I honestly wonder if most of the posters have ever played in 3025 tech, non-optimized units and done that more than a few times.
I have, several hundred times. Not an exaggeration. I might be understating, it could be more than 1000. Not vs the Megamek bot either. Real People.
Charger: Terrible offensive weaponry. For less than 1000 BV however you get 10 tons of armor a giant Charge potential. A zombie that cannot explode and a nasty kick or punch to boot. Not useless if you field it at the right BV or with the right units
To whoever touted the Marauder vs the Charger. Marauder is 350 more BV (yes the Charger is more expensive, largely due to the GIANT engine) but the Marauder doesn't have the guns to stop that CHG before the CHG gets into HULK SMASH range then Marauder dies. Marauder might have 3 or 4 rounds shooting at BEST on an 8 (Short Range, Marauder moves 3-4 back Charger moves 8 for a 3 mod) That only happens 1 turn. The others are on 10's. The Marauder will never do enough unless it gets lucky.
Banshee: A 95 ton slightly slower charger with a bit more punch. Moderate weaponry, but it can shoot all its guns, every round with little heat. Brutal in a slugging match. 10 point punches, 20 point kicks. That is the potential for a head-capping punch or two PSR causing kick? (1 for 20 points 1 more for the kick I likes them odds)
Urbanmech: Dirt cheap light carrying a giant gun (for its size and weight) Wonderful when supported.
Clan mechs ARE bad, many of the early Omni's carried too little armor and ammo for protracted combat. Great for Clan engagements, terrible vs the Inner Sphere. Equivalent BV or even a rough 2 to 1 IS vs Clan and the IS will with through weight and armor.
The Wasp is not very good, but not significantly worse than the regular Stinger or Locust.
Locust: Umm are you crazy. Fast, more armor than the standard WSP or STG.
Scorpion: Does what it is supposed to do, hunt lights and other scouts. PPC is a big chunk of a scout's armor. SRM 6 will exploit those gaps once you close. Learn to squat and shoot.
Hussar: No armor. Check. Faster than all get out. Check. Star League weaponry giving a significant range advantage, Check. See the purpose?
Every mech in Btech can be useful and has a purpose. Some are not useful or much less useful in a lance on lance engagement. Ostscouts with TAG. Longbow OW's as an assault with 144 points of armor. Even Shadow Hawk 2d2's which are pretty bad murder lights and vehicles.
I would put the RFL-D and Battleaxe up there for poor designs. Firing both primary weapons is instantly in the negative effect zone for heat. Low armor for weight to boot.
The worst battlemech ever? Is the one that is poorly played, poorly positioned and whose heat isn't managed.
Edited by Stiletto, 24 April 2014 - 04:13 PM.