28 replies to this topic

[wanderer]

So you've got your not-a-4X 'Phract out there and you want simple, effective, straightforward.

The solution is the Quad Laser.

Yes, it's a lot like the Moonite one. Slow, but ooh does it pack a wallop.

Take your -1X or -2X or -3D. Strip them. Upgrade them to DHS.

Mount a 250 rated standard engine. You're looking at about 57.8 kph on the ground.

Mount four large lasers- and the 'Phract will take 19-20 DHS on the chassis to go with them.

The -1X can get 20 on there, while you may want AMS and 19 DHS on the other two- or jump jets, in the -3D's case. You'll have a few tons to spare for whatever, as long as it fits in the CT/legs/head.

Fire the arm mounts on low-odds shots. Add the torso lasers when it's a good one, and watch the Quad Laser burn away armor like nobody's business- and with that many DHS, it can actually manage 3 alpha strikes before getting worrisome. Three shots to the same spot will burn an Atlas off at the side torso, and headshotting Cats is not hard with this design (never mind the arms, which burn off in two shots).

Will you win points for creativity? Not at all. But you'll hurt things. Lots. And that's good. And it's one of the cheaper configs to repair, too. Remember to smoke as you shoot the bird.

[Elizander]

Wait, people bought the non-4X phracts?

[Stingz]

Oh boy, same setup I used for my Awesome in MechWarrior 4, quad-L.Las melts anything it hits.

Might need to try it myself when I get a CTF-1X.

[Valdune]

One or two things on this build were different on mine. But I will say this build/idea does work very well.
Even in Caustic if you manage your heat you can be very effective.
Add the speed tweak from elite, and the heat skills from basic and it is even better.

[Mithos]

Elizander, on 25 November 2012 - 04:31 PM, said:

Wait, people bought the non-4X phracts?

They did, for sure. To grab som elite skills for 4x, at least.

[Cybercobra]

i did this but with a atlas. becouse i wanted the extra armor. but yes this kind of build is pretty awesome. i cant WAIT till the stalker.. 6 delicious lazer hardpoints and 4 missle hardpoints... ooooohh this is gonna b guuuuud.

[Wrenchfarm]

Is there any Dragon variant that can run four LLAS? The DRG-1C has four energy mounts, and I know you can run two LLAS in the left torso, but can you fit two more, or just one, in the left arm?

I love the idea of blazing around in the much speedier Dragon while I melt mechs into heaps of slag.

[Mithos]

Yes, you can fit quad LL's into 1C.

[Wrenchfarm]

Mithos, on 26 November 2012 - 05:12 AM, said:

Yes, you can fit quad LL's into 1C.

Then I'm thinking about picking up a 1C.

I've never seen anyone talk about boating a DRG that way, is there something I'm missing that makes it a bad idea? I'm thinking good mobility, hard to hit side torso bits, and 4 LLAS = win. But my math has been sketchy in the past.

[Mithos]

There certainly was a talk not long ago, if you look into dragon threads on 2-3 pages, i'm pretty sure you'll find it. People succeeded in using it, but found it a bit hotter than quad LL K2 catapult. A bit faster, also, and has a fully articulated arm instead of only going up and down K2's - but smaller torso twisting angles.

Resulting, its easier to track fast-runners with arm-mounting lasers on a dragon, but harder to converge all 4 LL's for an alpha or chain than on K2. And dragon is hotter.

[o0Marduk0o]

A few alpha strikes and you have to skip 2 out of 4 LLas because of heat. Too much dead weight if you ask me. On Caustic you will have even more troubles...

[Mithos]

Avoid alphas. Use them only for sure-kill/component destroy or when retreat is preferable and path already secured. For all other occasions you have arm-mounted pair or chained 4 - they generate non-stop beam, pretty disturbing for a target.

[MadPanda]

Atlas RS Quad Laser:

-61 movement speed
-Heat efficiency 1.39
-5 Alphas in a row before overheat
-Quick heat reduction, with some pacing unlimited alphas
-Weapons in arms for better aim (side effect lose arms lose weapons)

So compared to the cataprach, you get higher movement speed and maneuverability, better heat control, higher armor / durability and more firepower overall because of the better heat management. If quad large laser is your desired build, it's simply foolish to get anything but the atlas RS model.

[wanderer]

MadPanda, on 26 November 2012 - 08:57 AM, said:

Atlas RS Quad Laser:

-61 movement speed
-Heat efficiency 1.39
-5 Alphas in a row before overheat
-Quick heat reduction, with some pacing unlimited alphas
-Weapons in arms for better aim (side effect lose arms lose weapons)

So compared to the cataprach, you get higher movement speed and maneuverability, better heat control, higher armor / durability and more firepower overall because of the better heat management. If quad large laser is your desired build, it's simply foolish to get anything but the atlas RS model.

And it's an assault. It's also not a Cataphract, so good luck skilling up your heavy piloting effs with that 100-ton Lyran scout.

The fun thing about quad lasering is that it works for all three variants, pretty much the same way. The only one it doesn't is the -4X, naturally. The -1X can put three lasers in the arms, the other two spread them out nicely and pretty much require you to core the 'Mech to stop it shooting. The -3D is also the only one that can pull it off a 4-LL layout and jump without being an oven.

And yes, you want to sit there chain-firing or snapping off shots from two lasers at a time until you line up a good shot.

Then fire all four and watch the armor melting away.

[Mithos]

MadPanda, on 26 November 2012 - 08:57 AM, said:

Atlas RS Quad Laser:

-61 movement speed
-Heat efficiency 1.39
-5 Alphas in a row before overheat
-Quick heat reduction, with some pacing unlimited alphas
-Weapons in arms for better aim (side effect lose arms lose weapons)

So compared to the cataprach, you get higher movement speed and maneuverability, better heat control, higher armor / durability and more firepower overall because of the better heat management. If quad large laser is your desired build, it's simply foolish to get anything but the atlas RS model.

Quad LL K2 cata has 78.5kph (w/o elite skill, 84.4 after feat unlock) @ 1.24 Heat efficiency (315XL, 19DHS, ES).

I never tried to drop ES, degrade to smaller engine and stuff more heatsinks due personal speedaholism, but wouldn't it still be much faster and maneurable than atli with ~1.39 efficiency?

And yes, its not a phract too. Sorry for hijacking thread )

Edited by Mithos, 26 November 2012 - 09:58 AM.

[Aware]

You can do STD 300 with 4 x LLas, Endo, DHS, To hit 75kph with Speed Tweak.

[MadPanda]

Mithos, on 26 November 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

Quad LL K2 cata has 78.5kph (w/o elite skill, 84.4 after feat unlock) @ 1.24 Heat efficiency (315XL, 19DHS, ES).

I never tried to drop ES, degrade to smaller engine and stuff more heatsinks due personal speedaholism, but wouldn't it still be much faster and maneurable than atli with ~1.39 efficiency?

And yes, its not a phract too. Sorry for hijacking thread )

It would be faster but the 1.24 to 1.39 heat efficiency is a big difference. Only thing that makes quad LL work is the heat efficiency. If you can't be shooting virtually without a break then you might as well strap in 2 gauss in there. I personally don't like energy weapon builds that force you to take a break. It's lethal to you when faced with multiple enemies.

@Wanderer: Sorry just providing an option. No need to get heated up.

[Mithos]

I mean - reaching 1.39 efficiency on k2 and still have more speed and its crazy torso twisting. I'll try sometime, but not now - saving money for last phract, and switching structure is a pain in ***.

[wanderer]

MadPanda, on 26 November 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:

@Wanderer: Sorry just providing an option. No need to get heated up.

Relax, I use un-nerfed DHS when forum posting!

It's more a matter of "Hey, this is a simple, effective, incredibly straightforward build to slap on a 'Phract you're grinding while getting good firepower and minimal repair costs.".

Truth is, the only one that was cheaper and effective for me was the -4X quad AC/2 build. I was regularly seeing 20K repair bills.

[Xeven]

Not bad but every Phract with lasers should have a Guass on it. Runs cool does more damage, longer range. You can run without it sure, but why? Gauss and 3 LL. You can contiue firing the Guass at nearly no heat while the LL cool down and it's single point damage will help the Alpha strike more than the just 5 extra damage a Guass does, it also does not spread its damage like a beam does on moving targets. Head to head I bet this build would take a 4 LL build nearly every time.

Untill they nurf it there is no reason to not put a Gauss on a mech if there is room it always is worth its weight in tons and ammo.