11 replies to this topic

[Lefty Lucy]

What are, potentially, the four mechs that would have the best potential for being decent trial mechs? Basically: which 4 stock mechs have the best configurations for their weight class, taking into account the fact that MWO's heat system keeps *any* of them from being really good?

My votes:

Light: RVN-3L because it has ECM, though it's not quite fast or well-armored enough, and has a lot of superfluous gear, at least the ECM is a benefit to its team. JR-7D as an alternative. It's almost uselessly heat-inefficient, but at least it has good armor and a decent alpha. The light category is really hurting for decent canon mechs, IMO.

Medium: HBK-4H Decent armor, and AC10 is a fairly heat-efficient gun to help deal with heat problems. Also gives the mech enough stand-off range not to have to brawl with a crap design.

Heavy: I like either the DRG-1N or CTF-1X

Assault: AWS-8T or AS7-RS are both decent, but my nod goes to the RS because LRMs are not noob-friendly weapons.

[Wingbreaker]

As proven in every previous MW game, generalist mechs are good starting points as they allow you to discover what you like best. The 1N, 1X, and original atlas variant all followed this, and were stand-ups even for being trial mechs.

[Ozric]

Despite current ECM troubles, the stock C1 is still a very strong variant.

[3rdworld]

The CN9-AL isn't that bad. As long as your not spamming all your weapons at once, it is very usable in its stock form.

But any medium moving at 64.8 is going to have issues.

[bug3at3r]

Why isnt the commando that cant break 100kph on this list?

[Felicitatem Parco]

Lefty Lucy, on 12 December 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

What are, potentially, the four mechs that would have the best potential for being decent trial mechs? Basically: which 4 stock mechs have the best configurations for their weight class, taking into account the fact that MWO's heat system keeps *any* of them from being really good?

My votes:

Light: RVN-3L because it has ECM, though it's not quite fast or well-armored enough, and has a lot of superfluous gear, at least the ECM is a benefit to its team. JR-7D as an alternative. It's almost uselessly heat-inefficient, but at least it has good armor and a decent alpha. The light category is really hurting for decent canon mechs, IMO.

Medium: HBK-4H Decent armor, and AC10 is a fairly heat-efficient gun to help deal with heat problems. Also gives the mech enough stand-off range not to have to brawl with a crap design.

Heavy: I like either the DRG-1N or CTF-1X

Assault: AWS-8T or AS7-RS are both decent, but my nod goes to the RS because LRMs are not noob-friendly weapons.

I agree, any Jenner with 10 SHS will be woefully heat-inefficient... but the I think the Commandos with such light fare can do the best with little heat dissipation. Any Mech armed with just 4 Medium Lasers and 10 SHS would be simply fodder.

I haven't run enough Cicadas to judge them, however the 3M is the only one with DHS. I think the Centurion 9-D would give people a taste of Fast Medium with more firepower than a Cicada, but the lack of HS limits the deliverability of this firepower... I haven't ran a fast Centurion in months, though, so I can't properly judge.

I do like the standard config of the Hunchback 4G, but once you touch the 2 medium Lasers it pretty much sets you on course for OverHeat.. this trend carries into the 4H where players are much more tempted to use those 4 Mediums and cook themselves.. The Hunchback-4P has, like, 23 SHS, though, which makes it one of the very few Trial Mechs with enough Heatsinks to operate effectively compared to Custom Mechs. It'd require new players to fiddle with weapons groups, though, or they'll alpha too much. Making the default weapon Group 1 being the 2 arm lasers, and groups 2 and 3 being just 3ML each would help reduce the incidence of becoming Sway-too-hot.

For The Heavies, direct-fire Trial Mechs with AC/5 are the good because of that weapon's heat efficiency. Also, the stock Cat C1 isn't bad (2 tons of LRMs makes it frugal, but teaches you how to best use your limited missiles and it has enough ML and HS to fight with).

For Assaults, I like the 8Q... assuming there's a way to inform people about the 90m PPC-thingie... I think the 9M is too hot with just ERPPCs, and the XL makes it go down very easily. The Atlas-K would be a XL-Deathtrap, as well. Honestly, I think just about the best kind of Mech to see on the field is an XL-Assault Mech on my Enemy's team. The generic Atlas 7D lacks long-range weapons aside from just the LRM20, whereas the Awesomes have LL's - for those reasons, I prefer the Awesome 8T and the Atlas RS, and I'm pretty sure one of the Stalkers might do well here, too... assuming they give it enough HS.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 12 December 2012 - 12:51 PM.

[Tennex]

All the Awesome vareints i've tried are very good. The heat management is crazy but, the secret is to split your wewapons into as many weapon groups as possible.

really the ERPPCs get fired 1 every 10 seconds.. i guess the tonnage would better be used in armor or heat sinks. its not quite optimized

[Nathan Foxbane]

Prosperity Park, on 12 December 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

I haven't run enough Cicadas to judge them, however the 3M is the only one with DHS. I think the Centurion 9-D would give people a taste of Fast Medium with more firepower than a Cicada, but the lack of HS limits the deliverability of this firepower... I haven't ran a fast Centurion in months, though, so I can't properly judge.

The Cicadas are definitely experienced pilot territory as it can have trouble dog fighting with the fast lights it plays a similar role to for starters. While fast and manuverable, their armor is lacking and the stock load outs are not new user friendly. The 2A and 3M are the best of the lot. The 2A is heat friendly and relatively survivable compared with 3M by using standard engine while being woefully under gunned in addition to the light armor, the 3M has got more hitting power with the Ultra, but ACs are difficult to use effectively at speed and with the Ultra's RoF shy on ammo, but at least you have some sort of standoff capability. 2B, well between a reduction in armor and replacing the small laser with a flamer, you tell me. 3C for newbies? No, just no. With the current netcode the PPC is problematic at best (though the travel speed change should help a little) and 2 MG as close range firepower would be a cruel joke on new players. As a custom build heavy scout or hit-and-run flanker, all the Cicadas shine though getting a good build for the 3C is troublesome.

9D is a good machine and a prime example of an all around medium though. I have not dabbled in the Hunchies so I cannot give a good opinion on them.
I like your light suggestion.

The 2X Cataphract model would be a good heavy or the C1, but I am partial to the C1 because the light ammo load and quad mediums encourage pilots to practice being scrappy and provide good close defense.

I do not like playing assaults so I have no opinion there.

[Lanessar]

I know people hate on the AWS-9M for the heat generation, but if you know how to re-map and set things to chainfire, it can be frighteningly effective in battle.

[Smeghead87]

The hunchback 4SP is the best stock I've used. I also had fun in my Raven 2X. The Atlas D is one hell of a brawler with some LRM for when they run away from you. I'm not a big fan of any of the current heavy mechs so I'll leave it at 3.
Main reason I configured from stock, they all ran way too hot (as trial mechs do).

[SirLANsalot]

Light. Jenner-D. with proper heat management skills can be used well. The Jenner-F is also a good one.

Medium. HBK-4G. Will forever and always be the best stock mech. AC/20s heat is easily manageable, and the two ML on the arms are good to use. Best combination out there. (the 4H is not a good mech, since its a 4G with an AC10 instead, when it can hold the 20 as well).

Heavy: Catapult-C1 stock. Great mech and decent heat efficiency, as long as you fire the 4 ML in pairs instead of alpha.

Assault: AWS-9M. Its stock config is very good and its heat is easy to manage, even with 3 ER PPC's. use the PPC's in chain fire so as to keep the heat manageable, and those streaks are great for swatting lights away.

[Sprouticus]

SirLANsalot, on 12 December 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

Medium. HBK-4G. Will forever and always be the best stock mech. AC/20s heat is easily manageable, and the two ML on the arms are good to use. Best combination out there. (the 4H is not a good mech, since its a 4G with an AC10 instead, when it can hold the 20 as well).

This. The only downside to this is you HAVE to watch your back. The armor distribution is insane. If you keep your back protected, it can take a hell of a beating and dish out a ton of damage.