20 replies to this topic

[Breidr]

I've been reevaluating my 'Mech deck and playstyle since the change in tonnage for IS.

I have mastered the Hunchback and I'm working towards Stalker mastery as I plan to carry a 4N on my ship. I also carry Hunchbacks, the Grid Iron, 4G, and 4P.

Looking around at simlar 'Mechs such as the Shadowhawk and Wolverine have made me doubt my Hunchbacks a little.

I can swap out a Hunchback for a 55 ton 'Mech. The eternal question is whether I should. As a mediocre pilot I like my Hunchback, but the other chassis seem better in a way.

I'm mostly concerned with surviving, and the Hunchback is the smallest, but that is about it. The 4G seems outclassed, but I don't know.

What does carrying an extra 5 tons get me?

[Rogue Jedi]

the HBK is better with its quirked weapons than any other Mediums are with those weapons, the major advantages of the 55tonners are they are XL engine safe and usualy can fit jumpjets.

the Griffin and Wolverine both have builds which can be better than a HBK with their quirked weapons but do not massively outclass it

Edited by Rogue Jedi, 07 June 2015 - 08:49 AM.

[Modo44]

Get a Scarecrow. It does everything the Hunchie can but better, and without being so silly easy to disarm.

[TripleEhBeef]

Modo44, on 07 June 2015 - 04:53 AM, said:

Get a Scarecrow. It does everything the Hunchie can but better, and without being so silly easy to disarm.

I think he's working on an IS drop deck, so Doomcrow is a no-go.

The Shadowhawk can run heavy ballistics, so that may be a good option for you, OP.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

5 more tons gives you a small increase in maximum armor capacity, a small decrease in speed-per-rating from your engine, slightly more weight savings for Endo Steel, and a little bit more payload space, assuming the same engine rating and maximum armor (to the nearest half-ton). Shadow Hawks and some variants of the Wolverine can also bring JJs, which help to boost your mobility.

Taking the Gray Death Shadowhawk and the Hunchback 4G, I'm going to apply the same upgrades and engine and max the armor:

HBK-4G empty
GRAY DEATH empty

As you can see, the Shadow Hawk has an extra 3.5 tons available. If you were running a Standard Armor build, you keep the same increase in relative payload tonnage, but gain significant critical slots (something the Shadow Hawk can make better use of than the Hunchback).

Edited by Levi Porphyrogenitus, 07 June 2015 - 12:24 PM.

[Tordin]

I recommend any Shadowhawk, very versatile, got JJ and nice options for ballisitcs. The 2d2 can work as a decent SRM/ Lrm boat too.

[Ano]

It really varies, I think.

I have Griffins, Hunchies, Shadowhawks, Centurions and Enforcers in the 50-55 ton range, and of them I quite like Sparky, the hero Griffin (medpulse boat) but aside from that the only ones I really like are the Hunchbacks -- in particular the 4p (a candidte for "my favourite mech") and 4g. I also like the Grid Iron, but I'm terrible in it

Lots of people seem to love the Shadowhawk, but for some reason none of them have clicked with me. It's more than likely me trying to play them in the wrong way, but still -- try 'em out if you can, but if you like your HBKs I personally wouldn't suggest swapping to another chassis just because it might be theoretically slightly better -- unless you're heading for "serious" play, of course.

[stealthraccoon]

Modo44, on 07 June 2015 - 04:53 AM, said:

Get a Scarecrow. It does everything the Hunchie can but better, and without being so silly easy to disarm.

Noooo! Don't go to the dark side!

The Hunchback's sacredness is second only to the Urbanmech (which are kinda like 3/5ths of a Hunchback). I had a good time with the Trebuchet chassis, and there are a few that have JJ's too (I really wish the 7K was one that did). Centurions are fun, but I never really took to them, they seem to be a tad too tall, IMHO.



Griffins and Shadowhawks just feel so HUGE to me; I frequently use the environment for cover, and it's hard to duck out of LRM rain with these lanky stomp-bots.

Edited by stealthraccoon, 07 June 2015 - 03:59 PM.

[Gaussfather]

Shadowhawks are my favorite medium mech to play because they are very versatile and tough to kill even with an XL engine on board. Griffins are also fun to play but they don't have ballistics...

Even though the wolverine has some good perks the weapons are mounted low and on the arm... whereas on the Shadowhawk its in the torso like a hunch back but without the huge "hunch" that vacuums in hits! Its much better for peaking and the hated pop-tart shots. And Wolverine builds are one-trick pony builds... you can have much more fun testing new build options on a Shadowhawk.

Best 3 to start with in my opinion would be 2H(C) (You want that 255XL) or 5M (both use similar builds w/ UAC5+AC5), 2K (3LL or 3LPL energy build), and 2D2 (gauss or missile boat).

I almost always put a 5M on my dropdeck for medium dakka fun for the hot map and the canyon map (high mounted weapons are advantageous on it) in CW.

Enjoy!

Edited by Jman88, 07 June 2015 - 05:19 PM.

[Elizander]

Once you get confident with your Grid Iron / Gauss Rifle and fire it on CD along with 3 ML you can pretty much rek face anywhere without overheating. None of the Shadowhawks have good quirks and the Wolverines are low mounted. HBKs have good quirks and high mounts.

[JC Daxion]

well the only 55 ton mech i have played is the wolverine. To me it plays like a tough HBK 4SP with JJ's (the 7K anyway) But they all have that HBK feel to um but you can also toss in the JJ's.

Some of the quirks on them are pretty darn good, and the 6K is a favorite right now with the CW droppers running some large laser build.. (i think they are stuffing 3 in the arm, which makes for a very fragile, useless mech if you loose an arm)

I really enjoy the 7K, it has been one of my favorite mechs, running dual SRM6's, and a pair of medium pulse, with an XL320 and JJ's for a very fast/mobile mech. Or you slow it down a bit and pack more punch with your energy slots. Before quirks, i also ran the mech as a dual LRM10 mech, which really works very well. Post quirk, i think the HBK 4J or a trebutche is a better mech for that build.

there is no hero mech yet, so who knows what is coming.. I'm just crossing my fingers as wolverines have been a fav or mine since last winter.. long before the Flavor of the month buff boosts hit.



(general knowledge of the other 55 toners from fighting them)

I will just add, that griffens, are a nice SRM+energy mech, and have nice twist, so are one of the mechs that can run at a slight angle and hit a mech following, which is a huge plus. They aslo have a new ECM version, and the Energy boat hero, "the sparky" They are pretty fast, and can jump well as they can equip a good amount of JJ's. the ones i see play best are the faster flankers, hit and run packing SRm's, or a well played LRM mech, though these days i see less of them on the field)


the shadow hawks, to me they are most flexible of the 55 toners. They don't have any crazy quirk, but honestly they don't really need it. they have good hit boxes so that is a plus, and the JJ's help over come the limited 90 degree twist.

they have a good varriety, and really can run just about every weapon system there is, and have a quirk to help it. Just about every quirk is basic level, so any weapon will rock on them.. Select mechs have a single tiny boost of a specific weapon, in the AC-5 5%, UAC5 5%, and PPC 10% velecity. everything else is generic

you don't see them as much these days, as everyone is power gaming quirks, (and then getting pissed when they over quirk and it gets a nerf) But the shadow hawks are just solid mechs, and still a very tough mech, in the hands of a good pilot. I often fear the mechs that were once considered tops, but now just ok, cause when you see um on the field, more often than not are they piloted by someone that knows what the heck they are doing.. verse the tons of FOTM's around.. Just something to think about.

kintaro's don't have JJ's, and are missile based.. A few times i have had some tough fights with um, but they are a mech you rarely see, so how they really play in the hands of a good player is hard to say.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Shadowhawks don't seem quite as good anymore. They didn't get worse, it's just everything else got more quirks. Shadowhawks are still versatile mechs, but more of a "jack of all trades" compared to a hunchback that has very specific quirks for each variant.

[Seal Farmer]

Talking about medium mechs, are they the best mechs to pilot starting out?

[Lan]

Seal Farmer, on 09 June 2015 - 03:01 AM, said:

Talking about medium mechs, are they the best mechs to pilot starting out?

There's no universal truth on which is best to start out with. We tend to ask you, the new player, what he likes best. If it is speed, maybe a light or a medium, if it is armor then an assault, if firepower then a heavy or assault, if a combo then a heavy, if speed and firepower...maybe a XL beefy 55 tonner medium.

It depends on you. What you like to play. Generally I advise players to start with a mech chassi that offers choice. Hunchbacks, Centurions, Shadowhawks can all mount every hardpoint type and is good for a starting player to get variety while working on his first three chassi.

[Breidr]

I'm leaning towards energy boating a Griffin as it seems safer than the Wolverine and the Shadowhawk doesn't seem to suit CW because of ballistics, but I'm not that experienced. CW seems to favor energy weapons, this is why I favor the Griffin.

Both of these 'Mechs seem to want XL engines, which scares me a bit. Are any standard viable? I've seen Wolverines with standards, but that's about it.

[Rogue Jedi]

Griffins are most definitely viable with standard engines, the fact that most of their weapons are on one side means if you have mastered shielding components a standard engine Griffin is really durable.

here are my builds for the cbill Griffins

for the 1N I use this
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3ccff7a4160ee9b

the 1S has weapons on both side, so I use an XL in this one
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...8b2ac2ca84599c8

the 3M again has almost all its firepower on the right side, this is my 3M build
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...46a1301367d5749
this one is a bit hot, usualy you will want to chain fire the SRMs (an alpha strike will generate a lot of heat) and only use the MLs past SRM range or if you are out of ammo

[Father Tork]

Get a Trebuchet, and hate yourself for all time!

[Zookeeper Dan]

My first mechs were Shadow Hawks and I still have a blast playing them. They don't have many quirks because the platform is so solid. High left torso mounts, tightly clustered missile mounts, and enough energy mounts for backup weapons. I run a 2H with 2AC5's, a 2K with 3ERLL's and 2 ssrm2's, and a 2d2 with an AC20 and 2 ml's.

If you are looking for something you can use in CW I would pick up the GRF-2N. It's a solid mech and everyone likes seeing ecm on their team.

If you check out metamechs.com the Griffins, Shadow Hawks, and Wolverines all have high tier mechs.

[Nightmare1]

@OP: I've been around a while and cut my teeth on the HBK-4G. I own and run all the HBKs except the 4J in my drop deck. I also run a single Shadowhawk in my drop deck. Basically, if you're new and feel that you don't have a lot of skill yet, I would recommend that you stick with what you know. Don't change horses in mid-stream; stay with your HBKs until you get better at the game. Save your money and keep your eyes open.

As for your next chassis, you can't go wrong with the Shadowhawk. I love all three of mine and use two of them as SRM boats. They work great as anti-Stormcrow Mechs (sweep the legs). The third one is a jump sniper. 'Hawks are fast, powerful, and Excel friendly. I don't think you will regret owning them.

However, if you've mastered your HBKs, I would stick with them for now and keep grinding and training. Once you have a pile of C-bills and can afford to get all three 'Hawks so that you can level them, then I would make the switch. Presumably by then, your pilot skills will have increased too.

Best of luck!

[mogs01gt]

Seal Farmer, on 09 June 2015 - 03:01 AM, said:

Talking about medium mechs, are they the best mechs to pilot starting out?

Only if you get the Crow. Medium mechs are more for veteran pilots.

New players should get Heavies. They have a higher value on your cbill investment. Meaning you'll typically see more cbills earned per match.

Now onto the Crow. The Crow is one of the best mechs in the game. If you want a medium mech, get the Crow to start off with since you wont have any issues in matches gaining cbills.