9 replies to this topic

[WetNoodles]

I've been piloting hunchbacks for a while now, and I've been trying to stray away from the typical ac/20+as many lasers as you can manage with full armor/endo on the 4G/4H chassis.

Here's the favorite of my limited mech brewing so far...

Ultra AC/5, 2Mlas in right torso
1 mlas right arm
1 mlas left arm
1 mlas head

Max armor, endo upgrade.

At first, I almost fell in love with this build, but it honestly is just too finnicky. The ultra AC5 has the potential to bring a huge punch to every fight, but it is equally unreliable. Probably even more so. I think the most damage I've managed in a match is ~ 400 (light compared to my 4P, which my average these past weeks has been close to 450, Rarely below 350 and occasionally 650+)

Are there any other slightly unconventional builds out there that are effective? Thanks!

[XSerjo]

Why did you call this build "non-conventional"? It's one of classic's bulids of 4H. Check here for more information: http://mwomercs.com/...e/page__st__100

[WetNoodles]

Oh wow. I had just seen a lot of talk about using the 4H as an AC/20 bruiser. Hadn't really seen them running around with the UAC/5. Cool to know that it has seen a lot of thought already though!

I still am curious, are there any other builds for the 4H that have seen success?

[Devil Fox]

I run the 4H with a Std245, LBX10 (2 ton ammo) and 5 ML... Endo and DHS, while it can get hot, it has the speed to use the LBX and lasers quite effectively, and if you save the torso mounted lasers just for alpha's you can be pretty deadly at stripping components.

[Op4blushift]

I've tried using an AC10 with 4/5 medium lasers back up. Works okay, but I think an AC20 build usually works the best, Gauss ain't too bad either but you have to keep away from the brawls and snipe as your Gauss will blow up if someone looks at it wrong. (Remember to use case for Gauss as well, better that its just the hunch and right arm rather than the entire mech that blows up). I sold my 4H after I got mastery for my 4SP though, it felt more or less equal to my 4P ( in the fact that if your hunch gets blown up you're screwed, although the 4P is probably slightly better) and I already had a few other ballistic mechs that could mount ac20's which I enjoyed using more.

Yeah I tried using the UAC5 but its really lackluster when used as your main weapon, it really needs to be supplemented by something with a little more punch like SRMs or another AC. I've also tried using an AC10 with 4/5 medium lasers back up. Works okay, but I think an AC20 build usually works the best. Gauss ain't too bad either but you have to keep away from the brawls and snipe as your Gauss will blow up if someone looks at it wrong. (Remember to use case for Gauss as well, better that its just the hunch and right arm rather than the entire mech that blows up).

[Elizander]

Apostal, on 02 March 2013 - 08:10 PM, said:

I run the 4H with a Std245, LBX10 (2 ton ammo) and 5 ML... Endo and DHS, while it can get hot, it has the speed to use the LBX and lasers quite effectively, and if you save the torso mounted lasers just for alpha's you can be pretty deadly at stripping components.

I think with Ferro armor and slightly less leg armor you can even get your build to run at full speed with a 260 Standard Engine. It still has 11 DHS so it's not totally built to melt down.

Turbo 4H Oventoaster 260 std version

Should be heat neutral with MLx2 or LBX10+ML, slight heat increase with MLx2+LBX10. You can dump the extra DHS to switch to an AC/10 if you don't like the LBX10. Disregard the wrong ammo type. Just use whichever one you need.

Edited by Elizander, 02 March 2013 - 10:07 PM.

[Parappaman]

It's actually funny how the 4H, and not the 4G, is the better AC20 Hunchback due to the smaller shoulder...

[WetNoodles]

Thanks a lot! I'll have to try these out. Had begun testing LBX10 this morning, but wasn't sure if I wanted to invest the money for DHS and a bigger engine just yet...

[Elizander]

WetNoodles, on 03 March 2013 - 02:51 AM, said:

Thanks a lot! I'll have to try these out. Had begun testing LBX10 this morning, but wasn't sure if I wanted to invest the money for DHS and a bigger engine just yet...

DHS is almost always a good deal. You can get +10 SHS or just upgrade to DHS and have the same heat dissipation for no additional tonnage.

As you get further into the game you will need to collect more engines eventually. If you plan it out right you can get the mechs with the engines you want. My 245 came from the Jenner and I think the 260 came from the Catapults. These are two very good engines for the Hunchbacks. The 200 standard engine from my Hunchback has been put to use in my dual AC/20 K2.

As you collect more mechs you get more engine types that you can play around with, but you will still need to buy the odd ones like 315XL, 360XL, and the like that aren't available in existing mechs.

The 340XL from the Pretty Baby is the max engine for the Ilya Muromets and the 255XL from one of the Stalkers is the max engine of the 4X (if you want 4 UAC/5s). The 280XL from the Ilya Muromets used to be the max engine for the Yen Lo Wang before it was upgraded to 300 rating. You get the idea.

I've purchased a 350 standard, 210XL (for Commandos when lagshield is fixed), 360XL (for my dragons and Atlas), 400XL (for my Pretty Baby). I'm saving up for the Centurion with a 300XL so I won't buy that separately.

Edited by Elizander, 03 March 2013 - 04:04 AM.

[WetNoodles]

Thanks a lot for all the advice guys! I ended up dropping the LBX build, as it didn't live up to my expectations. Currently, I'm trying out a 2xERLL, 3x ML, AC2 with support from AMS.

My first couple games really turned out well, so I'm going to see if I can't expand the heat efficiency of the build (currently, I am running 12 DHS with a 200 engine)

Maybe I will ditch the AMS and a medium laser for a much faster engine, and get a better 2.0x double heatsink bonus.

Edit: Or drop the ER range bonus and pump some tonnage into a better engine. I just really like the synergy between effective range of the AC/2 and the ERLL right now...

Edited by WetNoodles, 03 March 2013 - 10:38 PM.