I've wanted to like the Bushwacker, but it's really just never quite sufficient.
Though throwing the LB20-X variant out is pretty hilarious given that people generally aren't even aware of that particular config.
It's not a bad one, but it's got some serious problems too. I hate- HAAAATE- weapons split between two body locations, and while I acknowledge there's no way around it with the Bushie here it still gives me fits. It's odd here too, to have removed the arm actuators to allow it to flip its arms- and not be able to do so anyway. A weapon split between an arm and torso can't flip backwards, and there's nothing (AT ALL) in the left arm to make it worthwhile. It feels like it's trying to do too much and just can't make it work- it's average-speed for its size in the era it debuted in, can't jump, its main weapon has a ton of drawbacks and few advantages, it only has a token long-range weapon to compensate... I have trouble looking at it and thinking that it's a better choice for getting an LBX gun into the field compared to, say, an Enfield. Bigger cannon, sure, but it's not able to really utilize it as well as I'd like. (The three-ton ammo bin is nice though.)
Now, the S2? That's a lovely machine. The thinner armor is discouraging, but the AMS compensates for that to some extent anyway. The LBX is smaller but has better range now, a fine tradeoff in this Mechwarrior's opinion. The SRMs feel a little unneeded since we already have crit-seeking, but add a pretty nasty punch regardless (and are a big improvement over the original LRM-5s overall- those always felt a little pointless). Savage little beastie, a longtime favorite of mine if I'm using FedCom-style gear.
