58 replies to this topic

[Huntsman]

The atlas is all armor and firepower

The Catapult has greater mobility than the Atlas, role flexability, and excellent fire support capabilities

The Jenner has its place as a scout

What is the role of the hunchback? It's not fast enough to scout. It's role is to do what an atlas or catapult might do, only do it much worse. This would be fine if the developers were taking a "build up to heavier mechs" gameplay approach, but they say they are not. If we can select a heavy or assault mech for combat starting from the beginning of the match, why would I ever go with what is essentially a severely nerfed version of what I could otherwise roll with.

[FactorlanP]

Would your point stand if there were drop weight limits for each team?

Just a thought...

[Khobai]

http://mwomercs.com/...ly-screenshot-8

assuming hunchbacks can still use a loadout similar to that, then they should have no problem killing catapults.

[Terror Teddy]

Huntsman, on 19 July 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

What is the role of the hunchback?

Well, the basic design with an AC20 and shitload of armor could be described as a grown up Urbanmech that can run.

It can also be a fire support mech with a gauss gun - in short, a short range brawler or long range sniper.

[Butane9000]

Hunchbacks can be best described as front line support. They have good armor and decent weaponry for a mech their weight. They aren't terribly slow either. Overall they will assist in helping keep light mechs off the assault mechs while simultaenously being mechs that will run down enemies assault mechs wouldn't normally be able to.

[Durant Carlyle]

The Hunchback is an up-close-and-personal brawler with a big punch as long as ammunition lasts. That's the role it fills. The Hunchback and Catapult actually have the same amount of armor, despite the Hunchie being 15 tons lighter.

You get your Hunchie in close and the Catapult's going down -- the Cat's four medium lasers cannot win against your AC/20, two medium lasers, and small laser.

Also, there are a lot of people who like a design because it looks cool, rather than because it's a super-awesome min-maxed design.

[Khobai]

Quote

Well, the basic design with an AC20 and shitload of armor could be described as a grown up Urbanmech that can run.

I suspect most people will replace their AC20s with something else. 5 ammo per ton sucks big time.

[Fl3tcher]

Hunchback is a brawler designed for close combat, it's heavilly armoured for its weight class and mounts the biggest gun in the game with lasers to back it up. You get in close and you circle, I'm willing to bet that because it's lighter it turns faster than either the Catapult or the Atlas.

Take a few hits getting in close (heavy armour will take it) and use that big gun to pulverise whatever is unfortunate enough to get under your crosshair.

Just make sure your shots count, the "meet the mediums" vid reveals you only get 10 of them . . then again, so does the Atlas . .

[Butane9000]

Khobai, on 19 July 2012 - 08:45 AM, said:

I suspect most people will replace their AC20s with something else. 5 ammo per ton sucks big time.

It's a large round, that's why you use your medium lasers and conserve your ammo.

[Strikhedonia]

Khobai, on 19 July 2012 - 08:40 AM, said:

http://mwomercs.com/...ly-screenshot-8

assuming hunchbacks can still use a loadout similar to that, then they should have no problem killing catapults.

Unless it's a K1/2 or front-line variant the Catapult driver has made a terrible mistake if a Swayback is close enough to bring those medium lasers in range.

[Fahr]

the varient with 2 ac/10s is very nice, the variant with all ML is great too, and the 4 ML 2 SRM6 aint bad...

the Hunchie is a brawler with the armor of a heavy and speed equal to most heavies in flat out run, but the smaller engine to achieve that leaves lots of room for guns guns guns... just don't let anyone behind you, or you will die fast.

[Tommytools]

<-- Hunchback founder

I love the hunchback for several reasons, not least the way it looks. I also love its versatility, the prime variant can be set up for any range; AC20 for short, AC10 for med and Gauss for sniper support with various lasers to round it out. Not to mention I haven't messed with armour/engine/structure and so on yet.

But I won't deny I'm biased, a LOT

TT

[irish]

Khobai, on 19 July 2012 - 08:45 AM, said:

I suspect most people will replace their AC20s with something else. 5 ammo per ton sucks big time.

If it only takes 2 shots to kill something 5 ammo per ton may not be so bad. Keep in mind that an AC 20 will take off a limb, or punch such a big whole in a torso that even heavys and assults can not just let the hunchy go by. Also because the basic hunchy has only torso mounted weapons you will get less spread of damage. (all in theory)

[Astaroth]

I'm on the side of the folks saying the Hunchback is a good brawler and support mech. I personally enjoy piloting light and medium mechs the most, and the Hunchback is a major threat to any mech in those weight classes, even without modification. Taking a hit from that AC/20 while in a light mech will absolutely ruin your day.

[Technohic]

Sarah McCallum, on 19 July 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

Unless it's a K1/2 or front-line variant the Catapult driver has made a terrible mistake if a Swayback is close enough to bring those medium lasers in range.

Depends on what cover the Hunchback has to work with.

I don't know if I used a hunchback or something else, but I remember taking a similar sized mech and loading it with 2 LBX10s in MW4 and it had the radar jamming on it, so I would flank around, then come up and take out the missile packs on some Madcats.

[Khobai]

Quote

It's a large round, that's why you use your medium lasers and conserve your ammo.

No its why you replace it with something else. In a 12 v 12 battle you dont want a weapon thats going to run out of ammo that quickly.

[Murku]

For the whole Mech weight classes to work we are going to have to trust the Devs to tweak things till people are happy. Before seeing the game in a tweaked state we are all wondering the same:

Why have a Light when I can build a better scout Medium?
Why have a Heavy if it's just a nerfed Assault?

Some people have suggested something of a scissors/paper/rock relationship (eg Lights fear Mediums as they are tougher than a Light but not as easy to outmaneouvre as a Heavy/Assault, Mediums fear Heavies, Heavies fear Assaults, Assaults fear Lights) but we all know it's not going to be as simple as that. As has already been mentioned, Torso-twisting (and the differing sizes) will likely favour lighter units, not to mention Assaults naturally drawing fire by being a naturally attractive 'big' target.

A Hunchie is 25% faster than an Atlas, smaller and as Medium probubally much more responsive. It is by no means just a nerfed Assault, unless it's pilot ignores it's advantages and tries to use it as such. Lights will struggle to blindside it (in comparison to a Heavy/Assault) and there is a lot of potential modification in a Medium (from souped up Scout Hunter to double-heatsinked laserboat) to keep your opponents guessing.

But personally, I'll take a Centurion *8)

[Technohic]

Yeah, I am obviously going to have a Hunchback, but I was thinking more along the lines of taking a Dragon and using it for about the same purpose I would use the Hunchback for. Maybe not, but looking at them, I got the idea in my head for some reason.

[Astarot]

Khobai, on 19 July 2012 - 09:10 AM, said:

No its why you replace it with something else. In a 12 v 12 battle you dont want a weapon thats going to run out of ammo that quickly.

Bigger round means more damage, while you run support with ally, you take shots at the torso to expose the engine, or blow off a few parts of the mech, if you are REALLY GOOD, you aim for the pilot pit, and knock the pilot right out with one shot.

[VanillaG]

Mediums are a good starting mech because they have more armor than lights and can pack a punch that must be respected by heavier mechs. One of the strengths of the Hunchback is in its variants. The Prime variant is Ballistic\Energy, the 4J is Missile\Energy, ad the 4P is all Energy. It gives a newer player time figure out how they want to fight and either go up or down in weight.