43 replies to this topic

[White Bear 84]

Regrets, on 14 January 2013 - 05:11 PM, said:

I don't own a hunchie, but the 4P scares the living hell out of me everytime I see one running 9 SL (or 7 SL+2 ML). Get that, run as many DHS and the largest engine you can (so as many engine DHS as possible). This coming from a Stalker pilot, lol.

You just need to be strategic about how you run up on people. It is definitely a gank mech.

Really? What about 8 MEDIUM lasers

The first match i played with it i literally tore through three mechs in a row and got 3 more assists. Its an animal.

Wondering how the 4G will go once they fix machine guns.. ..three mounted machine guns for internal crits, not having the AC20 means you up the lasers to PPC or Large lasers and should be able to up engine size to at least a 250, now thats a pretty class build. Again, comes down to how effective MG will be. Lots of bullets, lots of chances of blowing up engine, ammo and gauss rifles

Basically the plus offsetting low DPS will be the greatly increased chance of critical hits.

Experimental build i might try:


HBK-4G - unnamed

Edited by White Bear 84, 15 January 2013 - 07:28 PM.

[Ravennus]

White Bear 84, on 15 January 2013 - 07:27 PM, said:

Really? What about 8 MEDIUM lasers

I have tried both versions of the 4P... one with MLAS and another with SLAS, and for my playstyle... I much preferred the small laser version with 2 MLAS in the arms.

The reason being that I could fire way more often with the SLAS and do more damage in a brawl.
I fit in 20 DHS with the SLAS/MLAS version with near max armor and 260 engine.
The MLAS version can 'only' fit in 18 DHS and a 250 engine. It also needs Endo.


They are two different styles, but I didn't like that I could only get off a couple alphas with the torso MLAS before I had to wait to cool down. If I lined up perfect shots on slow moving mechs where I could focus all that dmg in one section, it was worth it.
Otherwise, if you waste an alpha.... especially against lights... you lost a lot of precious time and firepower.
It was also very painful on Caustic.
Essentially you end up just using the arm MLAS and chainfiring the torso MLAS, while hoping you have the heat to fire an alpha when you get a good shot.

With my 2 MLAS/7 SLAS/20 DHS build, I run in after the brawl has started and just tear things apart.
I can keep up the firepower, even in Caustic, which is actually my favourite map on this mech.
On other cooler maps I'm pretty much heat neutral and can alpha all day.
The other factor for DPS is that the small lasers do their damage in .75 seconds instead of 1 second (kind of like pulser lasers).
They also recycle almost a full second faster.

But again... the huge disadvantage is range. You need to keep to cover and you can't get caught out in the open.
If you follow the main group, you should be ok, especially if they have heavies and assaults that like to brawl. Let them go in first and then flank their targets and focus fire. You just rip mechs apart.

[Ravennus]

As for the 4H, here is my current favorite build.... 5 MLAS/1 UAC5/12 DHS and 260 engine.

I tried to make a Gauss sniper and even a AC/20 brawler, but I just couldn't do that and keep the speed that I wanted.
It was just too painful moving at 64kph when I was used to 80kph+ on my 4P and 4SP. I was just getting focused down too quickly as soon as the enemy got close, unless I was in a really good group that tied them up and let me plink away from range.


With this build, you are up in their face like the 4P and 4SP... but can also contribute nice damage at range if needed.
Like the others, you are a skirmisher who supports the main brawlers with focus fire and flanking.


I've also been meaning to try the UAC5.... and oh boy, once you get the timing down on firing you don't jam that often and can still keep up a great rate of fire. I found myself consistently doing a lot more damage than when I had a Gauss, even at range.
When it does jam, you also have the 5 MLAS to fire.

I find it really fun. Your mileage may vary.... everyone has different playstyles they enjoy.

[White Bear 84]

Ravennus, on 15 January 2013 - 07:46 PM, said:

But again... the huge disadvantage is range. You need to keep to cover and you can't get caught out in the open.
If you follow the main group, you should be ok, especially if they have heavies and assaults that like to brawl. Let them go in first and then flank their targets and focus fire. You just rip mechs apart.

Quite often though you end up brawling pretty close hey?!

Id be interested in the numbers i.e. if you were to constantly fire the weapons in two consecutive groups (e.g. 4 ml in 1 and 4ml in 2) consistently with both builds over a 20 second period, how many shots would you be able to make, how many times would you overheat and how much damage would you deal.

If it is the case that given the increased cycle time and lower heat of the SL that they would do more damage over a longer period then i might have to make the switch...