This is my crazy first attempt of customizing the 5m Stalker Chassis, which was the first one I got. Before you tear this one apart, let me explain some points that may look weird at first. The 3 ERLLas allow for a good punch at long range ( esp. now where there are many vast maps: turmaline, mordor, and that giant frozen thing). The 5 Streaks + 2 MLas scare away any lights that dare approach me, and can deal a good punch at close range. AMS offers a bit of survivability, and BAP is almost mandatory now due to the large ammount of light mechs with ECM I run into. I Know that XL Engines on a Stalker without LRMs may look stupid. Maybe I am, but I had so much games with that chassis (and my 3H LRM40) where I got centered, that I don't really feel any difference. In fact, if my arms died, I played bad, took alot of beating and mostly would have died anyway. I use the XL 310 because I could not fit the weapons I wanted with a STD. I was to slow / had too much slots left. But I feel that I need the big engine to keep up with my team, nothing worse than falling behind with 48 kph and get destroyed by a bunch of fasties scouting (I feel like stalkers are free kills to any smalls that play half-decent). Of course this Version is no "true" brawler due to the XL Engine, and needs to be played a bit more carefully and defensively (second line). It still has max armor, 400 Streak ammo, 1000 AMS ammo, and only 1 ton unused (I can't bring that 1 ton to good use). Weapon Groups could be 3x ERLLas chained (Grp 1), 2x MLas (Grp 2) and 5x SSRM2 chained (Grp 3) Please share your opinions with me, and feel free to tinker around!
I've run so many rounds in a Stalker where I've lost a Side Torso and still finished out the match, killing all along the way. I ran w/ an XL to fit more weapons for a bit, however, I have come to agree with the general consensus that an XL in a Stalker or Atlas is just inexcusable. Sacrifice your speed and keep these tanks on the battlefield. You have to remember, assaults are not only there to deal massive damage, but, to act as your team's tank and soak damage as well. So, if you can lose a ST and remain as a threatening target (still having 2x LL, 2x SSRM & an MLas in this case) you can help your team push to a victory, even if you are slower. There is much more team advantage to a mech going 59kph, still dealing and soaking damage than a mech going 65kph and being blown out by a few shots from a good sniper. ANYWAY, if you really want the push from the XL, more power to ya! Personally, I would drop one SSRM and one ton of SSRM ammo (still focus on your ERLL as your primary weapon and stay ranged), thrown in a STD 280 and move the ammo to the legs. ST ammo explosions are never a good thing. Aside from not liking an XL in a Stalker, this is a very nice build. Great ranged damage with solid defense and 20 DHS! Dig it!
Thanks for the reply! I will definetely try your version if I can spare the Bills. While playing a few games with this new version I found out that most of my deaths happen because I try do play rambo, and get myself into stupid situations. No map awareness, silly attack moves, suddenly 5 Mechs against me, you know, that kind of stuff. I'll try to play more carefully and I'm sure that will help playing this version better. By now I can't make out any negative difference to playing a STD engine, but that may be because I often die anyway. Sorry for my bad english btw. Not my native language. Further response appreciated!
HA! Know the feels, bro! The STD engine will definitely help survivability, and for 6kph, I'd consider it a very strong trade. But, that all depends on your playstyle and what feels comfortable to you. If you really want that extra speed and don't want to give up the 5th SSRM, by all means, play how you like to! My only other comment on the build is that the 5th SSRM causes a Ghost Heat Penalty unless you chain-fire. If heat is an issue, this is still no problem, I run a Kintaro w/ 5x SSRM. I just make one firing group of 2x SSRM and one firing group of 3x SSRM. However, with the ERLLs needing two weapon groups to avoid Heat Penalty already, 4x SSRM would cut down on the number of weapon groups you need to have to avoid incurring extra heat. Does make more of an argument for dropping that heat/weight and running the less vulnerable engine, though.
I always chainfire those SSRM, because I know how it feels to get the cockpit constantly shaked, and I want them to feel the same! With chainfired SSRM and 2 MLas I can fire a long time dealing constant damage, and even stray in an ERLLas from time to time (depends on map). I will try both builds and maybe switch to STD280 if I like it more, but the general weapons build feels really well balanced, no matter what engine I would use. I may be switching as soon as I get my 3rd Stalker chassis and that extra 10% speedbuff. Thanks for all replys!
