What I am currently running. Only 2 tons amo for the AC10 cause I lose that very quickly so I fire it like a madman till its gone as fast as I can. Took some advice from the peeps here on the split LRM launchers and it seems to work ok. I rarely make it to the "Just 4 lasers" phase cause I often fall victim to "OH CRAP ITS AN ATLAS"itis. I feel it is undergunned but I always manage to put most of my LRM on target before I go down.
I hope you will not be mad about my comments. On your playstyle. I think you might need to change the way you play the atlas. Trying to fire mere 2 tons of lrm/AC10ammo before exploding is a really low goal for an atlas. While you should be at the front line that does not mean you have to get shot by everyone one and their grandma. Yes, you should draw some aggro but try to minimize the damage taken. On your build, it is indeed undergun. AC10 + 4x MLas is something that would fit on a cicada! You definitely need more girepower, a lot more in fact. Seeing you are a forward Atlas I would suggest the following changes to your build. If you want lrm10+5, that is. I would keep your LRM since that is a softening weapon, crowd control all in all a secondary weaponary so to speak, you are a forward Atlas (need some guidance to the playstyle but still). Since you are forward you need some bigger guns, 2x LLas would do nicely for longer range, use ERLLAS if you like to take longer shots, but it would be hotter, though you can use it along with your LRM. AMS is needed since you are big and slow and the target of every lrm boat. I would suggest BAP for the last equipment but I guess it is up to your playstyle. BAP would give you better LRM as well as some anti ECM stuff, but you can rip it out for an extra ton of AC20/LRM ammo and some armor. This one got rid of the BAP AND the LRM5 keeping only LRM as a secondary weaponary while upgrading firepower.
In addition to minimize the damage taken (which is not always easy) you need to spread the damage you take all over your mech. As you noticed lot of pilots will aim at right torso in order to destroy the autocanon(s). Twist your torso and use your arms as shields (those arms are big and heavily armored, they really help). Also from what you wrote I can safely assume most of the time you die because of bad positionning, caught off guard on a nasty position or just being the only target available for the enemy team. It's important to think ahead when you make a move, because you might not have the possibility to retreat, or only at very high cost. But we see too many long range Atlas out there, I must salute the bravery of a frontliner It's easier to lose the bad habit of being a hotheaded rusher, than the one of cowardly staying in the rear line until all the team is dead.
