14 replies to this topic

[SomeWeirdAssGuy]

What is up Mechanerds. I'm looking to build a mech with LBX and machineguns, preferably medium or heavy and if possible capable of slotting an ECM. What mech(s) would you guys suggest?

[Koniving]

Anything that can pack enough of both to be worth something.

Beyond that, I'm sure you'll hear all about how you shouldn't. Just make sure to unlock both of the LBX nodes for it to be at its best.

[Maddermax]

A friend of mine had good luck with one of the Vapour Eagles with an LBX20 and several MGs and er-mediums. I don’t remeber which variant sorry, whichever has lots of ballistic slots.

Essentially it works as a mobile crit machine which can pop tart if needed. It was pretty effective for him.

for Inner Sphere, a jagermech could do double LBX10, with 4mgs, can’t speak to effectiveness though.

Edited by Maddermax, 24 February 2019 - 05:35 PM.

[Xeno Phalcon]

Pretty difficult to mix the two sense they share slots, theres a few mediums (ENF-4P, CDA-3C, BSW-X1, few of the vulcans) and heavies with 4 ballistics, the vapor eagle 2 has 5 but that ones not out for cbills yet.

[SomeWeirdAssGuy]

Maddermax, on 24 February 2019 - 05:26 PM, said:

A friend of mine had good luck with one of the Vapour Eagles with an LBX20 and several MGs and er-mediums. I don’t remeber which variant sorry, whichever has lots of ballistic slots.

Essentially it works as a mobile crit machine which can pop tart if needed. It was pretty effective for him.

for Inner Sphere, a jagermech could do double LBX10, with 4mgs, can’t speak to effectiveness though.

That's basically my idea, pop as much of the armor as possible with LBX and try to crit the components to make them useless, is there a better way to do this? I thought the mix of range was a good idea.

[Tesunie]

SomeWeirdAssGuy, on 24 February 2019 - 04:40 PM, said:

What is up Mechanerds. I'm looking to build a mech with LBX and machineguns, preferably medium or heavy and if possible capable of slotting an ECM. What mech(s) would you guys suggest?

For C-bills that I can think of off the top of my head right away... Shadowcat comes right to mind. Has JJ, ECM, can get enough ballistic slots to do both LBx and MGs. I can't think of a specific build at the moment, but I'm certain it could be done.

The Black Lanner should also be able to do it, and it's fast enough to really take it and run with it. Can have ECM, and I know that 4 ballistic slots (two in each arm) should be doable. I can't exactly recall if it has the potential for additional ballistic slots... Weight may be more of an issue, as well as it is unable to take an LBx20 if I recall (I believe I tried that). But a single LBx10 and 3 MGs (with possible laser support) may work out... And it's got MASK so it can go rather fast. Typically best as a hit and fade, but might still be worth looking into.

If you've for a Vapor Eagle as an option, I know one of them is filled with ballistic slots, and it can fit in 5 AC2s if I recall my own build on that right at the moment. Should be plenty of slots for what you are seeking.

For IS, I think maybe a Bushwacker? I know the Arrow may be of interest, but might be too light to pull it off effectively. Most likely, an IS mech capable of doing such a think will have to be a heavy mech from what I can figure. So Jaggermech comes to mind, maybe some of the Riflemen (probably not), the Cataphract hero could (but probably has better options)...


Though the build would be crit city on internals, for the weight class you seem to be looking for it may not be the most effective concept. However, I wont knock someone for trying something different out to see if it can work. It's a game, and games are here to have fun. It also doesn't hurt you in any way (besides time) to experiment with new things in this game. So, I do recommend giving it a try.

[Mister Maf]

KGC-000 can do it. Here: KGC-000

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Here is a UAC10 version also. Runs a bit hotter but IMO it's better.

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Edited by Mister Maf, 24 February 2019 - 09:26 PM.

[Tesunie]

Bushwacker X1: https://mwo.smurfy-n...0a89beee98fd9d3
LBx10, 3 MGs and an MRM 20. Could do the job of peeling armor and then getting the crits. Is a little on the slow side, but you can always up the engine if you feel like risking an XL.

Shadowcat: https://mwo.smurfy-n...838e28ac1c01875
LBx10, 6 MGs. You can sacrifice 3 MGs for ECM, and maybe exchange the blank side torso for an energy weapon if desired...

Cicada 3C: https://mwo.smurfy-n...364418d13bebe3a
A surprising take on a 40 ton medium mech. A single LBx10, 3 MGs and a ML. It's not going to be the fastest Cicada around, but it probably will catch people by surprise. Presses the chassis a little bit... maybe too much... (Then again, my own Cicada has ECM, Stealth Armor, a LT Gauss and two MLs running around 90ish KPH...)

Vulcan (several variants): https://mwo.smurfy-n...30609d859982cd1
This could fit the requirements, with an LBx10, two MGs and two MLs. Very much like the Cicada posted above...

Vindicator 1X could, much like the Vulcan and Cicada. Probably a better option, as it's got health quirks and typically doesn't go as fast, so it's not losing out on it's typical identity.

Uziel 3P maybe? 3 Ballistics... and you may have a Champion version for free, depending on if you did that event...

Of course, Hunchbacks and their IIC counterparts...


So, there are some medium mechs that can do as asked... Depending upon what you want to try. If you want to go pure, Shadowcat is probably the best fit, followed by the Vindicator, Hunchback (and IIC), and surprisingly the Uziel.

[Koniving]

SomeWeirdAssGuy, on 24 February 2019 - 09:01 PM, said:

That's basically my idea, pop as much of the armor as possible with LBX and try to crit the components to make them useless, is there a better way to do this? I thought the mix of range was a good idea.

There's plenty of ways to do it.
Far as effectiveness to twin LB-10X + 4 MGs, I can speak and demonstrate effectiveness (third video, single LB-10X and 2 MGs shown in first two.)

(From chase cam view aka another youtuber following me around.)



These all sport LBX and MGs, well except the Ikbossy it sports LBX and UAC/5 I believe.



Another method, Laser + SRM (in my case Streaks) + MGs.


PPCs + MGs


PPCs + ML


You could do it a whole host of different ways.
It doesn't just have to be LBX and MGs.

There's Gauss and MGs.

And this is an oldie of annoyance:

Drop the flamers, granted the old flamers were worthless aside from blinding people and causing lag, now they're completely worthless for the purpose of disorienting enemies and would cause you more trouble than good. (If used for another purpose flamers are great). Action at 3 minutes in.

Anyway. Long story short, find something with 4 to 6 hardpoints for Ballistics+MG combo. MGs can be substituted well with SPL fired either together or for more thermal endurance, chain fired. Just depends on how hot it is. LBX can be substituted with any ballistic, as well as PPCs, large pulse lasers or large lasers. A large number of medium lasers or MPL can also work.

Edited by Koniving, 24 February 2019 - 10:04 PM.

[Koniving]

Oh just thought of a good mech to try it with. Black Lanner. Seen builds sporting an LBX and 5 MGs. Also feasible to do an ER PPC and 6 MGs... Missiles + MGs. Speed is the big advantage to the Black Lanner, and the Prime head has ECM.

I don't normally associate speed with effective LBX/MG use, though, since its important to keep on target with it.
There was this joke build I did once...

Jump to 5 minutes to get close to the action and eventually see an Atlas and a Cataphract become intimidated..
Also suddenly Raven at 8:48...

Edited by Koniving, 24 February 2019 - 10:12 PM.

[SomeWeirdAssGuy]

Tesunie, on 24 February 2019 - 09:42 PM, said:

Shadowcat: https://mwo.smurfy-n...838e28ac1c01875
LBx10, 6 MGs. You can sacrifice 3 MGs for ECM, and maybe exchange the blank side torso for an energy weapon if desired...

I actually own a Shadowcat with a UAC10+Heavy LRG Laser+ECM, I tried to kit it with a LBX10+3 MGs, it's not worth it because of how little ammo you can get. I also tried to kit a Black Lanner with a LBX10+ 2MGs, same ammo problem, unless you strip the armor to an absurdly low amount.

[Dee Eight]

In order to really do this and have fun you need a mech with agility and arm mounted ballistics as much as possible with lower actuators so as to have maximum possible arc of fire with the autocannon, which rules out most every assault and most heavies. You also want at least 3 ballistic hardpoints, some degree of structure/armor quirks since you'll be brawling to use the MGs, and weapon quirks that favour LBX's or MGs in some way. The Roughneck 1B, Griffin 5M, Vindicator 1X, Bushwacker X1, Blackjack Arrow, Dragon 5N, Cataphract 4X, Vulcan 6M and the Enforcer 5P would be your best inner sphere options but none have ECM.

For the clans, the best that meet the above criteria Linebacker C, Huntsman B & Nova S with a D left arm lack ECM, Black Lanner Hero with the A head offers the ECM but lacks lower actuators. There's a sun spider with ECM & 4 ballistics but also lacks lower actuators. A Night Gyr H with the B left torso and C left arm would give you ECM and a total of five ballistic mounts but no lower actuators and the agility is atrocious.

[Horseman]

SomeWeirdAssGuy, on 24 February 2019 - 09:01 PM, said:

That's basically my idea, pop as much of the armor as possible with LBX and try to crit the components to make them useless, is there a better way to do this? I thought the mix of range was a good idea.

The LBX already is a critseeking weapon, and the MGs don't really mesh well with it - not only that, but your build would be ignoring heat entirely (HEAT IS A RESOURCE. USE IT.). Look either at Medium Lasers or, if you're adamant about short range, Small Pulse Lasers to go with that LBX.

Ghillie can kind of work for this - ECM, Jump Jets, one ballistic and four energy hardpoints.

Edited by Horseman, 25 February 2019 - 02:13 AM.

[Roughneck45]

Jager DD is prob what you want. I just made one last night with a pair of RAC5's, four light machine guns, and 2 er ml's. Pretty fun. Could swap the racs for LBX's.

Edited by Roughneck45, 25 February 2019 - 05:43 AM.

[TheCaptainJZ]

The Cataphract could mount the weapons you want, and it can be tanky. One of the version has ECM (I think it's the 0X or 1X?).
Bad part is the low slung arms. But the hardpoints could work.