8 replies to this topic

[VinceKun]

Yosh everyone !

I know that I'm not the first one to make this kind of topic, but I really want to find a mech that will be good for me to begin with. I'm not yet used to all the particularity in the game but for now I like it with the trial mechs even if I would like some more functionality and a better matchmaking

Right now, I play solo or with 1 to 3 friends in Quick Play. I've an old Commando 2D when I played a long time ago and the Free Uziel but I use the free mech to really find my playstyle.

I found that I loved the Long Range, especially with ER Lasers (And I liked less the PPC and Gauss) or being fast enough to go behind the enemy lines to capture or poke and try to destabilize the front line. Oh, and I REALLY HATE all kind of missiles, SRM, LRM... I hate using them.

To precise a little more what I like with the actual Trial Mech (In Alphabetical Order) :

Those that I loved :
Jenner
King Crab
Timber Wolf (really, really much)
Warhawk

Those that I liked :
Artic Cheetah
Dragon
Higlander
Mist Lynx
Panther
Shadow Cat
Stormcrow

Those that I hated:
Blackjack
Catapult
Griffin
Orion
Zeus

For the Free Uziel, I find it pretty correct.

So, here is the TLDR question :
Do you have a good first Long Range mech or Fast and Destabilizing mech for a relatively new player (that as a correct knowledge in fighting and team play in general) with >17 000 000 CBill in his wallet ?

EDIT : To be honest, the Solaris 7 Hero Pack is tempting to buy.

Edited by VinceKun, 26 April 2018 - 02:53 PM.

[Keltan]

Hellbringer Prime, ECM, 4 ERLL. Kind of hot, but nice long range with high shoulder mounts.

[Eisenhorne]

This is not a comprehensive list. Some of my builds may not be optimal since I just threw these together in the mech lab because I was bored, but they're close.

Clan Long Range Mechs -

HBK-IIC-A (4 ERLL): https://mwo.smurfy-n...3de5dffbd5dbce6 Very long range, great punch for it's weight. A bit of a glass cannon, but still deadly.

HBR (4 ERLL): https://mwo.smurfy-n...ff9e597d8a2ad88 Same build as the hunchback, but 15 tons heavier. For those tons it gets more armor and ECM, but loses jump jets. I generally think the hunchie is better in this role.

HBK-IIC-A (2 ERPPC): https://mwo.smurfy-n...2c856078618e445 Another long range hunchie... this time with ER-PPC's! It's a very versatile mech. You can drop the ER Smalls and a heatsink or two for a TCOMP if you want to get better velocity.

SMN (2 ERPPC): https://mwo.smurfy-n...46d98e120ec4fea A staple clan mech... ER-PPC summoner. Very good poptart mech. The HBK-IIC can do the same thing though at 20 tons lighter.

NTG (2 ERLL + 2 Gauss): https://mwo.smurfy-n...3781e05847e2215 Night Gyr is a tough mech to play, but it's got some powerful long range ability. 2 ER large + 2 Gauss is deadly if you can get used to this mech's slow speeds. It handles like an assault mech, but doesn't have the armor of one.

WHK-PRIME (4 ERPPC): https://mwo.smurfy-n...1eff8b5c4d37083 4 PPC Warhawk. Really fun mech to play, can do a LOT of damage from very long range. Nearly the stock configuration too, so not much extra to buy on it.

Inner Sphere Long Range Mechs -

BSW-X1 (3x AC5) https://mwo.smurfy-n...c2fe65a528dc2e2 Maybe not "super" long range, but it's one of my favorites to play. Unexpectedly good DPS from ~600-700 meters out.

BSW-X1 (2x Light Gauss) https://mwo.smurfy-n...08113f73c7a28aa Twist on the above build... I've been playing with it, and it is doing better than I thought it would. Maybe one of the few light gauss builds out there I've tried that I actually liked.

TDR-5SS (5x ERLL) https://mwo.smurfy-n...d1d668a7971d4ce Runs hot, and is dangerous with the XL engine, but packs a hell of a long range punch. I use one in my long range faction play deck, it serves me quite well. Maybe tone it down to 4 ERLL and put a light engine in it if you want a cooler, more survivable mech.

WHM-6R (4x ERML, 2x Gauss) https://mwo.smurfy-n...f030e8d2397f99a The "Gausshammer" build... one of the best mechs in the inner sphere. Great damage, good agility, decent speed. My most played mech in faction play.

BLR-1G (5 ERLL) https://mwo.smurfy-n...4e141271363a3bc The best long range sniper mech in the inner sphere. Very high mounts, very long range, decent hitboxes. Builds vary for it, but I like using the LFE350 and a bigger targetting computer to get the most range possible.

ANH-2A (6 AC2) https://mwo.smurfy-n...14c6ca3cf7e0d6c If you're good at landing shots on target at range, this thing is a monster. Started using it more after solaris, but in terms of just laying fire down range, this thing is unbeatable.

Edited by Eisenhorne, 27 April 2018 - 10:14 AM.

[Uakari]

You are new to the game and have a light and a medium. So why not take a heavy for the next mech?

I highly recommend an ECM Hellbringer and an ebon jaguar, very good mechs, omnipods so you can always change builds.

I love my ebon jaguar with 4 ER Large Lasers, very good/high mounts, omnipods if you want to try something else like UACs for a change. A bit of a glass cannon but thats ok, you wont be in the frontline with that build anyway.

Hellbringer feels a bit more tanky to me, perhaps just because it does get focussed less because of ECM.

Edited by Uakari, 27 April 2018 - 11:07 AM.

[VinceKun]

Even if I hate the Commando, you have the point that I need a Heavy Mech. I still have some problems with the Assaults Mech, a little but too slow.

I really like the concept of Omnipods, but is it really worth the cost ?

Right now, the Hellbringer, Ebon Jaguar and the Warhammer are what I could choose.

Maybe the Hunchback a little later, I like this one too.

I don't think I could pilote an Annihilator, I really have a problem with his appearance

Edited by VinceKun, 27 April 2018 - 02:22 PM.

[Keltan]

VinceKun, on 27 April 2018 - 02:20 PM, said:

Even if I hate the Commando, you have the point that I need a Heavy Mech. I still have some problems with the Assaults Mech, a little but too slow.

I really like the concept of Omnipods, but is it really worth the cost ?

Right now, the Hellbringer, Ebon Jaguar and the Warhammer are what I could choose.

Maybe the Hunchback a little later, I like this one too.

I don't think I could pilote an Annihilator, I really have a problem with his appearance

Its hard for me to answer this question because most of my mechs are loyalty mechs, packs or mastery bundles, or bought during C-bill sales. I've hardly ever bought a mech with C-bills for full price.

Downside is you have to wait for a C-bill sale and they just had one. It's unknown when the next one would be (Memorial day? June or July for um, summer event thing?)

Solaris mechs are sort of average, but grinding out mastery on them would give you something to do while you wait for a C-bill sale.

OTOH, if a 35% sale saves you like 5M C-bills, and you make 200k per match, you'll make it back after 25 matchs. Getting the 91 skill points costs 4.2M C-bills for another 21 matchs. At 5 matches per day (about an hour), you'd have the skill point and extra C-bill cost paid off in 9-10 days. Maybe two weeks for days you run into a losing streak or can't play.

The Clan mechs are more expensive up front, but buying an IS mech, adding a light engine, double heat sinks, maybe ferrous or endo can make the end cost pretty close.

[Chryckan]

Before picking a first mech, you might want to decide if you want to go Inner Sphere or Clan, as most player start out with mechs from one side so as to faster get drop decks for Faction Play and the like.

[VinceKun]

Well, because I really like the Omnipod to make a Mech really fit what I want to, I think I'll go Clan even if it's more expensive.

I didn't know that sales are a thing in this game. Thanks !

To avoid the loss of XP, I bought the Hellbringer with 4 ERLL. I saw some other builds I could make on it. For now, it really fit my playstyle and I make some great games with it.

Really, thank you all for this help

[SilentScreamer]

VinceKun, on 29 April 2018 - 03:38 AM, said:

Well, because I really like the Omnipod to make a Mech really fit what I want to, I think I'll go Clan even if it's more expensive.

You are correct that extra omnipods can to the Clan price, but IS mechs usually need Endo, DoubleSinks and a different engine. The cost gap between IS and Clan narrows. Add the flexibility to swap out pods on a pre-skilled up mech....Clan tech can save you entire mech purchases.