26 replies to this topic

[Anudiz]

Hey guys, i recently played a bit as PPC Stalker which was so much more fun than i ever imagined, that i want to specialize one of my Stalkers for the job.

Which of these build would you chose and why?
Please take into consideration when you vote, that i am exclusively playing PUG games.
Thats why i absolutely NEED close range defense weapons.
There is no way i could rely on a PUG team to save my butt if anyone gets in close...

1. STK 5M
4 PPCs
2 SRM4
2 SRM2
1 Mlas
280 Engine
17 DHS

4 PPCs to snipe with and a solid Close range defense in form of an MLas and SRM 12 launcher, the 280 Engine is the minimum i can bear, everything else is just too slow.

Link: STK-5M


2. STK 3F
4 ERPPC
280 Engine
21 DHS

With recent ERPPC buff and 21 DHS doesnt run too hot and ERPPCs are for sniping and Close Range defense aswell.

Link: STK-3F


3. STK 3F
4 ERPPC
310 Engine
20 DHS

310 Engine rating makes it pretty fast for an Assault, which also helps against lights and occassional brawls if you get sucked in. Heat is only slightly worse than the 280 Engine build, but you gain 30 Engine rating, not a bad deal IMHO.

Link: STK-3F

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Currently i tend towards the 4 ERPPC, 310 Engine Stalker. However i havent used ERPPCs before and dont know how they perform up close (maybe hard to aim or smthing?).

[NRP]

Any of the Stalkers will work. With a PPC build, I don't think torso twist is as important as it is for brawling.

Personally, I'm a fan of the 6 PPC stalker but it really isn't a viable build. Just fun for goofing off and head shotting centurions.

[Homeless Bill]

STK-5M Thundercock

I'd rather put in the XL so I can have speed, firepower, and heat efficiency in one build. Sure, I'm a little squishy, but let's be honest: if they're doing enough damage to you to take out a side torso, you're usually ****** anyways. Plus, that SRM12+Artemis really catches people off guard.

Edited by Homeless Bill, 05 February 2013 - 04:04 PM.

[Silpher K]

3F
6PPC (non-ER)
XL300 (or lower if you want more heatsinks)

just dont get caught in brawls
stay ranged behind your front lines, but dont stay too far in case you need backup.

[Flapdrol]

Running quad ppc in the 3F, for the extra torso twist.

Also have 2 srm4's to be able to take on facehuggers.

[Limekiller]

How about something like this?

STK-3F

4 PPC, 2 ML, 2 SRM4 + artemis, XL300 engine, 18 DHS. Only 12 shots for each SRM, but you do have the MedLas to also handle close in stuff.

[LagomorphPrime]

STK-5S

The 2 ER PPCs help with close range if you need it. 6 PPCs is the only way to travel. I use 6 regular and even with frequent shut downs you'd be surprised how many matches I survive while contributing significantly. A lot of people tend to ignore a shut down mech in the middle of a firefight.

[Vectos]

Try this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a3ac25c3869d630

2 ERPPC to pop in close range for a 20 burst. Alpha strike will bring you to about 80% heat.

[Anudiz]

It seems most of you favorite a real fragile, heavy hitting Alpha PPC Stalker.
When i got my new Stalker i will test how it works out.

But usually i wouldnt pack an XL Engine on a Stalker, not even on a PPC - Sniper Stalker.
My side almost always goes down before my CT and in PUGs i hate to be reliant on teammates.
I guess i will buy the 3F chassis and try some builds with it.

If you got another nice build, feel free to post it!

[Silpher K]

anyone else noticed a surge of 6ppc stalkers since patch

[Eisenhorne]

Most of my kills in my 6-PPC stalker are, oddly, lights and mediums. I have a fairly poor sustained damage, so I wait until a light is either running towards me or away from me, and blow it away. There isn't a light mech in the game that can survive a 60 damage alpha strike to the chest.

[Tesunie]

Stalker 3F had the best twist of the Stalkers I know of. I would choose that model. Not to mention, nothing sucks more than having a target lined up, only to miss and loose tracking because you tab out of twist. Been there, done that.

4 PPCs are a lot of fun, just watch your heart.

[NRP]

I was spectating a teammate last night. He had a stalker with 4 PPCs (chain fired), 2 MLs, and 2 SSRM2s. This guy was wrecking everyone - lights, mediums, heavies, and assaults. It was eye opening and hilarious. Lights in particular didn't know WTH to do with him. He'd PPC them on approach, then ML them as they got close, and PPC them as the scurried away. If they didn't have ECM, the streaks wrecked them.

[Silpher K]

yeah 4+ PPCs will wreck lights, it's great.

with 6ppc, i've one shotted quite a few mediums and even heavies. for heavies if not 1 shot, the second shot is almost guaranteed kill if it's CT shot. assults, 2~3 shots... just waiting for that 3rd shot kinda sucks. but im more than willing to compromise for that insane ranged concentrated burst. it's really something to experience first hand. but really gotta be careful on killing lights on sight, can't let them get close, once they close in, you are helpless if you are rolling 6ppc (non-er).

[Anudiz]

I piloted the 3F, 4ERPPC, 310 Engine Stalker for some matches now.
Pretty successfull.

500+ damage half the time, 2+ kills regularly.
Surprisingly effective light killer. Much easier to kill those than with SRMs or Lasers. The reason:
A single shot to the right place and the light is dead or crippeled for the rest of the match.

On the negative side however, 4 ERPPCs are hot. More so, than i thought.
A single Alpha will get me to over 60% heat.
A second Alpha will Overheat me. I always have to wait. Maybe normal PPCs with conventional CQ Defense solves this problem. I have to try further...

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

Eisenhorne, on 06 February 2013 - 01:22 PM, said:

Most of my kills in my 6-PPC stalker are, oddly, lights and mediums. I have a fairly poor sustained damage, so I wait until a light is either running towards me or away from me, and blow it away. There isn't a light mech in the game that can survive a 60 damage alpha strike to the chest.

a raven with all of the rear center torso on the front could survive with heavily damaged internals lol owned

[Baeolophus]

From some experience with it, I'm fairly convinced that if you're going to do a PPC build, you're best off just going all-in and 6PPCing with an XL. The extra 10-20 alpha damage clearly made a difference on several occasions, and frankly, when you've let an atlas get within 90m, you're going to die one way or another unless you're completely surrounded by teammates.

Do NOT use ERPPCs, they are way too heat inefficient to be decent en masse.

[Regrets]

Speed is overrated.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e4fc3d6d77ccbd7

[1453 R]

I'm going to ask a serious question here. I mean it - I would like to hear some straight-up answers to the question. I am not trolling, I am not flame-baiting. The question honestly escapes my comprehension.

Why in the seven Hells is the 6-PPC Stalker so unrealistically popular?

You have a build with zero tactical flexibility that combines the miserable mobility of a stock, standard-engine'd assault 'Mech with the overspecialized weapons package that smaller, lighter 'Mechs only generally make work by being swift enough to get that weapons package into the very narrow range/terrain envelope in which it works. Furthermore, the BattleMech is incapable of firing its weapons more than once in a twenty-odd second period without overheating hard and either forcibly shutting down or risking a fusion reactor overload. The BattleMech is almost entirely incapable of defending itself from aggression and is only really viable when taking individual targets unawares from medium to long range.

Why is a machine so positively riddled with flaws so incredibly popular? Especially when dropping some of the PPCs for close-quarters weapons not only allows the BattleMech to see to its own defense rather than relying on unreliable-by-nature teammates, but also reduces the machine's heat generation problems to 'severe' rather than 'inconceivable'. I just don't understand how skilled players can be so fond of such an unwieldy, unmanageable brute as the 6-PPC Stalker?

[p00k]

6ppc's is popular because it's a 60 point alpha. yes it leaves you vulnerable during overheats, and essentially mandates an xl engine which the stalker can't shield well. however, poptarts are incredibly popular right now. so there's a few ways to fight poptarts. you can try to out-poptart them. depends on how good a shot you are. alternately you can take brawlers and close in, but that depends on terrain, your and their positioning, and whether your teammates will push with you/their teammates will defend them. and finally, you can take a sniper that can do more pinpoint damage during that brief window they're midair than they can. like a 6ppc stalker