When designing a mech (using 3025 Tech), never inslall an LRM-10 or AC-2. There are no differeces mathematically in the LRM-5, 15, and 20, so mix and match. If you use SRM's, the SRM-6 is the most efficient. Obviously the medium laser is the most efficient of the close-in weapons. Don't put Small Lasers onto a design, use machine guns instead. If you include the heat sinks required to drive them, the small laser does only about half as much damage per ton of space allocated. Large Lasers and PPC's work fine. The AC-20 and the AC-10 are both slightly less efficient than energy weapons, but they aren't a total wastage like the AC-2. The AC-5 is an inefficient design, but I have found that it is a great psycological weapon in 3025 Tech, enemies want to close with someone with an AC-5 and if backed up with close things, the design inefficiency is outweighed by the psyc-advantage. I have math table to prove all these statements, but they are on legal pads and I'm too lazy to post them now. Suffice to say that if you calculate the chance to hit at each range (with an arbitrary penalty of three to model terrain and movement) and multiply that percentage by the average damage a weapon causes and then divide by the effective weight of the weapon (tonnage + ht. sinks + 20 rds. of ammo) then you get a very usful table of numbers (expected damage/effective ton are the units).
Tip of the week archive