5 replies to this topic

[Draslin Darkforge]

Hi -

I play pretty much exclusively hunchback builds, and I've found one that I really like and figured I'd share.

I've found that this mech performs very well early and mid game supporting a heavy or assault mech with additional fire support and light mech defense. ECM hard counters this build, as ECM hard counters all medium mechs, but I still find I usually pull at least a 1.5:1 KDR and 4-5:1 ADR

Here's the loadout:

Double Heat Sinks
Endo Steel Internals
Normal Armor
200 STD Engine

Right Arm:
PPC
Medium Laser

Left Arm:
PPC
Medium Laser

Right Torso
SSRM-2
3x DHS

Left Torso
SSRM-2
3x DHS

Head:
Empty

Center Torso
Streak Ammo x1

Legs: Empty

Armor Alottment:

Head: 18
CT F/R: 52/12
RT: 40/8
LT: 40/8
Arms: 32
Legs: 39

Strategy: Stick to an assault mech or a heavy. If you've got your elite skills unlocked, you'll top out at 71kph which is just fast enough to scare off lights most of the time (again, excepting ECM). Engage at range with PPC's in chain fire mode - you can safely chain about 7 shots before getting critical heat warnings if you mash the button.

When enemies get into brawling range, draw them toward your assault buddy. Most brawlers can't help but try to kill the assault. While they're trying, hit them with lasers (pretty much heat neutral) and spam streaks. After dealing with the opposition, choose another target with your buddy and repeat.

I find that this build works really well for maps with decent distance line of sight. PPC's definitely take some getting used to, but once you can reliably hit with them they are great for popping limbs and anything with an XL engine.

What not to do with this mech:
Don't alpha, or alpha VERY sparingly. The mix of twitch and scan weapons makes it a difficult alpha mech to use. Focus instead on connecting with whatever allows you to continue to focus on piloting well and maneuvering.

Don't charge assault mechs, unless they're very very close to death. A couple of PPC's and streak group fires make short work of a hurting assault.

Don't bother playing chase the ECM. ECM hard counters medium mechs, especially with lagshields. Your best bet is to buddy up with a D-DC so you can target and lock.

Hope you like this build. I've found it to be a superb fit for my playstyle. Don't find too many medium mechs fielding PPCs, so I figured I'd give this a whirl and I'm glad I did.

[Loc Nar]

Hmm, looks fun, gonna check it out; although I won't be sticking any ammo in my CT. Friends don't let friends store ammo in their CT! (hint -legs).

I have a few other builds that have twin PPC so I'm already adapted to the play style and it's a hoot. I take a typical Killya and turn it into this twin PPC sniping variant, The convergence of the beams is fantastic, and you don't need to stick your neck out very far to shoot over cover. Got a 3D Phract set up with twin PPC, but LLas on the arms. Both are excellent snipers perfectly capable of dealing with the eventuality of being closed in on.

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab <--excellent tool for exploring permutations of loadouts without wasting cbills...

[Straylight]

MadProphet, on 02 January 2013 - 10:16 PM, said:

ECM hard counters this build, as ECM hard counters all medium mechs, but I still find I usually pull at least a 1.5:1 KDR and 4-5:1 ADR

Heh. I've got a fast 4SP with a pair of Artemis SRM6s and five MLs that cripples or kills ECM Lights the moment they even think about standing still and has backstabbed more than a few D-DCs right into the grave.

ECM "hard counters" people that rely on Streaks to do their aiming for them, not 'mechs, and sure as heck not the 4SP.

I've seen this build and others similar to it a few times, and it doesn't scare or impress me. Its damage output is anemic at short range, and it's not fast enough to dictate the range a fight takes place at. Stripping the arms neuters most of its firepower, and it can't zombie.

I don't get why people are obsessed with putting PPCs on the 4SP. That's not what the 'mech is about, and frankly there are a bunch of other machines that do it better (Dragon, Catapult, Cataphract, Atlas...)

[Wrenchfarm]

Interesting spin on the ol'girl. Not sure if I'm comfortable strapping PPCs to a medium but it is definitely something different you can do with the 4SP.

[Flapdrol]

I'd remove the PPC's and just run large lasers in the arms and get a bigger engine, medium pulse in the head and maybe a tag in one of the arms.

tag is great to lock the streaks on an ecm light ~350m away, when they get into range at least you'll at least get a hit. With 2 large lasers you'll get very close to what you do with 2 ppc's and it'll be far superior to the medium lasers (better dps, better damage/heat) + more cooling because of the bigger engine.

Edited by Flapdrol, 03 January 2013 - 04:48 AM.

[Draslin Darkforge]

Flapdrol, on 03 January 2013 - 04:47 AM, said:

I'd remove the PPC's and just run large lasers in the arms and get a bigger engine, medium pulse in the head and maybe a tag in one of the arms.

tag is great to lock the streaks on an ecm light ~350m away, when they get into range at least you'll at least get a hit. With 2 large lasers you'll get very close to what you do with 2 ppc's and it'll be far superior to the medium lasers (better dps, better damage/heat) + more cooling because of the bigger engine.

Yup, I've run the build with Large Lasers as well and it works just fine in that configuration. I specifically wanted some practice with PPCs in preparation for their incoming buff, and I wanted the handicap of the short range inhibitor to get better as being aware of my distance to target and being proactive while moving.