182 replies to this topic

[Davers]

Jman5, on 27 January 2013 - 08:40 PM, said:

I wonder why it seems like a lot of people are only now discovering this build even though it's been around for a long time. Is it the improved netcode, or are a bunch of high profile groups running them more?

I wouldn't advise people to aim for the ears unless they are already damaged. You're talking 40 armor each. For that much damage you could have just cored him from the front.

They are all converted streakcats going back to old tricks.

[Dikaiosyne26]

Well, to say something is the best isn't to say that is unbeatable, but better than other options that are available.

That's a little bit of my point: at this point in time, given the current conditions mentioned in the OP: could the SRM6 Cat be the consensus best mech, like the Raven 3-L was the consensus best mech before the lag shield fix.

[Kaspirikay]

Adrienne Vorton, on 27 January 2013 - 08:41 PM, said:

people will try everything they hear about... let them die a few times most of them will say "catapult is bad" and they disappear as quick as they came... you see this phenomenon with any so called "overpowered" build

Unless it was streakcat during CT only streaks. God i miss that.

[Adrienne Vorton]

Jman5, on 27 January 2013 - 08:40 PM, said:

I wonder why it seems like a lot of people are only now discovering this build even though it's been around for a long time. Is it the improved netcode, or are a bunch of high profile groups running them more?

I wouldn't advise people to aim for the ears unless they are already damaged. You're talking 40 armor each. For that much damage you could have just cored him from the front.

but its more fun to first take away half the weapons, then the other half, let them walk around helpless and THEN finish them

and as someone said above: if they get you first you are doomed,but that´s with many other builds as well, depending on the mech you are in...

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 27 January 2013 - 08:52 PM.

[Broceratops]

also its hard to suddenly be the best mech when this thing has been around since closed beta. and back in those days srms were tightly clumped with almost no spread to 270m. those were the srm glory days.

srm cat, the main thing you need is awareness. also to a lesser extent, weapons that do damage at 300m+ (so basically not srms or ssrms). if the first time you're aware that there is when you just got blindsided by one 100 meters from you, the srm cat is only half the problem. but at least you can fix the other half

Edited by Broceratops, 27 January 2013 - 09:22 PM.

[ApathyZer0]

It really depends on what mech you're in. For example, my stalker 5m kills them in 2 alphas, my centurion 9d dies from 2 of their alphas. It's all relative.

[TheForce]

Adrienne Vorton, on 27 January 2013 - 08:46 PM, said:

but its more fun to first take away half the weapons, then the other half, let them walk around helpless, THEN LEG THEM, and THEN finish them

[Solis Obscuri]

"Suddenly"

They've been around for a while. Can be very dangerous to other heavies and slower mediums, less so to assaults unless they flank successfully. Hits hard as hell but has to facehug to do it, which can be risky against a solid brawler-config Atlas or Stalker, and which faster 'mechs can often avoid by holding range. TBH, I think dual AC/20 K2s can actually core things quicker if the pilot places their shots well.

[Broceratops]

Solis Obscuri, on 27 January 2013 - 09:22 PM, said:

"Suddenly"

They've been around for a while. Can be very dangerous to other heavies and slower mediums, less so to assaults unless they flank successfully. Hits hard as hell but has to facehug to do it, which can be risky against a solid brawler-config Atlas or Stalker, and which faster 'mechs can often avoid by holding range. TBH, I think dual AC/20 K2s can actually core things quicker if the pilot places their shots well.

i also place higher threat from ac/20 cats than srm6 cats

[ConnorSinclair]

Broceratops, on 27 January 2013 - 09:13 PM, said:

also its hard to suddenly be the best mech when this thing has been around since closed beta. and back in those days srms were tightly clumped with almost no spread to 270m. those were the srm glory days.

srm cat, the main thing you need is awareness. also to a lesser extent, weapons that do damage at 300m+ (so basically not srms or ssrms). if the first time you're aware that there is when you just got blindsided by one 100 meters from you, the srm cat is only half the problem. but at least you can fix the other half

We didn't have Endo back in the old days, or DHS or tons of other enhancements.


Boomcat was novelty, but now its Viable.

[Soulscour]

Broceratops, on 27 January 2013 - 09:23 PM, said:

i also place higher threat from ac/20 cats than srm6 cats

The both do a ton of damage. The difference is the AC/20 cat can start doing it several hundred yards sooner than the SRM cat and that to me is a big difference.

[BerryChunks]

Yes, for a number of reasons. Bigger engines mean MORE SPEED< FASTER TURN< FASTER TWIST AND MORE HEATSINKS.

Its wholly goodness to have a faster engine.

A faster engine means to close within 300m easily, which is where the SRM 6 spam works.

this isnt rocket science.

[Corbon Zackery]

They work alot better with SRM 4 the last time I built one was before arty and double heat sinks I think I had 5 SRM 4 and a NARC system that never worked because SRMs are set up to dumb fire.

[Jacmac]

In my unit we call it the Cheeseapult. It can be effective, but it is a cheesy build. When the bigger maps come out, it will probably disappear.

[Donnie Silveray]

I had an amusing game today where 3 SRMCats flanked my team on Frozen City Night. I'm pretty sure those 3 were premades given their tight cohesion and similar loadouts. Indeed they were quite frightening but I had the luck of being pugged with some competant players who promptly ear'd the cats and moved on. I won't lie, those cats are scary given the DPS they put out. And they are deceptively quick and tough to get a bead on in most of the game's maps with all that cover.

Really, the SRM/Streak Cats are less of a threat (least in my book) than the Gausscat or AC20K2. The SRMs you can tear off easily, nailing machine gun ports is another story.

[Jonathan Paine]

SRM Cat are brilliant up close, and if you fail to spot it before it alpha strikes you, you tend to die. One of the toughest up close, sure. The toughest? Hardly.

[Biruke]

just built one and trying to get the basics of it. it's close to impossible to play as well as i play other mechs. it's viable if you find some assault browler you can stick to and help.

[Broceratops]

also, just blow up their legs.

they all have XLs. leg ammo is used up last. they lose a leg their torso takes 500 damage and kapoof.

[CECILOFS]

I think they are more popular now because of ECM. I pug and its a huge risk using streaks or LRMs on the A1 because an enemy ECM can completely shut you down and there is no guarantee you will have one on your team. You also can't rely on having Tag on your team and can't take it yourself.

It seems that with ECM out there, the focus is on rushing into close range and brawling. This in turn makes close range, dumb-fire weaponry favourable: Autocannons, SRMs, Medium lasers.

When I play the 6xSRM6 cat I try to stay with an ECM Atlas. Now they can't see me coming and when I'm in striking range they are usually shooting the Atlas instead.

Keep in mind that with a 300XL the build is incredibly tight. It always has heat and ammo problems and can't fit jump jets unless you are willing to downgrade to 2xSRM4s (Which does work too) or a smaller engine (Which then hurts your speed, which you need to get close).

As always, just shoot the ears, or core me right in the face

[Merrik Starchaser]

Dikaiosyne26, on 27 January 2013 - 08:45 PM, said:

Well, to say something is the best isn't to say that is unbeatable, but better than other options that are available.

That's a little bit of my point: at this point in time, given the current conditions mentioned in the OP: could the SRM6 Cat be the consensus best mech, like the Raven 3-L was the consensus best mech before the lag shield fix.

not even close,

• My K2 Gauss was better, now it is just as good. With ac'20 and and a few changes it even deadlier.
  
• My 2ppc 2ml 2srm C1 crushes A1's all the time. I consider it about he same as my flak cat and play it more.
  
• My DDC ecm 2lbx 3rsm6 2ml Atlas is a constant chart topper. does way more damage than my A1
  
• My Ilya with 3U/AC5 That thing makes every flak cat damage look sad.

As far as I can see barring some minor tweaks and a need for way better ECM counters than more ECM the game seems pretty well balanced.



Think of it as a rogue; if you see it coming it is a minor threat, but if it sneaks up on you you are supposed to die

Edited by Merrik Starchaser, 27 January 2013 - 11:07 PM.