36 replies to this topic

[Valder]

Dagger906, on 01 November 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

Jenner is better than Cicida for beginner scout. It's cheaper, smaller target profile, just as survivable, and has jumpjet.

Jenner still needs an XL300 to run at full speed, which is what keeps it alive well. That engine is 4.9mil.

Dagger906, on 01 November 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

Catapult isn't for the beginner, or outside premade. For the standard LRM fit, ammo is expensive, and it's not effective without a good scout. The gauss sniper varient is rather gimpy, and SRM brawler takes skill and luck. The head is way too big. It gets shot.

Catapults can be loaded with a combination of weapons, like 2 lrm 10's plus lasers, making them effective at multiple ranges and soloing enemies. You only need a spotter if you're loading 4-6 lrm racks into one and are not adding in very many/any lasers. They are more expensive than a well rounded hunchback tho, but come with more armor.

Dagger906, on 01 November 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

A common urge is saving up for the Atlas. Don't. Repair bills will put you in the red every time, unless you hide in said Atlas. Apparently, it's meant to make free players pay subscription for the additional earning. Instead, it's driving some people away and others to suicide farming.

Atlases only put you 'in the red every time' if you let the enemy disassemble you piece by piece and then kill you every match. If you play smart and win some matches and lose some matches you can do fine at gaining money, however if you have one that uses a LOT of lrms it will cost a bit more to upkeep than one that does not.

Dagger906, on 01 November 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

Lastly, don't fit FF, the 12% weight reduction is a joke compared to the repair bill.

Ferrous Fiber is fine now, I don't think you realize that they changed the cost of repairs to be practical. I was running a cicada with FF, Endo Steel, double heat sinks, AND an XL engine. When I took a lot of damage and got destroyed it was around a 70k repair bill total (including ammo, items, and armor), which used to be the cost of repairing an XL engine alone. If FF is one of your only upgrades it would be significantly cheaper.





It sounds like you let the trolls get to you....

[Vapor Trail]

CAT K2 is pretty flexible, and can mount good direct fire loadouts (ballistic or energy).

CAT C4 is also pretty flexible, and can mount heavy energy or heavy missile loadouts as main weapons, with the other as secondary.
2 large LRM racks (15 or 20) w/4 medium lasers (basically stock).
or
2 Large Lasers with 2 Medium Lasers and 2 SRM or SSRM racks as backup.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Kraven Kor, on 01 November 2012 - 11:23 AM, said:

The Commando 2D is great if you like running a light mech. 3x Streak SRM 2 and a Medium Laser, 100+ KPH, lots of fun, and deadlier than it sounds.

This is actually what I'm using right now. Great for attacking light mechs or mediums that are distracted or injured. It looses most often to Jenners I feel who can outcircle it, but as long as you aren't 1 on 1 with a jenner, you might just make it.
I just don't have enough money to buy anything else yet. It does take some time to figure out how to effectively use a light, but the good news is you can weave in and out of cover a lot easier and even escape LRM volleys.

[Lootee]

Hint: the HBK-4P does NOT need an XL engine to zip around at 80-86kph.

9 medium or small lasers weigh next to nothing. Leaving plenty of tonnage for a durable standard 250 or 260 engine and DHS.

Edited by PanchoTortilla, 01 November 2012 - 11:58 AM.

[IceSerpent]

Belphegore, on 01 November 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

Hi guys new player to MWO here, i'd just like to ask some of you for some advice on a good starter mech to save toward in game. I have some experience in other MW titles prefering medium / assault mechs.

I'd just like to make an informed buy rather than wasting my initial cbills so any suggestions from experienced players would be much appreciated, thanks.

Belphegore, on 01 November 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

Hi guys new player to MWO here, i'd just like to ask some of you for some advice on a good starter mech to save toward in game. I have some experience in other MW titles prefering medium / assault mechs.

I'd just like to make an informed buy rather than wasting my initial cbills so any suggestions from experienced players would be much appreciated, thanks.

Others have already posted some excellent suggestions, but it really boils down to what you want to pilot. Fast light - pick a Jenner, fast medium - pick a Cicada (a.k.a oversized Jenner w/o JJs), slower brawler medium - Hunchback 4P or 4SP, Heavy - Catapult (C1 and C4 are good LRM platforms or brawlers, A1 is a good brawler with StreakSRMs, K2 is DFS with gauss rifles), Assault - pick an Atlas (D-DC seems to be the current favorite).

[RedHairDave]

Join any group, they will answer all your questions and then answer questions you didnt even know to ask.

1st-rangers.com is one option till we are full

there are many options, but if you wana have a great mwo experience, join anyone,

[Sabazial]

From what i'm reading i think i'll start with a Hunchback 4sp as i like getting up close and personal, then i'll probably try a catapult after that.

Really great advice here guys, it's nice to see such a friendly and supportive community.. i think i'm going to enjoy playing MWO

[JT Zap]

If you want to move quickly a Jenner F or D, but they will take an XL300 to get moving.

Several people recommended the hunchback 4SP which is a great chassis as well.

A Centurian 9AH is terrific as it has room for 3 streak 2s, lasers and an AC10.

[Valder]

If you get lonely rolling around alone, there's a huge public teamspeak server at 109.228.29.191. You don't need to join a merc corp or anything like that and it usually takes less than a minute to get in a team with a random team. Plus there are channels dedicated to giving new players valuable information. You don't even need a mic, in fact, people are very friendly to players who can only type in the chatbox. Yesterday there were about 300 people on for quite a few hours, and over 100 on off-peak times.

[Dagger906]

TheCaptainJZ, on 01 November 2012 - 11:49 AM, said:

This is actually what I'm using right now. Great for attacking light mechs or mediums that are distracted or injured. It looses most often to Jenners I feel who can outcircle it, but as long as you aren't 1 on 1 with a jenner, you might just make it.
I just don't have enough money to buy anything else yet. It does take some time to figure out how to effectively use a light, but the good news is you can weave in and out of cover a lot easier and even escape LRM volleys.

Typical laser Jenner can't kill your commando if you're good. SSRM have a large arc before losing lock, and keeps the laser boat rocking when staggered.

It takes a special kind of pilot to use the commando effectively. Definitely not for beginner.

A more forgiving scout might be a Jenner with maxed out armor and 2x SSRMs. It's one less SSRM, but you're not a guy wrapped in tin foil, Jenner has slightly more torso twist for the torso mounted missiles, and has jump jets. 1v2 against commandos, it will kill both easily if you're half competent, regardless of how good the commando pilots are.

[PropagandaWar]

DeadlyDave083, on 01 November 2012 - 10:55 AM, said:

I would recommend the Hunchback 4SP variant. Its a medium mech with a nice balance of missiles and lasers.

Slowly build him out. First go with the double heat then work from there. Endo Steel would be my next add after that. Once thats done start tweaking and balancing. I use a sp with two med pulse, two med las, 2xSRM 4s, ams, standard 235 eng, endo steel. you can go 4xmed pulse and 2s srm 6's as well. I only went with two meds to give me some range.

Tickdoff Tank, on 01 November 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

As the above posters have said, the hunch is a good mech. So is a Jenner, but it does take some time to get used to the playstyle. Personally, I love the Centurion. I like the mobility of the arms, I like the "useless" left arm to use as a shield, and the mix of hardpoints suits my playstyle.

Just play around a bit, use the trial mechs but focus more on the "feel" of the different chasis than their effectiveness.

I would suggest the Centurion after they get some c-bills and some experience. I say this only because of cost and a bad load can get expensive. However it is one of my favorite mechs to play.

[3rdworld]

Don't use a cent atm. You wouldn't want to get into a situation where you cannot upgrade your mechs passed basic (assuming you have no MC).

the HBK-4H is better than the HBK-4G. The HBK-4SP is better than the HBK-4J.

Stay away from dragons, they are not any good until you stick an expensive XL in them. I would tell you to grind to the atlas cause they are the most usable in the stock form, but that would take forever.

[PropagandaWar]

The other reason the SP is a viable solution is if it loses one torso and arm it can still deal an effective amount of damage from the other side.

[Brynstar]

Hunchback 4SP - One of my favorite mechs in the game, and the stock build is pretty good right out of the box.

[zhajin]

DeadlyDave083, on 01 November 2012 - 10:55 AM, said:

I would recommend the Hunchback 4SP variant. Its a medium mech with a nice balance of missiles and lasers.

aye the 4sp is fairly afordable and very flexible.

[Tonberry]

4SP hunchi is definatly the best beginner brawler by a long way. if you feel like running a fast scout get a jenner the D(2Missile 4Lasers) is strictly better than the K (1missile 4laser) its on par with the F (6laser) all have jump jets and can go real fast without an XL engine.
after you have your first mech save up for an A1 Cat and stick 6x SSRM2s on it i know its cheesy but it works and makes exp and money.

[John MatriX82]

PanchoTortilla, on 01 November 2012 - 11:49 AM, said:

Hint: the HBK-4P does NOT need an XL engine to zip around at 80-86kph.

9 medium or small lasers weigh next to nothing. Leaving plenty of tonnage for a durable standard 250 or 260 engine and DHS.

it depends on the configuration, if you run twin LLAS and 7 smlas you need the XL, but yes, if you exchange llas for mlas it's easy to go for bigger std engines and save for double heatsinks.