14 replies to this topic

[5LeafClover]

I'm new.

I understand the basics of engines, XL v standard, what fits what chassis, ones to avoid, etc.

At the moment, I have a centurion & catapult with stock engines. What I want to know is, what do folks typically do to their engines, particularly in terms of rating? Do you keep stock size, or go bigger/smaller? By how much?

Appreciate that this will vary between player, chassis size and mech roles. But I'd appreciate a mix of opinions/experiences before buying an engine I regret.

[Xeno Phalcon]

Generally speaking very few people reduce the stock engine rating as most inner sphere mechs are slower than dirt out of the box and the ones that arnt, live on speed to begin with.

Most either go stock or increase enough to get a reasonable movement profile hike (For example orions come with a 300 standard, but with a 325 become surprisingly nimble for their size) but for the majority it depends on the mech, however the engine ratings that get extra internal heatsinks are the most popular (275 is the first to get +1, 300 is the first to get +2, 325 +3, 350 +4, 375 +5 and technically the 400 gets +6 but very few mechs make use of this one due to its sheer size only a few mechs can mount it)

Finding what engine works best for you is a combination of mech type, prefered internal heatsink count and desired movement profile - figuring out what works best stands somewhere between what is 'meta' for a mech and what feels right for you.

[Mazzyplz]

while the post above is true, what you REALLY want to look out for is your slots and weight requirements. why?

because the single biggest engine desicion you're going to be making is, XL or STD. in some mechs XL is probably not very smart, but XL saves weight for more slot usage, you will have to balance a tradeoff between speed, tonnage and slots to make your final choice.


if your stock mech has a standard 240 engine on it, what do you do? depends. you could go 240XL engine and save some weight but keep the same speed at the cost of slots. you could go for a 300xl for the same weight and added speed as the 240std or you could trade it for a lower 200 std engine and put more weapons on it.


depends on what you need of your mech in the battlefield, you should know given some experience how to trade to go faster or if your speed is plenty and you need more firepower/armor. as already mentioned
but it is also important to keep in mind what you're going to put in the torsos, how much space and weight left on your mech to mount it onto, this can also influence your decision

Edited by Mazzyplz, 13 February 2014 - 04:02 PM.

[M4NTiC0R3X]

Hi,

I recommend you get premium time and a champion (or hero, which is it someone clarify for me!!!) chassis which gives a 30% increase to C-Bills.

The reason I say this is because I simply bought one of every engine... heck some I have 2 or 3 of.

[Mazzyplz]

sneeking, on 13 February 2014 - 04:04 PM, said:

I run 350xl in my cent d and 300xl in cat a1c ill almost always go for bigger if possible and have not as yet ever downsized one.

the only mech I own that runs a non xl is atlas ddc because its slow and gets hammered.

yes 99% of the time you wont downsize really unless you want to cram 3lbx10 or 3LPL on a smaller mech, but i HAVE downsized one of my mechs from stock.
the AWS-9m comes with 320xl, and i replaced for 300std. which is heavier and slower, it's a downgrade although other AWS models can do 300 engine tops, so it was just making it like an 8 series stock awesome, not a painful downgrade

i think this can work in some hero mechs too, you may want to downgrade the engine size on pretty baby, or the hero cicada (forgot the name, 2x?) since those chassis can already go faster than other cicada for example

Edited by Mazzyplz, 13 February 2014 - 04:37 PM.

[DEMAX51]

Whatever you do, if you end up buying the "wrong" engine, DON'T SELL IT! Keep at least one of every engine type that you buy, because you never know when you'll need it for another 'Mech, and they're way too expensive sell back for half-price to then have to re-buy at full price.

Edited by DEMAX51, 13 February 2014 - 04:49 PM.

[Buckminster]

I typically go larger, but there certainly have been times where I have gone smaller to get a particular weapon layout.

I had been running 300XLs on all of my Catapults, with much success. But I was having trouble with the A1 - I wanted to run 4 SSRMs and 2 LRMs, but with the 300XL, I could only run LRM10s and could only carry 2 tons of LRM ammo. It just wasn't enough. So I dropped in a 245XL I had floating around, and could up the LRMs to 15s and add some ammo as well. It was certainly a lot slower, but still felt nimble enough. And the extra weapons and ammo was more than worth the speed.

A slight disclaimer though - the A1 was already through all 4 elite skills when I dropped the 245 in it. Speed Tweak meant that my 245 was faster than the stock 260, and all of those other skills meant it was still quite nimble.

[Koniving]

It depends on my other needs. Before I worry about engine size, I first establish what I want.

Do I want these weapons? Those weapons? How much ammo? Jumpjets? Armor? Once I have all that established, I choose an engine that'll work with the least bit of compromise.

But ultimately, if you can avoid it you don't want to go below a 250 engine. Double heatsinks are actually "1.4" times better than single heatsinks when you add them to the mech. The exception is the engine. Those built into the engine (not added by you but simply existing) are true doubles.

At 225, you get 9 true doubles and add one "1.4" DHS.
At 275 you get 10 true doubles and if you add one to the engine it's still one "1.4" on top of the 10 real 2.0 DHS.

If you go lower, 200 you get 8 true doubles and have to add two "1.4" DHS. The lower you go, the worse it gets.

But at 250, you get 10 true double heatsinks.
http://keikun17.gith...eat_simulator/#

Enjoy!

[WVAnonymous]

As you accrete C-bills and mech inventory, you will find yourself with lots of engines. I believe I own one of every XL from 280 through 330, 350, 375, 380, and 400, and some 150-190's for the Locusts and such.

You can always change your mind about the build.

[5LeafClover]

Thanks guys for all your advice, a real variety as I expected. Generalizing, sounds like most people go a bit bigger and don't shy away from XLs. As a first shot, think I may swap out the 200 std on my catapult for a 245XL.

By the way, what is "meta"

[Nothing Whatsoever]

Off-hand there are few mechs that can run engines below stock rating and still be effective with current gameplay mechanics.

But I'd say these mechs can pull it off though:

• Cicadas - but lowest is still recommended to be XL 280 or 300 to keep enough speed and agiity.
  
• Jagers - lowest I'd recommended are STD 250 or XL 255 though (very minor change anyway though from 260) and if daring, one can still go lower. Lowest I'd dare is 225.
  
• Cataphracts - if using AC/20 in builds for example. Lowest I've ever tried though was STD 225 on the non-4X variants, the 4X I've tended to use engines bigger than 210.

There are certain builds that can create exceptions with other mechs such as the CPLT-K2 with dual AC/20 or Gauss, and so on, but I'd say those builds should be evaluated on a case-by case basis.



And meta is more or less cookie-cutter builds that are effective and easy to use with current gameplay mechanics, but remember match results with said meta-builds will vary, with how dynamic matches can be.

[Buckminster]

5LeafClover, on 13 February 2014 - 11:17 PM, said:

Thanks guys for all your advice, a real variety as I expected. Generalizing, sounds like most people go a bit bigger and don't shy away from XLs. As a first shot, think I may swap out the 200 std on my catapult for a 245XL.

By the way, what is "meta"

I would avoid the 245XL, unless you already have one. The 255XL is only half a ton more, and puts all 10 heat sinks in the engine. The only reason I had a 245 was because it used to be the max for the Raven 2X and 4X.

[Alaskan Nobody]

5LeafClover, on 13 February 2014 - 11:17 PM, said:

By the way, what is "meta"

"Meta" is the game about the game - IE in rock-paper-scissors, if you know your opponent favors Rock, choosing paper would be the "meta" choice (If that makes sense)

MetaGaming gets complicated sometimes (Read: Frequently) as you not only have to consider what is currently most effective (IE for the past long while weapons that did their damage in one shot, like the AC family or PPCs were considered the most effective weapons, as opposed to lasers which do their damage over the duration of the beam, or Missiles which spread damage) but what counters the most effective builds.

[Mokou]

Engine raiting depends on your mech armor and outputdamage.
Have low armor and low damage (light mech)? Your mech need big engine.
U armored and high damage? Your mech not need fast engine.
Armored and low damage? Only fast engine can compensate low dmg.
Low armor and high damage? U can take slow engine... but be sure you have some friend, who can take damage on his mech.
Some kind of.

Also if u have hot buid (with low weight weapons) and need aditional heatsinks - better take high raiting engine for set up heatsinks in it.

Edited by Mokou, 15 February 2014 - 05:10 PM.

[Bront]

Other than the Cent-D getting a rather large engine, you're better with Standard engines in a Centurian, though most folks will suggest getting at 250 or larger for heat sink purposes.

Catapults are very XL friendly due to the ears protecting the side torso. I wouldn't run mine with anything below a 255XL, and found the 300XL to be good in my C4.