46 replies to this topic

[Khobai]

im not convinced burst fire by itself would be enough to justify the Light AC5 being a full 3 tons lighter

if it was burst fire, more heat, and less range that might be enough

because the standard AC5 is already a decent weapon for 8 tons. Making it 5 tons without massive drawbacks would be way overpowered.

I dont think the Light AC2 would be overpowered though. Because the AC2 is just bad at 6 tons. Light AC2s should just be a direct upgrade to standard AC2s. Because the game just needs a lighter AC2.

Edited by Khobai, 11 September 2018 - 08:41 AM.

[FupDup]

The standard AC/5 should get a velocity bump (try 1500) and the LAC/5 should not receive this bump because of its shorter intended range. Maybe bump it down to like 1200 or so (no lower than 1100).

[VonBruinwald]

FupDup, on 11 September 2018 - 09:29 AM, said:

The standard AC/5 should get a velocity bump (try 1500) and the LAC/5 should not receive this bump because of its shorter intended range. Maybe bump it down to like 1200 or so (no lower than 1100).

This: The LACs should have a lower velocity to reflect their reduced range.

Keep the same DPS/HPS as their larger cousin, lights struggle enough with heat as it is, especially when using multi-ton weapons. Maybe have them burst fire if they're overperforming.

[FupDup]

VonBruinwald, on 11 September 2018 - 09:55 AM, said:

This: The LACs should have a lower velocity to reflect their reduced range.

Keep the same DPS/HPS as their larger cousin, lights struggle enough with heat as it is, especially when using multi-ton weapons. Maybe have them burst fire if they're overperforming.

Actually, the thing about heat is that a light mech using ACs as their primary weapons (rather than lasers or missiles) would have a large amount of unused heat to spare (those 10 engine Dubs going to waste). Giving LACs more heat output than normal ACs won't have much effect on something like a Panther or Raven with two of them and maybe 2 backup Medium Lasers or something.

The heat would however affect something like a Mauler or Annihilator boating 6 of them. Low heat is a key reason why big mechs usually turn to ballistics in the first place.

[VonBruinwald]

You make a point.

Though 2 LAC2's at 8tons +ammo, +Endo +Ferro Might not leave enough space for the necessary external dubs on some lights so they might be forced to use SHS.

In either case, they're not going to have a plethora of backup lasers to push the heat up.

I'd rather see GH on +4 LAC's.

Edited by VonBruinwald, 11 September 2018 - 10:10 AM.

[Spheroid]

Here is my proposal for LAC-5. I think if you make it hot enough there would still be reason to take an AC-10 beyond hardpoint limitations. I split the fire rate between that of the AC-5 and AC-10. For balancing I think a three round burst should be added as well so that the AC-10 is still the better pinpoint option. If you want to further balance it perhaps an additional velocity nerf of 950-1000 m/s? It should be faster than the RAC-5.

Honesty all the build options would lead to near parity vs the AC-10.

• If you invest in a DHS to offset the heat you end up with the same number of slots as the AC-10 with one extra ton in exchange for worse ammo endurance and velocity

• If you invest in a TC2 you equalize velocity and tonnage in exchange for one extra slot, worse heat and worse ammo

• If you invest in BAP/AMS and ammo you equalize slots and tonnage in exchange for heat and velocity.

These are all fair compromises. I don't care if dual LAC-5 somewhat supplants AC-10, there are enough builds where a single hardpoint or quirks will still make it the superior weapon. It will not become an extinct or rare weapon by any means.



AC-10

12 tons
7 slots
range = 450
velocity = 1100
cooldown 2.25
dps = 4.44
dps/t = .37
heat = 2.75
hps = 1.22
hps/t = .101
health = 15
ammo per ton = 23

vs.

2x LAC-5

10 tons
4 slots
range = 450
velocity = 1100
cooldown = 2
dps = 5
dps/t =.5
heat = 2(4)
hps = 2
hps/t = .2
ammo per ton 35(17.5)
health 7.5(15)

Edited by Spheroid, 11 September 2018 - 12:52 PM.

[Lanzman]

Khobai, on 10 September 2018 - 09:33 PM, said:

Thunder LRMs would be tricky to balance though. Youd have to prevent mines from being spammed all over the entire map. So they would have to have an extremely long cooldown and a relatively short despawn timer to prevent them from being constantly spammed.

All you'd need to do is have them behave like air/artillery strikes. The mines fall, they sit, and after 10-15 seconds they go boom whether or not anyone walked thru them.

Edited by Lanzman, 20 September 2018 - 05:40 PM.