106 replies to this topic

[Krivvan]

The Light Hunter Shadowhawk being used with all 3 of its capabilities.

[Bishop Steiner]

Krivvan, on 25 October 2013 - 05:43 PM, said:

The Light Hunter Shadowhawk being used with all 3 of its capabilities.

cools, so as part of a lance/wolfpack it works OK.

Still see zero appreciable advantage over a slightly slower, better balanced build, but too each their own.

Did get a good chuckle out of "skill shot... *BANG! miss*...not a skill shot" part though.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 25 October 2013 - 05:47 PM.

[Warrax the Chaos Warrior]

Bishop Steiner, on 25 October 2013 - 05:40 PM, said:

just because you don't like something, doesn't make it ineffective.

I didn't say they weren't effective, I said I didn't like them

Strictly a personal thing. Maybe I'm just bad at video games, but having guided missiles equipped screws up my aim with anything else, and I can hit lights reliably enough with ballistics that I don't feel like I need to work on that particular personal issue.

So I'm tempted to try SHDs when they go on sale for cbills, but I'm not seeing any good SRM builds; and without missiles, I don't see anything I can't do better in another mech. I could be wrong though.

[Bishop Steiner]

Warrax the Chaos Warrior, on 25 October 2013 - 05:48 PM, said:

I didn't say they weren't effective, I said I didn't like them

Strictly a personal thing. Maybe I'm just bad at video games, but having guided missiles equipped screws up my aim with anything else, and I can hit lights reliably enough with ballistics that I don't feel like I need to work on that particular personal issue.

So I'm tempted to try SHDs when they go on sale for cbills, but I'm not seeing any good SRM builds; and without missiles, I don't see anything I can't do better in another mech. I could be wrong though.

they work fine with SRMs, or as good as hti registry allows. What they do better, is combine all the ability of pretty much every other medium, save ECM into on decently fast, jump capable tank of a package.
SHD-2H
runs fine, just like my other 2 better
and even my 2H I prefer like this
SHD-2H

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 25 October 2013 - 05:55 PM.

[MisterFiveSeven]

Bishop Steiner, on 25 October 2013 - 05:26 PM, said:

Actually, I do run 2 LL and an ac10 on my 5M. Great medium range sniper. Crappy anti-Light mech overall though.

I was actually going to ask what you run on your shawks, and laughed as I read through your posts and realized they are almost identical to mine

x3ac2
x4ssrm2, x2medlas, ac10
x2 llas, ac10

Great minds and stuff

[GRiPSViGiL]

Bishop Steiner, on 25 October 2013 - 04:45 PM, said:

Well, the one with the cbill bonus is the one I run the least. my 5M and 2D2 are beasts.

That is interesting because I do best with the 2H. I basically threw a similar build on my 5M and do quite well with it also.

[Mycrus]

All this pheonix love... Cents/hunchies were buffed.. Have you guys played their buffed versions?

[Red squirrel]

There seems to be a bit of a Shadowhawk madness going on right now, which biases your poll a bit.
(altough it is one of the best mediums out there)
Also I think that you need to take into account tonnage. Once we get a tonnage limit a lighter medium
will allow for heavier assaults.

It is so difficult to choose just one mech so I'll give my top 3

Brawling:
1) Shadowhawk (AC20 2 medlas / 2SRM6+SRM4+3MG+LL)
2) Hunchback (AC20 / 9medlas / 4medlas 2ASRM6)
3) Centurion (Zombie 3SRM6 2medlas)

Sniping:
1) Blackjack (Dual AC2 or AC5)
2) Centurion (Gauss + 2medlas)
3.1) Trebuchet (2xALRM15) + (ERLL or ERPPC) as LRM support is missing in the list I'll count it as sniping
3.2) Shadowhawk (okay okay you can also fit this into a Shadowhawk but it seems so wrong)

Flanking/Capping
1) Cicada (ECM)
2) Centurion (D variant with large engine 120-130KPH)
3) Kintaro


But I'm sure the Sabertooth reinforcements will mix this list up quite a bit.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mycrus, on 25 October 2013 - 07:31 PM, said:

All this pheonix love... Cents/hunchies were buffed.. Have you guys played their buffed versions?

Yes. Shawk is still better. But my HBK/4G and YLW are still favorites.

[Kubernetes]

Krivvan, on 25 October 2013 - 05:01 PM, said:

The LBX is a far inferior weapon for killing lights than an AC/10. You may hit the light more, but it will be insignificant damage.

Depends. One? Yes, but when I run three on my Ilya I pretty much kill a light every game. Especially the ones who jump jet-- it's like duck hunting.

I use a BJ-1 for light-hunting w/ an ERPPC in one arm and an LBX10 + small pulse laser in the other. With an XL235 and 3 JJ it kills most lights pretty efficiently. There are probably better out there, but it's a neat setup because you've got snapshot weapons in both arms for when you jump.

I've not gotten a Shadowhawk yet, but they seem pretty awesome in action. Something seems bugged about it though, because I've seen SH's take way way more damage than seems reasonable.

Edited by Kubernetes, 25 October 2013 - 10:25 PM.

[Johnny Reb]

Bishop Steiner, on 25 October 2013 - 04:31 PM, said:

Best overall, is hands down the ShadowHawk. It can do everything, save ECM, and do it well. It shines best when not over or under-engined, and not overspecialized, IMO, but it can do everything from Triple-2 or Gauss Sniping to AC20 brawling.

About the only 2 times that other mediums out do the SHD is when you need ECM, or as a Light Hunter, where the 5xSSRM Kintaro still does it better, and without giving up so much potential (since it doesn't have near the capabilities anyhow) that the Shad does to be put into that role. And even then, the Shad is number 2 at it.

Hard to admit something is better than my Cents or Hunchies, but it is true.

Even over specialized it shines because of the jump jets! Rather have a 3 jj/ 4 streak, streakhawk than a 5 streak kint any day. In fact, my Kintaro is back to being an annoying 5 lrm5 now.
Here are the 2 builds:
Kint
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a6feaf0421841e0
Hawk
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a897acdce09e67e

Also the Hawk is so versatile in all 3 chassis. Best medium yet in my opinion!

Edited by Johnny Reb, 25 October 2013 - 10:35 PM.

[DarkDevilDancer]

The hawk really puts mechs like the hunch to shame, it Carries all 3 weapons system and let's you use them effectively.

[theta123]

Krivvan, on 25 October 2013 - 05:20 PM, said:

And backup weapons generally make for bad mech designs. You don't want a weapon that's only function is "just in case." That's the kind of thinking that gave the Awesome and Hunchback their useless small lasers in their heads.

Replace small laser with Medium laser. Its only one ton you need to spend, but i am damn glad to have that medium laser. I have
SHD-2H

This is my posh build. I call it like this because i rarely use fancy loadouts unless needed. in this case, an XL engine300. 5 Ton of AC10 ammo, 2 ton of streak ammo. And enough heatsinks to keep everything cool. Aswel as an XL 280. It is fast enough for me. 97KM/H does the trick. I am very good with that AC10. Because i dont rely much on the streaks. ECM or not, that AC10 does the trick.

But when all that ammo is spended. 7 tonnes....i did alot of damage. But then i still have that medium laser to make myself usefull in my team.


My votes were

Brawling= Hunchback
Sniping= Shadowhawk (higher)
flanking/basecapping= Cicada

Edited by theta123, 26 October 2013 - 04:10 AM.

[Alistair Winter]

Mucho wisdom in this thread.

I was very concerned with the size of the Shadowhawk before it was released, but I didn't expect it to have so good hardpoints. Also, it doesn't have the terrible hitbox of the Kintaro. And as a light mech pilot, a Shadowhawk with 4 SSRMs and 2 big energy weapons or 1 AC10 is an even scarier prospect than the 5-streak Kintaro. But then, both of those will shred a light mech in seconds anyway - especially the Locust, Commando and Spider.

With the long range meta going on, the lack of jump jets makes it more attractive than the Kintaro, and although the Kintaro has more hardpoints, people often favour big weapons (LLs and PPCs) anyway, so they don't really need 4 hardpoints on a medium mech. SRMs are also quite bad at the moment, which is another reason the Kintaro is neglected.

All I'm saying is that if you want the best medium mech in the game right now, before it's available for C-bill purchase, you have to get the Phoenix package. On the other hand, the Locust is the worst mech in the game and the Thunderbolt & Battlemaster seem to be good but not great. So... I'm glad I got the Storm package.

[William T Riker]

If the Blackjacks ever get an engine cap increase they'll be much more competitive. Right now, 2 of the BJ variants are the slowest mediums in the game, and the second lightest. The jumpjets, while nice, does not bridge this gap.

I'm excited to try out the Shadowhawk based on all the good feedback I'm reading!

Edited by William T Riker, 26 October 2013 - 05:40 AM.

[Charons Little Helper]

Once SRMs hit reg is in - Kintaros will have more of a place vs Shadowhawks.

And I still say that hunchies are better at helping beat on the big guys than Shadowhawks. (I have and like both.) Despite being a bit slower - their size means they can pop in and out of cover and get beneath high torso mounted hardpoints. And they're not that much slower - mine are all booking it at 92kph+.

Edited by Charons Little Helper, 26 October 2013 - 06:19 AM.

[New Day]

Alistair Winter, on 25 October 2013 - 04:26 PM, said:

Right now, a lot of people are playing the Shadowhawk, and I'm not sure if they feel it's the best mech or if it's simply because it's new and shiny, with a C-bill bonus.

It's called cognitive dissonance.
http://en.wikipedia....tive_dissonance
I paid really money for the Shadowhawk and it's bad but since I paid real money for it, it can't be bad and is therefore good.

The Shadowhawk is not the best Mech. Just because you spent money on doesn't make it so.

You Bishop especially seem eager to defend the SHD.

[Charons Little Helper]

The Shadowhawk isn't the best mech ever. But it is a solid medium. It's a tie for the 2nd fastest, and unlike the kintaro it has jumpjets. While tall, its hitboxes don't suck. (and it has nice big arms)

My guess is that in another week or 2 people won't play them as much. But once weight limits are in it'll be one of 3-5 standby middle of the road mechs. (I'd generally rather have a pair of shadowhawks and a hunchie on my team than an atlas and a pair of lights.)

Edited by Charons Little Helper, 26 October 2013 - 06:43 AM.

[Zyllos]

This thread is everything that is wrong with the core concepts of this game...

[Alistair Winter]

Zyllos, on 26 October 2013 - 06:51 AM, said:

This thread is everything that is wrong with the core concepts of this game...

A short, dismissive comment, followed by the classic ellipsis. Now you instantly seem mysterious and wise and you've inspired curiosity in all your readers, because you're so reluctant to share your thoughts. Well played, sir.

Are you actually going to participate in a discussion, or are you content to just roam the forums like Batman, offering thought provoking one-liners?

NamesAreStupid, on 26 October 2013 - 06:29 AM, said:

It's called cognitive dissonance.
http://en.wikipedia....tive_dissonance
I paid really money for the Shadowhawk and it's bad but since I paid real money for it, it can't be bad and is therefore good.
The Shadowhawk is not the best Mech. Just because you spent money on doesn't make it so.

Hah, it's certainly possible. Although it doesn't quite work for my Locust. And it doesn't seem to be working for the bigger mechs either.