45 replies to this topic

[Spinning Burr]

Seriously. It's not the fastest mech, but there are so many loadout options. From brawling, to sniping, to LRM boating with artemis, to laser boating. Very strong variety of variants that give very different roles and styles of play. Among phract fans, what's your most and least favorite? Right now I can't decide between 2X, 3D, and hero model as my favorite. Least favorite has become the 4X. Too slow and no real need for 4 ballistic hardpoints I've found unless you love to AC2 boat x4. Otherwise I think UAC5 technology easily brings same firepower in 2 and 3 ballistic hardpoint variants as does AC5 x4. So the speed tradeoff is not worth the extra hardpoint imo. I've bought all variants except 1X which is the laser boat variant, but I'm not a laser boat fan. It's very effective but boring for me as a style of play. Would be interested in other opinions about favorite and least favorite variants.

[The Cheese]

If you use a phract as an LRM boat, you're doing it wrong.

Other than that, yeah, it's pretty damn versatile. I actually don't find it to be all that great as a close up brawler though, due to the limited arm movement.

With a standard engine though, it can take a hell of a pounding.

Edited by The Cheese, 13 December 2012 - 12:52 AM.

[Pr8Dator]

ME TOO! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[Spinning Burr]

Let's consider the 2X model. Put SRM6x2 into left arm and LBX 10 or AC20 into right torso and you have a serious brawler with room for 3 medium lasers. Switch out the SRM's for LRM's 15x2 with artemis in left arm and equip with BAP, sensor module, zoom, TAG in left torso and you have your continuous fire LRM boat. Why is that wrong? Now put a gauss cannon in right torso and a ER large laser or ER PPC in right arm and you have a hell of a long range sniper/LRM boat support mech. So your 2X switches from short range brawler loadout (270m or less) to long range targeted firepower (600+m all the way to 1500m with the gauss and ER PPC). I don't think that's doing it wrong. That's just the 2X loadouts.

[BCOVertigo]

I only have a 2x, but it's honestly a lot of fun to tinker with. It's the first mech I can honestly say I've picked up and seen multiple possibilities in that didn't feel cheesey.

[Jadel Blade]

You arent a big fan of the enter key though are you?

Ive been trying the 'phract lately and I dont mind it Im just not sure I get the point of it. Its too slow to outmanoeuvre an assault and is way less armoured. Its not just this mech its all of them.

Im just inclined to think 4 atlas and 4 ravens would be a better team setup than having anything from weight classes in between.

[Elkarlo]

Awww a youngling discovering the Loveliness of a 70 ton Killing Maschine.

Personally i miss a Phract version with the Hardpoints for a WHM-6R configuration...
(Energyslot each arm, 2 Energyslots+1 Ballistic each Side torso,
and 1 Missle slot right Side torso, make it a Hero PGI and i would buy it in an instand)

But i find the CTF admirable too... but my real love belongs to another 70 ton Sweethard

[One Medic Army]

I'm loving both my 3D and my 4X, still torn on what to get for my third though. Ilya or 2X.

[Enemista]

The Cheese, on 13 December 2012 - 12:50 AM, said:

If you use a phract as an LRM boat, you're doing it wrong.

what is so wrong about it?

my 2X with 2xLRM15 and 2xLL and TAG is really good support mech for my team

[Roumata]

....and dont overlook the 1X!


Gauss and ER PPC make a wonderfull team with 4 ML, XL and DHS.


I Like this Variant alot

also the 3D with twin Gauss and 4 ML/XL/DHS. in 8 Men Groupfight u always be Primary in a Gausspult...not in the Phract.

Edited by Roumata, 13 December 2012 - 02:12 AM.

[Cleverbird]

So guys, for a straight up brawler, which variant would you people suggest I take?

I like my hunchies, but they're so fragile and I'd like a bit more armor and firepower.

[Adrienne Vorton]

honestly, i never thought i would ever give up my beloved catapults...until the cataphract showed up^^ ...you are right, it has a great range of variety, a lot to try and play around with, the same reason i liked the catapults for... and my current loadout is just lovely for me...

[Roumata]

This for brawling:

Cataphract 2x Destroyer, Death at 200 paces

280 STD Engine
13 DHS
Endo-Steel


1x AC20 RT
3x MLaser RT LT RA
2x SRM6 Artemis LA

Edited by Roumata, 13 December 2012 - 02:18 AM.

[Pr8Dator]

Jadel Blade, on 13 December 2012 - 01:48 AM, said:

You arent a big fan of the enter key though are you?

Ive been trying the 'phract lately and I dont mind it Im just not sure I get the point of it. Its too slow to outmanoeuvre an assault and is way less armoured. Its not just this mech its all of them.

Im just inclined to think 4 atlas and 4 ravens would be a better team setup than having anything from weight classes in between.

I equip my 2X with a XL 315 engine and I not only have outmaneuvered assaults but some hunchbacks as well. Thats the thing about Phracts, it gives you speed if you are willing to give it the engine (excluding the 4X of course).

The 2X is so much fun I am thinking of buying another one so I can have two diff configs rather than take it apart so often! LOL!

Edited by Pr8Dator, 13 December 2012 - 02:20 AM.

[Adrienne Vorton]

Cleverbird, on 13 December 2012 - 02:13 AM, said:

So guys, for a straight up brawler, which variant would you people suggest I take?

i personally won´t use a phract for a straight brawler... for a brawl supporter though, most likely the 4x (but i´m the wrong person for this, i almost never play straight brawlers, i´m more 2nd line/ flanking support)

[Pr8Dator]

Cleverbird, on 13 December 2012 - 02:13 AM, said:

So guys, for a straight up brawler, which variant would you people suggest I take?

I like my hunchies, but they're so fragile and I'd like a bit more armor and firepower.

Heavies are never straight up brawlers. That's what assaults are for. Heavies lack the armor and firepower of assaults and the speed of fast mediums. You want alot of speed or armor/firepower in a brawl and no heavy has the best of those.

However, if you are playing slow hunchies with lots of firepower, you could go with any phract with upgraded engine and get the same speed for more firepower and armor.

Edited by Pr8Dator, 13 December 2012 - 02:25 AM.

[MadPanda]

Cleverbird, on 13 December 2012 - 02:13 AM, said:

So guys, for a straight up brawler, which variant would you people suggest I take?

I like my hunchies, but they're so fragile and I'd like a bit more armor and firepower.

The hero muromets or the 2X. The hero muromets is stronger imo, but the 2X isn't far behind.

Hero load out:

3 ML
3 UAC5
Standard engine 280

2X load out:

2 Srm6
3 ML
1 AC20
Standard engine 250

[Pr8Dator]

MadPanda, on 13 December 2012 - 02:26 AM, said:

The hero muromets or the 2X. The hero muromets is stronger imo, but the 2X isn't far behind.

Hero load out:

3 ML
3 UAC5
Standard engine 280

2X load out:

2 Srm6
3 ML
1 AC20
Standard engine 250

Indeed, go with IM if you don't care for missiles. If you definitely MUST have missiles, go with 2X. Otherwise, both variants are pretty much the same (apart from the cbill boost from IM of course) unless you definitely must play 3 ballistic weapons and dun want to move slow, then definitely the IM. 4X is never a brawler because it simply lacks the speed to do so effectively. 1X is tricky to brawl with since its an energy boat making heat management an issue in a hot brawl.

Edited by Pr8Dator, 13 December 2012 - 02:29 AM.

[TruePoindexter]

Gotta say that ever since I got mine I see no reason to run my Hunchbacks.

1X:
5 ML 1 AC20 300 engine

3D:
4 ML 2 UAC5 280XL engine

IM:
3 ML 3 AC5 320XL engine

4X
2 MPL 2 AC10 255XL engine

The only one I really don't like is the 4X.

[The Cheese]

Enemista, on 13 December 2012 - 01:59 AM, said:

what is so wrong about it?

Small LRM volleys (in this case, 4 missiles per volley) get reduced by AMS very easily. This means less missiles hit your target. Essentially, you need to carry a lot more ammo to do enough damage for it to be worth it.

The reason the A1 cats can get away with small volleys (6 x lrm5) is that they can carry a crapton of ammo without having to worry about leaving space and tonnage for backup weapons. This leaves them ridiculously vulnerable at close range. Also, if they lose an arm, they're still effective. If the phract loses that arm, there goes all of your main firepower.