43 replies to this topic

[Sandra McCrow]

RocketDog, on 27 December 2012 - 09:22 AM, said:

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.

Aye

[NRP]

Do you guys think a 9M is a good 2nd mech for a noob who wants to bring some pain before going down in flames? I've been having fun with a Centurion AL, but I want something bigger. I like the maneuverability and weapon loadout of the 9M. I've tried a Stalker trial mech, but found it overheats far too often for my liking. What say you?

[Alalcomenous]

NRP, on 27 December 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Do you guys think a 9M is a good 2nd mech for a noob who wants to bring some pain before going down in flames? I've been having fun with a Centurion AL, but I want something bigger. I like the maneuverability and weapon loadout of the 9M. I've tried a Stalker trial mech, but found it overheats far too often for my liking. What say you?

I suggest going for something different, as a 9m doesn't shine until you modify the **** out of it.

If you want to dish out pain before going down in flames....go for the Hunchback, preferably the 4SP

[Sandra McCrow]

Well, as it more or less described in this as well as multiple other topics on aws - Awesome in general as well as aws 9m in particular - are hard toys for those who want to learn to pilot difficult things, who want to learn to find advantages in otherwise a chassis of arguable efficiency. 9M is an immense fun - when you ram through the battlefield doing 1000+ dps at 80kmh and finishing with 5-6 kills no arms, no ammo and almost without armour - it makes you feel a big dady. It is purely possible with this chassis but it takes.
Your description goes wel along the CTF AC20-based builds. They can soak a lot of damage and usually do pretty well. Your call.

And oh yes, 9M requires you to spend 18-20 mills on it before it shines.

Edited by Sandro Mc, 27 December 2012 - 10:28 AM.

[Wrenchfarm]

NRP, on 27 December 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Do you guys think a 9M is a good 2nd mech for a noob who wants to bring some pain before going down in flames? I've been having fun with a Centurion AL, but I want something bigger. I like the maneuverability and weapon loadout of the 9M. I've tried a Stalker trial mech, but found it overheats far too often for my liking. What say you?

Nope. I got my first 9M way too early and hated it. I wasn't good enough to protect it sides, outfit it for proper devastation, or find a good role for it on the battlefield. I know it sounds super vain to say it, but the Awesome is for advanced pilots.

That said, I ******* love the CN9-AL. Have you tried a 250STD engine, 2xLLAS, 2xMLAS and DHS? Such a sweet and simple ride that I've used to top the charts on a regular basis.

If you like the way Cent's pilot and want to work towards an Awesome, a Dragon might be a good place to start. Plays like a beefier medium. The 1C with 4xLLAS is nice. But you need to have the capital to invest in an XL engine (I use XL320s and XL350s in mine. Although the nice part about this is once you have your 9M, you can slide that XL350 in it for maximum DHS slots)

[Pugastrius]

NRP, on 27 December 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

I've tried a Stalker trial mech, but found it overheats far too often for my liking.

I don't care which mech it is, you should never use the trial mechs as a basis for whether or not the mech is any good.

As for which mech: Just get an Atlas D-DC. By far the best mech in the game with a variety of build options and of course the completely broken ECM.

[NRP]

Thanks for the tips guys. I really want to get a larger mech, preferably one that is versatile enough to snipe or brawl (I realize this likely requires multiple mechs). Contrary to the "Which mech takes the most skill to use?" threads, I'm more interested in the "Which mech takes the least skill to use?" question. I'm not very good at the game right now, but I am still really enjoying it. Something about large bipedal robots unleashing fury makes the inner child smile.

[Alalcomenous]

NRP, on 27 December 2012 - 11:34 AM, said:

Thanks for the tips guys. I really want to get a larger mech, preferably one that is versatile enough to snipe or brawl (I realize this likely requires multiple mechs). Contrary to the "Which mech takes the most skill to use?" threads, I'm more interested in the "Which mech takes the least skill to use?" question. I'm not very good at the game right now, but I am still really enjoying it. Something about large bipedal robots unleashing fury makes the inner child smile.

For sniping or brawling, you can get the Cataphract and put Ac/5's or Ultra Ac/5's onto it. But otherwise, I dunno what else to suggest

[Tremendous Upside]

Sandslice, on 26 December 2012 - 06:51 PM, said:

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.

There's one main reason why I use the 3MPLs instead of MLs or an ML/SRM combo. I use them because the AWS doesn't have a ballistic, front-loaded pinpoint weapon option. I frequently find myself brawling and whipping my torso around to spread the damage I take. Doing that doesn't mesh "as well" with the longer duration normal lasers (and I already have 3 of those in the "large" variety). The MPLs are what I use for knife-fighting. When I'm only going to have a split second to get a shot off at a damaged target/area before I have to peel off for cover or protect a damaged area of my own. You still won't always get the impact you'd get from a ballistic strike - but it's better to get 1/2 of 6 pts of damage than 1/3-1/4 of 5 when you don't have a full 1-second window...

It's a loadout that I run strictly because it's well-suited to "my" personal playstyle. Other builds will give you a better balance in terms of effective range, or in pure damage - but this one caters to fighting at very close quarters, where you can use the 9M's 86kph speed and agility to corkscrew enemy assault mechs into the ground.

[Sandra McCrow]

Oh yes, that's exactly the reason for using MpLs over MLs. MpLs indeed do not need that whole 1 second window to place damage.
Oh and they sound way better

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

NRP, on 27 December 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Do you guys think a 9M is a good 2nd mech for a noob who wants to bring some pain before going down in flames?

Nope - you need an Atlas D DC. All of the Awesomes are much harder work. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to blow stuff up with a DDC. Try 2 MPL, AC20, 3SRM6+Artemis and ECM. Mechs just explode in front of you .

[PaintedWolf]

Pre-Made Awesomes, each with 4 LRM 20s.

A lot of people are leaning way more towards heavy/assault then is balanced. These LRM boats help balance that particular equation.

Edited by PaintedWolf, 27 December 2012 - 07:14 PM.

[Alalcomenous]

PaintedWolf, on 27 December 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

Pre-Made Awesomes, each with 4 LRM 20s.

A lot of people are leaning way more towards heavy/assault then is balanced. These LRM boats help balance that particular equation.

That whole thing was done a couple months ago as a joke. These days, ECM mechs would completely screw over the whole team because they had no backup weapons for those LRM20's

[Elizander]

I just wish they'd release a hero awesome already so that I can get mine done.

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

Elizander, on 27 December 2012 - 09:47 PM, said:

I just wish they'd release a hero awesome already so that I can get mine done.

Everyone who drives an Awesome is already a hero.

[Hackett]

I checked the stickies on this forum, but no luck. Where can I find some good 9M build options?

I used founder $ to get a 9M very early, so naturally the XL engine was getting me killed more than it was helping me. I swapped it out for an 300+ STD engine that gets me around at 60+km/h before mech tree upgrades, running 3 LLs and 3 MLs + AMS, with enough double heat sinks to stay above 1.2 heat ratio.

I do ok. 300-400 dmg per round, usually 1 or 2 kills, mostly assists, though, as I don't pack a lot of punch. I get the feeling I could have a better build.

[Sandra McCrow]

The way I ran it is something like LL+3MpLs+2Smr4+Smr6+AMS with xl380. Unless you do something stupid or your team dies in first 2 minutes - you can get a consistent top 3 damage. 1st or second pretty often. Never tried to build this with std engine though.

Edited by Sandro Mc, 28 December 2012 - 07:51 AM.

[BerryChunks]

Random Incarnate, on 25 December 2012 - 11:16 PM, said:

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.

a lot of these issues are everything to do with the engine, which can be swapped out.

So choose the one that lends itself best to your style. There's probably going to be a mech like that in almost every chassis. You have to buy at least 3 different variants to level it up, though.

Sandro Mc, on 28 December 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

The way I ran it is something like LL+3MpLs+2Smr4+Smr6+AMS with xl380. Unless you do something stupid or your team dies in first 2 minutes - you can get a consistent top 3 damage. 1st or second pretty often. Never tried to build this with std engine though.

I trend top 2-3 with ERLL ERPPC 3xLRM5 AMS and 2xMPL, usually just by sniping ith ppc, laser, and LRM.

using 8v.

Edited by BerryChunks, 28 December 2012 - 07:59 PM.

[Taizan]

I'd go with either 9M / 8T / 8R if you want to stick to the Awesomes, the 8Q is the "weakest" of them all imo.

[Sandra McCrow]

I started to play 8V after 9M. Pretty nice, but I find that due to lack of speed the thing cannot afford MpLs. Switched to 3LL's + 12 Smrs. Plays much better MpL combo simply because you can put first 30-ish scratch from long range. Since you cannot close the gap fast yourself - let your guns do that for you,