81 replies to this topic

[Artifex 28]

I am having SO much fun with 3x PPC and the XL380. 1.3 heat eff.

PPCs aren't that good, but certainly fun.

Edited by Artifex 28, 18 December 2012 - 02:47 AM.

[Artifex 28]

Can't wait for the patch. PPC gonna be even more Awesome - on Awesome!

[TheStrider]

Those who are dis'ing this build haven't played it.

It's AWESOME. (Yes, corny, but that's the life of an Awesome) Mine runs an SRM6 plus the 2 SRM4s, 2 MPL and 2ML.

I've pulled 950 damage off with it. It's a rare game that I don't get several kills and assists. Only occasionally do I suffer from an XL blowout early in the game. I get CT cored more often than not.

IMO the only problem with the build is the cost of entry. You can buy an entire lance for it's cost!

[Artifex 28]

Build tested which all work epicly with XL380.

a) SRM6 + 2x SRM4 + 2x MPL + 2x ML

b) 3x SRM4 + 4x MPL

And my current favorite

c) 3x SRM4 + LL + 3x ML

And here's a bonus for fun.

d) 3x PPC (not a brawler, but so fun!)

Edited by Artifex 28, 18 December 2012 - 08:05 AM.

[Artifex 28]

And now the PPCs are even more epic!

[Artifex 28]

Stalker with 4x PPC isn't bad either, but 9M sure has mad mobility over it. And the heat eff is 1.1 on that one...

[Drakoon Harmtoucher]

this is prob one of my fav mechs. the top speed engine, even while being xl, lets you survive by doing hit and runs. its like playing tie fighter with lots of boom

[TheFuzzyBunny]

I love this mech. Its a great change of pace from my Stalker and Atlas. Here is what I use:

XL380
1 Large Laser
3 Medium Pulse
3 SSRM
DHS

Simply great for skirmishing and flanking maneuvers.

[Child3k]

@TheFuzzyBunney - I'm running the same loadout and I love this mech - except I dropped the 3xMPLs for 4xMLs after a while. I started out playing HBKs and the 9M with that loudout kinda is the super-heavy Version of a HBK. Only downside: It's freakin' expensive and the XL can be a liability - you just have to always keep moving ...

Hint for all the ppl using a XL375: The 380 weighs the same

Edited by Child3k, 19 December 2012 - 04:32 PM.

[Taizan]

I wouldn't seriously recommend the Awesome to any new player. You need to be very nimble, very mindful of your positioning and also completely forget about the fact that you are supposedely an Assault class mech. You are less mobile than a medium, have about the same firepower as a heavy and overheat faster than any mechs in the field.

Not to mention its so simply to core an Awesome, even if you've moved the armor to the front giving you 80 armor. Being good in an Awesome means you have to completely forget anything you thought about Assault mechs. Also move away from thinking you are the huge deathbringer with PPCs - its not meant to be in MWO.

[Sandra McCrow]

Yes, I would agree. It definitely takes a while to learn the thing. I suppose it's just my hatred to atlases and distaste to stalker designs that drove me to try this mech. Also - a whine about it being a cripple makes it a challenge.

Plus - they finally allowed to paint it!

In terms of forgetting that you are assault - well it's no exactly true. If you drive ppc based build - than you are a back line mech. You would not like to go forward - your punch is simply waaay to hot to survive the brawl.
On the other hand if you are like me and guys above run it like LL 3 MpLs and total 14 smrs launches (2x4s and a 6th) with xl380 - you should be even more aggressive than an atlas. But not dully aggressive.
You do not want to engage multiple targets and tank them like a slooow bastion-shaped-n-tanked atlas. But on the other hand you either engage and charge without back-thoughts or do not engage at all. You are kinda gank mech. Awesome has enough firepower and mobility to withstand a direct brawl with atlas or stalker or any other mech in the field. The only difference is that you would rather not do it face to face - like two standing fortresses. Speed is a key.

BTW - "less mobile than meds" - I find that I dread the mobility of the only non-light mech - a dragon. Well cicada probably as well - but somehow there are not that many good cicada pilots out there.

Here is another thing - forget about back pedal - it would be much easier to find cover or disengage from a too hot a situation by running forward and away rather than slowly stepping back and soaking damage.

Pity that std 380 is thaaaat heavy...

Oh and sure - while PPC are fun - it's not an devastating weapon. I tried a dozen or so matches with dual ppc + smr/ml punch. Somehow your energy-based-ammo-free-ac20 does not feel like one. Fun and beautiful - but steel leaves a lame impression.

Edited by Sandro Mc, 19 December 2012 - 05:47 PM.

[Taizan]

Sandro Mc, on 19 December 2012 - 05:42 PM, said:

Yes, I would agree. It definitely takes a while to learn the thing. I suppose it's just my hatred to atlases and distaste to stalker designs that drove me to try this mech. Also - a whine about it being a cripple makes it a challenge.

Exactly the same reason I run Awesome's, they aren't bad at all, just pale on first comparison to any of the other assault class mechs. Once you get the hang of being mobile, picking the cherries in the heat of the battle and seeing yourself as heavy mobile support assault barn door, all is well.

[SiR DreW]

I have been playing the catapult with 4 energy and 2 missle hardpoints. I ended up slapping 4 med pulse lasers on it and as many standard heatsinks as can fit(dropping a bit of armor from the missle pods). It actually turned out to be really fun to play. Short range, but fun. My k2 is your standard 4LL endo, DHS build. (highly effective).

Basicly I wanted to find something that could be fast and slap as many MED Pulse on as I could.

Just bought the 9m lastnight, immidatly slapped the largest XL engine in it and 6 med pulse lasers/dhs. What happens... over heat issues. Poop. I ended up tweaking to 5 med pulse and one LL on the right arm(aimable)& ams. Its actually turned out better than I thought.

Assault mech running at 80kph. 5 med pulse with enough DHS to balance them out. 30 points of semi pinpoint damage every 3seconds(very effective vs lights). And the aimable LL for a bit of softening / distace harrass. The speed is highly important as poroper positioning is probobly the most effective way to play.

Major downside is the XL, the 4 med pulse cata dosent suffer from it. That and being a pretty wide target. As i get used to it ill start getting better at turning sideways at people to give them a tiny target profile.

I did like the suggestion of not slowing down and just running by people. You definstaly seem to absorb more damage when you try to stop. LRMS are not your friends as you make a fat target for them.

I'll keep tweaking it for a while yet. Most people would suggest medium lasers instead of the pulse, for the distance, yes. But try stacking pulse lasers with the appropriate heat dissapation, 1.4 is a great place to be. People really dont expect the constant stream of fire while you stay nearly heat netural. The more I'm firing the better. If the heat gets high, let it cool a bit then start cycle firing the pulse lasers. The same build with mediums will stay heat nutral when you cycle fire 6 med lasers on caustic.

Hope thats informative for some.


SiR-DreW

[Sandra McCrow]

The suggestion about swapping back to MLs is not a good one for awesome as I see it. You should be swift and use your awesome speed to surprise people and get on top of them before they realise what's going on. If you managed to get this advantage of 1-2 shots - brawl is as good as done for them. The important think though is that once you are in - you would rather keep up the temp. MpLs are much better for that - you do not have to place the volley for the whole second. Even if you scratch with MpLs you most likely still placed more damage than if you scratched with MLs. And those bit's of second you win - you use to twist your torso and shield your pot-belly from return-fire and lmrs by your massive hands. Heat is an issue but it's manageable.

Personally I haven't tried multiple MpLs - I use only 3 of them + smrs. But I'll try to play around with builds.
As many ppl noticed earlier - LL is a good weapon here as well. You can harass and suppress enemy from the distance and then - it's your additional 9 point alpha in close range. I usually run brawl on MpLs and 14 SMR tubes and use LL only when I NEED to put those additional 9 points to shave of a hand of stalker or finish punchy target before it can place another salvo.

Oh yessssss - I adore stalkers - their soft hands especially! It's like lightbulb HBK - destruction of one component instantly makes the half of cucumber's target info panel go red. Lovely.

[Artifex 28]

After buying three stalkers and unlocking ..at least one of those to elite, I can still say - this 9M is my favorite.

[SiR DreW]

"Current" setup after a weekend of tweaking:

4 med pulse (24 damage every 2.75 sec, avg 30% heat on river city)
2 srm4
1 srm6
dhs (1.2-1.3 dissipation)
xl385, I might be the one step down from the 385
ams
2 tons srm ammo

Find some assault to escort, hide, and pick your engagements carefully.

I got so frustrated with all the light mechs running around that I went back to the pulse lasers.
Running 3xLL and the same srm setup was nice for a while. You can really dish it out at range.(dropped engine, tying standard and xl). All the lights murder XL. Need the speed to be evasive. I'm not interested in the other versions of the awesome. I'd rather just be in an atlas.

I try to focus on killing lights now, the srms help a bunch, it kinda lays down a wall of fire for them to run into. and its nice to be able to alpha unsuspecting victims in the back 2-3 times without overheating.

[Wrenchfarm]

Just to note, I re-bought my AWE-9M after coming around full circle on the chassis. I'm LOVING it. I run with an XL350 and some very simple builds. I tried the 3xPPCs as a lark expecting to have a few fun rounds wasting time. Instead I started posting +500 damage consistently. As long as you stay vigilant and with a lance mate or two capable of chasing away lights, you can do leave junkyards worth of wreckage on the battlefield.

4xLLAS is a bit more practical, very high damage and better usability than the PPCs. But TBH, I already boat 4 LLAS and 3 MLAS on my AWE-8Q, so I like to mix it up with the 9M.

I'm sure there are more well rounded builds. I'm sure a smart Johnny would build his 9M with a mix of lasers and SRMs to make it a self-sustaining murder machine. But I like stupid things. I like firing more lighting bolts and giant blue lasers than anyone else on the field.

[Xelchon]

GalaxyBluestar, on 16 December 2012 - 07:59 PM, said:

you're sending an xl engine into closerange combat.... nice knowing you.

anyways serious now. the big question is what heat sink you use?

I play a similar build Awesome for a while now. The speed gets you through most situations, and have you ever looked at the side torso hitboxes of this thing? XL engine doesn't make a diifference for this since the only way you die is always center torso. So cover it good enough, and the massive hitboxes of the arms, always protects your side torso.
However; I find the "satellite dish-like front CT" very accurate. It needs to be fixed, because its a very great disadvantage compared to other assaults and heavies..

Wrenchfarm, on 25 December 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

I'm sure there are more well rounded builds. I'm sure a smart Johnny would build his 9M with a mix of lasers and SRMs to make it a self-sustaining murder machine. But I like stupid things. I like firing more lighting bolts and giant blue lasers than anyone else on the field.

So very true my friend... so very true. ^^

[Random Incarnate]

I run mine with a 350XL, ER PPC, 2 LL and 3 SSRM, and 22 DHS to alpha nearly as much as I want. I'll be dropping 4 HS for two more ER PPCs when the heat changes, I'm in love with the speed of them already.

[NRP]

Here is my current 9M build:

2 ERPPC (wanted more punch at range)
2 ML
3 SRM4
XL380
Endo
20 DHS
464 armor
HE = 1

Everyone always recommends an Atlas for a noob, but to be honest I struggle a lot more in my D-DC than I do in my 9M. I think it's the speed. The 9M handles like a bigger, badder Dragon. It's so much more maneuverable than the Atlas. I like the 9M so much that I'm going to get more of them and try to get the elite perks. The only downside is the cost of the upgrades, but the cost is totally worth it imo.