I hadn't used the Mauler in quite some time, and decided I'd have a whack at it. I entered the Mechlab, made a variant, ditched all stock weaponry, set the armor to FF, and stacked up on 2 ER Large Lasers, 2 Clan Gauss Rifles, 2 Clan LRM 20s, an AMS and used the rest to beef up torso armor after stripping the head of it's armor.

I then grouped the weapons as the following;

Group 1: ER Large Lasers
Group 2: Clan LRM20s
Group 3: Clan Gauss Rifles
Group 4: ER Large Lasers and Clan Gauss Rifles

Okay, saved and ready to go.

Dump-tee-doo, I jump on a server, get on an undermanned team, and fired away at the first and best that came my way; A Nova Cat packing 7 ERLLs. Poom, one full shot in the central torso with the large lasers and gaussies and it goes orange. He fired back with a semi miss, only partially burning one of my side torso sections into yellow. Lock on, missiles away into his guts. Poom, more large lasers. Another poom, and the gaussies finish him off. Done. 4 minutes left of the battle. No more kills, but I racked up 1500 in pure damage outlet against the enemy, and I was only killed once (The same Nova dude charged into me, proving that they aren't just good for sniping).

It was a desert map, but it was an NH/UA server, so all went well heatwise. Tests later in a desert mission, however, proved that with some thinking and correct use of coolant had this become and amazingly effective 'mech. I mean, yeah, the weapon ports are still low, but... The Mauler doesn't suck. At all. I didn't even find it particularily hard to use, I felt it was better than the other assaults in Vengeance. Ammo might be a problem unless it's an UA server, but still... It was amazingly effective for an unboat and a 'mech with so "many" inherent "flaws"... The only problem would be that the missile ports are to low for the design, and that the racks and side torsos are one piece. They were apparently separated in the Mek Tek paks, though, further enhancing the deadliness.

But in all honesty... You wouldn't truly need it. Not the expansion of the arm slots, either. 16 hard points may be less than the rest, but this experiment was still awfully successful all in all. The Mauler... Nutkicker if configured and used correctly. A puretech one would obviously be weaker, but could also be arranged for much longer range to counter this. IS LRMs are to heavy, throw them out, exchange the Clan Gauss Rifles for either IS Gauss Rifles or IS Light Gauss Rifles for the range. Finally, the ER Large Lasers are replaced by standard Large Lasers. If you feel like it, throw in some IS SRMs, the pinnacle of suck unless stuck in another 'Mech, and you have weapons for all ranges.

"OMG UR USIN A MULER U SUX U NUB". That statement was yelled at me the first few times I used a Mauler a while back. I just proved otherwise; Even if you are a mediocre pilot at best, like me, all you need is a good tactic for using weapon groups. Even if you tend to hit the wrong buttons sometimes when group firing, like me, you can still rely on the Mauler due to it's diversity and options thereof.

"Be a rebel; Use a Mauler!" is my new motto.

[/end shameless promotion of underdog]

I like it! I like it! Now come up with use for the Warhammer!

THUNDERBOLT

Sadly, I can't do that quite yet, as I don't have Mercs and cannot install the Mek Pak until I get to pick it all up at my cousin's place. Which is pretty much on the other side of the country...

But once I get a chance, I'll give it a try. "Underdogs R Me", you know.

As an example, the Chimera can be given a role similar to that of a Hollander, but with a Thunderbolt missile instead, backed up with a small laser or something of the sort...

From the reading I have done here nobody likes the Thanatos, but I have a config for that one packing Thunderbolt missiles and an LBX10...it's nasty since I just ran around slamming T-bolts into people at close range and backing that with the LBX...kind of like a really big harrasser...


THUNDER..

And no it wasn't where I got my name...it was just all my "first choices" were taken and I was getting desperate and it just popped in there!

Hmmm... The Thanny is an interesting 'Mech.

It's very capable in the right hands, that's for sure, but as with the Mauler you need to use groups and such very efficiently, but still staying to what is simple.

I'll look into finding a solid configuration for it.

Not true. You should see Spiff or Gwyd drive a Thanny! I'll drive a Thanny too but I like mine for close up work. CLBX20's and Hvy Med Lasers.

Triple Light Gauss Thanatos. 1200m ownage. Or three RAC2s + 1 ton of ammo a pop, and a LXPL. Also ownage.

Maule can do the same thing. 2 RAC2s, 2 AC2s, and 2 LXPL. Kalie and I used to drive them all the time. And if you wanted something with a bit more punch but less range, you could go with 2 RAC5s, 2 AC5s, and 1 LXPL.

I also had a brawler variant, that I can't remember at the moment. It worked a lot better before they gave the MRMs a lock though (and thus decreasing the damage they did). Being able to whip around and fire a handful of LBX, MRMs and Medium Lasers as you run between cover was handy (I guess you can get the general variant from that, it was puretech mind).

Dude, the Mauler sucks. I hate to burst your bubble. The Thanny's a great mech...makes an awesome mid-range puncher. HGauss and 2 LLs, plus an LGauss or AC10 (pick your posion...LR harassing or more of mid range thwack) and you can lay some serious beatdown with good cover. Always use the 360 torso to your advantage. That's a trait not many mechs on the field will have, so make good use of it. Always always always take ECM, and don't forget to strip your right arm.

Current favorite Thanny is a midrange brawler - 2RAC5, CUAC10, 2CHML.

I stand corrected! There are Thanny enthusiasts here!

If you'd hate to burst it, you wouldn't have attempted to burst it in the first place. Not that it even got a dent...



Now the grand question is; Are there any MAULER enthusiasts here?

Can't say I've driven them much, but I do have a soft spot for them. My taste is closer to the Zeus end of the underused Mech spectrum, though.

I have one Mauler config that I I rather like...uh, gee it too has Thunderbolt missiles...hrrmmm...maybe I am becomming obsessed? I promise I pikced the name I use from two of my favorite Aircraft, the WWII Thunderbolt and the Fairchild Thunderbolt II tank killer...NOT the missile from MW4. The mauler config (Thundermauler) ws very hard to kill last time I took it out. Slow though.

TBOLT

Zeus can be a good underdog too. HGauss , some LBX, couple of MLs and SSRMs and you can get around seriously surprising some people. "Zeus? Pfft!" *cralackacralackaboom* "Waaaah!"

Woohoohoohoo, can't wait to pick up my MW4 stuff from my cousin, install it with Mek Pak 3, and start giving all the new 'mechs a spin.

The Zeus and Hunchback IIC especially.

Zues with a Heavy Gauss and 3 Heavy Large Lasers. It's a hotter-running Sunder, but it hits like a beast.

Now that Zephyr is on hiatus for a bit, the answer is no, there aren't really.

I pulled out a Zeus a few times in MP, a few months ago when I actually had a connection that would support it. Did pretty well, not more than 2 kills though. IIRC, I was using 2 ISPPC 1 CGauss 2 CLRM15.

Zephyr, Kalie, and I drove them all the time.

Yeah but you were'nt enthusiasts. You and the Ryo though......

Ryoken > All. Yes.

Ryo leg + LBX 20 = Tasty.

Add a Gnosis marinade for that satisfying piquancy.....

You never got close enough to LBX my Ryoken.

Nope, you always had somebody else take the bullets for you. My personal favorite underdog, though, was the Hellspawn. It was an almost universally useless 'Mech, and you had to give up heat managment or mobility just to put out any real damage. Add to that that you had to stay exposed while using low-damage fast-recycle weapons to make a dent, and you're basically talking about a deathtrap. I still used it from time to time though, but almost exculively as an Arrow IV carrier.

Dude, the Hellspawn is THE ultimate annoying mech. With an A4C and ECM, I could plug people in the back all game long and no one would ever see me. Don't end up with much of a score, but everyone hates you. And that's all that matters.

Annoying, yes. Useful? Not if your opponent keeps his focus. If we're talking undervalued-but-useful, you know my vote goes to the Puma. In terms of damage output to weight, it really is unrivaled, save perhaps by the Urbies. Only when you factor in its low speed and unflattering target profile does it start to look unattractive, but unlike the Urbies its handicaps are not so severe as to make it utterly useless.

The Puma required rugged terrain to be useful. Dirt armor was all that could save it in a firefight; the best technique, in my experience was to load up and hard-hitting, long recycle weapons and stay behind cover until they were ready to fire. Then you popped out, staggered your shots across the time you were exposed, and then went back to evasion. If you actually got hit, you were in trouble. I remember a time on Equinox when I went versus Haz in a Black Lanner and NGNG in a Hellhound. Not only was I outscoring them, but I was out-killing them, too. I'm still proud of that -- I was outperforming opponents who had a 3-to-1 wight advantage and more potent chassis than I.

Gah, that reminds me of the time I was 10-0 on Oilspill in a Puma, taking pot shots from under the bridge. Less than 30 seconds from the end of the game, Kalie DFAs me and kills me.

I was hazed in a puma.....it sucks

Actually not so. I was driving a Lanner on Lunacy and spent all game trying to get you exclusively. I had you legged and my LBX 20 was within 2 secs of recycling and then the game ended which was annoying.

My personal vote for underdog is, surprisingly enough given how much I used to drive it, the Raven. In it's niche, it's pretty much unassailable but in a straight fight, it's throw weight is pretty limited and all those electronics don't do much good inside 300 metres. That said it's just so much fun to drive and annoy the assault whores with that I used to drive it a lot before I lost my internet access. 3 streak 4's and a HML or ye olde zippo or the twin arty beacon infiltrator for mission play, especially if there's some one who calls you cheap on the other team, are fun to drive. But even against most other lights, the Raven is quite underpowered in terms of weaponry but to be honest, if you're going to make a go of piloting one, you've just got to not care and learn to Circle of Death and aim properly, skills that continue to elude me.

Oh, the Raven. It can be even worse than the Hellie. 3 LRM10s chainfired from 1000m makes people go insane.

I've seen Ravens put to good use... Not on their own, though, since they are support 'Mechs and not the best at dancing with Daishis, but coupled with a Vulture and a NARC you have a deadly combo. Raven rushes in, targets a Daishi, fires it's missiles, runs like hell whilst the Vulture starts chainfiring death on the poor old Dire Wolf.

Even better, TWO Vultures!

They are all but useless in Battle games, but can be invaluable in most team-oriented games if they carry a NARC and there are few or no places to hide for the bigger 'Mechs.

Raven was my first 'mech love. It could actually turn out to be a pretty nasty infighter. It was no contest against an LBX loaded Daishi or Hauptmann of course, but it could hold its own against pretty much anything. I always preferred to use it as a Harrasser than an Infighter (like the Wolfie) myself. The 360 degree torso twist really helped when dealing with poptarts, or other people hiding below hills. It served pretty well as a long range Harrasser with a handful of LRMS and an ERLPL too. One of my favorite rides on Oilspill.

Edit: For that matter, see if you can convince Ares to take the Demon Rat out for a spin. Guy is crazy in that thing.

A Raven? Are you kidding? I've taken out assaults and made entire lances of jumpsniping heavy mechs flee in panic with that mech!

The only true underdog I can think of is the Urbanmech, for obvious reasons. And even then, it's prowess as an city sniper isn't to be overlooked.

So, what have we learned from all this, kids?

We have learned that the 'Mech doesn't suck, it's either the pilot, the configuration or the server.

Or the Canadians.

Note to self: TK and Suicide on Sinitron every chance I get.

Note to all: NGNG TKs and suicides on everyone

Never said it was bad, I've taken out big mechs with it too (and great fun it was too), just that it doesn't carry much in the way of guns. It's the best mech to drive IMO, handles like a dream, it's just it does take a while to kill anything with it.

Sure, if you can wait a couple weeks so I can pick up my stuff from my cousin and get set up.

Plus, it won't be much different from the cracked vengeance I'm runnin' now anyways.

Also this; <- is deathly important. DEATHLY. IT'S THE GREEN MISTER!

Not necessarily. Being as it handles so well, it's quite easy to get to the susceptible rear-armor on most 'mechs. And it doesn't take much to chew through that. It's just difficult to get around other Light 'mechs and some of the faster turning mediums (IE: Shadow Cat and Hellhound).

Not true! Only on people I don't like, or are better than me.

Everyone?

Damn, beaten to the punch.

Siggy, I didn't say you said it was bad. I'm just stating that it isn't an under-dog mech. Actually, in my book, it's the second best light mech in the game.

Bah i browse the forums and see this.. a thread about crappy mechs and i havnt voiced my most awesome opinion on it.

the mauler is awesome. period. i havnt looked @ my configs lately to check this but the double uac20 is freakin sweat. hits like a brick wrapped in tinfoil on fire

Now onto other sucky mechs. Nothing beats a chimmy. EVER.

Stalker, pfft dont get me started it will beat the crud out of anything within 600m

Awesomes, are awesome

Catapult, o the possibilities

And remember unless your using puretech you are cheating.

:: wonders back to the mists::

I know it's a whole different world against people, but right now I still love my Shadowcat sniper and Bushwhacker sniper to death!

Thunder

Gonna start trying brawler configs soon so we'll see what happens when I drive an awesome for the first time.

Well any mech with me at the controls is automatically an underdog . I just think that stick it up against another light like say, an Uller, a Wolfy or a Cougar then it's too lightly armed with guns that'll actually hit and effectively damage another light mech. It's a strange thing but it seems to do better against big mechs, probably 'cos they can't turn fast enough to get it in their arc of fire and missiles will usually all hit the same spot on them. Anyway, I just think that against another light it's too lightly gunned (4 er meds against a Wolfys 9 or 1 ERL vs the 2 plus jets you can get on a Cougar or any of the above vs the CLBX 20 Uller). Anyway, perhaps you're right, in a normal battle game, it does just fine, possibly because of the preeminence of the pop tart and the assault whore who are easily outmanoevred. However, even a diehard Raven pilot like myself tends not to take it if the dreaded "3 lights" comes up in a MWL 3 v 3. The only person I've ever seen do that is Shin Kell who plays for Dark Rift, the ultimate Raven fangirl. Under most circumstances, the Raven is my favourite light but I have to say that if I'm fighting other lights, I'll take that Uller lurking in the corner please.

Speaking of the underdog though, what say people to the Brigand ? It's another mech I like driving and if I'm going to be DFAing then it's my ride of choice but I'm just curious to see.

Guts ?

After watching Schwing and Gnosis consistantly crush opposing, and sometime team mates, heads I'm going to have to say the Commando is the ultimate DFA mech.

Well, I still rather disagree. True, the Raven lacks much of the firepower expected from other light mechs, but then again firepower isn't everything.

First consider the Raven's profile. Short, and thin. Combined with it's speed, the proportions of the Raven make it astountingly difficult to hit. The Cougar, while mounting a better weapon hardpoints and jumpjets as you say, is essentially a deathtrap at close ranges because of those wide torsos, just as the Puma is. Which is why those mechs tend to focus on long range sniping attacks rather than close in brawling. Thus they are ill-suited to facing another light mech [or really any other mech] at close range. At spitting distance, Ravens will eat Cougars and Pumas alive.

Second, while the weapon bays of the Raven are smaller, the actual weapons they tend to accomodate are those deadly to other lightmechs. True, an Uller can mount an LB20x or even an Ultra 20 if you strip armor, but those single weapons aren't to be taken against a fast-moving target like a Raven. Your aim would have to be superior to hit even the average Raven pilot. These weapons also suffer from long reloading times, meaning that if you miss, you will have to wait several more crucial seconds before you can fire again. Whereas the Raven will be pounding you every other second with medium lasers to streak missiles which deteriorate your aim even more. Further, hard htting weaponry isn't really required to take down a lightmech. Highly accurate weapons with a high RoF will always have an advantage in this regard.

Thirdly, even if we ignore the weapon config superiority over the Uller, the Raven still has another advantage over that mech. Weapons placement. While the Uller may be able to mount heavier guns, those weapons are placed in the mech's arms, which are also rather large. These limbs are typically the first ones to be shot off, especially with the nature of streak missiles.

Lastly, the electronics the Raven sports are superior to every other lightmech. It has everything except jump jets and enhanced optics, neither of which would really help it's role of a brawler anyhow, particularly in a light mech battle. The advanced gyro along marks the mech as a superior design. As always, speed= life. Doing a face-plant into the dirt in mid-fight really hurts your chances of survival. The AMS also helps quite a bit, although other lightmechs also have this.

Because of these reasons, I rank Ravens only second to the Wolfhound at brawling, and even then only slightly, due to heat problems with WHounds in pitched light mech skirmishes.

Think we're going to have to agree to disagree here Sandy. I love my Raven and it has a great many advantages, as we both have said but I still feel that the lack of guns on it handicap it. Besides, it wasn't until Mektek started playing around with it in MP 3 that the Raven's slightly larger gun slot was put in the Torso. I've lost count of the amount of times that I've been left trying to kill stuff with a pair of Streak 4's because my HML and other Streak 4 launcher have been stripped. I haven't been really able to play with MP 3 due to computer death and other issues but I'd guess that that singularly annoying issue has been fixed at least partially. However, while I concede that there are bigger underdogs (Osi used for anything apart from "Gnosis style", Urbie, and there's got to be a few MP 3 mechs that I never got round to trying), I do feel that when I'm piloting a Raven against another light, I'm definately fighting an uphill struggle. Like I said though, any mech with me at the controls is automatically an underdog though.

I get the feeling I'm the only person in the world who loved the Puma.

I'd be inclined to tell you that's pretty likely...