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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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 Posted: 30-Aug-2003 17:34 Post subject: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 30-Aug-2003 18:45 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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Man thoes are hard questions. I think alot of it has to do with the unknowns.
But my opinions are.
1. Yes but only if the mech will be at 90% armor or better. If not then 4/6 is just fine. I tend to use XL's alot because I design a mech for a purpose and the only way I can get it that was is most of the time to use a XL.
2. Depends on how much armor. If were talking a half ton, sure. but again I try to keep my designs at 90% armor or better. I will sacrifice weapons or electronics for JJ though.
3. No I usually forget I have it anyway and never use it. Mabey a LAMS but that is a huge heat hog and can be really nasty. So No.
4. Well I think I would rather have the XL savings and work in heavier long range weapons instead of using huge amounts of space on a heavy or assult to reduice not enough tonnage. Now if Its a light I might use both (XL and endo) to give it a bit better pop. But I will usually do that to up the primary weapon the light mech has. and only if I can still keep the armor near max.
I hope that answered your questions. I dont mind the XL engine but I really try to use it in a way that will benefit the mech the most. I just wish that we could get some Lvl 3 or 4 rules that allowed for more leg crits or chest crits and what not. I still really want to creat a scout mech that utilizes both Null and Stealth (not sure if its worth it I actually think they cancel out but I havent read the rules for htem in a while) or someother things that I have been tinkering with but cant do due to limited amounts of space. I have on many occasions made a mech that is over by 20 crits and I still have 6+tons left to play with.
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Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1258
Location: United States
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| Posted: 30-Aug-2003 19:09 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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1) Tough one. Walking 5 gains you a +1 on your targetting solutions or allows you up to 2 pivots for an even solution. Running 8 is even better. I would not however put an XL engine in unless the extra weaponry and heatsinks could do more than 30 points a round.
2) Jump Jets are most wonderful. Pretty much every mech I design has Jump jets. They allow you to maneuver out of areas that would seriously screw a walker.
3) I don't think AMS is worth it to begin with.
4) Endo is a better survivability choice, but it fills your internals. I guess it depends on the size of the mech. I would definately take endo on anything less than a heavy, and maybe even a heavy. Once you get to heavies and assaults you are more looking for internals to put things, and I'd seriously have to consider it.
Pin
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"My Blood is not mine to give, it belongs to my Brothers"
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 31-Aug-2003 00:18 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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1: I don't do it, an XL engine is added to get more guns instead.
2: I'd sacrifice a weapon first, then a heat sink. Only after that is armor reluctantly taken off.
3: It's usually not worth having even with CASE. So the answer is no.
4: Endo Steel all the way, baby. It's cheaper and usually good enough to give you that extra edge you need.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 939
Location: United States
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| Posted: 31-Aug-2003 01:16 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine? |
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In the case of a heavy mech it depends. If the mech has the armor and weapons mix to take advantage of the movement then sure.
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2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for? |
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Maybe, but why not have your cake and eat it too? On most of my designs that employ jumpjets I max out the armor. It is easier to simply downgrade the weapons and maintain similar performance since Btech weapons are highly redundant.
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3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
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The AMS isn't worth a hill of beans (unless you're using my guided missile rules). On standard designs I wouldn't ever bother to put one on.
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4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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Endo - losing a torso with endo in it won't kill your mech. Now if its a clan design than definitely put in an XL.
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Gangrene
[ This Message was edited by: Gangrene on 2003-08-31 01:16 ]
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Gangrene
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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5792
Location: United States
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| Posted: 31-Aug-2003 19:52 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
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for me, no. if you used a light maybe.
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2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
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case specific. how much weight, what size.
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3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
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i find ams isent worth its own weight.
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4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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endo-steel.
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one must work hard to cultivate the mind and body. and one must always cultivate the mind.
//^(^_^)^\\
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 02-Sep-2003 23:08 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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All a a little design and case specific but here is my general feedback.
1) Speed kills and dictates the battlefield. So I go with 5/8. 3/5 when I need a death machine.
2) Yes, but limited armor. Then all you are is a scout or flanker. If you have decent armor and jump, then you can make a real pain in the ass of yourself.
3) AMS sucks. ATM give some reason, but it needs to be fixed.
4) As an IS guy, IS over XL. Yeah not as much junk can be put on the mech but I can not be turned into junk quickly.
AWAD- and do not get me started on DHS
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 03-Sep-2003 07:22 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Speed kills, but terrain dictates how much speed. XL adds one more Vunerablity to the Machine.
Jump Jets are a life saver. Add the one extra point to their attack and they may miss entirely.
Endo Steel is a given instead of an XL engine. Three endo hits doesn't disable your Mech.
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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deathshadow
Draconis Combine
Gunjin
Joined: 28-Jul-2003 00:00
Posts: 41
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| Posted: 03-Sep-2003 11:38 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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1> Depends on the weight class, and what your packing, and whether your planning jets or not. That extra 2 mp can make a huge difference if played right. Usually if you break your firepower into two heat brackets, allowing you optimum firepower at each range, the higher mobility is worth it. If your building an Alpha baby, depends on if your going long range or short. Long range, go for the 4/6, short range you want the higher move so you can actually get into range. Also you have to figure in targeting numbers. A 4/6 is actaully hard pressed to move forward more than 4 if there is any intervening terrain, meaning usually the max modifier you make for the enemy is usually +1. You take out a 5/8 and moving forward 5 is easy, regardless of turns and terrain (in most cases) giving you that nice +2.
2> Depends on if the jets will break the movement threshold or not. Is ditching half a ton of armor to go from 5 jump to 6 jump worth it? Questionable, as both generate a total +3 to hit modifier. Is it worth losing half a ton to go from 6 jump to 7? Definately, modifier jumps from +3 to +4. For both these questions, always look at what you are realistically able to move (usually 2 mp is wasted on turns or terrain), then look at the targeting modifiers chart. Makes your decisions real clear.
3>Inner Sphere, don't waste the tonnage unless your making an elemental hunter. Give it ECM or something. Clan, go for it. (oh, wait, clan case is free anywho).
4> if you can build the same thing with Endo instead of XL, I usually say go for it. XL vulnerable, Endo isn't. If you have the crits and can go one way or the other, choose endo. The only time I'm hesitant to use Endo Steel is if what I'm making is a 'field kit upgrade' according to it's fluff, but then I usually don't consider XL an option either.
[ This Message was edited by: deathshadow on 2003-09-03 11:40 ]
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Happyness is just a word to me
and it might have meant a thing or two
if I'd have known the difference.
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ralgith
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company
"Ralgith's Renegades"
Colonel
Joined: 18-Aug-2003 00:00
Posts: 2021
Location: United States
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| Posted: 04-Sep-2003 11:13 Post subject: RE: Taking Opinions from fellow Customizers |
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Quote:
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On 2003-08-30 17:34, Kraken wrote:
I just want some people's opinions on some things that I was wondering about. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me your honest opinions.
1. Is going 5/8 rather than 4/6 worth the increased vulnerability from an XL Engine?
2. Are Jump Jets worth sacrificing armor for?
3. Is an AMS system worth the ammo explosion if there isn't any tonnage for CASE?
4. As far as tonnage savings go (taking everything else into effect) would you rather have Endo or an XL?
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Ok, i've been playing for many years now, and the answer to all of those questions is simple and right to the point. What is that mech supposed to do and what do you have to fiddle to make it do that and be a survivable, workable, and decent design. The exception to this is the AMS, AMS has always blown and will always blow unless it is seriously fixed. Especially the way the ammo on it works. All an AMS is is a machine gun with an automatic computer tageting system against incoming warheads. If ammo is only 12/ton, then it definitly should only take one shot no matter the missiles shot down.
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Colonel Ralgith t'Mayasara
Blighted Sun Battalion
1st Company 'Ralgith's Renegades'
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