43 replies to this topic

[torsie]

I have most luck with Thunder 2 and 3. 1 usually never even lands and 4 is too big and hits random things. With 2 and 3 I almost always hit same body part several times.

I wonder how much better they are with smaller spread.

Edited by torsie, 05 April 2024 - 05:25 AM.

[Meep Meep]

ScrapIron Prime, on 04 April 2024 - 12:46 PM, said:

Well now there's some differentiation. Thunderbolt missiles are faster than Artemis LRMs and they concentrate damage a BIT better. So after the upcoming patch:

Thunderbolt 1 - same weight as Artemis LRM 5, 1 less space.

Thunderbolt 2 - 1 more ton than Artemis LRM 10, 1 less space

Thunderbolt 3 - 3 more tons than Artemis LRM 15, 1 less space

Thunderbolt 4 - 4 more tons than Artemis LRM 20, 1 less space

So basically... The Thunderbolt 1 is a great deal. The 2 is okay. Forget the larger launchers, they're crap.

This is a good analysis of them currently. I'd add on that there are two firing patterns to the launchers. TB5/10 ct seek while TB15/20 randomly hit two components though I seem to notice a bias on torso and leg hits. The new velocity buffs should greatly help with tracking fast moving mechs too since the lrm level velocity was having them miss often vs fast movers. Just wish they had a bit higher initial arc for short range though at mid and long range they do get some altitude and can hit behind hard cover. I don't agree completely that the tb20 is crap though. If you only have two missile hardpoints and the tonnage a couple of tb20 can certainly put out some hurt as per the archer build I listed earlier. But for mechs with lots of missile points a mix of 5 and 10 would be optimal if only due to the ct seek nature.

[ScrapIron Prime]

Two Thunder 4’s weigh EIGHT TONS MORE than two Artemis 20’s. I can’t think of too many builds where I don’t care about eight tons.

[Weeny Machine]

ScrapIron Prime, on 06 April 2024 - 06:36 AM, said:

Two Thunder 4’s weigh EIGHT TONS MORE than two Artemis 20’s. I can’t think of too many builds where I don’t care about eight tons.

Jup, plus Thunders will be brought down by AMS even easier than a whole swarm of 20 LRMS