That mission still giving me problems on AC4A...
Aside from that, I've been playing Dead Rising. One Guy, over 52,000 zombies, a mall, and almost everything is a weapon? How can you go wrong?
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Well, in the classic AC style, a lacking ability to dodge led me to building tank units that usually included wielding a Bazooka in one arm and a Howitzer in the other, with the Extension to disable my enemy's Lock-On.
However, the new control setup for AC4 and AC4A (Also referred to as Armored Core For Answer on the front of the box, but everything else says 4Answer) has a Quick Boost ability, making dodging not only feasible, but easy for most AC pilots. And do utilize fine tuning and stabilizers. But, back to the question, considering this new ability to dodge, I ditched the tank design and usually use a Medium Biped unit that comes from a hodgepodge of Corporations to optimize Speed, Maneuverability, and AP. The weaponry varies on the mission, from a laser-plasma combo to full-out chainguns. One such AC, Rapidfire, wields two machine guns and both back weapons are chainguns. I later altered Rapidfire into Gatlingfire, and made it into a tank unit (in the new control system is the ability to "skate" your AC, and you can skate tanks as well) that has one Gatling Gun on each arm and one on each shoulder.
I also have a medium-light unit known as Reaper that has several weapon variants. The first one had a Machine Gun and a high-impact Kojima blade that was devastating at close range. The second has two of these Kojima Blades, but the blades are not a fan of using a Lock-On, making it hard to hit a target without the Proper FCS equipped. The third Reaper unit has two Moonblades, and an FCS specifically designed for blade use. All of these Reaper units and some of my other unit variants have added side boosters for extra sideways dodging ability for the quick boost and an extra back booster for the back equipment for an added forward thrust and quick boost.
I do have other units I threw together, but they aren't readily in my memory.
Once you get AC4A and you get to the "Defeat Stigro" Mission, my suggestion is to make a gatling-based AC, start the mission, don't move and let Stigro come to you. As it gets closer, open fire and just let the bullets fly. Stigro is large enough that you can actually shoot before it is in range and still hit it. You will, however, have to thrust vertically as you are firing and Stigro gets closer, but in all actuality, if done correctly, Stigro will be destroyed before it even gets all the way to you and you will have an easy S.
Fans of Mobile Suit Gundam will recognize that, besides the name, the design of the Stigro shows much tribute to the Principality of Zeon. The name, I refer to the space unit Bygro, and its appearance reminded me somewhat of the Big Zam, as did the weaponry.
Here is an interesting article about AC4A, and i must say that I would rather have that cover. Also, there is an artist sketch of Stigro that can be clicked on for enlargement purposes. When you first see it, you are doing a mission...I think for Interior Union...you are just destroying everything and I was wondering who took tech from Zeon. Then actually fighting it later on and it comes at you head on...
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/08/draft_column_robotochan_armore.phpYour asking my Core preference wasn't really off topic, it is Video Game related, my slight Gundam tangent however, was.