With the release of what appears to be a new rule book:
https://www.facebook.com/battletechgame/photos/a.10153004834233148.1073741831.19541048147/10155367360018148/?type=3&theater (hopefully one book with errata, which would be great) and the recent leadership change. I thought I would lobby the new powers that be for an amendment to an optional rule. Variable Damage. Most of the people I have conversed with in person or online via Facebook who use this rule simply make an attack roll for each point of damage, rather than one attack roll and then a bunch of d6s. FREX, my Atlas does 5 damage at Medium and needs an 8 to hit. I pick up 5 sets of matching dice and roll all five at once. I roll a 5, 5, 7, 8, and 9. I do two damage to my target.
My reasons for wanting the change:
One, it feels more like regular Total Warfare for the Grognards. You do three damage, grab three pair of matching dice and roll. Creates a nice bridge.
Two, the game play balances really well like this but I understand that there are many who like the one attack roll rule. It keeps them happy as this is strictly optional.
Three, (This is admittedly a bit selfish) Although it would be an optional rule, it would lend credibility to how a large part of the community plays. So if I wanted to run a game at a Con I could just say "Variable Damage Optional Rule" and everyone would know what was going on.
Four, It's actually a bit faster than the current variable damage because while there are multiple sets of dice it is actually only one roll instead of 2.
Five, The bell curve works out really well to keep various types of units from overwhelming the game in a vast array of scenarios.
Thanks for any consideration.