The Hbk-4P Is Back And Cooler Than Ever!
#1
Posted 21 June 2017 - 12:41 PM
Perhaps lost in the debates over the small laser changes is that IS MLs received a 15 percent reduction in heat generation. When I read this, my first thoughts were about one of my old favourites from the Open Beta days, the HBK-4P. Any IS build that used 4 or more MLs ran quite a bit hotter with the heat cap reductions over the past year and a half, hurting their viability. That included the 4P, which usually struggled to alpha 3-4 times before having to duck into cover to cooldown. Not the best thing for a 30-point alpha. Now, with the ML heat reduction, structures bonuses, and duration skills, I feel it is in the best place in a long time.
I know the 4P was never the one of the worse perforners compared to some other, but it is nice to see what I consider to be an iconic mech being unquestionably viable again. The HBK-4H and GI should do much better as well.
#2
Posted 21 June 2017 - 12:46 PM
I completely forgot about this mech when reading the patch notes. Thanks!
#3
Posted 21 June 2017 - 12:49 PM
Maurice Thorez, on 21 June 2017 - 12:41 PM, said:
Perhaps lost in the debates over the small laser changes is that IS MLs received a 15 percent reduction in heat generation. When I read this, my first thoughts were about one of my old favourites from the Open Beta days, the HBK-4P. Any IS build that used 4 or more MLs ran quite a bit hotter with the heat cap reductions over the past year and a half, hurting their viability. That included the 4P, which usually struggled to alpha 3-4 times before having to duck into cover to cooldown. Not the best thing for a 30-point alpha. Now, with the ML heat reduction, structures bonuses, and duration skills, I feel it is in the best place in a long time.
I know the 4P was never the one of the worse perforners compared to some other, but it is nice to see what I consider to be an iconic mech being unquestionably viable again. The HBK-4H and GI should do much better as well.
I've been running it with 9ML since 2013, never really had heat issues since id fire in groups of 3, but that taught me some sweet heat management I guess.
#4
Posted 21 June 2017 - 12:49 PM
#5
Posted 21 June 2017 - 12:50 PM
It's not as effective as my 6x MPL HBK-IIC-A, even after the laser changes, but it's definitely closer in performance now.
#6
Posted 21 June 2017 - 01:07 PM
Jay Leon Hart, on 21 June 2017 - 12:50 PM, said:
It's not as effective as my 6x MPL HBK-IIC-A, even after the laser changes, but it's definitely closer in performance now.
That is true. 6 MPL was arguably more effective for years now. I have a soft spot for the near-lore ML build though and I am no diehard for stock builds either. It definitely will take quite a bit more to bring up to the HBK-IIC level, but I think this is the closest it has every been. I am not sure LFE will make a big difference for it as it really lacks the slots to stuff more DHS in it. You would likely have to remove the Endo to add more than 1 or 2 than you currently have.
#7
Posted 21 June 2017 - 01:11 PM
#8
Posted 21 June 2017 - 01:13 PM
#9
Posted 21 June 2017 - 01:18 PM
Edited by mailin, 21 June 2017 - 01:18 PM.
#10
Posted 21 June 2017 - 02:43 PM
#11
Posted 21 June 2017 - 02:48 PM
#12
Posted 21 June 2017 - 02:48 PM
Edited by Skanderborg, 21 June 2017 - 02:49 PM.
#13
Posted 21 June 2017 - 03:08 PM
#14
Posted 21 June 2017 - 06:25 PM
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