59 replies to this topic

[Red squirrel]

I hate how all variants are basically the same!


Edit:
Altough there seems to be an overall agreement that the Awesome sucks,
I still prefer it to the Stalker. I really like those movable arms.
It is however true that playing a Stalker is much easier than playing an Awesome.
So I think it is a great newbie mech. Lots of armor, lots of weapons.
And if you cannot handle torso twisting and steering, a mech without
a significant torso twist is a sure bet for a beginner.

Edited by Red squirrel, 09 January 2013 - 10:42 AM.

[Havyek]

I run a LRM Stalker 5M config. 4 LRM15s + Artemis. 8 tons of ammo, 4 MLAS and TAG.

It's my money maker as I can fairly consistently top 1k damage with it.

[Dishevel]

I love my 5M. (Would love a bit more torso twist on it though.) Be better when I elite it.
With Endo and DBL Heat armed with 4xMLs and 5xSRM6s w/ Artemis.
At close range it is a beast. If I am in a decent group and don't get surrounded by lights I can chew through armor fast.
If a light does get on me and I can line him up and get a 70% hit with my 30 SRMs he will either die or run.

[Mack1]

Quxudica, on 08 January 2013 - 11:04 PM, said:

Curious on peoples opinions of this mech, just coming back after a holiday break and am considering picking up this thing as my first assault, but I'm a bit hesitant due to its odd weight limit at 85 tonnes. From those whom run one, how does it handle in comparison to the Atlas/Awsome? Does it have any obvious issues such as large head or bad hard point placements? Anyone have any reccomended builds for it (thinking mid ranged, energy based but anything would be interesting to see)?

Sorry to bombard with questions but any thoughts on this new beast would be welcomed.

A good 3f Build that is cheap and well worth getting just for the elite grind.

Edited by Mack1, 09 January 2013 - 11:50 AM.

[Serapth]

What I dont get is, as an adversary, or an Atlas pilot, the Stalker seems so much harder to kill than an Atlas. I just seems to soak up more damage. I've caught both Stalkers and Atlases out in the open and nuked them to nothing with LRMs and the Stalker seems to take a fair bit more of a beating... like 25-40% more missiles to kill it.

In a heavy or medium, I actually prefer being up against an Atlas.

One thing with the Stalker is, the mesh is WAYYYY too small, thats a huge advantage.

[Odins Fist]

Quxudica, on 08 January 2013 - 11:04 PM, said:

"The Stalker"

.
.... is the awful overheat King of the month.
.
That will be all.

[Rift Hawk]

Quxudica, on 08 January 2013 - 11:04 PM, said:

Curious on peoples opinions of this mech, just coming back after a holiday break and am considering picking up this thing as my first assault, but I'm a bit hesitant due to its odd weight limit at 85 tonnes. From those whom run one, how does it handle in comparison to the Atlas/Awsome? Does it have any obvious issues such as large head or bad hard point placements? Anyone have any reccomended builds for it (thinking mid ranged, energy based but anything would be interesting to see)?

Sorry to bombard with questions but any thoughts on this new beast would be welcomed.

I have 3 stalkers. I like them all.

4H = 4x PPC, 2x SRM4, DHS.
5M = 5x Large Lasers, 1x SRM6+artemis, Anti-missle system, DHS
3F = 4x LRM15, 6x Medium Lasers, DHS (I find this works best when running in premades, not so well is pugs. Though the 6 meds still make it runnable if you launching alone.)

Edited by Imperial X, 09 January 2013 - 12:48 PM.

[Havyek]

Imperial X, on 09 January 2013 - 12:46 PM, said:

I have 3 stalkers. I like them all.

4H = 4x PPC, 2x SRM4, DHS.
5M = 5x Large Lasers, 1x SRM6+artemis, Anti-missle system, DHS
3F = 4x LRM15, 6x Medium Lasers, DHS (I find this works best when running in premades, not so well is pugs. Though the 6 meds still make it runnable if you launching alone.)

On your missile boat you may want to drop a mlas for a TAG. I find it helpful on my missile boat for raining pain on ECM Atlases.

[EyeOne]

I've been wanting for the Stalker since it's announcement and man, it didn't disappoint. I love it

I have a 3F and a 5M but I typical run with the 5M with the following:
(2) ER PPCs
(2) LRM 10s
(3) Medium Lasers
-20 DHS

It runs cool and is extremely deadly.

Edited by EyeOne, 09 January 2013 - 01:02 PM.

[Rift Hawk]

BDU Havoc, on 09 January 2013 - 12:58 PM, said:

On your missile boat you may want to drop a mlas for a TAG. I find it helpful on my missile boat for raining pain on ECM Atlases.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to give that a try. Sounds like it could be quite useful. Expecially when dropping alone.

[Antony Weiner]

Stalker is the best mech in the game pound for pound, imo. It's low weight for an assault (85 t, in comparison to "The Assault" Atlas) actually negates its limited mobility, since it only needs a 310 engine to run at 360 Atlas speed, which is a 12.5 ton engine weight difference out of the 15 ton chassis weight difference. Its limited torso twist arc is compensated greatly by its good leg turn speed. So, for a 2.5 ton loss on weapon tonnage (as compared to an Atlas) you get crazy good hardpoints that are all energy/missile (so, no hefty ballistic weapon dependence). Alphas on these things can be quite ridiculous, and heat efficient builds are still extremely scary. Joke builds of 6 PPCs can tear people to pieces, and min/max builds of 4xsrm6+anything else can be as brutal and efficient as versatile. Currently, any mech facing a healthy Stalker one on one is a bit diffident.

Stalker in comparison to Awesome, Atlas:

Pros:

• Most max-firepower-capable hardpoint setups on 3F, 5S, 5M in the game
  
• High-riding energy hardpoints which allows for efficient use of defilade
  
• Makes a fantastic LRM-boat
  
• Hard-to-hit cockpit
  
• Good leg turn speed
  
• Center-torso is protected by side torsos, which keeps you in the game longer
  
• Not slower than an Atlas
  
• Good vertical arm movement
  
• Optimized builds can run heat efficiently and still carry 6 weapons
  
• Tremendous damage output on joke-build alphas

Cons:

• No ballistic weapons
  
• Almost no center torso weapons
  
• Limited torso twist arc
  
• XL engines should never be used, since your side torsos is the first thing to go nearly all the time
  
• Not faster than an Atlas
  
• No lateral arm movement
  
• Utilizing all of the hardpoints leads to moderate-to-bad heat efficiency

Edited by Antony Weiner, 09 January 2013 - 01:27 PM.

[TruePoindexter]

Quxudica, on 08 January 2013 - 11:04 PM, said:

Curious on peoples opinions of this mech, just coming back after a holiday break and am considering picking up this thing as my first assault, but I'm a bit hesitant due to its odd weight limit at 85 tonnes. From those whom run one, how does it handle in comparison to the Atlas/Awsome? Does it have any obvious issues such as large head or bad hard point placements? Anyone have any reccomended builds for it (thinking mid ranged, energy based but anything would be interesting to see)?

Sorry to bombard with questions but any thoughts on this new beast would be welcomed.

Stream of consciousness word time:

Powerful, slow, phallus.

It's a good mech. XL engines are too vulnerable and it's unfortunate that it is another assault that cannot mount ballistics. It makes for a solid replacement for the Awesome in missile boating and is capable of astonishing burst damage.

[Rift Hawk]

TruePoindexter, on 09 January 2013 - 01:08 PM, said:

Stream of consciousness word time:

Powerful, slow, phallus.

It's a good mech. XL engines are too vulnerable and it's unfortunate that it is another assault that cannot mount ballistics. It makes for a solid replacement for the Awesome in missile boating and is capable of astonishing burst damage.

I do believe the highlander will have at least one ballistic slot. So it should even it out. Two with, two without.

[TruePoindexter]

Imperial X, on 09 January 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

I do believe the highlander will have at least one ballistic slot. So it should even it out. Two with, two without.

I'm worried that the Highlander is going to suffer from many of the issues that the Dragon does - awkward weapon layouts and a lack of focus in the design. That said the Dragon has surprised me lately so maybe it'll be fine.

[MrPils]

3F : 3 x LRM10 1 x LRM15 | 1 x LLAS | 4 x MLAS | TAG | AMS+1T | DHS + 900 ammo
5M : 4 x PPC | 5 x SSRM2 | TAG | DHS + 200 ammo

Both work really well for me, the 3F is now my favorite mech. I use the LRMs and TAG to splatter any DDCs with ecm, the mediums are there to fend off any lights and the large is there for a little range if im left at the end with no ammo. Great alrounder, 110pt alpha and enough heat capacity to do 2 alphas without shutdown or constantly fire the LRMs or lasers. Downside, youre either slow or running an XL.

Saving for the 5S, halfway there...

Edited by MrPils, 09 January 2013 - 02:49 PM.

[Taurick]

I run my 3F with med pulse, SRM's, and 23 DHS

[Gallowglas]

I cannot speak highly enough of the mech. I love mine. I've got mine tweaked to be pretty fast, sacrificing some firepower for maneuverability. It was worth it. It makes the Stalker a brutal brawler mech. I've had my share of 5 kill matches with it.

[thenightisdark]

Noth, on 08 January 2013 - 11:16 PM, said:

Depending on the build and engine used, DHS are sometimes worse than the single heatsinks.

Oh? I have pure DHS in all my mechs, always looking for that new situation where SHS is better. I want to try it on my stalker, i have 3 of them lol. What build do you use SHS in?

[Antony Weiner]

It also looks great:

[Noth]

thenightisdark, on 09 January 2013 - 04:34 PM, said:

Oh? I have pure DHS in all my mechs, always looking for that new situation where SHS is better. I want to try it on my stalker, i have 3 of them lol. What build do you use SHS in?

My 4 PPC 2 Medium laser 5S with the stock engine gets better heat efficiency with the singles than the doubles.

Edited by Noth, 09 January 2013 - 04:42 PM.