44 replies to this topic

[Reality Dysfunction]

Hiya,

I'm looking to find an AC20 medium... for no reason other than I'm currently enjoying (at times when I don't make a mess of my game) the AC20. Especally with the lvl5 cooldown mod.

I have my Atlas for assault, WHammer for heavy... and an Urbie for light (lol).

Should I go for a Cent AH or a 4G Hunchie? I can't make up my mind. I've spent too much on mechs I haven't liked so I thought I'd ask... I didn't like the hunchie when I first started, but then I understood bugger all about customising at the time and had no $... so I went for the easy learning route and chose clan. I found Omni helped me learn more about mechs. I think/hope I'm a little better with battlemechs now.

Any thoughts?

Thx

[process]

The Hunchback 4G is still most people's go-to AC20 medium, thanks to its generous ballistic and armor/structure quirks. Not particularly fast, but small and tough.

The Centurion AH or Yen-Lo-Wang will let you pair the AC20 with an XL engine for some additional speed and firepower, but you gun arm is large and easy to shoot off.

For something in between, there's the Enforcer 4P. It doesn't have amazing quirks, but it can AC20 and XL like the Centurions, and can potentially go much faster. It's also a little tankier than Centurions in my opinion.

[BodakOfSseth]

According to Metamechs, the Hunchback is one of the better ones for IS Mediums. As it has that hardpoint designed for the AC20, It's probably worth it.
My AC20 lives on a Cataphract and is accompanied by 4x Med Las and I enjoy the heck out of it, until we get into sniping contests... So then I get into a sit and wait game.
I mention this because that's the biggest issue I've run into. Lack of range makes for some frustration.

[Bud Crue]

I have both and I like both. Prefer the Cent over the Hunch, as I find I lose my hunch even when I twist away more than I lose my arm in a Cent. I'm just leveling Shadow Hawks but some have told me running an AC20 SH is actually better than a Hunchie as the "hunch" of the SH is not targeted as much. You can also try Enforcers (the 4P). The tall skinny profile makes them very survivable. I also like my Black Jack 1a with AC20 and 3ml. Don't forget the Boomcada

Edited by Bud Crue, 05 October 2016 - 12:21 PM.

[Ruccus]

Either are good mechs. Don't discount the Blackjack BJ-1 or BJ-1DC as well though, both of which can also carry the AC20 and who's quirks improve an auto-cannon equipped on them.

[Roughneck45]

AC20 Mlas builds work on a lot of different mediums.

Blackjacks, Centurions, Hunchbacks, Trebuchets, and Shadowhawks are all pretty good at it.

I'd take the Hunch over the cent for the high mount, but the biggest thing to consider is what variants you want to level to master the mech.

Edited by Roughneck45, 05 October 2016 - 12:24 PM.

[Reality Dysfunction]

Thanks guys,

More options... as if my indecisiveness wasn't bad enough already ...

Didn't think of a Treb or SH, never tried them...

Time to fire up the PTS to try driving them...

[S 0 L E N Y A]

I would add some caution if considering the BlackJack.
You cannot brawl with them like you could before.
Blackjack USED to have insane structure quirks which allowed to stand up and trade shots with the best of them.
However, the structure quirks have since been scaled down immensely.
So if you are gonna run the "boomjack" setup you have to play more "peekaboo" style.

[TercieI]

process, on 05 October 2016 - 12:18 PM, said:

The Hunchback 4G is still most people's go-to AC20 medium, thanks to its generous ballistic and armor/structure quirks. Not particularly fast, but small and tough.

The Centurion AH or Yen-Lo-Wang will let you pair the AC20 with an XL engine for some additional speed and firepower, but you gun arm is large and easy to shoot off.

For something in between, there's the Enforcer 4P. It doesn't have amazing quirks, but it can AC20 and XL like the Centurions, and can potentially go much faster. It's also a little tankier than Centurions in my opinion.

Roughneck45, on 05 October 2016 - 12:23 PM, said:

AC20 Mlas builds work on a lot of different mediums.

Blackjacks, Centurions, Hunchbacks, Trebuchets, and Shadowhawks are all pretty good at it.

I'd take the Hunch over the cent for the high mount, but the biggest thing to consider is what variants you want to level to master the mech.

I would go with the ENF-4P for this reason. It's a solid 20 carrier. Arm mounted, XL, 2-4MLs to taste, reasonable speed. And to level it, you're "stuck" leveling the ENF-4R, one of the strongest IS mediums that's surprisingly flexible build-wise.

Edited by TercieI, 05 October 2016 - 01:02 PM.

[Flak Kannon]

Yeah.. choice is pretty clear.

Hunchback was made for the AC20.

2 ML, STD 245, AC20.. ...


Roll out and swoop in mid match after first push and clean up.



Enjoi

p.s. I have also done well in the Yen Lo Wang, buts its a MC only mech in the Cent family.

ShadowHawk,... maybe...


*** for build ***

I use the STD245 to save that ton and a half, add one DHS, and have an extra .5 ton for ammo. The 2 kph lost on the speed is made up for by have another ton of ac20 ammo essentially.

I lower head armor to 15, legs to 32 armor.

STD 245
1DHS to get you to 10 Total.
AC20
2 ML
28 AC20 rounds ( 4 Tons )

You COULD go hotter, and drop ammo to 21 rounds, (3 Tons) and run 3 Medium Lasers. I tend to favor more heat neutrality, so 2 ML and 28 Rounds AC20 is my choice, but... I have had a couple rounds were i lost my arms, my hunch (AC20), and all that was left is my third head mounted ML and I won the round as the last man standing; Zombie Mech... just saying.. it has happened. But you'll score more kills if you have that extra 7 rounds of ac20 at the end, as opppossed to the 15 medium laser alpha early...

Enjoi

Edited by Flak Kannon, 05 October 2016 - 03:49 PM.

[N a p e s]

The SHD-2D is surprisingly good with an AC20 and a few MLAs. It's not gonna shoot as fast as the Hunchback but the mechs model makes it very tough despite pretty limited quirks.

I prefer the Hunchy over most of the other options but there's no denying the fun that can be had with a Centurion (AH or YLW) which allows for either more punch or more speed.

[Reality Dysfunction]

Boogie138, on 05 October 2016 - 01:00 PM, said:

I would add some caution if considering the BlackJack.
You cannot brawl with them like you could before.
Blackjack USED to have insane structure quirks which allowed to stand up and trade shots with the best of them.
However, the structure quirks have since been scaled down immensely.
So if you are gonna run the "boomjack" setup you have to play more "peekaboo" style.

I was starting to lean that way due to the fact I have the BJ2(L) to come (hope its good) and the 1DC and 3 are fun looking loadouts to me (I also like PPCs)... and I only have to buy 2 for a set...

the speed on the Enf is nice...

and the hunchie... 4G, 4H & 4SP look good as well... I need more Cbills and mechbays so I can have them all... (donations welcome lol)

So now its currently beween the Blackjack and Hunchback... Probably the Blackjack...

*rolls ciggie and has a think*

(P.S don't smoke kids, its not good for you)

Edited by Reality Dysfunction, 05 October 2016 - 01:38 PM.

[CD0UG]

use this build im loving it, and usually break 2 kills 500 damage per damge

Centurion AH, XL engine 245, Ac20, 2 srm 4's and a srm 2. trust me on this

[Metus regem]

Reality Dysfunction, on 05 October 2016 - 11:16 AM, said:

Hiya,

I'm looking to find an AC20 medium... for no reason other than I'm currently enjoying (at times when I don't make a mess of my game) the AC20. Especally with the lvl5 cooldown mod.

I have my Atlas for assault, WHammer for heavy... and an Urbie for light (lol).

Should I go for a Cent AH or a 4G Hunchie? I can't make up my mind. I've spent too much on mechs I haven't liked so I thought I'd ask... I didn't like the hunchie when I first started, but then I understood bugger all about customising at the time and had no $... so I went for the easy learning route and chose clan. I found Omni helped me learn more about mechs. I think/hope I'm a little better with battlemechs now.

Any thoughts?

Thx

Well the Hunchback and Centurion AH have some similarities, namely being 50t mechs with an AC/20, they are how ever different animals all together.

The Hunchback 4G places that AC/20 in the RT, meaning that if you want to use that BFG, you need a standard engine, if you dump both Endo and FF on the beast, drop the small laser, you can squeeze in a 250 standard for the all important 10 true dubs, two MLas and 24 shots of ammo.

The Centurion AH places the AC/20 on the RA, giving you a greater range of motion with out arm lock, but it is lower mounted and less armoured than the Hunchback. The down side to the AH is that she is 100% ammo dependent, as she lacks any energy weapon back ups.

Personally if I were going to run the AH, I would use a 250xl for the 10 true dubs. The nice part about the Centurion faimily, is that they are right at home as standard engine or XL engine mechs, due to their solid hit boxes.


It really comes down to personally preferance, I am more at home in a Centurion than a Hunchback, but both are solid mechs.

[process]

Shadow Hawks and Blackjacks are fine choices too, but they were more fun when you could jump'n'shoot before the great hoverjet nerf.

[Ruccus]

Reality Dysfunction, on 05 October 2016 - 01:37 PM, said:

I was starting to lean that way due to the fact I have the BJ2(L) to come (hope its good) and the 1DC and 3 are fun looking loadouts to me (I also like PPCs)... and I only have to buy 2 for a set...

the speed on the Enf is nice...

and the hunchie... 4G, 4H & 4SP look good as well... I need more Cbills and mechbays so I can have them all... (donations welcome lol)

So now its currently beween the Blackjack and Hunchback... Probably the Blackjack...

*rolls ciggie and has a think*

(P.S don't smoke kids, its not good for you)

Either are good. I think the Hunchback is a bit more tanky, but ideally you'd be following around a heavy or assault mech anyway so they'll get targeted more. If you want a pure brawler the Hunchback or Centurion would probably be a better dedicated platform, though note that even though the Centurion CN9-A has a ballistic hardpoint in its arm, it can't fit the AC20 because it has a lower actuator so not enough slots. Only the CN9-AH and Yen-Lo-Wang can fit an AC20.

The Blackjacks can do AC20 well, but once you get tired of the Boomjack their forte is long range direct fire support. A BJ-1 with 2xAC2 can be a real nuisance at 900m due to how fast they fire, and the 2xAC5 build can put a decent amount of damage downrange. There's also the Gauss BJ-1 build that has worked well for me in the past, and the AC10/LB10X builds that are good all-raound fighters. Because they've also got an energy hardpoint on each arm you can switch it around to make dual PPCs your main damage dealers (to which I usually add two MGs and 2 small lasers for fighting inside 90m).

If you decide on the Blackjack, you might want to consider buying $7 in MC before October 18th, as the loyalty reward for buying MC is the Blackjack BJ-2, allowing you to buy two Blackjacks with C-Bills now and level them until the BJ-2 gets put into your account on the 18th. (edit: Missed the part where you already have the BJ-2 coming. It's good information for other readers though, so I'll keep it in).

Edited by Ruccus, 05 October 2016 - 03:44 PM.

[Ithilid]

I started playing MWO with the hunchbacks. Overall the J, G, and P models have been good for me. Personally, the G is a bit under gunned lately even with the ac20 quirks.

Still I do have some fond memories like pinning a stalker against a wall and taking out it's head or the foolish locust that got stuck under the HPG ramp. Some of it's torso made into orbit.

[Leone]

ScottAleric, on 05 October 2016 - 12:19 PM, said:

-until we get into sniping contests... So then I get into a sit and wait game.
I mention this because that's the biggest issue I've run into. Lack of range makes for some frustration.

My response is the dual uac 5s. Two extra tonnes, double tapping puts out the same damage, extra range, faster firing rate, same damage per unit of ammo.

~Leone

[Koniving]

ScottAleric, on 05 October 2016 - 12:19 PM, said:

According to Metamechs, the Hunchback is one of the better ones for IS Mediums. As it has that hardpoint designed for the AC20, It's probably worth it.
My AC20 lives on a Cataphract and is accompanied by 4x Med Las and I enjoy the heck out of it, until we get into sniping contests... So then I get into a sit and wait game.
I mention this because that's the biggest issue I've run into. Lack of range makes for some frustration.

For the longest time, Metamechs was very against Hunchbacks... until a new player began to share his modification of a build and armor setup I had for the 4G.

(The build is 3 ML instead of my 3 SPL. This was a training exercise in escorting my pure stock Victor for two new players back during mixed queues.)
Of course long before and even still today we often recommend it to new players even when Metamechs was saying it was heresy and stupid. It really picked up some serious praise after quirks which... I genuine believed to be serious overkill -- up until they quirked like... 'all' the mechs with insane firing rates.

---------

This said:
Hunchback. 4P with its build and construction; take note of the armor layout. Taken before quirks, note the abuse I can take.

Hunchback. 4G. AC/20 loadouts.

Spoiler

Hunchback 4G, LB-10X, twin MG, Lasers.

Spoiler

Centurions. (Wang demonstrated; before quirks and rescale shrinking them)



I don't have any Enforcer videos, but it is a solid, tanky mech. It is tanky because it is narrow with hitboxes that are close together making it easier to spread the damage. Need to choose a variant without lower arm actuators though.

Edited by Koniving, 06 October 2016 - 07:18 AM.

[JC Daxion]

For me it is like this...

4G, Tanks like a champ.. But IMO light on ammo.. you need to scrap off armor, or drop an ML to get 28 shots http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9b24d59c46426a2

Cent AH, Brawling king.. the fastest of the medium ac-20 brawlers.. (next to the cent Hero) no energy, so ammo dependent, but ohh so fun! http://mwo.smurfy-ne...34d76974626bedc


shadow hawk, Can only run the STD engine, so it is basically like the HBK. It has more tonnage to work with, but it needs a bigger engine to go the same speed, or you can add jump jets..

2D, (3 ML version) http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0e54b5dc346025b

5M (2 ML version) Or drop the engine down 1 ton, and carry 35 shots http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5dd36dd56820785



the low down.... (my favorite is the cent, with out an ammo quirk in todays 100 ton kodiak world, the HBK just lacks ammo for a whole match IMO)

HBK, tankiest, (other models, 4SP is a great tanky srm/ML boat, 4P is an energy boat, and the 4J can run LRM's and grid iron is a good gauss mech)

Shadow hawk, Almost as tanky, but more maneuverable with JJ's, Has good hit-boxes (other models lots of options like HBK's, But some notables are triple ac2, Dual AC5+ERPPC, the others combo SRM's and smaller ballistics for the most part, with limited energy hard points) Some builds need an XL engine. (IMO for something that is cost effective, this one could be your best bet and mainly due to the HBK's lack of ammo.)

Centurion, the fastest, most fragile and hardest hitting of the bunch. (other models, Ballistics and lasers.. ac10 and LBX10 are your choices here. IMO all cents need XL engines.. Most run the XL-300 for best results, though some folks like to run STD engines in um, but then they are slow, but can zombie with 2 ML's in the CT. But really zombie is not all that hot these days, and the big boost in speed you get from XL's to me more than makes up your ability to survive.



Please let us know what you pick, and how you like it!

Edited by JC Daxion, 05 October 2016 - 09:37 PM.