I need a break from posting Stalker support builds, so I'll do one for a Stalker brawler build instead (hehehe). Just to dispel any Pay-to-Win thoughts, you can technically fit this load-out on a Cataphract 1-X if you want, but for an extra 5-8 clicks in speed you lose 2 tons of armour and 8% in heat efficiency. Anyway, on with the build. This is a simplified version of Steelgladiator's Night Night build, dropping the ASRM4 system, Endo Steel, a ton of armour and de-rating the engine for more DHS. For packaging reasons I put the 2LLas in the right arm rather than one in each arm. This allowed me to store most of the AC20 ammo on the left side of the mech, fill all of the arm and torso critical slots and only need to use one C.A.S.E module. As another plus, you can peek around the side of cover and reach out to quite a distance with a fairly hefty punch, providing you can stay on target. 28 rounds for the AC20 is not bad. You could de-rate the engine to perhaps an STD 250, for an extra 28 rounds, but as they would be all that would be stored in the legs other than the leg components themselves, the chance of a critical hit striking the ammo and cooking it off would be quite high, even with the Stalkers reputation for having fairly robust limbs. Also, the decrease in speed would hurt the builds ability to perform its role as a front line brawler. This is actually quite a cost effective build, requiring only one upgrade (DHS), so perhaps laying out for the initial real world cost of the mech wouldn't be such a bitter pill to swallow and like I said, you can fit this load-out on a Cataphract 1-X, although you will have to purchase the Endo Steel upgrade as well as DHS to make everything fit.
Michael's right. You can have a lot of theories about how the game works, but then when you actually play it you might learn that some things don't quite work how you hoped. Getting a chance to play your builds will let you know if the heat management is fine (or if you always sit sub-20 or ride 95 with one gun going), groupings are good (easy to use only what you want to use), and that the weapons just work the way you want them to within that build. I remember playing Diablo 2, and I came up with an "uber" build for a Barbarian. Most barbs took whirlwind, but I looked at the damage on that and the damage on Leap Attack and came up with the most powerful attacking Barb build you could possibly have. Of course, I found out in practice that Leap Attack was cumbersome to use, and whirlwind - while it had lower damage - hit the enemy enough times to make up for it. So my uber build on paper before I played it ended up being a mediocre/poor build in actual gameplay. Similarly, by dual UAC/5 Yen-Lo looks good on paper, but after testing it, I immediately went back to the AC/20. Some of your builds are pretty powerful, some leave me scratching my head (this being one of the more powerful options), but I think you'll know more what you're looking for if you can get on and do some gaming.
I should be online fairly soon, maybe a month from now. I think I just need to ease up on the build posting. Its pretty addictive. Especially my Stalker builds. That situation is getting out of hand. I just checked my Mechbay on Smurfys. I have fifteen different Stalker builds. Oh dear!
I know what you mean. So far I've done Commandos, Spiders, Ravens, Trebuchets, Dragons, Awesomes, and Stalkers, but I'm working on building Centurions. I also have builds planned for Hunchback 4P, Catapults (all), Atlas D-DC and RS, the Stalkers/Trebs/Dragon I don't have yet, Jagers (all), Cataphracts (all), Jenners... Smurfy works faster than grinding CBills and XP
I tested this build listening dranozir advice, and it is really good. Up to 5 kill per match so far, easy to do 500 damage.
