131 replies to this topic

[Warlune]

STD 315

PPC
LPL
2 SRM4
LRM 15
FLAMER IN THE FACE

[Tavias]

It took me a lot of tries to get a build and the right tactics that worked.

Started off trying PPCs, but this thing sucks at range. If you want to snipe at range use a stalker or various other mechs that are infinitely better suited.

Also tried more direct face to face brawlers and that failed. Even with a std engine, it's just not effective, especially compared to other mechs that can do it better. You simply don't have the firepower.

Finally found something that works:

XL380
2 LPL
1 ML
2xSRM4 (arm)
1xSRM6 (torso)
3xSRM ammo
endo
20 DHS

Leg armor shaved down to 37 each. Nobody shoots an assault's legs.

Pulling lots of 800+ dmg rounds, and it's pretty fun.

The LPL and ML go well together, since they have matched fire/refire times and very similar ranges. Speed is of course key to using it successfully. It's also extremely important to use your excellent torso twist to spread incoming damage across your components. Speed + torso twist = survival. Stand still and your side torsos are going to get shot out in a heartbeat.

Lots of slight variations are also possible, there's a lot of 1 ton differences that you can tweak (SRM6s vs SRM4s in the arms, MPL vs ML, +/- SRM ammo, -DHS, etc).

[Levon K]

PB Fire Support

340XL
16 DHS
Full armor (standard)
Standard internal structure

ER PPC
LRM 15 Artemis -- (3 tons ammo)
SRM 6 Artemis x2 -- (3 tons ammo)
TAG


Not a real performer in any particular area but quite useful in a support role. Also versatile enough for pure pugging..

[Firefun]

If your mind can handle the small engine downgrade (mine can´t) you could do this:

XL395
Endo
FF

2 LPL
3 SRM6 (4t ammo)

Compared to my other 2 builds posted, it also allows for 1t extra armor.

[Zoccola]

I switched up my build last night. I am now running:

XL400
Endo
DHS
3x MPL
3x SRM6 with Artemis
4 tons of ammo.

It works briliantly. I got 6 kills and 2 assists in a game last night. I have also learned that the PB takes advantage of chaos more than any other mech. We had a 3 man team going on mumble and dropped together. 2 identical PBs and a hunchie. (Poor hunchie was too slow to keep up with us!) My buddy (Spachi) and I would wait behind buildings for the firefight to start and then scoot around the battle, coming up behind them. First targets: Cataphracts, Catapults, Dragons and Hunchbacks. They can do significant damage to your team, but dont have the staying power. And when underfire from your team, they are REALLY easy to get behind. And they dont last.

Once the Heavies and larger medium mechs are dealt with, wed turn our attention to the assaults, which are pretty banged up by now. Once a PB with an XL400 and speed tweaks is behind a stalker/atlas, the enemy assault is fubared unless a team mate can come and help.

Another thing we started doing was rushing two PBs to the enemy base. Inevitably, the enemy team sends back a mech or two to deal with what they think is a Raven or Spider. We would then proceed to jump them.

[Grimlox]

NRP, on 06 February 2013 - 07:23 PM, said:

Ok, the LPL, 2 MPL, 3 SRM6, 16 DHS build Grimlox made for me just runs too hot. 17 DHS is the absolute minimum I can run. 18 DHS is better. Hmmm.

Hey NRP if you still have FF on can you give this a shot and let me know how the heat is?

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c4966b1ddca5ead

Then if the heat is lousy drop the mlas for an extra SRM ammo and give it a shot and see if the firepower is sufficient.

If you get the chance

Edited by Grimlox, 07 February 2013 - 08:24 AM.

[NRP]

Yeah, I'll try it tonight.  I have tons of C-Bills and swapping FF isn't that expensive.  The build was really powerful, but during sustained brawling it just left no room for error in firing discipline/heat management.  I am finding that 18 DHS is really the practical minimum for sustained brawling.  38% cooling efficiency is kind of low though, so I expect it will run hot.  You've also got 4 weapon groups, which can be a pain to manage (for me at least).

I also agree with Zoc.  Once you get behind an assault mech, it's hard for them to shake you.  Killed a few Splat Cats this way.  The biggest problem is slowing down enough so you don't run into your victim.  Once you get the hang if it, you'll definitely want more SRM ammo, LOL!

Edited by NRP, 07 February 2013 - 10:45 AM.

[Grimlox]

NRP, on 07 February 2013 - 10:10 AM, said:

Yeah, I'll try it tonight.  I have tons of C-Bills and swapping FF isn't that expensive.  The build was really powerful, but during sustained brawling it just left no room for error in firing discipline/heat management.  I am finding that 18 DHS is really the practical minimum for sustained brawling.  38% cooling efficiency is kind of low though, so I expect it will run hot.  You've also got 4 weapon groups, which can be a pain to manage (for me at least).

I also agree with Zoc.  Once you get behind an assault mech, it's hard for them to shake you.  Killed a few Splat Cats this way.  The biggest problem is slowing down enough so you don't run into your victim.  Once you get the hang if it, you'll definitely want more SRM ammo, LOL!

Sounds good. I think if the heat is still too much I will end up dropping the FF and drop the srm6s to 4s down to 3 srm ammo and cram more DHS in there. Then it would basically be my current 9m with on llas downgraded to a mlas but the faster engine and PB quirks (slow down nerf and turn rate buff).

I'm just on my phone so can't look at the builds but if there's a way to retain the srm 6s that would be nice.

Edited by Grimlox, 07 February 2013 - 11:49 AM.

[NRP]

For me, the SRM6s are the key because that is what makes the PB excel over the 9M (from a brawling/skirmishing perspective). The 9M can pack more laser firepower, but the PB can pack more missile firepower. So I am always going to build my PB around 3 SRM6s. Also, FF is really looking like a bad idea. It just consumes too many slots, which are scarce on all the AWS chassis. But I like LLs, so your build might work. We'll see.

[Sedant]

Im running a XL395 (88KPH with tweak), Endo, 2LLAS, 1 Flamer (Used to distract enemies at close range, aim for the head and it will double your survivability by lighting up your enemies view with burning hotness), 3 SRM6 (4 tons of ammo), and 462/492 armor points. Ive had great success with this loadout, the trick is keeping that flamer on your enemies head while circling them at speed really limiting their field of vision. And whats more awesome then an assault mech shooting fire out of its head. Oh yeah an Awesome with a flaming paintjob shooting fire out of its head thats what!

[Pkunk]

I feel like I have a bullseye painted over my entire mech and I'm always up against 8 premades who are all aiming at me.. Almost every game I have in my PB. When I switch to my 9M everything is fine. And it's not the playstyle.. I have nearly the same loadout. The skin seems to make people want to shoot me more. A lot more

[Sedant]

I think people shoot at the Baby more because they absolutely know you are running an XL engine and think its an easy kill. Easy to avoid as long as you use your speed and stick to hit and run tactics using cover.

[NRP]

I've been reading some other threads in the General Discussion forum. Every time the PB comes up, nearly everyone slags it saying how utterly terrible it is. I find this odd because I'm doing extremely well in my PB, even though I'm still fooling with loadouts. I love getting into 1v1s with Cataphracts, Stalkers, and Atlases with this thing. And the alpha can 1-shot-kill most lights, and if not it almost totally disarms them. Sure I get worked sometimes, but really feel I can give as good as I get with the PB.

Am I just delusional? Are you guys having success in your PBs, or are you struggling?

[Cryos]

I have played the PB in probably 15 matches today - the number of engine deaths (with the stock engine) is stunning. Obviously I am not torso twisting enough to disperse the damage, but HOLY HELL, I've never died like this in a 'Phract or an Atlas.

[Grimlox]

NRP, on 07 February 2013 - 12:45 PM, said:

For me, the SRM6s are the key because that is what makes the PB excel over the 9M (from a brawling/skirmishing perspective). The 9M can pack more laser firepower, but the PB can pack more missile firepower. So I am always going to build my PB around 3 SRM6s. Also, FF is really looking like a bad idea. It just consumes too many slots, which are scarce on all the AWS chassis. But I like LLs, so your build might work. We'll see.

It hurts me to even suggest, but if you lower the engine from a 400 to a 395 and drop the FF here's a potential build.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5390eee042a87f6

This hits the magic 18 DHS that you mentioned heat is comfortable around and it also keeps the SRM6's. I would just put the mlas and llas's on the same weapon group and the SRM's on the 2nd weapon group. Basically you are sacrificing 1km/h for 2 DHS. It's a pretty good trade, I just HATE the idea of not using a 400 haha.

The only other way to keep the 400 and make the heat efficiency better is to drop the mlas altogether and just run with 2 Llas and 3 SRM6's with the 4th ton of SRM ammo because you wiil be relying on them more. Heat efficiency is slightly higher than the 395 build with the extra mlas and you have more leg armour, but lose 5 firepower for that extra 1km/h.

[Firefun]

NRP, on 07 February 2013 - 01:46 PM, said:

I've been reading some other threads in the General Discussion forum. Every time the PB comes up, nearly everyone slags it saying how utterly terrible it is. I find this odd because I'm doing extremely well in my PB, even though I'm still fooling with loadouts. I love getting into 1v1s with Cataphracts, Stalkers, and Atlases with this thing. And the alpha can 1-shot-kill most lights, and if not it almost totally disarms them. Sure I get worked sometimes, but really feel I can give as good as I get with the PB.

Am I just delusional? Are you guys having success in your PBs, or are you struggling?

I wouldn´t worry about that. On the first look it´s hardpoints look terrible, but if you know how to fill it´s key role, it´s beast.

Also I guess many are one the "it´s too expensive ergo crap" negative bandwagon, it´s a choice. imo Awesome´s are in general considered a little weak, perhaps the LPL and PPC/ER PPC changes can change that. But you shouldn´t feel bad about liking awesomes and it´s Hero version, in the end I guess every mech will at least get 1 Hero version.

It fills a key niche imo which is harasser/striker, zooming around as an assault with SRM and added energy weapons. Also convergence doesn´t feel like any problem with its twitching fast torso twist.

[Tremendous Upside]

NRP, on 07 February 2013 - 01:46 PM, said:

I've been reading some other threads in the General Discussion forum. Every time the PB comes up, nearly everyone slags it saying how utterly terrible it is. I find this odd because I'm doing extremely well in my PB, even though I'm still fooling with loadouts. I love getting into 1v1s with Cataphracts, Stalkers, and Atlases with this thing. And the alpha can 1-shot-kill most lights, and if not it almost totally disarms them. Sure I get worked sometimes, but really feel I can give as good as I get with the PB.

Am I just delusional? Are you guys having success in your PBs, or are you struggling?

You're not delusional at all. PB is beast. It's much better than the 9M for brawling, but not nearly as good for fire support... That's kinda why I bought it to begin with. I love my 9M, but sometimes you just want to bring a mech that can roll in and break stuff quickly. And this one pays you more to do just that...

[NRP]

@Cryos
I'm not sure if MWO told us before how we actually died, but I think whenever you eventually die, it is always due to the engine getting destroyed regardless if it's an XL or standard. I believe once your armor is gone, all damage (and crit damage) is eventually transferred to the engine. I know that all my deaths are due to engine destruction, even when I'm running mechs with STD engines.

@Grimlox
I usually don't like to run leg armor that low because everyone tries to leg an Awesome. I've finally convinced myself to sacrifice a bit if speed for better cooling. Since I've already got all the components, I'm gonna try this build. Pretty sure heat won't be an issue.

XL385 (85.8 kph w/speed tweak)
1 LPL
2 MPL
3 SRM6 (3T ammo)
19 DHS
Endo
480 armor

I really wish I could do this with the XL400 though.

[Firefun]

Quote

I usually don't like to run leg armor that low because everyone tries to leg an Awesome.

I disagree.

[NRP]

LOL, well it seems everyone tries to leg me then.

Man, I can't wait to get home and test all these freakin builds!