Why do the Suspension Factors for Hover/VTOL scale with weight, while Wheeled vehicles get a fixed number and Tracked none at all?
I always thought VTOLs need more power/lift than an equivalent sized hovercraft but the SF seems to indicate the opposite.
Also, the Max Armor Points formula, (3.5 x weight) + 40, allows a combat vehicle to mount significantly more armor per location than an equivalent sized BattleMech, especially at the lighter weights. For example, a 20-ton Locust tops out at 69 points while a 20-ton scout vehicle could mount up to 110 points, almost twice as much.
I revised three of the construction guidelines as an experiment.
Minimum Engine Weight
Tracked - 10%
Wheeled - 15%
Hover - 20%
VTOL - 25%
Maximum Armor Weight
Tracked - 25%
Wheeled - 20%
Hover - 15%
VTOL - 10%
In addition, I required vehicles to mount heat sinks equal to the total heat generated by all weapons as opposed to only energy weapons.
I find this better reflects my own opinion of the relative difference in combat effectiveness between a BattleMech and a conventional vehicle. I also found that Fuel Cell engines were especially useful.