Here's the choice. We're talking about an assault mech with the following details:
85 tons
Triple Strength Myomers
jump of 210m ( 7 MP)
15.5 tons std armor
the following weapons:
2 Snubnosed PPCs
2 ER Small Lasers
2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
1 Small X-Pulse Laser
1 (std) Large Laser
Here's the first contender:
Samson SAM-001
Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel Biped
Power Plant: 255 XL
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Mechanical Jump Booster
Jump Capacity: 210 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 Medium X-Pulse Laser
2 ER Small Laser
1 Small X-Pulse Laser
2 Snub-Nose PPC
1 Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3115
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-F-E
Cost: 19,866,873 C-bills
Type: Samson
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Tonnage: 85
Battle Value: 2,171
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure Endo Steel 4.5
Engine 255 XL 6.5
Walking MP: 3 (4)
Running MP: 5 (6)
Jumping MP: 7
Double Heat Sink 11 [22] 1
XL Gyro 1.5
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 248 15.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 27 40
Center Torso (rear) 11
R/L Torso 18 28
R/L Torso (rear) 8
R/L Arm 14 28
R/L Leg 18 30
Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Weapons
and Ammo Location Critical Heat Tonnage
Mech Mechanical Jump Boosters RL/LL 2/2 - 30.0
ER Small Laser RT 1 2 0.5
Medium X-Pulse Laser RT 1 6 2.0
Double Heat Sink RT 3 - 1.0
Triple Strength Myomer RT 1 - 0.0
Snub-Nose PPC LA 2 10 6.0
2 Triple Strength Myomers RA 2 - 0.0
ER Small Laser LT 1 2 0.5
Medium X-Pulse Laser LT 1 6 2.0
Triple Strength Myomer LT1 - 0.0
Large Laser LT 2 8 5.0
Small X-Pulse Laser HD 1 3 1.0
Snub-Nose PPC RA 2 10 6.0
2 Triple Strength Myomers LA 2 - 0.0
Here's the second:
Samson (Winged) SAM-002
Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Standard Biped
Power Plant: 340 XL
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Jump Jets: Improved Jump Jets
Jump Capacity: 210 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 Medium X-Pulse Laser
2 ER Small Laser
1 Small X-Pulse Laser
2 Snub-Nose PPC
1 Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3142
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-D
Cost: 25,553,618 C-bills
Type: Samson (Winged)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Tonnage: 85
Battle Value: 2,347
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 8.5
Engine 340 XL 13.5
Walking MP: 4 (5)
Running MP: 6 (8)
Jumping MP: 7
Double Heat Sink 10 [23] 0
Gyro 4
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 248 15.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 27 40
Center Torso (rear) 11
R/L Torso 18 28
R/L Torso (rear) 8
R/L Arm 14 28
R/L Leg 18 30
Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Weapons
and Ammo Location Critical Heat Tonnage
Improved Jump Jet LL 2 - 2.0
Large Laser CT 2 8 5.0
2 Improved Jump Jets RT 4 - 4.0
Medium X-Pulse Laser RT 1 6 2.0
Snub-Nose PPC LA 2 10 6.0
2 ER Small Lasers LA 2 2 1.0
3 Triple Strength Myomers LA 3 - 0.0
Partial Wing RT/LT 4/4 - 5.5
2 Improved Jump Jets LT 4 - 4.0
Medium X-Pulse Laser LT 1 6 2.0
Improved Jump Jet RL 2 - 2.0
Small X-Pulse Laser HD 1 3 1.0
Snub-Nose PPC RA 2 10 6.0
3 Triple Strength Myomers RA 3 - 0.0
The upshot is this: Mechanical Jump Boosters or Improved Jumpjets + Partial Wing? The MJBs are quite a bit heavier, but only take up only four critical slots. The IJJ + Partial Wing combo is lighter, but occupies a massive amount of critical spaces, preventing the use of most advanced construction materials.
Mechanical Jump Boosters (7MP): 30 tons, 4 critical spaces, no heat for movement, works underwater
Improved Jumpjets + Partial Wing: 17.5 tons, 20 critical spaces, small bonus to heat dissipation
Why would you go with one or the other?