Just interested in public opinion, are they worth the weight?

No

I personally only have a preference to the 20 and even then only in certain circumstances.

I like the HVAC20 - it's kinda inbetween a heavy gauss and a lbx20, but it has a faster recycle time than both. I like it for maps like jungle, where you know you'll be brawling, but the range comes in handy. I don't use the HVAC10 much, if at all, but I've seen it used in certain situation-specific configurations. They just can't be used the same way as your standard heavy gauss or as an lbx; they have their own niche.

only the HVAC20 is worth anything only because it compares to the equally cumbersome heavy gauss. If there was no heavy gauss, the HVAC20 would be taken even less i think. The HVAC's are just to heavy and dont do enough damage to be effective. If they made all sizes lighter by about 2 tons, then they would be worth it in some situations.

I just think there's something wrong with the stats. Statistically, the HVAC20 is much better than the H Gauss, but in reality, the H Gauss seems to outperform the HVAC20. It's easier to aim. It seems to cause a lot more damage. And it seems to cause internal damage a lot easier.

For a while now, I've been using a HVAC20 just for the stats, but then I bumped back to H Gauss and the sheer killing power is very noticable to me.


....Btw, why are we posting these in the Mechlab?

Thanks to all for the opinions, Sandman I thought this would be a better place to
ask such a question thats all. Since I consider myself a unboater, the reload becomes
more important to me than raw power hence the interest in HVAC weapons. Thanks again.

HVAC10 can be a good weapon for long range mechs too. What i like about it is that it can be a nice medium to short range weapon when the situation arises, due to its fast recycle. Very flexible when combined w/ IS LR lasers.

Can't say much about the HVAC5 and HVAC2, as i haven't fooled around with these two. Dunno, i personally prefer LGauss and RAC2 respectively. I use HVAC2 just to annoy mechs in a light mech though

I was thinking of chaining HVAC5 to knock a Vulture's aim to prevent a lock ... too bad i was chained fired to death and can't even return fire to hit the Vulture

I ran a Hauptmann last night with 2xhvac5 1xhvac10 6xISmedL.

The Hvac5's had enough knock and quick enough reload to deal with the Sunder pulseboats, but
lacking the punch power to finish. I'll work on this config. maybe on another mech.
Although I found one use for the Hvac5, using a brawler of any type the Hvac5 allowed me to
close the gap against snipers, being able to induce knock at any range works for me. I can only hope that
the stats for the Hvacs are increased or the weight reduced for MP2.

I used a 4 HVAC2 avatar with BAP the other night on mannorhouse and shot out my ammo twice. Didnt get many kills, but it was fun knocking the longbow around at 1200m. At the begining of the game the longbow was hosing us at spawn, once i started hitting him at range his effectiveness dropped a lot. it was fun, but would have been better with lt gauss.

Nope, think the Hypers are pretty much worthless.

The LAC5 now that can actually be usefull or at least fun. Throw one on a strider.

During the first weapons beta the HVACs showed promise but they increased their weight and slot sizes (HVAC 5 - HVAC10). Too heavy with two little damage to be of any good. The only exception is the 20 but that is one of the buggiest weapons in the game with NDB running rampant with it. I am also convinced it doesn do the damage listed.

Heres what they should be

HVAC20 - 3 SLOT 16 TONS 20 ROUNDS NO DAMAGE CHANGE
HVAC10 - 2 SLOT 12 TONS 17 DAMAGE
HVAC5 - 1 SLOT 10 TONS 9 DAMAGE
HVAC2 - 1 SLOT 7 TONS 3.5 DAMAGE

if you want a lot of knock from chaining, and you have the tonnage, slap 6 LAC5's on something...i used *gasp* the battle brick.

it had 2 large lasers to back the 6 LAC5's up, and i had 2 LAC5s in their own group and proceeded to chain them. hard knock with two, combined with chaining made it hard for anyone to return fire in a one on one deathmatch.

hvac's haven't attracted my attention much, as the weight to damage ratio isn't good, but range and recycle are great. in my mind, something that big and heavy should do more damage per shot, just can't get by that fact.

I'm aware of the lac5, but I wanted to make use of the "unused" weapons. Any decent pilot can grab the ol 6ERL laser whore and do well. I argree with you on the range and recycle and yes the damage to weight ratio needs to be adjusted for MP2 in order make this weapon a viable alternative to gauss rifles. Thanks.

I've found the HVAC20 to be the most utilitatian of the entire series. The damage and recycle time make it an attractive option to the HGuass. While not having the punch of the Hgauss, it does good damage, and is very useful in disrupting an opponent's aim, with it's faster recycle time.

I have useed the HVAC5 to good effect as well, on a Blood Asp. 4 HVAC5's paired in trigger grouping, with a finishing weaopn like an ERL Laser, or a PPC, really pounds an opponent. With proper work, I can get off paired HV5 shot volleys every 1.5 seconds. This coupled with the 5's range make it a good ranged weapon, in this instance. I'm really curious how the Mini-Gauss will compare, or the Linked-CapPPC, when employed in this manner.

Mini-Gauss?

Something for Rampant fleas?(Drools)

OMG! (Contemplates Mini-Gauss Boat Hunchbacks)

Sweet!

[QUOTE]

Ran a twin HVAC10, PPC Victor last night and one on one this mech performed well. The reload times are 2 seconds less than the Gauss and yes I know it's common for everybody to have/hate Gauss, but in twenty seconds the HVAC10's deliver a 1/3 more damage than the gauss. They weigh a ton less than the gauss and that adds up to more speed, heat sinks, specialty armor, electronics, or more ammo whichever your preference. I think I'll be tinkering with these ballistic wep's some more and would like to know how effective they are for the other pilots that use the 10's in particular.

Please stop bumping old threads, TigMaster. Check the dates before you post.

But while we're here, I will mention that the HVAC10 has proven to be pretty useful in conjunction with CapPPCs on my sniper configs.

What does it matter, Thrashy? The Mechlab's practically dead lately anyway. *tosses out some Thors*

Where should we put em? What has the date got to do with it? Why not resurrect some dead areas? Personally I find good stuff in here that deserves to be re-read, reviewed, new ideas from old posts. Creating new threads doesn't pass on the info. found inside these.
But if I'm out of line by putting weps configs in the MechLab then I need to know where they belong.


Tig

Exactly! And no, you're not out of line.

Yeah, no problem with resurrecting old threads from my perspective...this one is not that old and it's a valid topic for the Mechlab.

I actually run a number of HVAC20 configs. It is not the easiest weapon to be effective with, but it has uses. I have an HVAC20 2ERLL Hunchy that works pretty well. The faster recycle is part of it, but the quicker time-to-target is a bigger factor. I am a big fan of Gauss, but I can snap-shot an HVAC and have a better chance of connecting.

Another factor is purely one of game psychology. When you fire an HGauss, everyone knows. They follow that big purple slinky right back to your chest and you start getting attention. The HVAC20 is a much more subtle weapon. People just look up and wonder where the great big holes came from.

I have a Pure-tech Fafnir config that I drag out when I'm feeling Assaulty that has twin HVACS and LLs. Nice range, nice punch, and the recycle time often catches your opponent off guard. Doesn't change the fact that it's a Fatty, but makes it a little more fun.

So, yeah, HVAC20s are a challenge. Dropping the weight by a bit or making them 3-slots would be truly awesome. You have to stay alive a little longer to use them effectively, they don't play nice with other weapons (range and 4 slots make them tough to integrate) and they do not have the raw punch of comparable (HGAUSS) weapons. But as a mid-to-long-range sniper? Tight maps? They can be entertaining.