10 replies to this topic

[Zarvis]

I know there are many Hunchback 4G haters out there and I understand 4H is clearly better when you are using AC20 or any single big gun as your main weapon, with its additional energy hard points. But I wanted to give the 4G a chance since it's my first mech.

So here is the build:

200 Standard (64.9kph)
DHS 10
Endo Steel - 288 standard armor (Strip your leg armors off. You will very rarely die from your legs exploding because every one is busy aiming your massive right torso)
2x UAC5
5 tons of ammo
2x Medium laser (You can swap one ton of ammo for a medium laser. It's really up to you. Personally I perform better with one more ton of ammo)

This build is so far the best build I've tried for my Hunchback 4G. I found that even though the concept of Hunchback is to fight as a brawler, it's not armored enough or fast enough to brawl against heavier opponents effectively.Plus having the giant right torso that has more than half of your firepower doesn't help. So your best bet is to have your heavier buddies soak some damage while you shoot enemies that are not targeting you.(the way medium mechs are meant to fight). The build works the best for this "flanker" role. The small chassis of Hunchback and the location of the high firing point makes you an excellent flanker/sniper in its size. For example a Cataphract must expose half of its upper chassis before being able to shoot, whereas a Hunchback can do this with much less exposure. Plus since it's firing from one firing point, unlike Jagermech (two) or Ilya Muromets(three) it has no convergence issue.

The DPS of Dual UAC 5 is 4.55*2 = 9.1 compared to AC20 (DPS =5) or AC10 (DPS=4) or Gauss (DPS=3.75) It is simply more destructive. Think it as a rapid firing AC10 that has a improved firing range.(600m).I know it has a jamming issue, but you can still prevent it by only shooting it when it cools down. UAC5 has this rapid firing mode that enables you to shoot once more while you reload it. You can do this by firing when it's cooling down. It only jams when you rapid fire It. The probability of jamming is 25% so basically it's risk vs reward. My experience tells me that this rapid firing mode has saved me more than it has failed me.

After I changed to this build, my damage done in a match with Hunchback 4G has improved from about 200-300 to 300-450 range, occasionally hitting 500 or even rarely 600 damage. So I guess it actually works.

Thank you for reading it guys. This is my first post so please tell me if there is anything to improve. Thanks!

[SchwarzerPeter]

It seems like a solid build, if you like it stick with it

Dual UAC5 eat ammo like nothing else, i got 7t in my Jagger and even that runs out on long matches. So 5t seems absolute reasonable.

If you want to stick with the dual UAC5 there is not much to improve, just put the 2 ML in the head and in the left arm. So that they are still there if your hunch blows off.

Have you tried dual AC5? Its stress free (no jamming ) and you got room for the 3rd laser and one ton more ammo.

[Ser Barristan]

Personally I find anything smaller then a 250 engine in a HBK to be a death warrant. 64.9 kph isn't fast enough to flee even from an assault. I checked smurfy and of course dual UAC 5s and a 250 isn't realistic, there just isnt enough weight. You are right though, a Medium depends on "being able to hit without being seen" if you can mange that on a 200 then I wish you all the best.

Though I suppose with the current preference for long range combat lack of speed might not be a big handicap.

[Zarvis]

Thank you for your feedback! I will try Dual AC5. And yeah I seem to survive longer when I use a Std 245 engine with speed tweak. I just wanted find a specialized build that only 4G can have.

[n00bfish]

Triple AC2 (four tons ammo) + three ML actually works somewhat ok as well, for a troll build. I prefer it to UACs. It's the same weight as dual UAC and puts out pretty staggering DPS. I find most people just outright ignore the triple AC2 4G, both because it's a small fry and its alpha is rubbish. Nevertheless, it can do a lot of damage and cockpit rattle if ignored.

[BoPop]

i'll take an ac10 over dual uac5 any day, but in all fairness i've not purchased and worked on that mech. think i'd go with an ac10 and something else there. noobfish build also sounds good.

friggin weapon jams suck, especially when it really matters. lots to be said for predictability.

but if you're rocking it, cool. i'm working on hunchbacks at the moment and they're alot of fun! quickish, nimble, good torso turn ok armor and they pack a punch. with hit and run tactics and a centurion mentality (left side to absorb damage) they can whoop some arse. people do love to aim for that hunch tho *cry

[zztophat]

I've tried dual UAC5s in a number of mechs and I've found that DPS always loses out to high pinpoint damage. I've never really dug in to why that is, I am sure someone has and can explain it.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun and success with the LB 10-X in a hunchback that I haven't been able to replicate in any other mech. The 10-X is, in direct comparison to the AC10; bad, only dealing proper amounts of damage at extreme close ranges but in the hunchback it worked rather well. I had a speedy set up that was able deliver it's payload at close ranges and hitting areas stripped of armor with the 10-X often resulted of in spectacular damage.

In the end I ran an AC10, because it's just more reliable than the other loadouts I tried (consistent damage at varied ranges, good ammo per ton, hard-hitting).

80kph is the minimum, imo, speed a medium should operate at, less and you can't keep up with lights or, worse; flee from assaults.

[King Arthur IV]

kind of saving a similar build for my black jack.

[Gremlich Johns]

I dunno, I run my Founder's 4G with the AC20 (4t ammo) and 3xMLas. Works just fine.

zztophat, on 10 May 2013 - 10:27 PM, said:

Anyway, I had a lot of fun and success with the LB 10-X in a hunchback that I haven't been able to replicate in any other mech.

I use the CNT-9A with the LBX-10, 2xMLas and 3XSSRM2 - very nice



Here's my 4G (F) loadout

Edited by Gremlich Johns, 12 May 2013 - 07:46 AM.

[Gremlich Johns]

Ser Barristan, on 23 April 2013 - 08:58 PM, said:

Personally I find anything smaller then a 250 engine in a HBK to be a death warrant. 64.9 kph isn't fast enough to flee even from an assault.

I used the STD 200 since Closed beta and never had an issue winging with an assault to keep the flies off of him.

[Jagerak]

zztophat, on 10 May 2013 - 10:27 PM, said:

I've tried dual UAC5s in a number of mechs and I've found that DPS always loses out to high pinpoint damage. I've never really dug in to why that is, I am sure someone has and can explain it.

That's easy. UAC5s and AC2s require you to keep your sights on target essentially all the time to rack up high damage. With an AC20 you have 4 seconds in between shots that you're free to focus on a variety of other activities. If you're circling your target, maneuvering your own mech to alternate exposure to the sides of your mech, or ducking in and out of cover, there's no way you'll keep your sights on target 100% of the time.

In a 30 second fight, you only need to keep sights on target around 20-40% of that time to maximize AC20 dps, depending on how fast/good you are. With AC2s and UAC, you need to keep sights on target 100% of the time to maximize their dps.