12 replies to this topic

[CD0UG]

few questions about the new hunchback!

Standard and Xl engines... does the xl work like the clan one where u can still lose a side torso and keep fighting, or is it like the inner sphere where if u lose 1 side torso you die? if the latter, why would you wanna use a standard engine?

[Buehgler]

It is (and works like) a clan XL, so you do not die immediately upon losing one side torso. You will lose top speed, turn rate and (I believe) cooling from losing part of your engine.

You may want a standard engine for a few reasons. First would be a need/desire for all of the critical slots in a ST (e.g. dual c-gauss on one side) or you are concerned about the loss of speed/maneuverability that comes from loosing part of your engine. Although the second argument is week, since you probably gave up that speed/maneuverability to equip the STD engine in the first place. The other reason would be wanting to "zombie" after losing both side torsos, but since the HBK-IICs do not have any head or CT weapon mounts this is a moot issue.

EDIT: Not sure what I was thinking, of course the HBK-IICs have CT hardpoints, and are good candidates to zombie.

Edited by Buehgler, 01 February 2016 - 04:26 PM.

[WrathOfDeadguy]

It's the same as the Clan Omnimech engines- in Tabletop, losing three engine crits resulted in engine destruction, hence why IS XL engines are so risky. The IIC 'Mechs use Clan XL engines, which only have two engine crits in each side torso... so you will survive losing one side (just not both), just like in an Omnimech.

[Rayden Wolf]

The HBK IIC do have CT-Hardpoints, so a standard engine is an option. I equiped my HBK IIC A(the laserboat) with a 275 Std and 6 Medpls.
But for the balistic variant, the std engines are to heavy.

[Bespoke Cheese Cake]

If you want to have a go at an Energy Zombie try this build.

[627]

to be true, you'll die so fast in these, it is not worth to give up the XL for 3 seconds more life.

[Bolter01]

These must be the most useless peices of F%$#!^$@ S*#@ mechs in the entire game, Is it made of Glass?
The side toros just fly off it in one or two hits. Im using max armour (8 rear)
The IS hunch is a tank, this is just a frustration.

Does anyone have any success with them?

[Fulgar]

Bolter,

To be successful in the HBK-IICs you have to have an assault mentality. You have to stick with them and let them be the focus of everyone's fire and you support them. For example, I used the HBK-IIC-B tonight, stock with 4xSSRM and 2 MPL. I stuck with the assaults and walked near them playing peek-a-boo....Once the fierce fighting starts we can get lost in the fray. Again, stay with the bog boys, they are going to draw a lot of fire.

Please for the love of Kerensky, Press R, use your pulse to target areas weakened and then get close for your streaks. This is the HBK-IIC-B. I was top damage with over 800 points. Also, still completely unbasiced.

The key with the Hunchies IICs, you are not a tank....you are support, you add your firepower from different angles. You see a Cataphract engaging a Highlander, you attack from the side and rip their arms off. A cooldown on the Streaks might be in order, but you have to manage your heat.

Thanks,
Fulgar

[Hunchman]

I do pretty well in all the variants, and I love all of them. Yes its a glass cannon, but it's one hell of a cannon nontheless.
Play smart, use your speed, XL275 on A/B variants, use your high mounts(ridgehumping! your life depends on it), look for free trades.
Use your jumpjets to attack from odd angles, reposition often.
If you are getting returnfire kill it fast or get out, roll the damage, do not shield, ZE ARMS THEY DO NOTHING!!!
Drop your reararmour to 4.

Loadout:
IIC: 2xUAC/10, 2xML
IIC-A: 6xMPL
IIC-B: 4x C-ASRM, 2 MPL

[Moebius Pi]

You peek and poke with them. You don't sit there, unleashing and unleashing, and optimally you play them as support to other mechs so you're not picked out and focused. Then they're little demons for their weight.

They aren't tanks, they are high mounted, vicious pokers like the (pre-big rebalance) Blackjack before the IS got all the structure buffs, and they're -very- good at that if you don't get too ballsy. Easy to strip down with an alpha, but still nasty. You need to switch mentalities while using them; you don't get the easy margin of error like the IS versions, and they remind me of playing a less mobile Shadowcat where you -really- need to re-position frequently.

That said, I think the missile variant is the weakest of the lot by far, and the most frustrating. Going mobile LRM support is easy with them though if you want a 4J experience, though I find Streaks and SRMs expose you a bit too much given the range limitations (though poptart SRMs are a thing that works readily with a JJ or three).

The energy and ballistic variants? I've held off a heavy/assault lance all by my lonesome in those, coring and stripping down anytime they had the balls to peak. They have -very- good dakka potential for their weight with good positioning and once you get into their groove scoring well in them isn't hard whatsoever; it really comes down to positioning and not going overly ballsy.

Now useless crap... the Orions (though I don't find them terribad, scoring solidly in them isn't always a chore) suffer quite a bit sadly, and seem to have some outright broken hitbox areas on the ballistic mounts, and the Highlander IIC has been, flat out, my worst piloting experience in a long, long time, given how slow they are in all respects, but unable to take shots readily but even I've had some good matches in the latter when switching loadouts and playstyles.

The Hunchie IIC isn't a bad mech. It could use a bit of structure buffing or the like (light touch wise without going IS level balls deep), but that's about it.

[Avengerlx]

I love them
.
A: 6 SPL(2 LT, 2CT,2RT) and 2 ER PPC(LT+RT)+TC1
WeaponGrps
1: LT PPC 2: RT PPC
3: all SPL in Chainfire (if Heatproblems)
4: 2xLT SPL + 1CT SPL
5: 2xRT SPL + 1CT SPL

B: XL275 Engine 4x Streak SRM6 +2ERML and Clan Active Probe
O: Gauss+MG in RT, UAC5+MG in LT, 2ERML in CT
Also played the O with 2xUAC10 and 2ERML alot.

With the sidetorsos you can shoot over most smaller obstacles, which still give cover

[process]

I'm having a lot more fun and success with them than I thought I would. I thought having two boxy shoulders would be the death of it, but fortunately they have fairly low profiles and their arms seem to absorb damage much better than their IS counterpart.

Two pieces of advice I would give: equip full jumpjets, avoid autocannons.

I'm still working through elite efficiencies with approximately these three builds:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5af4d5483fbe484
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...aa2037876b65d65
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...948a67aeb36f0df

[Bolter01]

Thanks for the advice, I have given them a rest and feel re-enthused.
Yes I have had some good, even great games, but they just cant take a hit in my book. It's another support mech to use and 'not get hit'.

Edited by Bolter01, 23 February 2016 - 02:16 AM.