TheArisen, on 29 June 2015 - 07:31 PM, said:
So which IS mechs are comparable to the Twolf, SC, HBR and Ebon? Without quirks the Tbolt would just be ok. It's more than equipment, it's hard points and weapon location. We're still waiting for the AC & Scat (no pun intended), both of which will be strong mechs. Pgi just announced another 4 clan mechs (battlemechs no less) and you want another pack after those? You already have the best mechs, even after being nerfed.
First, I'm not a Clan player, not normally. Second, the Timberwolf is only good because it doesn't have to suffer through IS equipment. With an IS XL, it would be merely "okay" at best with those huge side torso boxes and the necessity of exposing its entire torso and some of its legs to fire a complete alpha. Finally, one thing I hope you understand is that there is no "this one thing is better than everything," there are trade-offs. An HBR built for long range will be awful at close range, etc.
With that said:
The Catapult would be pretty damn awesome with Clan equipment, especially the Jester with mid-range laser vomit. It would be as good as the EBJ, especially if PGI chooses to include the CPLT into the re-scaling project they mentioned in the last Town Hall. It would be a wash against the Timberwolf, which suffers from some terrible hard-point placement. A CPLT-K2 with a C-XL300, twin C-Gauss with 5 tons of ammo, and a quartet of C-ERML would be one major pain-train in a standing mid trade. Actually, since Clan Endo and Ferro only need 7 slots each, you could equip both and even get an extra heat-sink or more ammo in there. Twin C-UAC/10 wouldn't be half bad as a general fighter, either. Something of a general fighter.
TDR would out-gun the HBR at mid-range. It already out-guns the HBR, at least in the 5SS meta trim. Truth be told, C-MPL on the TDR-5SS as it is now would be a major down-grade. TDR-would out-class the HBR as long range laser 'Mechs since their high hard-points are higher than the HBR's.
The Stalker already beats down the TBR as a hull-down defender, what do you think it would do with access to C-LPL and 2-slot DHS? A Misery could put out a 62-point alpha with a C-XL300, 2x C-LPL, 3x C-ERML, and 1x C-Gauss. That's pretty damn ouch-like. 6x C-ERLL wouldn't even be a problem with 2-slot DHS and no locked equipment. 600 meters, 33 damage per side. You can fire 3x C-ERLL back-to-back before you have to cool off. 99 damage in 4.5 seconds at 814 meters is a terrible nightmare on Borreal or Alpine.
The BJ-1X and BJ-3 with Clan equipment would be utterly devastating. Almost as good as the Storm Crow, possibly better. Weakness is no arms to soak damage meant for sides, but you also don't have to necessarily expose your sides below the guns to shoot. Advantages are those high hard-points, jump-jets, and the incredible speed it receives for a given engine mass.
Hunchback 4P would be some amazing bull-sh*t with Clan lasers, as we're all about to find out when the HBK-IIC-A arrives in the game.
Firestarter with Clan lasers, I don't need to explain this one.
Basically, watch the IIC 'Mechs. They'll show you what it means to install ClanTech on a BattleMech.