So. After much criticism, many helpful suggestions, and some soul searching I have completed another week in the refitted Atlas. I now sport an AC20, (having given up on the Gauss) and a machine gun in the ballistic points. One ER PPC on the side opposite the AC20, so I always have something pointed at someone, and a flamer. I also placed three LRM 5s. I will explain these choices.
The AC20 is because it's a beast. The ERPPC, because the heat is worth the extra range, and damned-sure worth not having a minimum. The 3 LRM 5s are because three 5s weigh less than a 15. Every little bit helps. Also it kind of matches the tube layout. Originally I did not include the MG or flamer.
But then I was forcibly reminded about the nature of PUGs. My team mates rushed headlong into the mists ahead and left the slow Atlas and his massive artillery behind. And then I get light swarmed. I didn't exactly have the time to type a request for help while backpedaling, so it didn't end well.
Adding the Flamer and MG helps keep lights at bay long enough to dispatch them, or for help to arrive. They aren't exactly a waste of space in close quarters fighting either. This brings me though to why I built the, admittedly gimmicky, 2xAC2, 2xLL, damage machine I was using. In a PUG your teammates are rarely to be counted on. No matter how well they play as an individual, they lack coordination. This is where the "role specific" mech methodology fails.
But I digress. After another week I am more comfortable with the "more traditional" Atlas I now run. The other night I had a game that came down to 2 on 1, with me being the 1, and an Atlas being one of the other 2. Looked mostly intact too. Great. My AC20 was nearly out, missiles long used up. I won't bore you with the details, but I pulled a win right out of my ass. (OK, by request details below)
HPG map. I just had my last teammate and the mech we were engaging go down nearly simultaneously. I had already used my LRMs and had gotten notice that my AC20 ammo was 25%. I peeked over a ramp that I was on to see an Atlas and another mech that, sadly I didn't recognize. Both because I don't have them all memorized, and because I was focused on the bigger threat. (other mech was tore up).
I fired the AC20 into the Atlas' back, and backed up so as to not be seen. 4 count and peek. Back was to me again. Fire again and back down. 6 count this time (Figured they'd take a longer look around.) Peek, back to me again, fired... Just as the Atlas turned. OK time to back into a corner to waited for them to come to me.
Smaller guy was first. I fired the flamer, MG and AC, which then was out of ammo, in a vain attempt to at least make the battle even. While I would like to dazzle you all with the story of how I didn't take a hit, that would be a lie. I was pounded. Torso twisting like an epileptic doing the Humpty-hump, I managed to not lose anything more than armor. At this point I was mostly keeping my right side, with the now inert AC20, and fairly useless flamer toward them.
Honestly if they had headsets I would not have pulled that out. I managed to keep both of them where I could see them most of the time. Firing the flamer/MG combo at the smaller opponent seemed to be keeping him from hurting me too much. I lined up on the Atlas, was thankful I opted for the ERPPC for the 100th time that match, and fired. His left arm came off.
Now I felt like I could win this, for the first time since seeing that dreaded skull. Circling the Atlas, (and absentmindedly shutting down once myself), it took three more shots with that ERPPC to down him. The smaller mech, (that I really do feel like an idiot for not knowing) was backed against the wall, I don't think he was even firing at that point. Maybe out of ammo, or guns blown off, since he was short a limb or two.
While I would like to say it was a clean death, that would be a lie. Apparently they added shake to the aiming reticle for close matches. It took me three shamefaced shots to take that thing down. But I did take it down. I don't exactly think it was a statue worthy performance, but it was a win.
The end result was 4 kills, 5 assists, just over 700 damage. So almost as well as I was doing after months with my other build. I suspect with enough time I would hit the same levels as my "terrible" build.
I am curious why there was such a visceral reaction against this Terrible Atlas build Does it look wrong? Yes. Is it counter-intuitive? Yes. Is the chassis, in fact, a terrible fit for the build? Yup. Did it work? Absofreakinlutely.
See the build was born out of frustration with my Jagers. They kept overheating when I needed them up and running, and I was tired of compromising on that. More heat sinks meant less ammo. I tried the infamous AC40 build, but I felt dirty running it. Also, it lacked the range, and honestly the fun of the AC2 builds I ran. I wanted a mech with enough weight allowance to not ever worry about heat. So I made that Atlas that you all hate.
So I had made the longest range machine I could. LRMs, as I know from using my own ECM, aren't much good against some mechs. One person asked; with all of the ammo I carried, if I ever ran out, because if not, that meant it was too much. In reply: Yes. Yes I run out of AC2 ammo frequently. Even with that much. That happens when you are shooting people from further away than they can return fire.
So my point, is that if the performance is the same, but more c-bills are awarded when you do more damage, why not use it?
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