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I have seen several threads here lately stating:
"Why do I have to add extra weight into the mech when I go below a 250 rating engine? No wonder everyone equips larger engines!"
"I have to add heatsinks to my mech when I go lower in engine rating!! This is unbalanced and not a direct translation between CBT to MWO!"
Well, I hope I can clear this topic up, and to point out that some engines are not created equal.
The Conversion
PGI has done a decent job in making the conversion from CBT to MWO. In CBT, the gyro, cockpit, and outside engine heatsinks are just a function of the engine rating. As engine rating goes down, the gyro weight decreases and outside engine heatsinks increases. The cockpit is just a static value always added to the total overall weight. So, let me give you that formula:
MWO Engine Weight + Outside Engine Heatsinks = CBT Engine Weight + Gyro + Cockpit
Well, that isn't so bad, now was it? Now where are those darn CBT tables...
But, using the above formula, you can check every MWO engine weight to every CBT engine weight and see if the conversion is done correctly. Now, I would post the CBT engine weights but I am not sure if that is legal so you might need to find the values yourself.
But never fear! For I have already done the work, and here are my findings:
CBT-to-MWO Conversion
After compiling every CBT and MWO engine weight using the above formula, I found that every engine, except four, are indeed correct. Here is the list of four engines that I found issues with:
170 STD
370 STD
100 XL
375 XL
Now, the above list is not accurate in how they are unbalanced. Interestingly, the STD versions are actually 0.5t too light in MWO. Meaning that they should weight 0.5t more in MWO. The XL versions are 1.0t too heavy in MWO, or should weigh 1.0t less in MWO. Let me give you an example of each:
*** (MWO) = (CBT) *** 170 STD 7.0t + 4.0t = 6.5t + 3.0t + 2.0t 11.0t != 11.5t 375 XL 27.5t = 19.5t + 3.0t + 4.0t 27.5t != 26.5t
As you can tell, the 170 STD weighs 0.5t less in MWO while the 375 XL weighs 1.0t more in MWO.
CBT Engine Restrictions in MWO
Now, this is taking the engines to a whole new level! So what engines are worth using (IE. you gain a benefit for using more/less weight)?
"Wait, if you use a different engine, of course you gain some benefit. But your saying some engines give no benefit at all?"
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Normally, in CBT, you can only take an engine rating that is divisible by the tonnage of the mech. So, a 25t mech can only use a 100, 125, 150, ect, engine rating. This is because the number of hexes allowed to move is the engine rating divided by the engine rating. But in MWO, we can move fractions of hexes, thus there is no need to adhere to this formula.
If you review a CBT Engine Weight table, you will see several engines weigh the same. This is fine because no mech can utilize an engine that weighs the same when following the above formula. But in MWO, this can, and will, happen.
"So, I could be using an engine that weighs the same as another engine above it, thus I am moving slower than I could be for the same tonnage?"
Yes, you could be. And let me give you that list:
STD List ----------- 100 110 125 135 145 155 165 170 180 190 195 200 - 215 225 230 - 400 XL List ----------- 125 145 170 180 195 200 210 225 235 245 255 265 270 280 - 290 300 - 400
So, if your engine is not listed in the above list, you might want to go back and recheck your engine weight in MWO before hitting the launch button.
Hopefully this will clear up any conversion questions and give some insight into making an engine choice to equip.
