Hit the Deck]

Be careful when comparing supposed "counterparts" between IS and Clan 'Mechs. IS can't compete with Clan for certain loadouts like Gauss Vomit, for example, due to basic tech imbalance although the WHM-6R does its job pretty well.

The then new tech gives IS unique weapons and I was hoping that they (they new stuff) could open up certain niche for IS 'Mechs where they have some advantages over Clan. Stuff like HGR, MRM, or maybe HPPC should make IS shines in certain areas where the Clans doesn't really have any equivalance. Alas that's currently not the case.

[Bombast]

It was declared crap pretty much as soon as the first match was played in it, and people confirmed you could isolate any component on it from orbit and it couldn't carry the kind of weapon payload to justify that.

[TheArisen]

It's better than most think but it's not a T1 mech sadly.

[xVLFBERHxT]

I like her.

[Seranov]

I really enjoy my 3 AC10 -9P and my 2 AC20 + 4 ML -9S. The 2 LB10X + 5 MPL -9J is kind of neat, too. They're not amazing like the MCII, but it's a fun mech to play.

[panzer1b]

With the exception of the triple AC10 build (which can be done on other mechs too so its not exactly unique and 30 PPFLD isnt exactly new either), there just isnt much that mech has going for it since its too slow and has atrocious hitboxes.

Basically, a semi decent player can focus over 90% of their laser/gauss/erppc fire into a single side torso due to those massive vents that stick out above it, and well, its cockpit aint quite high enough so you will always have to expose the vents before cresting a hill or poking out the side of something. The focuseable side torsos aint a problem exclusive to the nightstar, but most other mechs that share this issue (such as the mad2c or stalker) can at least sorta shield the other side by angling around 45 degrees, whereas this one plain cant unless you face exactly perpendicular to the enemy and with its agility/turn angle, good luck doing that.

Its not that the mech is that bad in any one thing, but the combination of lousy hitboxes, terrible mobility, other mechs being able to carry the same loadouts but better, and the fact that IS regular gauss vomit (not counting HGR vomit which is a thing on a good amount of mechs) isnt really a thing outside of the exception of the warhammer with 2GRs and 4ERMLs (i think its the ONLY mech that can do it and do it well that im aware of, feel free to correct me there if im wrong). Even if it lost the stupid arm actuators that limit one variant from doing true gauss vomit, itd still be subpar vs clan and even then id rather jump in a gausshammer which is faster, more agile, and has almost perfect hardpoint locations to boot (and worth mentioning is that the MCII-deathstrike renders the nighstar 100% obsolete even if PGI links heavy and large lasers since you can do 2GR+6ERML which is better then whatever the nightstar can potentially bring).

Kinda sad though that a good number of the recent new mechs are lousy, the nightstar, osiris, thanatos (prolly one of the biggest examples of terrible hitboxes, massive torsos, massive CT, and so-so hardpoint choices inadequate for meta). They could have been decent had PGI not followed their new anti-quirk philosophy (i dont like mega offensive quirks, but a good amount of structure/armor would go a long way for the nightstar and thanatos), but unless PGI decides to seriously up their survival, or alternatively goes crazy with offensive quirks to make them glass cannons (and not just plain ol glass like they are now), then theyd actually be a thing and not get pushed aside by the already established meta heavy/assault mechs like warhammers, marauders, battlemasters, maulers, ect.

[Hydrocarbon]

I think it would have been WAY better if the wide arms also drooped down a bit. Unfortunately PGI thought that would make it OP so they made them straight.

lol

[ForceUser]

It's a decent mech. Not T1 but it's not T4 or T5 either. I think some of them are worthy of being put in T2 although most will end up in T3. Extra Agility could push more of them into T2.

Builds I've settled on that I've found to be successful:
5 LPL on the 9J
2 AC20 and 2 SNPPC on the 9P
3 ERLL and 2 Gauss on the 9S
4 MRM30 on the WolfPhoenix

Havn't really played enough with the others to form a solid opinion.

[kuma8877]

Hydrocarbon, on 01 January 2018 - 09:55 AM, said:

I think it would have been WAY better if the wide arms also drooped down a bit. Unfortunately PGI thought that would make it OP so they made them straight.

lol

No, the players didn't like it (droopy arms), so PGI changed them to match the original artwork (straight across).

[Fleeb the Mad]

I've struggled to find success with mine. At least, success compared to other mechs that can do the same job.

It just doesn't have anything special against other mechs that can do two arm ballistics with backup lasers. It's generally inferior to the Mad Cat MK II. It's outgunned with fewer hardpoints, it's slower and less maneuverable with less room for heat sinks.

The most successful one I've found so far is the 10P with 4 AC-5 and a Heavy PPC. That being the only one that can do something the others can't. Having them all in the arms makes the traverse phenomenal. It's the only one I've found that can toe off against a dual gauss MC Mk. II and come out on top.

Edited by Fleeb the Mad, 01 January 2018 - 10:47 AM.

[Jay Leon Hart]

kuma8877, on 01 January 2018 - 10:39 AM, said:

No, the players didn't like it (droopy arms), so PGI changed them to match the original artwork (straight across).

If they had just mounted the arms higher, like on the minis, the arms could have bent a little while still having the weapons in line with the cockpit. Everybody wins.

[Helsbane]

For the players that didn't like the more natural looking relaxed arms, make all their Kintaros look just like the TRO model, because lore. Why do the f***ing neckbeards ruin everything?!?

[Jay Leon Hart]

Helsbane, on 01 January 2018 - 11:18 AM, said:

For the players that didn't like the more natural looking relaxed arms, make all their Kintaros look just like the TRO model, because lore. Why do the f***ing neckbeards ruin everything?!?

It was sold with cockpit level weapons, then the model was shown to have groin level arm weapons, because they bent the previously advertised straight arms. Blame the concept artist(s) and/or 3D modeler(s), not the paying customers who voted with their wallets.

[MechLord71]

panzer1b, on 01 January 2018 - 09:04 AM, said:

With the exception of the triple AC10 build (which can be done on other mechs too so its not exactly unique and 30 PPFLD isnt exactly new either), there just isnt much that mech has going for it since its too slow and has atrocious hitboxes.

Exactly which inner sphere mechs can do the 3xAC-10 loadout besides the Nightstar?

Thanks!

[Snazzy Dragon]

Gimped from the start as an IS mech
Other factors play a part, like the awkward engine cap and locked hand actuators, but not quite as large a part as the tech imbalance

[iliketurtles87]

MechLord71, on 01 January 2018 - 12:00 PM, said:

Exactly which inner sphere mechs can do the 3xAC-10 loadout besides the Nightstar?

Thanks!

Catapract & Anihilator, maybe even the Victor (im not 100 % sure). The Anni can even do 4x AC10. But anyway 3 x AC10 is pretty weak plus terrible convergence due to the wide arm mounts. Better off with dbl. Gauss and HPPC.

Edited by iliketurtles87, 01 January 2018 - 12:40 PM.

[Jay Leon Hart]

MechLord71, on 01 January 2018 - 12:00 PM, said:

Exactly which inner sphere mechs can do the 3xAC-10 loadout besides the Nightstar?

From easiest to most awkward;
Annihilators - ANH-1A, ANH-1P, ANH-1X, ANH-2A
Victor - VTR-9A1
Cataphract - Ilya Muromets
Roughnecks - RGH-1A, RGH-1C, RGH-2A