703 replies to this topic

[Hex Pallett]

HeroForHire, on 05 February 2014 - 03:45 PM, said:

Anyhow I'm pretty sure this is a "DOH!" moment but I finally figured out that (esp. with PuGs) I have to either: a) use left-angled hills for cover and shoot from cover, and/or stay within 200m of the largest group of Assaults or Heavies at all times and use them for shields while I both cover their back and shoot the enemy team from behind them.

Welcome to party.

This right-hook mindset will help you beyond Hunchback - Centurion, Cataphract, Orion, Victor, Highlander, all the way up to Atlas have right-mounted big gun.

Edited by Helmstif, 05 February 2014 - 04:29 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

HeroForHire, on 05 February 2014 - 03:59 PM, said:

What's your opinion on a Flamer in the head? Believe it or not I've been getting more "Component Destroyed" bonuses since I installed one but TBH I only use it as harrassment after someone's taken out my AC20. I have it mapped to a toggle so I can just run circles around the target with the flame spraying all over it the whole time... until they eventually take me out.

Also, what are the recommended modules for HBKs whose main gun is an AC20? Cool Shot's only good for 4P style loadouts.

A flamer in the head would blind myself more than anyone else. Also, I don't run any module or consumable saves my two dedicated LRMboats.

[a gaijin]

Helmstif, on 05 February 2014 - 04:17 PM, said:

Welcome to party.

Thanks!

Helmstif, on 05 February 2014 - 04:17 PM, said:

This right-hook mindset will help you beyond Hunchback - Centurion, Cataphract, Orion, Victor, Highlander, all the way up to Atlas have right-mounted big gun.

That's a really cool coincident because except for the Cataphract all those chassis are on my "to buy" list.
Cataphract's are ...ok let's be honest... they're ugly looking, and way too many people ride them. Kind of like the village bicycle

Helmstif, on 05 February 2014 - 04:29 PM, said:

A flamer in the head would blind myself more than anyone else. Also, I don't run any module or consumable saves my two dedicated LRMboats.

What modules are you running on those two?

And a bit off-topic but I'm really glad you also have an Awesome Guide because I after watching the 9M videos on your channel I'm really wanting to get an Awesome ASAP!!

[Hex Pallett]

HeroForHire, on 05 February 2014 - 05:30 PM, said:

That's a really cool coincident because except for the Cataphract all those chassis are on my "to buy" list.
Cataphract's are ...ok let's be honest... they're ugly looking, and way too many people ride them. Kind of like the village bicycle

If you're passing Cataphract because their Frankenstein appearance, sir, you are missing out. Cataphract is widely considered one of the best IS chassis. 1X could be a ferocious brawler with nothing but a single AC20 and five MLas. Take away a MLas and get some jumpjets into 3D, and you get a hilariously agile brawler. They're like Hunchbacks without the flaws. 4X is the only 'Mech that can effectively boat quad-AC5, and Ilya is widely considered almost P2W.

I would in fact recommend them over Orion.

HeroForHire, on 05 February 2014 - 05:30 PM, said:

What modules are you running on those two?

And a bit off-topic but I'm really glad you also have an Awesome Guide because I after watching the 9M videos on your channel I'm really wanting to get an Awesome ASAP!!

Target-info Gathering, Target Decay and something I forgot...maybe 360-Targeting?

Speaking of Awesome, given the current state of game, that guide is hugely outdated. I'm waiting for PGI to give AWS the modular treatment. Until then, I'd say hold your wallet.

[zagibu]

Target info gathering and 360° targeting, as well as seismic can be useful on any mech IMO.

[Sh4dow78]

will this be viable option ? HBK-4P i know XL... but when u loose torso u half useless anyway and close to death, and with current meta gaming death comes fast So is this worth to try ?

[a gaijin]

Scarface1978, on 10 February 2014 - 04:21 PM, said:

will this be viable option ? HBK-4P i know XL... but when u loose torso u half useless anyway and close to death, and with current meta gaming death comes fast So is this worth to try ?

In the one month I've used this guide I've improved my survivability by enough to where I last to the end of many matches and my damage scores have increased by 300 points (or more).

In all honesty I think that XL isn't good because a lot of times when enemies are targeting my RT I pivot to "give" them something else. I've had my LT taken out before RT because of this and that's kept my AC20 in the fight longer

Edited by HeroForHire, 12 February 2014 - 11:40 PM.

[JimEvolved]

Stupid n00b question. My first mech purchase is a 4P. For the 4P loadouts I've looked at with the 275 engine there is a single heatsink listed in the loadout in the center torso. For some reason I don't understand how to get that single-slot heatsink there. Am I missing something obvious? The std engine only takes up 5 slots but when I am putting my mech together it takes up 6 slots, is there a skill that unlocks for that or something? Thanks much in advance for answering n00b questions.

[zagibu]

The 275 engine has a HS slot in the engine itself. You can simply drag it over the engine and it will install therein.

[Hex Pallett]

Re-edited several places to improve logic coherency. Also added NGNG's demo for 4G. Thanks, NGNG!

Also...I threw a little special something in the OP

Edited by Helmstif, 16 February 2014 - 10:21 PM.

[JimEvolved]

Okay, as revealed by my last question I am a super-n00b, having basically just started MWO recently and the last real Mech PC games I played being way, way back. That being said, love the genre, very interested in making the Hunchback work for me as I embark on my MWO experience. I love medium mechs.

That being said, I've tried the 4P 9ML build (after finally understanding the heatsink-in-engine bit) and let's just say that when I took it to the battlefield my heat management skills aren't so hot right now. In my loadout I dropped 1 ML and added another DHS which has obviously made it easier not to overheat but would I be better off just switching to the other recommended 4P build? Is that just a lot more n00b-friendly? Or basically should I just l2p.

Thanks much in advance for any advice!

Edited by JimEvolved, 17 February 2014 - 12:29 PM.

[mack sabbath]

JimEvolved, on 17 February 2014 - 12:28 PM, said:

Okay, as revealed by my last question I am a super-n00b, having basically just started MWO recently and the last real Mech PC games I played being way, way back. That being said, love the genre, very interested in making the Hunchback work for me as I embark on my MWO experience. I love medium mechs.

That being said, I've tried the 4P 9ML build (after finally understanding the heatsink-in-engine bit) and let's just say that when I took it to the battlefield my heat management skills aren't so hot right now. In my loadout I dropped 1 ML and added another DHS which has obviously made it easier not to overheat but would I be better off just switching to the other recommended 4P build? Is that just a lot more n00b-friendly? Or basically should I just l2p.

Thanks much in advance for any advice!

Put the hunch lasers on trigger #1. You can in a pinch slap Backspace Key to chainfire and vise versa.

Put arms on group #2, head on #3. Only use the head laser for poking, alpha strikes, or last resort.

After firing hunch, WAIT at least a half to a full second before firing arms to prevent ghost heat. PGI has been piss-poor in helping new pilots work around this god-awful heat mechanic thus far.

Enjoy your hunting, best wishes,

SRV



*** Edit: This is my build:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0d53cbbc816f623

Edited by Stevie Ray Vaughan, 17 February 2014 - 12:35 PM.

[Hex Pallett]

JimEvolved, on 17 February 2014 - 12:28 PM, said:

That being said, I've tried the 4P 9ML build (after finally understanding the heatsink-in-engine bit) and let's just say that when I took it to the battlefield my heat management skills aren't so hot right now. In my loadout I dropped 1 ML and added another DHS which has obviously made it easier not to overheat but would I be better off just switching to the other recommended 4P build? Is that just a lot more n00b-friendly? Or basically should I just l2p.

Please go back to the 4P section and read from the top

[JimEvolved]

Thanks I didn't see recommended weapon groupings on the STD275, 19DHS, Endo, 7xSL, 2xMPL build? Can those be found at the Smurfy site for the build? Or is there some general rule of thumb?

[Hex Pallett]

JimEvolved, on 17 February 2014 - 05:29 PM, said:

Thanks I didn't see recommended weapon groupings on the STD275, 19DHS, Endo, 7xSL, 2xMPL build? Can those be found at the Smurfy site for the build? Or is there some general rule of thumb?

9xML are grouped into Arms/Hunch/Head because the maximum MLas group without ghost heat is six. SLas have no ghost heat whatsoever so just Arms/Head.

[Phobic Wraith]

JimEvolved, on 17 February 2014 - 05:29 PM, said:

Thanks I didn't see recommended weapon groupings on the STD275, 19DHS, Endo, 7xSL, 2xMPL build? Can those be found at the Smurfy site for the build? Or is there some general rule of thumb?

Hey, Mr. Evolved, I played a couple matches with you earlier today and I just wanted to say congrats on that Hunchback purchase. I started out with a 4H and I still run my hunchies frequently. The 4P is definitely not for the feint of heart, not only do you have to protect your hunch, (which is a great skill to have in any mech) buy you also have to get the hang of heat management... which is bonkers with ghost heat. My recommendation? Don't be afraid to follow your friendly neighborhood assault (as long as he's not a lame jump-sniping pop tart) straight into the fray and shoot what he shoots.

Glad to have you, and welcome to MWO.

[Ishanaut]

.....

Edited by Ishanaut, 20 February 2014 - 01:34 AM.

[Hex Pallett]

Ishanaut, on 19 February 2014 - 11:51 PM, said:

I have a HBK-4G and I think I screwed up the configuration. LB10X-AC, Med Laser and an ER PPC. FF armour as well. where have I gone wrong, and what can I do?

The part when you have no idea what you're gonna do with your build. You can't just stuff as much firepower as you THINK into a chassis and hope it would work.

What can you do? Read the guide

[Modo44]

It helps to limit your weapon groups. The AC5+ERPPC combo can be quite potent, especially at range. Consider AC5+ERPPC+2xML or something similar. For short-range firepower, you can upgrade the stock loadout to AC20+3xML, STD250 (it works the same on the 4H variant, which is generally more versatile than the 4G).

[RokRoland]

Scarface1978, on 10 February 2014 - 04:21 PM, said:

will this be viable option ? HBK-4P i know XL... but when u loose torso u half useless anyway and close to death, and with current meta gaming death comes fast So is this worth to try ?

I have been having lots of fun times with this build:

3 LLAS, 6 MLAS HBK

Yes, there's not a lot of speed, and mastery of the mech is important to avoid constant overheat. Nevertheless a 57 point alpha will hurt anyone, and you can poke about with the hunch and the head and punch in 47 points of damage without much exposure. But you need a place to cool down in. Sustained chainfire with the LLAS is possible too for quite a while if you have a distracted enemy at 400-600m range. If you get caught in a midrange engagement, you are screwed, but a few salvoes from the MLAS should make the enemy reconsider his intentions too.

I usually don't get a lot of damage - my 4SP with SRM6+5xMLAS and 4G with AC20+3 MLAS typically get more, but kills happen a lot. Even with 2XPPC and some SPL I had before in the 4P made more consistent damage, but kills were much more rare. I have been considering this same setup with XL275 and 0.5 tons of armor shaved off the arms, which would be a ever so slightly more heat efficient and plenty faster with the apparent downside of worse survivability when taking damage. Or practically same heat eff could be achieved with 0.5t more armor in legs and right arm. I very rarely get legged with the 4P though.

The big idea is having the alpha, and putting it to use, then cooling down. If you find yourself chain firing, you are using this build wrong. I got the inspiration from the 6 LLAS build that was featured in a youtube video (probably in the time before ghost heat) and if anything, this build will teach you how to aim stuff with lasers. It has improved my aiming with all weapons.

Edited by RokRoland, 20 February 2014 - 03:10 AM.