59 replies to this topic

[Quxudica]

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.

[Noth]

I won't say if it is better overall than any of the other assaults, but it does have the capability to have more firepower than the others. I has huge side torsos meaning that they almost always go before your center torso and make using an XL in them (unless you can effective stay at range and not draw too much fire) a death sentence. They have the worst torso twist of all the mechs (85 for the 3F, 60 for all the others) meaning they are poor for brawling (I would only ever brawl in the 3F). They are slow as molasses.

Their frontal profile is pretty small which is an advantage, but their side profile is huge. This combine with the huge side torsos means they can die quick.

They can make great LRM boats, great energy boats and great SRM boats. However they tend to run hot if you use all the hardpoints. It's not uncommon that you will see them shut down more often than many other mechs.

As for builds, I run a 6 Mlas, 4 SRM6 3F. A 5 Llas 5M. And a 4 PPC, 2 Mlas 5S (This one has grown on me despite the massive heat issues it has). Most people run the 5M as a missile boat due to the extra missile hardpoint, but that hardpoint only fires one missile at a time. Depending on the build and engine used, DHS are sometimes worse than the single heatsinks.

In essence take the stalker if you want to dump as much damage as possible, but be aware of it's rather large downsides.

Edited by Noth, 08 January 2013 - 11:32 PM.

[Xyco]

it's a good alpha-striker mech but you've got to keep an eye out on the heat. load it up with SRM6s and MLs and you should level it up pretty quickly. brawling with it will take some getting used to because of the low degree of torso twist. as noth mentioned above, your side torsos and arms usually go first because of mech's profile (so i would add that putting XL in it might not be a good idea).

[superteds]

1) Buy 3F
2) Load up on 6ML 4SRM6
3)???
4) Murder everything infront of you.

[RainbowToh]

It is almost the opposite profile of an Awesome. The Awesome has a broad front profile but a 'normal' side profile while the Stalker has a narrow front profile but broad side profile. Both mechs have almost similar hardpoints, mainly variations of Energy n Missiles and just 5 tons diff btw each other. One difference is that the Awesome has weapons arm hardpoints that give you more flexibility in ur fire cone.

Some tactical points for the Stalker. Its weapons are generally placed high up on its chassis thus you can fire 'hull down' over cover with some of its torso weapons.

[Sir Autechre]

Currently grinding 3 Stalkers: the 5S, the 3F and now a 5H. I only run 4LLas and DHS. What a Laser Boat! Constant Laser fire with almost no overheat chases fAtlasses away and a Beagle in my CT helps with ECM pukes at close range. Fits most DHS with largest Reg. engine for 60kph and add 30pts (1ton) of xtra armor for 85 tonnes. Keeping most of your hull hidden is a huge benefit. Voila! All that's left is The Warning:

Play with Joysticks or Controllers (thumb sticks) you lose! Accuracy is the Key!
Constant beam contact with enemy armor is ESSENTIAL to this build, if you miss a lot forget it.
My standard Keyboard and Mouse are the real reason my avg damage is so high.

Good Luck! Fight smart, not hard - Less like the Flintstones, More like the Jetsons

Edited by Sir Autechre, 09 January 2013 - 08:35 AM.

[Superslicks]

I did have 6 LL but gave up one for more heatsinks
its great if you have backup with you, but if you get caught out in the open, and they get a sniff at you
Say good bye, even more so if you have a camo thats like a magnet, they just all seem to converge on me lol

[Pr8Dator]

I tried the trial one and I wasn't impressed... but it did convince me that assault mechs are not my thing and that I should just stick to heavies.

[PANZERBUNNY]

It's a great mech to hang around near playgrounds or the play section at MacDonalds.

[Carnivoris]

I love my 5S. I'm running 2 PPCs, 2 Mlas, and 4 SRM6. I can take down an Atlas 1v1 and still have enough left to take down another medium or heavy (... sometimes). It's a decent medium range sniper that will scare a lot of mechs back behind cover, too. If a light gets too close going too slow, they're instantly dead. That seems to happen alot in areas with lots of buildings as they turn around and run face-first into a building. Dead.

I regularly get 2-3 kills in a match with 600-800 damage. More than anything, though... it's just a ton of fun to pilot. It's my primary mech right now while I grind up CBills to properly equip my Dragon.

[Havyek]

I really like the Stalker as a heavy fire support 'Mech, it's not my cup of tea for a brawler for the reasons stated above (very short torso twist). The limited torso twist means you're usually always either standing still and turning in place, or running directly at/away from your target.

That being said they have the potential for enormous amounts of firepower. If your in one and your teammates support you they can be a wrecking ball that just wades through the opposition.

[IronChance]

It pilots like a brick, but it hits like one, too. I agree with all of the above as well. I currently have a 5S with 2 ERPPC, 2LRM10, 2 SPL that can be a real pain in the butt to the bad guys as long as I remember to keep off the front line. I also have a 3F with 4 Large Pulse Lasers I've been brawling around in with decent results.

[Moro Ibex]

I have three stalkers for the obvious reason and find it to be exactly what I wanted in an energy boat. Now I say energy boat knowing full well there are missile slots so everyone can let that statement slide. On all three of my stalkers I tend to run the same build of four (4) normal PPCs. With DHS and nothing else I can easily post up about 150 meters behind our brawlers and proceed to rip the armor off anyone I choose.

Oh no! someone is inside 90 meters! Okay, here I am lucky enough to have a team to play with on mumble so I can just call out for help. However even with the useless PPCs I still have a role to play. The frontal armor of a stalker is -insane-. I'm not saying you should take alphas to the face or anything but I certainly don't "fear" a medium beating on me. Again the whole team thing helps a lot, but the armor numbers are out there. With smart movement and good use of cover I have absorbed enouigh damage to kill half the team...and still have a working PPC to pop someone with.

This is just me with four PPCs. Stalkers can alpha strike for upwards of 120 damage with the right builds. Yes you shut down instantly but on anything short of a mountain they will think twice about sticking around long enough to kill you. SRMs and MPLs are a stalkers bread and butter for brawling. For missile people they can cram on enough LRMs to give you a enough of a chubby to do something with.

Good mech? Yes, small frontal profile, lots of weapons.
Bad mech? Eh... Pretty big side profile, torso twist is a pain, and they are slow

Get one? I will keep one of mine for sure. If you need a hammer, why not take a big one.

[Bors Mistral]

You can fit a lot of stuff in that thing.


Just be extra conscious of your heat management.

[JohnnyC]

I love my Stalkers. I currently have the 5M and 5S. My next will be the 3F (which has extra torso twist). All in all, I find them to be really enjoyable. There are lots of ways to set it up for your liking and plenty of different types of loadouts you can do on them. Yeah, they lack ballistics, but you won't miss them too much considering the firepower you can bring to bare with one.

They are a bit expensive (C-Bills wise), so it may take you a little bit to get 3 of them rolling for the Elite skill tier, but they're worth it... I think.

[SGT Unther]

I suggest using the Trial Stalker if it's still available in the mech bay. Sure it's stock and could really use DHS because it over heats like no tomorrow but at least you'll get a feel for it without spending money on it.

[PANZERBUNNY]

.92 isn't enough for a Stalker with that much pew pew.

[Voridan Atreides]

I tried the trial...didn't like it (then again it was a trial). I want a fire support mech but I think I will just wait till the Trebuchet comes out. If you are going for an assault, pick up an Atlas instead.

PANZERBUNNY, on 09 January 2013 - 08:55 AM, said:

It's a great mech to hang around near playgrounds or the play section at MacDonalds.

....I got it...haha...that was horrible.

Edited by Voridan Atreides, 09 January 2013 - 09:54 AM.

[Murphy7]

Stalkers are great general fire support, and superb alpha-strike monsters, but they do tend towards running hot and have some rather severe hindrances you need to be aware of early on.

Side torsos are enormous, so an XL engine is not reocmmended for reducing weight. Double Heat sinks, Endo-steel can be better options, depending on how well you can arrange the criticals.

If you want to build a short range brawler, (1) it is not a great brawler due to the limited torso twist and alligator arms; (2) the 3F has the a larger twist range than the other variants, use this one.


You have the tonnage and hardpoints to run a variety of weaponry, and with good discipline and firing groups, you could have an answer at any range.

My current favorite loadout is 2 PPCs, 2 LRM 10s, 4 Medium Lasers, with DHS and Endosteel, running a 300 Standard engine. Can do middle range direct fire support, possible LRM support when and where ECM and friendly teammates will allow for it, and still has 4 Medium Lasers for when something gets in close. Heat is manageable but can get dicey if fighting between 100 - 300 meters, since the temptation for both PPCs and lasers is high.


I would warn you that the Stalker is the assault class mech least able to defend itself from marauding light mechs, so stay with the group and keep some good situational awareness for your own sake.

Bors Mistral, on 09 January 2013 - 09:30 AM, said:

You can fit a lot of stuff in that thing.


Just be extra conscious of your heat management.

Jump Jets 4?

[MustrumRidcully]

Best Stalker Build in my experience (note: I only use the 3F and own no other Stalkers)
4 Medium Laser (Arms)
4 SRM6 with Artemis (2 ARms, 2 Torso) and 4 tons of ammo
20 Double Heat Sinks
310 Standard Engine
Armor: H 18 / CT 80 / CTR 28/ RT&LT 58M / RTR&LTR 14 / LA&RA56 / LL&RL 49

It's obviously something to brawl with. You will probably want someone with ECM in your team and stay near him, but who doesn't?

The ammo is tight. The 310 STD Engine may be too much and a 300 Engine could be enough, allowing you to equip more ammo and more armour in the legs, if that ever becomes a problem.

The Mech Lab lists it as having 80 FIrepower and 1.22 Heat Efficiency.

Theoretical DPS is about 20, theoretical heat production is 8 heat per second. With 20 DHS I can dissipate 3.4 Heat per Second and have a heat capacity of 64. This means I can theoretically sustain my firepower for about 13.9 seconds before overheating.

Since you rarely can alpha strike with both weapon groups, nor do I often utilize the full rate of fire,so the mech typically overheats a bit more slowly.