Koniving, on 29 October 2016 - 04:58 AM, said:
Keep in mind though, as "cheap" as IS mechs are, if you had to go out and get the parts separate from the mech you will be paying more in cbills.
For example, the Shadowhawk 5M has double heatsinks, xl engine, etc... but if you got those separate and tried to put them on a SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper Shadowhawk model.... you're paying so much more to get each part separately. Many XL engine prices get slashed by anywhere from half to two-thirds and the double heatsink "tax" for changing to double heatsinks is just left out of the price.
In other words, those Clan mechs could be a lot more than they are if you had to get the parts separate... and the price of the IS mechs if you do a major overhaul can equal out or hit you harder. So it isn't as cut and dry as "if I go IS I save money." You'll spend your cbills quickly either way so go for the ones you like. Don't let your funds choose where you go. Most of all, don't let "Meta mechs" choose for you. What some group of quacks decides is the most efficient, is far from the most fun.
I wanted to clear this up. Lets take for example, the Shadowhawk 2D and compare it to the 5M.
The 5M, the most advanced Marik-built Shadowhawk available stock, is 8,166,799 cbills.
(Actual lore price: 10,296,856 C-bills for perfect condition.)
The 2D, one of the "oldest" Shadowhawk (produced by the Davions) is 4,441,203 cbills.
(Actual lore price: 4,587,432 C-bills for perfect condition.)
If we change one to the other or vice versa, the overall price should be the same if the mechs are equal, as completely stripped they both equal the same price for just the chassis without armor. No parts sold.
5M into 2D conversion: After done...
11,382,975 [c-bills]
2D into 5M conversion: After done...
14,387,766 [c-bills]
(This is total cost of all parts, in both cases you will have the exact same numbers and types of missile launchers, cannons, laser weapons, same number and types of heatsinks, same two engines. All this simply proves is no matter how good the things are, or how expensive they might look on the surface, it's more expensive to get the parts separately... so always get the parts with the mechs whenever possible.)
So. You shouldn't fret about buying mechs that have new engines and the like.
It's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying new engines straight up.
Edited by Koniving, 30 October 2016 - 08:47 AM.