14 replies to this topic

[Grifthin]

Good evening all - This will be a somewhat lengthy post where i'd like to hear what people have to say about my builds, possibly offer advice and discuss some of the changes i've been testing.

Starting with my 4SP - I use to run the standard 5x ML + 2x SRM6 build that was sooo good. However i found that when dropping on alpine having all my weapons stuck at 270m wasn't fantastic as I was completely reliant on ambushing opponents but lacked the speed to do so consistently.

Enter random new build that's working rediculously well:

STD 225 ENGINE
BEAGLE ACTIVE PROBE
5x Medium laser
2x LRM 5 4 + Tons of ammo
ENDO steel upgrade
336 Armor, std
15 DBL Heatsinks
72 Kmph
43 Firepower
AMS + 1 Ton ammo

Now I've heard that LRM5's are ****. I used to agree but hell I wanted some long range punch and wanted to see how well they performed. I was surprised at how effective they were. With 4 tons of ammo you have 720 Missiles - That's about 72 volleys. I've found that they generate negligible heat. Unless the enemy has a truely monstrous amount of ECM you can normally find some poor sap and just start pouring on the missiles while moving up with you lasers. Now a single AMS can negate a ton of their damage, however you rarely find them on anything not a assault these days. Which means all those trebuchet's, hunchbacks, dragons etc are fair game. If you just keep firing missiles as long as you can hold lock you can actually do a respectable amount of damage. Now you could potentially drop some armor and make space for 2x LRM 10's but tbh I've not found it needed, and I use a HBK-4J with a loadout using 2x LRM10's so I didn't want it to be too similiar.

My second mech to change was my 4P. It used to run with 7x Small laser and 2x Large lasers. However i found the Large lasers where a liability on alpine where people where often outside the optimum range or could duck into cover if smart. I tried the ER Large lasers (since no juggling was needed to make them fit), I found that while the range was neat I couldn't keep the beams on long enough to do enough damage. So I thought, why the hell not - ER PPC's - I had to strip ALOT of armor to make them fit, but damn if they don't rip people a new one and help disable ECM so friendly LRM's can drop the hammer. Enjoying the 4P alot now, but runs pretty hot so careful management of fire is needed to keep her running.

My 4J hasn't changed at all - It's still just as good as always. Fling LRM, move up - shoot face. A little slower sure, but makes a good escort for heavies/assaults.

So those are my 2 cents - Has anyone else changed their builds significantly or started using some unusual weapons ?

Edited by Grifthin, 26 February 2013 - 12:58 PM.

[armitage]

I've found the 4P with 1 erPPC and 5 or 6 medium lasers works well in almost all maps, however it really isn't that hard to close distance in Alpine peaks. Being that you can climb most just about anywhere and most games see a tendency to use the northern half of the map forcing a brawl isn't that hard. Getting your team to cooperate is a whole other problem.

[Grifthin]

yup - which is why i like the LRM5's so much. They generate so little heat that if you spot a cliff humper you can just start firing missiles whenever they reload without ever worrying about generating extra heat. The PPC's not so much. With chain fire on about 6-9 shots before heat starts becoming a issue normally.

Edited by Grifthin, 26 February 2013 - 02:03 PM.

[Vermin]

oddly, I never run a mech without either AMS or ECM for this exact reason, my cataphract 4X dies rediculously fast to missiles due to its lack of invasion, and my raven...well...

[Johnny Reb]

Well if you can stomach the vulnerability of a xl engine ( I think 250). You can put 2 lrm15 on the SP and then downgrade the 5 med to 5 small lasers only to be used in self defense with about 8 tons of lrm ammo (1,400 missiles). You are making yourself a LRM boat but I find it successful in all maps and would only be better in alpine with the longer firing lanes.

[DegeneratePervert]

I love running my gaussback on Alpine. The lack of CQC fighting has made him possible again.

[One Medic Army]

The problem with 10s or 15s in a SP is that they fire in multiple volleys, which increases the effectiveness of enemy AMS.
On top of that they have a longer cooldown and consume more ammo.

Not sure how close the LRM5s cluster, but might be worth shoving a TAG on there just to help cut through ECM and increase your missile damage.

Probably not worth upgrading to Artemis though.

[Benyamin]

I haven't really changed my Hunchbacks too much. My SP is still a brawler, and with a run speed of 89.1 kph, can usually find cover or close the distance quick enough. There have even been times that I have been the fastest mech on my team, in a conquest. Believe it or not, it was pretty useful for capping points.

I have been trying different things out on my P though, just to see what I like the best. Same with the G.

[Motojunkie]

I swapped out my SRM6+Artemis for the LRM5+Artemis and so far I've had good results. With the swap I was also able to add another double heatsink which obviously helped. I am getting 300-400 dmg a round which is above average for me, so I'm happy with the change.

[1stBEAST]

i use this version HBK-4SP
it is doing quit well as an allrounder, works best in a mixed team or in a team of 3 with the same loadout
and you have unlimited longrange firepower and the med pulse and ssrm´s for this light fly´s

Edited by 1stBEAST, 28 February 2013 - 12:29 AM.

[Fred013]

Grifthin, on 26 February 2013 - 12:55 PM, said:

So those are my 2 cents - Has anyone else changed their builds significantly or started using some unusual weapons ?

Cents? I thought we were talking Hunchies here?
I changed my AC/20 to an AC/10 for alpine. works well.

[Jungle Rhino]

I've seen a lot more LRM5/10s since Alpine came out. Even saw a RVN-3L packing 2x LRM5s yesterday *boggle*

[Lexeii]

I do the 4sp with 250std, dubs, 2 lrm10 w 4t ammo, 4ml. stock armor and tag... works well in alpine, not so well in the others..

what i want to try next is this: HBK-4P Yeti

if i don't fire the sl and the erppc the same time it should work!?

[burns]

92km/h DHS 4SP 4ML 2xSRM6 lead the way!

[xhrit]

In early closed beta the stock HBK-4J was my favorite trial mech. LRMs soften up the targets, lasers finish the job.