First off, I want to give props to my other favorite build... the Master Shake. This thing is torrid and really the reason the CTF-4X has become my favorite mech. Master Shake. That said, I noticed a few things [I had trouble with the] build. First was indirect fire weaponry from range. It sucks to see something on Radar and not be able to fire at it. Second was a lack of direct fire instant damage weapon. Why? Spiders. The [arm AC/5s] had trouble with weapon convergence on those little {scrappers} and I could literally not kill them. First big favorite thing about this robot are the AC/5s. Three AC/5s on chain fire (group 1) keeps you out of Ghost Heat: The Magnum Opus. It is the absolute fastest you can fire the AC/5 without unnecessary heat. .5 seconds between rounds downrange. This is your #1 weapon and should be used whenever you can see something. Second weapon is the ER Large Laser. I guess you can use a Large, but the heat efficiency on this robot is solid AND the ranges are about the same for your AC/5 and ERLL (620 vs 675). Also, it is a center torso weapon, so lining up a shot is actually stupid easy. I can weave this shot in between cover like the AC/5s cannot and it really roots out the possums, so to speak. Also, it is a scan hit weapon, so dragging it around will still inflict damage on those horrid spiders. Last weapon and the MOST controversial is the LRM5. Why, Scromboid? Why? It is useless. No, it is not. Not only have I gotten kills with this thing (not everyone is smart and runs AMS) but I use it to tap people and keep them in cover. Firstly, damage is damage. All you need is one hit on and you get an assist. That is 6500 Cbills and I need all I can get (thanks PGI). Second, your victim does not KNOW it is just an LRM5. They may think it is a Stalker firing an LRM50 at them. Translation - Use it to control the battlefield and force people back into cover. Also... Spiders. This can catch those sneaky little {scrappers}. This mech, I play a little back and conservatively. I do not tend to chase down folks (mostly because I cruise at a blistering 59kph) but the XL makes it a little soft. Even still, I put 70/10, 50/10 armor forward. There is no real reason to let someone get behind you in this mech as you are not the tip of the spear. IF you have to jump down off the garage or barrel down in between the buildings to chase someone, they WILL back away. The AC/5s will keep em shaking and the ERLL will keep em baking. Pepper on that LRM5 and you rake in the CBills. Oh, we use AMS because it is dumb not to Enjoy! Let me know what you think! Edit: Clarification on problems with Master Shake. Not the mech - me!
Hey Scromboid, I like your thinking here. I have found myself similarly frustrated by lights in the Master Shake - as good as it is against heavier slow-moving targets, it really is not well equipped to deal with fast movers. I was also considering adjusting it to get a bit more balance. In my case I was considering dropping the AC2 in favour of a Large Pulse Laser in the CT. Sure, you lose some of the cockpit-rocking fun of the fourth AC, but the increased versatility would be handy. I like your build though - it looks like a very solid long-range support mech. I don't know if I'd use the LRM5 myself, but I do agree with you that it is not "useless". I'd maybe go SRM4 for up close instead, but that's just personal preference. The great thing about this mech is that you never have to worry about heat on your core weapons. As long as you have ammo, you can keep firing.
Never. I blow through that so quick it is never a problem for me. Still, toss that wherever you like.
