Since we're apparently musing on redemption arcs for the Cataphract 5L and Thunderbolt 12R, have opinions softened any on the Raven 5L? I recall it being received pretty negatively.
I still have somewhat mixed feelings on it. Better speed is appreciated as this has always been the Raven's big weakness. Worse scout (no active probe). Worse combatant in general too, due to very limited missiles. The iNarc's good, nice to see it getting some use.
The thing about the Cataphract and T-bolt variants is that they're weird and quirky which makes them interesting. The Raven is more of a straight side-upgrade. Err, side-grade. Not-quite-vertical-upgrade?
Some specific issues as i see them:
-The Angel ECM is a mistake here, IMO. Considering the Raven has nothing that particularly requires it to be running without Stealth, the Angel gets wasted easily, or stealth armor gets wasted*. A Guardian would save half a ton, for CASE if nothing else, or that half a ton could be valuable with additional changes. Naturally this would be mitigated if one uses TacOps extra ECM rules, in which case the Angel offers Guardian and stealth-armor benefits at once. (But i'm not one to use those for sake of simplicity and speed, and because that way i only need BMM open.)
-The one-shot SRM-2s are problematic. The good speed kinda makes them useful for backstabbing, yet the 'Mechs nature as a support unit indicates specialty munitions (not counting Narc-equipped ones as specialty munitions, figure they're the default essentially) might be in order. And their limited nature means one may end up hoarding them for the perfect opportunity. Also, under standard rules, alternate munition options are extremely limited. Infernos are OK, but though SRM-2 Inferno effectiveness is somewhat low; Fragmentation missiles are too specialized against conventional infantry to be generally useful (depending on your table of, course), and this covered non-Narc and non-Artemis options. As for TacOps options, ARADs can be good but because their benefits don't stack with iNarc pods (ARADs are more useful with standard Narc pods), they're of limited usefulness in this case. Tandem-charges are good, Smoke depends on whether smoke rules are in play. Others i find too rule-intensive or just not worth it.
-In some ways the speed is excessive, perhaps. 7/11 would free enough weight, combined with using just Guardian ECM, to carry a SRM-6 with a ton of ammo. And since the iNarc and TAG are the primary tools here, i figure 7/11 speed is enough, especially for the iNarc thanks to its increased range. Further tweaks could've bought a supercharger perhaps.
-Amusing missed opportunity: Guardian would've allowed using two iOS MML-3s instead of 3xiOS SRM-2. Better? Maybe not, but would've allowed LRM special munition options.
And finally, i find the lack of active probe to be an annoyance. Not because it is useful, but because the Raven II isn't actually that great scout. It is expensive thanks to the TSEMP, it is slower, and it has stealth too. Active probes cannot be used with stealth, and Bloodhound rules, which the Raven II carries, specifically note that it cannot be used while stealthed even though it defeats normal ECM. (Well, at least TacOps rules say so, BMM doesn't make note of this, need to go ask clarification for that.) And using the TSEMP disables the Bloodhound for the next round, though i grant it is unlikely you need the probe after initial contact, unless one is using active probe enhanced targeting rules.
In a sense, the Raven 5L would be better suited for carrying an active probe. No comment on how to fit it.
This all said, using both 'Mechs at once makes for potent EWAR unit, as the RG6 pretty much notes.
Anyway, despite this all apparent negativity, i'm fine with the Raven 5L. It does offer an interesting alternative despite its limitations.
*Funny thing: the FedSuns Vulpes has stealth armor, and that actually lowers its BV cost. Because of heat calculations. But it is an extreme edge case.
EDIT ended up writing more than i expected. Figure i might almost copy-paste this to my Raven MotW once i get around finish updating it, work in progress...
