MechWarrior 5 Beginner's Manual: Cataphract CTF-1X Mech Build

[@GitGudFox]

Signing in... you're accessing [Beginner Level] Training Manuals provided by Ronin Fox Armored Security ! Welcome MechWarrior! Personal Notes by Instructor Fox: "I had my doubts about this thing because it's kind of... odd looking, but the Capellans built a machine that is surprisingly useful in most situations. The look of it kind of grew on me over time, too. I think its best feature is how easy to use it is. 3 main weapon systems, no missiles to get jammed if you can't manage your spacing, and the inclusion of an autocannon provides some built in heat efficiency. It's a clever design. No surprise Liao built it. Cleverness and Liao go hand in hand." 🦊Join the Fox Republic🦊 💻KZbin VODs: www.youtube.com/@gitgudfoxvods 🎮Twitch: www.twitch.tv/gitgudfox ⌨Discord: discord.gg/GitGudFox 🎥Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@gitgudfox 📷Instagram: instagram.com/gitgudfox/ 🐤Twitter: twitter.com/GitGudFox 📘Facebook: facebook.com/GitGudFox

[@nicolasgodines1129]

The Cataphract was the direct inspiration for the Caesar, and for that reason it is one of the coolest Mechs in my book.

[@GitGudFox]

I had not heard of the Caesar until I read up on the history of the Cataphract. TRO3039 shed some interesting light on the subject such the left arm of the Cataphract originally belonging to a Shadow Hawk.

[@nicolasgodines1129]

@@GitGudFox Yeah, the Caesar is literally what happens when you take a Cataphract, put it through Davion R&D, and funded by Steiner money. Cannot wait until the Caesar miki drops in stores.

[@FrenziedRoach]

My man - first tuned into this channel for your State of Decay 2 content last year. Then, I picked this game up, found I liked the WHM-6R but felt it needed retooling and thusly rediscovered your content through that guide you posted. I've since gone on to use the central theme of most of these guides to retool several of my "problematic" Assault mechs I favor such as the Battlemaster, Highlander, and Cyclops. Thanks for being consistent with good information - it's helped me make mechs I like actually usable and not blow up in a stiff breeze.

[@GitGudFox]

That's why I like to teach the basics. I think it's important to learn the rocks and sticks and be certain that you know how to play the game before moving into lostech.

[@chubbydemon9696]

The slo-mo shot with the AC/5 is just beautiful. Chef's kiss with that shot Fox.

[@GitGudFox]

I wasn't going for such a perfect shot, but it happened!

[@thomasmckaig909]

Really liked the battle commentary. Gives a clear view of the roles the mech could take within an effective lance!

[@GitGudFox]

Thank you, I'm looking forwards to getting back into it in September with the new DLC too!

[@Str4ng3F0lk]

Love this style!

[@GitGudFox]

Thank you! I'm glad the extra effort is paying off. I'm hoping to help get a few more new players to keep trying the game rather than quit if they're confused.

[@karma99]

That's a damn good format, very immersive.

[@GitGudFox]

I'm glad you like it! It takes a lot more work, so I'm always worried the extra work is in vain.

[@bdavid3965]

delivered like a newscaster. great idea. great tips & info

[@GitGudFox]

Thank you! This is a Mech I didn't give much of a chance until recent times.

[@fracturedkoi1]

Really enjoying watching these videos. You’ve put a lot of effort into lore and that’s fantastic. Have you ever considered doing a breakdown of the worst/best mechs in the game/universe? I know it would be fairly subjective, but it could be a fun watch!

[@GitGudFox]

I appreciate that. I wouldn't mind doing a video like that, but I do pride myself on having an educated perspective on things. Not necessarily a 100% correct perspective but I don't like to assume very much. I'd prefer to not talk about something at all rather than pretend I know what I'm talking about. To that end, I don't want to talk about the "best and worst" Mechs until I've actually sat down and tried them all for a reasonable amount of time. That's what my Mech exploration streams are all about.

[@JosephHeller-el8zo]

I have a Cataphract in storage and now, thanks to you, I have a use for it!

[@GitGudFox]

You can build it even more aggressively in close combat with PPC-X now too. It's quite a dangerous Mech with PPC-X.

[@JosephHeller-el8zo]

Okay, I took my CTF-1X that I got from the Tikonov campaign and put a PPC X in the right arm, 4 Med lasers (SB) and I placed a Heavy Rifle in the large Ballistic slot, along with 2 tons of ammo… Ho…Lee…crap! I can core most mechs in 1-2 salvos. I was able to max out the armor too so my CTF has staying power. My mouse only has 3 buttons on it so I rigged the H Rifle to fire when I use the mechs arm attacks. I figure if I need to punch a mech then drilling it with a H Rifle round is a bonus!

[@JosephHeller-el8zo]

Correction: I had to shave some armor off the legs and head. But it is mostly maxed out.

[@undauntedExpounder]

I loved this guide!! Reminds me a bit of how the Vulgan approaches the SCP archives, complete with immersive script ❤ Keep up the great work Fox!

[@GitGudFox]

Thank you very much! The Volgun is actually what I used as a model for these kinds of videos because I wanted it to feel like you're in the game universe instead of just watching a KZbin video. I figured the style could be adapted to anything that is of a serious nature and is presented as a entry list.

[@rclogan5524]

Let the mech boot camp continue 😍

[@GitGudFox]

This one was fun. The Cataphract is a Mech I was sleeping on.

[@xSpiritBorn]

I will be honest, when you stopped covering SOD2, I was a little salty. Just because it was you're content and guides that got me into the game and since had played every part of it! I kept seeing videos show up for MechWarrior 5 and thought "no not for me thanks".....and then one day started playing it on Gamepass thinking "I'll give it a shot". Since then I've put over 60 hours in and have been binging and enjoying all you're MechWarrior content (inc the VOD's from Twitch). I got all the DLC and am completely addicted to it! Even bought the board game. The only thing I couldn't find was a playlist for Hero's Of The Inner Sphere, but I went back through you're videos and found them all, and put them in a playlist. Thanks, if not for you persistently putting out MechWarrior content, I would had never started playing! 👊🦊✌️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GitGudFox]

My channel was always supposed to be about more complicated than average games. I chose SoD2 as something easy to start with because it wasn't an extremely in depth game, and I felt like I could break it down and handle it easily. Playing games that require a great deal of in depth understanding is what I wanted to focus on though.

[@xSpiritBorn]

@@GitGudFox Yeah I get hyperfocused on new things and when I start a new game that's super in depth and complex, I plug myself into all and every bit of information I can find. Sometimes I will start a new game and spend more time learning about everything than I do play it. Wasteland 2 and 3 was a prime example of this! I actually love tactical and/or ARPG's, so have no idea why I haven't come across BattleTech before. Keep up the content, love it. 👊🦊✌️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GitGudFox]

@@xSpiritBorn Join my Discord if you want to be a part of my BattleTech/MechWarrior 5 community. I ran a full 4 player co-op game the other night. discord.gg/ecEdKGam

[@noahtstapp]

CTF-1X is my personnel favorite Cataphract variant because of it's hardpoints

[@GitGudFox]

I like it a lot myself. It's too bad that the designs were stymied by the Federated Suns. This Mech could have essentially become a 70-ton Hunchback or Centurion where there's enough variants of it to fit most roles.

[@okensoni7466]

Dig'in the new format.... keep up the good work

[@GitGudFox]

It's a pleasure as always Okens!

[@ProxMackintosh]

Ahh the Frankenstein, been waiting for this one to come out Fox!

[@GitGudFox]

It is of Chinese design too.

[@bjack1547]

I had always disliked this Cappellan mutt but I finally tried it and it’s really fun.

[@GitGudFox]

It's an interesting piece of history since it was designed out of what you had available rather than having the luxury of a ground up new model. The Caps were playing Survival Crafting this time around. It also gives you respect for 4 medium lasers.

[@strambo4386]

Wish the actual game has similar narration, would be so atmospheric

[@GitGudFox]

That's part of why I decided to take this more serious route. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, but it seems people like it. Won't stop me from analyzing my voice and adapting it though.

[@strambo4386]

@@GitGudFox no it's for sure the right vibe and feel for the setting and makes the mission clips very immersive

[@treygreypaws3689]

#Uglygang is here!!

[@GitGudFox]

Welcome back good sir!

[@mikealpha2611]

I tend to prefer using a heavy rifle instead. Far less dps but the heavy rifle preforms similar to the gauss rifle while being the same weight as the ac5. The Rifle is normally better since your AI pilots splash damage the high pinpoint is more likely to cause a crippling blow.

[@GitGudFox]

I typically don't like using Heavy Rifle unless it's in at least groups of 2. Their damage is very low if you can't breach the armor in 1 shot, half the overall damage of an AC5.

[@mikealpha2611]

@GitGudFox I have only used a mk4 or better heavy rifle as a sub. The upside is that when you give them to your AI pilot they will get one shots or limb many meds and lights. For me personally I agree heavy rifle best in a pair. Of course best use for them is the Anni gives it great range and 1 tap potential so if you have that then save them for that mech.

[@mikeumm]

Major weakness, pilots keep getting flambéd in their cockpits by my PPCs.

[@GitGudFox]

Enemies don't really aim at the head, so I don't consider it a weakness unless the Mech has an unusual tendency to be headshot, but this Mech doesn't, so it shouldn't affect it in the slightest.

[@mikeumm]

@@GitGudFox I know they don't focus on cockpits. But but like Rifleman, and the Black Knight its cockpit does protrude and makes a nice target for the AI, even if inadvertent. Ask my dead Rifleman pilot that got sniped 3 mins into an engagement. He was good too. Sold that mech promptly afterwards. Haha. And for RP purposes you won't catch me in one.

[@GitGudFox]

I haven't had an issue with those models. I have been headshot out of a King Crab, and I have lost head armor on an Archer, but at the same time, it still doesn't happen too often. Sometimes we remember negative events more strongly where it becomes overrepresented in our minds. I'll pay attention when I get around to reviewing the Rifleman.

[@mikeumm]

@@GitGudFox I was mostly just making a joke. But... when you're consistently frying pilots of certain mechs from almost a click out... you become hesitant to pilot it yourself.

[@GitGudFox]

Well, I pick up a lot of interesting information from my community, and if you notice a headshot hazard on a particular model, I'm going to make a note of that.