PROTECTOR I have gone a little bit different route on my Protector so far. I've tried some brawling, tried some PPC+Gauss, tried a little bit every everything, and nothing has really stuck out as real fit for the mech. Then I tried this and have had several reasonably good games. It is a bit too squishy as many have noted to get too up close and personal. I also noticed that relying on the Gauss + long range laser of some sort really exposed me too long and I end up taking far too much return fire. Apparently, people see the Orion and just get crazy tunnel vision, which I'm sure happens to all new mechs (there's the new mech I can't afford, kill it with fire!). However, adding in a decent sized salvo of LRM allows me to stick around the back/mid lines and fire at someone to back them off or get them to hide behind cover for a few seconds. This allows me to pull up into a firing position for when they exit cover, I can then hammer them with the ER LLas and the Gauss, at which point they choose to stand and return fire, which I will win the trade since I shot first, or back off again and let my team move freely. It has REALLY worked out pretty well and I'm much happier with the Protector like this. I was getting very frustrated because of the massive CT and not being able to snipe effectively OR brawl effectively, but the addition of a threatening amount of LRM fire has really allowed it to shine and get the positions it needs to be effective. Was thinking about possibly a bigger engine, could certainly cut some armor weight out of the legs and arms for sure, the MLas are really just for backup and getting harassing lights off me. But even with a pretty mediocre movespeed, it is enough to move around to my firing positions fairly well. Thanks for checking it out.
A+ is not worth it for 1 launcher IMHO. BAP is good to have for your long range weapons, and 4 tons of gauss to make your cooling happy and pleasant experience.
Hmm yes not bad... I threw the Artemis on because its only 1 Ton and that seems like a pretty good added damage for 1 ton, but you are probably right in that its most likely not worth it. With the somewhat low survivability of this Protector (ironic name), I haven't made it through all my 30 rounds of Gauss ammo yet, but if it starts to be a problem I would probably add another 10. I'm thinking about dropping the MLas altogether and going with semi-zombie arms.
Yeah well... I only play solo pugs, so teammates don't exactly play wise, leaving me to just fend for myself, or running one at a time into a chokepoint, letting lights just run past the front lines and run around willy nilly on the LRM boats etc. Lol... So far its been alright, I may put the MLas back on, have to play around with it a bit more, but for my playstyle this general setup has worked better than anything else so far. Definitely better than brawling setups. May go with replacing the ERLLas with a PPC and see how that goes, less time I have to be exposed.
Would the small number of missile tubes in the shoulder affect the LRM20 at all (not being a smart ass genuinely curious)? I am a fan of anything that can boom someone hiding behind a rock so just checking.
To fhfwolfy, The Orion seems to have dynamic missile tubes like the Kintaro. I think Smurfy seems to have it wrong currently, I fire the LRM 20 in one grouping, doesn't have to fire multiple times. To Vergere, Sure let me take it out for a few more rounds and I'll post some results.
Yeah I generally don't run less than 20 LRMs in anything that I put LRMs on anymore. Anything less than that and I lose far too many missiles to AMS fire I've found. I have some time to play a few more games, I'll get some screenshots for reference on the build.
Just two games, these were consecutive so not cherry picking games or anything. I'm not terribly great at this yet, only been playing now for about 2 months, but the build is pretty effective for me anyhow. http://i.imgur.com/RtGglZB.jpg[/img] I was one of the last 3 in the first game and last 2 in the second game, unfortunate teams, such is the life of solo pugging. Edit: Here is the updated build I am using. Thinking about dropping the AMS and possibly a little armor for XL325 engine, would have a little more cooling and decent bump in movement. PROTECTOR
