16 replies to this topic

[Andarist]

I just wanted to share my slightly unusual mech build and encourage others to share theirs. I thought this might be fun because sometimes you try out something crazy in the mech bay and contrary to all reasonable expectations it works. Feel free to share any crazy build you've tried that you would consider to be non-standard and say why it is you've found it works, or simply why you like it.

I recently picked up a C1 to work on my mech efficiencies because I wanted to level my K2 (the K2 is a gaussapault, by the way... I love sniping) and because I love the K2 I decided to strip the missiles from the C1 and play around.

First thing I did was buy endosteel. No brainer for a cat, I think. i started with the stock engine because I'd previously only used standard engines on my cats and i was used to the speed. Then I looked at the hard points. Missiles, sure, but I didn't want missiles. I was bored by this point with missiles. So what else? 4 energy hard points. Hmmmm.

I decided to try 2 large pulse lasers and 2 medium pulse lasers. And 2 streaks because i was still a bit light tonnage wise. DHS was then a must have so I popped it on and loaded as many DHS as I could... 15 or 17 if I recall.

I took it into a match. I overheated like crazy and got destroyed. Tried it a couple more times and it still performed poorly. Something was missing.

The big issue was heat but I didn't really have the criticals I needed to fix that. So I popped in a 300 xl engine, dropped the streaks and got another couple of DHS in, but I was again a bit light on tonnage but had nowhere to fit the streaks back in in respect to criticals(ilike a lot of ammo). I figured screw it, drop the mediums for 1 large, throw in a couple of jump jets, beef up my armour and see what happens.

The thing is a beast. 84 kph with speed tweak, big firepower, pretty good heat efficiency (I can fire for about a minute on chain fire and not overheat or get off 3-4 alphas) and it's nearly impossible to disarm me because all the weaponry is in the torso. The added bonus is that I can move at near scout speeds, which surprises the heck out of opponents, and lay down an absolutely withering amount of firepower with the precision you get from torso aim and the cat's torso twist. Plus, enemies expect missiles from a C1 so they tend to try to close in on me which makes them perfect targets for my lpls, and I just melt them. I can go toe to toe with atlases or jenners, lag shielded or not, and while A1s are an issue for anyone at close range if I get one alone I can usually lop their ears off. I love this build and anyone I've faced in it has usually ended up surprised and confused for the first part of the engagement long enough for me to get some really good hits on them before they can really react.

Share your wacky builds. Nothing standard please, but let people know not only what your build is but why you like it, and maybe even what your thought process was when you were putting it together.

[Stormur Herra]

My C-1 has a pair of ER PPCs and a pair of Streaks to deal with people getting in close. It's probably more balanced than a gaussapult as a sniping mech, but suffers from the disadvantages of PPCs vs. gauss rifles.

[Taryys]

C1 - XL300, ES, dHS, 3MPL, Tag, 2 LRM15, BAP, Sensor Range module

[Taryys]

K2 - XL300, dHS, ES, 4 MPL, 2 MG

[Magnumaniac]

C1 - XL315, 1JJ, ES, 18DHS, 3LL, 2SSRM+2 ammo, AMS+1 ammo. Add modules to taste!

Not a spare critical slot in sight. Not really a sniper, but can pick off streakapult ears outside their range easy enough (and stay out of range).

[Elepole]

I have a Cicada that i use with three different build:

XL, DHS, ES, FF, ERPPC, AC(2 or 5).

Or

XL, DHS, ES, FF, ERLL, AC(2 or 5).

Or

XL, DHS, ES, FF, AC/10, ML.

The first one is a beast all around, but with some heat management. The second one a superior sniper and light killer, and no heat at all. And the last one is the "Surprise Butsecks" build. There is two Cicada that can use those, i'm in the process of buying the second one so i can run them all day long .

Edited by Elepole, 03 December 2012 - 10:36 AM.

[Mr 144]

My 'Firehose'

I'm not sharing the whole build, as it took me a long time and quite the fortune in C-Bills to perfect, but the whacky, suprisingly effective part is....

AWS-9M
ALRM15 in the arm
TAG in the Head

As there are only 2 tubes in the arm, it fires off a steady stream of 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1.....This started as a 'fun' cheese experiment, but is very very effective if used correcctly. The smallest possible missle grouping, combined with Artemis and TAG makes for suprising precision and focused damage. Is it uber'listic? Nope...but very fun, and I get way better results than a single SSRM or SRM in the lone hardpoint.

Caveats:
I have practiced LRM 'brawling' (never boating) since closed beta
At long range a single AMS will eat EVERY missle (but chew through the AMS ammo nicely, which helps the boats)
At close range AMS is still very effective at negating most of your missles.
Do not expect large damage numbers. (compare it to the only other options, a Single SSRM2 or SRM6)

Perks:
The stream WILL be effective against fast lights in the open. They WILL NOT be able to dodge them all.
Self Tagging range produces panic in opponents due to its long duration.
Suppresion. This is huge. Ever watch 2 LRM boats trading rounds from opposing hilltops? Peek, Alpha, Hide, Repeat. Manually targeting the hilltop will suppress there desire to crest..
2 tons of ammo (using free 75% rearm) and you should never run dry.

It's by far the most suprisingly fun and effective thing I've used.

Mr 144

Edited by Mr 144, 03 December 2012 - 11:17 AM.

[TruePoindexter]

Cataphract CTF-1X
340XL w/ DHS
3x Large Laser
1x AC2 w/1 ton ammo
Near max armor

Runs about 86kph while being able to pinpoint 27 damage shots while running faster than most mechs and very cool to boot.

Good times.

[Lord Caedrun]

Don't really know if this is a non standard build, but I really like it so here it is:

CN9-AL

Endo, DHS, and Std 250 engine(gets me 81kph), 4ML, 2 SRM4+Art(only 1 ton of ammo tho), AMS, BAP, and the sensor range boost module.

I can run around as a scout, but still have the longevity and punch to handle firefights for a decent amount of time. Love all those spotting assists.

[Insidious Johnson]

CTF - 1x 340xl, 4LL, DHS, BAP or 1x - 300XL, 5LL DHS, BAP. Full and high speed laser boating at its finest.
CDA - 3M - 295xl, DHS, BAP (will be ecm 2morrow), 3 LL. Or 320xl, DHS, BAP, ECM, BAP, 2LL
CDA - 3c - 1ERLL, 1lbx 10 x3ammo, endo, DHS.

[MadPanda]

Puma
Jenner-JR7-D

2x ER PPC

Jump jets
250 XL

[nuttycide]

CDA-3M also know to me as 'SPEEDY'.

It has a STD 200 engine, for a max speed of 81. Endo Steel and FerriosFibers. 10 DHS, 1 MLAS and 1 AC/20. Most people see a cicada think of speed and annoying lasers. But with this build I have turned it into a mobile donkeypunching cicada. And most players don't like being hit with a AC/20 or even facing it. Plus with the Cicadas mobility and the speed it has, makes for a great flanker.

Edited by nuttycide, 03 December 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[TruePoindexter]

nuttycide, on 03 December 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

CDA-3M also know to me as 'SPEEDY'.

It has a STD 200 engine, for a max speed of 81. Endo Steel and FerriosFibers. 10 DHS, 1 MLAS and 1 AC/20. Most people see a cicada think of speed and annoying lasers. But with this build I have turned it into a mobile donkeypunching cicada. And most players don't like being hit with a AC/20 or even facing it. Plus with the Cicadas mobility and the speed it has, makes for a great flanker.

So you've made a slightly larger and faster Urbanmech

[nuttycide]

TruePoindexter, on 03 December 2012 - 12:04 PM, said:

So you've made a slightly larger and faster Urbanmech

Pretty much, lol.

[Bounty Dogg]

Metal Gear: Raptor
Catapult CPLT-K2
XL 290
15 DHS
3x ML
1x ERPPC
1x GR
(3 tns. ammo)

I find that I aim better when using the 'Extra Pepsi' ( ) in tandem with the gauss rifle, using the gauss as a VERY expensive and high damage 'tracer shot'. when in close range, the 3 MLs are a nice solid punch thats pretty easy on my heat, but I also have really good luck mixing in my sniper shot at brawl range, making me a suprisingly potent CRC (close range combatant) as well!

The name comes from the fact that if I put an ML in the left arm and the Extra Pepsi in the right arm, it kinda evokes Metal Gear Rex from MGS fame. XD

Edited by Bounty Dogg, 03 December 2012 - 12:20 PM.

[Lykaon]

I found the C1 Catapult to be one of the most versitile mechs currently available.

I was running a brawler cat for a bit it was if I recall.

max or near max armor using normal armor
300XL engine
20 double heatsinks
jumpjet
2 large lasers
2 medium lasers
2 SSRM-2 with 2 tons ammo
AMS with 1 ton ammo.

My usual configuration is an LRM support mech

Near max standard armor
260XL engine
12 double heatsinks
2 artemis IV LRM-15s with 8 tons of ammo
3 medium lasers
1 TAG
jumpjet

My funny build was a 4x RAVEN with AC20 TAG jumpjet and a smal laser called it a suburban mech.

[OneManWar]

Cataphract 2X - Dual HS, Endosteel, AC/20, 2 med lasers and 2 streaks. Brawl city and good at cutting down lights as well.