30 replies to this topic

[Thejuggla]

I've bought a few hunchbacks that went I sale a while ago, on recently am I playing them. I have the 4SP and the 4H. The 4SP I like the standard engine because the weapons are spread out pretty much 50/50 but with the 4H the if the ballistic is destroyed I am pretty much useless, which is usually the side that goes first and just leaves me with 1 laser, I was curious what others would think of an XL in a ac20 hunchback?

[tayhimself]

You can't fit an AC/20 with an XL engine, try different builds on smurfy's using the link below which is a starting point for the 4H. It's not a very good mech, make sure you run with an heavy assault and use them as cover. I'd suggest you sell it once you basic it so that you can elite the other two hunchies.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e19ab44166530f9

For your next chassis I would suggest a heavy like a Cat, Jager, or Phract. You will enjoy them a lot more than the hunchbacks.

[JSparrowist]

tayhimself, on 29 May 2013 - 06:00 PM, said:

For your next chassis I would suggest a heavy like a Cat, Jager, or Phract. You will enjoy them a lot more than the hunchbacks.

I agree. We definitely don't have enough heavies on the battle field. We could use some more assaults too!

I preferred standard engines in my HBK mechs.

[AntiCitizenJuan]

I couldn't recommend HBKs at all, and I have 3 mastered.

Go with the Cataphract, it's a great ballistic mech and more tonnage for weapons/armor

[Bishop Steiner]

nothing wrong with HBKs.

A lot wrong with the matchmaking.

I regularly trash people with both my 4SP and 4P. The 4J is interesting, but doesn't really do anything the SP can't do better.The 4G and H are somewhat nerfed between the current meta and doubled armor. An AC20 just ain't as scary as it should be.

[FrostCollar]

The Hunchback leads the pack as the mech enemies most like blowing side torsos off and its neither fast enough nor tough enough to really deal with that issue. Does that mean the Hunchback is useless? No, but leave the XL at home.

[Deathlike]

The XL is what makes the Hunchy's Hunch a deathtrap. Occasionally you might be able to get away with it on a 4SP, but people who don't realize that you are an 4SP will focus on your side torso and still core you. It's kinda ironic like that.

[Adridos]

Just a friendly tip, if you want to play the HBK-4G, pick Blackjack instead. Thanks to the XL engine capability and JJs, you'll survive much more, be faster, more nimble and do a lot more damage. And it's really fun to drive, too.

[AnnoyingCat]

buy yourself an atlas today

[CygnusX7]

Never run an XL in a hunch.
If you can do ok with a hunch you'll do great in a phract.

[EyeOne]

I've mastered all but the 4J. The only HBK where an XL is acceptable is the 4SP. Even so, I don't like to do it but it has the smallest humps.

An XL in a 4G, 4H or 4P is insta-death. Worst of all is the 4G. That hump blows up if you look at it funny.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I prefer to run the Hunchback with a Standard engine, however if you don't think running with 2 energy hardpoints is worth it (once the RT is gone), then go with the XL.

Dispite the Hunchback hate, a 9MLaser Swayback with DHS and a top speed of 92kph is nothing to laugh at. Despite me being a Catapult pilot, That Hunch is one of my favorite go-to mechs.

Also, the tripple AC2 Hunch I have is kind of fun too, but a bit slow for a Medium. It is more of a fun oddity then a really effective mech.

[Thejuggla]

Thanks for all the input finished both basics last night, probably going to go for elite so I can unlock master on any if I end up playing them more. Funny you mention the triple ac I just bought the 3 ballistic hunch and was thinking that, probably just go with an XL dispite what you all say since every game on my ac20 hunch back I lose my ballistic first probably 90% of the time, I dunno if it just because it's bulkier on that side or because people are aiming for the ballistic slot, but I feel like I may as well run an XL since I'm useless without that ballistic side anyways

[Padic]

Thejuggla, on 29 May 2013 - 05:47 PM, said:

I've bought a few hunchbacks that went I sale a while ago, on recently am I playing them. I have the 4SP and the 4H. The 4SP I like the standard engine because the weapons are spread out pretty much 50/50 but with the 4H the if the ballistic is destroyed I am pretty much useless, which is usually the side that goes first and just leaves me with 1 laser, I was curious what others would think of an XL in a ac20 hunchback?

I haven't driven my founder's hunchback in quite some time, but I inclined towards going XL with it. Like you say, you're pretty well harmless once you lose your hunch, anyway. It's important to be realistic with yourself about how much you're really going to help your team with a hunch-less hunchback. There might be moments of glory where your crippled hunchback ekes out one extra kill, or whatever - but I'd wager that those situations are rarer than those that the extra speed/firepower/armor from an XL build would have kept you from losing the hunch at all.

[Crimson Fenris]

All hunchies can act as zombies, thus less efficiency than a centurion. But mounting a Mlaser in the head, even a Slaser, is going to be helpful until the end.

NEVER equip an XL in a Hunch : your tiny arms and big side torsoes are a mediocre protection, not to mention the huge side of the right torso, and the big rounded thing at the left back, wich add to the vulnerability of the torsoes.

I got pretty decent results with the 4G, 4P and 4SP, without any XL engine, the tip is to pivot oftent to spread damages around, and avoid being center-cored too fast.
Put a maximum amount of armour in your right torso front section, since the back hitbox is very small (about 44 front for 4 back armor points for repartition, left side a bit more on back armor (about 10 points).

And try to face the ennemy fire with your left torso first, to avoid losing most of your firepower too fast.

With decent weapon loadout, you can equip a 240 to 260 standard engine and be pretty fast with it. A real pain for assault mechs around, and still a threat to light, if you can aim

Edited by Crimson Fenris, 30 May 2013 - 08:44 AM.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Thejuggla, on 30 May 2013 - 08:32 AM, said:

Funny you mention the triple ac I just bought the 3 ballistic hunch and was thinking that, probably just go with an XL dispite what you all say since every game on my ac20 hunch back I lose my ballistic first probably 90% of the time...

With the trip AC2 Hunch, XL engine is pretty much the only way you can make it remotely quick enough to be viable. 3 AC2s are rather heavy and take up a lot of room (especially with ammo too). Plust AC2s can get hot, so by the time you factor in the weapons, ammo, heat sinks, etc..., a XL is a must. That is why I said it is fun, but a bit silly. Overall though, I like playing that setup. I was running dual AC5s, but it wasn't as fun (although might be a bit more practical).

[Bishop Steiner]

EyeOne, on 30 May 2013 - 06:23 AM, said:

I've mastered all but the 4J. The only HBK where an XL is acceptable is the 4SP. Even so, I don't like to do it but it has the smallest humps.

An XL in a 4G, 4H or 4P is insta-death. Worst of all is the 4G. That hump blows up if you look at it funny.

I've always had 2 minds about this. You lose your hump, you indeed do die. Then again, in almost all cases, you lose your hump, you might have a whopping 2 medium lasers left, and die the next time a spitwad comes your way, since your CT is seldom immaculate at this point, either.

I admittedly generally stick to Standards, BUT, have been considering messing with some alternate builds using XLs. Obviously, speed is a non factor, so the only purpose is to add as massive an alpha as possible. Not calling ti ideal, or saying something else couldn't do it better, especially with our current laughable matchmaking, just saying the "XL = Insta death Trap" is not 100% true.

[Because Hunchback]

Don't know if this would work for you, but I like to run a large laser in my left arm on my 4P along with 7 mlas (6 hunch, 1 head). Keeps me in the fight if I cant protect my hunch (have to use a 250 engine though). I also have a trolly SP build with 4 large lasers (arms) and 1 mlas (head) which does suprisingly well for its speed (200 engine). Still a lot that can be done that way after losing a hunch.

I'm sure someone already told you this, but you should be turning your torso to hide your hunch between shots. This works really well with the AC20 as you have a rediculous reload time.

Edited by Because Hunchback, 30 May 2013 - 07:52 PM.

[badaa]

i use xl on all my mechs

[DemonRaziel]

Most players that have a semi-decent knowledge of 'Mech anatomy go primarily for the Hunchback's hunch (exception: 4SP). Moreover, it's very easy to hit even if the enemy is torsotwisting, as it's HUGE and can be even hit from behind. That's why an XL engine is a rather quick way to get cored on the Hunchback.

And while it's true that w/o your hunch based weapons, you are almost neutered, that is still different from being straight out dead - you can still draw fire away from your teammates, you can run away and cap the enemy base, or prevent the enemy from capping yours, you can still shoot your head- and left-arm-mounted weapons, you can survive long enough to ensure you win by gathering enough resource points...

That added survivability, for me, is of a higher value than a minor boost in speed (let's face it, Hunchy will never be so fast, that you can say speed is his armor) or the extra weight to use on weapons/armor/heat sinks.

Edited by DemonRaziel, 31 May 2013 - 01:26 AM.