8 replies to this topic

[Lexeii]

I wonder...

When looking at most of the engine ratings used in the builds in the guides section of the forum there are often ratings where rating mod 25 != 0
but with every 25 engine rating i get a free (true dub until 300) heatsink... and the normal weightdifference is that heatsink + 0.5 most of the time (i think.. maybe i didn't look at enough engines).

so what is the incentive to say, use a 260 rated engine in a hunchback? of course it is slightly faster... but from my experience it doesn't make enough of a difference. (ok, personal taste)

however, in none of my builds I use them and I have to ask myself... am i missing an important point?

[Amity45]

It's probably one of three things:

1) They happen to have that engine because it came on another mech and they transplanted it rather than buy a new engine.

2) They had some spare tonnage after adding everything they needed, and decided to spend it on an engine that's a little faster.

3) They have no need for any additional freebie heatsinks, so getting to mod 25 is irrelevant. Many lighter mechs don't need more than 9-10 double heatsinks.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the best reason to change to an XL engine is if you want one that's faster than what you could normally equip to that mech. (Think Pretty Baby.) If the goal is to reach higher speeds, they may prefer to allocate some more tonnage to their engine rather than have more ammo, back-up weapons, etc

[CmdrPoopyPants]

Most of my engine choices are based on what I already have.. engines are expensive! Generally, as noted above, I run option 2 in that I load out something that looks like it should work, then see what engine I can stuff in it to maximize speed/torso twist/etc etc. Though, for me, speed is a big part of being successful in -any- mech. Stock speeds just aren't viable in my mind, not for any mech I bought to date. You can't fulfill your role if you're too slow.. that 48kph Atlas never gets to the fight.. that 85kph raven is an easy target.. that 52kph Stalker takes too long to adjust position when pockets of fighting erupt at various locations, etc etc.

[Redshift2k5]

You use a 260 in a hunchback because it's the maximum; anyone using a 260 would gladly take a 275 if they could! A HBK with DHS and Endo often has some weight to spare, even after bringing the engine from 250 to 260.

[wickwire]

GOTTA GO FAST!

[Lexeii]

Thx for the replies.

yes engines are expensive (don't want to think about saving cbills for my first xl), so i try to decide first. then I normally build everything around the engine and don't change it anymore (because it is expensive)...

I use the available tonnage either way (engine, ammo...) so I ask myself what my desicions should be based on.
assuming that I adapt my role to my mechs capabilities i could do a little less speed and a little more dmg or vice versa (although of course I have to be able to reach some minimum requirements).

to sum it up and going with the hbk example:

The few kph from the 260 is worth the ton it has more than the 250?

[nungunz]

Another reason is that some engines weigh the same. An XL255 is the same as an XL250 so you might as well take a 255. Same goes for the XL 280 vs. XL 275.

[Ewigan]

That's actual easy: Does it fit in your build?
If you have like half a ton lying around... why not get more speed?

[wickwire]

exactly, speed is life!