59 replies to this topic

[FRAGTAST1C]

I was looking at the reward mechs that are on offer and that Highland IIC is very versatile, I feel. It's got decent mobility and a nice selection of hardpoints. I could go with something like C-UAC10 + C-LBX10 + Dual C-LRM 20 + 2 ERSML + XL 325, lots of ammo and heat sinks to sustain a fight. I could pump out damage before the fight actually starts and when it's time to brawl, the dakka comes out, not that I couldn't use them against easy targets early on either. The torso speed is quite decent as well. It might have bad hit-boxes, I don't know.

But out of all the listed mechs there and with what I own (Mauler and Hellbringer), the Highlander does offer quick burst damage as well as long-range firepower and lots of armour. I could swap out the LRMs and go with ATMs instead and do a bit of re-arranging of ammo and backup weapons to go with more heat sinks maybe.

Edited by FRAGTAST1C, 17 March 2019 - 03:39 AM.

[Grus]

No... god... no... scrap that kitchen sink build.

[FupDup]

The Orion IIC champ can let you do similar "kitchen sink" builds if that's the sort of thing you're into, while being able to move faster.

[Vorpal Puppy]

The Highlander IIC-C does the "kitchen sink" type builds very well - its actually a fun change once in a while. I run mine with 2xERPPC, 2xCLRM-20, and 1 LBX-20. The ERPPCs are nice and high in the torso right beside each other. You can hill hump quite nicely. And, of course, LRM anything you can get a lock on.
What I really like is the LBX-20 is in the arm. Builds like this are so uncommon (yes, I know..because they suck) that most light pilots do not expect that big shotgun in the arm. Really effective when they try to leg hump you.
Mine does 61 kph with some mobility skills which is usually just fast enough. Its not a dakka MCII, but it is a fun change of pace.

[Spheroid]

That is a garbage build. Try again.

[Battlemaster56]

I think I'll stick with my dual uac10 and 2 erppc build and go poptarting with it over that build.

[HammerMaster]

Oh here we go.
Get ready to be berated by the "use only one weapon crew"
Run what you want.
Just don't get confused by too many weapon groups.
My only issue is the Highlander is a bit sluggish.

Edited by HammerMaster, 16 March 2019 - 10:34 AM.

[Angel of Annihilation]

Grus, on 16 March 2019 - 09:54 AM, said:

No... god... no... scrap that kitchen sink build.

Have to agree on that one. I for one like mixed builds and absolutely do think they have their place but C-UAC10 + C-LBX10 + Dual C-LRM 20 + 2 ERSL + XL 325 is just an abomination.

Try something like this:

HGN-IIC-C

First, you have the 2 x LRM15 for long range indirect fire and can be still be used effectively when you get your own locks, more so when the new LRM changes take place.

Second, you have the DUAL UAC/10s for some serious mid and close range firepower.

Third, you have the trio of MPL for the short-mid range game and for when your UACs inevitably jam up at the wrong time.

I would use it something like this. As your moving toward the front, use your LRMs to pepper and suppress the enemy by using indirect locks. This is good early game damage. Then when the teams are fully engaged, move up to the 2nd line trying to stay at around 250-300m, close enough to share armor but far enough that you can still use LRMs. Your UACs and MPLs will also be exceptionally deadly at this range, in fact I probably would focus on using your UACs and MPLs at this point and only using LRMs when you don't have a direct shot, like when a friendly crosses into your firing line blocking your shots. This is to conserve heat. Also if the enemy gets closer than 180m, those Dual UACs and MPLs are going to be more than enough firepower to either deal with them or drive them back into LRM range.

Honestly this is how I feel ALL LRM boats should be built, basically LRMs supported by significant shorter range firepower to at least drive an enemy back into LRM range while operating close enough to the front line to be sharing armor and getting their own locks. You might not have the same weight in missiles but you will more than make up for that with the direct damage firepower, while being 10x more useful to you team overall.

Edited by Angel of Annihilation, 16 March 2019 - 10:37 AM.

[HammerMaster]

Angel of Annihilation, on 16 March 2019 - 10:36 AM, said:

Have to agree on that one. I for one like mixed builds and absolutely do think they have their place but C-UAC10 + C-LBX10 + Dual C-LRM 20 + 2 ERSL + XL 325 is just an abomination.

Try something like this:

HGN-IIC-C

First, you have the 2 x LRM15 for long range indirect fire and can be still be used effectively when you get your own locks, more so when the new LRM changes take place.

Second, you have the DUAL UAC/10s for some serious mid and close range firepower.

Third, you have the trio of MPL for the short-mid range game and for when your UACs inevitably jam up at the wrong time.

I would use it something like this. As your moving toward the front, use your LRMs to pepper and suppress the enemy by using indirect locks. This is good early game damage. Then when the teams are fully engaged, move up to the 2nd line trying to stay at around 250-300m, close enough to share armor but far enough that you can still use LRMs. Your UACs and MPLs will also be exceptionally deadly at this range, in fact I probably would focus on using your UACs and MPLs at this point and only using LRMs when you don't have a direct shot, like when a friendly crosses into your firing line blocking your shots. This is to conserve heat. Also if the enemy gets closer than 180m, those Dual UACs and MPLs are going to be more than enough firepower to either deal with them or drive them back into LRM range.

Honestly this is how I feel ALL LRM boats should be built, basically LRMs supported by significant shorter range firepower to at least drive an enemy back into LRM range while operating close enough to the front line to be sharing armor and getting their own locks. You might not have the same weight in missiles but you will more than make up for that with the direct damage firepower, while being 10x more useful to you team overall.

agreed.
2 smalls just don't back up enough to be relevant.
I'd run 2 mpls tag and pull 1.5 ton ammo for ams. But solid otherwise.

[Vorpal Puppy]

Angel, I ran almost that exact build before I switched to the one I listed above. The problem I ran into was that the Highlander IIC was not a very good brawl mech (at least for me). I did better once I started playing it more like a Warhawk.
I would love for the mech to get a +1 HSL quirk for PPCs - then you could ditch the LRMs, run 3 ERPPCs in that high shoulder mount plus a big shotgun or AC in the arm.

[FupDup]

Vorpal Puppy, on 16 March 2019 - 10:55 AM, said:

Angel, I ran almost that exact build before I switched to the one I listed above. The problem I ran into was that the Highlander IIC was not a very good brawl mech (at least for me). I did better once I started playing it more like a Warhawk.
I would love for the mech to get a +1 HSL quirk for PPCs - then you could ditch the LRMs, run 3 ERPPCs in that high shoulder mount plus a big shotgun or AC in the arm.

The HGN-IIC-A actually has that quirk already, but of course it doesn't have any ballistic hardpoints. The other variants will never get that kind of quirk because they don't carry any CERPPCs stock.

[TheLuc]

Me I run this, https://mech.nav-alp...4417d_HGN-IIC-C, Might not be to the meta taste of the month but got decent result with it. I think it covers pretty much all ranges.

[RickySpanish]

Nothing wrong with experimentation, I ran a ppc/atm/laser build on a VGL 1 for a little while, it did fine especially since ppc to the face cancels ecm to allow for atm lock on. In the end though, I did go with gauss and lasers. OP I would just make sure you have enough heat sinks, those weapons take up plenty of crit space and a kitchen sink build is pointless if it can't engage continuously.

[Angel of Annihilation]

Vorpal Puppy, on 16 March 2019 - 10:55 AM, said:

Angel, I ran almost that exact build before I switched to the one I listed above. The problem I ran into was that the Highlander IIC was not a very good brawl mech (at least for me). I did better once I started playing it more like a Warhawk.
I would love for the mech to get a +1 HSL quirk for PPCs - then you could ditch the LRMs, run 3 ERPPCs in that high shoulder mount plus a big shotgun or AC in the arm.

Ok change out the MPLs for ER ML, use the extra 3 tons you save for DHS or maybe a JJ for a tab better mobility. Now you have a mech that can pretty easily reach out to around 400-450 with its direct fire weapons. However you still have enough firepower to win a brawl if it is forced upon you or more importantly push back any enemy that attempts to push in under your effective LRM range. From a direct fire standpoint you would still be putting out nearly 60 damage in short order if you include the double tap from the dual UAC/10s

One key thing in an assault, any assault is you absolutely have to be close enough to the front lines to attract notice and draw fire or you really are holding your team back. If you not doing this, it gives the enemy less targets to shoot at which means they have a distinct advantage in their ability to concentrate firepower and overwhelm your team. Above and beyond the whole sharing armor thing, by giving them another target, your introducing lag to their decision making progress. They basically have to decide which target to concentrate on and engage it and this lag gets worse the more targets there are to shoot at. Hell it might even introduce analysis paralysis and cause a several second delay in an enemy actually picking a target and firing at it.

Anyway, my point is you don't have to brawl, heck I don't even think I would consider my original suggestion a brawl build because MPLs still have an effective range of around 350m for max damage and even at that range your really talking about 2nd line territory anyway.

Edited by Angel of Annihilation, 16 March 2019 - 11:31 AM.

[Prototelis]

Mid-long stakka of dakka effective at many ranges.

I personally wouldn't run a highlander, too squish. But if you gotta do it I'd go with 10 class dakka with srms and large lasers.

Low engine cap lets the thing fit a ton of bigly weapons.

[Angel of Annihilation]

Prototelis, on 16 March 2019 - 11:36 AM, said:

Mid-long stakka of dakka effective at many ranges.

I personally wouldn't run a highlander, too squish. But if you gotta do it I'd go with 10 class dakka with srms and large lasers.

Low engine cap lets the thing fit a ton of bigly weapons.

I run Dual UAC/10s, 3xER ML and 2xSRM6 w/artemis on my IIC-C. I wouldn't call it my best Assault mech but it holds it own just fine and I can pretty easily dump out 500+ damage in pretty consistently. As far as its durability, I don't know if I would say it is squishy, it is one of the few Clan mechs that has significant structure quirks after all. If you go full survivability you can get up to 128 CT Armor and 93 CT structure and with that and good torso twisting, it can be very durable.

[InfinityBall]

Why would you ever mix LBX10 and UAC10 when ghost heat isn't an issue?

[The6thMessenger]

If you're going to hodgepodge a kitchen sink build, do it right: HGN-IIC-C(C) - 2x UAC10 + 3x ERML + 2x LRM15

You got "decent" direct-fire, with LRMs as cherry on top. You shouldn't mix-and match LBXs and UACs if you're already mix and matching a lot of other stuffs.

[FRAGTAST1C]

The reason why I was using LBX 10 and an UAC 10 was 'cause I'm using the Nightstar 9S with dual UAC20 and while that burst damage is incredible, the jamming of UAC's, in general, comes down to luck. So, having one that doesn't jam but can also do critical damage would be good, is what I'm saying. Also, LRMs or ATMs haven't been a part of my mech build. The last time I used LRMs was when I first installed MWO and got the Revenant as my first mech from the Solaris pack. Till now, I've only ever used direct fire missiles like MRMs and SRMs. But building a mech that is good at doing damage directly or indirectly across all ranges would be beneficial as I wouldn't be sitting behind the firing line waiting for the enemies to move into my weapons' range.

That initial build for the Highlander IIc was with 2 ATM 12 but the weight was kind of an issue, as well as heat as I also had 2 UAC10s. With the LRMs being more effective soon in direct-fire mode, I thought having 2 LRM 20 would be more beneficial.

Basically, this HGN-IIC-C build is what I had in mind. I had 2 ATM 9s instead of those LRM 20+A's. Given the reaction here, I'd be better off with 2 UAC10 instead of 1 UAC10 and a LBX 10, which is cool.

HammerMaster, on 16 March 2019 - 10:34 AM, said:

My only issue is the Highlander is a bit sluggish.

Compared to my Mauler and Kraken and Siren and Nightstar 9S.... Highlander IIC felt good

Edited by FRAGTAST1C, 16 March 2019 - 06:18 PM.

[Prototelis]

Angel of Annihilation, on 16 March 2019 - 11:51 AM, said:

I run Dual UAC/10s, 3xER ML and 2xSRM6 w/artemis on my IIC-C. I wouldn't call it my best Assault mech but it holds it own just fine and I can pretty easily dump out 500+

That is a heavy mech build that the Orion does better and faster. So no, its not good.