66 replies to this topic

[FupDup]

MechWarrior1931204, on 01 November 2021 - 01:26 AM, said:

Naaaaa, on SUMMONER, 3 peeps!

Even the veagle con do it with 15 tons less

He wanted to be able to keep shooting constantly, so that's why I only suggested 2.

[Pariah Devalis]

The Hellspawn has always been, in my eyes, the IS Shadow Cat - if you gave the Shadow Cat actual hardpoints. Considering how shockingly well a 4x ASRM6 SHC can do in QP, regardless if the ACW-1 can do it better, you can do very well with the 5xSRM6 setup on the Hellspawn. It's surprisingly tanky, and damage seems to spread on it fairly well. Outside of that LT, that is, but you're fast and squirrely so it is pretty good at keeping that side away from the enemy in a pinch.

Is it top tier? No. Is it quite capable of doing the job, perhaps in a way better than other mech choices out there? Absolutely. Yeah, an Assassin can do the job better, but it still does the job better than the other IS 40 or 45-ton platforms. Second rung is often pretty close to first when all things are told.

[PocketYoda]

The free mech is imo the weakest of the hellspawns. But its still leagues better than some other 45 tonners.. I own all the Hellspawns and i find the 8P works best as a harasser, something that hovers behind the heavies and assault and picks off mechs with the others on the team..

With a fast engine it works well with slow light groups and is great in packs picking off enemy mechs. Srm4s are the prime weapons i've found with some lasers.

Jumpjets are a must as is a 81-91kph engine.. Do not use XLs on these things as those ears are a prime target.

You possibly could get away with a fast agile LRM mech but its situational and limited on ammo.

[martian]

MechaGnome, on 02 November 2021 - 04:58 AM, said:

Do not use XLs on these things as those ears are a prime target.

I had no problems with running the Hellspawn with XL engine.

Edited by martian, 03 November 2021 - 11:22 AM.

[pattonesque]

martian, on 03 November 2021 - 11:21 AM, said:

I had no problems with running the Hellspawn with XL engine.

yeah the only way an XL is really a problem on a Hellspawn is if, say, you don't twist at all, ever, and let people shoot you wherever they want.

[martian]

pattonesque, on 03 November 2021 - 11:53 AM, said:

yeah the only way an XL is really a problem on a Hellspawn is if, say, you don't twist at all, ever, and let people shoot you wherever they want.

Pretty much. Allowing enemy players to target just one section (read: one side torso) of the Hellspawn is not a good idea.
However, torso twisting and using jump jets (if the build uses them) really helps.

And of course, not being the only 'Mech that the entire team can see.

[FupDup]

Hot Take: Not only is XL viable on the Hellspawn, but it's actually mandatory.

With LFE you give up way too much speed and/or firepower to play to the mech's strengths. Its hitboxes can spread reasonably well, and anytime you die via side-coring you should already have taken a lot of damage elsewhere (thus you would die pretty shortly after losing a side anyways).

[Mark Yore]

2 ERLLs, 3 LRM5 and a LAMS on an XL270 and 4 JJs.

The ideal long-range sniper, once your ammo is gone move in with your lasers that have almost perfect convergence.

The only drawback is that you need to keep close to the main body of your mechs because of enemy lights, but you should be doing that anyway.

If you want a variant, swap the ERLL out for LL to reduce heat and add 2 MRM10s for a nasty punch.

You don't even have to modify your skills.

Edited by Mark Yore, 04 November 2021 - 03:16 AM.

[PocketYoda]

martian, on 03 November 2021 - 11:21 AM, said:

I had no problems with running the Hellspawn with XL engine.

Do as you see fit.
I twist as much as anyone the Hellspawn is not a heavy weight, one hefty shot in the arm and you're done and thats not how i enjoy playing..

A lot of newer players don't understand twisting or have more latency than you.. So a light engine would suit them better, that said..

You do you!

[Bud Crue]

Last night for shi77y mech Wednesday two of us ran the things as LRM 5 boats for three matches. Found it hard to get decent damage as a wee lrmer (did more damage with the 2MPL I was also running on it, than with the LRMs more often than not), but the thing that stood out, was that just like when running SRMs it seems that a lot of people really like aiming at those shoulder (arms) missile pods. In two matches I lost my left side arms and legs but not the torsos, on the third I died from CT loss. XL is definitely the way to go imho with this thing.

[martian]

MechaGnome, on 04 November 2021 - 05:40 AM, said:

Do as you see fit.
I twist as much as anyone the Hellspawn is not a heavy weight, one hefty shot in the arm and you're done and thats not how i enjoy playing..

A lot of newer players don't understand twisting or have more latency than you.. So a light engine would suit them better, that said..

You do you!

Well, if the Hellspawn is viable with its XL engine in higher Tiers, then I would say it should be even more viable in lower Tiers, where players often have less steady aim.

Edited by martian, 04 November 2021 - 10:59 AM.

[pattonesque]

martian, on 04 November 2021 - 10:48 AM, said:

Well, if the Hellspawn is with its XL engine in higher Tiers, then I would say it should be even more viable in lower Tiers, where players often have less steady aim.

maybe folks don't twist as much as they like to believe

[martian]

pattonesque, on 04 November 2021 - 10:58 AM, said:

maybe folks don't twist as much as they like to believe

That's quite possible.

[Andrewlik]

I've been making use of 5 mrm 10s quite well.
SRM 6s have higher damage but with my playstyle the extra 200 meters is exactly the range I fight best at.

[martian]

Andrewlik, on 07 November 2021 - 10:16 AM, said:

I've been making use of 5 mrm 10s quite well.
SRM 6s have higher damage but with my playstyle the extra 200 meters is exactly the range I fight best at.

Use the weapon system or 'Mech loadout that you have the best results with. You are playing for your fun, not to satisfy somebody else.

The PSR system will place you in the most suitable Tier eventually.

[Andrewlik]

martian, on 07 November 2021 - 11:07 AM, said:

Use the weapon system or 'Mech loadout that you have the best results with. You are playing for your fun, not to satisfy somebody else.

The PSR system will place you in the most suitable Tier eventually.

If I play only the mechs i do the best in, I'd be easily mid tier 3.
If I only play my meme meds, i'd be mid tier 4.
Therefore I'm like exactly on the cusp of tier 4-tier 3 at any one time

[martian]

Andrewlik, on 07 November 2021 - 06:02 PM, said:

If I play only the mechs i do the best in, I'd be easily mid tier 3.
If I only play my meme meds, i'd be mid tier 4.
Therefore I'm like exactly on the cusp of tier 4-tier 3 at any one time

Since the MWO matchmaker puts Tier 1 and Tier 4 (or even Tier 5) players in one game, your exact Tier placement is not too important.

[VeeOt Dragon]

i honestly run her with 5x LRM-5 and some laser backup. seems to work fine for me. i tried it with SRMs but i don't use XLs in IS mechs (i'm not the best at twisting and would rather be able to keep fighting after losing half my mech than just go boom). i tried the 5x SRM-6 build but it just ran way to hot for my taste (again no XL so not as much tonnage for DHS). i also as a rule never run a build that is only ammo dependent weapons. nothing worse than running completely out of ammo (or having it critted out) and then just being completely useless. is it meta, no but i also couldn't give two shits about meta.

like with any mech i say experiment and find what works best for you. i do very well with the LRM build (remember that the IS LRM-5 has more HP per missile than say the LRM-20 so even though you only have a 25 tube volley you are more likely to get more missiles through AMS than you would with the larger launcher even if it the 5s take up more tonnage for the same number of tubes. as in everything its a trade-off but the mech has quirks that further enhance running the 5s over the say a 20. (hell i have a Dervish i run with 2 LRM-15 and i seem to get more missiles on target with the Hellspawn even though it has 5 fewer tubes.) also the 5s have a tighter cluster than the bigger launchers so it concentrates a bit better, its still LRM so you are still sort of hitting all over not to mention the need for locks and everything that goes with that but its more likely that they all will hit somewhere on the target instead of some splatting into the grown at its feet.

the geometry is wonky but thats not always a bad thing. it is relatively quick so its easy to stay with you team than some other LRM boats. (hell i often find my Catapult having trouble keeping with the team even though it has a speed of 65+ or so (don't have the game up right now i couldn't tell you its exact speed))

[w0qj]

Wow, since this discussion topic is still hot and ongoing, here's our tidbit:

There's a guide on suggested Hellspawn builds here!
https://mwomercs.com...free-mech-guide

[martian]

VeeOt Dragon, on 12 November 2021 - 07:11 AM, said:

... i also as a rule never run a build that is only ammo dependent weapons. nothing worse than running completely out of ammo (or having it critted out) and then just being completely useless. is it meta, no but i also couldn't give two shits about meta.

That has nothing to do with meta. The secret is to take enough ammo (be it missiles, autocannon rounds, Gauss slugs or any other type of ammunition) that will last until the end of the game for the majority of your games with that 'Mech. If you run out of ammo in one game of twenty (and get killed/survive to the end with some ammo still remaining in the remaining nineteen games), that's okay.

Just make sure that you use that limited amount of ammo on board of your 'Mech to get some kills and/or some solid Match Score.