Blimey there are a few categories there!
I've combined a few
Recon - Ignoring my long held view that this is a light mech role, I'd have to say the
Assassin ASN-21. 7/11/7 movement, sufficient armour and little enough weaponry that the pilot will be encouraged to stick to their actual job. A Spider or Ostscout will do the job better, but the Assassin will atleast out preform a Wasp or Clint.
Light Raiding /
Light Cavalry /
Light mech hunter - Roles I feel are best described as 'skirmisher', in which case you could do a lot worst than the Inner Sphere Standard, the
Phoenix Hawk PXH-1D. Fast enough, bad enough to fight anything that can catch it and with just enough firepower to 'count' in a fight. The jump jet equipped Clints do well here as does the Cicada 3C.
Cavalry /
All-rounder /
Manoeuvre Warfare /
Command mech /
Combat in Heavily Forested, jungled or equivalent Terrain /
Urban Combat Specialist /
Brawler .... etc - AKA General Purpose Medium Mech - which as others have noted the
Wolverine 6M (or 6R) pretty much rules the roost.....unless I'm allowed a odd ball example, in which case I would pump for the
Gladiator 4R as the best all round medium mech in the game in 3025....except it is has been out of production since 2495 and you would have to work damn hard to justify using it on an sort of scale in 3025.
Heavy Cavalry - I question if this role actually exists in 3025. There isn't a 5/8/x heavy mech in 3025 I wouldn't rule a Wolverine (or Gladiator) against and expect reasonable odds of success.
Sniping /
Combined Arms Supplemental /
Missile Support /
Direct Fire Support - Firepower whilst sacrificing armour, LRMs, still manoeuvrable enough to getting into and out of trouble, that would be the
Dervish 6M. There are Trebuchets that will do the job and the Whitworth will do in a pinch, but I'm fond of the Dervish's ability to fight its way out of trouble.
Trooper /
Line Anchor /
Pocket Heavy.... lets face it, this is the
Centurion 9-AL Good armour, good firepower, awful manoeuvrability, but if you need a heavy mech and you can't have one, this is your mech.
Lance Rounder /
Company Rounder - not sure I see the difference, but I'm thinking of the
Vindicator 1R Not flashy, but solid at most things whilst tough enough to take a hit and keep on fighting.
Quickscell Special - This might be controversial....but the
Whitworth On paper they are utterly underwhelming, but on the field they are surprisingly tough, surprisingly manoeuvrable and throw a respectable punch. If money is tight you can do ALOT worse for your C-Bills.
I think that covers the lot. Left to my own devices I'd fill my medium lances with Gladiators and if I can't do that I buy Wolverines. Most of the other roles I'd rather put a heavy mech into....but sometimes that isn't possible and thats when the Centurions, Vindicators and Whitworths shine.
Challenger