17 replies to this topic

[Deadeye2907]

Lately I've been playing around with a build on my HBK 4P that I wanted to share. I'm 99% sure someone else has done this and posted it at some point, but it's not something I would have considered for the longest time due to the need to run an XL in order to get the fast pace I'm used to in my 4P.

HBK-4P

I've been having a ton of fun with this build and wanted to share it.


EDIT: I know this build is probably pretty bad, I just had fun with it >.>

Edited by Deadeye2907, 06 May 2015 - 12:57 PM.

[grendeldog]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...8421d4e031e3863

This is my adjusted version. I have been meaning to do this for the longest time, as I have an XL275 for my Grid Iron and so that I can try out Koniving's LB-10, 2*MG ballistic Hunchback. I haven't got around to it even though my 4P is still my favorite mech (was my first and still my best performer).

Seeing as somebody else has had the same thought but actually did it, I may need to give it a go ASAP.

EDIT: I forgot the change the armor levels. Try the following:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9182ef065b24fae
Normally I run the HBK with 2 on the right rear torso as per Kon's advice, with I think around 5 on the back CT and 3 or 4 on the rear left torso. Heavily front loading the armor is doable because of the HBK's insane torso twist range and speed, but seeing as this is an XL, I brought the rear armor up a bit more in case of friendly fire or if a brawl breaks out.

EDIT 2: I would also consider this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...75adfe8d22262c5
The arm lasers on my 4P(C) get very little use because they require the mech to fully emerge from cover, as opposed to the much higher energy mounts in the torso and on the head. Consequently I have traded the two arm MPLs for regular MLs, as doing so allows me to mount two more DHS. And this mech definitely needs all the help with extra cooling that it can get!

Edited by grendeldog, 02 May 2015 - 10:40 PM.

[Drakkith]

I run a 4P with 3 LPL's and an XL 270. Having all 3 LPL's on the hunch, along with the mobility from the engine, is amazing.

[warner2]

Deadeye2907, on 28 April 2015 - 06:50 PM, said:

Lately I've been playing around with a build on my HBK 4P that I wanted to share. I'm 99% sure someone else has done this and posted it at some point, but it's not something I would have considered for the longest time due to the need to run an XL in order to get the fast pace I'm used to in my 4P.

HBK-4P

I've been having a ton of fun with this build and wanted to share it.

This is not a good optimised build. Where is your Endo-Steel? Equip that and use the tonnage for something useful. I would consider that perhaps less weapons are sometimes better than more. You can probably work a standard engine in there so that you have a real shield side if you drop some of those pulse lasers.

[Anunknownlurker]

Never like XLs in the HB, that side torso is a real hit magnet as everyone aims for your right shoulder, lose that and you are out. I'd rather take a standard engine and either be slower or hit less. Maybe replace the engine with a standard 265 and three MPLs with SLs?

[grendeldog]

Jimmy DiGriz, on 03 May 2015 - 05:25 AM, said:

Never like XLs in the HB, that side torso is a real hit magnet as everyone aims for your right shoulder, lose that and you are out. I'd rather take a standard engine and either be slower or hit less. Maybe replace the engine with a standard 265 and three MPLs with SLs?

I have yet to try out an XL on anything but my Grid Iron. But I will play devil's advocate for a moment and suggest that if you have lost your hunch, you are no longer that useful. So perhaps dying with the hunch is the better option when it enables more firepower and / or more speed.

Or perhaps not, I suspect it is down to individual preference.

[Tiamat of the Sea]

grendeldog, on 03 May 2015 - 09:49 AM, said:

you are no longer that useful.

Not that useful > not useful at all.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...36dabfc21f1dd53

Standard engine solution. Retains a medium laser if it's not dead no matter what, has an additional small just in case, and six medium pulses is plenty of sudden punch. I've used this build for a while now, and it saved my 4P from the sale bin, I couldn't do anything else with it that both was effective and at all enjoyable.

[Phobic Wraith]

That 9 mpl build has been around for a little while. It started popping up as the "hothead" hunch right around the time PGI instituted ghost heat. I started running it when they dropped the extra heat on pulse lasers last year I think. I now call it "the murderback." I've found the XL engine becomes a moot point when your enemy is dead after one alpha.

[Chuck Jager]

Do not look at this as XL good or bad. Change the equation to risk versus reward. I leveled my p with an XL and Lplas because in pug ques the game was won or lost before I could ever get to range with enough support to do any amount of damage. Also in pug solo que folks do not always know enough to go for the hunch. In group que ttk is so quick it is really a matter of does the shorter burn time hit reg of Mplas with an XL put out more damage and kills then the mlas P or the ac20 G model without an XL engine

[Drakkith]

grendeldog, on 03 May 2015 - 09:49 AM, said:

I have yet to try out an XL on anything but my Grid Iron. But I will play devil's advocate for a moment and suggest that if you have lost your hunch, you are no longer that useful. So perhaps dying with the hunch is the better option when it enables more firepower and / or more speed.

Or perhaps not, I suspect it is down to individual preference.

I run an XL in all three of my HB's. I'd rather have the mobility to keep from taking damage in the first place. But, as someone else already said in the thread, it's all about risk vs reward. I've died to my left torso being taken out more times than I can remember. Still, I can't stand being in a slow medium.

[Shalune]

This is what I use:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a39bcd7a7fe69db

You are now aware that the 4J, secret master of all hunches, has better energy quirks than the 4P.

[Deadeye2907]

Phobic Wraith, on 03 May 2015 - 11:36 AM, said:

That 9 mpl build has been around for a little while. It started popping up as the "hothead" hunch right around the time PGI instituted ghost heat. I started running it when they dropped the extra heat on pulse lasers last year I think. I now call it "the murderback." I've found the XL engine becomes a moot point when your enemy is dead after one alpha.

Ahh, I thought it had to be used at some point! All the 4Ps I've seen have all been using 9MLs (Which I have actually changed back to using a while after posting this) so I figured I'd post about it Thanks for telling me matey! I didn't start playing until right before beta ended (I think) and I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm in a lower elo (Not that I mind, I play for fun) so I don't know a lot about... well almost everything in MWO xD

[grendeldog]

Shalune, on 05 May 2015 - 02:09 AM, said:

This is what I use:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a39bcd7a7fe69db

You are now aware that the 4J, secret master of all hunches, has better energy quirks than the 4P.

Yeah, I've seen and fought some nasty LL and LPL 4J builds. When build so the missiles are no longer the primary purpose - if there are any missiles at all - the 4J can be a murderous energy mech.

Edited by grendeldog, 06 May 2015 - 05:17 PM.

[Crotch RockIt]

OP, try this build. Keep all 9 MPL, add 3 much needed heat sinks and max leg armor. All it'll cost is a minor 3.5 kph drop in top speed.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0f1612029f5629e

[grendeldog]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...78c6a3cde928b07

Personally, that's what I'd do. But mech design is to each their own, so I'm not knocking other designs.

[Shalune]

grendeldog, on 06 May 2015 - 05:16 PM, said:

Yeah, I've seen and fought some nasty LL and LPL 4J builds. When build so the missiles are no longer the primary purpose - if there are any missiles at all - the 4J can be a murderous energy mech.

Aye. Though the 2x LRM 10 build is also a power house.

Anyway, just to clarify I still like the 4P, and there's things it can do well that the 4J can't. That said I think way too many people default to it because "Oh it's the energy HBK, of course it's best for laser builds." Unless you are using all the energy hardpoints, it's often worth checking out the 4J or 4SP for their quirks.

[grendeldog]

Shalune, on 10 May 2015 - 02:32 AM, said:

Aye. Though the 2x LRM 10 build is also a power house.

Anyway, just to clarify I still like the 4P, and there's things it can do well that the 4J can't. That said I think way too many people default to it because "Oh it's the energy HBK, of course it's best for laser builds." Unless you are using all the energy hardpoints, it's often worth checking out the 4J or 4SP for their quirks.

I don't have a 4J myself despite my deep and abiding love for Hunchbacks. But I do think it is by far the sleeper variant for that chassis. It has mobility that is lacking from many LRM mechs, and IMO beats the Kintaro as an LRM-5 gigantic nuisance object.

The Hen with the option of the las builds you have a surprisingly diverse build set. I don't see many of them running around, but if piloted with skill they are something to be reckoned with and a reasonable priority target.

[Zuri Prime]

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__4244183

Reaffirming the 4J with 3 LPLs, it's really an unexpected beast. The "hunch" gives you a bonus to defense. Sure it's an XL but if you play your cards right you'll do good by it, and it'll do good by you. Screenies, build and video for any who are interested!