26 replies to this topic

[A2rael]

This is a very fun build that i have been using on my hunchback for a couple months with great success so i wanted to post it up and see what opinion is on the build. its fairly limited and not for everyone but i have pullled a KD of 2.36 (212 kills 90 deaths 61,479 damage average 413 damage per match) over 149 games with it. The build is on a hunchback 4G with an XL 255, 3 ac-2's 6 tons of ammo and 12 double HS, Endo structure and 288/328 points of standard armor. It travels at 82.6 before speed tweak turns and twists fast and torso rotates a long ways( you can almost shoot backwards in fact with beams on arms hunchy can shoot straight back but thats not this build) your six tons is 450 ac-2 rounds or 150 volleys max damage capability during a match 900 points but no back up weapons when you are out you are out. the triple ac-2 also does 12 damage per second which if you do the math is 48 damage to the 40 damage of the dual ac20 over 4 seconds. triple ac2 also is 10 tons lighter and takes up 17 slots less space. ammo and armor are an issue( armor only because all weapons are in one torso and it has an xl engine) but if you can stay out of the way, use its higher speed, longer range, and line up your shots this mech will take you a very long way. and if it comes to a short range you still have the option to rip them apart at 12dps which is capable of making even an atlas think twice!

Edited by A2rael, 11 September 2013 - 03:59 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

all true, though DPS may be the most overrated measure of effectiveness in this game. Well, besides declaring oneself a "competitive pro" at which point, all credibility is usually lost.

The dual ac20 has this in it's favor though. BURST DAMAGE. When all is said and done, I will take 40 instantaneous damage over 48 that I have to 1) stay facing and in the LoS of my opponent for 4 seconds to deliver and 2) have to cosntantly track the aim on as more than likely, the damage will be spread over a mech, even slightly, which greatly reduces it's effectiveness. 40 damage all to one location, while I take minimal damage in return, vs 48 damage (assuming all shots hit) over 2-3-4 locations, and probably taking concentrated fire in return to ONE location (usually in the case of your HBK-4G, to the hunch) doesn't seem a good trade off.

That said, I have seen your build used effectively, even if it's not my preference, because it DOES have the advantages of extreme range, and fast RoF, allowing one to harass and distract, very effectively. And the XL is a good idea, because obviously, you lose the hunch,you are useless anyhow. So might as well maximize speed and ammo. I think this mech is a good harraser build though, so comparing it to a dedicated brawler like an ac40 Jager (or even a standard ac20 4g) seems like comparing apples to oranges, because both do their respective jobs well, but their actual uses are very different. (you try to brawl my 2x Medium Laser, 2x MG, 1x AC20 Hunchie in that, I will have your hunch in 2-4 seconds tops. Conversely, you catch me out in the open field on Tourmaline or something, with that triple-deuce, and I can be in a world of hurt long before I get in range to shoot back, unless I can find cover, pronto.)

Most important thing? If you do well and have fun in it! SOmething way too many of the "serious business" posters on here cannot grasp!

[A2rael]

and right off the line an extremely well thought out counter comes into play. nicely put and you hit the issue on the nose. the dual ac 20 mechs can take my hunch in 2 burst (8 sec) if they manage to hit the same place twice and im not already dancin' on out of there. mostly for it to work i have to see the dual ac20 coming and start reaming his side torso (jager mech) since he probably runs xl or bulbous nose (catapult) and hope that i can grind him down and make him miss enough to put him out of my misery before he has a chance to lay me down. if he catches me first its a completely different game. and it all really depends on the skill of both parties in the end. mainly the title was going off the extreme difference of the dual ac 20s high single volley damage (2x 20 for 40 points every 4 seconds) high weight (2x14 for 28 tons before ammo) and high slots (2x10 for 20) vs the 3x ac2s lower single shot (3x2 for 6) but higher overall damage (48 in 4 sec) less slots (1x3) and weight (3x6 for 18 before ammo), which is quite substantial, and snugging it all together into a faster more manueverable mech. Thanks for the speedy and accurate counter point

[Bishop Steiner]

well admittedly, I cheat on mine
JM6-DD

I'm definitely slower, but those 2 medium lasers do make a differnece 1) if I catch ya, and 2) when and if we both live long enough to run out of ammo (in which case we have probably BOTH got obscene match scores and are looking like {Scrap} already)

or my preferred: HBK-4G "Can-Opener"

In both cases, you have superior speed and range, I have superior knockout. Like you say, so much is dependent on pilot skill and even map, tactics, etc. It's what makes this game fun (as long as one ignores the "Pro" pontification as to what is supposedly "viable"), finding what suits you, and seeing how it stacks up to other people and their styles. And I would think a lance with 2 of your HBK and 2 of Mine, would hold their own against anything in their own weight class. I know my Can-Opener can regularly take down anything under a triple UAC Ilya, 1v1. (And i love me some Catapults or Awesome jocks and their squishy middles)

In truth though, I seldom run an AC40 Jager anymore. Rather run my dual AC/10, 2 Medium Laser Ilya..... it does 84 kph. One of the best "Hunter" designs I have come up with, despite it's seemingly pedestrian armament.

[BUDFORCE]

Ive seen this, or similar AC/2 hunchback builds work and played right they are awesome.

As long as you hang well back, and harrass them at range while constantly ducking when being shot at its very effective.

Infact, just after reading this post I am going to take another look at my founders hunchy build and see if I can rework it.

(currently got some crazy triple MG build which is fun, but possibly not the most effective lol)

[A2rael]

lol looking at the design on your "can-opener" i think that 2 of those with the 2 dakka hunches would hold far more than their own weight. the six ac-2's would hold attention and shred armor off torso's with the 2 slower hunches moving in from the flank for the killing blow while the enemy are distracted trying to get their heads down out of the storm of flying lead. nothing would be safe if tactics and focus firing were used.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I do love the tripple A/C2 Hunch (A.K.A. Ultra A/C6 Hunch), but I can't entirely agree with the OP.

It does put down GREAT damage figures, but it is a sniper build that is a bit hot and difficult to focus damage. I do enjoy the machine (more than an A/C20 Hunch for sure), but saying that it makes an A/C20 look like a joke is not nearly true.

Matter of fact, I finnally purchased a Victor and have gone back to the A/C20. I forgot just how brutal that weapon is up close.

[A2rael]

with the victor i preferred my 2 med laser 1 gauss 2 AC-2 build. but to each their own:)

[AlexEss]

Also if you are having one of those days you can put it on chain fire and just listen to the noise. will not exactly kill anything but the noise is brilliant.

[Gozer]

I haven't played the triple AC/2 in a while, I should give it a shot.

I've been doing an odd LB-10X, 2MG, A Large Laser (LA), and a Medium laser (H) build lately. It's built on a 200 STD engine and the odd mix of weapons can really confuse folks. Because I can poke and decent range with both the LL and the LB-10X but then once armor is gone folks die fast. I think of it as my Hunchback Vulture.

[A2rael]

there is a really wierd ghost heat from stagger firing the ac-2's for some reason if you put 2 on 1 button and 1 on another then fire the 2 wait for the first round and fire the one so that it rapid fires heat goes screaming up. here is a video that shows the difference between volley firing all 3 and rapid firing them. the first part is the volley it takes almost 20 seconds of continous firing drops a testing ground atlas and puts out 87 rounds in a row. the second is the rapid stagger fire which puts out 18 rounds in 5 seconds and overheats putting down a catapult. it makes no sense what so ever why the heat would be so much higher on the second part. and finally on the third and for all our amusement i stagger fire while overriding for a spectacularly quick death on the part of my hunch.





I apologize for the terrible resolution i was in a hurry

Edited by A2rael, 12 September 2013 - 04:45 PM.

[BUDFORCE]

A2rael, on 12 September 2013 - 04:43 PM, said:

there is a really wierd ghost heat from stagger firing the ac-2's for some reason if you put 2 on 1 button and 1 on another then fire the 2 wait for the first round and fire the one so that it rapid fires heat goes screaming up. here is a video that shows the difference between volley firing all 3 and rapid firing them. the first part is the volley it takes almost 20 seconds of continous firing drops a testing ground atlas and puts out 87 rounds in a row. the second is the rapid stagger fire which puts out 18 rounds in 5 seconds and overheats putting down a catapult. it makes no sense what so ever why the heat would be so much higher on the second part. and finally on the third and for all our amusement i stagger fire while overriding for a spectacularly quick death on the part of my hunch.





I apologize for the terrible resolution i was in a hurry

A2rael, on 12 September 2013 - 04:43 PM, said:

there is a really wierd ghost heat from stagger firing the ac-2's for some reason if you put 2 on 1 button and 1 on another then fire the 2 wait for the first round and fire the one so that it rapid fires heat goes screaming up. here is a video that shows the difference between volley firing all 3 and rapid firing them. the first part is the volley it takes almost 20 seconds of continous firing drops a testing ground atlas and puts out 87 rounds in a row. the second is the rapid stagger fire which puts out 18 rounds in 5 seconds and overheats putting down a catapult. it makes no sense what so ever why the heat would be so much higher on the second part. and finally on the third and for all our amusement i stagger fire while overriding for a spectacularly quick death on the part of my hunch.





I apologize for the terrible resolution i was in a hurry

Yeah there is some wierd mechanic they put in the game, it is quite recent aslo.

I first noticed it ebcause I use to run a 4xAC2 cataphract, I had 2x2 weapon groups (if that makes sense). Anyway I hadnt used it for AAAAAGES, then recently tried it, and I was like, WTF HEAT!?!

Edited by BUDFORCE, 12 September 2013 - 10:22 PM.

[Rhaythe]

Anyone who saw my last post, sorry - wrong thread.

[slayerkdm]

I needed a change from my old trusty AC20 and just put in three AC2's. I don't think its better, but its a fun change. So the best for using AC2's now is just group firing them all at once? I may even strip the Med lasers as it seems to just kind of kill my heat and doesn't fit the theme of the build anyway. Feels weird though, as they are probably the three that have been on there for a year now. lol

[stalima]

all i have to say is dual ultra AC/5 gives you the best of both worlds, fast speed and alot of dmg

[slayerkdm]

I agree, but I have them on my Ilya and my Victor now. With whatever the coming nerf is, and the fact you cant fit two on an XL hunchback, I'm trying the AC2 for now. To be honest, a single Ultra is almost as good now it seems as 3AC2's. They need to be toned down.

[stalima]

XL on a hunchback?! what madness is this?!

[Bagheera]

If you want to run the Triple-Deuce, then get a Victor and don't use chain-fire or macro fire. The sound is cool, but why nerf yourself?

[Bishop Steiner]

stalima, on 15 September 2013 - 07:09 AM, said:

XL on a hunchback?! what madness is this?!

on a mech with no backup weapons (can't realistically cram 3xAC2 in a Hunchy and have room for backup guns), no point worrying about being a Zombie. So get an XL, get more armor, speed and ammo, and stay out at range running and sniping. Aside from the SP, it's the only time I would overall recommend it, though I have run em sometimes for fun in others. (Gauss and 2 ER LArge Laser XL HBK for instance.)

[BUDFORCE]

After much playing around, I think, in the current MWO version, this is pretty much the only way to fit this mech.

You could go single UAC5 and lasers but it means you have to get closer, and will tempt you to get closer anyway to use your lasers, and that will just get you killed.

With the XL engine (I know, Im not normally a fan these days either) but it gives you the speed to deploy around the map in good locations, then change position regularly. You really need the speed on this one.

Dont bother with support lasers either, just put in as much ammo as possible.

I was using this yesterday and racking up 300-600 dmg a round.

I would guess this is possibly one of the worst hunchback variants (typical as its a bloody founders one), problem is that if you go with the arm weapons as your main weapons (ER LARGE or PPC etc) nothing, on the ballistics is light enough to use as a support weapon after, except MG's - plus you run into heat problems. You cant effectively make a balanced setup on this mech, everything else in the same tonnage range can do it better.. I just cant stand the AC/20 build either.