Mastering the CTF Chassis

I've managed to master the Cataphract Chassis, has anyone else mastered all 5 variants? What has been your favorite variant? Favorite build?

I'd have to say that I think my favorite variant and build would be the Ilya Muromets with the Chainsaw build. Just fun as hell with ample damage.

 

my 3D with 2 ERPPC and 2 PPC. Fits perfectly in the current meta game using JJ and PPCs.

my trip a/c 5 ilya is just barely behind it though.

 

I'm about half way through the Cataphract Benefactors video and have done the 1X and the 2X so far (top two builds in those sections will be featured).

I have all of them mastered and have actually been having a blast with them.

I notice that the 1X is versatile but the 2X seems to be mostly used for CQB type engagements. The 3D is obviously the Jump Sniper, the 4X will be interesting and I already know the Ilya since I use one myself even when not testing.

 

The 3D is a versatile machine, to relegate it to a mere jump sniper--I think--does it a great disservice.

 

LOL well you can't please everyone all the time. I can't do every single type of role possible or the videos would be much longer than they are now; in fact the Benefactors video for this mech is at about 45 minutes and I still have the Ilya to do.

 

45 minutes. Wow. That's pretty amazing.


My comment wasn't intended to change the direction of your videos, merely trying to defend my precious 3D's good name from the evil jump-snipers.

 

No worries. Although when I do see a 3D on the field it is usually delegated as the OpFor jump sniper; just sayin.

 

3D is the worst variant of any chassis I've played, Ilya the best. I like what the CTF-4x can do and haven't tried the other variants. Don't know what it is about the 3D that makes it utter garbage for me but there's no variant of any mech I've purchased that has a lower win ratio or kill to death ratio. It simply doesn't work for me.


Ilya with 340xl, 2 ac10s with 6 tons of ammo and 2 medium lasers is the most consistently deadly configuration I've used thus far.

 

I am waiting on Michael's video before I buy my first Cata. I decided a bit ago that I wanted my next chassis to align with whatever video he did next and I am really excited to see what he comes up with!


Overall, though, which is the best Chassis to start with and which build for a new Cata player?

 

The 3D has plenty of shortcomings, like its upfront cost, painfully generic weapon slots and right-weighted hardpoints. I can safely say that I've sunk over 13 million cbills into the thing trying to find a build that worked with my playstyle.

It really depends on where you're coming from.

 

Well...

What is everyone's favorite Cata and which do you think is the best to go with for a new Cata player?

I have mastered Hunchbacks and Catapults. I love my GaussKat, but enjoy the occasional PPC. Also, short walks in River City...

 

In about 23 minutes the render will finish on a 55 minute Benefactors' Exclusive Cataphract chassis breakdown.

Then I just have to upload it and add some notations to the builds since someone requested that too and viola it will be done and I can release it.

 

I think it's very much playstyle-dependent. The CTF variants do cover a lot of bases and offer different options.

For me though, it's the 3D. The ability to use jump jets is huge with the recent terrain changes. Even a single JJ increases your maneuverability immensely. I think the 3D really suits a playstyle focused on speed and mobility. The hardpoints may be middle-of-the-road, but is that a bad thing? I think they give you a few options. I like autocannons, and I like them in pairs, so the 3D does me just fine. Oh, and I've never played as a jump sniper...

I'd be hesistant to suggest a "best" variant for new players. It really depends what weapons you like and what your natural playstyle is - hopefully you've got some feeling for this from playing trial or other mechs.

 

I try and not suggest anything as a "best" in the videos I do. I do point out that this build or that build was the highest rated and is more focused towards this role or that role but one mechwarriors trash is another mechwarriors treasure right?

 

Exactly.

Your mention of Gauss and PPCs though, Scromboid, suggests perhaps you like sniping? Which means you can't really go wrong. Any of the 'phracts can mount a couple PPCs and a Gauss (except the 4X, but you can go 2 Gauss for sniping), which is a solid sniping build to start with, or to fall back on if you try a build that doesn't quite work for you.

 

that's fucking mental, it's best heavy in the game and has been for over 6 months now.

 

And it doesn't work for me at all. Any variant of the Commando is more effective for me than the 3D in kills, damage and wins.


To me the Ilya is unquestionably the better variant

 

"3D is the worst variant of any chassis I've played"

I'd go as far as saying that the CTF-3D is one of the best and most well rounded mechs in the game. The Ilya is close after but i really miss those jump jets. But each to their own..

 

+1.

Just check the 1000+ posts for 3Ds. You'll find a lot and they'll all tell that this mech is one hell of a killing machine with many different loadouts. So my first thought is: dont search the failure at the mech.