13 replies to this topic

[PaintedWolf]

What is your opinion on the Swayback, that is a Mech that uses like 9 Medium Lasers or 3-4 Medium Pulse plus Medium Lasers, a large (300 plus) Engines LOTS of DHS's and just does ridiculous amounts of medium range-energy weapon damage. Thing is they seem to get taken out a lot from what I have seen. Does anyone run a Zombie Swayback?

[cymeth]

heaps of fun

pay as much attention to the fight as possible and remain patient until the sortie begins, then add damage to the primary whilst continually cycling targets looking for something vulnerable. Then you break off and using quick chain fire bursts: get in, do the damage and get out.

dont over commit, dont alpha unless you are undetected.

[Broceratops]

you cant have larger than a 260 engine on a hunchback

[Ezazel]

I love Hunchback 4p. All those energyweapons are plain fun. As noted by Broceratops you can't have bigger than 260 engine in any HBK but that gives you decent speed of 84+ kph, 92,7 with speed tweak.

Swayback's weakness is that the hunch can be shot off but you can compensate by having large laser in your left hand. That will also give you something to do when enemies are still out of reach of med lasers. Medium laser in head and right arm. I usually use small lasers in the RT location to save weight and manage heat. they have shorter cooldown time too.

If you want to survive you must not charge in first. Let assaults do that while you guard their behind against enemy scouts. When assaults have committed shoot at their targets. Sometimes it happens that enemy atlases start firing at you instead of heavier mechs when they notice how much damage you are dealing to them. When that happens it's time to look for cover and join back when they have switched target.

Edited by Ezazel, 25 December 2012 - 04:14 PM.

[Cabusha]

I run 2 medium pulses in the arms, then small lasers in the torso/head, plus DHS and AMS. I break the torso/head lasers into two groups and once I'm in combat alternate fire back and forth, mixing in the pulse lasers as heat allows. Always pick a buddy to hang with.

[Hex Pallett]

Back when repair cost still matters, I would recommend my Ghetto Swayback (STD260, DHS, 2xML and 7xSL) to anyone as a beginner 'Mech. Super cheap to run and ridiculously powerful.

[Pastor Priest]

I run 6 medium lasers in the torso and head, and a medium pulse in each arm. Heat is manageable if you don't alpha to much. Damage is deceptively powerful and a ton of fun. I just started running my 4SP though, which I hear is also a blast.

[cymeth]

I love the 4P too!

Quote

you can compensate by having large laser in your left hand.

Some pilots will even hesitate for a moment because of this. Especially if you conceal your boatiness with chain fire.

I leave the right arm empty; I prefer the higher mount points.

I usually run 4-5 mediums and a large. Groups are large, all mediums on chain, and 3 mediums. I can chain pretty much constantly; rarely alpha.

Take some time to tweak your front rear armour balance - the rear side torsos both have a small profile. Try moving more to the front until you start to run low on the back (under normal circumstances) and then re-adjust a bit (I put a bit more on the left because of the, umm... beer keg?). You still need plenty in the centre rear, but this makes a noticeable difference to the durability of your hunch. Just make sure you swivel about like crazy if a light gets behind you.

There is just something so satisfying about lurking around until you see a heavily damaged mech, charging in to seize the moment; then trying to survive the ordeal.

Swayback is the wrong name. It's a Vultu... Seagull?

[superteds]

MLAS hunch is too hot. try the SLAS version with 2MPLS on the arms, and a 260 standard. you need DHS, and you don't even need endo (more room for DHS).

[superteds]

Chassis Name: Hunchback
Model Name: HBK-4P
Variant Name: SLAS

Engine Cost: 1,040,000 C-Bills
Heat Sink Cost: 32,000 C-Bills
Armor Cost: 100,160 C-Bills
Weapons Cost: 397,500 C-Bills
Equipment Cost: 0 C-Bills
Ammo Cost: 0 C-Bills

Engine: 260 Reg Engine
Internal Type: Std Internals
Armor Type: Std Armor
Heat Sinks: 18 (10) Double Heat Sinks

Tonnage: 50.00
Speed: 84.2 kph
Armor Total: 320
Alpha Strike Damage: 33.00
Alpha Strike Heat: 48.00%
Firepower: 10.20 dps
Heat Efficiency: 42.55%
Effective Range of Loadout: 90m

Head: 18/18
Right Torso: 40/48
Right Rear Torso: 8/48
Center Torso: 54/64
Center Rear Torso: 10/64
Left Torso: 40/48
Left Rear Torso: 8/48
Right Arm: 32/32
Left Arm: 32/32
Right Leg: 39/48
Left Leg: 39/48

Weapons Locations
Right Arm:
Medium Pulse Laser
Left Arm:
Medium Pulse Laser
Right Torso:
(6) Small Laser
Head:
Small Laser

Heat Sink Locations
Right Arm: 1

Left Arm: 1

Right Torso: 2

Left Torso: 4


Equipment Locations

Ammo Locations

File created using MWO Mechbay

f.ex. dirt cheap, very quick, very good at murdering things. If you go endo you need to lose a DHS, and you can only really put in AMS w/ 2tons ammo. not sure if it's a good trade.

Edited by superteds, 26 December 2012 - 05:19 AM.

[Jaynestown]

My favorite build with the 4P is 320 pts of armor, STD-225, 2x Large Lasers in the arms, 7x Small Lasers in the Hunch/Head. Double Heat Sinks. Endo Steel. AMS. It leaves 1.5 tons and 2 slots free, so you have a little flexibility. One thing you could do with the extra weight is replace the head mounted small laser with a medium pulse laser. It's one more range/cooldown to juggle, but it gives you a little bit more punch if the hunch gets taken out.

On paper, you have a H.E. of 1.09, but you should really consider the large lasers and the small laser block separately, which makes your H.E. 1.55. At range, you're doing a modest 4.2 dps (18 alpha). Up close, you're not firing the large lasers much anymore, so you're doing 7.0 dps (21 alpha) with just the small lasers.

[Goose]

250STD, std frame & armor, 20 DSHS; 6 mediums across the head a torso, one small in each limb

Pretty warm, but but the reach for the main array is good.

[Cato Phoenix]

I run 9 medium pulse on my 4P.

It's toasty.

[Indolo]

Like my 4p as much as 4sp. I run 9 mlas. Head and 3 hunch in a group, other 3 in group 2 & arms as group 3. Only use the arms to add to big strikes or hit things I can't align torso on. Still a little hot using the 7 mlas, but like they said, you have to hit and run which gives time for cooling. Very important to be patient and hold guard out of sight until opportinity presents itself. I mostly die from getting too eager and overextending. With the lasers, don't go crazy shooting. Wait for the good shots and let loose with good aim.

High mounts in the hunch are great for minimum exposure while blasting over hills. It's a great mech.