703 replies to this topic

[Ravennus]

MuKen, on 09 April 2013 - 06:51 PM, said:

[/size]

Been experimenting with this adjustment to one of the builds in the OP:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e925fb2f4f3ae4b

It seems quite effective, changing the arms to LLas gives me a little more 'oomph' to my alpha strike, which that build was somewhat lacking in compared to other hunchies, and also allows me a more effective strike as I try to close the gap on enemies.

Yes, I die when my hunch gets taken out, but like I said my 9mlas hunch wasn't doing a whole lot without his hunch anyway.

First rule, try your best not to get your hunch shot off.
Some people here talk like it happens every round.... once you learn to protect it and to pilot to your strengths, then it will happen less and less.

Second rule, don't give up when your hunch DOES get shot off.
I hear this a lot too. My hunch is gone, so I'm useless.
Sorry, but you are far from it. I've clutched games with nothing but my head MLAS.
You can also run distraction, cap, or use your body to protect other mechs that need the help.


Either way, if you really want to run a 7 SLAS/2 LLAS build, try something like this.
HBK-4P

Still uses a standard 250 engine. The leg armor is a little low, but I have the same on my AC20 4H, and it's usually not an issue.
Only 16 DHS, but that is still doable with the great heat efficiency of the SLAS and LLAS (especially once your Elites are fully unlocked for 2x Basics).


I've tried it, but not a huge fan.
Once I learned the new bigger maps, I found ways to stay under cover and easily close with most mechs.
If you are moving at 90kph+, it doesn't take long to get within range of your MLAS either.

People talk like brawling is impossible on these maps, but most fights still devolve into one.
If the other team is sniping you, there are plenty of ways to flank them because the maps are so big.
A 45 damage alpha to the back will take out most mechs in one shot from behind unless it's a heavy or assault, in which case you use your maneuverability to stay behind them for 3 seconds and get the 2nd shot off.

I recently played a match on Alpine where I snuck up behind 3 snipers at the top of a mountain range.
They were staggered and weren't paying attention to their buddies. I took out all 3 in my 4P without even getting targeted once.

Edited by Ravennus, 09 April 2013 - 07:16 PM.

[MuKen]

Hm, that does look pretty good. Ok, I guess the XL didn't really buy me much there.

[Sycis]

I just had to drop a post here to thank both Helmstif, and Ravennus for their brilliant designs on the Hunchbacks. These mechs are possibly the best ones I've had the pleasure in piloting and they always treat me well.

Great job guys. Love this guide and love the community for the continued ideas that make this Mech such a viable piece of hardware. Keep up the *** good work!

[Blue Frog]

Sycis, on 10 April 2013 - 10:33 AM, said:

I just had to drop a post here to thank both Helmstif, and Ravennus for their brilliant designs on the Hunchbacks. These mechs are possibly the best ones I've had the pleasure in piloting and they always treat me well.

Great job guys. Love this guide and love the community for the continued ideas that make this Mech such a viable piece of hardware. Keep up the *** good work!

It's a bit belated, but I second Sycis's accolades...thanks Helmstif and Ravennus!

[Hex Pallett]

Just realized this post is not only the most viewed in Battlemechs subforum but also has silently went past 30k views.

Hunchbacks are serious.

[Chalkman]

My favorite 4P build so far:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...774d6a27401e76b

Seems odd to many, but if you only fire the PPCs or the small lasers at one time you don't have many heat problems. Mind, that is with 2X coolrun on it, so you could downgrade the engine a bit, pull off the ferro, and throw some more double heatsinks on if you need to.

[Ewigan]

It has returned

(the topic i mean ^^)

[Haji1096]

Hey guys,

I've mastered hunchbacks (skill wise).

HBK-4G
STD 250
AC/20 4 tons of ammo
2 ML
DS, ES, FF

HBK-4SP
STD 250
3LL, 1SL
DS, ES, FF

HBK-4H
STD 250
AC/10 2 tons of ammo
3 ML
DS, ES, FF

My problem lies with the 4H. I'm trying to find a build to differentiate it from my 4G, but I can't seem to come up with something good/effective/viable. The Gauss seems too fragile, AC/10 doesn't pack a punch, LBX is too short ragne, UAC/5 requires too much exposure.

Any ideas ?

[Ser Barristan]

I run my 4H with a 260 engine, AC20 with 3 tons of ammo and 5 small lasers. AC20 at 92.7 kph is a hoot.

[Hauser]

Not really. You could do 2xAC2 on the 4G but that works better on the YLW.

Got some small improvements though. You should be able to put at-least 1 more medium on the 4G. I've never used up 4 tons of ammo. You can also add two extra on the 4H mediums add another 10 damage to your alpha. It gives it a bit of a bigger punch.

Ser Barristan, on 24 April 2013 - 06:59 AM, said:

I run my 4H with a 260 engine, AC20 with 3 tons of ammo and 5 small lasers. AC20 at 92.7 kph is a hoot.

Just don't be seen. People tend to freak out when they see that.

Edited by Hauser, 24 April 2013 - 07:18 AM.

[Ser Barristan]

Heh, I consider "Hit without being seen" is pretty much HBK dogma, it dovetails nicely with FFA.

Edit: Here is the HBK-4H build I'm using.

Edited by Ser Barristan, 24 April 2013 - 04:11 PM.

[Wildstreak]

Haji1096, on 24 April 2013 - 06:53 AM, said:

HBK-4SP
STD 250
3LL, 1SL
DS, ES, FF

HBK-4H
STD 250
AC/10 2 tons of ammo
3 ML
DS, ES, FF

My problem lies with the 4H. I'm trying to find a build to differentiate it from my 4G, but I can't seem to come up with something good/effective/viable. The Gauss seems too fragile, AC/10 doesn't pack a punch, LBX is too short ragne, UAC/5 requires too much exposure.

Interesting SP with no missiles.

LBX has worked for me on the 4H, was running with 5MLs and even with a stock 200 engine it still does well. Thinking of dropping a ML for this version with better heat management, sadly I could not find what to do with 1.5 tons, bumping the engine to 210 makes no sense.

[Chalkman]

Merchant, on 24 April 2013 - 06:37 PM, said:

LBX has worked for me on the 4H, was running with 5MLs and even with a stock 200 engine it still does well. Thinking of dropping a ML for this version with better heat management, sadly I could not find what to do with 1.5 tons, bumping the engine to 210 makes no sense.

If you really like the LBX-10, here is what I came up with.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...58deb9e26980d45
I dropped the AMS because you are moving faster, BAP because it is almost useless, .5 tons of armor from the legs because you needed some tonnage, and I got the same heat efficiency with a 250 engine. Now you can get close enough to use that LBX more easily! You could drop some ammo for a 260 engine if you wanted to.

Edited by Chalkman, 24 April 2013 - 07:35 PM.

[Sable Dove]

Good OP, but I don't agree that the Hunchback is a good starter mech; it's not even a good mech. Only the 4SP is particularly effective, and even then, heavies are better. Cataphracts in particular, while having the drawback of low arms, are very diverse and effective. Basically, Heavies are just as fast as the slow mediums, only slightly larger, while having much heavier armour and weapons. I can honestly not see any reason to take a Hunchback or Centurion over a heavy, or a Cicada over a light (yes, even a Spider is more effective than Cicadas).

Without R&R, mediums have no advantage (although I don't accept that a non-gameplay factor should be used to balance in-gameplay factors) over any other class.

[WANTED]

I run 4J and 4G. I've been running my 4G alot more lately and doing quite well. I pretty much run a standard loadout with AC/20 and 3xMDL. but I have the highest ST 260 engine. I go 92 KPH with speed tweak. It's not gonna beat those dual welding AC/20 mechs but I can redeploy, cap, and assist heavies and assaults quite quickly. With all the ELITE and 2x basic upgrades it handles so much better. I carry 21 shots in my AC20 as far as ammo. It either runs out at the very end of a match or I lose the AC 20 by then so it's about the perfect amount of ammo.

This mech annihilates light mechs legs if you can connect.

[Ser Barristan]

Funny enough at the 92 kph you get from an speed tweaked 260 you can actually give some lights a bit of a chase. I had a Spider do a double take once because I was actually hanging on him with a 4P.

[slayerkdm]

WANTED, on 25 April 2013 - 09:28 AM, said:

I run 4J and 4G. I've been running my 4G alot more lately and doing quite well. I pretty much run a standard loadout with AC/20 and 3xMDL. but I have the highest ST 260 engine. I go 92 KPH with speed tweak. It's not gonna beat those dual welding AC/20 mechs but I can redeploy, cap, and assist heavies and assaults quite quickly. With all the ELITE and 2x basic upgrades it handles so much better. I carry 21 shots in my AC20 as far as ammo. It either runs out at the very end of a match or I lose the AC 20 by then so it's about the perfect amount of ammo.

This mech annihilates light mechs legs if you can connect.

Exactly my loadout. I have been having great luck again in my G. I really commited again to supporting the biggest Assault on the team, and flanking (close in stuff, not getting caught alone type flanking), hitting cover when I get focused on and tryin to swing around for better shots.

I have only lost my AC20 once in about 10 games. Ran out of ammo 3 or 4 times, high kill game 4, high damage just snuck over 600 one game. More importantly I have a better win percentage, some is luck, but also some is me not recklessly running in and getting killed early, leaving my team a mech down early.

[MuKen]

Been playing around with this build lately

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...45b929d5a9015a9

If you're a fan of the K2 las-cat, this has the same offensive characteristics, in a more focused and higher mount-point, with greater mobility and a lower weight class. It's more delicate, so you have to be good at striking at range from unseen angles, but it is a lot of fun.

Edited by MuKen, 25 April 2013 - 05:53 PM.

[Ser Barristan]

Is the 4J worth taking? Granted LRMs are in a bad way at the moment but I assume at some point that will be rectified. I suppose TBTs probably outclass 4J at the LRM hauling but I already have the rest of the HBK family.

This is what i put together in smurfy: HBK-4J

[WANTED]

slayerkdm, on 25 April 2013 - 04:59 PM, said:

Exactly my loadout. I have been having great luck again in my G. I really commited again to supporting the biggest Assault on the team, and flanking (close in stuff, not getting caught alone type flanking), hitting cover when I get focused on and tryin to swing around for better shots.

I have only lost my AC20 once in about 10 games. Ran out of ammo 3 or 4 times, high kill game 4, high damage just snuck over 600 one game. More importantly I have a better win percentage, some is luck, but also some is me not recklessly running in and getting killed early, leaving my team a mech down early.

Yep. Exactly how I play it. Standard engine means they can blow off your left torso and you keep going and at good speed