157 replies to this topic

[WMC Gomez]

This is an easy choice... Dragon all the way. Even though the Centurion looks better, the advantage of more armor and much faster speed rules the day. Even though the Centurion has a AC/10 the speed of the Dragon means I can run circles around the Centurion and use the AC/5 range to widdle the mech down to nothing.

[The Maestro]

OK, everyone is either dumb or not reading what Bryan is saying. Am I the only person who has realized that he meant it has a ******* hand?! You guys remember that whole shtick about melee combat finally being implemented?

Just wait, the first gameplay video is giong to be a Dragon closing in with its superior speed and literally ripping the AC/10 from the Centurion's body.

[Undead]

The Maestro, on 26 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

OK, everyone is either dumb or not reading what Bryan is saying. Am I the only person who has realized that he meant it has a ******* hand?!

Take another look at the before/after art smart guy. Both show a hand on the left arm. The right arm is what changed.

[Solis Obscuri]

Kodiak Jorgensson, on 26 January 2012 - 09:31 AM, said:

just going to say that both designs have at least 4 tons dedicated to ammo, both designs have 2 tons of LRM10 ammo giving it 24 shots for there LRM10's and 2 tons for there Autocannons

AC5 Ammo per ton 20 shots x 2 = 40 shots
AC10 Ammo per ton 10 shots x 2 = 20 shots
LRM10 Ammo per ton 12 x 2 = 24 shots (240 missles)

both deisngs armanets are almost duplicated, they have an LRM10 and 2 Med lasers 1 of which is rear mounted on both designs the only diffrence in there armament is the AC.

You're right... for some screwy reason I was remembering it having two tons for the LRM but just one for the AC/5... I need to get more sleep.

And considering that... I might give it a try in MWO, if they make the AC/5 a decent weapon. (Though I've still got a soft spot for the Centurion.)

The Maestro, on 26 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

Just wait, the first gameplay video is giong to be a Dragon closing in with its superior speed and literally ripping the AC/10 from the Centurion's body.

I kind of have to LoL at the idea of charging at the guy with a heavier autocannon...

[Ross McKinnon]

I would go with a Davion Centurion over a Draconis Combine Dragon.
Davion mech with a RAC would rock a Dragon. Hands down.

[Derick Cruisaire]

Undead, on 26 January 2012 - 06:54 PM, said:

Take another look at the before/after art smart guy. Both show a hand on the left arm. The right arm is what changed.

This.

[Tifalia]

Tough choice but given that I am a fan of speed over anything else, I would probably choose the Dragon.
It is one thing to be able to stand your ground in a pitched battle, but quite another when you can use your speed against your enemy to flank them or make them inflict damage on their own units as you are dodging enemy lasers and ballistics.
Know your enemy, but know your terrain even better. That is the key to winning a match.

[Omigir]

Why would I choose a Centurion over a Dragon?

How about im not appart of the Draconis Combine? Yeah, sums it up.

[Dlardrageth]

Ross McKinnon, on 26 January 2012 - 07:04 PM, said:

I would go with a Davion Centurion over a Draconis Combine Dragon.
Davion mech with a RAC would rock a Dragon. Hands down.

Unfortunately RACs are 3060+ tech, thus fat chance of seeing them anytime soon in game (You could come back in about ten years tho...).

[verybad]

Grand Dragon variants with Heavy PPCs and Capacitors should be becoming available at the same time, so I'm not to intimidated by the RAC, which performance wise is about the same as a short ranged, LRM...that jams.

[Jeager51]

First: its 3049 in game so tech is limited.
Second: Its a video game, you are going to take the unit with the better stats. Given stock mechs that is the Dragon. Unless they do apply setting specifics like faction specific mechs, cost of upkeep, and hand me down equipment. You might get saddled with your Dad's Assasin given the nature of the sucession wars era ownership/ assignment traditions. Where more often than not Mechs were family herilooms and if you were in a military unit you got your Family Machine, regardless of other concerns. Other wise you get "lucky" and get whatever they assign you to.
Third: The ability to customize or even the availabilty of advanced variants changes things incredibly. The CN9-D Centurion is a much more even Match to the DGR-5K (Grand) Dragon. Both of which are superior to either of the older designs, and are just starting to be issued to mech units in the last months of 3049.
Fourth: Everyone is going to be in an Atlas or Daishi as soon as possible so this argument is moot.

That said, I like the Centurion much more than the Dragon, but given how most games work, I will pick the Dragon to play 90% of the time, just based on Stats.

[Semyon Drakon]

I think we need to remember that Mechs are NOT designed to work alone. they work in lances and support one another. the Dragon would make excellent backup and a solid anchor for say, 3 or 4 panthers working in a recon role. It's armour and obvious speed would help it support the smaller mechs and still be able to keep up with them in everything except a flat out sprint and even then it is going to close the distance quickly to help them if they get in the kaka.

The Centurion should be paired as the heavy hitter in a group of short range medium mechs designed to hunt down recon lances.

Semyon

[Duncan Jr Fischer]

I wouldn't pick Dragon over anything, and especially over Centurion.
Standard 1-N Dragon is about all and nothing, in theory it's kind of multitask mech, but practically it's useless at every range except melee. Dragon is a fast paper-thin box of ammo. The best you can do with Dragon is dump all its ammo and charge medium mechs.

While Centurion is slower, it is about much better ballance in its class category. It has average armor, and Centurion's AC10 is a punch that makes firing LRMs worth your while, and Dragon's weapons are all about scatter damage, just a waste of ammunition.

Centurion is a good mech for most lances, while Dragon can be useful in much narrower circumstances. But I personally would pick some real medium instead of this wanna-be-medium Dragon.

Edited by Duncan Jr Fischer, 27 January 2012 - 04:52 AM.

[Kodiak Jorgensson]

Jeager51, on 26 January 2012 - 11:34 PM, said:

First: its 3049 in game so tech is limited.
Second: Its a video game, you are going to take the unit with the better stats. Given stock mechs that is the Dragon. Unless they do apply setting specifics like faction specific mechs, cost of upkeep, and hand me down equipment. You might get saddled with your Dad's Assasin given the nature of the sucession wars era ownership/ assignment traditions. Where more often than not Mechs were family herilooms and if you were in a military unit you got your Family Machine, regardless of other concerns. Other wise you get "lucky" and get whatever they assign you to.
Third: The ability to customize or even the availabilty of advanced variants changes things incredibly. The CN9-D Centurion is a much more even Match to the DGR-5K (Grand) Dragon. Both of which are superior to either of the older designs, and are just starting to be issued to mech units in the last months of 3049.
Fourth: Everyone is going to be in an Atlas or Daishi as soon as possible so this argument is moot.

That said, I like the Centurion much more than the Dragon, but given how most games work, I will pick the Dragon to play 90% of the time, just based on Stats.

its beens stated that all sucessor states will have acess to all technology but price may vary however.

Quote

Do factions have access to unique mechs or weapons? -cobrafive

[BRYAN] No. Prices may vary, but everyone has equal access to items.

as for the Atlas/Dire Wolf theres supposidly a role for every mech so hopefuly we wont see mainly assault matches. also i prefer a Warhawk myself

[Slepnir]

why the dragon...because i will be using a grand dragon...same great lines, same great speed and a PPC. it's so very kurita.

[The Maestro]

Sure as hell looks like that hand is heavily obstructed by a medium laser in the middle of it. The PPC is a possibility, but that's impossible to infer from the images we've seen so far.

Edited by The Maestro, 27 January 2012 - 09:34 AM.

[RedBeaveR]

faster and longer range superiority means a Dragon pilot has to have damn good accuracy to really optimize it.

that's the general idea.

but in mechwarrior, faster means they can kite the centurion and keep it at medium/long range, which is not Cent's optimum distance.

meaning, if the Centurion has no way of bringing the fight closer, its armor gonna get chewed before he can shoot his AC.

just my 2c.


Gawd when will this game be out????

[Punisher 1]

Heh,

Well heres where knowledge and tactics come into play. If your in the Centorian what you have going for you is a decent long range punch and a medium range follow up.

Keep distance and engage with the LRMs in one of the following areas.

- Legs of the Dragon eliminating these will get you a free mech if not you have reduced the Dragons ability for speed and manuver. This may allow you to take out the legs completly or get in a few fast shots at medium range to finish him off. His lack of mobility is the key.

- Target Weapons, with all theat splash damage potential you can peal off some decent armor or knock out a weapon system or two. Eliminating the weapons on the dragon might be a good idea, a little rough on the mech as a whole not so great for salvage, if your looking to burn the Dragon down getting the ammo to blow would be a nice plus.

- General take down would be expending all but one salvo of LRMS at range. Keeping the Dragon at range using cover to keep him from hitting you. Initially target a specific areas (legs) and reduce them as much as possible. Save the last salvo when closing in the get in a good distraction type of hit. While the enemy is trying to doge or taking the hit, manuver to the best position to utilize all medium weapons in a alpha strike in the most damaged location ( as mentioned the legs) Removing the legs insures a imobile enemy and a nicemech to salvage at the end of the day.



-

[Jack Gallows]

Centurion over a Dragon every day of the week, love that mech even if it's slower.

[verybad]

WMC Gomez, on 26 January 2012 - 05:44 PM, said:

This is an easy choice... Dragon all the way. Even though the Centurion looks better, the advantage of more armor and much faster speed rules the day. Even though the Centurion has a AC/10 the speed of the Dragon means I can run circles around the Centurion and use the AC/5 range to widdle the mech down to nothing.

My goodness, a Feddie with sense! Well you never know.

Here's the deal.
Dragons have better long range firepower, and better speed, and more armor.

In an enclosed area, the Centurion will shine, though it's not a blowout in it's favor even then. In an open map, the Dragon should be able to chop the Centurion down to crits without being heavily damaged by the Centie's LRMs. Once the Grand Dragon is available, it's should usually win in either situation. (Enclosed or long range).

This isn't saying the Dragon is better ton for ton than the Cent, but it's got 10 tons extra, and they're spend making it more maneuverable, and a bit better armored.

Either way, the Centurion should be able to do pretty well, it's a jack of all trades kind of mech.

I think a good Kurita ~Medium Lance would be one Dragon, one Catapult, one Hunchback, and a Jenner. The Hunchies stay behind the Dragon while the Jenner scouts out the enemy. Once the enemy is found, the 3 bigger mechs advance while the Jenner tries to keep a lock on their location, possibly droping sensors to keep a fix for some lrm support, causing damage isn't important as staying alive for the jenner.

The Catapult tries to draw out the opposing lance with LRMs. if this happens, the Dragon gives additional support while the Hunchie tries to close in for the kill while maintaining cover. The Dragon gives close support for this operation, making it dangerous for opposing mechs to go after the Hunchie till he's in range.

The Hunchie should face mechs that are already damaged once he closes, and that means meat for the table when you're using an AC-20.

I would like for the game to support this sort of role for different mechs.

The Centurion is a good mech, no doubt about that, however it's not a better mech than a Dragon in most situations, and especially in multiple player situations.