858 replies to this topic

[Ilyich]

Looking like a pretty complete and nice list!

[Woodstock]

Each house should have a 20/40/60/80 ton mech as a starter.

Also merc companies should likewise have a 20/40/60/80 ton mech they have access to.

[William Petersen]

ANHs weren't really readily available in the IS in 3050. In fact, they were pretty much extinct 'til WD came back with some. I love them, though. They look really cool to me.

I would want to start in a WLF(-1B), though. Nice little quick thing with solid armour and armament. If I could get into a Clan 'mech off the bat it would be a Fire Moth Prime or D.

I'd want to kind of work my way up to an Orion (IS) (and/or Annihilator!) or Timber Wolf (Clan).

[Vepo]

As long as my Raven is ingame when it's released I'll be happy!

[Mattiator]

Your list is missing the Age Of War-era Lyran CRS-6B Crossbow, my personal 'Mech of choice.

For starting 'Mechs, I'd focus on 'Mechs that have a balanced mix of weapons so that rookies can get a feel for how the different weapons feel. Average speed and armor for the class are also a plus.

Light:
Thorn (THE-N). 2x Medium Lasers, 1x LRM-5. While the critics may balk at this design, citing the low speed for it's weight and lacking armor protection, I believe the Thorn to be an excellent 20-tonner for rookies. It has enough firepower to keep even some medium 'Mechs on their toes, and enough speed to keep up with basically any medium 'Mech and most higher-tonnage lights. There is the issue of armor, but most rookies will quickly learn that dodging is the best strategy in a light.

Firebee (FRB-2E). 4x SRM-2, 1x Large Laser. While slow by modern standards, the Firebee packs a powerful close range punch backed up by great ranged firepower. Jump jets also help compensate for the low speed, and the SRMs carry plenty of ammunition, something a rookie will no doubt burn through rather quickly. While it excels at urban combat, unlike the UrbanMech it's actually usable in other situations. Imagine that.

Jackrabbit (JKR-8T). 1x AC/2, 1x SRM-2. Now this is an interesting little 'Mech. Autocannons are almost unheard of on lights (UrbanMech fans, you may sit down now), especially during the Star League when basically all light 'Mechs carried were various mixtures of medium and small lasers. Ammunition dependancy is an issue, and it sacrifices armor and speed to have enough weight to mount these weapons. It's also a rare 'Mech, basically only existing with ComStar following the Amaris Coup. Still, a good 'Mech to show that lights are good for things other than scouting.

(Yes, I'll admit I didn't list a lot of popular lights, like the Locust, Wasp, and Wolfhound. I myself am probably biased against them, being a Steiner, but I'm of the opinion that piloting a light 'Mech with limited weapons and high speed actually takes quite a bit more skill than piloting, say, a medium or heavy, hence my choices. And no, the UrbanMech is not a good choice for new pilots.)

Medium:
Vulcan (VL-2T). 1x AC/2, 1x Medium Laser, 1x Machine Gun, 1x Flamer. While it's more of an anti-infantry design, it's got a good mix of ranges and weapons that every MechWarrior should learn how to use effectively. It's weapons are at home in both urban combat as well as out on the field, and at 97.2 kp/h it's quite fast.

Sentinel (STN-3K). 1x AC/5, 1x Small Laser, 1x SRM-2. A nice blend of armor, firepower, and speed. Range brackets are good, and it's a neat little design that's just begging for a makeover. As long as it can do the 'Sentinel thump' to unjam it's SRM-2 ammo.

Centurion (CN9-A). 1x AC/10, 2x Medium Laser, 1x LRM-10. It's like a bigger, slower, heavier Sentinel. While the speed's kind of lousy, the firepower more than compensates. Nice blend of powerful ammunition-dependant weapons, and decent short-mid range backup firepower.

Heavy:
Dragon (DRG-1N). 1x LRM-10, 1x AC/5, 2x Medium Lasers. Truly a jack-of-all-trades, it's got plenty of firepower at any range, and it's ammunition-dependent "big punch" weapons force a rookie to learn how to conserve ammunition. Good speed means it can fufill scouting roles adequately if not spectacularly, and it's got enough armor to keep a rookie alive long enough for him/her to learn.

Thunderbolt (TDR-5S) 1x Large Laser, 1x LRM-15, 3x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-2, 2x Machine Guns. Man, this 'Mech has a lot of different guns! I'm sure just about any rookie could find a favorite weapon out of the 5 different weapons on display here! 64.8 kp/h is about average for a heavy, and thirteen tons of armor is plenty.

Assault:

Crockett (5003-0 downgrade). 1x AC/10, 2x Large Lasers, 2x SRM-6, 2x Small Lasers. Good blend of different weapons and ranges, plus it also mounts jump jets. Thanks to downgraded single heat sinks due to the Succession Wars, it also forces newbies to learn to manage their heat.

Cyclops (CP-10-Z) 1x AC/20, 1x LRM-10, 2x Medium Lasers, 1x SRM-4. A command 'Mech with greater speed than most Assaults. Mostly focuses on short-range combat, but relies more on speed than armor in those situations.

[Cody Machado]

PANTHER

[MacabreDerek]

My top picks:

Stalker: Always enjoyed this mech, love the idea behind it, and it's just one of those low-down-dirty-brawlers that I have kept in my BTC lance since I was a kid. I have alot of history with this mech and would love to get the opprotunity to play it in a balanced envrioment.

Marauder: I am a big fan of long-range support, and this mech has always delivered on that end of the bargan. I am hoping that the crew for MWO can find some way, be it a re-design or something to get this mech in, because to me it's as iconic as the Timberwolf.

Warhammer: Again, long range support with some close-up options. And also running with the heavy-mech theme I enjoy playing. Maybe it's just my MW2: Merc days creeping in, but energy weapons and 65-75 ton chasis = <3

[Lancehead]

I'm thinking of going birdy style in a Raven for starters, and then work my way towards a Loki Prime or a Men Shen Alt. C.

I want to play with BAP and ECM. A lot.

[Stormwolf]

Mattiator, on 27 March 2012 - 12:57 AM, said:

Your list is missing the Age Of War-era Lyran CRS-6B Crossbow, my personal 'Mech of choice.

Correct, the Crossbow was extinct until the CRS-9A debuted in 3071.

[Mattiator]

Stormwolf, on 27 March 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Correct, the Crossbow was extinct until the CRS-9A debuted in 3071.

Out of curiosity, what's your source for this? Reading SARNA it doesn't have any indication of being extinct. It was manufactured from before 2468 to 2490, as well as from 2541 at the earliest to 2550. The CGL master unit list indicates that it's extinct as of the Jihad, which doesn't surprise me at all. I'd expect it to be rare by 3049, but not entirely extinct.

[Charles Martel]

Alizabeth Aijou, on 19 November 2011 - 04:51 AM, said:

Flea is produced by the FWL as well, iirc.
But yeah, they are mostly exclusive to the Hymie Wolf's Wolf's Baboons and Natasha Immensky's Black Hippo Company.

Now I want a Whammyhammer.

[LordDeathStrike]

now that its mech 8, the awesome! and once i can get one, an atlas variant ask-7 master and commander.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

Yeah, the Awesome compliments the Catapult in the Fire Support role or the Atlas in attack. Just needs a buddy with short range weapons (Hunchback) to keep the Jenners off.

[Ninja Chef]

Psyched for the Exterminator, maybe the Spector is a possibility? Would love to see it in-game.

[Curon Hifor]

Mongoose, Mercury, or Locust, please!

[Stormwolf]

Mattiator, on 27 March 2012 - 08:52 PM, said:

Out of curiosity, what's your source for this? Reading SARNA it doesn't have any indication of being extinct. It was manufactured from before 2468 to 2490, as well as from 2541 at the earliest to 2550. The CGL master unit list indicates that it's extinct as of the Jihad, which doesn't surprise me at all. I'd expect it to be rare by 3049, but not entirely extinct.

All those Age of War mechs listed in TRO3075 are supposed to extinct in the same way the Woodsman is extinct among the Clans.
They only got revived and upgraded for the Jihad.

[Seabear]

Given a choice of any mechs listed - Exterminator for me.

[Mattiator]

Stormwolf, on 29 March 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

All those Age of War mechs listed in TRO3075 are supposed to extinct in the same way the Woodsman is extinct among the Clans.
They only got revived and upgraded for the Jihad.

Fair enough. I'll be in the corner crying.
...
(And scouring SARNA for something similar)

[Jacob Davion]

You also forgot the Woodsman! I want my good ol' stinker!

[Archtus]

Raven, hands down.

ECM

Pulse Lasers and one battery of SRMs. Tack on some JJ's, and I'm a happy scout.