11 replies to this topic

[Martin Gray]

I think Stalkers have so many hard points on them you can out match about any mech with all the weapons you can mount on one. Please raise the hard points on other mechs to allow more weapons or lower the hard points on Stalker mechs. The Atlas was supposed to be the Ultimate Assault mech not the Stalker.

[Critical Fumble]

No, the Atlas is supposed to be the ultimate damage sponge with an armament that let it hurt anything that could shoot at it.

My question for you is: Which end of the Stalker did you play on that led you to this conclusion?

[Varrin Coursca]

But the cost of those missile and energy hard points is:

* Low top speed, even with the 310 engine
* Slow torso twist, even with the 310 engine
* Limited torso twist arc, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Low overall maneuverability, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Large side torso hitboxes/prominent side profile
* Significant heat management issues, which restricts firing frequency
* No arm articulation -- a big disadvantage against Lights and fast Mediums
* No ECM mount
* No ballistic mounts

The Stalker has enough drawbacks to balance out its hard points.

[Orgasmo]

I ran into one face to face today with my Atlas D. I lit him up like a Christmas tree in three salvos.

[Op4blushift]

Varrin Coursca, on 19 December 2012 - 10:59 PM, said:

But the cost of those missile and energy hard points is:

* Low top speed, even with the 310 engine
* Slow torso twist, even with the 310 engine
* Limited torso twist arc, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Low overall maneuverability, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Large side torso hitboxes/prominent side profile
* Significant heat management issues, which restricts firing frequency
* No arm articulation -- a big disadvantage against Lights and fast Mediums
* No ECM mount
* No ballistic mounts

The Stalker has enough drawbacks to balance out its hard points.

Yeah all this, I got a stalker as my first assault and its been fun but it definetley has its weak points as above.

Edited by Op4blushift, 19 December 2012 - 11:14 PM.

[Martin Gray]

I have watched people play the Stalker from their cockpit and been on the receiving end. The amount of weapons these can mount are awesome. I just think it unbalanced when compared to other Assault and Heavy mechs.

Edit: They just need to reduce a few hard points and the mech should be balanced out.

Critical Fumble, on 19 December 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

No, the Atlas is supposed to be the ultimate damage sponge with an armament that let it hurt anything that could shoot at it.

My question for you is: Which end of the Stalker did you play on that led you to this conclusion?

Edited by Martin Gray, 19 December 2012 - 11:15 PM.

[Ryvucz]

Hop into it yourself, and see how you can handle its limitations. =)

It's not overpowered, no mech is overpowered.

A skillful pilot, is overpowered.

[blinkin]

the stalkers are chewy but they are slow and do not have fully articulated arms.

just uh... walk around behind it or even beside it. even the ones with streaks rarely hit me.

after some of my kills i do wonder if their cockpit might be a little big too.

[Roadbuster]

Varrin Coursca, on 19 December 2012 - 10:59 PM, said:

But the cost of those missile and energy hard points is:

* Low top speed, even with the 310 engine
* Slow torso twist, even with the 310 engine
* Limited torso twist arc, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Low overall maneuverability, even with Elite proficiencies unlocked
* Large side torso hitboxes/prominent side profile
* Significant heat management issues, which restricts firing frequency
* No arm articulation -- a big disadvantage against Lights and fast Mediums
* No ECM mount
* No ballistic mounts

The Stalker has enough drawbacks to balance out its hard points.

Not much to add to this.
Try one and see for yourself. The side torsos are very weak, so, using an XL engine is a high risk.
It took me some time to come up with a loadout that's working for me without any upgrades like DHS or Endo Steel.

What I found is that LRMs on it are useless in PUGs if you don't have someone to support you.
Even the Awesome is better suited for LRM support while Catapult is the most viable LRM support mech in my opinion.

I agree with people saying it's rather small compared to Catapult though.

[Adrienne Vorton]

the stalker is a good assault mech... good, not too good

[Mr Mantis]

I haven't had any problems with killing them so they must be like any other assault mech hard as nails but almost a turret.

[Shae Starfyre]

With the heat issues, you really have to look at the over-all Alpha potential.

In most cases, to have a decent Heat level, you're around 70-85 Alpha on a good rig; this is easily done in almost any other Assault and heavies (still have some minor heat issues in sustained combat).

Just because there are more mounts, does not mean that all get used, or used well.

I have 3 variants, and so far, I find, that the above holds true.

Best Heat management I have found for me, others, I am sure, have different load outs:

5M - 5 SRM 6 - Artemis with one Large Laser in CT (favorite alpha, and the main weapon is the SRM's; 7 tons of Ammo): Alpha 84 - but never fire the large in sustained, patience with the 75 pnt SRM alpha, and in really heavy fire situations, laser and chained SRM's.
5S - 4 SRM 6 - Artemis with 4 Medium Pulse Lasers (I have been playing around with other combos on this one, but I keep coming back to this loadout - I am at work, and it may actually be 2 SRM 6 and 2 SRM 4): 84 or 74 with the 2 SRM 4's - that's 24 from the pulses, and 50 from the SRM) - not a bad ratio.
5H (I think), anyways, I have 4 SRM 6 - Artemis, with 2 Large Pulse Lasers (lasers are chain fire) - this has been my favorite sustainable fire mech: 10 pulse with each chain fire, 60 SRM Alpha - this has the best sustainability for fire fights, for me, but I have fire discipline, lining up those SRM's.

I find any load out with the 6 mediums or 4 mediums lasers to be not as effective. I am working on a 4 PPC build to test, but I am sure it will only be a test.

the 6 Large laser, with a secondary fire key for two large lasers (54 alpha and a 18 sustainable), not bad, but you have to watch the heat; but does it melt the target, oh Yeah!

My tactics I shall not share though, but some have seen me do battle (and die!, and sometimes, as the finisher).

Ok, one tactic; think support.

Edited by Aphoticus, 20 December 2012 - 05:38 AM.