703 replies to this topic

[YueFei]

slayerkdm, on 24 December 2013 - 07:33 AM, said:

I don't disagree with you, after 729 or so matches with the G, I have tried about every combination. Like I say, my last post was referring to how I find the current meta in skirmish.

I find the trouble wit trying to use left shoulder as a shield is, the HBK still has to fully expose itself to fire from the Hunch. If you are housing your primary fire power there, for me, I have found its difficult to both protect it and do much damage. Of those 700 plus matches in he G, probably 650 or so are with standard engine.

No doubt the standard lets you get closer in a have a bit more survivability, but truthfully, most players shoot to core, as its just about as fast going or the sides of an HBK. I rarely try to shoot the Hunch off an HBK, I just shoot to center core it.

One of the fun things about Hunchies though, so many was to play them, with the variants available.

Yep, depends on playstyle, I was just trying to say why most HBK players swear by STD engines.

[JayVrb]

slayerkdm, on 24 December 2013 - 07:33 AM, said:

No doubt the standard lets you get closer in a have a bit more survivability, but truthfully, most players shoot to core

The hunch is essentially the Hunchbacks core... you don't have to aim to hit it.

[xMintaka]

XL engines in a Hunchback are just as bad an idea as they are in a Stalker. Which is to say, the most horrendously stupid move you could make. Of course, there are exceptions, but as a general rule it's a death sentence to XL in something with such huge Side Torso's. Still, each to their own, and if it works for you, have fun with it! I'll smile when I take out your RT and you go boom

Also, with regards to the OP, wouldn't this HBK-4SP be better than not having Artemis? Sure, it's rather toasty, but that's what the head laser and SRM's are for. You also have the speed to disengage and cool off. The lack of precision without Artemis was the dealbreaker for me. Ran the build in the OP for 10 drops, and it just wasnt working. Great damage, but useless when it's spread all over the mech you're firing on. Changed to Artemis and started racking up the kills. I am an Artemis ***** though. Won't run any missiles without it.

Great guide, by the way Helmstif. It's what persuaded me to buy some Hunchie's, despite everyone saying they're rubbish, and I'm very glad for it. They put a grin on my face like few other mechs in my stable can, and that's what counts really.

Edited by Lunatech, 31 December 2013 - 11:10 AM.

[Raso]

Lunatech, on 31 December 2013 - 11:10 AM, said:

Also, with regards to the OP, wouldn't this HBK-4SP be better than not having Artemis? Sure, it's rather toasty, but that's what the head laser and SRM's are for. You also have the speed to disengage and cool off. The lack of precision without Artemis was the dealbreaker for me. Ran the build in the OP for 10 drops, and it just wasnt working. Great damage, but useless when it's spread all over the mech you're firing on. Changed to Artemis and started racking up the kills. I am an Artemis ***** though. Won't run any missiles without it.

I either would go with this HBK-4SP Brawler or with this HBK-4SP LRM Support. I've never been a fan of the head lasers. If I'm down to that I'm no good in a fight anymore. Use the extra tonnage either for cooling or ammo.

That said, I do still use the STD250 engine in my both of my 4SP builds. I've been thinking of upgrading but saving up for other mechs and some big XL engines has been a higher priority of late.

[JayVrb]

Raso, on 31 December 2013 - 12:04 PM, said:

I either would go with this HBK-4SP Brawler

Lunatech, on 31 December 2013 - 11:10 AM, said:

Also, with regards to the OP, wouldn't this HBK-4SP be better than not having Artemis? Sure, it's rather toasty, but that's what the head laser and SRM's are for. You also have the speed to disengage and cool off. The lack of precision without Artemis was the dealbreaker for me. Ran the build in the OP for 10 drops, and it just wasnt working. Great damage, but useless when it's spread all over the mech you're firing on. Changed to Artemis and started racking up the kills. I am an Artemis ***** though. Won't run any missiles without it.

Agree fully with both these guys. The Artemis is WELL WORTH the tonnage and, while toasty as mentioned, heat is manageable. Just remember, you don't have to use all your lasers... at once... every time; your SRMs are your MAIN weapon. That is to say, if you manage to sneak up behind someone and get under 200meters...
LET. IT. ALL. RIP.

Edited by Vrbas, 02 January 2014 - 08:02 AM.

[Gremlich Johns]

I run my 4G(F) with an STD215. Max damage with that mech has been 800. Do not try to tell me I need to upgrade the engine. It's worked fine since closed Beta for me. My 4P and 4SP are the fast ones with STD250/STD260 respectively in them - again, no advice. They work for me and I get respectable damage out of them.

[Maddreg]

I didn't really follow any guides yet except the advise to buy a Hunchback as the 1st mech. So at first I bought the 4H one, however after 20 matches I realised that I like ballistic weapon more so I changed my 4H to 4G. That was really a bad idea because I lost a lot of money at selling old mech and buying new one and I also screwed up while I was playing with FF and ES (didn't know that you have to buy it every time you change it to standard and back ). I started to experiment with my 4G, tried base build first, then I installed double lb 10-x with one ML. It was fun build but I had to trim a lot of armor. So I kept experimenting and at the moment I am using AC10+AC5+ML. After a few days of practice I usually do 250-300 and sometimes even 400 damage with it, but I feel that I need to try to combine couple of AC's with more ML's. So I came up to this build HBK-4G 2xAC5+3ML Haven't try it yet, but I guess it should be ok for my style. Tried to combine different AC's, but finally I decided that 2xAC5's should be better than 3xAC'2 dute to smaller heat generation. Of course I am a novice and most likely my build is {Scrap}, but I have to try different ones to find what suits me the best (thanks to mechlab for an opportunity to experiment not wasting millions of CB )

upd. changed the build a bit, now its almost full armor and 1t left for whether heatsink or more armor HBK-4G 2xAC5+3ML

Edited by Maddreg, 07 January 2014 - 05:58 AM.

[Hex Pallett]

Vrbas, on 02 January 2014 - 07:46 AM, said:

Agree fully with both these guys. The Artemis is WELL WORTH the tonnage and, while toasty as mentioned, heat is manageable. Just remember, you don't have to use all your lasers... at once... every time; your SRMs are your MAIN weapon. That is to say, if you manage to sneak up behind someone and get under 200meters...
LET. IT. ALL. RIP.

Regarding Artemis+SRM...I'll be honest, I can't remember when but at some point I just gave up on Artemis. Now the only thing in my mechbay carrying Arty is my 'pult C1 LRM boat.

Maybe it's the crispy arm movement o my 4SP luring me to lean toward using lasers? I remember earlier on I carry 4 tons of SRM ammo on my 4SP, now I could live with three or even two.

[Canadian Attack Beaver]

Any opinions yet on the Hunchback Hero mech?

[Raggedyman]

Canadian Attack Beaver, on 07 January 2014 - 12:30 PM, said:

Any opinions yet on the Hunchback Hero mech?

It's like a second Christmas!!

Edited by Raggedyman, 07 January 2014 - 12:36 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

Canadian Attack Beaver, on 07 January 2014 - 12:30 PM, said:

Any opinions yet on the Hunchback Hero mech?

Just wrote a small update in the OP. I'm just gonna use it as a 4G or 4H. Now the real thing is 4SP's new dynamic launcher appearance with a 10-tube cap. 4J is gonna have a hard time being competent after this one.

[Wildstreak]

4J can still be good. I may see if the changes allow running SRMs in the shoulder, it does carry 1 more Energy than the SP.

Have not bought it yet, need to get the money / MC but I played around with Smurfy stats for the Grid Iron trying to make a 4N type. Came up with this one using all hardpoints and this one using actual AC/5. Second one can afford to dump the engine DHS for Artemis if you want. Just 2 Lasers shy of a true 4N.

[slayerkdm]

I will get the new Hero, as I love HBK's. If you are not going to try and utilize the missles, I don't really see a reason to buy it. The G has more ballistic options.

I think I will probably try a shot gunner, LBX plus SRM6. Wish the SRM's were no currently borked.

As for XL engines, my G currently runs one, I having more average damage per game, higher average kills, better kill to death ratio.

Once the Hunch is gone, you are s neutered in most builds, might as well have died. If you are focused fired, a standard engine will not save you either.

If you are playing skirmish games, I think there I zero reason to play a standard. In the other gam modes, there I the chance your neutered HBK can still be of some value as a base capturer.

In my opinion, longer lasting does no equal better performance or even better team support. Medium must do damage, or there is little reason use them currently. Using XL engines allows more firepower, which is what this games about.

[Hex Pallett]

Could someone who owns 4J give us some info how the dynamic appearance affect its hunch??

[Bront]

Helmstif, on 07 January 2014 - 01:03 PM, said:

Could someone who owns 4J give us some info how the dynamic appearance affect its hunch??

unFearing, on 07 January 2014 - 12:34 PM, said:

ah, so here is the topic. Reporting my findings for the HBK-4H now:

No weapons except SL:



AC20, AC10, AC5, AC2 all look same - like the 4G now! I bought the 4H for the smaller hunch, now it's changed so it's just as vulnerable as the 4G... someone correct me if i'm wrong, as i dont own a 4G.:



LB10X - longer barrel will definitely decrease that spread damage! Not...:

Machine gun - because you can now snipe with that MG hit scan!:

UAC5... uhm, okay, having it stick out just to show the rotary cannons that dont rotate... makes sense, because i'm understanding that pgi logic is about 0 sense.:

Double PPC - eh:




Flamers.. for anyone:


Lasers...:


because lasers fire from my black dots!:


HBK 4P... because now my hunch has to look ugly while it gets blown off:


quad ppc! looks cool, especially the 4th, but it's not even centered in the hunch.. le sigh:



some mod want to make these into spoilers? thanks

This help?

No, no J, but still pertinant.

[Hex Pallett]

Apparently, removing missile launchers from 4J will remove the hunch completely, same as 4SP. Large energy weapons will show up on waist level, much like a baby Atlas.

Hmm. That opens up some possibilities...

[NRP]

I asked this in another thread, but didn't get any useful replies.

I'm considering picking up a 4G to run an AC/20+2 MG crit seeker build. However, given that the Grid Iron is basically a 4G, I might get it instead. So here's my question: are 2 MGs noticeably more effective at critting internals than one MG? I'm wondering if a 4G with 3 MLs, an AC/20, and 2 MGs would be noticeably more combat effective than a Grid Iron with 3 MLs, an AC/20, and one MG?

I don't use MGs so I have no idea how their effectiveness scales.

[Wildstreak]

4J pics and more found here.

[Hex Pallett]

NRP, on 07 January 2014 - 02:46 PM, said:

I asked this in another thread, but didn't get any useful replies.

I'm considering picking up a 4G to run an AC/20+2 MG crit seeker build. However, given that the Grid Iron is basically a 4G, I might get it instead. So here's my question: are 2 MGs noticeably more effective at critting internals than one MG? I'm wondering if a 4G with 3 MLs, an AC/20, and 2 MGs would be noticeably more combat effective than a Grid Iron with 3 MLs, an AC/20, and one MG?

I don't use MGs so I have no idea how their effectiveness scales.

The real question is, would you rather sacrifice a lot of speed in exchange of weaponry with tiny firepower and unstable performance? Because if you're looking at an unarmored body part you might as well just blow that sh*t off.

I'd always go for a bit more speed than a bit more firepower.

[Nehkrosis]

Ive been rather enjoying this build;
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ffa6cf9405b2779

if you lose your hunch you still have some fight left in you.
nice dps too.