Author Topic: HBS Expansion Thread- its time for II (spoilers) (Read 166401 times)

Cache · « **Reply #720 on:** 29 November 2019, 09:54:43 »

Steam is having a big sale on this through Dec 3rd. 66% off the game, 50% off older DLC. I've been fence-sitting for a year, time to jump in.

Firesprocket · « **Reply #721 on:** 29 November 2019, 10:29:46 »

Anyone have a good build for the cyclops? It's become an essential lancemate, but my weapons load outs I have found to be week.

Daryk · « **Reply #722 on:** 29 November 2019, 12:01:52 »

Granted my experience is pre-all the patches, but I found as many LRMs as humanly possible with an energy weapon or two as back up to work pretty well. Just keep the Cyclops back from melee.

FedRatCowboy · « **Reply #723 on:** 29 November 2019, 22:47:39 »

Quote from: Firesprocket on 29 November 2019, 10:29:46

Anyone have a good build for the cyclops? It's become an essential lancemate, but my weapons load outs I have found to be week.

Gauss Rifle with 2 tonnes of ammo, 2 medium lasers (one each arm), LRM-10 with 1 ton of ammo in left torso, and a SRM-4 with one ton ammo....then throw all the armor you can on it....keep it in the back sniping and fire support.

BirdofPrey · « **Reply #724 on:** 29 November 2019, 22:57:41 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 25 November 2019, 11:50:46

Put a bigger SRM rack on it? To me that is weird, I salvage the crap out of MLs- but that is what happens when you are popping Jenners, Fleas, Locust and Fire Javelins. I mean I sold 7 last night before shutting down the campaign to go to bed.

That's assuming I had a bigger SRM launcher. I made that comment at the beginning of a new playthrough where you start with nothing besides the mechs on your back, and are desperately trying to salvage a couple spares but all you're getting is locust parts. By the time you are putting together medium mechs you've become an arms dealer for energy weapons, but at the start of the game you have to play Mad Max Tech to try and field a full lance. Though even at this point I still have to rely on stores for ballistics since you don't start seeing ACs regularly enough in the OpFor to start salvaging it.

Firesprocket · « **Reply #725 on:** 30 November 2019, 00:56:18 »

Quote from: Daryk on 29 November 2019, 12:01:52

Granted my experience is pre-all the patches, but I found as many LRMs as humanly possible with an energy weapon or two as back up to work pretty well. Just keep the Cyclops back from melee.

While that is a good course of action in most circumstances, that heavy engine prohibits stacking to many heavy LRM launchers on the design. Right now I have an LRM-20 and 2 medium lasers. So right now it is almost an oversized Centurion. One that provides an initiative bonus, but week in firepower against the heavy armor in 4.5 and 5 skull missions.

Quote from: FedRatCowboy on 29 November 2019, 22:47:39

Gauss Rifle with 2 tonnes of ammo, 2 medium lasers (one each arm), LRM-10 with 1 ton of ammo in left torso, and a SRM-4 with one ton ammo....then throw all the armor you can on it....keep it in the back sniping and fire support.

A single LRM and SRM really aren't worth wild. I was originally running around with a Gauss and 4 medium lasers, which prior to the expansion was okay. Now it looks underwhelming when you run into an opfor Bullshark or Annihilator.

Jayof9s · « **Reply #726 on:** 30 November 2019, 10:10:29 »

I just found some parts for a MAD-3R. Only 2 parts so I don't have it yet but I noticed that the MAD apparently has a PPC/ML in each arm and the AC/5 - as expected - but it also has a med laser in each side torso and a small laser in the CT. Seems to have just as many heat sinks as I'd expect and I assume armor - did they make the Marauder better than in canon? An extra 2.5 tons isn't ground breaking but it is interesting that they deviated.

Also, I know the PXH-1K has the jump boosters, which on the PXH-1 replace two jump jets and do take up extra tonnage, so I guess it in effect gets an extra ton of equipment over the PXH-1. I haven't looked into its hardpoints yet but I assume they're worse, maybe?

Edit: the files don't even support what I was seeing for the MAD - there shouldn't be hard points for energy in the side or center torso. Maybe I was very tired last night but I know that's what was showed in the preview before I bought the parts and I checked several times that it was the MAD-3R since it didn't make sense.

Edit2: Reloaded prior to buying the parts and the preview now shows as expected. All I can assume is there was some sort of graphical glitch mashing the Cicada preview and the Marauder preview together since I'd been playing for a while.

Cyc · « **Reply #727 on:** 30 November 2019, 16:45:06 »

Dev diary offers interesting look behind the curtain for Heavy Metal's 'Mech and weapon adds - https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hbs-dev-diary-14-the-nuts-bolts-of-heavy-metal-part-2.1285041/

Triptych · « **Reply #728 on:** 01 December 2019, 03:14:22 »

Did they add in a lot of new flashpoints in the HM expansion? I played the game so much I'm reluctant to buy this new DLC (even though I'd love to see the new mechs they added in) unless there's tons of new missions- if there's at least a dozen new ones I'd day it's worth it.

Caedis Animus · « **Reply #729 on:** 01 December 2019, 04:32:20 »

Quote from: Triptych on 01 December 2019, 03:14:22

Did they add in a lot of new flashpoints in the HM expansion? I played the game so much I'm reluctant to buy this new DLC (even though I'd love to see the new mechs they added in) unless there's tons of new missions- if there's at least a dozen new ones I'd day it's worth it.

Only one big one, but the main advertised draw was the battlemechs and tech, not flashpoints.

DarkSpade · « **Reply #730 on:** 01 December 2019, 08:59:25 »

The big one is supposed to be broken up into multiple flashpoints, but I don't know how many. There's also one or two more maps.

Jayof9s · « **Reply #731 on:** 01 December 2019, 09:10:47 »

They also added some new one-off contracts as well but I'm not sure they'd be enough to actually make it new and fresh if you're burned out on the game.

Sir Chaos · « **Reply #732 on:** 01 December 2019, 12:07:11 »

Quote from: Jayof9s on 01 December 2019, 09:10:47

They also added some new one-off contracts as well but I'm not sure they'd be enough to actually make it new and fresh if you're burned out on the game.

I think the "B Team" and "Training Day" contracts are new - at least I don´t remember them from before Heavy Metal.

Both involve one of your guys taking three rookies out for a live fire training session. The radio chatter between the rookies alone is worth doing the contracts for.

Rookie 1: "I love the smell of coolant in the morning."
Sumire: "Coolant is toxic. If you smell it, you´ll probably die."
Rookie 2: "Does coolant smell like onions? Because I smell onions in here."
Sumire: "..."

Jayof9s · « **Reply #733 on:** 01 December 2019, 16:55:17 »

Those have been amusing so far.

There's another one I've seen that involves getting a 'Mech infected with a computer virus or something, unfortunately I didn't take it because it would have dropped me too low with a faction and I haven't seen it since.

I suppose that could be from UW since I took a long break after a lot of play post-Flash Point.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #734 on:** 02 December 2019, 03:44:33 »

Yeah, I have found a few new missions . . . lol, I enjoyed the banter when the 'regulars' told your mercs to let the 'professionals' handle it . . . who then get flanked. You also have a 'escort the VIP' mission- but yeah I have seen some pretty good new ones, some different map placement and the new variety of mechs you get, both with Heavy Metal and adding in more variants.

The Spider 5K is annoying with those MGs- it has the speed to get them into range.

I am still not a fan of all the tech appearing . . . Snubs? Really?

Wrangler · « **Reply #735 on:** 02 December 2019, 07:13:30 »

I'm still can't unzip the mod for Heavy metal to my dismay. Humble must have a bad version of the game loaded up. Still not been contacted yet.

Firesprocket · « **Reply #736 on:** 03 December 2019, 00:19:27 »

Quote from: Triptych on 01 December 2019, 03:14:22

Did they add in a lot of new flashpoints in the HM expansion? I played the game so much I'm reluctant to buy this new DLC (even though I'd love to see the new mechs they added in) unless there's tons of new missions- if there's at least a dozen new ones I'd day it's worth it.

There is large amount of new mechs, but not a large amount of new mission content. If you enjoy the game enough to replay the story or the career mode then you will probably enjoy the experience with the new mechs. If you are planning on running through new content you will likely be disappointed. The mini campaign story is entertaining and the missions are fun, but the last mission which is on a new map wasn't all that challenging*^.

*disclaimer, I have 3 Bull Sharks which more or less mop the board with everything, but starting position and terrain placement make it extremely difficult for one to lose the final battle.

^sadly you don't appear to be able to salvage any of the special mechs that the opfor controls either

Jim1701 · « **Reply #737 on:** 03 December 2019, 10:33:24 »

I saw a new Flashpoint down at the bottom of the map last night. It's a little different from the normal ones so I think it's new. It's rated two skulls but I need heavy mech and you don't know who the op-for is until you take it (which I haven't but I'm headed that way.)

In other news I saw a ER ML last night heat: 20, damage: 35. It was a ++ that added +10 damage so a 45 damage ML. Also saw a Snubbie ++ with -10 heat. The upgrades can modify just about any stat on the weapon now it seems. Find enough weapons that are -tonnage and +damage and you can pretend you're in the Clans. :thumbsup:

mechnut450 · « **Reply #738 on:** 03 December 2019, 14:28:48 »

I am finally getting to play some lol so far I jumped from a bucks of mediums to 2 heavies a assault and a medium mech I got the stalker though black market and purchased the archer parts lol I am missile boating from the moon baby lol

nckestrel · « **Reply #739 on:** 03 December 2019, 15:56:46 »

Davion faction store had ultra ac/20s with +20 damage and -2 tons. My head-hunting Marauder is happy.

Deadborder · « **Reply #740 on:** 03 December 2019, 16:35:39 »

I got two +Stability +Damage AC/20s

Now all I need is something to mount them on

Colt Ward · « **Reply #741 on:** 03 December 2019, 17:13:26 »

Yeah, I remember how rare it was to see ANY + or ++ stuff in the store . . . and the heat equipment was even harder to find. Now I am a year into a new campaign and I can find ERPPCs, Gauss Rifles, Large Pulse, Med Pulse and LBXs along with more mech components way easier. I do not want to see that sort of thing so frequently . . . it was fine when it was Flashpoint drops.

Now that Heavy Metal is out, I am going through the campaign to see if it can be completed with very few assaults.

Did they nerf the Argo btw?

Insaniac99 · « **Reply #742 on:** 03 December 2019, 17:39:47 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 03 December 2019, 17:13:26

Did they nerf the Argo btw?

I haven't noticed any changes, what do you refer to?

Colt Ward · « **Reply #743 on:** 03 December 2019, 17:59:49 »

Well, there is a difference in between the Argo for the campaign and for the sandbox play. I just got the Argo to open some things up and it seems not to have all the options I remember from the first campaign play through . . . then again, I may not have unlocked them yet so I cannot see the little boxes in addition to the ones that are greyed out.

Jim1701 · « **Reply #744 on:** 03 December 2019, 18:01:07 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 03 December 2019, 17:59:49

Well, there is a difference in between the Argo for the campaign and for the sandbox play. I just got the Argo to open some things up and it seems not to have all the options I remember from the first campaign play through . . . then again, I may not have unlocked them yet so I cannot see the little boxes in addition to the ones that are greyed out.

As far as I can tell all the upgrades are available though it's been a while since I last played the campaign.

Jayof9s · « **Reply #745 on:** 03 December 2019, 18:01:17 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 03 December 2019, 17:13:26

Did they nerf the Argo btw?

I noticed that they don't immediately show all the upgrades - they start showing up as you unlock parts. So if you need to upgrade power and structure twice before an upgrade is available, it won't even appear initially.

Don't think they got rid of anything though, if that's what you mean.

Daryk · « **Reply #746 on:** 03 December 2019, 18:18:02 »

That sounds familiar from my initial play through... Argo upgrades appeared as you unlocked earlier upgrades. And my machine can't support any version past the original release (not even the first patch).

Colt Ward · « **Reply #747 on:** 04 December 2019, 10:56:36 »

Okay, its just been a while since I had played that portion I was wondering if it had changed.

Too many mech parts . . . or heck, just mechs! for sale.

Triptych · « **Reply #748 on:** 05 December 2019, 00:54:05 »

Okay I bit the bullet and got the HM DLC, so far so good! Except the mod I put in to replace the commander portraits- seems the voice part is stuck to being a woman's voice, so it's awfully weird since my portrait is that of a man so I had to disable the mod.

Anyone have a simple mod for replacing the commander portrait?

Firesprocket · « **Reply #749 on:** 05 December 2019, 02:43:15 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 03 December 2019, 17:13:26

Did they nerf the Argo btw?

It appears that medtech isn't as strong as it used to be. Prior to HM dropping one pilot hit took around 7-8 days of recovery with med being maxed out. It takes double that amount of time for recovery now.