11 replies to this topic

[DaChonkin]

Question on armor and Case.
In the Mechlab when I'm looking at armor, is my total in gold or is is the gold number plus the
green number....circled in red.

Also, how do I know when Case is of value to me? I've not skilled Case up.

Armor and Case red circle by Stopitdown Stopitdown, on Flickr

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/164999792@N02/52284807101/in/dateposted-public/" title="Armor and Case red circle"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284807101_b8f193a3e6_z.jpg" width="590" height="458" alt="Armor and Case red circle"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[w0qj]

Hey, a warm welcome back to MWO!

Let me guess... your above mech is Crusader CRD-5M, right?
AMS in head, AMS+M in RT, M in LT, armor/structure distribution seems to match...IS heavy mech...

The "green" armor +x bonus you've already observed is from the sum of two types of armor quirks, as below:

1b. Base Armor quirks for CRD-5M: (ie: comes with the mech when you've first bought this)
CT: +10 armor
LT+RT: +10 front armor each
LA+RA: +15 armor each
LL+RL: +10 armor each

1c. You must have a lot of Armor Hardening Skill Nodes activated already, hence you get what you've already observed above partial screenshot.
==>To convince yourself of this, try turning off "all" Armor Hardening Skill Nodes, go back to MechBay Loadout screen, you will observe above (1a) base armor quirks remaining. Suggest you do not "Save" this layout, as just fiddling around.

2a. C.A.S.E.
CASE protects you from (very) damaging explosions to adjacent components, thus improving your suitability.

eg: When you have ballistic or missile ammo in your left arm (LA) and no CASE equipped, and your LA explodes from ammo explosion, it may well also destroy your LT as well. But with CASE in your same LA, your LA explodes from ammo explosion, your LT would not be damaged from this LA explosion.

Ballistic ammo or missile ammo have 10% chance of explosion when the unspent or partially spent ammo bin is destroyed. Completely used up ammo bin obviously does not explode.
So ammo explosion does not always happen. The trick is ammo placement, and have "just" enough ammo to finish QP fight.
Edit: I myself rarely use CASE, as ammo explosion rarely happen for me (see below).
I use CASE only when there is a spare critical slot or two, and there is absolutely nothing else to do with it.

For example, for each MRM30 my own rule of thumb is 2.5ton of MRM ammo.
Hence for your CRD-5M with 2xMRM30 suggest you use 5ton MRM ammo.
ie: 4ton in both legs, and 1ton in head.
ie: 3ton in both legs with CASE in one leg, 1ton in head, 1ton in CT (where CT is relatively well protected).

The current MWO ammo usage order is:
CT, RT, LT, LA, RA, LL, RL, H
Source: https://wiki.mwomerc...p?title=Weapons

CASE can now be placed into arms/legs/LT/RT of mech.
CASE weights "zero" tons, but still occupy 1x critical slot.

Ammo that cannot explode: Gauss ammo, AMS ammo
All other ammo have 10% chance to explode upon crit.

2b. CASE is a must for Gauss weapons.
******CASE protects you from explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
IS mechs have 90% chance of explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
Clan mechs have 100% chance of explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
Source: https://wiki.mwomerc...rnal_Explosions

Edited by w0qj, 14 August 2022 - 06:52 AM.

[PsionicMantis]

For your armor, the green value is already added to the gold value. The case module is used for when you have an ammo explosion or if a gauss explodes, it prevents the damage from spreading to other parts of the mech. The reinforced casing skill lowers the chance to receive a critical hit.

If i missed anything im sure others can help provide better info XD

[DaChonkin]

Thanks guys! Muchly appreciated.
So my total is the gold, in this case 103.
Of course I was dreaming it was 128 which would be too good to be true

[DaChonkin]

Forgot to say that wOqj you were spot on in the mech, indeed a Crusader 5M Shows you are truly a master
of this sport.

[w0qj]

There are very few mechs with AMS hardpoints in both head + RT, and 1x missile hardpoints in each of LT+RT...
and IS heavy mech on top of that...

So a simple search in below very useful website got the answer!
https://mwo.nav-alpha.com/mechs

[Aidan Crenshaw]

As a result of the above, it should be mentioned that the combination of CASE in the side torsi with an IS XL engine is moot, because the ammo explosion will always do its full damage to the CASE protected component, most often destroying it.

[DaChonkin]

So Aiden (thanks for chiming in), in my build depicted above should I just rid of the CASE?

[Aidan Crenshaw]

DaChonkin, on 14 August 2022 - 09:50 AM, said:

So Aiden (thanks for chiming in), in my build depicted above should I just rid of the CASE?

Sidetorso CASE and XL is unnecessary, yes. My advice would be to follow w0qj's counsel and move the ammunition from the vulnerable sidetorsi to the legs and head. If you have slots open in the legs after that, go ahead and fill them with CASE

w0qj, on 14 August 2022 - 05:54 AM, said:

2b. CASE is a must for Gauss weapons.
******CASE protects you from explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
IS mechs have 90% chance of explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
Clan mechs have 100% chance of explosion upon Gauss weapon destruction.
Source: https://wiki.mwomerc...rnal_Explosions

Gauss explosion damage is relatively minor in comparison to the potential a single ton of ammunition has (see https://mwo.nav-alph...i/critical-hits for reference). I'd argue the notion that CASE is mandatory with gauss. It's a net plus if you have the spare slots and 100k CBills nonetheless.

[ScrapIron Prime]

Right, CASE stops the explosion from spreading, but the side torso is still gutted. And since you have an IS XL engine, you’re dead at that point, so the case doesn’t help.

With an XL build, relocate your ammo to the legs where possible, and store one ton of it in the head. (Bad idea for real life, good idea for this game.)

Edited by ScrapIron Prime, 14 August 2022 - 10:24 AM.

[w0qj]

Mech pilot over the radio, "so where's my last ton of ammo?"

Mechbay technician replies, "you're sitting on it!"
XD

ScrapIron Prime, on 14 August 2022 - 10:24 AM, said:

...With an XL build, relocate your ammo to the legs where possible, and store one ton of it in the head. (Bad idea for real life, good idea for this game.)

[ScrapIron Prime]

w0qj, on 14 August 2022 - 11:22 AM, said:

Mech pilot over the radio, "so where's my last ton of ammo?"

Mechbay technician replies, "you're sitting on it!"
XD

<carefully takes cigarette out of mouth and grinds it out>