23 replies to this topic

[The Choppa]

So today I stepped off some common meta builds to enjoy playing a Hunchback again. Truly love this chassis, but was never really a big fan of the HBK-4SP.

Felt like 2xSRM6s was not enough for a SRM brawler, even with quirks. Symmetrical loadout on a Hunchy also felt dirty.

Was taking a break for the last (few?) quirk changes, thought I'd go over the variants to see what is what. Noticed they had toned down a bit the weapon quirks for all of them, fair enough. Looked at the HBK-4SP in store and:

Spoiler

Nice, structure quirks on both torsos. Makes sense seeing as it is symetrical. Notices other variants have little bit structure, but also some armour. All's good

Spoiler

Eh... Hunchback arms aren't bullet magnets at the best of times, seems unnecessary, but whatever bonus hitpoints are bonus hitpoints

Spoiler

Woah, now that seems overkill. Being legged is also generally rare in a Hunchy at glorious filthy-casual-Tier 3, but for the times when someone does go for it, that is a hefty boost to survivability. Plus I like putting ammo in my legs.

Spoiler

Gusy, stahp. +32 structure in CT? What? sure it's a brawling mech, but it doesn't need that much face time. It's not an quad AC5 brawling mech (if that's even a thing? Someone should make that a thing).

Spoiler

Let's just give it Locust-like manoeuvrability. Annnnd than make it so it can look all the way around to it's own butt. Instantly. Oh and some weapon quirks to round it off.

So I done bought me a HBK-4SP again.
Why... why would this mech ever need this kind of attention. It was an OK mech before, nothing great, but not really that bad. Never was going to be Meta Tier 1, or even Tier 2,but that's ok. Not every mech needs to be!
Please, in the future, please use less knee-jerk reaction to balancing mechs.
I'm happy feeling quiet tanky in this now, reliving a love I didn't know I had for SRMs. Will play it for a while, than park it.
Until MRM40 comes out.
And than.....

Spoiler

[El Bandito]

Yeah, the 4SP is indeed overquirked. I guess PGI thinks it is the best way to have people buy different variants, only to nerf them later on. Heck, Russ wasn't even apologetic about how Top Dog energy range is gonna be nerfed hard. "You still got structures" is what he said.

Edited by El Bandito, 02 February 2016 - 04:57 AM.

[Hotthedd]

NOOOO!

Don't let them take away my 4SP!! That is my mini-tank!

[DivineEvil]

First of all, rather than looking at each component separately, it's easier to just say it has +100% additional structure.
Second, high mobility quirks do not make you as mobile as Locust, because base values are much, much lower on HBK. Locust has it's own insane quirks.
Third, all of that stuff doesn't really make him OP. It makes him kinda ok, considering current environment, where most brawlers are spirited away by massive alpha-strikes allowed. Structure is not the Armor, and while he can stand alive for a little longer, his weapons are knocked out of order all the time.

So go ahead, share your experience. Take one out of ten specific matches, where you've managed to do something noticeable. I have one too, and I love it, but 4G is just more consistent, because he has the FLD firepower 4SP is incapable of.

[mogs01gt]

As somone who has been using the 4sp a lot lately, the structure quirks simply allows you to run an XL. When you run a standard, the missile hardpoints are destroyed before the ST goes. If you get lucky and only one ST is gone, you can at least sword and board. Typically though, people wait to alpha you when you turn back around to fire the SRMs, you rarely keep those hardpoints long.

I switched to an XL and IMO it functions better since XLs love structure quirks. Sadly, its a mech you cant carry with. It still runs too hot.

Edited by mogs01gt, 02 February 2016 - 06:53 AM.

[kesmai]

just remove all hunchie quirks. Make them useless.


not.
as if hunchbacks are leet meta and gamechangers...

[Moldur]

max xl 2xsrm6 artemis, 4 MPLs.

It's kinda like the Hunchback IIC except not on crack.

[sycocys]

It was probably the 2nd best Hunch prior to the structure buffs, only really beaten by the 4P because of the ridiculous amount of pinpoint high mounted lasers.

I've got two of them, and have had them both for a while - after the structure buff I put the xl275s back in and run SRM6s and 5 MPL. Perfect way to finish off a CW match.

--Also remember how nutty this mech was during the SRM spread damage fiasco? Had hints of early CB HBK stylings, speed + mad headshots.

Edited by sycocys, 02 February 2016 - 08:11 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

El Bandito, on 02 February 2016 - 04:56 AM, said:

Yeah, the 4SP is indeed overquirked. I guess PGI thinks it is the best way to have people buy different variants, only to nerf them later on. Heck, Russ wasn't even apologetic about how Top Dog energy range is gonna be nerfed hard. "You still got structures" is what he said.

and yet...for being overquirked, they are not terribly common, unlike BJs. (Or GridIrons before)

To me that says something.

[Mister Blastman]

4SP was a ninja until the HBK engine cap nerfs.

[Bishop Steiner]

mogs01gt, on 02 February 2016 - 06:52 AM, said:

As somone who has been using the 4sp a lot lately, the structure quirks simply allows you to run an XL. When you run a standard, the missile hardpoints are destroyed before the ST goes. If you get lucky and only one ST is gone, you can at least sword and board. Typically though, people wait to alpha you when you turn back around to fire the SRMs, you rarely keep those hardpoints long.

I switched to an XL and IMO it functions better since XLs love structure quirks. Sadly, its a mech you cant carry with. It still runs too hot.

really dependant on build and playstyle
HBK-4SP "Hunchy Spice"
Runs pretty cool, and the weapon systems sync just about perfect.
-Right Mouse Button (LA Mlasers)
-Left Mouse Button (RA MLasers)
-Scroll Wheel (SRM6s + MPL)

Doing this combines KISS with efficacy.

I keep my arms unbound, and can freely peek with either side, while better effective range than the MPL builds. Facetime is not increased because I can keep lasers on target while twisting.

MPL and SRM ranges match up close enough, that keeping them clustered together makes for a great bite when I am facing the enemy, and a short enough duration to twist away again fast. I also can easily ignore one TIC if prolonged combat has gotten me too hot.

Mister Blastman, on 02 February 2016 - 08:23 AM, said:

4SP was a ninja until the HBK engine cap nerfs.

Still a ninja. Just not a broken one.

[sycocys]

Bishop Steiner, on 02 February 2016 - 08:24 AM, said:

really dependant on build and playstyle
HBK-4SP "Hunchy Spice"
Runs pretty cool, and the weapon systems sync just about perfect.
-Right Mouse Button (LA Mlasers)
-Left Mouse Button (RA MLasers)
-Scroll Wheel (SRM6s + MPL)

Doing this combines KISS with efficacy.

I keep my arms unbound, and can freely peek with either side, while better effective range than the MPL builds. Facetime is not increased because I can keep lasers on target while twisting.

MPL and SRM ranges match up close enough, that keeping them clustered together makes for a great bite when I am facing the enemy, and a short enough duration to twist away again fast. I also can easily ignore one TIC if prolonged combat has gotten me too hot.


Still a ninja. Just not a broken one.

Pretty solid build, though I'd just use 5 ML if I were going the ML route then shave a little armor or a half ton of ammo and add a BAP. Firing the MPL with the SRMs means wasted heat/damage if you are shooting at anything moving/requiring a lead shot.

I do really like the ML builds tbh, but the MPL + non artemis means I can kite and still put 95% of my missiles on target. Both ways work great with this mech, and it has the structure to deal with some shots as well as be a major pia to take down by using its magical back armor/structure buffs because of its crazy turn radius.

Edited by sycocys, 02 February 2016 - 08:37 AM.

[Mister Blastman]

Bishop Steiner, on 02 February 2016 - 08:24 AM, said:

Still a ninja. Just not a broken one.

I dunno...

But I never seem able to endure the pain the SP requires to try and use in the PUG queue. Can't rally the troops with it.

[Averen]

BUT if you remove the mountain of quirks, then it's just gonna be a sad, little mech that nobody even wants to look at.

I mean, even now hardly anyone uses that mech. Quirks gave a new life to hunchies, and that's a good thing. If anything, it only shows how bad that mech used to be, and is, in the post-clan/quirk meta.

Edited by Averen, 02 February 2016 - 08:40 AM.

[sycocys]

Mister Blastman, on 02 February 2016 - 08:34 AM, said:

I dunno...

But I never seem able to endure the pain the SP requires to try and use in the PUG queue. Can't rally the troops with it.

Yeah, I wouldn't run them in the PUG queue much either. I'm just talking CW drops.

[Mister Blastman]

sycocys, on 02 February 2016 - 08:38 AM, said:

Yeah, I wouldn't run them in the PUG queue much either. I'm just talking CW drops.

Just tried a PUG drop.

Our assaults capped on conquest...

It ended badly.

To make matters worse Euros seem to play... WEIRD.

[Wintersdark]

Moldur, on 02 February 2016 - 07:58 AM, said:

max xl 2xsrm6 artemis, 4 MPLs.

It's kinda like the Hunchback IIC except not on crack.

its better than the IIC-B. Those quirks make a substantial difference; the IIC-B is easily the worst of the HBK-IIC set. Lacking arm lasers is a huge disadvantage, and the structure + maneuverability quirks make the HBK-4SP much tougher even when considering the ClanXL.

This, from someone who uses all the Hunchbacks, of both factions, very regularly.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

El Bandito, on 02 February 2016 - 04:56 AM, said:

Yeah, the 4SP is indeed overquirked. I guess PGI thinks it is the best way to have people buy different variants, only to nerf them later on. Heck, Russ wasn't even apologetic about how Top Dog energy range is gonna be nerfed hard. "You still got structures" is what he said.

To be fair giving IS energy weapons range quirks kind of takes away the biggest advantage of clan energy weapons so from a dynamic balance perspective I think it's probably for the best.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mister Blastman, on 02 February 2016 - 08:34 AM, said:

I dunno...

But I never seem able to endure the pain the SP requires to try and use in the PUG queue. Can't rally the troops with it.

in truth, the only time a Medium SHOULD carry the day by it's lonesome, IMO is if the troops stay alive a decent length of time. HBK, even slower HBKs are still skirmishers, not brawlers.

[Mister Blastman]

Bishop Steiner, on 02 February 2016 - 09:08 AM, said:

in truth, the only time a Medium SHOULD carry the day by it's lonesome, IMO is if the troops stay alive a decent length of time. HBK, even slower HBKs are still skirmishers, not brawlers.

Hard to skirmish when your team refuses to engage.