One level Terrain changes are free?
I would have to check lots of rules as I haven't played BT in years but IIRC (big caveat, IF)
- WIGE sits somewhere in the Hover/VTOL arena with many of the advantages/disadvantages from both, I would say it was - generally - weaker than either but clutches a few specific niches and has a few interesting tricks.
- Of the 3 it is generally the slowest (has the worst lift factor) but can be the heaviest (80T combat, 240T support) opening options that just aren't possible with Hover or VTOL
- Under fire it is probably the worst of both worlds with the easily damaged motive systems of the hover and giving away flak bonuses like the VTOL, with a minimum speed requirement it will quickly turn itself into a turret if receiving even infantry fire. An LB-X is death to a WIGE.
However
- They have potentially powerful terrain handling especially compared to a hover, they can handle hills, cliffs and potentially skim over forests with far greater aplomb and hug the terrain far more easily than a VTOL
- They have unique drop rules that allow you to drop them from orbit and (again IIRC) airborne craft and manoeuvre them to target better than even jump mechs can.
- Lots of silly little things like a LNSV doesn't need a helipad to launch WIGE, you can build them as rapid deployment turrets which advance to combat and then stop and don't worry about their motive systems being obliterated in the first round,
Overall I think the niche for WIGE is pretty small, fast strike tanks/ifvs are probably often better as Hover, capability over all terrain you're probably better off with VTOL but sometimes WIGE is just the right choice. Last time I designed a unit around WIGE I had an Aerodyne dropship packed full of light vehicle bays that dropped ~50T WIGE's full of BA. It gave them unparalleled ability to get to target and long range weapons platforms to provide supporting fire but the WIGE's stayed distant using arrows and SG-LRMs while the BA used TAG to bring in fire alongside their integral weapon systems. This wouldn't have worked with Hovers or VTOLs but it is VERY specific.
Before that I designed a 100T WIGE support vehicle that would carry 50T+ of cargo to resupply naval assets. The main reason I didn't use a hover is that these could easily be air/orbitally dropped.
