16 replies to this topic

[Jonathan8883]

Any thoughts on good builds for the event mechs? The summoner is jumpy and maneuverable, and I want to like it - but it has too few hardpoints to mount light weapons, and too little pod space to mount heavy weapons.

[Spheroid]

The 3L is garbage. Easily one of the worst Cataphracts. Even a bad Summoner can be repodded so to me the choice is obvious.

[epikt]

Spheroid, on 30 December 2017 - 12:53 PM, said:

The 3L is garbage. Easily one of the worst Cataphracts.

Not to mention cataphracts are, overall, bad mechs.

Summoner is an obvious choice, even if it's to sell it right away.

[Yumoshiri]

I'll give some contra-sound to the catafract haters up here.

The CTF-3L the only IS heavy to have MASC, making it UNIQUE: no other heavy IS mech has this opportunity. This alone is a reason to get this mech.
As a consequence, you have to learn and understand how to make use of MASC to make this mech work.
+95% acceleration allows you to be highly mobile, not even considering the speed bonus. Yes, a mobile 70-tonner with extra armor quirks. Honestly, if a pilot can't make this work, the only thing to blame is himself.

As for the summoner, it doesn't compete with ebons, hellbringers, maddogs, timbers in their respective power builds. The summoner though, is a tat more sturdy, and excels with its jumpjets. Consider it a more mobile night gyr, with worse hard points - I've yet to see a build for the summoner that is more effective than double ERPPC build you usually see.

[Audacious Aubergine]

Yumoshiri, on 30 December 2017 - 02:37 PM, said:

I'll give some contra-sound to the catafract haters up here.

The CTF-3L the only IS heavy to have MASC, making it UNIQUE: no other heavy IS mech has this opportunity. This alone is a reason to get this mech.
As a consequence, you have to learn and understand how to make use of MASC to make this mech work.
+95% acceleration allows you to be highly mobile, not even considering the speed bonus. Yes, a mobile 70-tonner with extra armor quirks. Honestly, if a pilot can't make this work, the only thing to blame is himself.

Not to mention a mobile 70-tonner with armour quirks and space for an AC20

EDIT: Amusingly though, I think the Summoner is almost as agile as the Cataphract with MASC running, but I could be very mistaken?

Edited by Audacious Aubergine, 30 December 2017 - 04:00 PM.

[jss78]

I like the CTF-3L OK.

I put an LFE-280 in it, 2xLPL in those high torso mounts, and a UAC/10 in the ballistic mount. A couple ML in an arm. It tanks pretty well.

I'm biased because it's a Liao 'mech, and playing it makes my heart swell with patriotic feelings.

[TercieI]

Summoner. This isn't even a serious conversation.

[Jonathan8883]

jss78, on 30 December 2017 - 03:30 PM, said:

I like the CTF-3L OK.

I put an LFE-280 in it, 2xLPL in those high torso mounts, and a UAC/10 in the ballistic mount. A couple ML in an arm. It tanks pretty well.

I'm biased because it's a Liao 'mech, and playing it makes my heart swell with patriotic feelings.

I just tried to build that, and I don't see how you're making it work. I can't fit the MLs in.
CTF-3L

[jss78]

Jonathan8883, on 30 December 2017 - 04:19 PM, said:

I just tried to build that, and I don't see how you're making it work. I can't fit the MLs in.
CTF-3L

I don't have the client running, but compared to yours, I think probably strip some armour from legs and the empty arm. I think I also have only 2 tons of UAC ammo but one more DHS.

[Jonathan8883]

How's this for a Summoner-M? 6 Mpulse, 1x ASRM6.
SMN-M

42 damage of wubs.

A bit shortranged, but if that's an issue, I could cut back to 17 DHS, cut 2 Mpulse, and swap the missile launcher for an ATM-12 with 3 tons of ammo. 36 damage within my range, and the Summoner has the maneuverability to use it well right up until enemies are at brawling range.
ATMs require staring to lock though, which is why my initial build is pulse lasers & srms.

[BTGbullseye]

That M build I would remover the SRM+ammo and put a pair of LPL with ERML or ERSL and use it as a mild vomit build. LPL + ERML is a good range compatibility as well, even if the ERML takes a bit longer to recharge.

[panzer1b]

Summoner by a long shot, the catafract was nice back in the day but has since been obsoleted by multiple mechs that can do anything it could, have better hardpoints, hitboxes, mobility, ect. The summoner is ultra niche, but there really is no other mech that can do GR+PPC or 2xPPC as well as that thing does it. Initially i didnt like anything but 2xPPC, but nowadays i run 1GR+1PPC. Its got plenty of ammo, and with the quirks the GR fires as quickly as the PPC since you can get ~20% cooldown on it which makes a huge difference to the performance and syncup. GR under the cockpit, PPC on teh left, good convergence, crazy agility, and generally one of the top poptart snipers which can even brawl a bit since its got entirely PPFLD. Just dont try to bring anything but poptart loadouts, as it will suck using them compared to just about any other clan heavy.

[Odanan]

Spheroid, on 30 December 2017 - 12:53 PM, said:

The 3L is garbage. Easily one of the worst Cataphracts. Even a bad Summoner can be repodded so to me the choice is obvious.

The 3L was a beast before the laser nerf. MASC + AC/20 + small pulse lasers = monster.

[Horseman]

Jonathan8883, on 30 December 2017 - 04:19 PM, said:

I just tried to build that, and I don't see how you're making it work. I can't fit the MLs in.
CTF-3L

Strip the left arm.

On my own 3L, I'm currently trying UAC10+4ML with biggest LFE I can strap into the chassis. Seems to be working, sort of.

[Zh0u]

Lol I got the Stalker event mech instead.

[Stf Sgt Marblez]

I'd go with the Summoner.

As far as the 3L, only build I've had even mediocre success with was LFE 310, Uac 10, 2x Snub with everything on the right, strip armor from the left arm and load with ammo and dubs.

Not amazing, and really kinda wonky, but it lives for freaking ever with the armor bonuses it gets.

[Spare Parts Bin]

My suggestion is the Orion ll-C Skoll. I love this Clan Mech!!!