29 replies to this topic

[Zwergonfire]

I was thinking of running a medium that could haul around a gauss rifle as fast and as well armored as it could be and still have back up weapons that would provide a pretty good bloody nose. This is only theory crafting with pencil and paper (I would love a mech bay app for the phone).
Any vet SHawk pilots have any suggestions for which chassis this would look good on or tweeks to make it more effective would be sweet!

Engine: xl 300
Armor: standard 11 t
Endo
Double heat sinks (10?)
3xJJs
Gauss rifle (4 tons of ammo)
SRM 4 (1 ton of ammo)
2x ML

Thanks!

[GenJack]

As a person who does run XL+Gauss on a Shadowhawk... I will tell you one thing...

Your main point of armor is not your CT anymore... it is that damned shoulder with the Gauss in it...

Gauss has a higher chance to be critted then normal weapons... also it seems to grab most of the damage anyone throws towards you, keep that shoulder protected at all times!


Maps like Alpine are nice for you... so you can be a "Shoulder"tart.

Enjoy!

Also

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b#i=112&l=stock

[Zwergonfire]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ebeade1011d8cf8

Finally got it up and it looks promising. Now I just need 12 mil...lol!

Project begun!

[Alaskan Nobody]

One thing to consider (maybe) is that there are several mechs that come with an XL300 - and it is cheaper to buy the mechs that come with upgrades like that - than to buy all the parts separately.

IE: if you ever plan on using a CN9-D TBT-3C AS7-K or one of several others which I cannot remember right now - it is going to be cheaper in the long run to grab them for your XL300 rather than buying the engine separately.
(Stock engines are based partially on chassis weight though - which helps narrow it down some >.<)

[ImperialKnight]

The problem is you don't really know what you want your SHD to do. A gauss sniper plays very differently from a SRM brawler.

Going Gauss means your SHD has to stay in the rear lines because the moment your LT is breached, you've pretty much had it. You can have lasers as back up weapons but one SRM on its own is pointless.

Decide on one style and go with it.

However, I like your idea of a sniper with "suprise! buttsecks!!" capability. So I'd do something like this

[Zwergonfire]

knightsljx, on 03 December 2014 - 01:29 AM, said:

However, I like your idea of a sniper with &quot;suprise! buttsecks!!&quot; capability. So I'd do something like this

That is exactly what I want to run. I would name it surprise buttsecks if I could!

The only thing is it seems short on ammo all around. :/ It would probably be lots of fun regardless

[John1352]

i'm not sure if you're planning to use the gauss for poptarting, but if you are I would recommend the 5M with 5 jumpjets. I have this build on mine: SHD-5M and it outperforms my CTF-3D (probably because I prefer lighter mechs)

3 jumpjets = hoverjets, kinda useful for going up hills, but you rise so slowly that you get shot while poptarting.

[Madwill]

Zwergonfire, on 02 December 2014 - 09:52 AM, said:

I was thinking of running a medium that could haul around a gauss rifle as fast and as well armored as it could be and still have back up weapons that would provide a pretty good bloody nose. This is only theory crafting with pencil and paper (I would love a mech bay app for the phone).
Any vet SHawk pilots have any suggestions for which chassis this would look good on or tweeks to make it more effective would be sweet!

Engine: xl 300
Armor: standard 11 t
Endo
Double heat sinks (10?)
3xJJs
Gauss rifle (4 tons of ammo)
SRM 4 (1 ton of ammo)
2x ML

Thanks!

if you don't mind dropping some coin on the hero shadowhawk....

get the grey death. you can do an xl 300, 4 jj, gauss + 4 t ammo w/ 2 ml in each arm.

Edited by Madwill, 03 December 2014 - 10:07 PM.

[Inflatable Fish]

Zwergonfire, on 02 December 2014 - 09:51 PM, said:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ebeade1011d8cf8

Finally got it up and it looks promising. Now I just need 12 mil...lol!

Project begun!

I'd go with XL280, upgrade the SRM4 to a 6 and add a half ton of ammo. otherwise looks p. solid.

[Zwergonfire]

These are all good suggestions, thanks everyone!

I'm not sold on the chassis yet so I'm not sure I'll sink any real money into it. The only thing I've dropped money for it's the panther because it's always been one of my favorite TT mechs. (I might spend if the crab comes around!)

For the SHawk, I'll probably run srm 12 to an ERLL and everything in between since none of that will change the build too drastically. There is a good chance at least the srm 6 will end up in the final build, but this mech is nothing if not versatile!

[HeliosRX]

It's a fantastic chassis when used properly. It tends to maneuver like a miniature heavy, which earns it some criticism from diehard light-medium pilots, but it packs good weaponry, has good hitboxes, and can snipe like none other with the jump jets and high mounted Gauss Rifle.

About builds - I've run the build in the OP a lot, and while it feels awkward at first, it feels and plays great from a lore perspective. I personally prefer
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7d8068ee07b9966
which is a bit more fragile but has great long-ranged firepower.

If you don't mind dropping down to an XL280 and picking up a Gray Death, this is my current preferred build:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3470aa7c692d679

But if speed is your concern, I'd even try this:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...42bd7ec69d803ee
This build gives you better sustainability in combat and some AMS coverage for your team. If you want a bit more armor, feel free to strip the AMS off.

[Jalthibuster]

If a Gauss is a must have for you ignore this. If it is more about long distance fire support what you want you might consider the 2K:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...335c78b5cea6be5

Full firepower at all ranges, even more heat efficient after the quirks. Just keep firing two groups of 1 and 2 Lasers and you can shoot all day long.

[ShadowbaneX]

Jalthibuster, on 06 December 2014 - 06:19 AM, said:

If a Gauss is a must have for you ignore this. If it is more about long distance fire support what you want you might consider the 2K:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...335c78b5cea6be5

Full firepower at all ranges, even more heat efficient after the quirks. Just keep firing two groups of 1 and 2 Lasers and you can shoot all day long.

I'm not a big fan of the 3 LLs. Drop one of them and a heat sink for 2 SRM4s and 2 tons of ammo. Then you've got a good long range punch and a solid jab with in close with the SRMs.

[Zwergonfire]

Buyin' me up a 5M! I finally mastered my CTF-4X and I have enough cash for my brand new SHawk! I'm probably going to try out all kinds of different load outs so I'll post what I think about them here.

[mogs01gt]

Ive ran the Gauss Hawk a few times. Each time, I was killed by an FS9 or other light mech that you simply cannot hit once they get to you.

I had to switch to this.
SHD-2D

[Zwergonfire]

So I finally mastered two of my SHawks: the 2D and 2K. I tried the gauss rifle, but it never felt right to me. I settled on 2 ac-5s and a mpl with a 275xl and BAP. I can still do a bit of pop tarting with it and I consistently get 3-400 dmg matches with it.

The 2K is my favorite though. 3xLL with a 300xl and BAP. This works even on hot maps. Again, I get 3-400 and even some 500 dmg matches with this one. I'm on my way to putting range and cool down mods in it that should make it even better (plus I have the resistance pack mods coming soon!) A solid mech for all occasions!

Focusing on mods for the most part and trying to save cash for a nice assault mech to round things out. Battlemaster or banshee? I'm still torn, but I've got a while to think about it.

Thanks for everyone's help and input! ^__^

[juxstapo]

Zwergonfire, on 04 December 2014 - 11:03 AM, said:

The only thing I've dropped money for it's the panther because it's always been one of my favorite TT mechs.

I like you! You can stay.

[Tordin]

Shadow Hawk is IMO a really good chassic. Im running a SHD 2D With Stock enigne. I use 3x lrm 5, a laser tag in the right arm and 2x medium pulse lasers in the left. I scrapped two of the jump jets to save weight but With enough jj to Clear minor obstacles. This build is mostly a harasser for long range use. Hang with Your team mates since its not too good in Close combat. If you want to solo a bit more, to scout the horizon etc, go for an xl engine at the cost of some armor. I got positively suprised to Down a Heavy? mech with constant lrm 5 rain, using lasertag to nullify ECM bubble.When lrm ammo is spent I go and support others by laser tagging the enemy while still have a little firepower.

[IronLichRich]

The only Shadow Hawk I have left is my phoenix variant, but I did run a gauss sniper (I used a bigger engine and less backup weapons due to the crappy energy hardpoints on the variant) and it works pretty damn well.

[gobifire]

I have been running my SHD-2H with an XL-260, Med Pulse Laser, Dual AC/5 and SRM-4 with a half ton of ammo as a backup.
It performs very well as a Sniper/Brawler: I can shoot stupid enemies that run in front of me as well as surprise them when I shoot them down in their back. The SRM-4 is a great weapon to punch enemies that come too near. Its the best Shadowhawk build I have found yet. So I think an SRM also is a good weapon for Snipers.