Just got a Battlemaster...

[evilauthor]

And holy crap is this thing awesome. But not an actual Awesome which I've never piloted because it's always been used by a lancemate for fire support, but little "a" awesome in that the Battlemaster is very very good.

Anyway. It's a stock Battlemaster and it's already perfect as is. PPC for long range sniping (which I'm getting better at). SIX Medium Lasers and an SRM-6 for massive pin point short ranged hurt. MACHINE GUNS to exploit exposed components. And best of all, near max armor so I can tank stuff thrown at me without having to remove some firepower first. It runs a little hot, but having a weapons group with the medium lasers on chainfire solves that handily.

After piloting a Victor and being disappointed by it (had to replace the gun arm and the AC-20 in it after EVERY mission), the Battlemaster is like a breath of fresh air.

My previous goto ride was the Orion with a red bar AC/10, and twin medium lasers and SRM-4s in the arms, which was excellent at legging things, small and big mechs alike. The battlemaster doesn't play quite the same, but really suits my style.

[pRaX]

Yeah, but don't give that thing to the AI.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/784080/discussions/0/3114782328006034937/

I'm trying to get a BLR-1G for personal use aswell but I didn't get lucky yet so far. Seen most of the other variations though.

[Piderman]

*laugs in Sleipnir* Twin gauss rifles beat any Battlemaster at any time. x)

[evilauthor]

Originally posted by pRaX:

Yeah, but don't give that thing to the AI.

Heh, I know. I've already taken Medium Lasers away from my lancemates and the Battlemaster is an LRM boat. I can't arm it with any decent long range firepower that would be most useful to my lancemates.

[hghwolf]

The Battlemaster is kinda bad actually. You can get most of its barrage from the massively lighter Thunderbolt S and its range brackets are schizophrenic. It's saved by the MLas bank, which are of course the best weapon T1 has to offer, but for its weight class it's definitely an underperformer.

[evilauthor]

Originally posted by hghwolf:

The Battlemaster is kinda bad actually. You can get most of its barrage from the massively lighter Thunderbolt S and its range brackets are schizophrenic. It's saved by the MLas bank, which are of course the best weapon T1 has to offer, but for its weight class it's definitely an underperformer.

Now I feel like I've been underperforming thus far.

[Omega24]

"glances from battlemaster back to his King Crab" hmm........

[Piderman]

Originally posted by hghwolf:

The Battlemaster is kinda bad actually. You can get most of its barrage from the massively lighter Thunderbolt S and its range brackets are schizophrenic. It's saved by the MLas bank, which are of course the best weapon T1 has to offer, but for its weight class it's definitely an underperformer.

Not true. Most Assault chassis rely on heavy, but few weapons, which makes them vulnerable to concentrated fire on specific body parts. The D-Atlas for example loses most of its firepower if you destroy the right Torso. Do this to a BM-1G and it still can hurt alot with with its SRMs, Lasers and Machineguns.

[Omega24]

worst mech i ever owned tho? was my banshee.

[hghwolf]

Originally posted by evilauthor:

Now I feel like I've been underperforming thus far.

It's probably better in Mechwarrior than TT where ranges are fuzzier and it's still, y'know, an Assault mech. Plus you can't not focus the MLas, which definitely helps.

In fairness, in MW5 its only direct weight equivalent is the Stalker which has always been a very finnicky design. I'd rather have a Crocket though.

Originally posted by Delamain:

Not true. Most Assault chassis rely on heavy, but few weapons, which makes them vulnerable to concentrated fire on specific body parts. The D-Atlas for example loses most of its firepower if you destroy the right Torso. Do this to a BM-1G and it still can hurt alot with with its SRMs, Lasers and Machineguns.

If you blow away either side torso the Atlas D still has an AC20 or the missiles plus most of its lasers. Its short range firepower barely suffers if you lose the missiles and its long range is unaffected if you lose the AC, plus you can't really concentrate fire without a TC and those don't exist in T1.

Like I said, the Battlemaster is better in Mechwarrior than on the TT since you can't not focus the lasers but in the original enviroment it has issues.

[pRaX]

People need to stop with their lore bias. The game's code doesn't care about it one bit.

[hghwolf]

Originally posted by pRaX:

People need to stop with their lore bias. The game's code doesn't care about it one bit.

It's a TT bias, not a lore bias. In lore the Shadow Hawk is good.

THE SHADOW HAWK.

[Velkhana's Summer]

Don't let the haters stop you, I've had all the mechs they mention... STILL I use battlemaster over them and love the varient you're talking about. Wait til you find the one with LRMS that can back you up its amazing. Battle buddy squad unite!

[Daemoc]

I found a BLR-1S early on and I have been using it ever since. It's pretty quick and quite tanky. With 3 SRM4, 1 SRM6 and 4 MLas. the short range rapid fire burst damage is impressive.

I have far better mechs for specific things. but that 1S excels at being swarmed by lights and mediums. It is great for going back and farming lower level missions. I have been having a hard time giving it up.

Just never give it to an AI Pilot.

[pRaX]

Originally posted by hghwolf:

It's a TT bias, not a lore bias. In lore the Shadow Hawk is good.

THE SHADOW HAWK.

Apologies. Lore and TT bias it is then.

[EvolutionKills]

I have a real simple flow chart for MechWarrior 5.

Step 1 - Are you having fun in the mech?
Yes - Congrats! You're finished with the flow chart, enjoy your game!
No - Move to Step 2.

Step 2 - Try a different loadout or a different mech, then repeat Step 1.


If you're having fun in the Battlemaster, congrats, you're winning at MechWarrior 5. Continue on, don't mind the haters.