33 replies to this topic

[La Douche]

I used to really love the HBK-4G because of its big silly angry shoulder, but stopped using it eventually because it was just too damn slow and basically unarmed after getting shot in the hump a few times.

It occurred to me that maybe the light engine could help with that, but I don't see them much all the same. Has anyone here played around with them since light engines came out? With their ballistic and AC/20 and energy quirks it *seems* as if they'd be good for something...

This one moves almost 90kph:
https://mwo.smurfy-n...d8a49abae570f21

This one has MPLs that should match the AC/20 pretty well in range and cycle time:
https://mwo.smurfy-n...67b6d241f383702

I plan on trying it out soon, but thought I'd see if anyone had some constructive feedback as well.

Thanks!

[Jackal Noble]

Douchey as ever. Sorry couldn't help myself.

[La Douche]

Hey, I picked the name, so I must be okay with hearing it.

[Metus regem]

Try it with a isUAC/20+LFE and MPL's to taste... it's actually rather solid.

[MischiefSC]

Still flat out inferior to Clan HBKIIC. Significantly.

Want brawly? 2xLBX20 is still superior.

[El Bandito]

Hunchies got screwed by the new skill tree's pre-emptive quirk nerfs. I used to love my HBK-4SP for Scouting, and now it is not even a contender.

[LordNothing]

laser hunch is pretty solid as it always was. but 9 medium lasers will ruin anyone's day.

[RoadblockXL]

On my 4G, I stuck with the same STD255 engine and swapped out the AC20 for an LBX20.

Why?

Because the 4G has a +25% ballistic velocity quirk, in addition to the +15% velocity from the skill tree, giving the LBX20 a velocity of 1862 m/s. Makes blasting lights real easy.

It's also funny considering that a stock Gauss Rifle shoots at 2000 m/s. So, your giant shotgun has almost the same muzzle velocity as a railgun.

[Brain Cancer]

It's better. The Hunchback suffers most from being at the bottom of a big pile of power creep, and like the Orion and Shadow Hawk could use a visit from the Global Quirks Fairy.

[Kali Rinpoche]

They were the medium of choice for new folks to learn on for years. If you load armor quirks to max, they can be effective. I run them still with small standard engines. 4G, GI, 4J, and sometimes the 4SP are decent still, but you have to stay in the pack and back stab a lot.

[Krivvan]

A number of IS mechs benefited greatly from LFE and engine desync to the point where they start out-performing their closest Clan counterparts. The IS Hunchback, however, isn't one of them.

Brain Cancer, on 05 April 2018 - 06:34 PM, said:

It's better. The Hunchback suffers most from being at the bottom of a big pile of power creep, and like the Orion and Shadow Hawk could use a visit from the Global Quirks Fairy.

The Orion is still one of the best brawlers in the entire game. It beats the Orion IIC in a straight up fight, although has a worse time against Assaults than the IIC.

Edited by Krivvan, 05 April 2018 - 07:25 PM.

[justcallme A S H]

I actually ran my Founders 4G last week in a half dozen games. I think I maybe had one DHS less and another 1T ammo, I forget exactly.

It still sucks even with LFE and new tech. It is sadly just horribly undergunned by the current standards due to hardpoints.

You can UAC20 if you want but again, it's anemic firepower to a Clan Hvy which still runs just as fast makes me sad-face.

[Nightbird]

If you have the free Grid Iron try this and let me know how it goes. Obviously, don't lead the charge

https://mwo.smurfy-n...ff1097b89f10563

With cooldown skill tree I believe the heavy gauss only needs 3.4 seconds + charge per shot.

Edited by Nightbird, 05 April 2018 - 07:55 PM.

[Requiemking]

Krivvan, on 05 April 2018 - 07:23 PM, said:

A number of IS mechs benefited greatly from LFE and engine desync to the point where they start out-performing their closest Clan counterparts. The IS Hunchback, however, isn't one of them.


The Orion is still one of the best brawlers in the entire game. It beats the Orion IIC in a straight up fight, although has a worse time against Assaults than the IIC.

Hell, the Orion has possibly the most competently built Champion variant in the game, even despite being a little outdated due to newtech. That Champion with full survival tree is nothing to scoff at.

[yrrot]

I had a great time running the -4H in scouting for the recent event with a STD200, AC/20, and 5 ML. It takes a beating to the left side fairly well. It makes for a pretty solid brawler still* (for scouting), as long as you get the torso twisting going right.

With the LFE, you lose out on deadside tanking a bit, but get the speed boost. It's probably more useful to something like the -4SP with MRMs than the -4G.

Of course, the Bushwacker does an AC/20 build with extra tonnage/armor, a higher engine cap, better front cross section, and more options for secondary weapons. (or dual HGR...and yes, I have seen it in scouting...)

[Brain Cancer]

Krivvan, on 05 April 2018 - 07:23 PM, said:

The Orion is still one of the best brawlers in the entire game. It beats the Orion IIC in a straight up fight, although has a worse time against Assaults than the IIC.

That's my point. After the patch that globally quirk boosted them, the IS Orion went from being a decent mini-Atlas to an exceptional one.

[Curccu]

Nightbird, on 05 April 2018 - 07:52 PM, said:

If you have the free Grid Iron try this and let me know how it goes. Obviously, don't lead the charge

https://mwo.smurfy-n...ff1097b89f10563

With cooldown skill tree I believe the heavy gauss only needs 3.4 seconds + charge per shot.

I have played some games with HBK-4G HG + single ERML in head and it's fun and can be decent.
loses 10% cooldown and some structures vs GI but gains good amounts of range, velocity and -crit chance

Optimal range 286 and max 1170 + with 3 velocity nodes velocity is bit over 2000m/s

[BrunoSSace]

The Hunchback's are still one of my favorite medium Mechs. They are up there with my top 4 IS Medium Mechs. Shadowhawks, Griffins, Hunchbacks and the Bushwackers. I'm mainly an Inner Sphere Mech pilot. Spending up to 65% of my time, last 2 years, in Inner Sphere mediums.
The new tech did help the Hunchie's but, they still have terrible hit boxs and have to run either standards or light engines. They can't run XL like the other 3 can safely. But all my Hunchies are now using Light engines except my Hunchback 4J, who uses LRMs since it has insane missile quirks.

My 4G now has alot more ammo and runs slightly faster. https://mwo.smurfy-n...c74fcd80c485d6f

4H now has 4 extra heat sinks and range thanks to ER Medium lasers. https://mwo.smurfy-n...c23729ce41c9ab8

4P has 9 Er Medium lasers, runs Light 275 with 19 Double Heatsinks. Since new tech, the 4P is the bomb. You need to try it, it has insane cooling and poke damage. https://mwo.smurfy-n...596028e587d4d98

4J has same build, new tech didnt change it. Xl 255, tag, 3 medium lasers, 2 lrm 10's with art and as much ammo as you can carry. https://mwo.smurfy-n...026b8f6d984bb48

4SP got its Nu,,,s cut out, with a huge cut in its quirks. Number one rule is don't talk about the poor Hunchback 4SP. :C https://mwo.smurfy-n...03aa15f5cdbc911

Gridiron got a huge boost, Mrm 40, 3 medium lasers and 2 light machine guns. Its so much, much, better, so worth the buy now, new tech saved this little guy. https://mwo.smurfy-n...2401733f711d9f7

So to recap, new tech saved the Gridiron, massive boost to the 4P and the rest have little gains in performance. The 4J was already really good and still my most played medium and didn't change it at all. Remember! Hunchbacks can not use XL engines!, "SO PLEASE DON'T!" use them. Only if you are going to stay at range and be a ninja.
Bruno, your IS crazy fanatic. \o/
:Edited: To add in my builds since I found a beer. \o/ gl hf

Edited by BrunoSSace, 06 April 2018 - 01:46 AM.

[Jungle Rhino]

HBK-4P is beast mode. 1x LPL + 6x ML gets work done.

HBK-4G is undergunned with an AC20 - UAC20 doesn't really work with the flick and shoot twist style you need to utilise on a Hunchie.

[Curccu]

Jungle Rhino, on 06 April 2018 - 01:32 AM, said:

HBK-4P is beast mode. 1x LPL + 6x ML gets work done.

HBK-4G is undergunned with an AC20 - UAC20 doesn't really work with the flick and shoot twist style you need to utilise on a Hunchie.

4G with AC20 works decently while poking close range... against not so awesome players or if target is distracted by someone else.