38 replies to this topic

[Battalia]

because none of the other topics active right now are very fun, here is a little diversion to get your ticker lubricated.

Atlas (3D ART)

Awesome

Catapult

Commando

Dragon

Grasshopper

Hunchback (3d ART)

Jenner (3d ART)

Orion

Spider (3D ART)

Stalker

Trebuchet

These are the released mechs so far... So because you need to have 4 in your lance, what is your lance, and why? Would you make any huge changes to any of them? (mod out an Atlas to have mostly LRM weapons?)

[Battalia]

My personal lance will probably be gearing towards a...
Stalker- Modded for laser weaponry and SRM racks
Orion- My other heavy hitter, probably fine tune the basic orion variant, cuz its already pretty good
Catapult- Because you can never have enough LRM support. Probably the 4xmed lasers and then max out the ammo for the LRM racks
Trebuchet- I would consider another Catapult here, but for the sake of diversity a trebuchet would do fine.

[Modred189]

Stalker, Hunchback and two trebuchets.
Medium is covered, two nice fast fire support mediums and a heavy hitting close ranger with a damage sponge stalker.

[Ixian]

From this list probably would go: AWS, GHR, CPLT and SDR though really it would depend on the map/terrain.

If we are talking urban or close in terrain I would go AS7, GHR, HBK and JR7.

[Ebynfel]

It's a difficult choice for me right now. I am thinking of those listed, my prize lance would have a variety of roles to play with. My issues here are the lack of mediums I like. Don't get me wrong, the Trebuchet(especially if a JJ equipped model) is good to have, and the Hunchback is solid, they just don't scream at me like many of the others such as centurions and Enforcers.

How I'd see myself playing right now:
Catapult as my fire support
Jenner or Spider as a flanker
Grasshopper for a jumping brawler
and more than likely either an Orion or a Hunchback.

I'd probably like to make some mods, as well. My 'scout' if you can call it that already looks good. I like SRMs for them, so most likely the Jenner would be the best fit here. I would like the Commando, but there isnt a jumping variant to be seen until Jihad Era. My main idea is to have the Cat move to whatever terrain gives it vantage and protects it. Use my Jenner to spot fire while my heavy hitters close. Once in closer, and armor starts to get torn into, the SRMs on that scout turn into critseekers, looking for openings to ammo bins.

For the mods, I am thinking the Cat needs more LRM ammo. If I'm taking the Hunchback, I'm thinking I max the armor on the beast and see what I can do to afford a 2nd ton of autocannon ammunition. The Grasshopper I am liking an energy loadout. It's maneuverability means it can place PPC fire pretty much wherever it wants. The Jenner, I like pretty much stock. fast, jump capable, 4 medium lasers and an srm4. What's not to love? Though trading off a medium laser for a SRM 6 upgrade may be well worth it. or two lasers for a second SRM 4. I am unsure.

[Dunkelzahn]

Initially, I thought two Grasshoppers and two Catapults, but then I thought: Why not go 4 Catapults?
With their jump-jets, they are moderatly manouverable, they have both, long- and short range firepower, and while they might not be able to dictate engagement range, no matter what you do, if you can shoot me, I can shoot you.
As for modification, I am not sure, perhaps downgrade the LRM-15s to LRM-10 racks and up the close range firepower and armor? Still pondering.

Of course, in a heavy forest environment (or urban, but we know this will not be in at launch), why not go 4 x Grasshoppers, replacing the LRM with an SRM?

On an open plains/light woood/rolling hill terrain, an Awesome, a Stalker and two Spiders or Jenners could also work well. The assults will draw all the fire on themselves and give the lights more or less free reign to try for back-shots.

[Badgerbanger]

Stalker..the mech with a gift for every range
Awesome...the name says it all AND you have to shoot 17 shades of ...errr...well you know..out of it to stop it.
Catapult ...for firesupport with mobility
Hunchback...because that AC20 can be a game winner in a single shot some days.

[Oberon]

An Awesome or two, fill the rest out with Catapults and or Trebuchets.

I will also keep my greedy little eyes peeled for a "Swayback" (Hunchback variant with lots of medium lasers).

[FireMandrill]

Jenner - Flanker
Dragon - Linebreaker
Catapult - Fire support
Grasshopper - Mobile striker

[Battalia]

not a huge fan of the Dragon myself. An AC5, lrm 10, and 2 ML? A Catapult C1 has a better close rang and short range punch...

[Aldin]

Awesome
Catapult
Hunchback
Commando

One of each weight class. The Awesome and Hunchback make holes and the Catapult and Commando hunt crits.

[FireMandrill]

Battalia, on 09 July 2012 - 09:26 AM, said:

not a huge fan of the Dragon myself. An AC5, lrm 10, and 2 ML? A Catapult C1 has a better close rang and short range punch...

Catapult has 5 more tons to play with, and a smaller engine, which gives it more space for weapons. The Dragon devotes 10 tons to a weapon that only deals 5 damage.

That's why you should immediately mod it into the DRG-1G variant. Take out the AC/5 and 2 tons of ammo (frees up 10 tons), stick in a PPC, another ML, and 2 more heat sinks.

Now it has an LRM 10 with 2 tons of ammo, a PPC, 2 forward ML's, and a rear mounted ML. Only weakness are those 12 heat sinks (the 3050 version of the "Grand Dragon" fixed this problem by upgrading to double heat sinks).

[Busukaba]

Well assuming that the rules for movement and terrain modifiers are in place and like TT, the most effective lance for me would be :
Spider
Spider
Jenner
Trebuchet

Of course, considering that CV is what will allow me to actually fight people the reality of the situation is that I'd have to change that lineup extensively since my CV would be way too low to fight a single person who has posted here. So if I wanted to fight someone I guess I'd have to choose:

Catapult
Grasshopper
Jenner
Jenner

[Rakkis]

Mine would probally be

Atlas
Atlas
Atlas
Atlas

.... or

Awesome
Catapult
Dragon
Commando

[MacabreDerek]

My kneejerk Lance would probably be something like this:

Stalker
Orion
Jenner
Hunchback

Stalker offers alot of long-range support and can go toe-to-toe with just about any mech going infront of it. I'd probably play it so that the Stalker is the most intact mech by the ending turns of the match and try to make sure anything left alive doesn't stand much hope of standing up to it in a 1 n 1 scenario.

Orion is just a really solid mech, it's got punch, crit-seeking potential, and over-all is able to be the main brawler. Because of how slow it is, it's LRMs are also a huge benefit to being a small support mech until it gets to the appropriate ranges.

Jenner is my primary flank and harasser. It's there to pop shots into rear armour while trynig to draw fire, but keeping an absurdly high to-hit.

The Hunchback is my Orions up-close support, and is there to stop flankers from catching it's back without paying for it with an AC20 round to the face.

The only mech I would mod right away is the Jenner, removing it's SRM4 pack for more heatsinks to keep it's medium lasers firing. I dont need it to be a crit-seeker, just a back-door can-opener.

[Mater]

IDK ...
Jen
2 Cats
Hunchback

I woudl liek to try this coar out

[Oberon]

Ebynfel, on 09 July 2012 - 07:14 AM, said:

If I'm taking the Hunchback, I'm thinking I max the armor on the beast and see what I can do to afford a 2nd ton of autocannon ammunition.

Is it that easy to mod the standard Hunchback (HBK-4G) while keeping the AC20?

As I recall you don't have much available tonnage to play with, the AC20 and it's ammo account for 15 tons already. No jump jets or extra heatsinks to remove. The only thing you can work with is the medium and small lasers, which is still only 2.5 tons. So you could add a ton of AC ammo, and a ton and a half of armor, but all you would have for weapons is the AC20 and 10 shots.

Downgrading to an AC10 is always an option, but still only buys you 2 tons. Autocannons are just really big and heavy, which makes them difficult to fit onto medium mechs.

[FireMandrill]

Oberon, on 10 July 2012 - 08:37 AM, said:

Is it that easy to mod the standard Hunchback (HBK-4G) while keeping the AC20?

As I recall you don't have much available tonnage to play with, the AC20 and it's ammo account for 15 tons already. No jump jets or extra heatsinks to remove. The only thing you can work with is the medium and small lasers, which is still only 2.5 tons. So you could add a ton of AC ammo, and a ton and a half of armor, but all you would have for weapons is the AC20 and 10 shots.

Downgrading to an AC10 is always an option, but still only buys you 2 tons. Autocannons are just really big and heavy, which makes them difficult to fit onto medium mechs.

You can always downgrade the engine to get more room. Problem is, you're never going to close range with anything if you do.

[Aldin]

FireMandrill, on 10 July 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

You can always downgrade the engine to get more room. Problem is, you're never going to close range with anything if you do.

Heh - the micro-mini assault class.

[Badillard]

Awesome or Altas for my assult fitted for short range brawling. SRMs, Med. Pulses and the like. maybe MGs.
Catapult or two for long range kaboomski.
Hunchback for Assault support, and or light mech Hunter, which I would fit with lighter ACs, SRMS, and med. lasers.
A jenner or other light for scout/ecm/eccm duty. Beagle probes and narcs.
Stalker if I only use one Cat, as a command mech.