lbx or ac?

[(TLL)KitLightning]

What I would like to see with the LB-X Autocannon is the ability to use either standard AC munition and cluster munition. That advantage has been neglected in all PC Games since the first MW implementation

[=KoS= Saber15]

What I would like to see with the LB-X Autocannon is the ability to use either standard AC munition and cluster munition. That advantage has been neglected in all PC Games since the first MW implementation

Assault Tech 1: Battletech (Mektek's game) has both cluster and standard slug munitions for LBXes along with special ammo for missile weaponry.

[(TLL)KitLightning]

oh forgot about AT1 been a long time since I ran that one though for me there is only one game

[TheDrgnRbrn]

The Party is only missing the mguns, so I feel it fills its roll admirably. Cheap, quick AA for early game. Changing AC5s to burst would make them more unique, but I figure that removing their dedication to AA duty would do more.

The last thing we need is more burst-damage weapons. Novacat anyone? Do we really want more mechs capable of doing this? A few burst fire weapons are okay, but the AC20 was essentially a different colored PPC back in .2. Sure, there were some upsides and downsides to either, but as far as putting damage on target, they worked the same way. MWLL wants to give each weapon a different feel, and while the burst-damage AC20 was lots-o-fun, without the arc and long range abilities it was not any different. A return to that particular model at this time would not be a good idea.

Eh, might wanna read my AC5 thread again, when I say burst I mean a burst fire firing model rather than a constant stream of shells.
The damage would be very much still over time, but it would be usable on the move and in brawls, sort of like a mini AC10 that is much easier to aim.
Nothing at all like the all damage up front "burst" delivery model of the AC20 or PPC.

No, I know what you mean. By the burst-damage I was responding to brainwrights' idea, not yours. Sorry, should have quoted.  I know about your burst-ac5, and I am cool with that.

EDIT: Wow, wierdness happened.. fixed.

[Kadreal]

The UACs can be useful. I've been playing around a lot with an oro B and been having pretty good luck with it. The key is to fire in bursts, and then let the gun recover. Since the cooldown pauses each time you fire the gun, you get a lot of paused cooldown if you just try to spread out your shots. To the point where if you want to maintain constant heat, you can only fire about as fast as a normal AC.

Meanwhile if you do a 3/4 round rapid burst and then worry about your other weapons for 4 or 5 seconds, the UAC will be cooled down and ready for another quick burst. Unfortunately it's still a bit short of matching 2 AC20s in damage. Also if it jams, your pretty much screwed since it'll take a good 10-15 seconds before it unjams and then it still needs to cooldown from full.

[~SJ~KorbinWimmer]

The trick I use with UAC20s is to just count to 4 with each bang you hear ( or 8 if you chain fire the Mauler C like me).  Then give a couple seconds while firing off other weapons and count to 4 again.  This all assumes you have an actual reliable target.  Often in a Scat you can't always fire off 4 back to back shots so you end up not having to worry about UAC heat as much.

[Nitro_R]

@Kadreal: I definitely agree that the UAC20 is totally short of 2x AC20 worth of damage, even if you were firing at a stationary target and managing your "gun-heat"

I would advocate:
1) a higher rate of fire when you hold it down,
2) with the same cooldown required for the gun-barrel

Half the "mech-heat" output will already be implemented as we've heard before from the devs.

Again, I re-iterate that the ERPPC and Gauss still greatly out-class the ACs in general at every range.
So it feels like brawling with "brawler weapons" such as the big ACs at close range really is not worth it as they are not the damage kings.
You might as well do the same amount of damage by ERPPC/Gauss sniping from afar, only exposing your mech when firing after a reload.

[AlfalphaCat]

@Kadreal: I definitely agree that the UAC20 is totally short of 2x AC20 worth of damage, even if you were firing at a stationary target and managing your "gun-heat"

I would advocate:
1) a higher rate of fire when you hold it down,
2) with the same cooldown required for the gun-barrel

Half the "mech-heat" output will already be implemented as we've heard before from the devs.

Again, I re-iterate that the ERPPC and Gauss still greatly out-class the ACs in general at every range.
So it feels like brawling with "brawler weapons" such as the big ACs at close range really is not worth it as they are not the damage kings.
You might as well do the same amount of damage by ERPPC/Gauss sniping from afar, only exposing your mech when firing after a reload.

I'd say that is a yes and a no.  Most heavier mechs are not the best sniping platforms, and actually benefit greatly from the increased fire rate of AC's.  But if your in a light or medium that has a respectable amount of speed and mobility; gauss or PPC may be a good choice, cause a snipers worst enemy in this game, are LRM's.  I don't usually try to 'snipe', but if i do try to stay out of the furball, i will 'snipe' from about 3-500 meters out, and then lasers are the optimal choice, but you know what, i could be doing it wrong!

[Nitro_R]

@AlfalphaCat

Good point, I never factored in weight class.  You're right.
Hit and run mechs would favour PPC/Gauss.
Stand and fight mechs would benefit from big ACs.

For me, I mostly roll in the Scat A, so I:
a) stand-and-fight against mechs lighter than me,
b) hit and run (burst up to 5 UAC20 shots, then do some fancy dancing) against mechs heavier than me,
and
c) "snipe" from 400-500m against groups of enemies larger than my group (situational)

Note: In the next patch, heat mechanics may be tweaked a bit to bring balance to ERLL and ERPPCs next patch (points at Novaboat), I hear.

[AlfalphaCat]

@AlfalphaCat

Good point, I never factored in weight class.  You're right.
Hit and run mechs would favour PPC/Gauss.
Stand and fight mechs would benefit from big ACs.

For me, I mostly roll in the Scat A, so I:
a) stand-and-fight against mechs lighter than me,
b) hit and run (burst up to 5 UAC20 shots, then do some fancy dancing) against mechs heavier than me,
and
c) "snipe" from 400-500m against groups of enemies larger than my group (situational)

Note: In the next patch, heat mechanics may be tweaked a bit to bring balance to ERLL and ERPPCs next patch (points at Novaboat), I hear.

'Mechanics' is the key word there, the lasers and PPCs generate plenty of heat, but on the Novacat, it just dissipates too fast.  Considering of course chain firing and groupings.  Coolant really isn't that much of an issue IMHO.