BlackhawkSC, on 08 July 2016 - 06:01 PM, said:
You're really pointing out a problem of how infrequently the Champion mech loadouts change relative to how often the meta shifts, combined with the other issue that build voting is always going to be flavor of the month for good reason. No one can predict where the meta is going to be in a month or two so people often have to vote on what's going to be the best at the moment. As of today I'd take the A over the ballistic variants by a small margin which is why I posted that first. However at the same time I suggested the ballistic build as well because it's really not that far off.
As far as uniqueness goes, a combo LPL ML build plays quite differently from something that uses only MLs and very very different ERSLs SPLs for example. A chassis isn't characterized only by its weapons but also by hardpoint locations, maneuverability, hitboxes among others. Play the Stormcrow variation of the 3xERML and 2xLPL build and it's a drastically different experience.
However a trial mech shouldn't be updated every bimonthly. Also I stand against your claim for how the build voting is favouring the flavor of the month because just look at the IS trial mechs.
Commando
Spider
Blackjack
Vindicator
Hunchback
Trebuchet
Kintaro
Shadowhawk
Dragon
Catapult
Quickdraw
Cataphract
Orion
Stalker
Atlas
these are all IS 'Mechs that stand away from the Meta or norm for the chassis, weight class, or overall.
heck, we have a few LRM boats, we got as much LRM boats as we got snipers, brawlers, skirmishers, etc...
meanwhile clans: no LRM boats, No skirmishers, only 1 or 2 strikers... etc.
We do not see only 3 weapons across all those 'mechs, we do not see the exact same SRM used across them, exact same LRM, etc...
I am familiar with how different locations and quantities change a 'Mech, being a massive supporter of mech viarirty and also play LRM boats from 20 tonnes to 100 tonnes I always say that these LRM mechs play differently sometimes completely differently and not the same.
However despite the differences between a medium laser at your cockpit, arm, or high sside torso.
a say dual ballistic hunchback IIC would have more viarirty then every other trial mech for clans ATM. You can't tell me for a second that the difference between an ER medium laser height by 1 metre is the same as a difference between multiple Er med lasers/ large pulse over twin UAC 10's.