34 replies to this topic

[Card]

Chicks dig Dragons.

Your arguments are invalid.

[Tickdoff Tank]

Mavairo, on 21 November 2012 - 09:29 AM, said:

I just got out of a match where I racked up 4 kills and 700 damage in my 5N Dragon. 1AC5 +1UAC5 + 2MPLs and a Streak with XL 300 engine is win.
Also, Ac10+ ER PPC + ML is also pretty sweet thanks to the dragons amazing arms. People that say the dragon sucks just don't know how to fly or arm it.

The 1C is my next favorite, and on average it gets two to 3 kills and about 400 to 500 damage. It has an XL 360, 2 LLs, 2 MLs and 1 SRM6. It moves at 104.7 kph. I'm going to be returning my 1N at some point to get it up to my 5N and 1C No matter the dragon's loadout it's a Calvary Mech.

Calvary works best on the move and on passes either through the furball, or along it's edges. Also you WANT Dual Heat Sinks on all dragons. Period.

The Centurion is more of a semi brawler. And frankly it's weapon arms tracking is Suck Tastic (well pretty much Every Mech's arms are) compared to the dragons. My recommendation by the way is to also squeeze endo steel on if possible. And you have to run an XL engine. Stay with the 300 XL or bigger. Never go Smaller on a dragon. It's a Suicide Sentence if you do.

During CB I ran my 5N with the UAC5+AC5 setup and loved it. I have not recreated yet, and I am not sure why. It is a fun build with great damage and range. Might have to remake it today, but only if I need a break from my Cataphracts, lol.

ANother option with the 5N is to mount 3 AC2s. Not the best build, but the MOAR DAKKA factor takes effect. You can never have enough DAKKA.

Quote

AN' DERE AIN'T NO SUCH FING AS ENUFF DAKKA, YA GROT! Enuff'z more than ya got an' less than too much an' there ain't no such fing as too much dakka. Say dere is, and me Squiggoff'z eatin' tonight!^Translation It is widely accepted that the theoretical state of "too much dakka" is physically impossible. This implies that the state of "enough dakka" is equally impossible, as adding any more to "enough" creates "too much". Therefore, there is always room for More Dakka.

[Mavairo]

Card, on 21 November 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

Chicks dig Dragons.

Your arguments are invalid.

Damn right.

[SMDMadCow]

Card, on 21 November 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

Chicks dig Dragons.

No, chicks dig tanks, you can totally pick up chicks in a tank.

[Roburn Bliss]

Most effective Cent-A build I have found is:

Endo Steel
14 Double Heat Sinks
250 standard engine - 81kph
3 x srm 6 - 5 tons ammo
2 x Medium Laser

55 alpha damage

[Mavairo]

My 1N is now fixed. Simply swapped my ER larges off for 2 LLs.
Averaging 2 to 3 kills and about 400 to 500 damage at the end of a match now.
AC2, 2LLs, 2 Streak 2s. XL300 engine, Endo Steel, and DHS. (16 total sinks)

So yes. the Dragon is a sex pot of a mech. All the way around.

Also 2 SRM4s is also alot of fun on a 1N if you want to run MPLs instead of LLs.

Big alphas aren't the dragon's game. Precision Fire is.

Edited by Mavairo, 21 November 2012 - 11:00 AM.

[Tickdoff Tank]

Mavairo, on 21 November 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Also 2 SRM6s is also alot of fun on a 1N if you want to run MPLs instead of LLs. Big alphas aren't the dragon's game. Precision Fire is.

The Dragon can't mount 2 SRM6s, only 1. The CT only has 2 open slots and the SRM6 takes up both slots. I think you meant 2 SRM4s. And yes, 2 SRM4s in the CT is a nice fit. Good damage and controllable heat.

Edited by Tickdoff Tank, 21 November 2012 - 10:57 AM.

[Mavairo]

Tickdoff Tank, on 21 November 2012 - 10:57 AM, said:

The Dragon can't mount 2 SRM6s, only 1. The CT only has 2 open slots and the SRM6 takes up both slots. I think you meant 2 SRM4s. And yes, 2 SRM4s in the CT is a nice fit. Good damage and controllable heat.

yeah, 2 SRM4s.

Plus when you vape people you get to say "you just got killed by my Crotch Rockets"

[Lorcan Lladd]

If you do buy a Dragon, at least stuff the largest XL Engine you can find into that 'Mech - with a center torso so vulnerable and exposed, I think you're better off stripping most of the rear armor to reinforce the front, as well.
Never really been a fan of the chassis, but I used one for a couple of matches during closed beta.

[Aaron Knight]

Card, on 21 November 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

Chicks dig Dragons.

True. However, it is well know that the ladies 'dig' guys in uniform. Ergo, Centurion = Guy in Uniform.

Addressing the actual question of the thread though, I find a greater variety of battlefield roles are available to Centurion's over Dragons. I will try no to overly rehash the rolls others have previously mentioned. The CN9-A and -AL can both work well as a direct fire mech or a LRM support, either of which can work well for a role as battlefield director. All of the current model's also are very survivable given the lack of XL engine and having energy hard points in the CT. Certainly not as effective as a fresh mech when zombified; but, still a threat. The mix of energy and missile hard points on the -AL make it particularly useful for an extended engagement in close quarters, having a balanced array of energy weapons to peel off armor and missiles to crit find.

My $0.02

Edited by Aaron Knight, 21 November 2012 - 12:04 PM.

[Martini Henrie]

Hmmm, this is a hard one. Before open happened you would struggle to find me out of my trusty Cents. On initial trials I disliked the Dragon, but I persevered and now I struggle to get into another mech.

As many have said it is not about the alpha, but slashing moves that turn and confuse the opposing team. I rarely top the damage or kills chart. However I am almost always near to top for xp.

Choose your mech for your role. Cent is a better brawling harasser support mech, whereas the Dragon is the perfect mobile hitter. The games I do badly in are the games that I slow down in. Slashing and constantly changing direction are key, and optimal weapon use, a good aim is required for head shots on the run.

Dragons are more expensive to build due to the large xl engines you need, preferable not less than a 320 personally.

Good luck, whichever you choose!

[Diablobo]

I like the Centurion for the torso missile hardpoints. Before the LRM nerf, they made good support mechs that were harder to disarm than the Catapult. Now, they make pretty good escort mechs that can clean up the big guys' scraps and keep the lights off of the others with SSRMs.

I won't play a dragon since it tries to be fast and well armed, but does neither very well.

Edited by Diablobo, 22 November 2012 - 07:28 PM.

[Sandpit]

In my opinion the big difference between the two is weight class and armor. If you drop in a centurion the other team can only field cents, hunchies, or cicadas. Dropping in a dragon means the other team can bring a dragon, catapult, or cataphract. This might change as mm changes but as it stands now that's the drop options. A dragon is going to be able to field more armor because of its size. Firepower is similar between the two mechs as neither is going to deal gobs of it at one time

My personal choice between the two at this point would be the centurion. It's a little more flexible and can take on any other mech in its weight class. I have 2 I'm running at the moment.
1 Gauss and 2 mls
Or
4 med pulse

Both are good on heat and pack enough armor to keep it going after initial contact

[Vosgedzam]

I dig my Centurion with a single AC/20. That's it.

[hercules1981]

This was a load out some1 else had said they ran above
Cent 9A: UAC5 (3 tons ammo) 3 SSRM2s (3 tons ammo) 2 medium lasers. STD 200 engine. Endosteel, DHS. This mech is a killing machine. The UAC has great damage, good range and the jamming is not such a problem now. The streaks are a constant source of damage, even against lights, and the medium lasers are the standard back up weapon. Make sure you use your arm as a shield, especially against LRMs. This build does not have a lot of heat issues, but in a big furr-ball it may run a little hot. Just keep firing the SSRMs on chainfire while you cool down.


I run the same setup only with 2 tons of ssrm ammo and I must have a heat sink or 2 less then u cause I run a 240st engine

Edited by hercules1981, 14 January 2013 - 06:50 PM.