MechWarrior Online: Atlas, AS7-D-DC, with AC20 and 2 Large Lasers in Action - Part 2

While piloting an Atlas, AS7-D-DC, with an AC20, 2 Large Lasers, and 3 SRM6s, we run into another DHB group in a Tourmaline Desert Assault battle. I get a couple of light mech kills and a lucky finishing shot on another Atlas.

MechWarrior Online: Victor, VTR-9B, with AC20 in River City Night

I put up 803 damage with 2 kills and 4 assists in a Victor, VTR-9B, with an AC20, 2 Medium Lasers, and 2 SRM6s in a River City Night Assault match. I might have done more damage if I hadn't run out of ammo. :D

MechWarrior Online: Atlas, AS7-D-DC, with AC20 and 2 Large Lasers in Action

While in a DHB 4 man group, I pilot an Atlas, AS7-D-DC, with an AC20, 2 Large Lasers, and 3 SRM6s in an Alpine Peaks Assault battle. The AS7-D-DC is the mech I have spent the most time in (37 hours time played) and is arguably my best mech.

 

MechWarrior Online: Sarah's Jenner

PGI has finally released "Sarah's Jenner" and, as of this posting, raised over $11,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. For a mere $10, you get a fully upgraded Jenner, JR7-D, with an Endo-steel structure, Ferro-Fibrous armor, double heat sinks, and a 300XL engine. Oh, and a nice 10% experience bonus too. I already own a Founder's Jenner, JR7-D, and, despite not needing it and also sucking at piloting Jenners, I still bought the Sarah's Jenner because I am a sucker for charity causes.

Find out more about Sarah's Jenner here: http://mwomercs.com/sarah

My Sarah's Jenner receipt

Update (July 26, 2013):
PGI released the first batch of Sarah's Jenners earlier this morning. If you donated, be sure to check your Mech Lab. The Sarah's Jenner will be in your last mech bay slot. You can customize the paint job of the mech with up to 3 colors. I changed my colors to Ash Grey, Basic Blue, and PC Gamer Red (see below and click to enlarge).

Important Note: Sarah's Jenner DOES NOT come with jump jets installed. There is room for 5 jump jets in the chassis, but you will have to do some tweaking to make room for the extra tonnage (0.5 ton each).

MechWarrior Online: Atlas, AS7-D, with AC20 and 2 PPCs in Action

Trying out a newer build for me in an Atlas, AS7-D, with an AC20, 2 PPCs, and 2 Medium Lasers in a Frozen City Night Conquest battle. I did OK, but still not a big fan of PPCs in an Atlas because the shots come out a little low and the convergence can be way off when you don't give the arms enough time to align for the distance.

MechWarrior Online: Victor, VTR-9S, with AC20 in Canyon Network

I drop solo in a Canyon Network Assault match with my new VTR-9S with an AC20, 3 SRM4s, and 2 Medium Lasers. It's like a mini Atlas D-DC with jump jets, but without the ECM!

MechWarrior Online: Blackjack, BJ-1X, In Action: Part 4

Part 4 in my Blackjack, BX-1X series of videos showing the overpoweredness of the Blackjack. This takes place in Tourmaline Desert and I only get 1 kill and 5 assists on 330 damage.

MechWarrior Online: 12v12 on Test Server - July 11, 2013

So, PGI made their MechWarrior Online Test Server available to the public yesterday, July 11, for two two hours blocks. (One in the morning and the other later in the afternoon Pacific time) to test the upcoming 12 on 12 battles.The general consensus among the eight DHB members I played with was it was very fun. The game dynamic is definitely changed and is very refreshing. I really didn't want to go back to playing 8 on 8 battles after two hours of 12 on 12 battles. :D

You can view three of the battles below or you can watch the entire two hour session here: http://www.twitch.tv/gimpy21/c/2564971

A DHB 4 man group in a 12 on 12 battle on Forest Colony Snow Assault mode.

 

Another 12 on 12 battle on the Test Server. This time in Canyon Network Assault mode.

Two DHB 4 man groups try to sync drop and end up on opposite teams. For the better. Not much fighting in this battle on Tourmaline Desert Assault mode, but it's still fun due to one crazy Jenner pilot on our team.

MechWarrior Online: Blackjack, BJ-1X, In Action: Part 3

This is the Blackjack, BJ-1X, with 2 Medium Lasers and 6 Small Pulse Lasers. I did 684 damage with 3 kills and 4 assists on Frozen City Night in Assault mode. The damage and kills are personal bests for me in the Blackjack.

Originally, I had 8 Small Pulse Lasers on the mech, but the lack of any weapons with an optimum range over 90 meters really hurt. So, I swapped out the two small lasers in the side torsos with two Medium Lasers. Same tonnage, but a little more damage and range (270 meters).

The appeal of this build is the the pin point damage and fast recycle time of the pulse lasers. Basically, with 6 Small Pulse Lasers, you are doing almost as much damage as an AC20 for far less heat and at a much, much faster rate of fire. Yes, the range is a lot shorter than an AC20, but that's why you are running around at 116 kph to get up close and personal. :D

MechWarrior Online: Project Phoenix

It's been a week since Project Phoenix was announced. It was an out of the blue announcement to say the least and I lasted a whole two hours before plunking down $80 for the Overlord package. :D

The load outs and concept art of the four Phoenix mechs are viewable below, but go to the Project Phoenix page for a better view. Also, if you are thinking of purchasing one of the Project Phoenix packages, make sure to check out the Project Phoenix FAQ for more details.

Update (August 17, 2013):
PGI has updated the Project Phoenix page with the non-Phoenix mech variants (click on the mech images at the top of the page) and a "Phoenix Loyalty Rewards" progress bar. They don't give the actual weapon load outs of the mech variants, but you can dig up some info on them over at Sarna.net to get a rough idea what they will be like. The Loyalty Rewards (Phoenix Colors, Phoenix Cockpit Item, and Flame Pattern) are a nice touch, but there's not enough info on the page to say if we are going to get them no matter how many people buy into Project Phoenix. I suspect we will though.

I've never been a fan of the Locust (too small and too ugly), but I believe it is the only light mech from the the "Unseen" and "Reseen" mechs currently available to be used legally in MechWarrrior Online. The weapon hard points and lack of jump jets on the LCT-1V are going to make it very hard to come up with a viable build.

 The Shadow Hawk has been one of my favorite mechs,  right next to the Phoenix Hawk, since the first time I played Battletech back in the early 1980s. There's just something about a high flying (jumping) mech with a shoulder mounted cannon that appeals to my inner raptor. :D I think the SHD-2H variant might struggle some in MechWarrior Online because the hard points are somewhat lacking, but I will do my best to come up with a usable build. Now, I do think PGI has done a great job re-imagining the Shadow Hawk's look. It looks great and still resembles the basic look of the original Shadow Hawk.

 

Another mech I've never been a fan of is the Thunderbolt (the offset head is goofy looking), but it is in the same legal boat as the Locust. It is the only heavy mech from the "Unseen" and "Reseen" lists currently available to MechWarrior Online. Hopefully, they will eventually get access to some of the more famous heavy mechs like the Archer, Marauder, and Warhammer. In the meantime, we're stuck with the monstrosity that is the Thunderbolt. Although, the TDR-5S chassis has potential and, hopefully, I'll be able to come up with a good build to make this ugly heavy mech shine.

I have to admit I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Battlemaster. I hate it because it has always been a hideous looking beast, but I love it because there are a ton of variants to match pretty much any situation.  With the BLR-1G, you will be able to put a Gauss rifle in the right arm, an ERPPC in the left arm, and whatever combination of SIX energy weapons you can come up with to put in the side torsos. Yeah, it has a real good chance to take over the Atlas' spot as my favorite assault mech. Not only is the BLR-1G going to be a monster in MechWarrior Online combat, but it will look good blasting mechs into the dirt. This is by far the best looking Battlemaster I have seen.

That's it for now. I can't wait for October 15 when these Project Phoenix mechs are officially released. It should be a very fun day stripping them down and rebuilding them into the death machines I always thought they were. Well, except for the Locust, of course. :D