Author Topic: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas  (Read 56128 times)

glitterboy2098

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #30 on: 24 March 2014, 11:09:14 »
It always seemed to me that no one wanted to make a 'Super Atlas.' As in, 'Oh crap, that's an Atlas.' The kinda Atlas that would necessitate brown pants everywhere. This makes me sad.  :(
funny, in my experience any Atlas gets a "oh crap, that an Atlas" response..

Skyth

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #31 on: 24 March 2014, 11:37:45 »
I've found there's a big difference in the feelings between using an Atlas and facing an Atlas :)

Facing an Atlas, it's basically the feeling any time you see an AC/20 on the opposing side.  Without the boomstick, the Atlas's firepower feels rather light.  It's weird because if my Hunchback loses it's AC/20 I still think it can be somewhat effective.  An Atlas doesn't feel the same way without the 20.
« Last Edit: 24 March 2014, 11:39:26 by Skyth »

anime ninja

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #32 on: 24 March 2014, 13:35:55 »
Anyone ever pitted the Atlas Samsonov against the Banshee-3S?

cheers,

Gabe

That would be a good fight, the Banshee has a slight edge on the longer range due to the AC-10 but once close in the Atlas has that AC-20.

Might need to see how that runs.

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #33 on: 24 March 2014, 15:30:08 »
One thing I don't like is that we've never gotten an Ultra-20 Atlas apart from the AS7-D(C)

garhkal

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #34 on: 24 March 2014, 16:03:55 »
I home made one back in the days after i got ahold of HMP just for fun.   Never got a chance to play it though.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #35 on: 24 March 2014, 19:19:22 »

One of my first pickup games with the "old guy" gamers back in the 90's involved a Mad Dog prime dismantling and Atlas.  One or two of the poor grognards still had not seen clan mechs in play, they were a shocked.  The guy running the Atlas was cool about it, I was 13 and all my mechs died horribly soon there after.  But it was fun watching those other guys just starring at the toppled Atlas.

For that reason this thing has a nice place for me.  I don't really think its that great of a mech.  I don't want my 100 ton 3/5 assault to be a Swiss army knife, I want a big hammer.  In 3025 it does well for what it is but there are much better options from 3050 on.


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SteelRaven

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #36 on: 25 March 2014, 00:51:12 »
It always seemed to me that no one wanted to make a 'Super Atlas.' As in, 'Oh crap, that's an Atlas.' The kinda Atlas that would necessitate brown pants everywhere. This makes me sad.  :(
... you never even got the reaction with a Atlas II?  ???
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Auren

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #37 on: 25 March 2014, 01:15:45 »
Against the likes of a Thunderhawk or King Crab or Highlander, not really.  :(

SteelRaven

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #38 on: 25 March 2014, 01:36:13 »
Against the likes of a Thunderhawk or King Crab or Highlander, not really.  :(
The Atlas II AS7-D-H2;
ER PPC
Gauss Rifle
LRM 20
SRM 6
2X Medium Pulse Lasers

That at least matches the Highlander.
 
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Auren

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #39 on: 25 March 2014, 01:50:56 »
Well then. At least I can warm up to the Atlas II. Does it still look goofy as all get out?

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #40 on: 25 March 2014, 01:52:15 »
A 7-D Atlas is hell on wheels (well, legs) in a city fight. Especially a double-blind one. It can rain LRMs indirectly using spotters; everything else works really well with the short LOS in a city fight. I would NOT want to come around a corner and see that death's head leering at me from 90 meters away...
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SteelRaven

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #41 on: 25 March 2014, 02:50:54 »
It can be a scary sight the MW games, turn a corner and see [skull]
Well then. At least I can warm up to the Atlas II. Does it still look goofy as all get out?
Unfortunately yes but their are some nice bashes out there
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,11046.msg265069.html#msg265069
The Atlas III also has potential as a nice proxy,
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #42 on: 25 March 2014, 04:26:06 »
A Fight Night thread has been started with regard to the Banshee-3S vs. Samsonov variant:

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=38248.0

cheers,

Gabe
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #43 on: 25 March 2014, 08:10:03 »
The Atlas II AS7-D-H2;
ER PPC
Gauss Rifle
LRM 20
SRM 6
2X Medium Pulse Lasers

That at least matches the Highlander.


...which is the first and last time the Atlas was put together correctly in 3050+.  Dropping that terrible double ERLL combination allows you to... you know.... do something.  The -CM was the next best variant for the same reason.  Not paying BV for a weapon that the mech can't really handle.

And, you know, Stone painted an Atlas II in black and bones, then posed for the Strat Ops cover.  Pure badness.

Am I the only one that likes the 4/6 Atlas?  It seems to be more focused than the older models.
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Prince of Darkness

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #44 on: 25 March 2014, 08:34:54 »
Am I the only one that likes the 4/6 Atlas?  It seems to be more focused than the older models.

I'd like it, if the damn thing wasn't so hot. To me it's more "overgrown heavy", as I can't really figure out some bigger reason for using one.
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LightGuard

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #45 on: 25 March 2014, 08:43:11 »

...which is the first and last time the Atlas was put together correctly in 3050+.  Dropping that terrible double ERLL combination allows you to... you know.... do something.  The -CM was the next best variant for the same reason.  Not paying BV for a weapon that the mech can't really handle.

And, you know, Stone painted an Atlas II in black and bones, then posed for the Strat Ops cover.  Pure badness.

Am I the only one that likes the 4/6 Atlas?  It seems to be more focused than the older models.

I liked the 3085 version's stats but I've never really liked the MWDA model or art. I'd use an original Atlas to proxy.
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martian

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #46 on: 25 March 2014, 08:53:26 »
...
Am I the only one that likes the 4/6 Atlas?  It seems to be more focused than the older models.

Honestly, I don't like them:
1) some bad experiences with similar FWL 4/6 Assaults such as Grand Titan
2) -K2, -K3 and -K4 have one thing in common: They have more weapons than their heat sinks can handle. On paper, those 'Mechs might seem okayish, but realistically speaking, their armament is quite paltry. And if you check their BV against what those 'Mechs can actually do on the battlefield ...

False Son

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #47 on: 25 March 2014, 10:13:38 »
Honestly, I don't like them:
1) some bad experiences with similar FWL 4/6 Assaults such as Grand Titan

The K2 especially seems like a Grand Titan rip off. But, since the 3050s, has the Atlas really done anything standout that can't be said of the Banshee or Highlander?

Quote
2) -K2, -K3 and -K4 have one thing in common: They have more weapons than their heat sinks can handle. On paper, those 'Mechs might seem okayish, but realistically speaking, their armament is quite paltry. And if you check their BV against what those 'Mechs can actually do on the battlefield ...

Most Atlas models have way more weapons than heat sinks.  And, while I detest the double ERLLs, or worse, double ERPPCs, eliminating the LRM20 frees the Atlas up from being a strictly fire support mech, which I would argue, it seldom does well.  You go to a XL engine on most modern Atlas models, anyway.  At least give me some speed to go along with it.  That way I can add the 20 point kick or 10 point punches to my list of options, instead trying to keep the enemy at 7 hexes with 3/5 movement.  The one thing that surprises me is that the K2-4 don't regress to a high calibre AC to go along with the increased mobility.  A "super hunchback" would get points in my book.
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JadeHellbringer

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #48 on: 25 March 2014, 11:38:21 »
The K2 is nice, but that heat just sucks. Dropping the SRMs down to Streak SRM-4s frees up two tons for heat sinks, and now it's at least a lot more manageable without losing a great deal of firepower. I like the idea of a fast Atlas, just the actual execution seems to have been a little off here.
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martian

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #49 on: 25 March 2014, 12:09:24 »
The K2 especially seems like a Grand Titan rip off. But, since the 3050s, has the Atlas really done anything standout that can't be said of the Banshee or Highlander?

Well, AS7-S2 and BNC-6S have both Heavy Gauss Rifle, but Atlas avoids that total ammo dependence. So in this points it's better.

AS7-S3 - BNC-9S has similar firepower (20 points from PPCs+GR), but it pays for it with XL Gyro and thus higher vulnerability.

As you have probably noticed, I am no big fan of the -Kx series. I consider those 'Mechs to be a showroom of wasted opportunities.

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #50 on: 25 March 2014, 12:27:43 »
I was hoping that the AS8-D would move 4/6, make it more of a heavy(assault?) cavalry design that fits FedSun doctrine better.  An Atlas that moved 4(5)/6(8) with TSM would be murderous in close, and without carrying a hatchet you could essentially build a better Berserker.  Perhaps one day.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #51 on: 26 March 2014, 04:36:27 »
The FedSuns now have the Atlas III. So I wonder what will happen with the 8-D version and whether it will continue to be produced.

I don't know how to feel about the design. I am not that big of a fan of the Light-PPC. And with a RAC/5 already on the design. I don't think doing more 5 point damage clusters is what is needed. It kind of makes it a design for finishing off 'Mechs or killing light stuff. But it isn't really fast enough to kill light stuff, unless they were forced into a bad position.

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #52 on: 26 March 2014, 11:10:56 »
The FedSuns now have the Atlas III. So I wonder what will happen with the 8-D version and whether it will continue to be produced.

I don't know how to feel about the design. I am not that big of a fan of the Light-PPC. And with a RAC/5 already on the design. I don't think doing more 5 point damage clusters is what is needed. It kind of makes it a design for finishing off 'Mechs or killing light stuff. But it isn't really fast enough to kill light stuff, unless they were forced into a bad position.

But the thing about assaults is that you don't use them to singly kill anything- they're too slow. Assaults do best when you use them as supporters for your faster heavies.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #53 on: 26 March 2014, 11:18:32 »
Most assaults are too slow, though you do have a point. The Atlas 8-D does feel like a finisher to me, something that can easily kill off targets that were badly damaged by the cavalry units, freeing them up to move on to new targets. This makes me like it more actually, since it irritates me how too many people expect all 80-ton-plus units to fit themselves firmly in the role of line-of-battle smasher, denying any assault that tries to be as flexible as their lighter brethren or that fills any other role. Assault is both a weight class and a role, and a unit that fits in one category does not always have to belong in the other as well.
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cold1

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #54 on: 26 March 2014, 11:35:10 »
Most assaults are too slow, though you do have a point. The Atlas 8-D does feel like a finisher to me, something that can easily kill off targets that were badly damaged by the cavalry units, freeing them up to move on to new targets. This makes me like it more actually, since it irritates me how too many people expect all 80-ton-plus units to fit themselves firmly in the role of line-of-battle smasher, denying any assault that tries to be as flexible as their lighter brethren or that fills any other role. Assault is both a weight class and a role, and a unit that fits in one category does not always have to belong in the other as well.

You mean a Gargoyle and an Atlas don't both do the same thing??? :D

Very good point.  100 tonners with long range weapons that move 4/6/x can be hunter killers of anything 5/8 or slower.  The Scylla is the first one that come to mind (I have a weird love for the thing).  It can dance with a 5/8 heavy and dish out damage while being up armored enough to take hits.

3/5 mechs are designed to hold or take hard targets or turf.


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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #55 on: 26 March 2014, 12:49:18 »
3/5 mechs are designed to hold or take hard targets or turf.

Many are. That's still far to broad a generalization to make about all 'mechs of that speed curve without seeing the rest of a given unit's stats.
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garhkal

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #56 on: 26 March 2014, 13:41:31 »
Personally i rather my atlas stay at 3/5 for the NO XL engine issue.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #57 on: 26 March 2014, 15:30:52 »
Many are. That's still far to broad a generalization to make about all 'mechs of that speed curve without seeing the rest of a given unit's stats.

Or the heat curve, which has been a problem with many 3050+ Atlas models.  Armor, yes.  Guns, yes.  Heat sinks, not so much.

Personally i rather my atlas stay at 3/5 for the NO XL engine issue.

That would also likely solve the Atlas problem of too many guns and not enough heat sinks.  If weight savings from the engines aren't there, the guns are likely going to suffer.  I'm not overly harsh on a 400XL engine because it can cram in more heat sinks without crit space, and as stated, gives it a little more flexibility.  Not to mention the 4/6 threashold over the 3/5.  Worlds away in performance.  The trouble with the K2-4 series is that the primary problem weapons- the lasers and PPCs still exist.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #58 on: 26 March 2014, 17:33:25 »
Or the heat curve, which has been a problem with many 3050+ Atlas models.  Armor, yes.  Guns, yes.  Heat sinks, not so much.

That would also likely solve the Atlas problem of too many guns and not enough heat sinks.  If weight savings from the engines aren't there, the guns are likely going to suffer.  I'm not overly harsh on a 400XL engine because it can cram in more heat sinks without crit space, and as stated, gives it a little more flexibility.  Not to mention the 4/6 threashold over the 3/5.  Worlds away in performance.  The trouble with the K2-4 series is that the primary problem weapons- the lasers and PPCs still exist.
The first round of post-3050 Atlases, the AS7-K, AS7-C and AS7-CM and simply switch to using DHS and solve that problem

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: AS*-* Atlas
« Reply #59 on: 26 March 2014, 18:38:47 »
Now can you solve the issue without resorting to a custom?
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