13 replies to this topic

[RickySpanish]

Looking at maybe pulling the trigger on buying the Sunspider + Reinforcements, there are some interesting builds possible for it and after playing my Vanguard with a pair of LB10-Xs and SRM 4s, it has a decent mix of speed and survivability. I've not seen many of them out on the battlefield though, so I'm wondering why that might be? Did they used to have goofy hit-boxes? Here's what I came up with - an LB20-X and 3xSRM6A:

VANGUARD

I'm not sure about the mix of heat sinks and ammo, I think that it could probably stand to lose at least one heat sink for more ammo. What do y'all think? I'm not aware of too many ECM capable brawlers in the 80-90kph range with what appears to be a rather slim profile.

[Nightbird]

cbills release 9/4, 1 month away, it's a fragile mech, not recommended up close.

Edited by Nightbird, 31 July 2018 - 02:22 PM.

[El Bandito]

If you wanna brawl at 250 meters, Orion-IIC is much better at the job.

[Jackal Noble]

The SNS is much better than it was but definitely not a brawler, sustained that is. It is every bit an ambusher and best used to catch your prey unaware and pounce on them.
The D imo lends value to the chassis as a whole as it gives it that little bit of extra survivability afforded by ECM.

Use that awesome and amazing so8 quirk 20% MG ROF(lol PGI) it comes with and put 4 Heavy Machine guns with 26 tons of ammo and call it a day.

Edited by Jackal Noble, 31 July 2018 - 10:44 PM.

[RickySpanish]

Jackal Noble, on 31 July 2018 - 10:42 PM, said:

The SNS is much better than it was but definitely not a brawler, sustained that is. It is every bit an ambusher and best used to catch your prey unaware and pounce on them.
The D imo lends value to the chassis as a whole as it gives it that little bit of extra survivability afforded by ECM.

Use that awesome and amazing so8 quirk 20% MG ROF(lol PGI) it comes with and put 4 Heavy Machine guns with 26 tons of ammo and call it a day.

For builds like that there ought to be a way to opt out of built in CASE so that you can turn your 'Mech into a Claymore when the first component pops

I'll play a few more rounds in the Vanguard to see if really do like it, but so far I've not had problems with survival compared to other heavies. Maybe that's just because a Sunspider just isn't the most threatening thing on the battlefield at most times.

[Jackal Noble]

RickySpanish, on 01 August 2018 - 03:56 AM, said:

For builds like that there ought to be a way to opt out of built in CASE so that you can turn your 'Mech into a Claymore when the first component pops

I'll play a few more rounds in the Vanguard to see if really do like it, but so far I've not had problems with survival compared to other heavies. Maybe that's just because a Sunspider just isn't the most threatening thing on the battlefield at most times.

Ok but for real Ricky, 2 lbx20s and 5 tons of ammo with ECM. It’s just on the realm of feast/famine but when it hits right, it’s a wrecking ball.

[RickySpanish]

Jackal Noble, on 01 August 2018 - 04:55 AM, said:

Ok but for real Ricky, 2 lbx20s and 5 tons of ammo with ECM. It’s just on the realm of feast/famine but when it hits right, it’s a wrecking ball.

Yeah exactly, I'm surprised that I have never seen this, like I said the SNS is kind of s rare 'Mech to see, especially outside of the free Vanguard. I get that the fixed XL with 4 frigging heat sinks is the kind of stupid that stunts sales, but it does favours for brawlers that need speed and absolutely cannot overheat. To me the killer is the $35 entry requirement unless you wait until next month, I don't see any other major downsides to this 'Mech, it certainly can pack a punch.

[Eisenhorne]

I've used the SNS-D with UAC10 + 2 UAC5's w/ ECM, it's pretty good. It's a bit light on ammo unfortunately, but while it lasts it packs a great punch. Wouldn't want to use it as a brawler though, its pretty frail.

Edited by Eisenhorne, 01 August 2018 - 06:53 AM.

[Verilligo]

The mech still has terrible hitboxes, it's just now they're heavily biased towards coring out your CT, rather than guaranteeing you take ST damage instead of CT damage. It may look like it has a slim profile, but it really doesn't and all components are super easy to pick apart from basically every angle. The only components that don't take much damage are the arms, mostly because the STs are so large that you're going to hit them instead, which is more valuable damage anyway.

The only way you're going to make it work great in a brawl is by deathballing with the rest of the team. If you can manage that, though, the mech does good work with a fairly powerful offense. I typically prefer to run mine a little further in the back of the deathball, so I usually "brawl" with ATM9x3 and a NARC, with 2 ERML for backup, but you could also try trading out for ECM and TAG if you're not worried about min range. To be honest, usually if I'm pushing and brawling with the SNS, the backup weapons often don't come into play because one side or the other is going to be demolished in short order. I only play PUG queue, though, so success rate is wildly dependent on the team.

For regular SNS work, you're really going to be looking more at peeking and abusing the mech's higher-oriented mounts. As it turns out, the free Vanguard with 2 UAC10, 1 cERPPC does that probably the best. The Manul hero does gauss vomit... theoretically. The ST's being so exposed kind of ruins it, but it is A Thing that you Can Do. Beyond that, you've got massed dakka of some sort, whether with UAC2s or some mixture of 2s, 5s, and 10s. Lastly, and leastly, you can Streak boat with it. Emphasis on "leastly."

[Jackal Noble]

RickySpanish, on 01 August 2018 - 06:50 AM, said:

Yeah exactly, I'm surprised that I have never seen this, like I said the SNS is kind of s rare 'Mech to see, especially outside of the free Vanguard.

I drop in my D very regularly

[Hiten Bongz]

Love my SNS (have them all) but it's definitely frail. Considering the shape of the upper body of the mech (basically a rectangle, very easy to hit anything/everything), I am quite surprised it does not come with some armor quirks. Hopefully one day.

I agree with the poster above who said it plays best as an ambusher. I use the D torso in nearly all the builds I've made (except quad CAC2) which allows it to ambush/survive a hair better. Use the high mounts to your advantage no matter what - missiles, lazorz, TAGging, etc. - if you can see it you can hit it. Drawbacks of the D torso means no weapons in that torso. Also, if you want AMS it means no weapons in the other torso either, or no ECM. Double AMS is easily possible if you are running an energy build with no ECM, or single with ECM.

I must mention that the SNS is one of the coolest looking mechs (IMO) and I really love the cockpit.

Now here's a few things I don't like about the SNS:

- Forced to choose between ECM or a weapon hardpoint(s).
- Overall lack of hardpoints (can force you into using larger weapons). Using ECM torso compounds this problem.
- Big, wide upper body hitboxes. With no defensive quirks. Not recommended for brawling/tanking.
- Only set-of-eight quirks, none attached to the omnipods themselves IIRC. Sadly, even the SOE quirks are lacking.
- Clan dakka, while tempting due to possible hardpoint combos, kinda sucks and Ultras jam a lot with no quirks.

Edited by Hiten Bongz, 01 August 2018 - 03:30 PM.

[Bowelhacker]

I was ever so slightly surprised that I kind of liked the actual look of the Sunspider.

[S O L A I S]

I bought the whole deal and of coarse got the freebie as well.

I use only two of em. The Manul is really solid choice for when you are bored of erlarge Hellbringers, with great mounts that are on tiny arms it's great for being able to shoot and not be limited by torso pitch. The other I run uses ballistic arm from reinforcement pack and 5 uac2's.

While both may not be considered meta, they are very strong and have different attributes than the current common meta for those kinds of builds.

[Black Ivan]

The Sunspider is too fragile for brawling with the hitboxes it has