42 replies to this topic

[Ultimax]

This seems excessive, wasteful & will also long term affect your ability to purchase LFEs unless you either own very few mechs or have 500+ million CBills.

But good luck I guess?

[Ced Riggs]

JediPanther, on 23 June 2017 - 06:06 AM, said:

untested stuff

We're not actually buying engines for real world vehicles. Just to make sure this is understood. The LFE is an engine like any other. Has a top speed related to tonnage, takes up 2 slots in each ST, can mount Heatsinks beyond 275, weighs a bit less, costs a bit more, that's it.

By my guesstimate, each STD sold pays for 1/3rd of an LFE. So, I'll need about the cost of another STD per mech to kit them out. That's roughly 1 to 2 mil per mech. With ~20 mil, I can convert 10 mechs.

[Snowbluff]

I won't be using LFEs for every mech, silly.

[Ced Riggs]

Snowbluff, on 23 June 2017 - 07:49 AM, said:

I won't be using LFEs for every mech, silly.

There are only four reasons not to use LFEs:

• You need 12 slots in the ST
  
• You want to zombie
  
• You are in a Light
  
• You are in an XL-safe mech

If neither of these apply, you should go LFE. And, no, that one DHS you stuffed into the ST to make it 12 slots does not count - a larger LFE has a cozy slot (or two) where that DHS can go.

Edited by Ced Riggs, 23 June 2017 - 07:52 AM.

[JC Daxion]

Kmieciu, on 23 June 2017 - 05:29 AM, said:

Everybody`s waiting for LFEs like it's the second coming of Jesus... just to get an inferior version of the clan XL.
I'd rather use IS XL on a XL friendly mech, than to have a light engine on a mech with bad hitboxes.

well unless they buff up STD engines, then an LFE is a strait up upgrade on many IS mechs. Typically you can stay the same size and add heat sinks to run cooler. OR you can boost speed a good amount. OR perhaps squeeze in a bit of extra ammo..

Every single one of those things is good IMO Thunder bolts, Crabs, Stalker, Atlas, victor are a few mechs off the top of my head that are getting a strait up upgrade with them. Yes there aer some mechs you are still gonna want to keep the XL, but a bunch of mechs this is going to be a game changer on.

[Snowbluff]

I don't run a whole lot of mechs standard. My crabs will be getting LFEs for sure, and maybe my wolfhound.

My Warhammers, especially my Pay-to-Widow, will use XL probably. There's really not much point to running the BW without the tonnage for a lot of guns. Maybe I can fit 4 RAC2 two in it, which *is* lighter than my current set up, and might save some space for light ferro. My locusts and panther will keep their XLs for sure I think.

Not sure for my Battlemasters, Grasshopper, cataphract, and catapult, though.

[JediPanther]

Ced Riggs, on 23 June 2017 - 07:49 AM, said:

We're not actually buying engines for real world vehicles. Just to make sure this is understood. The LFE is an engine like any other. Has a top speed related to tonnage, takes up 2 slots in each ST, can mount Heatsinks beyond 275, weighs a bit less, costs a bit more, that's it.

By my guesstimate, each STD sold pays for 1/3rd of an LFE. So, I'll need about the cost of another STD per mech to kit them out. That's roughly 1 to 2 mil per mech. With ~20 mil, I can convert 10 mechs.

Converting those mechs can be a good thing. As for me I'd rather keep all the old(er) weapons and stds so that when I decide to use them I have that huge stock pile. I'm going to spend a lot of c-bills on the new stuff too. I doubt every one is just going to sell off or abandon all the old tech for new. I've been stockpiling weapons and c-bills for months so I've got roughly 2 million c-bills to use up.

As for getting more c-bills one best way I know of is to find a hero mech that fits your way of playing. All that 30% adds up and its cheaper in the long run that buying and using pt if you have a limited gaming budget.

[Kmieciu]

Before skill tree I used to play underpowered mechs just for the sake of mastering them. I had to suffer through bad hitboxes, STD engines, low speed and firepower.

Not anymore.

Now that I can buy and instantly master any mech I want and my will to use the underdogs suddenly disappeared. No need to buy engines for mech I'm not willing to use. There are enough good mechs that I don't need LFE to make that HBK-4G work. I'd rather take a Huntsman that will make short work of any IS Hunchbacks.

[QuantumButler]

Snowbluff, on 22 June 2017 - 09:27 PM, said:

Seriously, most of my mechs aren't even kitted out properly. Engines are so expensive, especially the XLs. Now that I've bought my panther and wolf how, I'm going on a quest to use the event money on engines.

Have fun buying 30+ LFEs come January, too.

[HGAK47]

Jeeze you guys are all pros. Ive only just got to the point of having more than one or two mechs built and ready to go at once. Thanks to the skill tree haha been playing on and off since 2012 but #cheapskate #loljusttheonemodule

[Escef]

HGAK47, on 26 June 2017 - 02:24 AM, said:

Jeeze you guys are all pros. Ive only just got to the point of having more than one or two mechs built and ready to go at once. Thanks to the skill tree haha been playing on and off since 2012 but #cheapskate #loljusttheonemodule

Heh, pro at wasting my own time, maybe. And if the time you've dropped into the game is enough to keep you happy than there isn't really a problem.

[J0anna]

Kmieciu, on 23 June 2017 - 05:29 AM, said:

Everybody`s waiting for LFEs like it's the second coming of Jesus... just to get an inferior version of the clan XL.
I'd rather use IS XL on a XL friendly mech, than to have a light engine on a mech with bad hitboxes.

Around 1/2 of my nearly 100 IS mechs use standard engines, including almost all of my best brawling IS mechs. If you can't understand how huge LFE's are for those mechs....

The test server will hopefully be up soon, so there will be no more guess work, but lets look at some potential outcomes:

1) Most lights will use xl engines, but some can shift over to LFE's, yes they will go slower, but not much slower than some clan light mechs, the addition of erml lasers will help round out those that want to work at range.

2) Mediums are a mixed bag. My hunchbacks will adore LFE's as will my shadowhawks, my cents will be split, my other mediums will be a mixed bag. Replacing AC20's and 10's with UAC20's and 10's especially if single shot. Some have been dreaming about fitting in a light gauss, depending on range and rof, it could be a very useful replacement for the ac5. Some will replace srm 6's with an MRM 20 with the weight savings going from standard to LFE - there's an extra 8 damage for 4 tons.

3) Many of my heavies use standard engines, LFE's will make a huge impact here. In many cases I'll be replacing standard engines and endo with LFE's gaining weight and space. some will be pure engine upgrades. Some, I'll just replace the standard engine with an LFE, allowing RAC 5's to replace UAC 5's (black widow awaits this conversion), my bounty hunter will have no problems replacing the AC 20 with a UAC 20 (once again especially if single shot, which I really don't expect but will gladly take). MRM 40's will be possible too, a major improvement over SRM 6's.

4) Assaults will almost all be converted to LFE's, except those that want to try the heavy gauss, which could be a very nice niche weapon, depending again on cooldown. In almost every case my assaults will be gaining alpha or DPS (and in some cases possible both).

So in conclusion, every single IS mech will at worst be the same as it is now (with longer ranged weapons and possible higher damage) or noticeably better in both range, DPS and/or alpha. The downside is more heat - much like clan mechs have been dealing with, but since the majority of improved weapons are ballistic or missiles, heat should still be manageable, and there's still coolshots and override for when one more alpha will decide the kill or not...

[Snowbluff]

QuantumButler, on 26 June 2017 - 01:24 AM, said:

Have fun buying 30+ LFEs come January, too.

I've over estimated my number of engines I needed. I have 55 mechs I think. Almost half them are omnis, and most of the clan battlemechs have their engines.

So I'll need engines to refit my kodiaks, Hunchback IICs, grasshopper, a couple crabs, a warhammer, 2 banshees, 3 cyclops, and 1 shadowhawk I think.

[MechaBattler]

I only need 4 LFEs tops. That assumes I make my drop deck using only LFE builds. Anything more is for convenience sake.

[MadRover]

My one and only IS mech, MAD-3R will be receiving an engine upgrade if the slots the RACs will hold won't hold me back on the thought. It all depends on how all the other stuff makes it into the game.

[Snowbluff]

MadRover, on 26 June 2017 - 04:21 PM, said:

My one and only IS mech, MAD-3R will be receiving an engine upgrade if the slots the RACs will hold won't hold me back on the thought. It all depends on how all the other stuff makes it into the game.

I love marauders. I don't own one, I have a stable of Warhammers instead, but the MAD has been the IS mech of choice of my lancemates.

[Y E O N N E]

MadRover, on 26 June 2017 - 04:21 PM, said:

My one and only IS mech, MAD-3R will be receiving an engine upgrade if the slots the RACs will hold won't hold me back on the thought. It all depends on how all the other stuff makes it into the game.

A pair of RAC/5 is 12 slots. If that's what you had in mind, gonna have to stick with the STD engine.

Edited by Yeonne Greene, 26 June 2017 - 04:29 PM.

[MadRover]

Yeonne Greene, on 26 June 2017 - 04:29 PM, said:

A pair of RAC/5 is 12 slots. If that's what you had in mind, gonna have to stick with the STD engine.

I was thinking going with the RAC2s but if 2 RAC5s=12 slots then 3 RAC2s will be the same. My hopes are crushed

[Escef]

Snowbluff, on 26 June 2017 - 02:07 PM, said:

I've over estimated my number of engines I needed. I have 55 mechs I think. Almost half them are omnis, and most of the clan battlemechs have their engines.

So I'll need engines to refit my kodiaks, Hunchback IICs, grasshopper, a couple crabs, a warhammer, 2 banshees, 3 cyclops, and 1 shadowhawk I think.

Well, you can cross the Kodiaks and Hunchback IICs off the list as well. They're clan mechs, they can't use Light Engines, and clan XL is superior to it anyway.

[Y E O N N E]

MadRover, on 26 June 2017 - 06:52 PM, said:

I was thinking going with the RAC2s but if 2 RAC5s=12 slots then 3 RAC2s will be the same. My hopes are crushed

The IS RAC/2 is 3 slots. You can get three of them into a single side torso with an XL if you want, let alone LFE. It is the Clan RAC/2 that gets boned with 4 slots per gun (not that Clans are getting it this go around). Suckers!