18 replies to this topic

[Arcadinal]

I'm curious if anyone has put together builds using the larger targeting computers (VI, VII, etc...) that they've found effective?

[epikt]

I have a few mechs with large TCs, but that's probably less than 1% of my stable. So yeah, it's very niche.
Here are some of them, with the reasoning behind the TC choice:
- NovaCat-A: I wanted to keep the set-of-8 configuration mostly for the +10% range and the -25% cooldown. Thus the mech is pretty hardpoint starved (I wish I could mount 2 more lasers ^^) AND crit space starved, while having lot's of available tonnage and mounting relatively light weapons (unfortunately the cooldown quirk does not apply to LPLas). I have then two choices to fill up le tonnage and crit space: keeping the DHS and mounting a big TC and switching to SHS for better cooling. The mech being cool enough already, I don't need more cooling.
- Stalker-5S and Battlemaster-1G: similar situation, but Inner Sphere side. With these mechs you have to factor they are trading mechs: shoot less but shoot better, while exposing itself as least as possible to return fire.
- Corsair-7A: now with a combo of weapons that both benefit from the TC for different reason (range, velocity, etc) while not needing any extra cooling. I could boost the engine instead, but this mech is basically a turret, so...
- Orion-IIC-SKOLL: similar case, but with an already fast mech, which for boosting the engine would be very tonnage heavy with low beneficial returns. I could go SHS for more cooling, but I don't feel I need to ; I also could mount an autocannon (LB20X is popular) but I personally feel the speed penalty is too high as well as the lower cooling reduces its long range firepower.

Edited by epikt, 05 January 2025 - 02:56 AM.

[Ttly]

There's always the small laser Charger if you want to cram in a TC8

[w0qj]

What's the use of the BAP in this laser Charger with TC8? Just curious!

Ttly, on 05 January 2025 - 12:03 AM, said:

There's always the small laser Charger if you want to cram in a TC8

[RockmachinE]

Ttly, on 05 January 2025 - 12:03 AM, said:

There's always the small laser Charger if you want to cram in a TC8

Brutal mech. This thing is a killer. Completely surprises people that don't know what they're up against.

w0qj, on 05 January 2025 - 05:56 AM, said:

What's the use of the BAP in this laser Charger with TC8? Just curious!

Even faster target info gathering. One of the strengths of this mech is being able to target weak spots instantly. With BAP on top of TC8 target info is almost instantaneous. And it also has spare tonnage. You have the fastest engine, the biggest TC, AMS, all energy hardpoints full. The mech runs really cool so an additional heat sink makes no difference. You have 1 spare ton, might as well SLAP A BAP in there.

Edited by RockmachinE, 05 January 2025 - 06:52 AM.

[LordNothing]

i kind of use it as a space fill when extra heatsinks or ammo are not needed. i can usually find room for the mk1. though really i wish they would do more than what they do.

Edited by LordNothing, 05 January 2025 - 06:37 AM.

[Remover of Obstacles]

I am not sure "effective" is the best word, but I used at TC7 on a Shadow Cat to work on getting assists for the achievement. Extra range on the lasers for the beginning of the match and good scouting with the improved sensor range.
https://mwo.nav-alph...=3e53be08_SHC-B

Other than that, I would typically use them for velocity boost for ER PPCs or range for ERLLs.
I think those builds fell out of favor as HAGs were introduced.
https://mwo.nav-alph...=02f88bb0_DWF-C

[kalashnikity]

Ebon Jag with 5 ERLL and a big ol' Targeting computer for the extra range. Plenty of room and tonnage for sufficient DHS to run it cool enough.

You can run it with 6 ERLL without the big TC.

It did ok, but has a little too much "face time".

Extra velocity for ppc is interesting for mechs that already have big velocity bonuses, add max skills and you can get PPC going so fast it's very easy to make hits on moving targets even at 1000 meters.

[Void Angel]

Really the only reason to take a large TC is if you are looking for extreme range above other concerns. All Targeting Computers give decreasing returns as you add tonnage to them, because their starting value is more than the increase per ton - it's like the Electoral College. So unless you really need that huge TC to push your ERPPCs out to max range, or extend the falloff range of some ERLLs, a large TC simply isn't worth the opportunity costs in cooling, mobility, or guns, for the vast majority of applications.

[kalashnikity]

Void Angel, on 05 January 2025 - 08:05 PM, said:

Really the only reason to take a large TC is if you are looking for extreme range above other concerns. All Targeting Computers give decreasing returns as you add tonnage to them, because their starting value is more than the increase per ton - it's like the Electoral College. So unless you really need that huge TC to push your ERPPCs out to max range, or extend the falloff range of some ERLLs, a large TC simply isn't worth the opportunity costs in cooling, mobility, or guns, for the vast majority of applications.

I forget which mech I was using a couple weeks ago, but it had a big PPC velocity quirk, I then skilled it and added a fairly big TC and it nearly felt like a hit scan weapon, I barely had to lead at all, even all the way out to 1000 meters.

So, there a practical niche, especially if you hate trying to calculate lead.

[Void Angel]

You're trading off rate of fire in most cases, is the thing. Because lead can be calculated - but cooling is just math.

[RockmachinE]

Void Angel, on 05 January 2025 - 08:05 PM, said:

Really the only reason to take a large TC is if you are looking for extreme range above other concerns.

Don't forget target info speed. It makes quite the difference to immediately know the state of an enemy mech as soon as you target it. This is an often overlooked feature in TCs. Its not worth the tonnage on most builds of course, but in certain cases like the above mentioned 7SL Charger its a real quirk and boosts the performance of the mech significantly.

Its also nice to do things differently sometimes and you slap one on just for shi*s and giggles.

[Void Angel]

That is true, and I think you're right about people not valuing that, particularly with how people play currently. Although, you're getting more bang for your buck with a smaller TC and an active probe. With that Charger 1A1 SL build, a TC2 plus Active Probe and 5 skill points will give you a 0.3 second information gain time, which is just slightly above human reaction speed - that's pretty fast. However, that is one of the few 'mechs in the game where you'd go with a TCVIII. You don't need more cooling, and you can't get more guns, so the max TC is worth it - not because of the target info gain, but because all the opportunity costs are less valuable than the increases in beam range. If we had more productive uses for some of those 8 tons, we could easily get what we need for target information from a much smaller tonnage investment.

[LordNothing]

RockmachinE, on 06 January 2025 - 06:52 AM, said:

Don't forget target info speed. It makes quite the difference to immediately know the state of an enemy mech as soon as you target it. This is an often overlooked feature in TCs. Its not worth the tonnage on most builds of course, but in certain cases like the above mentioned 7SL Charger its a real quirk and boosts the performance of the mech significantly.

Its also nice to do things differently sometimes and you slap one on just for shi*s and giggles.

i have a couple ppc mechs that are really good at knocking out cherry components because i get targeting data immediately. really great for infowarriors.

there are also the zoom buffs, which are good because i dont like the tunnel vision of advanced zoom.

Edited by LordNothing, 06 January 2025 - 12:04 PM.

[Void Angel]

I had to get used to advanced zoom, but I think it's worth it once you do. Just remember to check your radar, and zoom out from time to time.

[VeritasSuperOmnia]

Warhawk Prime does well with it. The PPCs actually move fast enough to reliably hit targets at max range. I've started to favor that variant more than the one with a TCMK1 and more heatsinks.

[Doppelsoldner King Crab]

King Crab brawlers, max TC.
Those AC-20s hit like a truck, also improves projectile speeds massively.
This makes hitting lights, poptarts easier.

[Void Angel]

I guess. I always just... aim at Lights who are that close to me. Your mileage may vary on that, but putting a full TCVIII onto your King Crab is going to cost you a lot. Either you're going to be very slow, or lack firepower, or both.

[Void Angel]

I mean, I can put more firepower than what I'm theorycrafting for that build on an Orion...