08-14-2016, 10:24 AM
(08-14-2016, 09:52 AM)Shaadaris Wrote:(08-14-2016, 08:36 AM)Surge Wrote: [stats
Apparently I'm pretty good with these things.
Which is weird since they're one of if not the worst light mech in the game.
[meme]
Guess I'll stick with what I know.
Tiers are just statistics. If you're good with something you can do well with it.
I mean unless it's actually useless. Then maybe not.
You know this means?
This means I gotta explain why these 'mechs have such a reputation.
The PNT-10P is the worst of the worst here, being the only Panther with no energy hardpoints, it instead has 2 ballistic hardpoints, too few for machine guns, but a 35 ton frame won't mount many ballistics when the next lightest one is 6 tons before the engine to shift this thing, ammo for the guns, and armor plating. It's in an awkward spot where it simply is too small for the kind of weapons it carries, you can either push the envelope and have a halfway respectable gun but a middling engine as I have, which is dodgy in a weight class where speed is life, or you'll be horribly gimped on firepower and/or ammo. However it has quirks that augment its abilities in rather dramatic fashion, including thicker armor across the board for no additional tonnage, 25% faster autocannon rate of fire, and 10% longer missile range.
Technically speaking the rest of the Panthers are mostly identical, energy hardpoints in one arm and center torso missiles, so let's start with what's wrong about that setup itself. Having all your eggs in one basket in a unit as comaprtmentalized as a 'mech is bad for reasons that become rather obvious the first time somebody amputates your right arm, and the center torso is a less than ideal spot for weapons in the first place, as your engine has the lion's share of space inside it, and you'll never find room for more than 2 very small weapons or 1 medium sized weapon. Anything that could be described as "bulky" is right out, which actually rules out virtually all autocannons and the vast majority of missiles, so the Panthers are limited to small racks of missiles. The arm also has the issue of being very low slung, peeking over a hill and trying to shoot an enemy only to find your lasers hitting the dirt in front of you is never fun, so Panthers are forced to fight around corners and on relatively open ground. Anyways the PNT-8Z is well suited to being a long range sniper with its quirks, and honestly of all the Panthers it is probably the best one at what it does, packed to the gills with heatsinks and reasonably agile it is an excellent harasser, but will very rarely actually threaten anything that corners it due to a very low damage output.
The PNT-9R is a bit more versatile, with quirks that leave a lot of doors open, allowing it to run long range lasers, PPCs, short range lasers, LRMs, SRMs, whatever the pilot finds prudent. Of course that kind of versatility has a price tag, being that the 9R doesn't feel exceptionally good at anything while having all of the same issues that are inherent in the chassis.
The PNT-10K is the newest addition to my collection and I'm not sure I'm quite qualified to comment on it yet, but it lends itself towards PPCs, which clash rather dramatically with SRMs, and demand such additional tonnage in heat sinks that LRMs are pretty infeasible, so the 10K's missile quirks are basically wasted. PPCs generate A LOT of heat, overloading your heat sinks and being forced to shut down in the middle of a warzone is kind of a shitty way to go, and low slung weapon mounts have never lent themselves well to snipers.
http://ask.fm/Surge753
I answer questions. snark provided free of charge.
Most hated member of the nexus, irritation and/or ragequit guaranteed or your money back.
"IF I DO NOT RETURN INFORM MY HUMAN COHABITANTS THAT I FEEL STRONGLY FOR THEM"
I answer questions. snark provided free of charge.
Most hated member of the nexus, irritation and/or ragequit guaranteed or your money back.
"IF I DO NOT RETURN INFORM MY HUMAN COHABITANTS THAT I FEEL STRONGLY FOR THEM"