16 replies to this topic

[Felbombling]

Gang,

This is an open plea for folks to show their Crusader paint-jobs and/or load outs. What have you come up with that makes this monster tick?

I have yet to plop cold hard cash down on it yet, but would love to see the end product that PGI has created.

Many thanks in advance!

[ScrapIron Prime]

I've started threads on the 3R and 6T in the Heavy Mech Builds forum. Let's populate the discussions!

Camo-wise, I think the Rasalhague and Applejack camo looks best on them, myself. Will upload some screens tonight!

[RickySpanish]

It looks like a fat Dervish, with huge arms that carry the majority of its weapons. Energy/Missile combos have always been the least fun hardpoint combo for me, and just like the Dervish it has a pile of sub weapon system focussed quirks to try and differentiate the variants. Unless I plop double cash down for the Hero I just don't see any of them performing well except the all energy variant. The LB-10X one looks interesting, but again brawling with arm mounts? WTF are you going to shield with? And those huge legs... You won't be able to strip any armour or dead side.

[ScrapIron Prime]

Well you CAN dead side shield with the single LBX build, but I haven't found a config I'm happy with yet. With a hand actuator, you have 8 spaces to fit an autocannon and 2 energy weapons into that arm for a right-side build, backed by a RT and LT missile hardpoint. Again... nothing that works wonders.

But the all-energy build and the base 3R I'm having great fun with despite the totally-not-OP quirks they come with!

[Meep Meep]

Arms need more armor across all variants. They are easy to lop off and you gimp most builds once they get removed. Plus dem thicc legs are easy to target. But a well driven one in a push can do some pretty good brawling if its not being singled out. TTB was running an srm brawler and it was wrecking face but he always was pushing with the team.

[Escef]

I've overall found them to be pretty decent so far. Most of mine are rocking 280LFEs (I managed to squeeze a 260LFE into the 7L). The 3R performs quite well with 2xRAC2 backed up by quad torso mounted SRM4s, a couple MLs for a little extra firepower and if the ammo runs out. (You could easily dump the MLs for more ammo, of course.) My secondary 3R chains out hex LRM5 for annoyance factor (or all at once as a fast-cycling LRM30). I had it backed up with a LPL and LMG on each arm, but I cut the LPLs for ERLLs and extra ammo and sinks.

I tried MRMs on the 5K, but I just couldn't make them work, so I ended up with a mixed SSRM/MPL build. Similarly, my 7L is SRMs and MLs with stealth armor. I haven't played my 6T or hero yet.

One thing that has stood out to me is that the stealth Crusader attracts a lot of fire once people notice it, to such a degree that it makes a great "Wild Weasel" mech. (That is to say, it draws fire to give friendly mechs the ability to do their jobs with minimal opposition.)

[Kiiyor]

Super fun mech. Bit feast or famine with the brawling loadouts, and twisting is a mere suggestion rather than a necessity as the arms and legs seem to evaporate instantly despite your best armouring efforts, but pretty solid overall.

Here's the ever dapper SIR KERBLAMMO, my Hero mech after gentleman training.



Standouts for me are the hero and the 6T (laser vom)

For the hero, 4xVanillaSRM6 with 6t ammo, 10HMGs with 3t ammo in the arms, with case protecting both. LFE280. I tried with LMGs, but I think I prefer the absolute buzzsaw that is the HMG extreme dakka spam at knife fighting range. If you can get close enough to the enemy team unmolested, you can pretty much point yourself at any enemy, hold W and all the mouse buttons, and gut them before evaporating in an explosion of mutually assured awesomeness. Getting there is the only issue.

For the 6T, there are a heap of fun loadouts. It's like a mini 'sphere Gargoyle with JJs. I'm currently running an XL300 (thing seems fairly XL friendly to me so far), 2 snubs, 10SPL, 3JJS and 4 extra DHS. I was running just the 1JJ for a while and 2 extra SPL but found the extra jump capability more important than the extra SPL damage, with is already pretty awesome with 10. You can also run small lasers instead, but I just love all the wubs. Had a lot of fun with 2 LLs and 12SPL also. I've also enjoyed using 8SPL to push 6 ERML up to the high mounts (might even be my preferred loadout, but snubs are pretty great fun). You can also run LLs and 12ML, for some insanely spicy staggered fire pump and dump shenanigans. There's a lot you can do with this thing.

As for the other variants, 4xMRM10s or 2xMRM20 and 2MRM10's on the 5M is fun, but all that firepower in the arms is a liability. There are better MRM boats out there.

The 5M is fun with an LB5 or 10 and 4SRM6s.

The 7L is also pretty fun with 6xSRM6, some JJs and ECM. The ECM is decent at letting you get close, but it's a little too slow for my liking as a brawler. I've tried to make a stealth armoured sneaky SRM bomber with it, but you just don't have the space, tonnage or speed to do anything super interesting to navigate around the sacrifices you have to make. Most disappointing variant for me, IMHO - not from a performance standpoint, as it seems OK, but it had all this cool stuff attached to it, that you can't really use. A bigger engine cap would be great.

Having a lot of fun overall. My favourite released mech in ages.

[Ghost Owl]

Hey I have enjoyed playing this chassis, below are the Test loadouts I used to complete the Crusader event during a 12 hour stream I did last night.

3R - MRM 40 MRM 30 2 x LMG LE 290
3R(S) - 5 x LRM 10 Tag XL 285
5K - 2 x LPL 4 x SRM 4 Artemis JJ LE 270
5M - 2 x MRM 20 LB5X 2 x AMS JJ LE 270
6T - 6 MPL 8 SL 2 x JJ LE 300
7L - 6 x SRM 4 Artemis ECM JJ Stealth Armour LE 260
CR - 2 x MRM 30 10 x LMG LE 270

6T and CR (Hero) were by far the best

Edited by Athariel, 24 June 2022 - 12:17 AM.

[Felbombling]

Many thanks for the interesting replies thus far. Really hoping to have more Crusader pics, though. I'm interested in weapon locations primarily, but also how the camo patterns came out.

[ScrapIron Prime]

Here's the Applejack Pattern on the 3R, kitted out with SRMs low and LRMs up high.




And on the 3R(S), the camo scheme that comes specific to it... which I don't like all that much. Loadout is MRMs both low and high. 20 tubes seems to be the maximum rendered in both places.

Edited by ScrapIron Prime, 24 June 2022 - 01:34 PM.

[Meep Meep]

Hey ScrapIron. Use Imgur to host pics as it has no watermark.

https://imgur.com/upload?beta

[ScrapIron Prime]

And the 5K, default paint scheme, kitted out with 3 LL (there's a second energy hardpoint CT I'm not using) and 4 MRM10s. Note that it splits the 10's between forearm and shoulder.



Imgur tried. I've had the photo-F-it forever, they started with the watermarks when i wouldn't start paying for it.

[Kiiyor]

FIRE IN THE DISCO



DANGER DANGER
HIGH VOLTAGE



Sean Lang's crazy splat build is pretty awesome as well on the 3R. You can output some truly horrific damage with this, if you can convince the enemy not to shoot at you that is. As with all extreme face time mechs, you're pretty open to an easy CTin'. Or having your arms pruned. Or being legged.

https://mwo.nav-alph...84141727_CRD-3R
Think he runs less ammo slightly more engine.

[PocketYoda]

I caved Bought the standard pack and a hero. They are way better than i first gave them credit to being.

Edited by Nomad Tech, 10 July 2022 - 12:27 AM.

[Meep Meep]

If they don't nerf smalls before the 6T makes it to cbill status then that will be a fun ride. 99kph, JJ and enough dps to melt most mechs with a quickness. Flimsy but powerful.

[w0qj]

The default camo for Crusader mech (both Hero + Special Variant + Standard Variants!) are "good enough" for me to use ad vertabim! (For most mechs even Hero mechs, I usually need to buy some other camo like Digital camo).

OK, I can also change the 3 colors to the Camo, but the default Camo is good enough for me!

Thank you MWO !!

[Felbombling]

Love all the pics. Thanks, gang. I must admit that I really like the Crusader looks.