Rogatien Merc
Red Star.
EoN.
1065
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Posted - 2013.09.07 18:43:00 -
[1] - Quote
Ugh... to really answer this would require more knowledge about your playstyle bro. So I'll just spew some ranty commentary on the two minmatar medium frames and hope that helps. The easy one to answer is that yes, active scanners are here to stay.
As far as where to spec next man. Dude, that's up in the air. It'd be really easy to guide you on your way, EXCEPT that you've stated a preference for Minmatar (understandable) due to New Edenisms. I'd personally tell you to go Cal Assault or Cal Logi if you want to play a frontline combat role (yes, even now...) because at proto level it is easier to fit and has a more balanced slot layout.
Personally, I find the proto Min Assault only truly excels as a special weapons platform... Swarms, Plasma Canon, Tac AR, Combat Sniper... anything with a light weapon that has a specific engagement area and really leans on having a solid sidearm to compensate in areas in which the main weapon is weak (mostly close-range anti-infantry). The speed of the suit also helps you reach the light weapon's desirable engagement area (i.e. chase tanks or kite infantry). Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of AR or shotgun min assaults that would disagree with me, but I feel you can do those things better on another suit. The Min Assault bonus screams "Proto SMG FTW!!!!" but... it's honestly a complete and utter beast to fit. You have crappy shield recharge (i.e. normal compared to Cal Assault... /drool) and with only 2 low slots at proto your only option is to shield tank with a CPU mod in a low and hopefully you can fit a basic or std reactive plate in that second low. Let me repeat... Min Assault is a complete and utter ***** to fit appropriately at the proto level.
Not to mention that the shield tanked min assault is at an even greater disadvantage now that ARs are hitting like sledgehammers now (more damage to shield) and lasers are back to their Caldari-eating ways combined with the fact that the strafe speed nerfs combined with new aim assist mechanics completely undermine traditional speed tanking.
All that said, with a little push and pull in your other slots and proper basic fitting skils you should definitely be able to fit an A-45 Quantum active scanner (probably all you'll ever need) on a minmatar assault. If you stick to a classic AR style play, I'd recommend pumping AR proficiency II as well as relatively high ammo skills a bit earlier than you normally would (pre-1.4), as well as pushing sidearm of choice (hint... SMG ... not that I'm biased lol) into proficiency II and similar Ammo skills and learn to balance usage of the two weapons (i.e. if you're in CQC against an armor heavy target, switch to your SMG to conserve AR ammo). The point being that if you can pump out more damage per bullet, and carry more bullets, you can compensate for lack of a personal nanohive. I'm also a huge fan of the Tac AR / SMG combo in which case ammo will never be a problem until you're going >15-0 kill streaks on a regular basis.
(((Note: At the advanced level the min assault has the same slot layout as the caldari assault and is quite decent; I again use it as a special weapons platform, but the caldari assault doesn't outshine the minmatar assault nearly as much at the advanced level due to identical slot layout and you can throw a Gek on there and feel good about it.)))
So, the Min Logi..... Bro... your job is definitely not to be on the front line in this thing, so if front line is where you like to be, move along. This thing is all about versatility, and it is ******* awesome at being versatile. The 4/4/4 slot layout is ******* amazing as it allows you to set up running fits as well as dual tanked combat support fits. Later in life when you get into team play you will be highly valued for your ability to combine speed, fast hacking, and the ability to utilize the max 4 equipment slots. You have limited killing power (no sidearm, only 4 high slots (so limited ability to stack damage mods), and low base HP. But if you don't mind being a bit more squishy, this is a great suit that you can use for lots of things. Basic benefit is that you can dual tank as well as carry scanner, personal hives, uplinks, and a 4th equipment slot to-be-named-later so you don't have to worry about AR ammo. Basic drawback is that you are limited to one weapon.
Basically dude, whatever suit you spec into, as long as you go in with your eyes open and understand that EVERY suit has benefits and drawbacks and learn to play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses, then you can't go wrong as long as you're having fun. Pretty much every suit in the game is viable if you are open minded. Don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole kind of thing (i.e. AR scouts on the frontline die a lot... lol), but other than that, go to it. If you love Minmatar, play Minmatar. If you don't really care about race, then yeah... Amarr Logi is looking more and more tasty these days... |