CPLT-C1 Workhorse (3x LLas, 2x SSRM2, STD285)

Just an all-around dependable mech (hence the name).

Upside:
- Good speed (+~7kph over stock) with a standard engine for durability.

- EXCELLENT heat tolerance with 19 DHS. Efficiency @ 1.32 is a bit misleading because you're not gonna truly alpha - LL group is button1, SSRM's are button 2. LL's are 21 heat for 27 damage and the streaks are 4 heat for 10 damage. Unless you're sprinting around inside the crater you can pretty much pound the 3 LL's in group all day - this thing is HARD to overheat. So you get to drill people with a 27 point shot every 3.25 secs for a looooong time...

- 1 ton of streak ammo (leg slot) will get you through a match no problemo - so ammo cost is negligible.

- +32 pts over stock armor.

- Big range envelope - from 900m up to your face you can hit it. 450 or less gets the full laser damage, 270 or less gets you another 10 pts streak damage.

- SSRM's and a 3LL shot to the legs will make scouts look elsewhere.

Downside:
- No AMS (if you think you really need that)

- No jump jets (if you're an air junkie)

- LL's have longest shot duration for energy weps @ 1sec (which coincidentally is the same as meds) - so you gotta be a steady beam shooter...

- LL's are torso mounted so vertical flexibility is limited. (Don't chase people up and down hills...)

- Not 'bursty'... so your dual gauss/AC20 types will out-gun you - but the concept is the same as a light tank: things that are bigger and slower than you, you maneuver around - things that are smaller and faster than you, you out-armor and out-gun. I don't know of any other mechs right now with a std. engine that can sprint over 70 with more than 352 pts of armor that can put a 27 point shot into you at 450m. I haven't seen it all so there probably is something out there, but I haven't run into it yet. I'm sure you all will educate me on that if I'm incorect too...:tongue:

- This config skimps on leg armor a tad - 1 ton (32 pts) on each leg... AND that also happens to coincidentally be where 1 ton of SSRM ammo happens to be sitting... so far it hasn't been a problem for me but I could see where maybe some people might want a little more security there.

Summary:
I love this thing, really. This is one mech that I can't really EVER blame when I get smoked - it has so few natural limitations that I've never felt like it let me down when I faceplant. I can ALWAYS find something wrong with how I drove it as opposed to how it performed - and that's definitely not the case with every horse in the stable if you know what I mean. Surviving the round will usually put you at ~400-500 pts of damage as an average I'd say - usually somewhere in the top 3 on most of your wins. So if you're looking for a solid, all-aspect, multi-role performer to drive, give the 'ol workhorse a shot - I don't think you'll be disappointed!

 

If I had the CBills I'd be giving this a run for a bit. I like how the build is both simple yet effective.
In theory it has solid dmg to heat ratio, as if played well you can put out some decent hurt w/o worrying about overheating.

I love Catapults, sadly, I sold mine and moved on before settling into my niche role (which turns out IS supporting my team with LRM and poking with LL for extra dmg).

I hope to hear others' experience with this setup.

 

Yeah its probably a bit on the pricey side with DHS and Endo, but the std engine is still a bargain over XL's (on multiple levels) so you do catch a break there. Just consider it a good investment - for your $ you're getting a very solid performer. You're not gonna conquer the earth in it or win 3v1's but on most drops it will give you a good mix of speed, survivablility and damage. Remember: It's a workhorse!

 

Looks like fun. I'm working on something similar once I save up enough c-bills for the DHS, but I'm going to keep the stock engine and use the mass to swap the SSRM 2s for SRM 6s to deal A LOT more in close damage at the cost of having a tougher time hitting Jenners and Commandos.

I'll also likely either swap the third Large Laser for 2 mediums or drop some heat sinks to make room for more SRM ammo and the utility of some jump jets.

 

I just wanted to let Warchanter that I am having a lot of fun with his Workhorse build. Plus he could have noted that the repair bill is really not all the much on the high side. The last match I played I had lost an arm it ended up to be around 34k

 

Glad to hear it Hel, thx for giving it a shot... good hunting!

 

I'm thinking of putting this together with an xl315, ams, jump jets, and (near) max armor. I run a streakcat with a std315 and I never really lose side torsos before my arms go, so the xl seems like a good choice (ignoring upfront and ongoing costs). Does your experience on this front differ?

 

With DHS and endo you might be short on slots for the JJ/ams/ammo once the xl takes what it needs, assuming you can wedge it in there. Outside of the 10 DHS in the engine you're looking at 27 slots for the extra 9 DHS if you wanna stay at 19. That doesn't leave a whole lot of space.

I'm with you in that cat side torsos are pretty tough, I can't say I disagree. The std engine just makes it that much harder to kill and is one less thing to worry about/pay for.

The nice thing about streak cats is the weapon/ammo loadout is relatively light, like 13, 14 tons maybe? So with the workhorse you have to budget for 19 tons of weapons and ammo. The xl will help in that regard but I don't know if it will be enough for everything you'd like.

Good luck tho! I'd be interested to see what it could do with a 315 in it...

 

Using a variant based on this build.

Instead of Endo I use a a 300XL engine, which gives extra tonnage for AMS, 1 ton AMS ammo, another ton of SSRM ammo, a JJ, and 16 more armor.

Love the continuous Large Laser spamming

Edit: Racked up 1k damage for the first time - In THIS build. Workhorse? No. Hercules!

 

I'm a huge fan of the original concept of this build. I posted earlier re: trying an xl315 variant, did, and ended up loving it.

The actual thing I run:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=12&l=be62569454ecfc4fce232839f83e227321384c2a

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It uh... doesn't look super great, the dps numbers are relatively low for a heavy and I think you have to be careful with pinpoint llas aiming to get the most out of it, but when you do get comfortable with aiming the llas it's close to a dual gauss hit (27 damage to CT is not uncommon vs medium to assault mechs), and combined with the streaks or srm4s the damage works out remarkably well. It is not uncommon to core a heavy mech in just under 10 sec if you're able to fire streaks.

Also, it is amazingly survivable. I have played approx 100~ games with it and not lost a side torso yet, so I think the xl is a good choice (speed is life, etc). I regularly use the arms to intercept fire and often end a game with no arms and just the 3 llas on torso left. The one jumpjet helps a lot too - can use to turn more tightly to wreck lights, or for escaping bad situations.

 

Hey Lotus, how fast with the 315?? Sounds tempting, nice job on this variant... might go from Workhorse to Racehorse!

 

86kph with speed tweak. I think 78 without. Also turns very fluidly - you can hit lights with llas, etc.

Also after playing it more - I feel like the only heavy/medium mechs that really contribute more than I do on it are skilled, low ping ballistic users - 2 UAC5s or 2 gauss hurt.

 

Hm.... maybe I can move my 280 out of my 'fract-2X and into this one, then turn the 'fract-2X into a brawler (or missile boat).

 

A very good mech indeed, i based mine upon ur build, just adding 2 JJ for maneuvrability instead of 2 DHS. Heat is still easily managed with 1.39 Heat Efficiency. Now i like my (dual PPC dual AC5) K2 variant a bit more but that's still a very nice and smooth mech to ride.
So thanks!

 

Just to say I switched to the Lotus variant with the XL315 engine. I just change one LLas to a LPulse one, because the speed make me play that Mech a bit more as a brawler. As usual with Pult, XL engine doesn't matter as you never get your side torso shot. 5M CBills engine is still VERY expensive though...

 

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=12&l=28055e29b4ce6dbf66d9ecad0386406175798599

Here is my variant to the loadout you created. Your original idea inspired where this went and all credit goes to you

I am still building towards this final loadout, but the one I have is identical, just slower with less tech. On a decent PUG, I am putting out 600+ damage consistently. My max so far with this build has been 947 and that was with a loss. The last few minutes of the match was 4v1 and I finally got cored by a Raven 3L circle of deathing me at 137kph. He was cored as well and one more shot woulda had his leg.

I never thought I would like this build - I only hoped to grind through it to max out my Gaussapult, but I am here to say, this has actually trumped the Gaussy as my favorite Cat and I'll be Mastering this one instead!

I run these groups - 1: 3 LL, 2: SRMs, 3: 3LL Chain Fire

Thank you!!!

 

Good hunting Scrom! :wink: I really like your upgrades... runs maybe just a bit hotter with the SRM's but the firepower and added speed and armor are really nice bonuses. Great job on this!

 

I've been fiddling around with this build and currently i switched to SSRM to deal with lights more consistently. I like it a lot, and have very good results with it but i feel really bad about those 2.3 spare tons (altough not a single slot is left). Do you have any ideas about otpimizing this build?

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=12&l=71b76877f06a50134fb2ed52688a0e48e72def2e

 

Artemis your streaks maybe Lew? That's 2 tons... not sure if the slots are automatically available for it or not though...

 

When all else fails, go with a bigger engine.

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=12&l=e0a128ddbbdec1e06a386c959ecda59a5a74d97f

PS: Artemis doesn't help streaks. In fact, it has no effect on them, weight or otherwise.