Posted 03 July 2012 - 07:04 AM
One thing to keep in mind is that Medium mechs have the widest range in capabilities. While the HBK in stock configuration is a dangerous close-in brawler designed for city fighting, it may not have to stay that way. If it is possible to change the Engine (which seems likely), it is worth consideration that the HBK has the capability of being faster than the CPLT or AS7 can ever be, and will be more manueverable. It might be worth it to explore radical options that increase the mech to an 96 kph or even 112+ kph machine (though tradeoffs in armor and/or weapons as well as advanced XL engine technology would almost certainly be required).
However, in the stock configuration, this mech is definitely of the 'ambush or charge' tactical design. Either wait for an enemy in a place where they have to get close, or charge in at full speed and fight a turn-fight where the heavier enemy can't turn fast enough to track you. Failing that, getting one good shot at the back of a mech with that AC/20 should be all it takes to put the fight in your favor (or end it outright). The HBK has that heavy armor for a reason, and even an Atlas probably won't be able to take it out before it gets close enough to put its own punishment to work.