Which Mechs to use and which to avoid

[Rally]

just played Inferno and enjoyed some success with the Mauler A variant which has 2x Guass rifles and 2x 15LRM. I had a little over a 100K to spend. Was that a wise choice? Pain in the ass trekking bak to replenish ammo but if your only problem is that after you kill a few mechs you have to rearm... that doesn't seem too bad.

It's a good choice, but not for inferno. Inferno isn't LRM friendly.

Fell free to use it on any other map. Do make sure you move cautiously while using it as it lacks defensive capabilities like armor, ECM, AMS and speed. It's best not to die too soon so you can make use of it's great firepower after all.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Clearly we should restructure this thread to read; pick the top three mechs you never use.

1) Warhammer (this mech is fragile and slow making it cash money for the opposing team)
2) Puma (I used to love this mech but the new cost structure makes the 6 laser version relatively expensive)
3) Raven (Unless I join a match really late and no one gives me start up cash)
4) Cougar (forgot this one but it seems totally outclassed by Osiris)

Top three weapons I never use.

1) Arrow IV
2) Streak SRMs
3) LBXs of any sort.  Can anyone make the argument that the LBX is better than the AC of the same weight?

[=KoS= Eldragon]

Mechs to avoid? Anything with a RAC.  Why not? Because the weapon requires you to have a constant LOS on the target. Whereas PPCs, Gauss, and LRMs require just 3 seconds to line up a shot and fire then duck behind a hill. Which wouldn't be so bad except even at under 400 meters the gun scatters its shot more than an LBX-20.

Having said that, I've been using the RAC Hollander a lot lately, I'm dedicating myself to using all those crappy variants I never see anyone use.

[Profane Arbiter]

I find laser boats to be a bit weak, nothing to provide a sound knockout punch.

Since knockdown hasn't been implimented in this game yet, lasers are the best weapons. Not only do they hit precisely where you point, but they also achieve the highest damage per second. What can best be said in defense of high damage/ slow firing weapons is that the damage comes all in one shot. This makes weapons like the gauss rifle or PPC fine pop-tarting options.

[snooggums]

Clearly we should restructure this thread to read; pick the top three mechs you never use.

1) Warhammer (this mech is fragile and slow making it cash money for the opposing team)

Lies! I use the dual AC10/MRM and PPC/Lt Guass versions to great effect. Both are very handy when in a group to finish off wounded mechs and the high rate of fire on the AC10s/MRMs means that if you aren't the top priority you can hand out a lot of damage quickly and neuter light/medium mechs in a couple of volleys.

[MerfMerf]

>.>The mechs i avoid are ones with alot of rockets on them...Mad Cat, Vulture and such.

Wait.. those models have rockets?
*Merf-Goggles on* I see naught but LBX-20's and Gauss-rifles.

3) LBXs of any sort.  Can anyone make the argument that the LBX is better than the AC of the same weight?

Winning argument: The Beatstick.

Mechs I do not use? I haven't really thought about it, but I tend to hesitate both ones or twice before taking any mech with legs turned the wrong way (Wrong way = human legs. Right way = chicken legs). Normal legged mechs have no style.

/Merf - Mech fashion is NOT up for debate

[=KoS= Eldragon]

3) LBXs of any sort.  Can anyone make the argument that the LBX is better than the AC of the same weight?

Winning argument: The Beatstick.

If a Quad AC20 (Ultra or otherwise) Madcat Mk2 existed, I't would tear the beatstick to pieces, I would take it over the LBX version any day.

Of course once we get the mechlab, you can expect to see 4xGauss Madcat Mk2 (Gauss-zilla) all over the damn place. Imagine jump sniping with something like that.

[MerfMerf]

3) LBXs of any sort.  Can anyone make the argument that the LBX is better than the AC of the same weight?

Winning argument: The Beatstick.

If a Quad AC20 (Ultra or otherwise) Madcat Mk2 existed, I't would tear the beatstick to pieces, I would take it over the LBX version any day.

Of course once we get the mechlab, you can expect to see 4xGauss Madcat Mk2 (Gauss-zilla) all over the damn place. Imagine jump sniping with something like that.

This is why I'm not overly enthused about any inclusion of mechlabs. It puts ALOT of extra strain on balancing. It will completely remove a lot of mixed-purpouse mechs as well as further polarize combat to the the extremes (at the cost of mixed engagements). Still, the 4x UAC20 does not exist. So it is not yet a factor. Thus the beatstick is still a very valid reason to go LBX-20. At least for me. If a quad AC20 would exist, weather it would tear the Beatstick apart or not depend on engagement me thinks. Would depend on what pilot managed to ensure the confrontation was on its terms.

Those things aside I tend to have a lot easier centering 4 LBX-20s on a leg or center torso in brawl then I do the 2x UAC20 if that other mech that looks surprisingly like a proper madcat. For some reason I also can't seem to kill BAs with the UAC20, but usually can get them with the LBX20. Maybe my brain is just wired wrong though =)
Also managed to use the LBX-20s for anti air. Ghain fire and hammer on. The pellets move faster then AC20 rounds.

/Merf - Thinks the satisfaction of the shotgun-like blast is hard to beat

[=KoS= Eldragon]

This is why I'm not overly enthused about any inclusion of mechlabs. It puts ALOT of extra strain on balancing. It will completely remove a lot of mixed-purpouse mechs as well as further polarize combat to the the extremes (at the cost of mixed engagements). Still, the 4x UAC20 does not exist. So it is not yet a factor. Thus the beatstick is still a very valid reason to go LBX-20. At least for me. If a quad AC20 would exist, weather it would tear the Beatstick apart or not depend on engagement me thinks. Would depend on what pilot managed to ensure the confrontation was on its terms.

Those things aside I tend to have a lot easier centering 4 LBX-20s on a leg or center torso in brawl then I do the 2x UAC20 if that other mech that looks surprisingly like a proper madcat. For some reason I also can't seem to kill BAs with the UAC20, but usually can get them with the LBX20. Maybe my brain is just wired wrong though =)
Also managed to use the LBX-20s for anti air. Ghain fire and hammer on. The pellets move faster then AC20 rounds.

/Merf - Thinks the satisfaction of the shotgun-like blast is hard to beat

I have a love-hate relationship with the idea of a mechlab. The devs know balance is going to be an issue, and really the only way to make it playable is to allow server admins to ban custom configurations until everything gets worked out. Of course the balance will never be perfect until there is a mech-lab. Its a chicken-or-the-egg kind of scenario.

LBX20 is certainly easier to kill BA (At least if they are airborn for sure), but I can actually hit targets more than 350 m out with the AC20, I can't do that with the LBX20 and I hate being ouranged by an opponent. But I can see why one would prefer the LBX.

[Profane Arbiter]

I never use:

- any vehicle though particularly the Harasser which is pretty much a free kill. Vehicles in general have a poor cost/ benefit.

- the Bushwacker: crazy eclectic weapon systems; garbage. Like the harasser, I tend to think "newbie" when I see someone in it.

- any Hollander variation other than the heavy gauss one is trash bin fodder

- the Catapult, though I will very rarely get the 2 Arrow 4 one, I don't use the others. Missile-centric and underpowered or ourright useless if not raining missiles...plus the "ears" are prime targets. The ELRM variant with JJ is nice at hitting anything at extreme range...but not hitting it particularly hard given the mech's tonnage. The LRM cougar puts out more hurt. Also, I don't recall exactly, but I think this is the mech that doesn't have Eoptics, which is just absurd.

- Owens: I once used the beam laser owens but the pulse laser Uller is overall better, and I don't even use that too much given the new pricing structure

- Mauler: I'll use the SSRM/ UAC version occasionally but I'm not in love with it. The same goes for the gauss/ LRM variant. I won't use the others at all. Loadout concerns aside, the cockpit visibility sucks at the wrong angles.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

If a Quad AC20 (Ultra or otherwise) Madcat Mk2 existed, I't would tear the beatstick to pieces, I would take it over the LBX version any day.

Of course once we get the mechlab, you can expect to see 4xGauss Madcat Mk2 (Gauss-zilla) all over the damn place. Imagine jump sniping with something like that.

Duh... you seriously think that Gauss-zilla would be so bad?
Imagine yourself than encountering Blood Asp with Quad Gausses supported by SSRM6, more armor and way better protected head than Beat Stick has while still maintaining good speed.

QuadUAC would do great but still QuadLBX has more kick at <100 meters (although getting in that ranges is sometimes problematic... but you can get used to that

which to avoid

I can say which Mechs I avoid:

• Mauler - too slow, no good weapons for me. I get more points with heavy than with Mauler
• Atlas - sorry but if someone buys it he can equally good go BA. Useless 90% of time. I kill that in 10-15 seconds using Madcat C without getting any heavier damage
• Catapult - I hate LRM camping... it's so boring...
• Bushwacker - too many weapons, most of them useless at the time I can get it
• Cougar - no idea... I just like other light mechs more
• Owens - good for early LRM camping... which is totally useless as all light mechs can avoid 100% of missiles is pilot is smart enough. Other than that - useless. Better go Osiris.
• Raven - Same as Cougar - I have no idea why I dislike playing it, although it's a decent mech, even better since it got the AMS in 0.2.0.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

hmm.... I don't use
1)cougar - I dunno why i don't i just don't, probably cause i'd rather grab a demolisher
2)puma - while a great hunter/killer mech I just don't like the limited torso twist and weird cockpit
3)shadow cat - I dunno, my play style should say i would love this mech but for whatever reason i always end up in a Holly instead.

[DFDelta]

I generally avoid:

• Everything carrying a RAC
• Every kind of Boat (except Laser and PPC)
• All sorts of Artillery-based Equipment
• All Assault Mechs

[MagicBedRoom]

Hope this summary helps flesh the thread out abit:
So far the most favourite mechs that are not missile boats : and in order of price:.
At < than starting Cbills the Osiris B is overwhelming the favourite first mech.
At 56 550 Cbills  The Warhammer B is a better choice than the Osiris if you feel like you can get it in range....?
At 64 516 Cbills  The Shadow Cat A appears to have a great deal many fans.
With say about 100K-110K Cbills any Novacat you can afford is a good investment.

Thread doesn't really indicate what is a good choice with 70-90 Cbills or what is a great choice when your flush with Cbills

[Liberius]

1) Warhammer (this mech is fragile and slow making it cash money for the opposing team)

I use to have the same attitude about the warhammer. However, my brother got me to try the Dual AC10/MRM version(B i think). It's great. You only have to be a warrior to use this thing, which makes it great for hunting light mechs in the first 5-10 min of a round.

I've also grown quite an affinity for the Warhammer A(2 ERPPC, 1 Light Gauss, 2 MBL). This thing is amazing for hunting 'Mechs and vehicles that are running passive or have ECM. Why? It has ECM AND BAP. Also, it goes 64 kph, which isn't all that slow. This makes a great mech with lasting armor that can get behind the enemy and take out missile boaters and Long Toms in just a few alphas from 900m.

My take on the warhammer is this: It's excellent for destroying Light/Medium mechs. It's ok against heavy mechs. It doesn't do so well against Assault Mechs. Therefore, it makes a great escort for anything that weighs more than itself, because it can keep pesky lights/mediums off the bigger guy, as well as add a serious long range punch. It's not too bad at killing BA with those 2 MBLs either.