I swapped the Standard 300 engine in a Dragon for the smaller engine in the Awesome to boost the speed and allow it to close with enemies smartly and make the 'Mech just a bit more mobile and quicker to acquire targets. At 750m, I use the head-mounted TAG to highlight my target for my lance-mates. Alternate builds might swap the TAG if it's not your thing. The PPC starts being useful from about 600m (and can help disable enemy ECM) and the Large laser comes into play a bit closer in. However, once inside 270m, the closing stops and the finishing begins with the triple SRM6 with Artemis for tight grouping allowing for punishing close-range action. The PPC is not useful in point-blank action, but the LL can still contribute for hard-to-hit light 'Mechs. Armour is reasonably close to maximum without losing any weight allowance and I have boosted the proportion of rear torso armour because the rear arc is vulnerable during brawls and against light 'Mechs. DHS spread around to help protect weapons from crit damage. Ammo stored (perhaps controversially) in the legs, protected by 65 points of armour. Fire discipline is required to prevent overheating when alpha-striking at close range. Being selective about when to use the PPC and large laser is the key to heat management. On their own, the SRM6s will not overheat the 'Mech. Thoughts?
Here's a fire support variant of the above. It replaces the Standard 300 engine with the original 240 and removes Artemis and 2 DHS. The PPC is upgraded to an ERPPC and the large laser with dual LPLs, for close-range defense. The SRMs are replaced by dual LRM15s. Armour is maxed. This 'Mech stands off from battle, targetting enemy 'Mechs with the TAG and then lending direct fire support with ERPPC and direct or indirect with LRMs from 1,000m. The LPLs are held in reserve until out of LRM ammo, or when mobbed by small 'Mechs. The may be replaced by LLs for those less certain of aiming at fast-moving 'Mechs.
1) TAG is meh until they improve LRMs. Even if they are marginally viable now, the meta-game means there's very few running around. 2) You're only going to get 15SRM's on target with 3 trailing (and likely missing/eaten by AMS). For equivalent accuracy with only 3 fewer missiles on target you can go 3xSRM4 and save 6T. 3) With 7T you can drop ESS and add 2 DHS, CASE your ammo, and max out your armor. 4) With extra cooling, an ERPPC is viable and pretty helpful in close and at long range (i.e. on Alpine). Just how I'd tweak it.
1) Too little LRM ammo. 360 is only 12 shots worth - if you're firing indirect your miss rate will be high, and without Artemis there's not much reason not to fire indirect if you can. 2) MLas is on the same firing cycle as LPL, so I traded in one for the other, gaining 6T 3) At that low a speed, there's no reason not to keep your engine class a multiple of 25. I dropped it to STD225. 4) With the extra weight I bumped your ammo up to 900, dropped ESS, and cased the ammo. 5*) LRM Assaults don't adequately use their armor and can't maneuver well enough to take advantage of terrain. You'd do just as well with this build in a CPLT-C1, with the added benefit of Jump Jets to poptart with.
Thanks for the observations. I like TAG for the Exp and CBill bonus, and the assist in nullifying ECM even if it isn't currently massively effective with LRMs. I appreciate it's not popular. The limitations on number of tubes is a new design criterion, which I'm not used to. What proportion of enemy mechs have AMS in your experience? I haven't seen it that often in public matches. If I have 7t to play with - a number of things we can do, as you suggest - better heat control and remove need for ES to keep the cost down are good choices. I am not totally sold on an ERPPC over the PPC. Additional burden on hot maps, and few maps have the engagement range to require it - and in close combat, the SRMs and laser are the weapons of choice except for ECM-equipped lights. However - this is probably where opinions can divide without rancour.
Thanks for the feedback. 12 shots seems adequate to me - perhaps I am more selective about when to fire and so I don't have the same RoF as you - or I don't live as long :unsure: I did try 2xERPPC and 1xLPL, but couldn't find a balanced build that didn't suffer from crippling heat issues. Interesting pairing an LPL with an ML - will have to revisit cycle times and find some combinations that match well. I'm using the AWS and the 240 engine because that's what I've got right now. Probably not an optimal build, but hey.
