Mostly the 4X; I just can't seem to get consistent results in anything but the -1X with either the AC/20 5xMlas build or 2xLPL 3xMPL Build. The -OXP I have has a similar problem, I use 4xMPL and AC/20 although I have tried 3xMLas and PPC with AC/20 with mixed success. The classic 4xAC/5 build on the -4X doesn't seem to work well for me, I don't know if it is the low arms or if I am chainfiring too much but I seem to take too much damage when trying to support because I have to come completely out of cover to apply full DPS or I get t medium/brawl range and spread the damage too much. I might try the dual LBX build for fun and then sell it, possibly the -OXP too, on my way to getting Orions as my heavy mechs. Im not sure what Im doing wrong with these but I think my play style might be better suited to another mech.
If you are chain firing 4x AC5's at all, you're are chain firing too much You should be group firing, then twisting away, then twisting back and firing again, rinse and repeat. Chain fire reduces your DPS by a ton.
Not only it reduces your DPS (something like -25%) but most importantly it forces you to fix your enemy and forbid you any torso-twisting to distribute the damage you take. In 1v1 it's not that important, at least if your opponent is not very experienced, since they will be disrupted by your constant shooting. But for a second opponent that isn't under fire, you will be like a practice target. In general there is one key rule in MWO: alpha strike is good, chain-fire is bad. When you're piloting the 4X you never want to be the only target available, you want to engage along with an heavier mech that will attract enemy fire. Well, you should do that in every mech actually, never engage alone, always as a team, but this is more important in mechs that can't poke without fully exposing themselves. Those kind of mechs are better when the team is moving forward and engage in brawls, but are really bad a poke games. I suggest you'd be patient went you pilot it.
... or you can use a macro chain fire, would work well with AC5. That said, 4X used to be cool, until Black Widow does everything and better... so sad.
Eh, even if you macro, you run into the same problem: too much face time. Conversely, if you alpha, you can quickly twist away return fire, then twist back and fire again, and you get your full payload out rather than having to wait for the macro to fast cycle through 4 shots (which then hit at different times and potentially spread damage). I'd say there are very few times where a macro would be beneficial, especially against an experienced player.
Was thinking of both a quick macro chain as well as a macro where it goes left-right-left-right. The idea is to create more continuous screanshake and screen obstruction. That would help when you are not the focused mech as it would supress the target. You don't duel with that fire mode obviously. Personally I am using manual control with torso twist (or for the Black Widow with similar armorment) and fire all guns together. Then again I pug only and I don't really trust others in my team.
Yea I mainly try to let my team go first so I can suppress but too often I find myself having to lead a team that doesn't want to move, or trying anyway. Nothing like getting 850 DMG in my hbk-4sp after leading a bunch of skittish assaults in a push, no one wants to be the first to go lol. Thanks for the help everyone, I thought I read that the -4x was supposed to be chain fired with quad AC's, I'll try it out some more, although I still might switch to Orion since it doesn't seem to suffer the problems with its arm mounted weapons.
The thing is that due to the relation between AC/5 cooldown and chain-fire delay, you would only ever use 3 of them. (By the time the chain-fire delay of the third AC is over, the first has reloaded). Thus, you want to Group-fire. What you could do as a compromise is either using a Macro as mentioned above, or making two weapon groups (e.g. one for each side) and chain-firing those with a delay between them.
If you are not a target and are simply laying suppression fire on a group of enemies, that is the case where chain-fire GOOD. Unless you are extremely confident in your aim or have a nearly dead target you are now laying the smack to, the spread of damage as part of a firing line is actually the point. Even then, you'd still want to fire them in groups of two rather than single fire. That said, being able to truly act like a consequence free turret is rare, and AC-5s currently have no ghost heat. And frankly, even when they did (and might again) it was minimal. In MWO, especially at higher tiers, being a firing line means you are also being fired upon. So, the main reason to chain fire is not currently a thing, and the secondary reason to chain fire is rare at best. As Gneckes pointed out, you're effectively losing one your AC-5s by doing it that way to top things off. Torso-twist burst is a skill you will want to master anyway and use basically all the time.
Indeed, the only to get a perfect fireline without waste is as said by macro. If you are good though, that 20 damage per quad-fire is fun. Just love popping them with the firepower of a rapid long range AC20 without the heat.
More practice then. My hbk-4g and Cn9-a are two of my favorite and most successful mechs, I can torso twist in them all day, I will have to practice more with ctf to get the torso twist down. So I guess my biggest problem was lack of torso twist and improper weapon groups. Thanks for the help all, I'll spend more time getting used to the ctf.
Actually you don't try to be a classic Sniper with the non-JJ Cataphracts, because revealing your whole torso you'd be an easy Target for enemy snipers. The Phracts are imo supposed to be a support/2nd line Brawler in Team Pushes. They can't tank as good as Assaults, and they lose a lot o Firepower when losing one Arm or ST, so it's a bad idea to get too far from the mob. And if you want to make some success with the sluggish 4X, you need to maximize Teamplay - in pugs there is too much chaotic team action, means ppl not shielding your sides or rears, or even leaving you behind. They often not even move together, but spreading all over the map like some headless chickens. And why is this? -> Little to no Team Communication. So best tip for getting better results with the mechs like the 4X is 1st work on your team communication. Good Team Players can deal good scores even in crappy mechs. It's true. So make some good plan with your teammates and definitely let some guys be your wingmen. Demand it, even if you have little chance for it in PUGs (Many good players pug occasionally just to have some fun matches). A good idea is to stick to some big fat Assaults, which attract most of the enemy fire, while you try to take out the opponents as fast as possible with some clean dakka shots at weak components like STs or Legs, or Rears. Usually the 4xAC5 build is easy to play - you just have 1 or 2 Weapongroups for the Dakka (Syncfire/Chainfire) and maybe a 3rd for Backup Pewpew, also you have a high range and absolutely no necessary Heatmanagement. The only things you have to worry about is the sluggish speed and the low arms. Environment Awareness is good, Map Knowledge for typical Enemy Moving Routes and really good Positionings are better. Be a Ninja, don't let the Enemy suprise you - you surprise them! And really follow the Assaults - them on the front, Phracts shooting from behind at everything that attacks your big daddies. If you experience a lot of ST-Explosion-Deaths, then drop one of the ACs and get the max STD Engine instead. Here is a suggestion to trade off the 4th AC5 for the STD-Engine + 1x ERLL (better than no backup if losing the Arms): Remember - a true master does not need a big fat weapon to kill someone. They often prefere a little knife to kill everyone (that does mean you need to not only use your weapon, but your environment like a Ninja!)
Yes, what @Blagg Zear said most definitely. I've also found the 4X to be very effective on city maps like River & Crimson with a lot of buildings to duck and cover, shoot in and around. With these maps you have to worry less over the low slung arms. To echo Blagg, positioning and map knowledge are always a must... and in my opinion pivotal to be consistent and successful with any mech you run. For posterity
I don't remember which I had more trouble with: the 4X or the 2X. I like running the 3D with 4xML and 2xLB10. It can put out the hurt and rip through components. I still run the ol' chainsaw (3x UAC5, 3xML) on my Ilya. 4X I've found 4 AC5 and don't be the first one targeted are the best combination.
