How do you kit out your Raven?

[Jamey]

I recently acquired my first Raven, and I'm trying to equip it. I put near max armor on it, which leaves me with 3.5 tons of weight for weapons. I'm currently using 2 ML and 3 SL, but I'm not sure I'm going to love that lack of range.

I'm curious how others have equipped theirs.

 

[Camicon Dachass]

I recently acquired my first Raven, and I'm trying to equip it. I put near max armor on it, which leaves me with 3.5 tons of weight for weapons. I'm currently using 2 ML and 3 SL, but I'm not sure I'm going to love that lack of range.

I'm curious how others have equipped theirs.

I took off 1.5 tons of armour and threw on a LL. Less overall damage than the MLs I was using, but I really appreciate the extra range.

 

[koz-ivan]

The Raven isn't intended to be a real powerhouse on it's own, it is there to provide support for the other 3 mechs in the lance.

With that in mind.

1. - Pilot *must* have Sensor Lock.
2. Head Slot is Coms Gear or Rangefinder.

My favorite version dropped the Heat Sinks & SRM and added an LRM 10, so a weapons package of 2x ML & LRM 10, the LRM's were there for chip damage and were often fired indirectly, decent for finishing off turrets / little stability damage to push mechs over ect.

That being said once I got to 4+ skull missions there was always the threat of an enemy sensor lock followed by a volley of focus fire (reinforcements were notorious for this) so eventually we had to strip out the missiles entirely and go with 2-3 Medium Lasers and a Small Laser or 2, with far more robust armor.

 

[BARBOSA (Aries)]

I went with 4ML, 1 JJ and then as much armor as possible.
Gave it enough firepower to be (a little) more than a walking ECM pod, with (just) enough armor and mobility to get by in my A-Team doing 4-5 skull missions.
Got replaced by a ECM equipped Atlas II though.

 

[Exard]

3 Medium lasers, 1 heat sink, rest to the armor....I can't afford to lose it (mech destruction, ironman) so armor is the most important. I like the extra heat sink over a 4th laser....BAP ping and weapons rack up quite some heat and is really a problem on hot maps.

 

[Jamey]

Sounds like most people are kitting theirs out similar to mine. Since I couldn't come up with any other decent plans for it, I guess that makes sense.

 

[Exard]

Sounds like most people are kitting theirs out similar to mine. Since I couldn't come up with any other decent plans for it, I guess that makes sense.

There is not much tonnage to work with....so the choices are very limited. Ballistics are too heavy and SRMs are too cold and LRMs are too heavy. You could do an LRM15 Raven behind the lines or a single large laser....but thats about it in terms of what you can do. The Raven has very high pod space for its tonnage because the engine is rather small, but 7,5 tons are occupied by EW.

 

[The Conmmander]

3ML, 4SL, 1HS, no JJ, Gyro Evasion, Rangefinder
Nice alpha with some +10 dmg weapons later.
Codename watchdog.

 

[Exard]

3ML, 4SL, 1HS, no JJ, Rangefinder++.
Nice alpha with some +10 dmg weapons later.
Codename watchdog.

I use Rangefinder too, but those small lasers man....I wouldn't commit my Raven into melee range. A single lucky hit from a shadow hawk and game over. And letting enemies into ECM bubble or even offensively moving towards 90m is a no-go for me, although the damage output is pretty much the best the raven can have.

 

[The Conmmander]

Sure, it's definitely no brawler. I used my raven never in melee. Mostly firesupport (3ML, Sensor Look, at max range) and sometimes finisher (double move tactic, ~2 alphas before overheating, 3 steps away from the enemy, cloaked after).
Was quite impressive with PS and a tactic 9 pilot at the end.

It's a raw egg, but every light mech is a raw egg later (Hello AK20 adrenalin peak). Played long your version @Exard, but found that extra option was suprisingly useful.

 

[stjobe]

A number of posts have experienced JumpDrive failure and ended up in the Bickering Thread. Please try to stay on-topic please.

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

I ran mine close to stock, however I was starting a stock-ish run so when the DLC came out, so that was that .

I did remove a Heat Sink for additional armor though. I think the rest was stock. Really, it's stock loadout isn't too bad as is when considering the stock loadouts of other light mechs.

If I was going to kit the Raven out, maybe an LRM 10 if possible would be good if it fit. Something to allow the Raven to stay behind cover and lob indirect fire while extending the ECM bubble around the lance.

 

[Na'Shar]

I ran mine close to stock, however I was starting a stock-ish run so when the DLC came out, so that was that .

I did remove a Heat Sink for additional armor though. I think the rest was stock. Really, it's stock loadout isn't too bad as is when considering the stock loadouts of other light mechs.

If I was going to kit the Raven out, maybe an LRM 10 if possible would be good if it fit. Something to allow the Raven to stay behind cover and lob indirect fire while extending the ECM bubble around the lance.

I dropped a ML and the SRM to add a LRM10, 1 ton of ammo for the LRM and a JJ. Can't remember if its 1 or 2 JJ though. Works really well with my tactic of keeping my battlers at the very front edge of the ECM bubble.

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

I dropped a ML and the SRM to add a LRM10, 1 ton of ammo for the LRM and a JJ. Can't remember if its 1 or 2 JJ though. Works really well with my tactic of keeping my battlers at the very front edge of the ECM bubble.

That's what I was thinking. It's good to hear that it works well in that roll.

 

[K1600Mike]

3 med lasers, 3 JJ, enough heat sinks to give it 5 pips on the scale and the rest armor. Did one mission with 2 ravens and no shots fired. They should reward extra for that.

 

[sparkyp]

I made some pretty intensive modifications to mine when I accidentally parked it in a dropship danger zone.

 

[Jamey]

I made some pretty intensive modifications to mine when I accidentally parked it in a dropship danger zone.

Oops.

Did you miss the no mech parking signs?

 

[MeiSooHaityu]

 

[Marauder3D]

I'm actually thinking of giving it to House Marik this time around to make amends for some jobs I did for my pirate friends......

 

[Monotremata]

I'm actually thinking of giving it to House Marik this time around to make amends for some jobs I did for my pirate friends......

I took the Raven, and then they wanted to form an alliance afterwards. Those guys are on some serious drugs over in that corner of the galaxy.