16 replies to this topic

[Gneckes]

Basically, for what mechs are XL engines a good idea? I'm guessing that e.g. Awesomes, Stalkes or Jägermechs with their giant side torsos wouldn't be such good ideas?

[NRP]

I'd say any mech where you need the tonnage and/or speed. A lot of people blame XL engines for their quick deaths when in reality it's probably due to sloppy pilot skills. Consequently, XL engines have become something of a scapegoat.

A wise man once said: The best way to take a punch is to not get hit in the first place.

Edited by NRP, 31 March 2013 - 07:32 AM.

[El Death Smurf]

you are wize to be sceptical of XL engines, and undeniably some mechs use them better than others.
Chasis wise
NEVER in Atlas, Stalker, or Hunchback. they will lose their side torsos long before they go down to CT damage 90% every time, and only the hunchback can even make use of the speed and free tonnage provided by an XL engine, but still, not a good idea. ever. the speed difference, wich is negligable, for a Stalker and Atlas isn't worth the shortened life span.
Usually in Catapult, and Dragons. Drogons and cataputs have huge CT hitboxes, and it greatly adds to your survivability if you are fast.
Arguably in Trebuchet and Centurion, but only if you're going to go fast. (nothing under a 255xl)

ALL light mechs, it gives you those few more tons for wepons, as well as providing the speed to make people miss. This applys to the 40ton Cicada as well.

Jagermechs, awesomes, and Cataphracts are the tough ones. these barn door mechs have a few notable charcteristics. they can absorb an absurd amount of dmage if you piolot them right, and an XL can help with this AND they can dish out an absurd amount of dmage with teh right loadout, usually requireing an XL engine. I'd say they are good with one at long range, and better without one at close range. something like dual gauss or ac20s on a jagermech merrits an XL engine (Gauss more so imo)

unless you are very fast (80kph+), or hit very hard from long distances i generally say avoid XL engines, and making a brawler who can hit hard without an XL engine tends to live longer in the action. Slow mechs dont fare well with XL engines.

Edited by El Death Smurf, 31 March 2013 - 07:58 AM.

[LennStar]

It basically depends on how much you need the tonnage.
For lights its always a good idea because it means more speed and that is always good.
A cat is way easier to hit in the CT - an XL is nothing lost.

For some Mechs a normal engine is propably a better choice - the Hunchies with all their weapons in the right torso are prone to side shooting. And of course a zombie-cent is always a hater.
Also a 4LLas Awesome can go with a normal engine.

[John MatriX82]

Safest mech is the Catapult, followed by the Dragon (usually the big CT is a magnet for enemy fire, much more than the tiny side torsoes).

Other mechs totally worth Xls are usually lights, where speed is life more than keep running with half the mech.

Besides this XL's lower resistance can be traded off for speed and much more firepower/cooling, think of AWSs 9M or PB, Cataphracts often need XLs, Jagers with big guns too (AC40, dual GR jagers) otherwise those builds won't be possible.

Usually XLs are a really bad idea on Atlases, Stalkers, slow Awesomes, Jagers, avoid those on hunchies and in slow mediums in general. TBTs, Cent D (with this one you're practically obliged if you want to use the ballistic slot)/YLW can do good with xls because of speed.. If you plan to buy one, take note of the max engine rating of the mechs you have and those that you plan to buy. Usually the XL 300 is a pretty universal and good XL engine, 280 is useful too, and then those that allow you to add more heatsinks within the engine (325, 350).

[Gigastrike]

Pretty much any light mech and Cicadas are good for XL engines because their small bodies and high speeds make it difficult for people to target individual sections. Above that, Dragons and Catapults are good with them because their center torsos are so prominent that most people will just go for those (and you can also more easily torso twist to protect a side). You can use them on Jagermechs and Cataphracts, but only for fire-support where the plan is to not engage at close range at all; otherwise, the side torsos are just gonna get blown right off.

Mechs that are horrible with XL engines would be Hunchbacks (and some Trebuchets and Centurions) and any assault mech.

[CobraHUN]

I played many matches with XL Engined Dragons and 98% of the deaths was from side torso blowoffs, so i would't say, that they are particullary good for XL's. On the other hand, with standard engines you lose quite much fighting power.
I'm playing now Trebuchets with XL's and they almost never die because of side blowoffs, so i would recommend XL for them.

[Gigastrike]

CobraHUN, on 31 March 2013 - 09:18 AM, said:

I played many matches with XL Engined Dragons and 98% of the deaths was from side torso blowoffs, so i would't say, that they are particullary good for XL's. On the other hand, with standard engines you lose quite much fighting power.
I'm playing now Trebuchets with XL's and they almost never die because of side blowoffs, so i would recommend XL for them.

That's just because people always expect Dragons to have XL engines. Meanwhile, a lot of people run Trebuchets with standard engines, so people don't assume taking off a side torso will get them a kill.

[DodgerH2O]

If you have an XL of the appropriate size for a build you want... try it and find out! What 'everyone knows' and what you experience don't always agree. That said, i use them on 99.9% of my light mech builds, and on a few trebuchet and cataphract builds (over 80kph), and occasionally on my AWS-9M (though my std engine build is hilarious in that thing, everyone tries super hard to take out a side torso when they see me moving 80+ KPH and when i only lose 20% of my firepower it seems to throw people off for a moment).

Every so often I try a slow mech with an XL and I regret it within a game or two. Except ironically on my sniper mechs. If you keep your distance it's more common to get hit in the CT or arms i find, and by the time the enemy closes in, you've either done your job or else you're doomed anyway. YMMV.

[reddragonwagon]

Why does the stock JM6-DD Jagermech come with an XL engine and CASE? Will the CASE do anything for you?

Edited by reddragonwagon, 31 March 2013 - 03:01 PM.

[Roughneck45]

reddragonwagon, on 31 March 2013 - 03:00 PM, said:

Why does the stock JM6-DD Jagermech come with an XL engine and CASE? Will the CASE do anything for you?

No.

[Hex Pallett]

Generally, if it brings a fundamental change to your weaponry loadout, or you're a specific long-range build, as well as make you go faster than 80 km/h, go for XL.

Other than that, stay with STD.

Light 'Mechs generally work greatly with XL, though there are a few exceptions.

For Medium Mechs, Cicada probably should always run an XL - their arms are basically shields. Hunchbacks should NEVERRRRRRR carry an XL for obvious reasons. Centurions works okay with XL, due to their wicked body portion and massive shield arms, though you can make many STD builds. Trebs probably could use XL because LRMS are generally quite heavy, though Centurions could do LRM just fine.

Heavy Mechs basically should all carry XL. At least in my experience.

There are two high-speed Awesomes which obviously works only with XL. Stalkers carrying multiple PPCs should probably carry PPCs too. Otherwise, STD all the way.

[Warskull]

XL Engines make you significantly more vulnerable in return for more speed and more weight.

Good mechs to put XL on:
-poptarts
-long range mechs
-light mechs
-mechs with big CTs but smaller Side torsos (dragon)
-ballistics heavy mechs that desperately need the weight

Bad mechs to put XL on:
-brawlers
-Mechs with a wide profile with easily targeted side torsos (Hunchback, Atlas)

[Jayn]

with regards to awesomes and XL's, i run an 8Q 9T / 8R / 9M all with xl 300 or a xl380 in the case of the 9M, and its rare that i loose a side torso before the rather large center torso, so find the added speed and weaponry the xl's allow me to carry to more than make up for its downsides.

at the end of the day its a personal choice, for you, does the added firepower and weight saving offset the vulnerability.
(i also run large xl's on all my centurians as well as i simply cant get the speed and firepower i want from a standard engine)

for me, its the old case of the best defense is a good offense.

laters

Jayn

[TELEFORCE]

I'd use XL engines on 'mechs that can really use the extra tonnage for weapons, speed, or both. I'd also use an XL on 'mechs where a side torso loss would effectively render the 'mech useless anyway (like shooting out the gun-holding torso of a Hunchback or Cataphract).

[Kaylos Thex]

reddragonwagon, on 31 March 2013 - 03:00 PM, said:

Why does the stock JM6-DD Jagermech come with an XL engine and CASE? Will the CASE do anything for you?

This is straight from the table top. Even in the description of the mech, the author acknowledges that the case will not prevent the mech from being destroyed.

But it would keep the cockpit, and thus the human life, from being obliterated.

It would also make the mech cheaper to salvage and repair. In a game where the pilots never die, and we dont pay for repairs anymore, the Case is definitely less useful.

Edited by Kaylos Thex, 31 March 2013 - 07:53 PM.

[Evrik]

I use an xl265 in my jm6-s. I have found that I lose my center torso 8 of 10 times before a side torso. So I feel no real loss but I gain enough ammo to have some stay in a fight.