703 replies to this topic

[Hex Pallett]

Just realized this has become the most viewed topic of BattleMech subforum! Gimme a medal PGI! GIMME GIMME!! QwQ

[Ravennus]

Helmstif, on 13 February 2013 - 06:00 PM, said:

Just realized this has become the most viewed topic of BattleMech subforum! Gimme a medal PGI! GIMME GIMME!! QwQ

Hehe, sure Helmstif.... just be sure the rest of us also get credit for using your convenient topic as a jumping off point for other viable Hunchback builds.


The Hunchback and it's variants are one of the best mechs to learn the game in. (excluding the 4G, harhar)
Every weapon in the game can be learned on a Hunchback.... lasers, ballistics, LRMs, SRMs.... and it has a good combination of speed and armor.
Medium mechs are often underestimated as well, so you get less target priority if you stay with your team and support them.
As a side effect of the vulnerable hunch, you also have to learn proper torso twisting to spread damage around your mech.


Thus, I recommend any new player start with Hunchbacks and point them here. There is a large amount of accumulated knowledge and discussion.... so.... thanks for starting that!

[Ewigan]

Bumped for justice.

[Jeremy Wade]

Just stopping by to post my current 4SP build. Over the last couple of months I'd developed a big soft spot for my AC20, 5MLAS 4H. However after returning to my old SP and making a few tweaks I think I'm in love.

Engine: Stock STD 200 Speed - 64.8 / 71.3 with speed tweak
Upgrades: DHS, Endo, Artemis
Loadout: 2xSRM6 ( 3 tons ammo), 4xMPLAS (2 in each arm), AMS (1 ton ammo), 6DHS.

Firepower 54
Heat Eff. 1.18

Armour:
Head 18
CT 48/16
RT 36/12
LT 36/12
Arms 32
Legs 31


This build is very similar to the classic 4MLAS, 2SRM6. However I have basically kept the engine stock in order to allow me to free up weight to pack a bigger punch. I think this build definitely works best as an escort/assist for your heavies and assaults. Since you are trading some speed I have fitted an AMS and it has been a godsend when you find yourself just a fraction of a second too slow to get behind cover and the first few missiles are going to hit you.


Stick with the heavies and assaults.

When fending off any lights or fast mediums coming in to try and distract the assaults the artemis upgrade really helps your SRMs find their mark. The 4xMPLAS do an excellent job of either making holes or finishing the job after a volley or two of SRMs to the torso of most light and medium mechs since they are going to do more damage than an AC20 when they hit. Pick your shot carefully though, firing all 4 generates between 30-40% heat depending on the map.

If there are no lights around or you are in the middle of a giant unco-ordinated brawl, focus fire on whichever mech is the most damaged, I know that sounds like obvious advice, but the MPLAS concentrate all their damage on one location, if you see anything big and slow and it's torso is looking a little worse for wear a well placed volley from the MPLAS is going to hurt. I have had games where I racked up 3 or 4 kills from just taking a second or two to cycle through targets in a brawl and then firing into the CT of the most heavily damaged enemy at the time. Once you are running hot, the SRMs will let you carry on fighting quite nicely while you cool down.

Caveats - You are not that fast, and you lack the durability of a heavy/assualt. The squishy armour on your back is going to be a prime target if you are caught alone by a couple of lights or a fast medium. Your one saving grace however, especially against lights since the netcode update is that your super flexible arms can cover your lack of manouverability and you can now hit things moving quickly. When they see what happens after you land one round of MPLAS fire on them, most lone lights will disengage.

Other stuff - Sometimes assault pilots see you and think you are an easy target, so they just walk towards you in a straight line firing indiscriminately at you. This can work to your advantage, 2 volleys of 4xMPLAS to the head is pretty much game over. If they aren't packing an AC20, Gauss or any other high, direct damage weapons, I kind of feel like the advantage lies with you, assuming your armour is in reasonable condition and you can get off 2 shots with the lasers.

Edited by Jeremy Wade, 01 March 2013 - 12:08 AM.

[Lexeii]

I'm going to try this one: HBK-4P

Do you think it will work? Just want to know before i spend the cbills.
It's meant to be able to do some dmg at every range, and I don't think i should have heatproblems if I don't shoot the erppc and the sl array the same time

[Ewigan]

Hi Lexeii.

I modified your Draft a bit, as i am not a huge fan of small lasers:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f2e129bdd1c822e

[Hex Pallett]

Ewigan, on 01 March 2013 - 02:46 AM, said:

Hi Lexeii.

I modified your Draft a bit, as i am not a huge fan of small lasers:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f2e129bdd1c822e

You're gonna hate this build so bad you wanna smash keyboard.

I could barely manage 2xERPPC with 20 DHS.

[Lexeii]

thx, I think I'm gonna try both.
normally I don't like small lasers either, was inspired by Helmstifs build. what I wanted was to add the ability to do dmg in more extreme ranges. The plan is to use the ERPPC, unless the target is close enough, then switch to the small lasers (i should really move one into the head hardpoint). I'm afraid the medium lasers will encourage me to use all the weapons together, that will probably cause heatproblems.

[Ewigan]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3625495d29e0a6f

The 4J i bought, build, and deployed today.

It's plain fun!
81 kp/h, a perfect place for the TAG and rocket rain!

You will have to be carefull about alphaing your lasers though, so if you go against those pesky ravens chain fire them!

I am using 4 weapon groups:

1) all Laz0rs
2) Laz0rs in chainfire
3) both LRM10
4) (what is 6 for me) TAG

[slayerkdm]

Im working on my P again. I copied a previous poster and went 1 ERPPC/4Mlas. Gives some range and its pretty good close in. I dont like it as well as my G (which for some reason Im doing well in again) or my SP. It did rack up 3 kills/750 some damage one match though.

My latest is my 4J. Im really struggling with it. I have never really played LRM mechs and I dont seem to do well knowing when to engage and when to hold back and fire missles.

[Ewigan]

Just as a heads up:

I run the above posted 4J with great success.
I run the 4SP that everyone and their mother runs: 2SRM6 and 5 Medium lasers.
AND i run the 4P, but not as a "ghetto delight" variant. Instead i went all in with the medium lasers. What means 9.
So yeah, one Alpha gets me to 52% heat.

So far i can deal with it

[Hex Pallett]

Ewigan, on 03 March 2013 - 11:40 PM, said:

Just as a heads up:

I run the above posted 4J with great success.
I run the 4SP that everyone and their mother runs: 2SRM6 and 5 Medium lasers.
AND i run the 4P, but not as a "ghetto delight" variant. Instead i went all in with the medium lasers. What means 9.
So yeah, one Alpha gets me to 52% heat.

So far i can deal with it

I used to shy away from 9ML cuz I thought I couldn't handle the heat. But the burst damage is so much glory.

Currently I'm finding 2xArtemis SRM4 a worthy, if not better, substitution for 2xASRM6, mainly because it's cooled and much more concentrate. Dusted my 4SP off a few days ago with that config and 800 damage first match. Juicy.

I probably should make another update. It will happen by Tuesday, in case PGI suddenly makes some huge changes.

Plus, you can try to replace the two RT ML with three SL.

Edited by Helmstif, 04 March 2013 - 01:14 AM.

[slayerkdm]

I ran my 4P with 9Mlas. I just grouped it as 3/6. You can shoot the 3 all day long and use the 6 group when you have the heat or need to hit something hard.

I quit running it though, and switched to an ERPPC/4MLAS build. I dont play it much though.

I'm finding myself mostly driving the venerable Founders G, with the iconic AC30/3MLAS. Poor thing is just not as good as the other three mechs I drive my SP, Illya and Dragon 5N, but I like driving it best for some reason.

[Jerod Drekmor]

Had anyone run 4P with 6+ Flamers?? Can you actualy overheat other mech with it? I dont want to do dmg as such but have idea to team up with friend and fry enemy so he can mow that mech down??

[Hex Pallett]

Almost completely revised the whole guide. Added alternative builds and tweaking options.

Jerod Drekmor, on 06 March 2013 - 05:51 PM, said:

Had anyone run 4P with 6+ Flamers?? Can you actualy overheat other mech with it? I dont want to do dmg as such but have idea to team up with friend and fry enemy so he can mow that mech down??

Chance is you won't overheat anything, but why don't you go try it out yourself? It's not like flamers would cost you a bunch. It's a healthy thing to do some friendly trolling now and then.

[Ravennus]

Helmstif, on 06 March 2013 - 07:40 PM, said:

Almost completely revised the whole guide. Added alternative builds and tweaking options.

I checked out your revisions. Nice and succinct, though if I may... I have a quick comment.

First, your 4H build can be very much improved. Add Ferro and get rid of AMS and a tiny bit more armor, and you can easily fit in a 250 Engine (the minimum engine I would recommend for any medium mech IMHO).
The extra 20kph REALLY makes a huge difference, especially before you get speed tweak. Only moving as fast as an assault mech is just asking for trouble.
You only have 10 DHS, but they are all true doubles instead of 1.4, which brings it close to your heat efficiency.

HBK-4H "Buster"

I use this build personally, and have had great success with it. My only regret is that I couldn't fit in an extra ton of AC20 ammo (that last free crit slot haunts me) and that the leg armor is the bare minimum I would ever recommend (31).
Otherwise it is a fantastic hit and run mech, as most mediums should be. That AC20 is just too much fun for words, and the higher torso mounted hardpoint is fantastic for aiming and for firing over cover and other obstructions.

Edited by Ravennus, 06 March 2013 - 08:49 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

Ravennus, on 06 March 2013 - 08:41 PM, said:

HBK-4H "Buster"

I'd like to include this as an alternative build...or probably the ideal build, if you don't mind.

(been rocking with my Wang so hard tonight I forgot AMS+1 ton of ammo=3xSLas in weight....)

Edited by Helmstif, 06 March 2013 - 09:12 PM.

[Ravennus]

Helmstif, on 06 March 2013 - 09:05 PM, said:

I'd like to include this as an alternative build...or probably the ideal build, if you don't mind.

(been rocking with my Wang so hard tonight I forgot AMS+1 ton of ammo=3xSLas in weight....)

No prob Helmstif, glad to help.

After all, you had a large hand in getting me addicted to Hunchbacks in the first place. Before that I was just a filthy filthy Raven pilot.

[Ewigan]

*squee* i was meantioned in the first post!

thx helmstif

[Reported for Inappropriate Name]

these are the builds I've been using, more or less whats on the front page
4G (this is the one I use on my founders, I call it the Sonic Boom, you can also take off the head laser- i wouldn't because it goes great with the autocannon when ridging, or swap the 260 for a 250 and grab an additional ton of ammo, but i like to go maximum fast at all times)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c1dac158df6a5b7
4P(way nastier than it looks if you group the weapons properly)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fdd0c392af67f4c
4SP (new artemis is quite frankly, amazing.)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...1c8642f2fb87880


4J "Why" (saving this one in my pocket if there are ever weight limits on drops and I can't bring spongebob)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...679a3c7a8ec8d65

and the 4h... is in the same boat as the 4sp and 4J, not much different you can do with it unless you want to do something wacky like the "why" or an ac/2 and 2 er ppc's on a 4H.


and speaking of spongebob, not a hunchback, but for you missile fans out there...
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4119d0e3d2babd8
clocking in at a measley 60 missiles per salvo, not the most missiles to pack on a mech but they all come out at the same time meaning anybody stupid enough to be in the open is going to have a very very bad day. plus if you ever get bored you can smack on some srm's and large lasers like so
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...260b7301852ad47

Edited by Battlecruiser, 07 March 2013 - 02:25 AM.