38 replies to this topic

[Jazzbandit1313]

I don't own many XL engines. (300,255,210,190) but i can tell you this, the first and best option for purchasing an XL engine is the 300 size. It is applicable to almost every mech chasis in the game and provides a great speed for a good weight. I got mine with my CN9-D and I've used it more than any engine. In my opinion, the XL300 is the best engine to get as your first XL. Anyone else agree?

[TercieI]

Yes. The XL300, XL280 and XL255 are the most widely useful XLs, in about that order, IMO.

[Bishop Steiner]

and the XL 350 is one of the most useful for Heavies and Assaults (It's the perfect engine in Orions and Victors and Battlemasters). ·340 and 360 are useful too, but have much more limited home available (basically, my ILYA, and the above listed, but is more "personal choice" for the 340) and while some Mediums and lighter Heavies like the Dragon can use bigger than the 350, usually above the 350 you start giving up too much for very limited returns.



300XL is probably the single most versatile though. And totally agree, unless your first mech to use one is a Victor, get the 300. I have run one in my JM6-DD, my BLR-1G, my YLW, my CN9-D, My K2, my Protector...and probably one or two I have forgotten-. I own 5-6, just because I got tired of engine swapping, lol

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 12 December 2013 - 08:52 AM.

[Bront]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 December 2013 - 08:48 AM, said:

and the XL 350 is one of the most useful for Heavies and Assaults (It's the perfect engine in Orions and Victors and Battlemasters). ·340 and 360 are useful too, but have much more limited home available (basically, my ILYA, and the above listed, but is more "personal choice" for the 340) and while some Mediums and lighter Heavies like the Dragon can use bigger than the 350, usually above the 350 you start giving up too much for very limited returns.



300XL is probably the single most versatile though.

The 360 is tops for many mechs, so that's why it's a little more popular than the 350, but they're close enough that it's not an issue. I'd also throw in the 325/330XLs as useful for larger mechs or faster mediums.

But yes, XL300 is great. I own 3, could easily use at least 2 more. Next engine I own the most of is standard 300 (I think I have like 7, and more than a few sitting in the yard collecting dust), but for XLs is's the 360, where I have 2 and could use 3 more.

Edited by Bront, 12 December 2013 - 08:52 AM.

[627]

yeah it's pretty much the best engine rating, even in the STD bracket. I have something like 15-20 engines of this rating.

But i have to say, i'm a fan of specialized engines - if a build have room for a 305 then use it, more speed is always good. you need the money for that, though

[Bishop Steiner]

Bront, on 12 December 2013 - 08:50 AM, said:

The 360 is tops for many mechs, so that's why it's a little more popular than the 350, but they're close enough that it's not an issue.

Yeah, that was the thing for me, usually that little difference was the difference between BAP or not, 1 ton more ammo, or not, that last SSRM rack or AMS. For me it's seldom been worth it for 2-3 kph more, but I get why people buy them. I bought one for my Flame, just to build a proper 3050 Ghetto Grand DragoN!

[TercieI]

627, on 12 December 2013 - 08:52 AM, said:

But i have to say, i'm a fan of specialized engines - if a build have room for a 305 then use it, more speed is always good. you need the money for that, though

Me too. What I can't stand is the lemon engines. I just bought a JM6-DD and got that awful XL260 and I'm going to sell it off and buy an XL265 in its place. I know that's TT stock and so I can deal, but why does the Heavy Metal come with an XL275?!?!

[Bishop Steiner]

Terciel1976, on 12 December 2013 - 09:00 AM, said:

Me too. What I can't stand is the lemon engines. I just bought a JM6-DD and got that awful XL260 and I'm going to sell it off and buy an XL265 in its place. I know that's TT stock and so I can deal, but why does the Heavy Metal come with an XL275?!?!

It's quite useful in the SHD-5M..... thing is, 55 tonners are really the only place I find them particularly useful! And of course, if you are buying one, the 280 is the same weight, so yeah, I use it because I have it, lol.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 12 December 2013 - 09:03 AM.

[TercieI]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 December 2013 - 09:03 AM, said:

It's quite useful in the SHD-5M..... thing is, 55 tonners are really the only place I find them particularly useful! And of course, if you are buying one, the 280 is the same weight, so yeah, I use it because I have it, lol.

Exactly my point. I immediately stripped it out of my 5M and put in, well, an XL300, but one of my other SHDs has an XL280 (I have two, from IM & 3D). I kept the XL275 for "other" Ravens, the only place it's the optimal choice (and a dubious honor that is). When I get a second in Sabre, I will sell it immediately, and again when I buy a Heavy Metal.

[DaZur]

You can have my -3D's 340XL when you pry from it's still smoldering center mass...

[Bront]

Terciel1976, on 12 December 2013 - 09:08 AM, said:

Exactly my point. I immediately stripped it out of my 5M and put in, well, an XL300, but one of my other SHDs has an XL280 (I have two, from IM & 3D). I kept the XL275 for "other" Ravens, the only place it's the optimal choice (and a dubious honor that is). When I get a second in Sabre, I will sell it immediately, and again when I buy a Heavy Metal.

The difference between the XL275 and XL280 is pretty miniscule, enough so that I would hold on to any XL275s and prioritize my expenditure elsewhere.

On the other hand, there is really little reason to keep any standard engine under 200. If you're going that low to save weight, you usually want an XL anyway. I have held only to my standard 210 I got with the 'Phrat 4X though, just in case.

[Shadey99]

You need lots of XL300s... Jenners, Cicadas, Shadowhawks, Jagers, and many more all love 300 XLs for certain builds (Or all builds even). I know I have 3 or 4 of them (maybe more).

I have bunches of XLs though... 170, 180, and 190 XLs for Locusts... 245 & 255 XLs for Spiders (I haven't run them from since the engine cap upgrade), the same 255 XL also goes in certain Catapult, Jager and Shadowhawk builds, though they can also take 260 XLs, 275 XLs, 280 XLs, 285XLs, and 300s. Victors, Battlemasters, and Highlanders can use 300, 320, 330, 350, and 375 engines... and sometimes even the biggest of them all the 400 XL.

[Shadey99]

Bront, on 12 December 2013 - 09:34 AM, said:

On the other hand, there is really little reason to keep any standard engine under 200. If you're going that low to save weight, you usually want an XL anyway. I have held only to my standard 210 I got with the 'Phrat 4X though, just in case.

I run 260, 275, and 280 standards in my Thuds and I know I've kept a couple of 250 standards for 'heavy' mediums to use. I hate going under a 250, so I'm not even sure if I have any sub 250 standards anymore...

[zztophat]

Terciel1976, on 12 December 2013 - 08:08 AM, said:

Yes. The XL300, XL280 and XL255 are the most widely useful XLs, in about that order, IMO.

They are the only engines I buy.

[John MatriX82]

Yep 300 XL is the most common in my mechbay, followed (for me) from 280s and 325s, but xl300 numbers are 2x than either 280s or 325s.

[TercieI]

Bront, on 12 December 2013 - 09:34 AM, said:

The difference between the XL275 and XL280 is pretty miniscule, enough so that I would hold on to any XL275s and prioritize my expenditure elsewhere.

What expense? I see roughly 4.5mm c-bills of liquid cash from the sale of two XL275s. I have two XL280s and will never equip an XL275 on anything but an "other" Raven so long as I have the XL280s (seems like a bad idea on Cents&Hunchies, the only other chassis to top out at 275), I'm way too compulsive and I don't keep every mech engined up. The only expense will come when I have every variant I want and start buying extra "backfill" engines as cash allows. You're not wrong in principle, though, the XL260/XL265 thing is my utter compulsiveness run amok, I freely admit that. Of course, it's also why I haven't done it. Well, that and I haven't found a build I want either on yet, frankly, the 255 or 280 always seems better.

Bront, on 12 December 2013 - 09:34 AM, said:

On the other hand, there is really little reason to keep any standard engine under 200. If you're going that low to save weight, you usually want an XL anyway. I have held only to my standard 210 I got with the 'Phrat 4X though, just in case.

I wholly agree with that and have sold piles of them that I got on lights.

[Bishop Steiner]

Bront, on 12 December 2013 - 09:34 AM, said:

The difference between the XL275 and XL280 is pretty miniscule, enough so that I would hold on to any XL275s and prioritize my expenditure elsewhere.

On the other hand, there is really little reason to keep any standard engine under 200. If you're going that low to save weight, you usually want an XL anyway. I have held only to my standard 210 I got with the 'Phrat 4X though, just in case.

I seldom sell engines, period, as you never come close to decent returns. It has to be one I literally never use. Otherwise, I found I end up re-buying it later. You never know when you will have that extra 2 tons left and no crits... but often have an odd size engine that fills both bills.

DaZur, on 12 December 2013 - 09:10 AM, said:

You can have my -3D's 340XL when you pry from it's still smoldering center mass...

story of my Ilya bro. the 340 makes the mech. I call mine the "Demon 340" for a reason.

Let's see if any of you car guys know why.

[Felicitatem Parco]

I love the Vlar 300... XL or not, it's the single best piece of equipment in the IS, in my opinion...




I often use the STD 155 and 170 for my "Demolisher" line of Hunchback builds... they carry a minimum 28 tons of ordinance, so you so need to skimp on the overall weight. Besides, why not move like an Assault Mech if you've got Assault firepower, right?

Edited by Prosperity Park, 12 December 2013 - 10:23 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Terciel1976, on 12 December 2013 - 10:17 AM, said:

[/size]

What expense? I see roughly 4.5mm c-bills of liquid cash from the sale of two XL275s. I have two XL280s and will never equip an XL275 on anything but an "other" Raven so long as I have the XL280s (seems like a bad idea on Cents&Hunchies, the only other chassis to top out at 275), I'm way too compulsive and I don't keep every mech engined up. The only expense will come when I have every variant I want and start buying extra "backfill" engines as cash allows. You're not wrong in principle, though, the XL260/XL265 thing is my utter compulsiveness run amok, I freely admit that. Of course, it's also why I haven't done it. Well, that and I haven't found a build I want either on yet, frankly, the 255 or 280 always seems better.



I wholly agree with that and have sold piles of them that I got on lights.

Simple answer..I don't waste time between Drops. " of my SHDs have 275XLs permanently installed, 1 has a 280XL. I get tired of engine swapping. Maybe UI2.0 will make it less a hassle.

Prosperity Park, on 12 December 2013 - 10:23 AM, said:

I love the Vlar 300... XL or not, it's the single best piece of equipment in the IS, in my opinion...



I often use the STD 155 and 170 for my "Demolisher" line of Hunchback builds... they carry a minimum 28 tons of ordinance, so you so need to skimp on the overall weight. Besides, why not move like an Assault Mech if you've got Assault firepower, right?

I really gotta drop with you when you are running one of those, at least for the LULZ.

[Felicitatem Parco]

Bishop Steiner, on 12 December 2013 - 10:23 AM, said:

Simple answer..I don't waste time between Drops. " of my SHDs have 275XLs permanently installed, 1 has a 280XL. I get tired of engine swapping. Maybe UI2.0 will make it less a hassle.


I really gotta drop with you when you are running one of those, at least for the LULZ.

It gets lulz from both sides of the conflict... when I kill someone, they often get onto allchat and say something to the effect of "You had WHAT on that Hunchback?" or "Did I just see a Medium with an AC/20 and 2 PPCs?" But sometimes it's more "This AC/PPC meta is ******** "


Also, you can get moving at a decent pace in a Firebrand with XL 300, 2 UAC/5, and 6ML... I like that one.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 12 December 2013 - 10:29 AM.