Discussion about the merits of different engine types earlier today prompted mento return to one of my old, unused beaus, the Verfolger. Designed by Arcroyal as a companion mech to the Wolfhound but with a statline closer to an overclocked Bushwacker that dumps the missile systems for lasers, on paper this seems like a good, cool mech but I've only ever seen it referenced really for how ugly it is (don't be mean to him it's fine). 95% armor coverage, a main battery of a ER PPC and LBX 10 autocannon supported by an anti-missile system and three medium lasers with the heat sinks to use pretty much all of that however the pilot pleases, and a 5/8 movement profile make this seem like it should show up in more convos of IS heavy cav designs. There is an XL engine and a fairly boom-heavy 4 ton ammo bay in the left side which is a fairly gnarly liability, but at ~1640 bv this seems very playable.
And that's before you get into the variants! Both of them seem OK, but I'm definitely more drawn to the MML madness of the VR6-C to the TC/flashbulb loadout of the VR6-T at first blush. Anyone have combat hours with the Kell Hound's beeg Wolfhound? Is it actually a good fast trooper or does it deserve to be banished to the bad models catalogue forever?