New to the game and looking to purchase a new mech...

...and i was wondering what opinions were on using a Catapult vs Stalker to build upon

I have been reading forums like crazy and just cant decide which would be more beneficial. I currently own a Hunchback-4P and was looking for something a touch different. Although i have been having fun with the Awesome trial mech heh

Any help would be great!

 

You know....if you are a decent shot and are having fun with the current trial Awsome... I think that if you get a stalker with some PPCs a couple smaller lasers and some SRMs and upgrade to double heat sinks then you would have a blast. It allows you to engage at all ranges and makes up for the PPCs minimum range.

 

right on yeah im liking the PPCs on the trial mech ...i love my Hunch-4p but its so much heat lol

 

You can customize any chassis in the game (not sure about the Trials... never piloted one) so your Hunchie having a lot of heat isn't a big deal; just swap to a more optimized load for that chassis.

Most newer players go with the "I want as big a mech as I can get and pack on as many weapons as I can so I can kill kill kill".

Go with the Stalker.

Then as your skill increases in the game branch out and downward learning new chassis and utilizing less Alpha weaponry and more skill based weaponry.

 

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=2&l=d23f5ea1a3201e2e42c89fc96d977512584d165c

Thats my current 4P spec...its OK i guess maybe I'm just still bad (learning) lol

 

Yeah that is a tough call. With this build you really can't do much else unless you wanted to remove the FF and add Endo Steel (better weight savings) then you could max out your armor but you are already using up ALL your free critical spaces and you can't fit any DHS in the engine so you can't free up any critical spaces.

Tough to fit.

 

I can give advice on managing heat with that build.

I assume you just have an alpha strike button with that thing...Witch is just fine...BOOOM LOTS OF DMG that is what that beast dose best. Here are some things that you can do though to manage heat.

1. In Pilot lab make sure you are taking all of your skills ... if you have not....One of those skills is called "cool run" 7 percent more heat efficiancy ! A must have for a build like this.

2. I would run 2 weapon groups ...
Group One: Alpha strike
Group Two: Alpha strike with chain fire on (Highlight the weapon group with the arrow keys and press the backspace button. You will see the colloum start to blink.)

What chain fire dose is make your lasers fire one after another. You can hold down the mouse button for a machine gun effect or do what I do and just tap it. What this dose is allow you to watch your heat. You watch that heat bar and once it gets to maybe 75% full start firing your lasers in bursts of 3 with your chain fire group. This allows you to keep some pain on target even when you don't have time to hide and cool down a bit.

 

If you have already been using the Hunchback HBK-4P, why not buy a different variant and start working toward mastering that chassy. You will learn new skills and continue to build on old ones. Most importantly, you will be getting closer to the three 'mech requirement for eventual Mastery of that chassy. As new skills on the piloting tree develope the utility and versatility of each 'mech improves. Just a thought.

Mythweaver


Post Script: The HBK-4SP and the HBK-4H are both excellent Medium 'mechs that can teach you a great deal about playing both heavier and lighter 'mechs in the future. They also give you experience with other types of weaponry.

 

Here is one of my favourite HBK-4P builds, you need to use cover and lock the target to find the soft spot. I like my Mechs to be fast and generally run in a pack of mediums. Did I mention use cover !!!

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=2&l=add6d69473e768c81ede3ac5b0bacc3c1bae47f4

and here is a different variation for ranged combat:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=2&l=7fd6e2f5e9541c2108a86ef87d7a9c3785b0ba0d

Good luck.

 

thanks for all the great advice and alternate builds ...real interested in the PPC build as im terrible at targeting still lol...the damn mouse sensitivity is killing me ...and i know im not always getting a full run from the lasers on my target, which is why i ended up adding 2 med pulse lasers which seems to help.

@Tuku thanks for tip about chain firing i had no idea how to set that up
@Mythweaver ill take that advice on buying another Hunchback very solid advice, i gues si was just wanting somethign new because im still dying alot lol

 

Hail,

Programmable mouse is a good idea, adjust the DPI to suite the zoom level. Presently I have 3 settings that I used, 600 + 1000 + 1400 just depends on the distance and type of weapon. All of the builds are best when either Elite or Mastered. However none of these builds would be used for competition drops.

Possibly not the greatest for new users, but good to train on heat management.

Regards,

 

@Akula the HNCH-4P with the PPCs is rocking and i last longer with teh extra armor ...i love learning new games . I have to say by and large the MWO community is pretty cool so far

 

A hunchback with PPCs? I need to find some video of this. I'm stuck in the old school mindset of a Hunchie having that huge 20 on its shoulder LOL

 

Hail,

Glad you like it, need to learn how to protect that Hunch !! Switch from PPC weapons to Lasers under 90 Metres. Sensor Modules will help with picking a proper target, lock them and get yourself into a position to attack components with armour stripped.

Never rush in, take your time.

Regards,

 

Michael,

Here you go, old school...

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=9&l=9f2bf50cd1efaa466e48daeb5b8fa975bcec40ce

This is not for everyone, you need to be a good Medium pilot to make this build work. Have a number of Atlas chasis painted on my Mech. I am sure a few of you have run into Thurassh, Maneo and I in a Lance of 3 HBK-4H Dakka with a CDA-3M using ECM with UAC5.

This is a fun blow off steam combination and can shred Assaults.

Want some video of the HBK-4P in action with PPC? Be happy to stream some for you.

Regards,

 

Vaeden,

Let me know if you would like to fun in a Hunchback pack with us for some fun.

Regards,

 

This thread has me working on my Hunchback's this week. In fact I went out and bought a new HBK-4J 'cause I never owned one before. I am absolutely loving it, indirect fire support is actually alot of fun in a medium chassy. I will post it tomorrow.

Mythweaver

 

I'd say, get another Hunchback. They can all use the same engines (the 250-STD has never let me down), and when you Elite them, it feels so good.

This is the 4G build that I'm currently running.

This is the SP build that I'm currently running.

 

I agree with you 100%. I really like your SP build, in fact I am going to try it out as soon as I get home tonight. Looks Bad Ass!

 

OP, as has been touched on, never get FF if you don't have Endo-Steel. Both cost 14 crit slots, but Endo-Steel gives better weight savings. Only get FF if you still have 14 slots after getting Endo-Steel.