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**Krellnus**

That's no good.

I think I played against him once back in closed beta, but that was forever ago.

Don't worry, when we get our phoenix we can drop together and show him what a true Mechwarrior is like

**Lynata**

Deal.

I've been playing with Deathshead a couple times - we should form a Dakka lance some day! Perhaps a specific day and a rough timeframe would help to coordinate this? No firm meeting, just a casual commitment to keep in mind that this is when other dakkanauts might play.

**Krellnus**

Well I finish this year's University stuff on Nov 21, so any time after then should be good to go.

**Ledabot**

Lynata wrote:
Man, for once I'm seeing Ledabot in the game, and on the enemy team even, and before my Jenner can get to him I'm getting focused by a dedicated Light-hunter Lance of another Jenner, a Commando, a Spider and a Streak-boating Quickdraw with a hi-speed engine and jumpjets.

Balls.

ah what? I didn't see you....

Was this today? we were running lights at one point and heavies at another.

**Col. Dash**

January release? Where did you get that? I read a week or two ago they were releasing the standard versions of pheonix a few days after Pheonix release. My issue with Pheonix is you cant pick your mechs. I think all of them are absolutely ugly and they should have named them something else. The two exceptions are the Saber package, the Wolverine and Griffin are pretty cool looking even if not looking like the originals. Unfortunately I cant get either of those without paying for some of the crappy looking mechs I dont like. At least Founders let you pick.

As for strategies I tend to favor long range sniper roles, primarily with ER Large Lasers and Gauss Rifles.

**Ledabot**

The phoenix mechs are being rolled out over the next few months is what I understand. You can get them now, or you can wait. The locust comes out along with the pack, but the shadow hawk is next month, the thunderbolt in December and the battlemaster arrives in January. The other two come after that I think but I don't know what order. This is to give the mech making team some time to get some clan mechs built and ready for the game for when they are released in 2014/soon.

edit: about the appeal, I really can't help you there, but the point of them is they are all really, really early mech designs that are all considered 'reseen'. That is, they are mechs that were 'borrowed' from other media, especially 70s and 80s anime. They are so popular because they really are childhood favorites of many of the older fans. I was a little hurt that you couldn't pick and choose your mechs, but it was very deliberate. If you wanted a battlemaster, which everyone did when 6ppcs was a good thing, you had to ether buy the overlord pack or wait till jan. This way they got a lot more money than if heaps just got one mech.

**Col. Dash**

Thats news to me. Last I heard all the Pheonix mechs were being released either on the 15th or the 17th of this coming week followed 2 days later by the standard non Pheonix versions for standard C-Bills or MC.

**LordofHats**

Posted my plans for the Shadowhawk earlier, but this is my current expectation for my Battlemaster. A nice brawler with something useful in a ranged fight. I also point out the interesting note that most mechs pack their heaviest weapons in the right arms (when they're not symmetrical) but the Battlemaster curiously uses puts them in the left. Interesting uses for lance coordination when corner peaking. Hopefully there's a variant that can mount that AC20 but dual AC5's have never failed me XD

Not quite sure what to do with the Thunderbolt. It has that huge hunch like the hunchback so an XL engine is a risky proposition. I'll probably use mine as a fire support mech; Thunderbolt.

The (P) Locust is just a Spider K with no JJ but it has a bonus on it so I'll probably keep it. Hopefully one of the Locust variants will be more interesting.

**Krellnus**

I like that Battlemaster loadout a lot, it looks like it will play like the 6 MLaser Stalker but trading some protection for some long ranged, rapid fire punch, but aren't UAC/5s lighter?

If so, might change and use the weight to up protection.

**LordofHats**

Krellnus wrote:
I like that Battlemaster loadout a lot, it looks like it will play like the 6 MLaser Stalker but trading some protection for some long ranged, rapid fire punch, but aren't UAC/5s lighter?

idk about lighter but I know they use more slots and I can't fit two of them into the arm.

**Krellnus**

Ahhh fair enough.

**LordofHats**

Almost there. Who's getting giddy?

**Krellnus**

I am, but I have to wait until I finish university tomorrow

**Deathshead420**

I cant wait to kill all the new mechs with my atlas tmoz.

**Soladrin**

Okay, anyone want to set a time to play today? Or give it a couple of days to get our load outs ready?

**Lynata**

Well, I'll certainly take a ride in my BATTLEMASTAH this very evening.

The standard configuration looks fun enough. I'll prolly just tinker a bit with upgrades, armour and heat sinks.

I just hope my training with Heavies over the past weeks has suitably prepared me for an Assault. I'm much more of a Light/Med pilot, usually.

Col. Dash wrote:Thats news to me. Last I heard all the Pheonix mechs were being released either on the 15th or the 17th of this coming week followed 2 days later by the standard non Pheonix versions for standard C-Bills or MC.

For those who do not Buy a Project Phoenix Package - The Standard Variants release schedule is currently set as:
Oct 15, 2013: Locust
Nov 20, 2013: Shadowhawk
Dec 18, 2013: Thunderbolt
Jan 22, 2014: Battlemaster
- http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/124078-project-phoenix-faqs/

I imagine the Sabre Reinforcement 'Mechs will become available in February and March, respectively.

**LordofHats**

I'll be on tonight. Username is the same as here.

**Krellnus**

Patch notes, check out what they did for the spider.

Servers will be coming down at 10AM PDT as per usual, we'll let you know when they return.

PATCHNOTES:

Greetings MechWarriors!

It’s an exciting day! Today we’re releasing pre-ordered content to all players who purchased Project Phoenix. You’re among the first to pilot these mean machines! Project Phoenix is still on sale for a limited time with an end-date to be announced soon. Moving forward, Project Phoenix packages will be delivered during the regular maintenance period following your order (typically Tuesdays and Fridays around 10am PDT). We’re already drooling over Sabre Reinforcements...

Phoenix Loyalty Rewards hit the third and final phase, which means you're getting extra goodies as a small token of our gratitude. Please note the "Flame" pattern has been renamed Hotrod. Project Phoenix Faction Medallions can be claimed by visiting your profile on the website and selecting your preferred medallions.

More about today’s patch:

Halloween items have arrived! Deck out your cockpit with some spooky business. I'm excited to pilot my BattleMaster with our raging Hotrod skin and a smiling pumpkin to keep me company.
We've been reading your feedback and have tweaked the end-of-round screen. We hope you'll find that it’s easier to read the breakdown with this revision. Bug fixes include a slew of map stuck bugs and visual issues, so be sure to check out those in the verbose notes below.

Our special thanks to everyone who continues to submit feedback and bug reports. We've seen posts from many players giving us their suggestions from all over our forums, tickets and social media and we can’t reiterate enough how much we appreciate your contributions.
And of course, a huge thanks to our Talon, Storm, Guardian, and Overlord owners for your overwhelming support.

Tonight we’ll be raising a glass to you… and then we’ll be blasting out your cockpit.

Content

New Mechs

Locust LCT-1V

Tonnage: 20
Engine: 160 Standard

Top Speed: 129.6 kph
Max Engine Rating: 190
Torso Movement:

130 degrees to each side.
20 degrees up and down.
Arm Movement:

0 degrees to each side.
60 degrees up and down.
Armor: 128 (Standard)
Internal Structure: Standard
Weapons & Equipment:

Left Arm: Machine Gun
Center Torso: Medium Laser
Right Arm: Machine Gun
Hardpoints:

Left Arm: 2 Ballistic
Center Torso: 1 Energy
Right Torso: 1 AMS
Right Arm: 2 Ballistic

Heat Sinks: 10 Single

Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)

ECM Capable?: No

Module Slots: 2
Movement Archetype: Tiny

Locust LCT-3M

Tonnage: 20
Engine: 160 Standard

Top Speed: 129.6 kph
Max Engine Rating: 190
Torso Movement:

130 degrees to each side.
20 degrees up and down.
Arm Movement:

0 degrees to each side.
60 degrees up and down.
Armor: 106 (Ferro-Fibrous)
Internal Structure: Endo Steel
Weapons & Equipment:

Left Arm: Small Laser x2, AMS
Left Torso: CASE
Center Torso: Medium Laser
Right Arm: Small Laser x2
Hardpoints:

Left Arm: 2 Energy, 1 AMS
Center Torso: 1 Energy
Right Torso: 1 AMS
Right Arm: 2 Energy

Heat Sinks: 10 Single

Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)

ECM Capable?: No

Module Slots: 2
Movement Archetype: Tiny

Locust LCT-3S

Tonnage: 20
Engine: 160 Standard

Top Speed: 129.6 kph
Max Engine Rating: 190
Torso Movement:

130 degrees to each side.
20 degrees up and down.
Arm Movement:

0 degrees to each side.
60 degrees up and down.
Armor: 88 (Ferro-Fibrous)
Internal Structure: Endo Steel
Weapons & Equipment:

Left Arm: Streak SRM 2
Left Torso: CASE
Center Torso: Medium Laser
Right Arm: Streak SRM 2
Hardpoints:

Left Arm: 2 Missile
Center Torso: 1 Energy
Right Torso: 1 AMS
Right Arm: 2 Missile

Heat Sinks: 10 Single

Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)

ECM Capable?: No

Module Slots: 2
Movement Archetype: Tiny

'Mech Customization:

Halloween Cockpit items.
New Hot Rod skin.

Gameplay

Light Mech Tuning

Commando COM-1B, -1D, -3A:

Increased maximum engine size to 240
Increased turning rate by 10%
Increased maximum reverse speed to 75% of forward speed
Commando COM-TDK:

Increased maximum engine size to 240
Raven RVN-2X, -4X:

Increased maximum engine size to 275
Increased turning rate by 10%
Spider SDR-5K, -5K©, -5V:

Increased maximum engine size to 285
Increased maximum reverse speed to 75% of forward speed

Weapons

Impact shake when being hit by the following weapons has been reduced:

AC/5, SRM/4,SSRM/2, LB10-X
Impact shake when being hit by the following weapons has been increased:

AC/20, AC/10
Airstrike damage per shell has been increased from 10 up to 40.
Artillery damage per shell has been increased from 10 up to 40.

Performance

Remade LODs for several 'Mechs

Bug Fixes

Atlas Founder head hitbox returned to normal size (left eye) for all weapon types.
Streak SRMs no longer target the Blackjack's center torso exclusively.
Fixed an issue where users could see out of world when using 3rd person near a vertical piece of terrain.
Moving the reticle away from a targeted 'Mech will decay the lock-on once again.
Fixed a slew of map stuck bugs and visual issues.
Fixed an issue where certain 'Mech components would return a wrong index when they were hit with a ballistic or missiles, this would result in dealing damage to the wrong component.
Fixed a few collision issues on the Trebuchet and Hunchback.

General

Updated the Match Summary screen for improved clarity & readability.
The First Victory of the Day XP reward is now calculated after Premium Time and `Mech bonuses are applied.

**LordofHats**

The locust is pretty damn fast for such a small engine. Damn fast. There's the reason to take it over the Spider.

**Lynata**

Airstrike damage per shell has been increased from 10 up to 40.
Artillery damage per shell has been increased from 10 up to 40.

Booya!

Spider SDR-5K, -5K©, -5V:
Increased maximum engine size to 285
Increased maximum reverse speed to 75% of forward speed

This is a joke, though, right?
Dammit, those little buggers are hard enough to ~~hit~~damage already!

How do you guys take on Spiders? With my lasers, I never know whether I'm supposed to aim straight onto what I want to hit, or lead them a bit. I am still very used to pre-HSR combat.

**LordofHats**

Servers are up. Time to patch.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sweet Baby Jesus in the Golden Dippers can the Battlemaster have a bigger center torso @_@ Bust out the XLs no reason not to take them.

In better news I looks like I was right. Dump the Centurions gents the Shadowhawk is here.

**Ledabot**

Finished maintenance! Patch knowing the connection down here will take 30min. Yay!

**Deathshead420**

Well Ive played 3 matches and its nothing but locusts and battlemasters.

I'm coining a phrase right now lolcust , you heard it here first.

**LordofHats**

Deathshead420 wrote:
Well Ive played 3 matches and its nothing but locusts and battlemasters.

People spamming mechs with massive center torso's you say? Still don't know how to torso twist you say? Oh it will be a good day

**The Dark Apostle**

What should my first bought mech be, I'm thinking catapult bit any ideas on weapons, only been playing for a few days and am yet to get a kill, but I could a few million C-bills so alls well and good.

**LordofHats**

The Dark Apostle wrote:
What should my first bought mech be, I'm thinking catapult bit any ideas on weapons, only been playing for a few days and am yet to get a kill, but I could a few million C-bills so alls well and good.

Your first 50 matches I believe reward a huge C-Bill bonus! My advice to you sir is to play all fifty on the trial mechs first build up your cash. By the end you should hopefully have enough to buy any mech you want.

LRM's in my personal opinion are gimped at the moment but the Catapult K2 is a well rounded machine, able to use a ballistics or an energy builds and its small side torsos make an XL a no brainer giving you a lot of flexibility with weight. I like my dual AC10 Catapult but it is tight on space. I've also seen Dual LBX10 flanker Catapults. With a large XL engine a heavily armed Catapult can move as fast as most of the mediums.

You could also make the Splat-Cat. A Catapult that forgoes LRM's to use a hoard of SRM's. It's a suicide mech really cause once you engage you're unlikely to last too long under fire but the ability to smash some poor Atlas, Jeager, or Cataphract with 20+ SRM's is a devestating strike.

The classic LRM builds are of course still open, but I find them hit or miss. Its really dependent on your team how well they work out and how much ECM the enemy team has.

**Lynata**

Well, if you've been playing for a few days, you gave all the four different weight classes a try by swapping through the Trial 'Mechs, yes?
Previous experience with one of those should be your primary indicator as to what type of 'Mech you're leaning towards.

Unfortunately, the Catapult wasn't in the Trial selection this month, which is a bit bad as missile support plays more differently from brawling than the difference between medium and heavy, but ... still, judging from your previous games, do you like to get "stuck in", or would you prefer staying in the back and just lobbing munitions at the enemy?

The Catapult is an excellent long range supporter as it is pretty much built specifically for this role. The K2 variant also makes for a bit of variety by switching the missile pods for a pair of enormous energy hardpoints - I've had a lot of fun playing it as a sort of tank destroyer with 2 Extended Range PPCs, backed up by twinlinked Machine Guns and Medium Pulse Lasers for some emergency brawling (rule #2 of artillery support: someone always breaks through the front lines).

Feel free to experiment a bit with this neat tool: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab
Equipment data can be found here: http://mwo.gamepedia.com/Category:Weapons

And if you have any questions, just ask.

**Anvildude**

I didn't know myself about the First 50 bonus- make sure to make good use of that, and go through all 50 before buying.

I skipped straight into Heavys as well, though I went Cataphract 4X and slapped 4 AC/5s on its arms- It essentially runs as a Rifleman. But there's a BIG difference in handling between all the four classes- definitely pay attention to that, and choose a Class before choosing a specific Mech, because there's guys that can handle most roles in all the different weight categories.

For instance, if you want Missile Boats, you can go with Trebuches in Medium, or Catapults, or Jaegers, or certain variants of Stalkers and even Atlases. I suppose you could even Missile Boat with a Commando or Jenner if you really wanted to. For sniping, you can mount an ERPPC or ERLL on pretty much anything. Everything has some sort of Energy hardpoint on it. All classes have Mechs with Ballistic hardpoints, and you can fit an AC/20 on a Raven (though I wouldn't suggest it).

**Gitzbitah**

Honestly, I don't believe any mech has had more playability for me than my first purchase- the venerable C1 catapult. It jumps, it has good speed, and a pretty respectable punch once the rockets are gone.

Unless it involves ballistics, the Catapult can do it and do it well. Triple LL is mighty satisfying, and even LRM5s from a Cat will make them run for cover.

**Krellnus**

Lynata wrote:

Spider SDR-5K, -5K©, -5V:
Increased maximum engine size to 285
Increased maximum reverse speed to 75% of forward speed
This is a joke, though, right?
Dammit, those little buggers are hard enough to ~~hit~~damage already!

How do you guys take on Spiders? With my lasers, I never know whether I'm supposed to aim straight onto what I want to hit, or lead them a bit. I am still very used to pre-HSR combat.

Nope! No joke, I think I will repaint my spider red and yellow because I'm loving it!

Generally taking on spiders, any light or medium that can move arms independently of the torso can just track the target most of the time, some heavies can too, like the dragon, everyone else (and ballistic weapons) have to lead.