39 replies to this topic

[Alistair Winter]

A lot of TT fans are complaining that stock mechs are almost gone from MWO, because they're completely outclassed by custom builds. I have to say, I can see where they're coming from, but... to me,finding new builds for every variant out there is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game. As soon as I find something that works, I leave it in the mechbay and switch to a new mech. Even my most successful builds will only stay unchanged for so long, before I switch MLs with MPLs or try an XL engine.

One of the most challenging and entertaining parts of this, for me, is finding the mechs and variants that aren't popular, and trying to make them work. Like... seeing if I can be successful with a Raven 4X with jump jets and ACs, or see if I can do well with the less popular medium mechs, somehow. The Spiders frustrate me to no end, because there's so little to tinker with. So few options. Especially the 5V.

Anyway, I'm curious about how many MWO players are happy to stick with their SRM cat or the Atlas D-DC build they got from a guide on the forum, and focus more on the game itself rather than the mechlab. I would still play this game if only stock mechs were available, but one of the things that keeps me grinding into the night is the need to fund my latest idea for a twin gauss Cicada, or whatever else.

[Bguk]

I pretty much stop once I get a build that works for that mech variant. I do enjoy the customization end of it but will really only tweak when changes to weapons are patched, and of course if I buy a new mech/variant.

[Tarman]

I've got a few loadouts that I prefer in certain rides but I like messing with the builds and seeing what happens.

[Praehotec8]

I tend to keep builds that I like for a while, but inevitably I get bored with it and decide to change it up a bit. I think the build I've kept the longest is my 2X LRM-15, 4X SRM-6 cat A-1, partially because I can't decide what else I would put in it at this time (didn't want to be a total splatapult, all LRMs is dangerous, and streaks are just broken one way or another).

[One Medic Army]

I find a build that works and I stop unless there's another build I want to try.

[Vassago Rain]

I play more in the mechlab than the game itself.

Just like in every other mechwarrior game.

[Dukarriope]

Until they do something that allows us to save weapon group bindings in sets for a certain kind of loadout for a 'mech, I'm probably not likely to keep switching loadouts frequently (even though I like doing so).

e.g.
the game remembers the weapon groups for two different configurations of my K2, or my Flame etc.

Edited by Dukarriope, 07 February 2013 - 10:33 AM.

[Steven Dixon]

I will generally build a new variant and then tweak it for a while and once I find something I like I will usually keep it for quite a while until I get bored with it then I change it up. I usually rotate between several mechs of different sizes though.

[Wizard Steve]

Ironically, back before upgrades, I used to tweak my mechs to within an inch of their lives, balancing speed, armor, firepower, ammo and cooling to find the perfect balance for my play-style.

Then they introduced upgrades and now I just turn everything up to 11.

I enjoyed it more in the old days.

[Alistair Winter]

Wizard Steve, on 07 February 2013 - 10:34 AM, said:

Ironically, back before upgrades, I used to tweak my mechs to within an inch of their lives, balancing speed, armor, firepower, ammo and cooling to find the perfect balance for my play-style.

Then they introduced upgrades and now I just turn everything up to 11.

I enjoyed it more in the old days.

I don't understand. Why do upgrades stop you from tweaking?

[Vassago Rain]

Alistair Winter, on 07 February 2013 - 11:39 AM, said:

I don't understand. Why do upgrades stop you from tweaking?

Because he's a gold.

[Viper69]

Customized table top mechs usually outclassed stock variants there too, so whats the point? If you had the Cbills to spend on your team you did. You did a couple of things, brought more mechs/aerospace or better tech.

[Alistair Winter]

Viper69, on 07 February 2013 - 11:51 AM, said:

Customized table top mechs usually outclassed stock variants there too, so whats the point? If you had the Cbills to spend on your team you did. You did a couple of things, brought more mechs/aerospace or better tech.

The point is that according to TT veterans, the Battletech lore suggests that most mechs in the Inner Sphere are stock mechs, so it's weird that in this game, about 99% of the mechs are customized. It's a common complaint in computer games, like how Star Wars fans complain that there are too many double bladed light sabers in The Old Republic, or whatever.

[Viper69]

The only stock mechs I have ever played in tabletop were npc mechs I threw at my gamers. They customized theirs based on what we felt were realistic perameters. Example missles in missile spots mgs if anything were just removed not replaced by ac20s or gauss rifles, heck we even had one guy outfit his battlemaster with a mace and triple strength myomer. My point is TT was only limited by your cbills and down time you were willing to sacrifice to outfit a mech.

[Ialti]

I keep the frames, build new and interesting things, die, and then when I want to make a quick buck or scare the pants off an enemy team I'll assemble a cheatermech build from, say, my CAT K2, A1, or Com 2D.

[TheForce]

i voted almost never because i find the best minmax build and stick with it.

[M4NTiC0R3X]

You should always try new things... I have a custom loadout for eva-ree-thing [every role / weapon type] for eva-ree 'mech [yay for convenient hardpoints!] of my choosing.

EVA-REE-THING!

[Bishop Steiner]

way too bloody often......

I'd be richer than Hanse Davion if I wasn't addicted to mech tinkering.

[Asmudius Heng]

I typically find the most optimal build for the role i am trying to play and keep that as my default setup.

However i am tinkering very often to try everything and give every weapon and chassis a chance even when I know on paper it will probably suck.

Overall its quite a bit of change when i get a new chassis then it slows down

[Sifright]

Vassago Rain, on 07 February 2013 - 10:30 AM, said:

I play more in the mechlab than the game itself.

Just like in every other mechwarrior game.

Yea I tweak pretty often depending on patch notes.

My A1 features two jump jets again now that they aren't a waste of space. Wish they had better duration though.