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

[Ryncage]

DetroitJones eredeti hozzászólása:

I'm having a blast with a close range variant, with 3 SRMs, 2 ML's, JJ's and lots of armor. Most mechs don't survive 2 attacks from it. The heat adds up, but then you just start punching.

heat neutral mechs are just another word for "short on firepower".
If all it takes to avoid a shutdown is 'dont fire up the jump jets' or, 'turn off 1 medium laser' then you're doing it right.

The only exception is on maps without an atmosphere.

That aside, Honestly i still find the AC20 isn't worth the tonnage, even after their minor buffs for this game in particular, but that's more the fault of constantly being outnumbered than the weapon having no use. I only ever found myself using one because "when else will i get the chance?" not because its tactically sound.

Sure, it packs all of its damage on one hit location, but the ability to call shots reduces the usefulness of that passive upside when you can boat just as much alpha damage in other weapon configurations.

Its far too vulnerable in an arm, and you're still cramming a mountain of ammo somewhere.
Id rather maximize my armor and take a SRM or LRM loadout.

[Strayed]

RasaNova eredeti hozzászólása:

This is making me want to build an all-centurion lance... LRM, and 3x YLW variants...

A full YLW lance is fun AF Even more so in MP

Of course, you'll need to be mindful that you don't have JJ so you'll need to constantly advance tactically and be thinking about your next fire position with your objective to encricle your primary target and then quickly shake back out into extended line to engage and encircle your next target

hope this helps :)

The Centurion A-9 really is a nasty piece of work in the right hands

The AL can be as well; but the A-9 does it better

[Strayed]

If anyone is interested in seeing a lance of Yen Lo Wang in action vs the AI

Also bonus feature: the old mechwarrior soundtrack

Apologies for the crappy res; I had to compress it to allow for a faster upload because where I live I only have a cup and string speed connection

Some quick notes:
I had some bad rolls and some good rolls. The computer trumped me a couple of times with a better result on probability than I did (you'll see me double check the pilot stats vs the to hit stats a couple of times)

I didn't realise I didn't have my mic activated, so when you see me circle the evasion counters I'm simply saying I'm going to soak these counters with my MLAS so I can get Apex, my sniper, to breach shot through guard.

Also, you'll probably notice that I turn my mechs away a lot. the smarter MWO cookies will know what thats about ;P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snhbUnO5Bj0

[RasaNova]

Thanks for that... I LOVED that soundtrack! (was MW2, btw)
That was the 1st time I realized tht some in-game music was stored as actual tracks on the CD, and could be played in any player. That was my go-to music for MANY gaming sessions.

Unrelated edit - Warcraft 2 was the same thing, excellent soundtrack playable in any cd player.

[Strayed]

Glad I could help you walk down the path of memory lane :)

[GrayFolxy]

Strayed eredeti hozzászólása:

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

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

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

I have AC10 + ( 4 acc) , Med L ++ ( 50% crit) , Med L + ( 25 % crit) , Small L + ( 25%crit)
Plus Gyro + that add +2 melee hit.

I acquired a AC 20 but my little AC10 is pretty good powerhouse to blitz but the tentation of the big 100 dmg of the AC20 is appealing.

[phaktory]

Strayed eredeti hozzászólása:

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

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

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

I don't even add the MLasers.. I have a small laser with + damage and an arm damage buff and Jump Jets. I run 2 of these Centurions and 2 Orions with 2xLRM15 and 1xLRM 20 on each. On my first one of these I run Breaching shot and evasion and my second one I run breaching shot and sensor lock. I either 1 shot smaller mechs or destroy left/right torso's after I drop them with my LRM's. I get so much chassis salvage because I destroy most weapons.

[phaktory]

CryingRaven eredeti hozzászólása:

Strayed eredeti hozzászólása:

The indomitable Yen Lo Wang

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

Breaching Shot and thats all she wrote

I have AC10 + ( 4 acc) , Med L ++ ( 50% crit) , Med L + ( 25 % crit) , Small L + ( 25%crit)
Plus Gyro + that add +2 melee hit.

I acquired a AC 20 but my little AC10 is pretty good powerhouse to blitz but the tentation of the big 100 dmg of the AC20 is appealing.

Try 120 damage AC20's.. :) With breaching shot. You'll never go back.

[Strayed]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5PhU-gg83Y0

[phaktory]

Strayed eredeti hozzászólása:

Nighteyes eredeti hozzászólása:

I built the Wang yet I'm not getting double payouts what am I doing wrong?? :)

For SP:
If you can afford it (and lucky enough to find one) try to get your hands on a buffed AC20, although a standard AC20 usually suffices

I usually fit 3t of ammo or if its a 3 or 4 skull mission 4t ammo - 4t may seem excessive, but I like to reduce risks, I don't trust my pilots and my RNGesus reputation is quite abysmal

Try and manouvre to the rear arc of an enemy mech

Use breaching shot with your AC20

For lolz, try and field 3 YLW and enjoy the KD's (or even 4 if you're sadistic like me)

Whenever you get a called shot or precise strike, use your AC20 and breaching shot while aiming for where they store their ammo or if a lasboat their heatsinks (of course onnly target these areas if there's a good chance that your shot will rip through the armour and internals; otherwise if there's too much armour then pick something else - usually a leg for maximum KD rofltomping); forget headshots

My standard deployment is 2 Centurions with JJ and a buffed AC20. 1st pilot has evastion and breaching shot, the second has sensor lock and breaching shot. My other 2 mechs are Orions with 2xLRM15 and 1xLRM20, all buffed with at least +1 Stab. I chew through everything.

[Terminus]

I'm running a Centurion with 3xSRM6 and 2xML, 4xJJ. When I first got it, it was the closest thing to a heavy I had and so I ran it as such using the stock loadout, but I found it didn't quite have the durability. Reimagined as a run-and-gun SRM boat it's great as a flanker. The SRMs do a ton of stability damage, plus once the armor's been worked over a little bit you're rolling the dice 18 times for crit chances each alpha.

[Dorok]

In the game campaign, you already have a 55T when you get a Centurion, the 50T Centurion isn't more heavy than it. I don't like it so I'm surprised it has some popularity, But perhaps I need come back to a load closer to default.

But yeah I use it a bit like you with 3 SRM6, 1 AC5, 4JJ, but also 2 HeatSink. But it's just a test load I haven't yet bother look at for a better load. My plan is more to use it less and less or try some load and design like a Trebuchet, that for now isn't the way I play, that is I don't use a mech in the back and some "front" to protect it.

[Elazul]

Use mine as an LRM boat. 2x LRM 20++ with extra Stab damage with 3 tons of ammo. I've not increased the armor at all which has worked fine cause it rarely gets hit since I leave it in the rear. My remaining three mechs are 2x Thunderbolts and a Catapult K2. Works good so far!

[Nine-ball]

Man, this was a popular Spotlight, and I missed it. You people have to give me time to go to work and give some TLC to my girlfriend. I would love to say she's a Centurion, and she does in fact consider herself Roman, but she does not weigh 50 tons. Nor does she have the extremely broad-shouldered look. Nor is she even remotely from Italy. She just loves Roman history, and I love her.

The Centurion is a solid design that I have no reason to dislike besides the lore. Kai-Allard Liao mary-sued the crap out of it. Yen-Lo-Wang is the most invicible mech in Battletech history, combined with the most invincible pilot. Even god-emperor Victor Davion isn't so lucky with an AC/20.

Not liking Gay-Allard is not a reason to hate the Centurion, as it is a solid mech in stock configuration, and actually better in Yen-Loves-Wang configuration. An AC/20 and two medium lasers, complete with jump jets, can net you a lot of salvage in the early phases of the game, if you aim to take the legs off trash pirate mechs. Moreso if you are are Kai Fallhard She-ao and nail headshots all the time.

Unlike the classic trio of heavy mediums, it doesn't waste tonnage on a big engine, so the autocannon mount is feasbible. And it has a little comb on its head, presumably a heat radiator, to make it look like an actual Centurion. Not that it does anything, or that it would make any sense. If you're channleling heat around the fusion reactor, you have already lost any cooling advantages. But then Battletech requires you to believe that a fusion plasma-channel doesn't overheat the mech just by being there.

What makes the Centurion so valuable, and aptly named in this game, is exactly what Legionaires so effective. It has good armor, it can hurl ranged weapons into the enemy to cause Stb damage, (pilums were deigned to stick in enemy shields and bend, forcing defenses down) and it can close to deliver even harder strikes. It's one of the lightest brawlers around, and available early on. It can one-shot mech or take a leg off for tqactical advantage and salvage.

The Centurion. in CN9-A configuration, also holds a victory triumph when used as a light LRM boat. I have no idea why it has three missile hardpoints in the same torso location when no canon variant would support that, but it does. This thing can all but knock down an enemy mech and serve as a decoy to draw fire, if you use it right.

I think the devs just identified it as a a command mech, because it's called a Centurion, and figured it would be the first thing pilots would use in favor of the Blackjack. I don't. My Centurions are training LRM platforms that will rarely be exposed to danger.Their job is to damage and knock down enemy mechs so the strikers can finish them off, or get bailed out of a tough situation.

The mech would have been better-named, the Legionaire, but it is what it is, and what it is is not bad.