Mech Spotlight: Centurion

[RasaNova]

This one is a personal favorite of mine, and I bring it on nearly every contract.

At the time I got mine, I was still mostly using stock builds. But I saw that massive under-used missile rack I knew this mech was destined for greatness... So I stripped the other weapons, added another AC10, and discovered the usefulness of an LRM boat. From there I kept tweaking it to where it is now. Currently it is:
2x LRM15++, 1x LRM10++, 3 or 4 tons of ammo and 760 armor.

I took out the jump jets, and it can run hot in warmer biomes if fired continuously. (which it does.) But as a back row support mech, it excells at softening up the enemy mediums & heavies so my front line can punch holes through their core. It has enough armor to tank a bit, but I keep it far from the fighting so it rarely gets hurt - I could probably remove more armr to replace the LRM10 with another LRM15 (or swap in LRM20s but I haven't found any) or even add more ammo/heat sinks.

What are your successful Centurion builds/strategies?

The goal here is not to compare mechs or discuss which mech is best for what role. This is about successful ways to use the Centurion.

All Mech Spotlights:

Centurion
BlackJack
Thunderbolt
Quickdraw
Shadow Hawk
JagerMech
Highlander
Grasshopper
Vindicator
Wolverine
Locust
Catapult
Orion

[kingarthur772]

Armor, good integrated systems (Jump Jets, Heat Sinkers etc.), 1 or 2x LMR 15 or 20 (good are Plus-Variants), a PPC or a good AC/10 (Plus Variants are good) with 2 Ammo Boxes for AC/10 and Medium / small Weapons.

[RasaNova]

Originally posted by CaidKean:

Centurion* but yeah, definitely one of my top five, if only because the MWO/BT design so very much tickles my fancy of both Roman military wear as well as nostalgic memories of BSG.

You're right, fixed. Thanks

[Gilius Thunderhead]

Made a fantastic early game tank for me and a useful midgame flanking damage dealer. I like it with AC5 and as many srms as it can fit.

[ramjbjb]

AC20 on the right hand. Two medium lasers. Three tons of ammo. Max frontal armor except on the left hand (where I have 50-ish). Stick it with someone with evasion skills and high piloting, don't show your right side to the enemy.

that thing is a terror.

[Strayed]

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

AC20, 2x MLAS, max armour and teeth grinding aggression

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

[matthew]

currently running with 3 X LRM15 and a heat sink.

Would it be worth ditching one and adding a LRM20? and keeping two LRM 15s?

[ramjbjb]

Originally posted by Strayed:

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

AC20, 2x MLAS, max armour and teeth grinding aggression

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

Seems you and I have the same desire to replicate that one, huh? ;) ;) ;).

Is an excellent build indeed.

[Cutlass Jack]

My first attempt at using a Centurion had me trying to make it into its listed function as a brawler. I really wanted that to work because I love the look of the mech with its arm shield. But it was beat in its listed role by the Shadowhawk, even though the latter was described as excelling at nothing. So it was gathering dust in my hangar.

Later on I took a second look at the Centurion when I needed something for Behemoth to use. Since my main was a brawler, I decided I wanted to use her as a stationary turret. Just sit on a hill and fire at stuff. So I turned the Cent into an LRM platform and its worked out spectacular.

Just armed it with LRM15s and a small laser. she just hangs out at the edge of the engagement firing missiles at everyone. In the rare event anyone fires back at her, she's got Bulwark. If someone gets in melee range of her, or she wants something to do while her mech cools, she just sticks her arm through them. She's also getting good use out multishot and Breeching with the LRMs.

Overall I'm finding the Centurion to excell in the long range support role. Even over units that are supposed to be purposely designed for that role, like the Trebuchet.

[Strayed]

Originally posted by ramjbjb:

Originally posted by Strayed:

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

AC20, 2x MLAS, max armour and teeth grinding aggression

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

Seems you and I have the same desire to replicate that one, huh? ;) ;) ;).

Is an excellent build indeed.

Indeed! And what a beast she is!

Sadly and rather infuriatingly so in my opinion, the shield arm doesn't really give any benefits (what I mean here is like in MWO; extra armour so you can "shield" that arc or at least try turn and face your arcs at the enemy to soak damage) which it should. Also, the grapple hand, which in TT was the biggest advantage to have on a mech is not really worth anything :( In Battletech, I'm still scratching my head over this, how does the Shadowhawk do more damage (yes, I know, it has 5 tons more than the Centy, but the centy was meant for grabbing and throwing things) than the centurion noting the Shadowhawk is a striker and the Centy is a brawler.. HBS?

I honestly think someone has a bias for the Shadowhawk... just saying...

[Doom]

LRM/20 and two 15's with no armor. Centurion lacks armor to be a frontline mech in my game now. makes a great artillery piece though.

[snee.scampers]

the wang is god !

[Cutlass Jack]

Originally posted by Strayed:

Sadly and rather infuriatingly so in my opinion, the shield arm doesn't really give any benefits (what I mean here is like in MWO; extra armour so you can "shield" that arc or at least try turn and face your arcs at the enemy to soak damage) which it should. Also, the grapple hand, which in TT was the biggest advantage to have on a mech is not really worth anything :( In Battletech, I'm still scratching my head over this, how does the Shadowhawk do more damage (yes, I know, it has 5 tons more than the Centy, but the centy was meant for grabbing and throwing things) than the centurion noting the Shadowhawk is a striker and the Centy is a brawler.. HBS?

I honestly think someone has a bias for the Shadowhawk... just saying...

Well it doesnt surprise me the Shadowhawk punches harder. Tonnage aside, its got Wolverine claws on its fists for punching. But the Centurion at the very least should have had higher potential armor on its left arm to account for the shield.

The shield should also have the company logo on it, like Mastiff's did in the cutscene. And like the Shadowhawk does. Shadowhawk gets all the cool stuff.

[RasaNova]

Originally posted by snee.scampers:

the wang is god !

Ok I feel like I should get the reference... Please enlighten

[Rob'sEvilTwin]

I used mine as a very nice LRM boat, it also is a quite scary brawler with that AC/20 :P

[Fiasco]

Funny enough, even though I'm full of heavy mechs and a couple of assaults, I bring my Centurion in every single mission and I mount the best equipment on it. And in almost every mission it loses its left arm. I stopped mounting any equipment on it because of that.

I use it as a brawler: 3*SRM6, 2 ML (I think), 1 SM, heat bank, melee arm upgrade, all possible jump jets. With all that it still has reasonable armor.