Hardpoints on this mech allow for twin Gauss and twin ERPPCs, all arm mounted. Need I say more? Incredibly fun to play for what amounts to just a dedicated sniper build.
This build is pretty killer when you (or they) are standing still but I couldn't get the lead down between both the PPCs and the Gauss as one would always miss while I was anticipating the lead on the other.
I've actually been more successful when using it as a flanker (giant rear torso hitboxes) or staying low in cover and waiting for brawlers to charge me. If you can get 400m out and get a brawler to come straight at you, he's quite dead in two shots and his ballistics/SRMs will barely get your armor past yellow. Countersniping is difficult do to the aforementioned projectile speed difference. You really have to hit arms (Highlanders) side torsos (Jagers, Phracts) or just a clean headshot (Catapults, Atlases) with the first sneak attack.
Have you tried alternating your shots? Gauss then PPC? Maybe that'll help with some of your lead issues.
I was honestly thinking about only running a single Gauss and fitting in an XL300. Eventually it led me to this, which certainly lacks ammo issues.
For as squishy as this build is I'm still sitting at a 1.5 KDR after the usual 50 match testing period. This is taking into account 80% solo drops and lots of grinding for pilot xp. Still getting a bit of odd desync between the Gauss and PPCs, I think it might be because of a very slight firing delay between the Gauss and PPC combined with ping fluctuations and host state rewind adjustments, as I get it on very fast moving targets even at point blank range where projectile speeds should be irrelevant. For comparison, this build after elite unlocks has almost exactly the same damage and heat buildup characteristics of a 2AC20 4ML BoomJager but at 2.5x the effective range, so it's best used with a L2 seismic sensor to deal with any brawlers coming around corners and trying to sneak up on you.
Status update -- MECH:FIREBRAND Time Played:06:57:43 Matches:100 Wins:58 Losses:42 W/L Ratio:1.38 Kills:110 Deaths:73 KDR:1.51 Damage:31,137 XP:55,477 Avg. Damage:311 Avg. XP:555 Top scorer >50% of the time in PUG drops. Still having a ton of fun in this build.
I really like it. I would actually just used the PPCs for main sniping and only throw in Gauss on stationary targets or once someone brings the fight to your front door. Lotta firepower. Chatt.
Yesterday I headshotted a full health jumping Jenner out of the sky at full speed when he tried to turn and lase me, then immediately legged his formation buddy who was following right behind and turned a blind corner at just the wrong time. Needless to say, the rest of the enemy team turned tail and abandoned their attack on the forest colony boat after watching both blips disappear in the span of 8 seconds.
SniperCzar needs no armor. I feel like I keep saying this, but, you terrify me. I thought your 2x Gauss-PPC Cat was a horror, but this 'mech takes the cake. Now you have shoulders!
Now with actual game footage! ShadowPlay beta is really nice, in some of my other games it stutters when the gameplay resolution doesn't match the recording (1440p vs 1080p) but works great in MWO! First time I've dropped in months, you can tell I'm rusty fAW469NI_Cs
I've been running my personal tweak of this build for a few games: Runs a little cooler with a bit more armor, one shot dehunches Hunchbacks at 700m!
