14 replies to this topic

[Sdra]

Hi there!

The HBK-4P is the first Mech i bought and i really like it
The loadout ive been running with for months is this one:
http://mechromancer....0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0

For me this setup has just about the right mix of alpha strike, mobility and brawling power.

The other Mechs ive bought and tried were:

CPLT-A1 (feels kinda useless now)
CPLT-K2 (dual AC20 was fun for a while, now running 4LL)
CTF-4X (this one i liked the most with quad AC5)
RVN-2X (meh)

Of these only the CTF-4X came close to the "straightforwardness" the hunchie has.
You see, im a simple minded guy, i like a big alpha strike, i dont mid low heat eff much and im not a speed freak, just need enought kph to get out when i get in a bad spot (happens a lot).

Currently im saving up for a stalker and i intend to run it with 6LL or 4LL+ Streaks.
Can you imagine i would like the stalker? which variant do i get? I was looking at the 4N or the 3F, the only difference in the Stalker class seems to be the number of missile tubes, or am i missing something?

Any other Mechs out there that are as straightforward as the 4P?
Also im debating about buying a Xl engine to revive my CTF-4X, what do you think?

Hoping for suggestions as im a bit stuck with the 4P and cant find a mech that suits my taste.

Have a nice day!

Edited by Sdra, 17 April 2013 - 06:07 AM.

[Roughneck45]

Well if energy boating is your preferred playstyle, any of the stalkers will suit you fine with a LL set up.

You said you like speed to escape, the jenner F and a few cicadas can bring a ton of Mlas and speed.

The cataphract 1X can have a nice 5Mlas AC20 setup, which is pretty straight foward too.

[Jim Dean]

If you're going to go with a Stalker, i highly recommend the 3f. What sets it apart from the others is that it has a significantly greater range of torso twist, which will be valuable if you're setting up a brawler, which it seems that are. Also; I love my 3f a whole bunch. 10/10 would buy again.

[Sdra]

Jim Dean, on 17 April 2013 - 06:20 AM, said:

If you're going to go with a Stalker, i highly recommend the 3f. What sets it apart from the others is that it has a significantly greater range of torso twist, which will be valuable if you're setting up a brawler, which it seems that are. Also; I love my 3f a whole bunch. 10/10 would buy again.

Sweet, that is really good to know, since the game doesnt tell you these things.

[Dalziel Hasek Davion]

Stalker is a bit like a double pepperoni pizza - simple, strong flavours and is often hot. Of your requirements, the only one not met is the kph to escape from trouble. Stalkers rely on team-mates to avoid being flanked, isolated and taken down.

The 3F has a wider torso twist than the other variants and has an additional missile hardpoint compared to the 4N and so is more flexible. You can build strong and simple designs using this chassis. I currently run a 3F with 4xLL and 3xSRM4.

The 4N doesn't seem to offer anything more/different. Check out http://mwo.smurfy-ne...assault_stalker

The 5N offers a CT energy hardpoint, which is apparently good for survivability if you like running 5xenergy loadouts. The 5S has dual AMS, which may not be of much interest now, but if LRMs every come back into vogue, then it could offer some interesting builds.

[Wildstreak]

AWS-8Q if you can work with the limitations, you can do a AWS-9M all Energy too.
Death's Knell, SDR-5V, JR7-F, CDA-2A and 2B if you can handle the speed and Light Mechs.
For more, check here to find the ones with hardpoints you like.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/

[Koniving]

Sdra, on 17 April 2013 - 05:58 AM, said:

Hoping for suggestions as im a bit stuck with the 4P and cant find a mech that suits my taste.

Have a nice day!

Cataphract 1x. Here's a rig for ya. Exactly suiting your playstyle with the 4P. Faster and deadlier than the 4P, same concept.


Above is the light/medium hunter version. Below in text is the heavy/assault hunter version.
Alternative build with the same engine is 5 large lasers which gives you two strikes before you have to worry about cooling off. This has essentially replaced my 4P in laser boating. With either build it is very important to keep fast and mobile. Stop only if to line up shots with an AC/2 at super long range or to line up the 5 LLs onto someone's back. Play it just like your hunchback 4P but with less range for the MPL (but less time having to hold the aim) and more range for the LLs (but need to hold the lasers onto a specific body part until they quit).

Good luck!

(Also while trying to earn money to do this build since the engine is ungodly expensive... Here's something to spice up your 4P. Try my build on the left. STD 260 engine, 7 SPL, 2 ML.)
Vid in spoiler: Split Screen Hunchbacks!

Spoiler

Edited by Koniving, 17 April 2013 - 07:37 AM.

[Sdra]

well Koniving thx for the input, but i dont think your 1x is viable momentarily, since a) both of the new maps favor long range weapons and b) light and mediums seem to die out these days, i think i get the one odd raven every second match.

btw: pls dont tell me you own every single variant out there?

Edited by Sdra, 17 April 2013 - 07:46 AM.

[Roughneck45]

Sdra, on 17 April 2013 - 07:45 AM, said:

btw: pls dont tell me you own every single variant out there?

Ha! I'm sure he does, or he is pretty darn close, as are many others, myself included

Edited by Roughneck45, 17 April 2013 - 07:58 AM.

[Pastor Priest]

If you want a solid laser platform, the Stalker is hard to beat. But, as others have said, it is slow, so there is no running away from a situation.

A natural progression would be the 4SP, though the SRM nerd has hurt it a bit. If (when, I mean when) the properly balance SRMs, it will likely be a beast once more.

Other choices that might suit your style, if you want to stick with mediums, would be the Centurion AL or the Trebuchet 5N, both of which can be made faster than the 4P with similar armor, though fewer lasers.

Edited by Pastor Priest, 17 April 2013 - 09:22 AM.

[ElLocoMarko]

The Stalker may be slow but look at those side torsos. They can siphon off a great deal of damage that people intend to go to your center.

Run a standard engine and you can take a massive beating before you go down.

[Koniving]

Sdra, on 17 April 2013 - 07:45 AM, said:

well Koniving thx for the input, but i dont think your 1x is viable momentarily, since a) both of the new maps favor long range weapons and light and mediums seem to die out these days, i think i get the one odd raven every second match.

btw: pls dont tell me you own every single variant out there?

The 1x with medium pulse viable for conquest against the various lights (just aim for legs). The 5 large lasers is incredibly viable on assault. What you need to do is treat it like the 4P. Don't know if you charge people head on, but I flank around by myself or with a small team and take out the snipers and missile boats from their backsides, getting easy kills and moving on to the next victim. Targeting either legs or backs is the best way to go, although certain builds can obviously use a good shot to the side torso for an instant kill.

I now have 50 mech bays and 45 mechs. I buy, level up, and use every variant I can. Then I sell the ones I dislike.
For example of the Ravens I sold the 3-L. Kept the 2x and 4x (people just need to know how to use them; the 4x is my brawler which stands toe to toe against enemy Atlases and Stalkers with ease as well as assault mech escort and the 2x is my twin PPC semi-automatic sniper). The Raven 3-L isn't much fun or much use.

I confess I favor faster heavies and assaults, and slower lights.

An example of how I use the 4P in today's environment.
Skip to 1:00 for a close in map and skip to 2:25 for a large map.

Edited by Koniving, 17 April 2013 - 09:43 AM.

[Sdra]

Pastor Priest, on 17 April 2013 - 09:19 AM, said:

If you want a solid laser platform, the Stalker is hard to beat. But, as others have said, it is slow, so there is no running away from a situation.

A natural progression would be the 4SP, though the SRM nerd has hurt it a bit. If (when, I mean when) the properly balance SRMs, it will likely be a beast once more.

Other choices that might suit your style, if you want to stick with mediums, would be the Centurion AL or the Trebuchet 5N, both of which can be made faster than the 4P with similar armor, though fewer lasers.

all solid choices i guess, but then i just dont like how the centurion or the trebuchet look.
yeah i know, third person view will never make it into the game and im being silly

[Koniving]

That one I can solve for ya. (Edit: Sorry I thought you said you didn't know how they look.) Screenshots and/or close ups of various mechs. My shots were taken last night. Lordred's come from before this patch.

Trebuchet

Spoiler

Shot by Koniving


Proper (LRM) Trebuchet as shot by Lordred

Centurion

Spoiler

Centurion shot by Lordred of 4th place medium winner 7NationArmy


Yen Lo Wang as shot by Lordred.


Shot by Koniving

And for your entertainment, the Hunchback

Spoiler

Shot by Lordred.


Shot by Koniving

Edited by Koniving, 17 April 2013 - 10:29 AM.

[Splinters]

+1 for the Stalker 3F and it's torso twist range. before I had it setup as a LRM/ML boat, but nowadays the PPC + SSRMs is the most viable build. Mine currently runs 4 PPCs, 4SSRMs, and 2 MLs with a 260 standard engine.

I also agree about Koniving's 1X with MPLS, I fought one in a medium mech and quickly sought out that model when I went through my Cataphracts. I also ran the 4x LL version too which can do good damage against most targets.

-S

Edited by Splinters, 17 April 2013 - 10:40 AM.