53 replies to this topic

[PitchBlackYeti]

I've been waiting eagerly for March 4th to get the Hellbringers and it's the only thing I've been playing since then in order to master the chassis. However, I've been having rather mediocre games with it, most of them around or below 300ish damage. I try to stick with the bulk of the team and provide ECM cover but wherever enemies see me I'm getting focused a lot After almost two weeks of playing I thought I'd take a look at chassis stats. The results were kinda unexpected, with crappy KDR around 0,6-0,7 but very good win/loss of about 1,5-1,7, solo drops only. Now, what I read from this is that despite me doing badly in this mech, the ECM advantage to my team is still enough to win games. This is my first ECM mech so I can't compare it to anything else. Do others ECM players have similar observations?

EDIT: I'll put this here so perhaps this thread is more civil and less "HBR sucks" and "No, L2P"

PitchBlackYeti, on 14 March 2015 - 05:36 AM, said:

By the way, the topic wasn't supposed to be a "HBR disappointment" rant but a question to other players about ECM chassis in general. My impression is that ECM may make the game a lot easier for the team but it sure makes it a lot harder for me. I'm starting to understand why there aren't that many ECMs around in PUGs, ECM is great to have...as long as it's the other guy carrying it.

Edited by PitchBlackYeti, 14 March 2015 - 09:47 AM.

[Voq]

The HBR is a very solid chassis capable of big damage output even without ECM.
I suspect you simply haven't found what works for you yet.
I recommend mechspecs.com for some ideas. There are a lot for the HBR.

The ECM gives me goods survivability, but I'm personally able to turn that into solid damage/kills as long as I play smart.

[TercieI]

What builds are you running? For solo PUGging, I'd recommend the LV (1LPL, 5ERML, TC1, ECM, extremely left-handed). It's quite lethal and ECM gives you the advantage of knowing your opponent's loadout first, especially combined with that TC1 and TIG.

[Peiper]

It DOES seem squishy to me. Oddly, all the clan heavies do to me. The ECM does make you a target, too. Ask any DDC pilot. You'll be prioritized for NARC's and people will aim for your left torso, which also knocks out the majority of your possible laser spam. Perhaps play it as a clan version of the T-Bolt? It means a lot of hit and run. The T-bolt has the advantage over the Hellbringer in energy heat dissipation AND stronger structure for the R/L torsos, so it IS tougher. But you can play the Hellbringer in the Centurion style. Put your weapons in the left torso with ECM, and use your right side as a shield. You can also run it as a missile boat! Good luck!

[Paigan]

My experience:

Every game the LT flies off after the first 2-3 hits.
Housing the ECM AND having 2/3 of the mech's weapons depending on it, it just screams "primary target".
As a consequence, I consider the HBR next to useless.


(and please spare the narrow-minded flames about me having to torsotwist more. I torso twist more with the HBR than with any other mech and still its LT is gone more than twice as fast. And ALWAYS the LT. Read above.)

Edited by Paigan, 14 March 2015 - 05:23 AM.

[PurpleNinja]

I play mine as a sniper (ERLL or LPL) and since they do a good amount of pinpoint damage, my damage output is not great (600 in very good games) but is focused and I'm able to score at least 2 kills on most matches.

Headshots are a lot easier to achieve when the enemy are completely unaware of you, and it credit very little damage to your scoreboard.

ECM, terrain coverage and seismic sensor are the key.

[PitchBlackYeti]

Terciel1976, on 14 March 2015 - 05:18 AM, said:

What builds are you running?

1xLPL,6xERML, HBR-PRIME
2xERLL,4xERML, HBR-PRIME
6xERML,2xSRM6 HBR-PRIME

I tried 2xLPL but with 20ish DHS it runs too hot.

All in all I think that without ECM it would be a very mediocre mech but then again maybe I wouldn't get so focus-fired each damn game. As Paigan said, LT rarely makes it till the end of the game and no amount of twisting seems to affect it's fate.

By the way, the topic wasn't supposed to be a "HBR disappointment" rant but a question to other players about ECM chassis in general. My impression is that ECM may make the game a lot easier for the team but it sure makes it a lot harder for me. I'm starting to understand why there aren't that many ECMs around in PUGs, ECM is great to have...as long as it's the other guy carrying it.

Edited by PitchBlackYeti, 14 March 2015 - 05:45 AM.

[TercieI]

PitchBlackYeti, on 14 March 2015 - 05:36 AM, said:

1xLPL,6xERML, HBR-PRIME
2xERLL,4xERML, HBR-PRIME
6xERML,2xSRM6 HBR-PRIME

I tried 2xLPL but with 20ish DHS it runs too hot.

All in all I think that without ECM it would be a very mediocre mech but then again maybe I wouldn't get so focus-fired each damn game. As Paigan said, LT rarely makes it till the end of the game and no amount of twisting seems to affect it's fate.

Nothing terribly wrong with the builds (I'd lose the RA on the prime and don't personally care for SRMs on the HBR, but those are reasonable). If you're having trouble being asymmetrical, consider a UAC10 or 2UAC5s backed up with lasers. It ends up better balanced and you lose less if you lose the LT.

[Ralgas]

As much as ppl rag on clan acs try 2uac5in the rt + your fave mix of energy, then play it like a jagger.

[Willard Phule]

I don't know, I like my HBR prime. But, mastering it makes a HUGE difference in the heat scale.

All I tend to run, besides ECM, are 6 CERMLs (3 tied to arms, 3 in the LT) and some flavor of targeting computer. The size of the computer is based on your heat scale. I can normally get 6-8 volleys before Betty starts to complain.

But, and here's the best part, the TC extends your range and increases your critical chance.

[LordKnightFandragon]

Paigan, on 14 March 2015 - 05:23 AM, said:

My experience:

Every game the LT flies off after the first 2-3 hits.
Housing the ECM AND having 2/3 of the mech's weapons depending on it, it just screams "primary target".
As a consequence, I consider the HBR next to useless.


(and please spare the narrow-minded flames about me having to torsotwist more. I torso twist more with the HBR than with any other mech and still its LT is gone more than twice as fast. And ALWAYS the LT. Read above.)

So pull a quicky, but most of your firepower in the arms. 1 LPL per arm is almost as much as the 3 ML in the LT. 13 vs 18. Ofc, losing your ECM might be problematic.

[Willard Phule]

Paigan, on 14 March 2015 - 05:23 AM, said:

My experience:

Every game the LT flies off after the first 2-3 hits.
Housing the ECM AND having 2/3 of the mech's weapons depending on it, it just screams "primary target".
As a consequence, I consider the HBR next to useless.


(and please spare the narrow-minded flames about me having to torsotwist more. I torso twist more with the HBR than with any other mech and still its LT is gone more than twice as fast. And ALWAYS the LT. Read above.)

You're not paying attention to the quirks with regard to the armor.

There's a head module that gives a +20% armor bonus and I believe there's an arm one that gives another +10%. Granted, using those limits your hardpoint allocation, but the head one is worth having.

Also, you might want to check your front/back distribution. I tend to have my sides around 19 on the rears and 23 on the center. After you get it mastered, it reacts quickly and can handle the heat of 6 CERMLs for quite a while.

[RockmachinE]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the 1xGAUSS 3xMPLAS. I use this as a decent all purpose mech. Its a decent sniper, medium range mech, support mech and can brawl with equals or lesser mechs decently. I almost always get a few kills with this thing.

[LordKnightFandragon]

Ofc, if PGI would go and make CERPPC a 15/15 with 1300 velocity, the stock HBR minus its TC, MGs and more armor would actually be a nice loadout. As it is, those CERPPC are a joke.

[Willard Phule]

Louis Brofist, on 14 March 2015 - 07:08 AM, said:

I'm surprised no one mentioned the 1xGAUSS 3xMPLAS. I use this as a decent all purpose mech. Its a decent sniper, medium range mech, support mech and can brawl with equals or lesser mechs decently. I almost always get a few kills with this thing.

And depending on how much gauss ammo you pack, you might be able to get a mid-range TC on it. Increases the speed of the round and the crit chance once the armor is burned off.

LordKnightFandragon, on 14 March 2015 - 07:10 AM, said:

Ofc, if PGI would go and make CERPPC a 15/15 with 1300 velocity, the stock HBR minus its TC, MGs and more armor would actually be a nice loadout. As it is, those CERPPC are a joke.

Again, keep in mind how many of those CERPPC users are packing both the level 5 modules and a TC to extend the range. The percentages stack.

[MerryIguana]

I find it to be a fantastic heavy. But i love lefties, so there is that.

[Lostdragon]

I love the HBR and have had good success with it. I have 2x LPL in the prime's LT with one ML, and MLs in the head and left arm. I run the A with 6 MPL, 3 in the LT, 1 in the head, and 2 in the left arm. I run the B with 4 ERLL, three in the LT and one in the head.

[Fate 6]

The Hellbringer has my highest Kill/Death ratio. Maybe you're just doing it wrong?

[LordKnightFandragon]

Willard Phule, on 14 March 2015 - 07:11 AM, said:

And depending on how much gauss ammo you pack, you might be able to get a mid-range TC on it. Increases the speed of the round and the crit chance once the armor is burned off.



Again, keep in mind how many of those CERPPC users are packing both the level 5 modules and a TC to extend the range. The percentages stack.

Velocity module? I put a TC4 on my WHK and didnt even notice a difference, 10%? put it to like 1100m/s. 1300m/s we might start to notice a difference. I have TC5 CD mod. I dont want more range on the thing, I want the dmg to be 15 heat to be 15 and velocity to be 1300. If they need to balance it out, go with a 4.5s CD, or a 5s CD, 17% on the mastery and CD mods putting it at like 3.7s CD. Would give the CERPPC more punch then the IS PPC, but less RoF. but worth it in every way. Right now, I dont find the 3s CD on it that useful, its to slow, to hot and doesnt really do anything to make it worth firing, 12 CERPPCs later into a KG and nothing.

[Otto Cannon]

Willard Phule, on 14 March 2015 - 07:06 AM, said:

You're not paying attention to the quirks with regard to the armor.

There's a head module that gives a +20% armor bonus and I believe there's an arm one that gives another +10%. Granted, using those limits your hardpoint allocation, but the head one is worth having.

How is 20% extra head armour and 10% extra on an arm going to stop the left torso being destroyed?