Best INTRO tech MEDIUM mech in 3025

[(SMD)MadCow]

The Enforcer was mentioned, what about the Centurion?  The AL variant in particular?

The AL is a textbook pocket heavy, good armor and versatile weapon selection. Its biggest weakness is no jump jets to help with its lower end speed.

[wanderer25]

The AL is a textbook pocket heavy, good armor and versatile weapon selection. Its biggest weakness is no jump jets to help with its lower end speed.

Every mechs on the list has  its strong and weak points. The question is what can you live with, later depends on your style of play.

[(SMD)MadCow]

Every mechs on the list has  its strong and weak points. The question is what can you live with, later depends on your style of play.

Yes, but in the question of which is "best", 4/6 with no JJ is not a consideration. I'm boggled by the Hunchy even makeing the list cause it's a 1 trick pony.

[Hellraiser]

The AL is one of my Favorite variants of the Centurion, & clearly my L1 favorite.

But as I stated, I was trying to keep the total #'s down to the "best" factor.

Even if "best" was at just a single role

And as mentioned, the Hunchie was really an honorable mention pick for being the only mass produced AC20 option, and doing what it does, "Urban Defense" pretty well for it.

Black Jack & Whitworth are both mechs I happen to like too, but they didn't scream "Best" over all, or even in a niche, like the Assassin would with "Recon"

[Greatclub]

I'd call the assassin's role "survivable harasser: PITA to take down" with a side of toolbox if you load the missiles with alternate ammo

Then pulse lasers get introduced and it stops being survivable.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Yes, but in the question of which is "best", 4/6 with no JJ is not a consideration. I'm boggled by the Hunchy even makeing the list cause it's a 1 trick pony.

Jump Jets are useful, but plenty of very good mechs lack jump jets.  Not having them shouldn't be a disqualifier.

[(SMD)MadCow]

Jump Jets are useful, but plenty of very good mechs lack jump jets.  Not having them shouldn't be a disqualifier.

For lower speed units, yes absolutely a disqualifier. For faster mechs, they still add a lot of value.

[Daryk]

As part of the iron triangle of speed/firepower/armor, 5/8/5 rules the roost for 3025 medium 'mechs.

[Arkansas Warrior]

For lower speed units, yes absolutely a disqualifier. For faster mechs, they still add a lot of value.

So, the Victor is a better 80 tonner than the Awesome, because it has jump jets?  The Highlander and Marauder II are automatically the best 3025 3/5 movers?  That's silly.

[Retry]

So, the Victor is a better 80 tonner than the Awesome, because it has jump jets?  The Highlander and Marauder II are automatically the best 3025 3/5 movers?  That's silly.

None of those are mediums, though.

[Daryk]

And for the record, the Marauder II IS the best 3/5 mover in 3025...  8)

[Arkansas Warrior]

None of those are mediums, though.

My reading was that "for lower speed units" meant *all* lower speed units.  So I went even lower.  You can do the same with mediums, if you want.  Is every 4/6/4 medium superior to the Hunchback or CN9-AL?  Is every 5/8/5 medium better than the Crab or Wolverine-6K?  Hardly.  Jump jets are nice to have, but saying a mech can't be in the running for "best" without them is like saying that a mech can't be considered the best if it doesn't have maxed armor, or that, say, a Tournament Legal Assault mech can't be considered the best in its class unless it has multiple headcappers.  Sure, those are nice features.  But not having them isn't a disqualifier.

[Arkansas Warrior]

And for the record, the Marauder II IS the best 3/5 mover in 3025...  8)

I'd rather have a BNC-3S.  The MAD has some edges there, but the ones that matter are armor and heat dissipation, not maneuverability.

[(SMD)MadCow]

So, the Victor is a better 80 tonner than the Awesome, because it has jump jets?  The Highlander and Marauder II are automatically the best 3025 3/5 movers?  That's silly.

This thread is about mediums dude.

[Daryk]

True, but he has to know the MAD-4A beats the BNC-3S on both...

[Arkansas Warrior]

Ok.  It still holds.  I’d take a Centurion (especially an AL) over a Vindicator any day of the week.  Just being jump-capable doesn’t make a mech inherently better than one that’s groundbound.  The Wolverine-6K is one of the best mediums in 3025.  The Centurion-AL is an excellent 4/6 medium.  The Crab is no slouch.  The Hunchback is one of the best city-fighters of any class in that era.

[(SMD)MadCow]

Ok.  It still holds.  I’d take a Centurion (especially an AL) over a Vindicator any day of the week.  Just being jump-capable doesn’t make a mech inherently better than one that’s groundbound.  The Wolverine-6K is one of the best mediums in 3025.  The Centurion-AL is an excellent 4/6 medium.  The Crab is no slouch.  The Hunchback is one of the best city-fighters of any class in that era.

And the Enforcer beats them all and hence is the Best.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Ok, now I know you're trolling.  You got me.   ;D

[(SMD)MadCow]

Ok, now I know you're trolling.  You got me.   ;D

 ;D
Love my Enforcers.

[Daryk]

The WVR-6M will take the 6K in just about any terrain beyond empty flat plain...

[Greatclub]

The problem with 4/6 mediums is 4/6 heavies. Without an edge, IE jump jets, it rarely turns out well for the lighter mech.

Centurion  is a good mech to escort archers and the like, or be a 'pocket heavy' if that's your budget, but it isn't a heavy. It's a wannabe.

[Arkansas Warrior]

The WVR-6M will take the 6K in just about any terrain beyond empty flat plain...

In a city, sure.  In very broken terrain, probably.  But I don't think the 6K needs a salt flat to win.  The extra armor, marginally better heat curve and (admittedly very slight) firepower edge will turn more than a few fights.  I'd guess it's more like 60/40 to the 6M in that matchup.


Another good matchup for how close the designs are is BJ-1 vs BJ-1DC (which drops the jets for a heat sink and a pair of SLs).

[GreekFire]

The Wolverine -6K would be worth considering if it didn't have that massive ammo bomb in its Right Torso.
That alone disqualifies it from the running in my book.

[Minemech]

 The most terrifying quality of the WVR-6M is that it is common in the Free Worlds League. A solid trooper is invaluable, but a mech par excellence serving as a trooper is terrifying.

[Retry]

In a city, sure.  In very broken terrain, probably.  But I don't think the 6K needs a salt flat to win.  The extra armor, marginally better heat curve and (admittedly very slight) firepower edge will turn more than a few fights.  I'd guess it's more like 60/40 to the 6M in that matchup.


Another good matchup for how close the designs are is BJ-1 vs BJ-1DC (which drops the jets for a heat sink and a pair of SLs).

You don't need extremely broken terrain, just enough trees and elevation bumps so the 6K cannot either walk 5 or run 7+ consistently enough to keep the to-hit odds even with the 6M (which can always jump 5 hexes and force a +3 modifier vs oncoming attacks regardless of terrain).  Given how close the two designs are in armor and armament, and considering how the 2D6 curve works, having a relative to-hit advantage over your opponent is a far greater advantage than a handful of armor points or a slight firepower advantage.