I don't disagree with this in general but neither of these apply to my example of the Hellbringer. FASA clearly didn't care all that much about matching configuration to the artwork when it came to the original sixteen omnis. The Summoner has two triple racks of some kind of missile (perhaps they were thinking of ATM-style "one-size, every range" for Clan launchers?). The original Stormcrow art showing a rack of missiles in the CT while the Stormcrow's Prime configuration has no missiles at all. The PPC arm of the Summoner is shared by the Timberwolf -- or the ERML/ERLL arm of the Timberwolf is shared by the Summoner. And so on.
As for demonstrating new tech, that goes further to explain things, but I don't know why the Clans were given A-pods when most of their serious fighting was done against BA-equipped forces. Outside the scope of the thread I suppose.
Anyway, just to reiterate, I don't disagree overall, I just think it doesn't explain the Hellbringer and especially not its variants.
My guess (and I think I said it earlier in this thread) is that the Loki is supposed to be a better Warhammer. As in, players who just purchased the Tech Readout are supposed to look at it and be amazed at the kind of crazy stuff the Clans can field.
The base Warhammer is a 70 ton mech that moves 4/6, has 18 heat sinks, carries 2 PPCs, an SRM-6, 2 Medium Lasers, 2 Small Lasers, and 2 Machine Guns.
The Loki Prime is a 65 ton mech that moves 5/8, has 26 heat sinks (13 double), carries 2 better PPCs, a better SRM-6, 3 better Medium Lasers, 2 Machine Guns, an anti-missile system, cool sensor abilities, a Targeting Computer, and these weird anti-infantry defense thingies.
It's way better than the Warhammer, which up to that point had been one of the standard bearers for a great heavy mech. The Loki beats its brains out in almost every way. The only thing the Warhammer has that's clearly better is that the Loki has less armor. That's not a small thing, but you'd still pick a Loki every single time.
So, if you're designing it from scratch, think "better Warhammer", and "we have to put all the new tech on at least one of the mech designs" (i.e., somebody gets stuck with A-Pods), and "we can't put all the good new tech on any one design". And then the Loki makes perfect sense. You gotta spread the good new tech around, and you gotta put the crappy new tech on a couple mechs somewhere.
The Loki was also named because of the weird, freaky weapon choices. TRO 3050 notes it carries "an utterly mad weapons configuration". So story-wise it's something that left the Inner Sphere mechwarriors scratching their heads about. Regarding the alternate configs, I don't think the A is that bad. It's a long range machine meant for brief engagements. The B is confusing, and personally I'd want a lot more than 8 shots of Gauss Rifle ammo. But if you think maybe it's designed for lower intensity battles it makes more sense. Like maybe they've only got so many Streak 6s, and so if you've been assigned to go take out a tank company, well you get what you get.
Actually I think equipment scarcity is something that doesn't get addressed enough. Some of these alternate configs might be a matter of filling up tonnage with the equipment you've got left over.
