Should I buy a Catapult?

Tried this one already? It's a fun Jumpsniper with 4x JJs! And you have enough Leg.Armor to take some hits before getting crippled

 

Another good direct fire build for the C1 I came across is this one:

Warchanter posted a similar build using a larger engine and less armor, but the principle is the same. The three LLs in the torso give you the same concentration of fire as the triple arm mounts of the Victor K and Heavy Metal. While the field of fire is relatively limited, the JJ allow you to pivot and catch targets quickly, and in most cases the dual streaks will give you good cover against lights. Yes, firing all 3 lasers will produce some ghost heat, but that is easily managed by mostly group-firing, and using those group shots sparingly for good targets.

As far as the K2, I run mine either with the quad LL setup, or with dual LBXs. While not as totally devastating as the Gaussapult or AC20-pult (whatever the real nickname is for that...lol.), both work fairly well for me.

 

2x AC10 is ok also.

 

I tried the C1 build there, and it's a fun change of pace from my other Catapults!

I'll take a look at some SRM 4/6 (maybe + Artemis) build with bigish energy weapons too.

The K2 build with the 4 LL looks fun, as I have that build on my CTF-3D, and I do fairly well with it. The 2xAC10 may be fun, and I think I have some AC10s sitting around too!

Thanks for the builds guys! I'm enjoying trying them all out.

 

Almost two weeks later, and my A1 gets way more use than any other mech I own. It may have no backup weapons, and it may be useless if you lose your "ears", but it has so much potential for fun, I love dropping in it. I recommend it for anyone purchasing a Catapult. The C1 and K2 are still getting their use, but they have been sharing my love with Kintaros and Jagermechs respectively.

Don't get me wrong, the C1 is very well balanced, and it is very fun, and the K2 is also very fun, but as I have my Kintaros for Missile fun, and my Jagers for direct fire weapons, I don't find myself using them as often.

Once again, just my 2 cents. If you don't have other mechs to boat missiles, or be Direct Fire platforms, USE THE CATAPULTS. THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN!

That may be it for a while now, at least until I get more experience/data. Just know that I have been converted. I may have to grab the 2 others...

 

Glad to hear that you love your Cats. I share your Passion for them. The C1 was my very first Mech in MWO and so was the Cats my first mastered Chassis and i still drop in them from time to time although i every time ask myself what i should do with 200.000+ XP points. Could have spent those points to Master 4 other Mechs.
PGI should give us an option to convert not needed XP points.

The A1 is the only Cat where i regularly can break 1K+ damage scores due to Lurmageddon Power. So yeah the A1 is even without E-Slots a very powerful Mech. The most challenging Cat is the Jester imo because it's going either full Laserboat (with XL350) or PPC Sniper. As Sniper it's inferior to other Mechs which can run versatile PPC/AC5 Combos, as Laserboat you need to engage at mid-range while exposing your Torso most times, where you will eat countershots. And due to the not so good Hitbox of the Cats (most damage goes to CT) it's difficult to stay long enough alive to get highscores.

So which Mech will you try out/focus next?

 

Convert all that XP to GXP and then you can use it to master other mechs.

 

is it finally for free now?

 

Hahahahahahahaha, PGI?

 

I think I'll go Thunderbolts with that promotion coming up, and because I've wanted one since reading the novels. Should be fun!

A separate note too, just to add my thoughts: I almost chose the Catapult as my first mech (and an Awesome), but I settled on the Cataphract 4X. I was so horrible with my aiming, that I actually gave up on MWO for a while. (Pretty much from the start of Open Beta until roughly a year ago.) Thank goodness I came back, as I am having too much fun! Also, thank you to this whole community for keeping me interested/being nice/all around fun. I'll still come here if I think of something for Catapults, but if anyone is out there thinking about it... I say BUY NOW! Until then, I'll see y'all over at the Thunderbolt sub-forum.

 

One of my friends convinced me to buy the Jester last night instead of waiting for the Orion, I have to say that those cats are quite fun to play with

 

I like my Jester, but when I really want to boost my KDR I jump in my K2. I have an 8-1 ratio in it... I cant explain why, it just works for me... Maybe people just don't take it serious enough.

This is what I run.... I call it the doctor.



The main weapon is the dual AC5 which I also use to cool down If I lay down on the lasers a bit much.
With the AC5's alone you have 750 potential damage... supplement that with the large lasers and use the medium lasers just to scare off lights, and you have a machine that not only can put out a massive amount of damage, but I've found (if piloted correctly) has great staying power.
I generaly get up in the high 800's damage with around 4 kills per match and live to tell about it in this thing.... ofcourse it's mastered 2 times over, so I have a lot of hours in it.

Edit: Proof you can still be viable in this mech.



http://www.msbaranowski.com/img/s7/v152/p599935101-5.jpg[/img]

 

Wow i see a legendary Riflejagerman Build!

 

I bought a Jester at latest sale and riding it forced me a desire to expend his wings and family,
i read this tread and few more, still can decide which other 2 Catapults should i buy. My hangar is full of Shadows and Victors, i have a preference to JJ design but K2,hm that last variant on thread with dual ER,AC5..it has its merit. So im looking for suggestion,top 2 Catapults ???

 

I'd say C1 first. It has a well balanced set of hardpoints and allows all sorts of builds.
Then A1 or K2, depending on if you want an extreme missile boat (short or long range or combined, your pick) or a deadly energy+balistic combo.

 

With the recent SRM Buff the C4 becomes a bit more viable as SRM Striker! E.g.



This is something which is a good reason to try the C4 - a pure close range support Brawler. Alphastrike is not to be underestimated.

 

Thx for the input, i guess ill go by epikt advice. Only thing that bothers me is lack of JJ on K2, but i seen it a lot around so it can be done. Jaggermech, i know the are ballistic meta for peek a boo tactics, but i never like the design, not on TT or any other games (it was passable in MechCommander).
So i got my assault,medium and heavy chassis picked... light will have to wait,ecm jumper...

 

I hope the Catapult worked out for you! I love mine, and still take them regularly out in drops. As for a light... I love my Spider and Jenner, both have JJs, and the Spider does have ECM on one variant. The only issue is the Spider 5V, as it's difficult to find love for it. :/ Also, I feel like the Firestarter is stealing people away from the Jenner, but as a loyal servant of the Draconis Combine, I must pilot their mechs. Good luck, and I hope to see you on the battlefield!