Scalien, on 06 September 2013 - 03:05 PM, said:
I'd agree with you except for the way this game deals with engine crits..... it doesn't. Engine hits are all or nothing.
If PGI put in the engine crits- where the engine starts putting out heat on the first hit, more on the second then dies on the third, sure, it would be easy to say clan XL count as two engine hits when the side torsos blow.
With out that mechanic there is no reason except the loss of only 4 structure slots. That would make clan XLs the most no brainer tech to go for in the game.
Personally I think clan engines will be only a slightly lighter standard engine, not as light as XL but as safe as standard. Or a lighter XL with the same vulnerability to side torso pops.
I agree as far as engine crits go. The other negative to increasing crits or increasing the weight of the Clan XL is the disparity of the stock loadouts. While the crits may not be as big an issue (if you increased it to IS version let's say), increasing the weight most certainly would cause problems. Turning a Clan Xl into a Light fusion engine basically adds 10 tons to the Mad Cat. Where would that weight come from?
I think weapon ranges and damage are still going to be their balancing point while they leave crits/weights intact as they have been.