I played at various times thoughout the beta and didn't enjoy MWO to much but recently have been having a blast playing this game. My two main mechs are highly rated builds from this site (ac10 4mlas bj-1 and a lrm40 cplt-c4) and I enjoy both and have mastered those two chassis (skillpoint wise) and am trying to decide what to go for next. I think I want to go for something similar to my ac10-4mlas mech but bigger, I saw a cataphract build on here rocking ac20 and a bunch of lasers that seemed pretty fun, but honestly I see so many jagers and catas that I was looking for something different. My style is to creep around the edges of fights near cover and try to get DPS down while the inevitable cluster of assaults brawlers go toe to toe. I am not married to any playstyle other than avoiding sniper builds. Any input from the mechspecs folks?
If you are looking for something really different, use a Stalker. Expensive, but great for longrange or shortrange. Dragons offer a play style different to any mech in the game, due to the large Center Torso. Plus, it has 2 good heromechs, the Fang and the Flame. They excel in Skirmishing, which sounds very similar to what you do. I try to run my dragons close to 100kph mark to ensure the mechs survival, especially with the XL engines you have to run with the heavy mech. Oh, and of Course the Raven. 3 basic variants, one with ECM. Great for Brawling, Skirmishing, and Sniping. A very versatile light mech, very easy to master. Play's similar to a Blackjack, if loaded like a Blackjack.
If you want to go big and mobile, there is the Victor. Good mix of all three slot types allows you to sample a number of roles. Its main source of firepower would be arm ACs. Its effectively neutered though if it loses a side torso so you might as well use an XL engine and be faster and harder. Hardpoint count is fairly limiting though, and its not a mech where you can just dump more MLas. Thats more a Battlemaster thing. You kinda need to make use of the heavier weapons or you'll get outgunned. But hey JJs.
I would say Victor or a Highlander, although most Highlanders can be counted for sniper builds. Dragon is very good for what you are describing, as well as Stalkers. You could also try the Shadowhawk or the Awesome. It all depends on what weight class you are looking for. Edit: I forgot Thunderbolts too, just got into those and they are very very good Brawlers/Skirmishers.
+ [quote author=echohead link=topic=5262.msg33733#msg33733 date=1388963779] honestly I see so many jagers and catas that I was looking for something different.[/quote] I though about Dragons too. But we have to be honest, if Dragons are not the most commonly used mechs there are reasons (big CT, low arms, etc). But if you want "something different", that might be what you're looking for... and the chassis has its fans, I'm actually one of them. It's somewhere between a medium and a heavy, a flanker/skirmisher support mech, with some very nice energy + ballistics laodouts. More common but similar of what you want: Shadowhawks.
