New Phoenix Mechs have me completely underwhelmed

This post is designed to incite a friendly argument for or against the new mechs share your arguments in a constructive way.

The locus is much much bigger and slower than advertised, the Battlemaster is weak unless you use an XL engine, Then it's weak just for a different reason. the Thunderbolt has MASSIVE side torsos that are woefully under armored when compared to a Jager and all of them share cobbled together hard points that seem like an afterthought. 3 Ballistic arm hardpoints on an assault that has hand actuators? 6 chest mounted lasers but only 1 arm laser? Have fun on Terra Therma trying to target anything. In 12 mechs we got 1 chassis that could use an AC20 or dual AC10s/AC5/UAC etc AND ITS A MEDIUM. Tell me why I am wrong?

 

I kind of think it's way too early to say that any of the mechs are weak.

The Locust goes almost 170, seems pretty quick to me! My only gripe about that is they boosted the other lights too, I kind of thought that would be a selling point of the Locust.

All of the battlemaster chassis and the 1 thunderbolt chassis with ballistic hardpoints can equip dual AC5, the battlemaster with 3 ballistics can use triple AC2.

There are plenty of options out there, and until each chassis has been elited I don't think they can be called weak.

 

First impressions are:
- the Locust is... well, my best damage is something like 70
- I love the Shadowhawk, at least the 2H and 5M variants (haven't found a good build on the 2D2 yet). Great mobility, XL engine looks viable (still needs testing) and the guns are just so badass they blind you when they fire!

I'll tell you more in few weeks, with all perks unlocked and more piloting experience.

 

Was just expecting...well more. Find 1 phoenix mech that can't be replicated and often improved on by another mech thats been in the game since beta. Take the TDR-5S for example 2 ballistic hardpoints a couple missile points and a couple laser points...sounds very similar to a JM6-A but the Jager can fit dual AC20s or 4 SRM6+ art and 2 LLas and a couple machine guns and to top it off the hard points are in the arms on the jager not in the torso.

 

Well, the Thunderbolt has a JJ variant and lower arm actuators which make it much different than the Jager at the same weight class. All variants have more torso energy option than the Jager in addition to arm mounted energy weapons. These small differences (and big) make it a completely different mech to pilot.

 

The Jager S as well as the Firebrand each have 4 torso mounted lasers and the FireBrand sports 2 more in the arms while each being able to support dual AC10s or even Dual AC20s. Don't get me wrong these arent BAD mechs they just aren't what I would expect for having 12 new mechs they all seem to be very focused on lasers. In addition the location of some of their hard points is questionable at best. If the ballistic points on the BM were in the shoulder for example you COULD sport 3 AC5s or 2 AC10s or a single AC20 but because they are all on the same arm you either have a choice of a single guass, ac10, lbx10, UAC5 or dual AC5s or 3 AC2s. Dual AC5s are fine if not very punchy and AC2s will be too hot if you have any kind of hope of filling the rest of your energy hardpoints. Again though, compare the battlemaster to a Viktor or Highlander just seems like more of the same.

Again don't get me wrong if they were the only mechs in the game they would definitely deserve a place but when you have the locust basically half and in between a spider and a jenner, a Medium that is eerily similar to a centurian, the thunderbolt which can do a bit of everything but not very well compared to many (Jager has better ballistics while keeping very closely the same laser and missile hardpoints, The CTF-3D has jump jets and better HP placement) and the BM which can be replicated pretty much by either the highlander or the viktor it just seems like an old K car from the early 80s...a bunch of different brand names but pretty much the same car underneath and for mechs that many have waited months for it seems like a bit of overhype.

 

They weren't meant to be new and revolutionary. They were meant to be classic designs that we didn't think would make it into the game. It may be true that other 'Mechs can do the same (or very similar) things, a large portion of the population of MW:O are fans of the aesthetics rather than just the functional hardpoints. We may be min-maxers, but we still love the visuals of the first designs we saw -- Decision at Thunder Rift (the first BattleTech novel) had illustrations of some of these 'Mechs in the back of the book, along with descriptions of all of the BattleTech weapons.

I would take a Thunderbolt over a Jagermech any day of the week, just on looks alone. That and the fact that the Jagermech was designed primarily as an anti-aircraft platform in the lore while the Thunderbolt was a hard-to-kill front-line fighter might just make a difference to somebody who remembers such trivia. I know for a fact that I fight better in 'Mechs that I like the looks and lore of, and I can't be the only one.

 

Okay aesthetics may be a good reason for people to enjoy the mechs but is the looks worth the price of over $100?

 

Using the Thunderbolt 9SE as an oversized, jumping Hunchack 4SP (5ML, 2SRM6) is wonderful. 2 matches, over 400 damage, 2 kills, 4+ assists each match. All with 0 efficencies unlocked. I think I'm in love.

 

LCT-1V ER LLas with MG's (meh)
LCT-3M ER LLas with SLas (meh)
LCT-3S Tiny and fast SSRM platform (cool)

SHD-2H is my new favourite AC/20 mech
SHD-2D2 is an INSANELY good zombie
SHD-5M is the odd one out, but dual AC/5 is pretty good.

TDR-5S is generally an awesome brawler with its mixed weaponry.
TDR-5SS is a pretty cool laser boat.
TDR-9SE is a jumping HBK-4SP. A really nice combo.

BLR-1G is great with 6x MLas and some ballistics.
BLR-1D is a tri-AC/2 platform with plenty of energy(!)
BLR-1S is a Stalker alternative.

All in all I'm pretty damned satisfied, even if just for the Shadowhawk and the Battlemaster. The Thunderbolt is pretty damned awesome though, and I'm enjoying the non-phoenix locusts quite a bit.

 

The more mechs there will be, the less they will be significantly unique.
I can't tell about the Thunderbolt and Battlemaster (though 7ML and 2AC/5 looks ugly, I'm impatient to try this thing) but I think the ShadowHawk is a nice variation, somewhere between the Hunchback and the Dragon (closer to the Hunch because of weapon position), with jumpjets. I say that because I mostly use ballistics, but some other pilot might like the missile hardpoints.
For the Locust I kinda agree, I'm disappointed the speed cap not being higher than other lights, it makes it weaker by every standard (at least at first, maybe I'll learn to pilot it).

I think the most important with new mechs is that they provide viable (and balanced!) alternatives, and leave the rest to personal preference.

 

I can only comment on what I have used, and I don't care about stock cause only AN IDIOT would even think of running stock. I don't care if they have a stock atlas with only an MG in each position and I would love it to death knowing what i can turn it into (can you even imagine the monster you can build with those hardpoints?).

LCT-1V (meh)
LCT-3M Fast tiny 5 MLas jenner (WONDERFUL)
LCT-3S Streaks (cool)

SHD-2H Seems good, haven't tried it yet
SHD-2D2 Seems good, zombie, haven't tried it yet
SHD-5M 2x AC5 in this one is great.

BLR-1G Seems good, haven't tried it yet
BLR-1D Seems good, haven't tried it yet
BLR-1S nice, did a few spins. Feels like an agile stalker.

 

You also have to consider the CW announcements concerning mech costs for players when specific areas are controlled. Not a huge deal, but if there are two very similar mechs and one of them is exorbitantly expensive compared to the other because you have to purchase at "black market prices" then it is good to have the alternative.

 

Right now, the I'm only taking the ones with DHS out. I just don't have the cbills to put DHS on 9 'mechs right now.

The biggest problem is the Locust. I pilot dramatically larger 'mechs, so I simply don't have engines to put into them. I'll probably figure them out last. Well... the 3M is working alright with Endo and Ferro to squeeze in some additional armor and HSs.

 

I've been working on the LCT-3M exclusively right now and I gotta say; aside from scouting they really aren't worth a whole lot in terms of actual combat related actions. Guys are popping you in a single volley. Yes, I realize it is 20 tons but wow if it wasn't for the nostalgia fact I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I haven't really gotten much seat time and hopefully will get more when I get back on Sunday.

 

I haven't had time to pilot all of the chassis, though I did get a few rounds in with some Loci and the Battlemaster 1G.

I am pretty disappointed that the Locust Phoenix variant is the 1V since it is simply terrible and would otherwise be the first I sold. I have had a lot of fun with the 3M, especially in River City where you basically disappear below the surface of the water. The dual AMS is also pretty neat since they shoot down an entire LRM10 volley.

I also had one PUG that had 5 LCT-1V's, and swarming over the enemy was a sight to behold, though it did take us almost two minutes to take down a lone Spider. With its low firepower and paper thin armor, eliting this chassis is going to be a serious slog.

The Battlemaster 1G, on the other hand, is a beast. 1xPPC, 2xAC5, and 6xMLas? Yes, please!

 

The Locust seems to be pure novelty. Great for those of us who remember the old SNES game or others who have read the books. Fun speed, but, the 3S seems like the only real usable loadout. Otherwise, other mechs can do the same thing better.

The Shadowhawk has been a BLAST! I'm freaking loving this thing! These are some tough lil bastards! I still think they are much taller than they should be (4th tallest in game currently?) but, I love them.

The Thunderbolt is a little lackluster. Seems to be a heavy Jack of all Trades, Master of None. Not really any exceptional loadouts that I've seen or tried so far... We'll give it time to see.

Finally, the Battlemaster. They can be a beast on the field, but, I'm been spending so much time in my Hawks, I've barely put any seat time into the BM... I dunno... Tiny size for an assault, solid hardpoints, capable of great speeds. Again, we'll see in time.

 

Tried a few out today, but since I haven't played a lot recently I was low on cash - I couldn't buy a lot of stuff. Playing in stock loadout was such a drag - thanks to Ghost heat, stock mechs are pretty much broken.
However I was able to put together something for a Shadowhawk and it was actually doing pretty good.
I guess I'll have to wait until I get some cash and exp on the chassis before forming an opinion.

 

None of the stock builds have any ghost heat. Of course, they suck for other reasons (standard heat sinks, no endo-steel).

 

I have only played the Battlemasters so far, but they are all fantastic. The main thing I love is the engine sizes allowed. I love my Stalkers and Atlases but have long wished that I could put larger engines in them. The two Battlemasters with the ballistic arms are fantastic brawlers who can use the right sides of their torso as shields while closing or between volleys and still have a decent punch at range if you use the dual AC 5s. The Battlemaster with all of the missile hardpoints plays like a much faster much more agile Stalker. Also the high energy mounts lend well to a PPC/ERLL build that can peak over the tops of hills and strike from range extremely well, much like the Stalkers can, but once again they can do it and have MUCH larger engines.

I haven't played the other mechs yet, I'm a bit of an assault kind of guy, the smallest mech I owned before getting this pack was my trio of Cataphracts.