I'd suggest the CN9-AL, the Cents as a whole are very good 'mechs for new players, especially with their tiny CTs (even after the nerf, they're still smaller than most CTs.) I'll admit I'm biased towards the Centurions since they're the 1st mech I owned in MWO.
For teaching her balistics, I'd suggest an LBX, not as valuable as other ACs in the meta (to hell with the meta anyway
), but the spread makes accuracy a bit more forgiving.
I'd also suggest the Griffin 1S. The lasers are focused into the arm, and the missiles are in the left torso instead of the right. It has 4 energy hardpoints, and 2 missile hardpoints; allowing for a variety of builds (cqb, omni, or long range.)
I'll link some decent (in my opinion) starter builds for the AL. I'm still toying with the 1S so not sure how to spec it yet.
Oh and please tell her welcome to MWO.
EDIT:
CN9-AL starter (some relatively cheap mods to the standard AL, good start if on a small budget)
CN9-AL starter optimized ("Min-Maxed" so to speak, new engine, and uses all three upgrades. Not really cheap anymore.)
GRF-1S concept (something, I'm working towards building/upgrading myself. Idea is not tested so it may work or just blow up.)
*builds are all omni builds to allow long range, and close range combat. Nothing worse for a new player to be stuck on alpine with nothing but close range guns, or for a long range mech to slowly die at the hands of some light they can't fight back.
Edited by Regulus1990, 26 March 2014 - 11:39 AM.