21 replies to this topic

[Jun Watarase]

Because looking at the stats, the AC 20 seems vastly superior unless you are comparing 2x heavy gauss vs 2x AC20s.

[- World Eater -]

Noooope. Plus, who wants to deal with that short window to fire the heavy gauss?

[N0ni]

Only reason i can think of is if the mech is quirked for gauss cooldown, Grid Iron for example (have 38 total slugs on mine for heavy gauss).

[Brain Cancer]

Heat, if you're really pushing things firing an AC/20 in some fashion. But since even Cataphracts can shove an LFE in with an AC/20 now, probably not even then.

Have I mentioned lately how badly no split-crits screw with Hgauss use?

[Admiral-Dan]

You have to give up much to bring Heavy Gauss and then you want only one?

[Bud Crue]

I built my 0xps as follows:

1HG and 4ERML,
1UAC20 and 4ERML
1LBX20 and 4ERML

The UAC20 has potential but ti jams a lot and runs pretty hot. The other two are frankly garbage.
The classic 1AC20 and 4MPL and a std 280 (or 4ML and a std 300) is still superior imho. Upgrade to a bigger LFE and your golden.

[Y E O N N E]

Beyond quirks, only for the lulz.

Even the LB-20X is a better investment for the slots: save 4 tons per gun, runs colder than an AC/20 and without ghost, has good enough precision at the 180-270 m bracket, gets 3x optimum range, gets 140 damage per ton of ammo to 125, all the crits.

[Hit the Deck]

GH limit of 2, but the Heavy Gauss needs to do 25 pts of damage up to 270m, considering the drawbacks.

The Clans don't have any counterpart to this.

[Trenchbird]

Brain Cancer, on 29 August 2017 - 02:30 PM, said:

Heat, if you're really pushing things firing an AC/20 in some fashion. But since even Cataphracts can shove an LFE in with an AC/20 now, probably not even then.

Have I mentioned lately how badly no split-crits screw with Hgauss use?

I mean, as long as it doesn't split into the arms. With a Light Engine you could theoretically mount two plus an LFE.

[Felbombling]

The rare instances you can use the Heavy Gauss and make it worthwhile will all be tied to existing quirks. I tried the Heavy Gauss on a Cataphract and didn't like the weapon synergy I got out of the other weapons... the timing felt off. Throw the Heavy Gauss into the Grid Iron Hunchback hero, with a 20% reload quirk and you'll be slinging Gauss rounds down field at a pretty good clip. ER Medium Lasers for backup with a similar cool down work well.

The number of Mechs that will be lugging around the Heavy Gauss Rifle will be fairly limited.

[JediPanther]

H guass is very narrow time to fire even with guass quirks on hbk gi and st nodes. i'd rather ac 20 so you know it will fire when you click unless its on cool down. No jam problem like the uac 20. I shoved one on the shadow hawk for the lol factor with 1 ml back up. It works as bad as it sounds.

[Maker L106]

It all depends on how you engage with the mech, If your picking and choosing your opportunity shots with the AC20 then no, don't. If you want pinpoint accuracy at close range the Heavy Gauss is pretty spot on. minimal leading and when you HAVE to be on point, it's there.

The weight hit you take is the worst part so if that's an issue, then take a UAC20 or an AC20 If you only have the room for one for that one slug 20, but always be mindful that the extra 5 damage isn't worth the DPS dropoff you lose as well.

However Heavy Gauss has its place in builds like that. I run a Bounty Hunter II marauder and swap out HG / AC20 / UAC20 etc: just becuase I can and have them along side a twin HG mauler. The single HG marauder works well enough as the AC20 the biggest difference? range.

I typically use 6 MPL + AC20 + ERM or 6ERM + HG + Tag depending on what i'm doing with the mech. the UAC build I don't know by memory, its a slight bit more odd. Either can work but you have to know where and when to engage range wise. The situation will be similar but you will have to treat the range of the AC20 at near 270 or so as the same as the HG at 270 vs its effective 180+

Problem? Burn time on the lasers in this instance. But the HG big draw back is having to prep the round as many have said. If you KNOW your poking your nose or getting into a face hugging contest... that HG will work. you just have to be used to it the timing on its charge and release has to be on you to get right.

[N a p e s]

Bud Crue, on 29 August 2017 - 03:59 PM, said:

The UAC20 has potential but ti jams a lot and runs pretty hot. The other two are frankly garbage.
The classic 1AC20 and 4MPL and a std 280 (or 4ML and a std 300) is still superior imho. Upgrade to a bigger LFE and your golden.

Same conclusion on my Hunchbacks. The UAC20 is not bad and it can be devastating but I've grown so accustomed to the pinpoint precision of the standard AC20 that I'm still getting better games and more fun with that gun than the shiny new UAC20. So my 4G gets a LFE, light ferro and voila! Faster, more ammo and more heat efficient in one fell swoop.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Yeonne Greene, on 29 August 2017 - 04:10 PM, said:

Beyond quirks, only for the lulz.

Even the LB-20X is a better investment for the slots: save 4 tons per gun, runs colder than an AC/20 and without ghost, has good enough precision at the 180-270 m bracket, gets 3x optimum range, gets 140 damage per ton of ammo to 125, all the crits.

It really says something about heavy gauss when you can get superior performance for your investment from.. the inner sphere lb20, of all things.

[Karl Streiger]

You can't fire 2 HPPCs and a HGR - even when you have the weight - but you can fire 2 HPPCs and a AC20 - not all the time - but when the enemy movement is aligned enough its a adequate combo. - like the dual PPC AC20 combo before (i tried a 2 Snub and a HGR before - on Misery - so I really can compare)

Edited by Karl Streiger, 31 August 2017 - 05:33 AM.

[Maker L106]

Snazzy Dragon, on 31 August 2017 - 05:29 AM, said:

It really says something about heavy gauss when you can get superior performance for your investment from.. the inner sphere lb20, of all things.

Don't knock the IS vanilla AC20, that thing puts out a lot of efficient and consistent damage.

[Snazzy Dragon]

Maker L106, on 31 August 2017 - 05:57 AM, said:

Don't knock the IS vanilla AC20, that thing puts out a lot of efficient and consistent damage.

Where tf did I mention the AC20 in my comparison? The AC20 is better than both the hgauss and lb20 anyway

[Bud Crue]

N a p e s, on 29 August 2017 - 05:57 PM, said:

Same conclusion on my Hunchbacks. The UAC20 is not bad and it can be devastating but I've grown so accustomed to the pinpoint precision of the standard AC20 that I'm still getting better games and more fun with that gun than the shiny new UAC20. So my 4G gets a LFE, light ferro and voila! Faster, more ammo and more heat efficient in one fell swoop.

I swear my new renewed favorite mech is a boomjagger, with an LFE265. It plays like whole new mech relative to its old XL required build. Its a perfect blend of old and new tech.

[Khobai]

heavy gauss should just be 22 damage, 6.0+1.0 cooldown, 570m/1040m range, and no reticle shake. maybe 10 crits too.

then it would actually possess the characteristics of a gauss rifle: high damage at long range for low heat

it should probably have a GH limit of 1 too, since the AC20 has a GH limit of 1

and lastly if reducing its crits from 11->10 is considered it should still have the restriction that it cant be placed in arms. heavy gauss cant be placed in arms in battletech even with critsplitting. its just too heavy of a weapon to go in an arm.

Edited by Khobai, 31 August 2017 - 06:26 AM.

[Maker L106]

Snazzy Dragon, on 31 August 2017 - 05:58 AM, said:

Where tf did I mention the AC20 in my comparison? The AC20 is better than both the hgauss and lb20 anyway

My bad misread... sorry.