MechWarrior: Online - Battlemaster Build Speculation

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com

I have just 3 words to say about the Battlemaster... OH MY GOD!!! Seriously, OH MY GOD!!! I LOVE EEEET!!! I literally stayed up till 3am just so I could see the artwork. I wasn't disappointment. For me; the Battlemaster may lack its iconic (gigantic, easy to hit) domed head and the pistol style PPC, but it still totally captures the look of the Battlemaster.

The head is very much still a dome, but more angular, making it more inline with the other MW:O BattleMechs. The shoulders also look very similar to the reseen artwork as well. Hell this whole redesign pays homage to both the unseen and reseen Battlemasters.

I also really love the changes. The under-slung PPC looks really good; it matches and fits the Mech as a whole. The Medium Laser array is no longer a "V" shape, but I really love the new way it's set out.

Anyway, I hope the in-game model of this Mech isn't as fat as the (ironically not awesome) Awesome. That would really cause all of Project Phoenix to be a complete flop. Some of these redesigns look a little bit on the large end of size. Hopefully they'll be scaled correctly though.

If you take a very close look at the Project Phoenix Battlemaster, the Centre Torso appears to be very thin. This is also apparent in all the other Project Phoenix BattleMechs. This could very well be a new set of BattleMechs designed to be as survivable as the Centurion. Which can very well change the Meta.

Project Phoenix is a go! The Unseen are back! After all these years, they are back! Back with a vengeance! Welcome to the battlefield; Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt and Battlemaster!

Project Phoenix BattleMechs in Mechromancer MechLab

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com/phoenix

Literally as the title says. The Mechromancer MechLab that I prefer to use, now has all 4 Project Phoenix BattleMechs in the MechLab. We can now finally start designing/concocting builds for when we finally get our hands on these fantastic Mechs!!

I've already started messing around with it and have made a few pretty cool builds. I hope they'll be good too. I mean, a Battlemaster running around with 68kph (around 74 with speed tweak) seems pretty cool to me!!

Anyway check out the Mechromancer MechLab. I personally prefer it over Smurfy's, but that's just me.

Note: The Project Phoenix BattleMechs in that MechLab come stripped of everything with the lowest engine possible, unlike the BattleMechs that are actually released and start off Stock (Data Updated Jun 28 2013 18:34:18 GMT).

MechWarrior: Online - Thunderbolt Build Speculation

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com

Please welcome to the field; the fantastic, the brilliant, the beautiful, thunder striking, fear inducing BattleMech, the Thunderbolt!!

You can obviously tell I've been eagerly awaiting the Thunderbolt release. I seriously love this Mech! It was the first BattleMech I laid eyes on!! Unfortunately I'm tossed up between the Thunderbolt and the Battlemaster as my number 1 favourite, but whatever!! I'm still getting all 4 Project Phoenix BattleMechs!!

I tell you, I seriously love this new redesign of the Thunderbolt. It just looks beautiful!! It gives an advanced technological feel. As if it was purposely designed to be better than all the current BattleMechs. Lore wise, the older Mechs have always been better than the newer ones; due to technology and the people building these Mechs vanishing.

I can clearly see a few weaknesses it might possess. The first being the "hunch-like" missile pod. It might also be a tad fat (like the Cataphract/Awesome). I just hope to god it isn't fat!! But regardless, I will pilot and master this Mech, and by master I don't mean Mech XP, I mean as a player, I plan to be a good Thunderbolt pilot, regardless of its weaknesses.

Project Phoenix is a go! The Unseen are back! After all these years, they are back! Back with a vengeance! Welcome to the battlefield; Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt and Battlemaster!

MechWarrior: Online - Shadow Hawk Build Speculation

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com

The Shadow Hawk doesn't seem to get as much love as the Thunderbolt, Battlemaster and oddly enough the Locust. It is a fantastic Medium BattleMech, but is a very "all-rounder" which is both a strength and a weakness.

The Shadow Hawk might have received the rough end of the Hardpoint layouts. It has 3 Ballistic Hardpoints, 1 Energy Hardpoint and 3 Missile Hardpoints. In order to make use of the Ballistic Hardpoints, the Shadow Hawk will need an XL Engine, even then it can barely make use of 3. I would've preferred it if they gave it 2 Ballistic and 2 Energy, which would've made this BattleMech almost OP.

Regardless, I'm still looking forward to piloting this thing. It'll be a lot of fun to learn it's unique quirks, strengths and weaknesses.

Project Phoenix is a go! The Unseen are back! After all these years, they are back! Back with a vengeance! Welcome to the battlefield; Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt and Battlemaster!

MechWarrior: Online HeroMech Reveal - Victor Dragon Slayer

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com

This is going to be one very busy end of month!! First we get news on Project Phoenix with daily art and details released of our beloved Unseen. Now we get the HeroMech Victor (which will be out sometime next week, probably the 2nd July), Dragon Slayer.

Seriously PGI!! Give us a break please!! My wallet is already bleeding, I can't just murder it some more!! Bah! After spending $80 on Project Phoenix, my impulse buyer-ness is getting ready to buy more MC so I can get this baby. But I can't. I actually need to save up. But then, I did say screw the Victor, I get my Battlemaster...

Anyway let's take a look at the image and see what we get.

MechWarrior: Online - Locust Build Speculation

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com/phoenix

The Locust is one of the most iconic Light BattleMechs ever!! Or rather it is THE most iconic Light BattleMech ever!! Trash Can with legs not withstanding. For me, I vowed never to pilot Light Mechs, unless it was either the Flea or the Locust (to me the Flea was merely a Locust substitute).

The Locust hasn't been released yet just yet (it will be on October 15), but the details have been. With this, we can begin to plan and speculate builds that we'd love to pilot. 

Project Phoenix is a go! The Unseen are back! After all these years, they are back! Back with a vengeance! Welcome to the battlefield; Locust, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt and Battlemaster!

MechWarrior: Online - Project Phoenix Revealed

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!! Or rather this is THE best news since they said they were making MechWarrior: Online!!

Out beloved Unseen are making their first appearance in 20 years!! Not all unfortunately, but we get 4!! We get 4 of the most famous too!! Admittedly all Unseen are famous and just FANTASTIC!! But my 4 favourites are finally making their appearance.

The four Unseen that we'll be getting our hands on are: the Locust, the Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt and Battlemaster, [Source].

Each Mech has easily won a place in my heart and I really cannot wait to get inside the cockpit and pilot them.

Project Phoenix for MechWarrior: Online is a limited, one time offer. In which you can pre-order these Mechs. From my understanding; each package gives you a Phoenix BattleMech (which is similar to the Founder's and Hero BattleMechs). They are the original variants featured in the original TRO (Technical Readout 3025). They would feature unique colour schemes just like the Founder's/Hero BattleMechs.

IN ADDITION; depending on the package, you get 2 standard variants per Phoenix BattleMech!!

MechWarrior: Online - Victor Thoughts (July BattleMech?)

Update 1: Screw the Victor, I'm getting my beloved Unseen Mechs and the Battlemaster is a clear replacement for the Victor.

Image courtesy of mwomercs.com

Epic story [Here].

If I'm not mistaken, I believe PGI have confirmed that the Victor will be July's BattleMech (confirmed via the NGNG team on a podcast or in those Dev Questions). Least it had better be July's BattleMech. I don't care much for the Orion and the "Orion/Quickdraw Controversy", but I do care if they pull another "Quickdraw" next month.

Now why am I so obsessed with the Victor? Well, because it's AWESOME!! No not the ironically shit Awesome; but because the Victor is actually a rather fantastic Mech.

As far as I'm concerned, PGI have not revealed any of the Victor variants, but we can guess what they are. My guesses are:

MechWarrior: Online - Cataphract CTF-3D Build (Sloth aka. Shotgun Surgeon)

Image courtesy of the MechWarrior: Online Wiki

Don't you know the saying "The weapon's shit... until you get killed by it."? Well I definitely know that saying. I read it somewhere; it was quite entertaining since it sums up several weapons in MW:O.

I recently came across a Mech with twin (or tripple) LB 10-X Autocannons who charged me and began blasting me at point black (around the 180m mark). He/she quickly shredded through my armour and literally ripped apart my Mech! I only had 1 Medium Laser and 1 UAC5 with ALL my torso (CT, RT and LT) internals red by the time someone saved me and brought him/her down (I died shortly after).

After this encounter I told myself I have so gotta try this. Hence the Shotgun Surgeon (or Sloth) was born.

I reject the current Meta and substitute... errr... something else!! Now check out this build!!

MechWarrior: Online - Cataphract CTF-1X Build (Rage)

Image courtesy of the MechWarrior: Online Wiki

In order for me to Elite/Master my HeroMech, Ilya Muromets, I need to first Basic another 2 Cataphracts. The first of which is the CTF-1X.

Out of the non-HeroMech Cataphracts (CTF-1X, CTF-2X, CTF-4X and CTF-3D), my favourite would have to be the CTF-1X. The CTF-3D is considered the better of all variants, but I have never really cared much for Jump Jets or "Pop-Tarting". In my opinion, the best one would be the CTF-1X. It is able to fully make use of ALL it's Hardpoints (1 Ballistic and 5 Energy) and is can still mount a (relatively) large Standard Engine.

I reject the current Meta and substitute... errr... something else!! Now check out this build!!

MechWarrior: Online - Cataphract Ilya Muromets Build (Pride)

Image courtesy of the MechWarrior: Online Wiki

The Ilya Muromets has a reputation for being one of THE best HeroMechs currently available. It's a 70 Ton Mech and so is the current heaviest Heavy BattleMech (until the Orion joins the battlefield). This 70 Tons allows it to make use of its balanced Hardpoint loadout (3 Ballistic and 3 Energy). As I keep emphasising, it's basically a very good "All-Rounder" Mech.

I reject the current Meta and substitute... errr... something else!! Now check out this build!!

MechWarrior: Online - A New Love

You remember how I always said that I hated the Cataphract? You know, I called it extremely ugly and fat and would never pilot one in my life? Yeah that Cataphract? Well I absolutely love it! What a turn of irony I know. But seriously, I love that damn ugly thing! It's like Pugs.

My cute Pug, Betty

I used to think Pugs were ugly till Betty (my Pug) came into my life. I love her (and all my pets equally); but Pugs and Cataphracts make a very good comparison. Both are very ugly (in a cute way for the Pug and a cool way for the Cataphract), but so much fun!!

Thanks to the Knights and Dragons Hero Sale this weekend, I figured I'd buy a CTF-IM, Ilya Muromets; and I tell ya, this has probably become one of my favourite Mechs!

MechWarrior:Online - Jagermech Firebrand Build (Psyfleman)

Image courtesy of the MechWarrior: Online Wiki

I seriously truly love the Jagermech. I love it so much, my first MC and HeroMech purchase was the Firebrand; and as per any typical BattleTech fan I armed the Firebrand similar to the Rifleman. Key word here is similar.

I reject the current Meta and substitute... errr... something else!! Now check out this build!!

MechWarrior: Online - What is the best HeroMech?

Remember this is solely based on my opinion of the best HeroMech.

HeroMechs cost MC, which costs real money. Hence deciding upon what HeroMech one should get is very important and difficult. The average HeroMech will cost anywhere between $20 to $50 (on average around $30 actually). For some people, spending this amount of money on 1 "Cash Shop" item is clearly worthless. All they get is a Mech that's little to no different than the others. A 30% CBill bonus isn't much to go by either.

This means, that to decide on a HeroMech, one must first "know the game". You need to know the quirks of each Mech (i.e. the Stalker's crappy Torso twist, the Jagermech's arms etc.). After this you have to know the cost of upgrades and Engines. XL Engines are super expensive and cost about as much as a brand new Mech.

The whole point is to know what you are after.

MechWarrior: Online - Firebrand released!

Image courtesy of the MechWarrior: Online Wiki

Super exciting news guys! The Jagermech HeroMech, Firebrand, has been released. Can you scream Rifleman as loud as I can? No? Might just be me then. Truth be told I hate the Rifleman. It's got major heat issues with paper thin armour. I'd much rather a Grand Dragon. But that's TT rules eh.

Back to MW:O; PGI has seriously given what we've all been wanting, an Unseen Mech. It is currently disguised as a Jagermech, but hopefully one day the Unseen/Reseen will make their grand reappearance... I can dream...

Anyway a Stock standard Firebrand is actually pretty not bad. It comes with 2 PPCs (1 per arm), 2 AC2s (1 per Arm) and 2 Medium Pulse Lasers (1 per Torso). It has an XL280, Endo Steel and Double Heat Sinks already attached. To me this screams brilliant!! Hell it's the perfect HeroMech actually. Onto that in a later post.

Hardpoints wise, the Firebrand has 6 Energy Hardpoints (2 per Torso and 1 per Arm) and 2 Ballistic Hardpoints (1 per Arm).

It might not be the most "All-Rounder" Jagermech (the JM6-S retains that title since it has 4 Ballistic and 4 Energy and can be armed in almost any manner), however it comes as a clear second.

Mechlab aside, this is probably one of the, or rather THE most beautiful HeroMech currently in MW:O. I seriously love the flames and the "Evil" symbols. This Mech is a beast, a beautiful beast!

I'm already concocting crazy ideas and Mech Builds for this beautiful beast. Did I mention that I love it?