How do you want your second-line mechs: XL or standard engine?

[Guardsman]

When I play Clan, my main ride is the Stupid Hawk.



Stooping. I said Stooping.

Now why would you go and say a thing like that about your own 'Mech? Somebody did not like the 'Mech he was assigned.

[IndyRI]

What would you say was the best example of a pre-Jihad IS XLE?

Well the Berserker is a surprisingly well-done one. Whole bunch of armor; makes the most of the XLE to get extra speed both to get its hatchet in range and to avoid fire; MASC for added effect; AMS and ECm for increased survivability to get 8it in close; Flamer for anti-infatry and firestarting. I can't give it the medal though, since it still uses a Hatchet. Awesome though they may be, they're a waste of space.

So my personal favorite use of the XLE prior to the Jihad, and this is just going off of memory, would be the Falconer. It's a 5/8/5 large heavy with both a Gauss Rifle and ER PPC, and a salvo of MLs for in-close work. It moves fast, hits hard, and has enough survivability to take msot hits that are thrown at it. It probably comes closest to approximating a Clan mech of any of the early IS reactionary-designs.

[Moonsword]

I lean toward the Dragon Fire but the Falconer is a good one.

[Doug Glendower]

Now why would you go and say a thing like that about your own 'Mech? Somebody did not like the 'Mech he was assigned.

Yeah, the name. The 'Mech is awesome. The name? Not so much. Besides, it's a touch of the reverse psychology. "Oh, he called it stupid! Wait. OW! OW! OW! OH GOD WHY WON'T IT DIE?! OW!"

[StCptMara]

What would you say was the best example of a pre-Jihad IS XLE?

The Sunder, the Raptor, the Venom, 3050 Book Charger

Best Jihad era use: Locust 6M.

[Crunch]

Well the Berserker is a surprisingly well-done one. Whole bunch of armor; makes the most of the XLE to get extra speed both to get its hatchet in range and to avoid fire; MASC for added effect; AMS and ECm for increased survivability to get 8it in close; Flamer for anti-infatry and firestarting. I can't give it the medal though, since it still uses a Hatchet. Awesome though they may be, they're a waste of space.

So my personal favorite use of the XLE prior to the Jihad, and this is just going off of memory, would be the Falconer. It's a 5/8/5 large heavy with both a Gauss Rifle and ER PPC, and a salvo of MLs for in-close work. It moves fast, hits hard, and has enough survivability to take msot hits that are thrown at it. It probably comes closest to approximating a Clan mech of any of the early IS reactionary-designs.

I'll second both the Falconer and the Berserker.

[Stormfury]

WVR-7K, TR1, LNX, etc do it well. The medium weight class gets the most- light enough to be fast, heavy enough to carry the firepower. Heavies and Assaults are subject to diminishing returns, and Lights are already struggling for mass.