27 replies to this topic

[TygerLily]

I'd second the Shadow Hawk. Kind of like a sexier Hunchback...Jagermechs and Victors are really fun too. If you want a fast Heavy, go through the Quickdraws as well.

As far as feeling useless: Without tonnage limits mediums are kind of getting the shaft...they don't have the speed advantage of Lights nor the tank advantage of Heavies and Assaults: worst of both worlds in a sense. Which isn't to say they can't be good (it's really up to the pilot) and Medium is my favorite chassis, hence why I had to stop and drop my 2 cents in, xD

Can't wait till people can't cower in their Victors and Highlander snipers...

[Faenwulf]

I've been thinking it over the last two or three days and at the moment I've got three Mechs in mind and three maybes so to say. Either the Shadowhawk, the Kintaro or the slightly bigger Quickdraw. What I dislike about the Kintaro and the Quickdraw is, is simple: No ballistic variant or Hardpoint anywhere (and after looking it up on sarna also no hope of getting one either :-/). What i disliek about the Shadowhawk is the fact that two of the three variants only have one ML - feels kind of underwhelming concerning firepower.

My three maybes are the Cataphract, Griffin and Wolverine. But I guess I'd drop the last two of them because the variants don't agree much with me. Especially on the Griffin. Both seem to be underwhelming concerning variation and number of weapons equipable. Does somebady have the hardpoints on those two? (And the Griffin/Wolverine Cockpits must be the coolest yet ^^)
The negative fact about the Cataphract is its bulky size and the strange cockpit view compared to the others. ^^

But again, thanks so far guys.

Edit:
Oh, and one more thing: Wheres the "big" difference between the Quickdraw 4H and 4G? Since there are no rear mounted weapons in MWO they both seem to be nearly the same to me. Only difference is the shorter jumping distance on the 4H and one more missile hardpoint as far as I can tell. Does the 4H then have more ammo? Or where did the freed up tonnage go?

Edited by Faenwulf, 08 February 2014 - 03:54 AM.

[luxebo]

Quickdraw 4G vs 4H is the difference between mobility (4G) and missile slots (4H). 4H is usually better with an additional SRM point, though 4G isn't bad at all with the same general way to play it. Just more torso twist and arm twist.

[Macksheen]

I've been playing for about a month.

Long time table top guy, plus older PC games ... I started w/ Hunchbacks and Catapults. Catapults I quickly shelved as not fitting my mentality, but I slogged through Hunchbacks to elite. Then I bought Centurions, because I liked their look (lame, I know) and the weapon configs and elited them.

I did ok, they were fun ... and then I bought Shadowhawks which were basically Centurions with higher weapon mounts, better armor and jump jets. The Cents and Hunchies zombie better after having their arms blown off, but overall the Shadowhawks are better at letting me put damage out where I want, when I want it. They were super easy to level.

I've sold off all but one Huncback to make space, and only play the Centurions when I have time for the extra XP bonus (still have plenty to work on in the pilot trees) - and I'm considering selling off one or two of them to free bays as well. I'm thinking about getting a second 2d2 hawk though, just so I can have one spec'd as a light killer and one with a different kit for convenience sake.

[Faenwulf]

Yeah, in the end I skipped over my overthinking shadow and bought a SHD-2D2. Works okay, I guess. Still need the XL Engine that seems to be obligatory in SHD Builds. And lots of XP for the Basic Skills thats I'm missing.

[M4NTiC0R3X]

gotta catch em all mang

[Kurkotain]

Regarding your situation with the hunchback: Brawling is not dead. you just need to create the perfect opportunity.

My favorite hunchback chassis is the HBK - 4SP and almost everyone on the forums will tell you that its biggest advantage (being a hunchback without a hunch) is lost to the fact that it packs missiles which are notoriously terrible right now.

To them i say: 5 mediums, 2srm 4 w/ 2 tons of ammo, and a 100 kph speed to create the situation where it will make all the difference:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d3116b63531feac

In the current meta where long range engagements are the norm and pinpoint weapons are where its at, a chassis such as the hunchback needs to be fast in order to re-position where it can make a difference, or to keep on doing hit and run tactics to distract the enemy.
Remember, as long as the enemy is shooting (and missing) at you, and not to your heavy-hitters (the ones that will do most ot the damage and open enemy armor for you) you have won the psychological combat.
Its kinda the same logic that lets a light work its magic on the enemy team. sown confusion and reap the rewards.

Hit and run until the prefect brawling oportunity shows itself, or a quick alpha will bring down that damaged enemy.

The mediums are your pinpoint weapons, hot but deadly if you have a steady hand on the trigger.
Srms are for those situations where you need to put some damage on the enemy but can only manage a quick glance at them. More than that and return fire will seriously damage you.
The HBK does not have the armor to stand up to much punishment. Enough for hit and tun tactics but not enough to brawl the enemy and get out of there intact.

If you are commiting yourself to the battle, you better win, 'cause even if you manage to get out of there (the HBK is incredibly durable) you will be crippled and not much good for your team.

[Victor Morson]

Faenwulf, on 09 February 2014 - 02:47 PM, said:

Yeah, in the end I skipped over my overthinking shadow and bought a SHD-2D2. Works okay, I guess. Still need the XL Engine that seems to be obligatory in SHD Builds. And lots of XP for the Basic Skills thats I'm missing.

Try AC20 + ER PPC in the meantime. It's a great STD engine build that works on every single model, but is best on the 2D2.