First, a recap...
Year 1
1 Medium, 2 Assault
Centurion, Atlas, King Crab
Year 2
3 Medium, 2 Assault
Cicada, Wolverine, Nova, Zeus, Executioner
Year 3
1 Medium, 4 Heavy, 1 Assault
Blackjack, Cataphract, Hellbringer, Summoner (x2), Stalker
So, safe bets;
1. No Light 'mechs
2. No repeat 'mechs
I'll assume...
1 IS Medium for MC reward
1 IS Heavy for Tier 1 IS reward
1 IS Assault for Tier 2 IS reward
1 Clan Heavy for Tier 1 Clan reward
1 Clan Assault for Tier 2 Clan reward
Good options for (L) variants seem to be adding JJs, MASC, ECM or new hard points.
IS Medium
My shortlist is Crab, Griffin.
For the Crab, I would like the CRB-30
Quote
The CRB-30 is a complete rework of the CRB-27 Crab introduced in
3061. To start, the standard engine has been replaced with an
ExtraLight model. The CRB-30 puts this free weight to good use by replacing the twin large lasers with a pair of
ER PPCs and upgrading the medium and small lasers to an
ER Medium Laser and an
ER Small Laser. The standard heat sinks have all been replaced with double heat sinks, though two have been removed, so the PPCs must use
volley fire. The last part of this upgrade is the addition of a
Guardian ECM Suite and an
improved C3 computer.
For the Griffin, I would like the GRF-5M
Quote
The 5M variant of the Griffin was designed in
3066 with a distinctive flair for the Free Worlds League. Unlike other "Phoenix" 'Mechs it was powered by an extralight engine and carried, as its primary weapon, a
Light Gauss Rifle. This was backed up by an LRM-10 launcher and a small laser for close range work. The variant utilized double heat sinks and also carried ten and a half tons of armor.
I'd rather have the CRB-30, got to love more ECM Mediums.
IS Heavy
My shortlist is Rifleman, Archer, Grasshopper, Black Knight, Marauder
For the Rifleman, I would like the RFL-7M
Quote
For the Archer, I would like the ARC-7L
Quote
Built for the
Capellan Confederation by Earthwerks in
3067, the 7L variant of the Archer incorporated new
Stealth Armor and a
Guardian ECM Suite for protection against enemy electronics in addition to making the Archer harder to target. The 'Mech carried twelve and a half tons of Stealth Armor and was armed with two LRM-20 launchers and two
ER Medium Lasers. The trade-off for this massive upgrade was that the 'Mech's top speed was reduced to 54 km/h. In an attempt to compensate for this, the 'Mech also had three
jump jets mounted, making it capable of jumping up to ninety meters at a time. The 7L was slated to enter the
Capellan Confederation Armed Forces' new Shadow Lances.
For the Grasshopper, I would like the GHR-7K
Quote
An upgrade of the 6K introduced in
3068, the 7K replaces the weapons with an eye toward making the Grasshopper independent of supply concerns common during the Jihad. Two arm-mounted
Light PPCs provide long-range firepower, while short-range firepower is provided by twin torso-mounted
Snub-Nose PPCs. A head-mounted
ER Medium Laser takes the place of one of the 6K's heat sinks, while the addition of a
Guardian ECM Suite and C3 slave unit makes this Grasshopper a difficult-to-detect guerrilla fighter.
For the Black Knight, I would like the BL-12-KNT
Quote
The BL-12 was probably the most technologically advanced version of the Black Knight leading up to the
Jihad. While still based on the original BL-6 model this design goes in a completely different direction from the BL-9. Introduced in
3063 the first thing that was done to the BL-12 was the upgrade of all of the medium lasers and the PPC to extended range versions, then its single heat sinks were upgraded to double strength versions, reducing the total number from twenty to sixteen. Finally, all of the weapons were mated to a
Targeting Computer.
For the Marauder, I would like the MAD-5R
Quote
The Marauder 5R was an upgrade of the 3R model introduced in
3068. The 'Mech carried an XL engine to save weight and its heat sinks upgraded to double-strength models. The PPCs were replaced with two ER PPCs and the Autocannon/5 upgraded to a
Rotary Autocannon/5; the two medium lasers of the original were retained. Also, for added protection, the 5R mounted fourteen tons of armor and a Guardian ECM Suite. The 'Mech also carries a
C3 Slave unit that allows the 'Mech to transmit targeting data to its lance mates.
I'd rather have the RFL-7M, that ECM could help it be a better long range fighter. MAD-5R comes in a very close 2nd.
IS Assault
My shortlist is Awesome, Banshee.
For the Awesome, I would like the AWS-9Q
Quote
A basic upgrade to the original 8Q introduced in
3057,
[11] the heat sinks are upgraded to double heat sinks and are reduced to nineteen. The saved weight is used to add a fourth PPC to the 'Mech as well as a
Guardian ECM Suite. Although there was some criticism for using basic PPCs and not upgrading to ER models, the 9Q proved itself during Operation Guerrero to be quite devastating.
For the Banshee, I would like the BNC-6S
Quote
The 6S variant of the Banshee is powered by a
Light Fusion Engine and built on an
Endo Steel chassis. It is armed with an
LB-X Autocannon/10 for long-range combat while a
Heavy Gauss Rifle is used at medium to close ranges. The 'Mech retains the Small Laser of the 3E model but is protected with fourteen and a half tons of armor.
I'd rather have the AWS-9Q, because I love the Awesome and ECM is just gravy.
Clan Heavy
My shortlist is Ebon Jaguar, Night Gyr
For the Ebon Jaguar, I would like the EBJ-H
Quote
The H variant returns to the Ultra Autocannon/20 of the A, though it strips out all of the other weapons. They are replaced by a
Heavy Large Laser, a pair of
Heavy Medium Lasers, and a single Medium Pulse Laser. All of these weapons are tied to an advanced
targeting computer. Even though this variant mounts additional heat sinks, an inexperienced MechWarrior could still be overwhelmed by the amount of heat this variant can produce.
For the Night Gyr, I would like the NTG-E
Quote
This variant uses massed pulse lasers, two large and six medium, in conjunction with an
ATM 6 and an
SRM-6. The ATM only mounts two tons of ammunition, limiting its flexibility
I'd rather have the NTG-E, because 8E on that thing with no room for DHS sounds crazy. Sure, I can mount 9E now, but... reasons.
Clan Assault
My shortlist is Gargoyle, Warhawk
For the Gargoyle, I would like the GAR-H
Quote
Configured to take advantage of new Heavy Laser technology, the H configuration is a capable 'Mech at any range. For long range jousting with an enemy, the 'Mech has an LRM-10 launcher. This is backed up by an
Ultra Autocannon/10 and a new
Heavy Large Laser for intermediate ranges. Finally, for added punch at close range, the 'Mech has two ER Medium Lasers.
For the Warhawk, I would like the WHK-F
Quote
Apparently designed to reduce heat, this configuration of the Warhawk carries a single ER PPC in each arm backed up by an LRM-20 and LRM-10. A torso-mounted
Ultra AC/2 rounds out the weapons. Like most Warhawk variants, this version carries an advanced Targeting Computer.
I'd rather have the WHK-F, just for the torso mounted Ballistic.
So my guess / hope;
CRB-30 for MC reward
RFL-7M for Tier 1 IS reward
AWS-9Q for Tier 2 IS reward
NTG-E for Tier 1 Clan reward
WHK-F for Tier 2 Clan reward
Edited by Jay Leon Hart, 27 May 2017 - 05:56 AM.