Mech layout

In the creation of a customized mech there are so many options that it is overwhelming to even the best players.  That does not stop people from complaining that there are not enough, but that is another post.  The options are, thankfully, approachable by intuitive math.  Don't panic, I'm not going all "spreadsheet warrior" on you.  (although I can do that with the best of 'em.)  I'm talking out ballistics, lasers, and you.

I like to run mechs designed so that I have only two or three weapon groups, and rarely need to worry about heat.  There are many who can juggle SRMs, LRMs, lasers, and ballistics, with way too few heat sinks, dance around and do just fine.  I am not one of them.  These guys have a weapon, or counter, for every occasion.  The way I see it that is unnecessarily complicated.  Also, Omnimechs are a long way off, yet.

In the simplest terms there are low-heat, high ammo weapons: ballistics.  There are medium (though still too high) heat, high ammo weapons: missiles.  There is one low ammo, no heat option: the machine gun.  And there are high heat, no ammo lasers and PPCs.

When you get right down to it though, heatsinks are to lasers (and PPCs) what ammo is to an autocannon.  The great thing is that unlike mass-drivers, which require a different ammunition for each type, energy weapons can all share the same heatsinks.  (so do the ballistics, I know)

The best builds, I have found, carry two types of weapon, at most three, divided into two (or three) groups.  For example, two AC2s, and two large lasers.  The ACs deal damage at a distance, and have a high rate of fire.  The lasers deal better damage, especially close in, but generate a ton of heat, and have a long cycle time.  Together they can alternate fire and be a real pain.  If you were to add another laser, it would be grouped in with the others.  Add a machine gun and it should be a separate, special use, group.

Another option would be two LRM15s and two lasers.  While less flexible in terms of rate of fire, this allows for indirect fire, doing damage at a distance, and still maintains some close in punch.  If you only take one kind of weapon though, make it energy weapons.

I have seen that guy running the min/maxed JM-glasscannon, that needs extra cool down time, and has no extra weight allowance for a backup laser.  Hell, I've been that guy.  It is a fun build.  Right up until that match where it is you, out of ammo, and your arm-less Centurion teammate, trying to keep a relatively healthy Dragon off of a contested resource; and you end up trying to ram a Dragon to death.

The benefits of a simpler set-up are many.  Fewer things to screw up.  Fewer types of ammo to carry means more of the ones you do carry, which means not running out.  More room for heat sinks, and that means rarely over-heating.  More room for a bigger engine.  Simpler affords you much more flexibility.  More engine, and average heat sinks for those that like to run.  More heatsinks and average engine for brawlers, who can just keep laying down a drum-solo of fire without over-heating.

The downsides...  Well sometimes you are really banged up and want to hide and cap, while firing missiles indirectly, so as to remain alive.  With some simple builds, you can't do that.  Sometimes the enemy won't be nice and stand still to be shot.  Missiles won't help you much here, if they are diving in and out of cover.

PPCs are essentially AC20s dressed up like lasers.  They require a lot more heatsinks, (ammo) and do all of their damage in one shot.  The slow projectile speed makes shooting a moving target... interesting, but they make a mess when they hit.

The argument for lasers is that they are perfect general-purpose weapons.  They do not have a fast cycle time, but they do good damage per ton.  My only complaint is that they spread damage over time.  Which means keeping them on a moving target, or only dealing partial damage.  They are the workhorses of this game though, and despite my distaste for them, need to be given respect.  (There is something inherently dissatisfying about firing a laser.  Just in game though.  Firing one in real life is amazing.)