Hi guys, i'm asking you, what experience you made with XL Engine in the Battlemaster? Any Troubles with too fast deaths via Sidetorso Destruction or getting more often Cored? I haven't seen Battlemaster Zombies as often as Thunderbolt-Zombies, so getting curious if it is worth to buy expensive XL Engines for this Mech. Thx in advance for feedback!
In my experience, I've had success with it using my late Pretty Baby's XL 340 on a missile boat. It does after all, need the boost in mobility. The ability to reposition is always underrated. However, unlike the Cataphracts, Jagermechs or Catapult K2's, the hardpoints for the Battlemaster doesn't allow for it to have extremely high DPS builds, such as AC/20's, Multitudes of AC/5 or 2's, so its not able to simply walk out and out-DPS its opposition in the above mentioned mechs or like-weighted assaults. I'd say while using an XL Engine, you're required to be either not the primary target or be a mobile flanker of sorts. Most of the time, most builds are so energy-heavy, its not hard at all to fit in Standard engines, with the exception of the 1S LRM boat.
I seem to get better scores with XL, even with brawler setups. Could be because I get better positioning or better twist possibility. I do get killed from LT or RT engine kills occasionally but they are by no means common. I do slightly less good with standard engines but it is still good. Just don't make the same amount of damage before dying but that might be statistically skewed as I haven't played enough games yet with XL or STD variations. Current game stats are below. I play the 1G with AC5's (XL385), the 1D with tripple AC2's (XL350) and the 1S with LRM50+A (XL350). I tested swapping out for STD on G/D and damage done dropped from 4-600 down to 2-300. Could be me getting used to playing it differently but it's too little data to say. Mech' Matches Played Kills Deaths BATTLEMASTER BLR-1G 36 28 24 BATTLEMASTER BLR-1D 20 16 11 BATTLEMASTER BLR-1S 17 19 10
I'm wondering if the hitbox is better than the Highlander. If you play e.g. Missile Boat, trying to stay in the safer backlines you could load XL in both. Still many would tell us it's crap to play Assaults with XL. Compare this: With this:
But missile boats are not a real issue IMHO with XL's since they are not brawlers. On the 12 man, the competitive scene, XL's are very uncommon on most things above the light class I'm told. I am one of those that told people not to use XL's in Assaults...and I use them in Victors and Battlemasters. It's weird but I'd amend my earlier statement about not using XL to any mech that doesn't reach 70 kph and a good torso twist speed. Atlas and Stalkers for example, I really don't see the point since you don't get much more speed (the exception being Boars Head which I have yet to try) so speed is not a bonus of the XL really in those mechs. You trade weight for more weapons and fitting heavier will create cooling problems. It's troublesome cause I watched a stream by one of the pro's, http://www.twitch.tv/jagerxii, he get's more 1k damage consistently then any I've seen so far and he runs STD a lot. I'm sure it's skill and at that level maybe the STD is a needed edge, direct quote "Speed will not save you, I will hit where I want to hit". I am not at that skill yet by many miles, I need the speed to compensate for my planning and positioning, IMHO.
When pugging it up, I tend to either get hit all over or just straight CT cored. There have been a not-insignificant number of games where I lost a side torso before the CT, but generally my CT and/or other side (with the rest of the weapons) is also pretty much dead too in those cases. I think I'd prefer to go with the extra speed of the XL for faster repositioning than the minimally improved survivability of a STD. Perhaps in a premade group where you can get actual scouting and properly planned positioning, the extra survivability from the STD might be more important than the extra speed, which can be compensated for by good group coordination.
I think it comes down to preference. If you prefer more weapons but taking a risk, using a XL in the Battlemaster is acceptable. If you prefer to survive, but not take as many weapons, then using a STD engine is better.
Since Battlemasters have a lot of hard points they can make formidable loadouts even with a STD engine. Victors have much less hardpoints (2 energy 1 missile, 3 ballistics for example) thus need to mount larger and heavier weapons to get a good loadout, meaning they'll have to run XL most of the time. The Battlemaster will have a lot of hard points for small weapons which can be combined for good firepower with the weight of only one larger weapon. Especially in the 1G I think a STD engine is better than XL (Stock engine, 2 PPC, 5 ML, 2 MGs), 1D has less hardpoints and might need XL to run multiple ballistics to compensate. 1S is a missile boat and missile weapons are usually very dependant on ammo thus heavy. STD or XL depends on if you run heavy LRMs or lighter SRMs.
Like Vergere said, it really comes down to preference and playstyle. For example. I LOVE this XL400 build and perform pretty damn well with it, average 500-700 dmg with a few kills and lot of assists every game. This STD300 build, on the other-hand, absolutely WRECKS and will continue to be effective until the bitter end. It performs notably better than the above XL build and definitely brawls like a champ. In general, I would say the XL engine has a HUGE impact on the longevity of any assault, Battlemaster included. However, to answer your question about how well the mech works with an XL, Id have to say very well. The hit-box distribution on the battlemaster definitely makes it a viable option for a variety of builds as long as you change your tactics and play style to accommodate the weakness. There have been many games, in the second build above, where I have thought I'm sure glad I wasn't running an XL This being on of them:
I personally use the STD 340 in the D/G variants, which are running direct fire load-outs while the in the S I use the XL 340 with LRM load-out. I generally try to run in support of other mechs mostly because this was my first foray into the assault class. The speed allows me to keep up or in case of the direct fire variants, to get out of trouble. While I haven't played the BLR recently, I recall a cored CT being the primary reason for my demise, along with a few leggings. It could also just be my play style that lends to the CT being open to return fire.
The STD340 is a decent engine so I would stick with it unless you want to go down the LRM boat than the XL will help, if only to give you a bit more mobility. Using the STD engine, you can put together some very effective builds not to mention save precious c-bills!
I agree that it can be a mixed bag and depends upon how you play, but I have noticed that CT corings (I run the stock engine in my D and G) are my most common death. This, I think, is due to how the CT actually juts out a bit from the torso, making it possible to hit the CT even when you have fully twisted to the side.
