The main purpose of rear weapons (usually) isn't to get the best use, but not to be needed at all. A massive RL battery does provide a pretty good reason for no backstabber to want to be number one... ;)
It is perfectly heat neutral firing both HPPC's on a run or the ERML array... that's 30 points of damage thrown out at minimum. Another 5 point hit at long range was frankly not worth the heat trouble it would bring in my mind. ^^
Or wait, are you suggesting a LPPC as rear mounted weapon? While that may be funny, the minimum range(in which the backstabbers will mostly likely be) would give it a targeting modifier comparable to the bad one that the RL's get(+1 for secondary target, +1 for being RL's) and would take the damage output down to a measly 5 dmg. Not much of a deterrent. :-/
Hmmm...
Interesting idea, but what about the SECOND backstabber? :D
As Sabelkatten said, the array is there as an "OH SHIT" factor to deter anyone from getting into the rear arc... and if someone is stupid enough to do it anyway, that's where the "DISSAPPEAR" button and the
"tiny bit more armor" comes in.
Mhm, maybe I should have pointed that out more clearly to begin with, because the Mech carries
HARDENED armor, with 12/10 points on the rear CT/ST's... that ougth to frustrate a backstabber enough that no one will try it a second time after seeing the former backstabber being blown to pieces while not even punching through the armor. #P
I can't get this picture out of my head. For some reason I envision the RL's being mounted in the lower part of the Mechs rear, having protective covers that slide down once they fire... like the Mech is pulling down it's pants to show them some really deadly fartgas! [blank]
In case that's not enough of a deterrent... a backhand from a 95 ton Mech is! And that's why the supercharger is in there. Backstabbers tend to overheat when they think they can take you out or cripple you, and if they don't have JJ's to get the hell out then they will get an assault fist to the face. ^-^#
Or you get the array of the Mech's friendlies to the face. :3
By the way... I'm thinking about quirks.
Multi-Track would obviously benefit the Mech, having 2 distinct bracket armaments. Firing one HPPC at a distant target and 3 ERML's at a close target along with a swing of the unengaged arm. My question now is... would Multi-Track also influence the modificator for the rear arc target? If so, it would be perfect.
Now, assuming I go with Multi-Track... which negative quirk do I take to balance it out? Non-Standard parts are an obvious choice because of the hardened armor, but somehow that one lacks... flavour. So, any suggestions that fit the fluff of an enlarged Warlord? And while we're at it, any other quirk suggestions, positive and negative that both help the Mech and fit the fluff?
