Ideas of Mech's Modifications

[kimek0986]

Wer already have similar thread in good ol' forum, and since we already start to get an amount of the Hard-Points on some mechs I think it could be nice to share our ideas about the changes in mechs we want to see,

Vindicator:
Downgrade PPC to Large Laser, drop 1 Heat Sink and add 3 Medium Lasers. Now we have a quiet mean mech that can either fight on a long distance (LL + LRM-5), or close distance (4 ML)

 

[CarpeMortis]

Wer already have similar thread in good ol' forum, and since we already start to get an amount of the Hard-Points on some mechs I think it could be nice to share our ideas about the changes in mechs we want to see,

Vindicator:
Downgrade PPC to Large Laser, drop 1 Heat Sink and add 3 Medium Lasers. Now we have a quiet mean mech that can either fight on a long distance (LL + LRM-5), or close distance (4 ML)

My take on this that you are going to went to use those JJ a LOT. Since Jumping has no negative effect on YOUR accuracy, in a majority of cases it will be the preferred movement mode. This means more heat. Also IIRC the PPC has stability damage, the LL does not. I'ld just drop the ML for another HS, and use the JJ to keep out of Min range.

 

[kimek0986]

There is always lance-mates for stability damage, and in campaign we'll have the special ability to aim at specific areas of enemy's mech (okay, it's not a free ability, but it there)

 

[CarpeMortis]

There is always lance-mates for stability damage, and in campaign we'll have the special ability to aim at specific areas of enemy's mech (okay, it's not a free ability, but it there)

There's also Lance mates for close range fighting. A SHD-2H, with it's increased Melee, or for that mater any 50/55 ton mech with more armor than the VND is probably better suited to that role. I'ld rather keep my VND as a sniper and jump it around (preferably into woods) to keep it's thinner armor intact.

 

[HurricaneSG]

And don't underestimate a PPC's EMP Effect (-1 to Hit modifier to the Target). Hope it is still in.

 

[kimek0986]

I don't know amount and type of Hardpoints on the Shadowhawk, while Vindicator have lovely 5 energy HPs.

And also, in campaign, we would have a lot of vehicles as an opponents, who don't care about stability damage. I would prefer to have more guns to do pew-pew stuff XD

 

[Havamal]

There's also Lance mates for close range fighting. A SHD-2H, with it's increased Melee, or for that mater any 50/55 ton mech with more armor than the VND is probably better suited to that role. I'ld rather keep my VND as a sniper and jump it around (preferably into woods) to keep it's thinner armor intact.

Agreed.
I'd keep that Shadowhawk a bit more forward and have the Vindicator just back behind the shoulder of whatever its lead lancemate ends up being, sniping with the PPC but supporting and hoping to split some of the damage dealt between them rather than focused on one of them. But the SHD with its greater melee ability, is a potentially better choice to front the formation than the VND. Though the Badger of Tikonov can pull that duty temporarily when needed against light and medium opposition. Just backpedal when your ready to fire with the PPC.

 

[Exemplar Voss]

There's also Lance mates for close range fighting. A SHD-2H, with it's increased Melee, or for that mater any 50/55 ton mech with more armor than the VND is probably better suited to that role. I'ld rather keep my VND as a sniper and jump it around (preferably into woods) to keep it's thinner armor intact.

Keep in mind the default armor difference between a shadow hawk and a vindicator is very minimal (and in fact the SH has weaker leg armor). Only the Kintaro and Hunchback really go for significantly more armor, and in the case of the hunchback it's only a ton.
All of the 55 ton mechs dump 8.5 of their 10 extra tons (over the vindicator's 45 ton weight) directly into the engine.

Really, if you want to tweak the vindicator, the best starting point is the LRM5. The return on those 3 tons is really poor.

 

[CarpeMortis]

The return on those 3 tons is really poor.

Which is why the SHD would lose it in favor of more armor...

 

[BloodKite]

Has anyone seen the current stats on the Victor (I can't seem to find them, but I may be blind).

I'd like to get a feeling of how to minimize the armour deficiency and have it be a proper Assault over a glorified Heavy.

 

[Exemplar Voss]

Which is why the SHD would lose it in favor of more armor...

Well, yes. You could do that. But the SH has enough damage problem as is, I'm not sure removing the LRM altogether for more armor (there is a cap) is really the way to go for the SH.
It will depend on the hard points, really, but I'd argue for more weaponry, not less.


@BloodKite- remove the JJ, downgrade the AC* or drop the SRM. But honestly the victor lacks flexibility. Assaults designed for 4/6 move have issues.
*or swap the AC for other things if hardpoints allow

 

[BloodKite]

Interesting that you'd consider dropping the JJ's - isn't that really it's primary call, being a jump capable assault? I was tossing up between a switch to a PPC, or drop the SRM-4 for armor and/or AC/20 ammo.

 

[CarpeMortis]

Well, yes. You could do that. But the SH has enough damage problem as is, I'm not sure removing the LRM altogether for more armor (there is a cap) is really the way to go for the SH.

In the scenario I described, the SHD is the close range brawler. The LRM is more out of place there than on the VND who is in the same scenario a sniper. Another place to use that tonnage would be to up the SRM to an 4 rack. But since I intend to make use of that boosted melee, I want it to be able to weather some punishment.

 

[Ozymandious]

I think the vindicator is such a flexible chassis that if you wanted to go all crazy with it you could field a lance of 4 vindies. Each one tweaked to a different role. Possibly have one stock as a rounder, switch one to all close range ie lasers and SRM. Up the lrm of one for fire support and there ya go.

 

[Samskara]

Paint flames on the sides of my Urbie so it goes twice as fast.

 

[Exemplar Voss]

Paint flames on the sides of my Urbie so it goes twice as fast.

Red ones go fasta

 

[Ozymandious]

If the urbie is going fast your doing it wrong. In my humble opinion urbie is too cool to run. He sits on a hill and blows pieces off other lights with his boom stick while laughing like a gremlin. Or he gets em in a city and just slaughters em. Small laser for the kill of course just to really give em the old backhand.

 

[Dexion]

In the scenario I described, the SHD is the close range brawler. The LRM is more out of place there than on the VND who is in the same scenario a sniper. Another place to use that tonnage would be to up the SRM to an 4 rack. But since I intend to make use of that boosted melee, I want it to be able to weather some punishment.

I Modded the Beta files to remove 2 HS from a SHD to add 1 ton of armor and upgrade the SRM to a 4 pack. World of difference . You need to watch you're heat and JJ useage, but you have ok long range punch (AC5+Lrm5), good medium range (Ac5, ML, Srm4) and fantastic melee.

 

[ulziel]

I would liket o see a Splat Cat with 4 Srm 4 and 2 ML and 2 LL. with about 4 tons of ammo to be able to brawl with other mechs and jump behind to unload on some one.

 

[HBS_Adarael]

Here's my current fun: A SHD-2H with 5 JJs instead of 3, An AC10 in place of the 5, and I think 2 medium lasers? Other tonnage taken up by enhanced arm actuators to boost its' already nasty melee damage. Rush people and tear 'em apart with your hands, or jump behind and open up with the weapons.

I think I may have up-armored it some, but I forget the exact layout. That save game went the way of the dodo yesterday due to having been started too far back to be compatible with the current build, and I haven't gotten any upgraded arm actuators this playthrough.