31 replies to this topic

[Eisenhorne]

You have to face me to shoot at me >< or at least side strafe, which will reduce your distance. You cannot stay 350-450 meters away with a 16kph difference in speed. And if you try to turn around to run to increase that distance... my AC/20 may not do FULL damage beyond 270, but its still pretty damaging, and in a 1v1 I'd have no compunctions about taking long range snap shots.

It wouldn't be as cut and dry as just staying out of my range.

[Pando]

Eisenhorne, on 14 January 2013 - 10:26 AM, said:

You have to face me to shoot at me >< or at least side strafe, which will reduce your distance. You cannot stay 350-450 meters away with a 16kph difference in speed. And if you try to turn around to run to increase that distance... my AC/20 may not do FULL damage beyond 270, but its still pretty damaging, and in a 1v1 I'd have no compunctions about taking long range snap shots.

It wouldn't be as cut and dry as just staying out of my range.

It could be done. It would be a very long boring match. If I were going for a 1v1 scenario I would more than likely swap the LL's for ERLL's

Edited by Pando, 14 January 2013 - 10:30 AM.

[TruePoindexter]

I have a mate who runs a CTF-2X often to great effect. I don't know the exact build but it's something to the following effect:

1 AC20 3 ML 2 SSRM2
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...40afe0094f02353

Relatively fast for an AC20 Cataphract able to fight larger mechs well and use the SSRM2's on faster non-ecm mechs.

[BIGSHELL]

Wow thanks alot for the feedback guys! It seems like a lot of you have some really nice builds that I can go play around with until I can afford the DHS. Looks like I am going to have to adjust my play style a little bit too. What do you guys think about as possibly upgrading my engine to go a little bit faster? Or would that be too much weight for me to handle?

[joedawg39s]

BIGSHELL, on 14 January 2013 - 01:03 PM, said:

Wow thanks alot for the feedback guys! It seems like a lot of you have some really nice builds that I can go play around with until I can afford the DHS. Looks like I am going to have to adjust my play style a little bit too. What do you guys think about as possibly upgrading my engine to go a little bit faster? Or would that be too much weight for me to handle?

You can drop an xl in a phract you just need to pick your battles and use the extra speed to avoid damage and torso twist like a ****. You basically play it like you are The Batman, you have the speed to come in from unexpected angles and get out before taking lethal damage. Second an engine is a big investment, it might make more sense to save up and buy another variant. After getting to elite on 3 you can unlock speed tweak.

[BloodTzar]

I would go something like this:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified


LL's in one group to strip off armor at range, LBX+SRM in one weap group to crit off. Morevoer dont forget speed is your friend.

[Budor]

I enjoy the 2x, its the only Phract i own that makes any sense non-XL'd. If you rather stay further away change AC20 to Gauss...

Endo
DHS x 13
300 Standard
AC20 with 3t
3x Mlas
2x SRM4 with 1t

[Metalfyre]

^ this is exactly my build...it makes for an excellent team player when flanking

[elde]

I run mine with STD280, 2LL + 1ML and 2xSRM6. Maxed out armor everywhere but legs. It was my second Cataphract, but now my favorite.

Just like said above, you're not the most durable mech out there, especially with those wide side torsos. With speed tweak, you'll go 70kph with that 280 engine, so you're a bit faster than the assault mechs. Equip some long range weapons and keep a bit of a distance before the brawl starts, and you'll live longer.

[Black Alexidor]

Eisenhorne, on 14 January 2013 - 09:02 AM, said:

jshill,


The problem with the build you posted is artemis. Instead of using Artemis, use those extra 2 tons for 2 more tons of AC/20 ammo. This is the build I'm using. I named the variant the "Prometheus", as in the brother of Atlas, because the weapons configuration is very similar to a brawler atlas.

CTF-2X Prometheus

with 28 rounds of AC/20 ammo, you are unlikely to run out before the match is decided.

Also, your ignoring the heat output of 3 large lasers. Even with 20 DHS, you'll get in maybe 4 salvos of all 3, then have to cut down to chain firing or using 2 at a time. This will increase the dispersion of damage across the enemy mech, making it take longer to kill something.

Light mechs are also a problem. Personally, I find it significantly easier to bullseye a light mech running around me with an AC/20 than to hit it with large lasers and cause meaningful damage, because if the light pilot is any good, he'll only be in my field of vision for a very short time.

Both builds are viable, and the LL variants are better for mid ranged fire support. But if you want a true brawler CTF-2X, then the AC/20 variant is the way to go.

Nice looking build, but ammo in the head and CT, tisk tisk, that's a big nono.

Since you have more than enough armor, shave off 0.5 tons and put that ammo in a side torso with a CASE

Edited by Black Alexidor, 15 January 2013 - 06:10 AM.

[Budor]

Black Alexidor, on 15 January 2013 - 06:09 AM, said:

Nice looking build, but ammo in the head and CT, tisk tisk, that's a big nono.

Since you have more than enough armor, shave off 0.5 tons and put that ammo in a side torso with a CASE

Just put those two srm tons in the arm with the launchers. It will get depleted there first and no risk of hurting a standard engine.

Edited by Budor, 15 January 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[Loqgar]

I had a really had time liking the cataphract at first also. The torso is rather large so if your not careful with your positioning and team work you can really get taken out fast. The CTF is also a rather large threat with the amount of fire power it can bring so the enemy team is eager to take you out of the fight. Stay with the team, don't be the first to get in LOS, pay attention to missile cover, and then use your superior fire power to crush anything that can shoot back.

That said the cataphract has become one of my favorite mechs recently. I run varients with: 2xgauss + ERLL; 4xML + AC20; 3xLL + UAC5; and just now this one below 1xPPC 1xAC10 2xSRM4 2x ML.

Banky, on 14 January 2013 - 06:06 AM, said:

When I leveled out my CTF's, the 2X was the one I didn't get. Initially... Then on a whim, I bought one about a month ago - and it immediately become my favorite of the bunch. I run the 2X with 1xPPC, 1xAC10 (2 tons ammo), 2xML, and 2xSRM4 (3tons ammo) with XL320, DHS, Endo, 416 armor) and the rest of the space packed with HS's. The heat efficiency on the surface doesn't look great. I think it's somewhere around 1.11 -- but the weapons aren't all firing at every distance, so it's extremely manageable. It's a really nice skirmishing build that works best if you're not leading the charge and can engage targets at ~200m while others are brawling with them.

I just put this together using an XL 340 a ton less SRM ammo and a heat eff of 1.09. Just a couple games in and it feels great, no over heating problems for me yet (even on caustic). It is a little bit tricky to manage all of the weapon groups (4) because they all have a different aim point. I'm loving it right now.