43 replies to this topic

[Sandslice]

Hail, all.

Currently, I'm coming up on 5m cbills after obtaining and tweaking my first ride - an 8q. I'm also rolling in XP for this - over 30k - for if and when I push to Elite efficiencies.

Should I push for another Awesome - and if so, which variant? Or do y'all think I'm crazy for running an Awesome, and should switch to some other 'Mech?

[Random Incarnate]

If you can afford it, get a 9M. If you like the 8Q, this thing is everything and more. You'll have to get used to moving fast, though. Failing that, the 8R makes a fantastic LRM or SRM boat, and the 8T can pull off something a bit more balanced. The 8V can play like a slower 9M, but I'd be inclined to make an all-rounder. One of the few mechs where all variants are viable. The chassis itself is the weakpoint, being an 80t assault with the profile of a barn door.

Edited by Random Incarnate, 25 December 2012 - 11:17 PM.

[Sandslice]

9m has the XLE, which puts it out of my range for a while - unless I went to the cash option, which I'd rather not do in a beta (and I may as well spend the extra 600 and get Muromets at that point anyway.) Still, it'd be a goal to shoot for. Thanks! :3

[Hex Pallett]

Having completer my AWS triad I can safely tell that I've been having lot more fun with them than with my Atlas DDC. fare more agile (but still an Assault, FYI) and very interesting hardpoints.

[Fuggles]

If you like your Q, then yes, totally get yourself 2 more so that you can get the elites and if you want later the masters.

Myself, I started with the 9m and although ts my favorite mech, it's terrible to start with, it really needs the 380 engine and that's a lot of cbills. I'd buy the 8R with the eventual goal of saving for the 9M.

I'm saving for my 8r now and plan on running 2x LL and 4 srm6. On my Q, I run either 2erppcs and 5ML or 3LL and 4ML. My 9M I've settled on 3LL 3ML and a streak in the arm with an XL 380. Can't find a more optimal build than that.

[Wrenchfarm]

I love my 8Q and 9M, taking deep personal satisfaction with putting on the best laser light show since Zeppelin. The 8R can be a horrific brawler if built with 4 SRM6+Artemis. I got amazing results with it, but just didn't love it as much as the laser/PPC boats and eventually retired it to make room in my mechbay. Nothing wrong with the 8R, but I wanted to try different things.

To me it seems like the 8Q, 8R, and 9M are the best variants. The 9M is very expensive, and requires further upgrades to make it really pop, but it became my favourite overall (and this was after hating it for a long while).

[Tremendous Upside]

If you're going to max the AWS out, you pretty much "have" to try the 9M. It's the most fun you'll ever have in an assault mech. Like Wrenchfarm said, it's not cheap (I dropped a full 20 million c-bills on mine)... But 86kph with 500 pts of armor? Guy I was grouped with said watching me was like watching a fat kid running through an obstacle course . You can maneuver so quickly and smoothly that getting around and behind other assaults with the 9M is a breeze. Fuggles' build is a good one - I've used that and liked it. The one I like most though is 3xLLs with 3xMPLs. The latter give a nice short range punch that you can dump quickly and then focus on moving your torso to put the damage you're taking away from the torsos. With nothing in the left arm. It also gives you a zombie arm to shield yourself with - just like centurions. Get good at spreading the incoming damage and you'll be shocked at the punishment the 9M can absorb.

[Pugastrius]

All non-9M Awesome Mechs are strictly inferior to the Stalker line.

That should make the choice pretty obvious.

[Barghest Whelp]

Neverplayed the awesome myself, but I recommend getting two more variants and maxing it out. I went through a lot of MC and C-Bills before I found a mech that suited my playstyle, and getting more variants suited me just fine.

Once you've maxed out your awsome trees, I'd say you could consider a cataphract.

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

Wrenchfarm, on 26 December 2012 - 09:06 AM, said:

The 8R can be a horrific brawler if built with 4 SRM6+Artemis.

I second this. Add on either 2LL or a PPC or ERPPC to go along with the SRMs and it's a surprisingly capable mech.

[Pugastrius]

RocketDog, on 26 December 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

I second this. Add on either 2LL or a PPC or ERPPC to go along with the SRMs and it's a surprisingly capable mech.

Wouldn't you rather have the 2xLL, 5xSRM6+Artemis Stalker?

Unless you're talking the 9M, there is no build that the Stalker can't do better.

Edited by Pugastrius, 26 December 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

Pugastrius, on 26 December 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Wouldn't you rather have the 2xLL, 5xSRM6+Artemis Stalker?

The heat generated by 4xASRM6 is already barely manageable. With an extra you're gonna burn like a hoe.

What? Chainfire? What's the point of boating SRM6 if you don't splat all of them at the same time?

[Sandslice]

Banky, on 26 December 2012 - 11:29 AM, said:

If you're going to max the AWS out, you pretty much "have" to try the 9M. It's the most fun you'll ever have in an assault mech. Like Wrenchfarm said, it's not cheap (I dropped a full 20 million c-bills on mine)... But 86kph with 500 pts of armor? Guy I was grouped with said watching me was like watching a fat kid running through an obstacle course . You can maneuver so quickly and smoothly that getting around and behind other assaults with the 9M is a breeze. Fuggles' build is a good one - I've used that and liked it. The one I like most though is 3xLLs with 3xMPLs. The latter give a nice short range punch that you can dump quickly and then focus on moving your torso to put the damage you're taking away from the torsos. With nothing in the left arm. It also gives you a zombie arm to shield yourself with - just like centurions. Get good at spreading the incoming damage and you'll be shocked at the punishment the 9M can absorb.

3LL + 3MPL sounds like the 3LL+4ML I run on mine currently, or the 3LL+3MPL+ML I had for a while before "downgrading" the pulses. So it definitely seems like I should save up.

[Chaos7]

Sandslice, I have an 8R and loved it ... until bought my own Atlas D-DC. My suggestion is save 10-11m and buy an Atlas. See if you like it - in the worst case scenario it will help you grind and earn enough to finish your AWS Elites.

Trying out different mechs should give you a good perspective on what you like. The Atlas have 2 ballistic hardpoints, which can be used for some fun builds.

Edit: On 5-6m now you are not far away from the 10m target. If you decide to go the Atlas path I recommend that you start off with a D-DC and put 2xUltra AC/5 + 2xLL in it, I bet you are going to love this one

Edited by VOHRIMENKO, 27 December 2012 - 01:53 AM.

[UnseenFury]

Stalkers are a complete piece of cr4p. Anyone who don't see it is a bad player.

Awesomes on the other hand are fine mechs.

[M00N B34M]

I love my Awesomes. The 8Q is so far the only one I'm 'vaguely unhappy' with. 4 LLS 3 MLS it did the job, worked very well but I always was thinking "Gee, any of my other Awesomes would do more damage than this..." the others being my 8T and 8R. Not sure about the 8V but yeah the 9M is easily the best. I'll get one one day...

[Wrenchfarm]

Pugastrius, on 26 December 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

All non-9M Awesome Mechs are strictly inferior to the Stalker line.

That should make the choice pretty obvious.

Yup, Stalkers puttering about at 42kph with more weapons than they can fire without keeling over in heat exhaustion are definitely superior to a highly manoeuvrable heat neutral mech. Yup.

[Pugastrius]

Wrenchfarm, on 27 December 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

Yup, Stalkers puttering about at 42kph with more weapons than they can fire without keeling over in heat exhaustion are definitely superior to a highly manoeuvrable heat neutral mech. Yup.

How do you get to 42kph? My Stalkers are moving at nearly 70kph.

As for heat... you can simply clone your Awesome... and then some. The "then some" should simply add a weapon or two to long or short range combat that you don't use when fighting at the opposite end of the spectrum. In the end, you'll have a clone of the Awesome, that fights better at range (or up close) with the exact same heat ratio.

[Sandra McCrow]

Aha... with awful torso twist characteristics and agility. + Priority target for anybody of the other team and generally much worse profile - cucumber has nothing but CT as well as easily destructible hands.
9M is an truly awesome mech. Is you managed to learn anything else but it - 9M would be a pure joy.

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

Pugastrius, on 27 December 2012 - 08:43 AM, said:

... you can simply clone your Awesome... and then some.

I think you're completely missing the point. We choose to drive Awesomes not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Plus they are much cooler than a Stalker.

Frankly speaking, the Stalker can pack so many weapons that it's not much of a challenge to do well with it, it has a disappointing 3D model that just looks like a squiffy Catapult and it's too small. I do drive them a bit, but they just don't have the charm of the Awesome.