17 replies to this topic

[Pilotreborn]

So I have been viewing the standard weapons and different variants of the Hunchback on Sarna. What I was wondering is at launch will I be able to have the Hunchback with 8 medium lazers or if that wont work because of the prime hardpoints. There is a variant on sarna that has 8 medium lazers.

[Butane9000]

As long as you've got the heatsinks and tonnage down I don't see why you couldn't.

[light487]

I think what you have to look at is the prime variants on Sarna.. a variant is not just about the different weapons it has on board but also the different hardpoints/criticalpoints/space inside the chassis. So if the prime variant has enough space inside it for 8 mediums, then you will be able to do it.. but if the prime variant is limited in so far as the spaces and mounting points within the chassis would not accomodate it, then you'll not be able to do that at launch and will have to wait for a chassis variant that will allow that configuration.

From what I understand, there will only be the Prime Variants at release.

Edited by light487, 09 July 2012 - 03:54 PM.

[Damascas]

We do not know yet for sure but probably I think

[Xandre Blackheart]

Hardpoints might limit you. From what I understand the stock Hunchback has only 3 energy hardpoints currently.

But don't worry too much, the medium laser boat variant IS available. I think I heard you also get another starting mech...

[light487]

Quote

• HBK-4P - Also called the Swayback due to its less-exaggerated torso, the 4P Hunchback is modified to carry only energy weapons. The Autocannon/20 was replaced with six additional Medium Lasers. In order to handle the incredibly high heat load, the 'Mech has twenty three heat sinks. While this may seem like a downgrade of the design, the combined firepower of all eight Medium Lasers can do twice as much damage as the Autocannon they replaced. BV (1.0) = 960, BV (2.0) = 1,138^[8]

So basically.this variant had the chassis altered.. you can see that in the description alone.. "less-exaggerated torso".. so not only was the AC/20 remvoed and 6 medium lasers added in its place.. but the chassis itself was altered to accomodate that change.

[Zynk]

Butane9000, on 09 July 2012 - 03:52 PM, said:

As long as you've got the heatsinks and tonnage down I don't see why you couldn't.

HBK-4P - Also called the Swayback due to its less-exaggerated torso, the 4P Hunchback is modified to carry only energy weapons. The Autocannon/20 was replaced with six additional Medium Lasers. In order to handle the incredibly high heat load, the 'Mech has twenty three heat sinks. While this may seem like a downgrade of the design, the combined firepower of all eight Medium Lasers can do twice as much damage as the Autocannon they replaced.

Edited by Zynk, 09 July 2012 - 04:05 PM.

[Harabeck]

light487, on 09 July 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:

From what I understand, there will only be the Prime Variants at release.

There has been some recent evidence that suggests otherwise.

[WardenWolf]

The stock variant of the hunchback does not have the mounts needed for that - so the Founder's version, and possibly the version you have as an option when you start the game, will not be this one. However, we *have* seen that version in some of the released videos and photos from the Devs... so it *is* in the game, and will be one of the variants you can work toward purchasing

light487, on 09 July 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:

From what I understand, there will only be the Prime Variants at release.

At release the Devs have stated they are aiming for 10 mechs in the game, with 3-4 total variants on average per mech.

Now the mechs you get to pick from *to start*, if they follow the four available to Founders, will only be the stock versions. That means you may have to invest some time earning in the game in order to get to the Swayback

[Jakob Knight]

Well, all I can tell you is what I have gathered from other posts and videos to this point. Nothing is set in stone, so it could change before launch, and I may be mistaken in my understanding of what was revealed. This is all my own deductions.

At start, you will have the option to purchase the base/prime configuration of whichever battlemechs are available. In this case, that will be the HBK-4G, I believe, which mounts an AC/20, 2 Medium Lasers, and a Small laser. The AC/20 takes up 1 ballistic hardpoint, 10 critical spaces in the right torso, and weighs 14 tons. The 2 Medium Lasers each take up 1 energy hardpoint, 1 critical slot (in the Right Arm and Left Arm, respectively) and weigh 1 ton each. The Small Laser takes up 1 energy hardpoint and 1 critical in the Head, and weighs 0.5 tons.

Once you have purchased the base/prime configuration, you can then spend in-game resources to customize the 'mech in the Mechlab, removing and installing equipment to suit your objectives. From the above, the prime Hunchback will have 1 ballistic and 3 energy hardpoints with which you can work, and a number of critical spaces in each location that represent the physical area to work with. So, you could mount 3 Medium Lasers, taking up the 3 energy hardpoints on the mech, for a reduced autocannon size, or some other adjustment. However, you would not be able to mount 8 beam weapons because you only have 3 energy hardpoints, regardless of how many critical spaces and tonnage you have available (though both these restrict placement of equipment as well). Were you to have the Founder's Hunchback, you would not need to purchase the Hunchback, but it would still be a prime configuration, and would be under the same limitations.

However, as you use a particular battlemech, you gain experience in it, and eventually will accumulate enough to unlock one or more variant models of that mech for purchase. Those variants will have different Hardpoint and base configurations with which to work with. You will have to purchase the variant in order to use it, however, as it is a seperate unit from the prime configuration mech you started with, and the new mech will take another hangar space (you only get 4, though the Founder's mechs do not take up these). One of these may well be the Hunchback variant that features 8 Medium Lasers, and so will have 8 energy hardpoints that you can work with. This second Hunchback would be able to be as you describe, as it has enough energy hardpoints available. Note: If you receive a Founder's mech, I believe you start already 'completed' on the Prime configuration of that mech, and can then immediately purchase the first unlocked variant of that mech, but I cannot say which variant that would be, as that information hasn't been released.

Hope this helped.

Edited by Jakob Knight, 09 July 2012 - 04:16 PM.

[Graewulf]

Also, you might want to double check all mech variants on Sarna as some might not be available yet in the MWO timeline, which is currently 3049.

[light487]

Oh right.. so swaback MIGHT be possible.. but not at the very onset of the game.. you'll have to earn it.. buy it.. skill up to get it.. whatever.. but there'll be variants in the game.. fair enough.

[Harabeck]

light487, on 09 July 2012 - 04:37 PM, said:

Oh right.. so swaback MIGHT be possible..

The aforementioned evidence suggests that swayback is 100% confirmed.

[Needle Fingers]

Based upon released screenshots and Videos, the Swayback Hunchback is in along with the Catapult K2.

[Vaktor]

I think they would have a hard time not adding the swayback into the game but I don't think you will be able to load out the prime variant with such a load out...

This probably includes the founder mech.

[Haldricht]

Been thinking about a Crab-like build for my Founders Hunchie...

[AntharPrime]

Swayback is in the game, watch the mechlab video and when he is selecting the mech you have a list of available mechs and one of them is the HBK-4P.

[Sythiss]

the screen shots posted up in media already show a hunchback with nothing but lasers. so... well there