83 replies to this topic

[Brody319]

I only enjoyed 2 Centurions to be completely honest. the Yen-Lo-Wang and the AH. I tried the AL and didn't enjoy it.

As for the Hunchbacks, most people will probably hate me, but I don't like them very much, the 4G is fun when it works for me but a lot of the time she just doesn't. and the4J was a pain like no other.

Blackjacks were extremely fun, they can still poptart and I really enjoyed every chassis I played, once I figured out a good build. 1, DC, 3.

Shadowhawks are pretty fun but can be frustrating like other mediums, and if you aren't willing to swap out the engine you will be dealing with some restrictive tonnages for weapons.

[Mirumoto Izanami]

Well, OP, as you can see by the various responses, there is no set answer.

I'm the opposite of Bishop. I've not had the Shadowhawk or the Hunchback click for me, but the Centurion chassis, for me, is a sweet sweet ride, and I will swear by its glory.

A lot of the medium mech experience has to do with which nuances of each mech works for you. Generally, Shadowhawks, Griffins, Huncbacks, and Centurions are all solid choices, but they appeal to different players for different reasons.

Soon the Enforcer will be in that group as well.

Edited by Mirumoto Izanami, 03 March 2015 - 11:25 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mirumoto Izanami, on 03 March 2015 - 11:24 AM, said:

Well, OP, as you can see by the various responses, there is no set answer.

I'm the opposite of Bishop. I've not had the Shadowhawk or the Hunchback click for me, but the Centurion chassis, for me, is a sweet sweet ride, and I will swear by its glory.

A lot of the medium mech experience has to do with which nuances of each mech works for you. Generally, Shadowhawks, Griffins, Huncbacks, and Centurions are all solid choices, but they appeal to different players for different reasons.

Soon the Enforcer will be in that group as well.

Oh, I actually prefer the Centy. But IMO, the SHD is overall the better mech.

In fact I find it so much easier to pilot, that like ym Timber Wolf, I got bored, and stopped using it. Whereas I still use my YLW and CN9-D quite regularly, and take my "Improved Stock" 9-A out for larks, too. I tend to lean toward whatever I have more fun/challenge driving. Mediums for me these days tend to bounce between my HBK-4G (probably my "signature" Mech, these days), my HBK-4J, my CN9-D (my YLW is stock for SMM, so not as much use) my VND-1AA and looks like the ENF-4R will be joining the gang.

All the rest either were too easy mode, didn't fit me well, or required me to run loadouts that just bored me to tears.

[KharnZor]

mogs01gt, on 03 March 2015 - 06:49 AM, said:

You've just lost all credibility. CN9's are the most durable IS medium by miles.

No, not it wouldnt. The 4G, like every Hunchie, gets wrekt due to the size of the hunch. Unlike both the Shawk and Cent, the hunchie cant shield its main weapon.

Someone here has lost credibility and it sure isn't me.

[mogs01gt]

KharnZor, on 03 March 2015 - 11:52 AM, said:

Someone here has lost credibility and it sure isn't me.

L2P bro...

[Bishop Steiner]

KharnZor, on 03 March 2015 - 11:52 AM, said:

Someone here has lost credibility and it sure isn't me.

mogs01gt, on 03 March 2015 - 11:56 AM, said:

L2P bro...

lol, u 2 need to get a room or something, yeesh!

[KharnZor]

mogs01gt, on 03 March 2015 - 11:56 AM, said:

L2P bro...

lol yea right, keep scraping the bottom of the barrel down there in scrub tier

Bishop Steiner, on 03 March 2015 - 12:30 PM, said:

lol, u 2 need to get a room or something, yeesh!

quiet you you know i'm right

[Drakuba]

Thanks for the overwhelming amount of opinions. I think ill go for hunchback (or wait for quirks for shadow cat). I want something with AC20 quirks, but i dont plan to invest money to game as it is now(screwed JJ, no death from above, no knockdowns!, ghost eat). Maybe if i earn MC by faction promotions or if game take some satisfying turn in games mechanics (instead of buy our mech packs $$$ buy new hero mech $$$ cockpit junk $$$)

Thanks for your advices, i like when i can junge one thing from diferent angles, special thanks goes to bishop steiner and all other who typed WHY this is better than this

PS: dont take it as closed, every piece of info is useful, i dont have money to buy new mech, omnis are expensive and i want to master timber wolfs

[Creovex]

Drakuba, on 05 March 2015 - 12:25 AM, said:

Thanks for the overwhelming amount of opinions. I think ill go for hunchback (or wait for quirks for shadow cat). I want something with AC20 quirks, but i dont plan to invest money to game as it is now(screwed JJ, no death from above, no knockdowns!, ghost eat). Maybe if i earn MC by faction promotions or if game take some satisfying turn in games mechanics (instead of buy our mech packs $$$ buy new hero mech $$$ cockpit junk $$$)

Thanks for your advices, i like when i can junge one thing from diferent angles, special thanks goes to bishop steiner and all other who typed WHY this is better than this

PS: dont take it as closed, every piece of info is useful, i dont have money to buy new mech, omnis are expensive and i want to master timber wolfs

Hey! At least this isn't Earthsiege.....

Overall, solid conclusion aside from convoluting a good topic with a price point ratonale. You DON'T have to sink money in to be good. Hero mechs aren't even close to a must anymore due to all mediums getting quirks and can be a viable option, just find a chassis style that fits you gameplay.

Edited by Creovex, 05 March 2015 - 12:45 AM.

[Sjorpha]

Late to the party here it seems, but between the cent and the shadowhawk it seems to me that the shadowhawk is the one you buy if you are looking generally at total chassis strength and opening up many options, and the cent is the brawler specialist that clicks perfectly with some people.

I love my shadowhawks, it was my first mech bought for cadet funds, and I think it is a very good choice for newbie mech since it teaches you pretty much every aspect of the game. And you can also do almost every type of build effectively enough on it, brawler, sniper, poptart, light hunter, LRM/support fire hybrid and so on. It can do both std and xl builds well, and it has good shield arms. But it is also big as **** and can feel squishy until you learn the shielding, but that is true for the cent as well, they both have that incredible tankiness that only dawns on you once you get the shielding and playstyle right, and they can both be easily killed in seconds if you don't.

I've started leveling cents and have to admit so far so bad, but i have only played the D for basics yet which seems to be acknowledged as the worst variant, I just can't get that shotguns DPS quirks to combine well with the shielding, since it feels that they negate each other. So I'm still hoping for the AH and A to click since their alpha punch builds should work much better with a shield/strike/shield pattern.

[sneeking]

Bishop Steiner, on 03 March 2015 - 07:28 AM, said:

I don't duel (as many people as I regularly piss off, I'd never have time to play the game , plus all that tends to prove is who is the better pilot, not if the mech itself is better), but I see ya on the battlefield, I'll happily veer off and go a round or two with you! CN9-A is a great mech, btw. Which build you prefer? (Please don't be one of those guys that leaves the AC off...seeing those makes me sad!)

Sorry dude, im gonna have to disappoint ya

Yes I am one who leaves the ac off ( only on the A though ) for the A I go 2 med pulse three srm4, I take advantage of srm quirks and maximize ammo there.
In pugs it runs max XL also but if we went trial against ea h other id definitely go back to std engine because I wouldn't need so much ammo for one mech.
The rest of my cents ( AL excluded obviously ) run ac2 and lbx most of the time but uac5 sometimes or ac20.

[Rossario x Vampire]

kapusta11, on 03 March 2015 - 02:06 AM, said:

2K with 3x LPLs.

Shush!!!11
Wubhawk-2K

Going back in MWO history the only wide used Inner Sphere medium mech for countering Doomcrow was an Shadowhawk even before quirks comes out.

Hunchy is too bulky and still is headshot friendly, same as Cent, but Cent with an XL drive is a twice frag friendly for Timberwubs, Hellblingers and Wubcrows who are armed with pair of C-LPL's.

Edited by Rossario x Vampire, 05 March 2015 - 01:47 AM.

[sneeking]

Veritae, on 03 March 2015 - 06:22 AM, said:

This.

Remember guys, this isn't really about which mech is best for vets. It's about which will work best for a new medium pilot. I have seen many a new YLW pilot get discouraged cuz he/she keeps losing that right arm before they can really unleash the pain. Get a Shawk and torso twist using both arms as shields as you get the feel for the weight class. By the time you master them, you'll know exactly what you want in your next medium.

I would like to counter this by saying the cent will teach new players the fundamentals of battle with its sheer simplicity.
they will by mastering the chassis be exposed to a variety ( but not in over complicated combinations ) of weapons in a tough durable platform that is fast and agile.
They will learn weapon grouping and fire control ( how to rotate and counter fire ) anyone who watched karate kid will remember the drum technique lol.

I might be biased its the first mech I mastered when I came here but its a great old warhorse and schoolmaster.

And I can still play it all day without becoming board

[Rossario x Vampire]

For a starter I would suggest this if we talking Shawk:

StarterHawk - SHD-2D

...and it can be upgraded to...

Advancedhawk - SHD-2D

...and if you add some steroids it can grew into this...

BNC-3M(C)

Edited by Rossario x Vampire, 05 March 2015 - 02:20 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Drakuba, on 05 March 2015 - 12:25 AM, said:

Thanks for the overwhelming amount of opinions. I think ill go for hunchback (or wait for quirks for shadow cat). I want something with AC20 quirks, but i dont plan to invest money to game as it is now(screwed JJ, no death from above, no knockdowns!, ghost eat). Maybe if i earn MC by faction promotions or if game take some satisfying turn in games mechanics (instead of buy our mech packs $$$ buy new hero mech $$$ cockpit junk $$$)

Thanks for your advices, i like when i can junge one thing from diferent angles, special thanks goes to bishop steiner and all other who typed WHY this is better than this

PS: dont take it as closed, every piece of info is useful, i dont have money to buy new mech, omnis are expensive and i want to master timber wolfs

A good choice! Possibly a little extra challenge to begin with, since you do have to be conscious of position/speed and not making your hunch an easy target. But one heck of a rock em sock em robot. As long as you keep aware and snap twist to minimize damage, I think you will get addicted to the AC20 jackhammer of doom!

I find that using terrain, poking along the flanks (though since not very fast, be careful not to overextend!) And peeking a great way to start most matches. Nice High mount, side oriented, makes peek and run rather easy. But when it does come time to mix it up, that RoF and relatively easy heat management will make you one mean sucker! Definitely invest in the ac20 cooldown module! (Plus Target Derp and Wallhack). Invaluable on judging the situation, and causing ambushes of immense pain! And be sure to carry at least 4 tons of ammo for that thing, cause that critter on your shoulder eats thru ammo real fast!

Anyhow, if you need any builds, tips, etc on any HBK chassis, just gimme a shout. Personal faves are the 4G, 4J and 4 SP, in that order, but for max diversity, would recommend the 4G (ac20), 4J (2x LRM10 plus lazors) and 4P (pewpew supreme!).

[LordMelvin]

My favorite mech in the game was the SHD-5M for a long time, but I favor AC10s and 5s on my Shadowhawks. My top c-bill farming build was STD 300, AC10, 2 LL with JJs. Decently fast, can jump up hills, long-range poke with the ability to make aggressive lights regret getting out of bed in the morning. Only problem is the weapon placement, since the lasers are in the arm and the AC is so close to the center torso it's really easy to get stripped quickly. I also have a tendency to twist right when taking fire so I almost always lose the AC first.

I haven't played around with the Cent too much other than a few drops in the free -AH from a past event, but the Hunchback-4G is the only medium I've put an AC20 in. I find they're generally too big to allow for reasonable ammo counts AND backup weapons, so I stick to the smaller ACs.

[MechWarrior5152251]

Shadow Hawk has higher AC20 mount and JJ. A skilled pilot can use JJ on a medium mech (JJ will get you off the ground unlike heavies) to pop tart with the AC20 while avoiding return fire via agility. I don't like the Shadowhawk because it is a left hander and because the gun muzzle flash is right in your face and makes it hard to see while you are shooting.

Centurion is only good as a zombie, so only the builds with center torso mounts are good, and only for someone who knows how to torso twist. Any skilled player will just blow your legs off having seen these zombies before.

If the BJ could mount a 250 engine it would be great, but it cant.

Edited by MechWarrior5152251, 05 March 2015 - 06:41 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

MechWarrior5152251, on 05 March 2015 - 06:37 AM, said:

Shadow Hawk has higher AC20 mount and JJ. A skilled pilot can use JJ on a medium mech (JJ will get you off the ground unlike heavies) to pop tart with the AC20 while avoiding return fire via agility. I don't like the Shadowhawk because it is a left hander and because the gun muzzle flash is right in your face and makes it hard to see while you are shooting.

Centurion is only good as a zombie, so only the builds with center torso mounts are good, and only for someone who knows how to torso twist. Any skilled player will just blow your legs off having seen these zombies before.

If the BJ could mount a 250 engine it would be great, but it cant.

so much wrong with this post.

The Zombie Cent has not been much of the Meta in nearly a year or so, since the CT hitbox was widened. Thing tanks with XLs amazingly well. And even when it was a "thing" the ZombieCent was the most overrated piece of tripe. And while a 250 in a NJ would be nice, the thing is hardly a bad mech without it.

[sneeking]

I was never into the zombi, for me the cent has always been about its speed and punch.

To use those two attributes effectively you need the XL to get big engine while saving enough weight for that punch, endo helps also but depending weapons and ammo free slots may become the balancing act more so than weight.

Some of my cents use XL endo and ferro but if space is the issue ferro should be the first thing to cut.

[Vahnn]

Yen Lo Wang.

That is all.

Standard Armor, Endo-Steel, XL 300, 2 ML, AC/20 with 4.5 tons of ammo. 30% cbill boost.

Still my favorite mech in the game.

Edited by Vahnn, 05 March 2015 - 03:20 PM.