Weapongroups: 1. Gauss + PPCs (Sniping) 2. Gauss (Cooldown) 3. PPCs (Ammo.saving) 4. MLas (Defense/Backup) 5. Alphastrike Alternative with STD300: Blagg
Blagg you have posted some great builds in the assault section of the forums but I am afraid this one just does not work for me. An XL engine in a Stalker chassis other than an LRM boat is just bad for me particularly with the Gauss rifle in the side torso as well. I understand what you are trying to do but there are so many mechs that can just do this build better and have Jump Jets. Highlander, Victors and Cataphract 3D's piloted by similar skill pilots I suspect would regularly outsnipe this build. The one advantage with the Stalker chassis for sniping is the high mounted weapons and you lose that with the Gauss being mounted low in the side torso meaning much more exposure to fire at full effect. I would say still better off with the 2 PPC + 2 PPC combo on a 3F if you want to snipe or take on snipers. In terms of the structure of the loadout it is all good with AMS etc but I am sorry I have to rate this build a 2/5 for me. I think there are significantly better builds for the Misery and much better mechs for this weapons loadout. I have tried to do something to do it with a standard engine which I would rate 3 stars but this is the best I could come up with sacrificing leg armor and 1 ton of Gauss ammo. Adding CASE to the Gauss rifle and all I could get was a Std 270. You could maybe drop another half ton of armor for a Std 275 but even with speed tweak you are not getting over 60kph. Sorry really can't make this work with a Std.
I used a similar build, pre-heat scale. XL 300, 4 PPC, Gauss. You'd need to watch your cover and team support like a hawk because a Gauss in an XL Stalker is about as fragile as it gets; but you really could snipe harder than anyone else, especially with those great stalker hardpoints. People didn't run so many lights back then, either, so you kind of got away with it. Until you ran out of PUGs to use as cannon fodder. With heat scaling now, and all the lights and mediums now running around free from PPC Stalkers (or are they pilots no longer in their PPC stalkers...), I think 2ERPPC+Gauss may fare better. What's the point of using alpha strike sniper weapons and tactics if you have to expose again in half a second to get the second half of it off? 2ERPPC+Gauss wouldn't have the standard PPC minimum range limitations, better reach, a STD engine, and depending on the size of that engine, some backup weaponry/AMS in your spare hardpoints (CT zombie laser is handy). I'm not entirely sure whether or not a Stalker does the 2ERPPC+Gauss cheese cannon better than a 3D, Victor, Highlander, or Atlas though. You save tonnage on not having to bring JJs, which can go to more DHS and/or a better engine, but that leaves you with no JJs. I don't have a JJ sniper, don't ask me if the tradeoff is worth it.
Nice build, although I'd consider using LL instead of PPCs becaus I like Stalkers with STD 300. But I guess this is just personal preference. Besides that you should rearrange your Gauss ammo for added crit protection - put 2 tons next to your rifle and a third one into your CT.
