Thanks Centurion03 and HampsterCorp.:)

Wolf Pilots can pilot any wiegh mech is that right or am I reading this wrong

Just like WH.

That is weak. CW effectively gets four pilots in one for its factioned units too? Good to see that CW doesn't get any special treatment or anything. (Sarcasm)

I can see where it is a nice thing for mercs to be able to do this but a faction? One that gets like 15 uniques to boot? Great.

Thanks Takar for the information. The ROTS Vulture looks good too. All seemed like altered paradigms from the Vanguard Vultures. Seems like defenses have become lower but ranges and puch are slightly better.

Seeing as neither Cyrus Wolf, Nikki Raddick, or as far as we know Markus Kerensky or Vaughn Sender have this ability, does it really strike you like the sort of thing we need to start wailing and gnashing our teeth about? Anastasia's better anyway, might as well use her.

Could it be that Kris Wolf was with the Steel Wolves, then Wolf Hunters, and that's where she got the ability? Any chance at all?

That is definatly a good possibility. The last comment was a bit of a knee jerk reaction. I have those from time to time. I just don't think there should be that many pilots for any faction that can pilot any mech within that faction. WH units are gunslingers so I can see that. But factioned units are considerably worse in my opinion. Lets hope there is only like one or two. More than that would be overkill on another level.

I can understand you're reaction, but this pilot isn't anything special though. It's stats can be beaten by a good non-unique pilot cards (i.e. Hero training institute). As long as the stats are that pedestrian, I say let them have them.

Since the pilots going in multiple mechs ability was originally touted as a cool thing the Wolf Hunters alone could do, perhaps a CW pilot with the same ability means they're considering having more such pilots for more factions.
I think it would be a good idea, give players who want to play faction-pure a few more options if they had those kind of pilots available to them.

And on top of that, it is more realistic. How many pilots do you know of from CBT or any of the novels since the 80's that could pilot only one wight class of mech?

"Begging your pardon sir, but I cannot accept that Thor we captured from The Wolf Hunters. I am not cheked out in heavy mechs......I'll keep my Stinger" Yeah.......right.

Exactly, the pilot may not have been as good in a different class mech, but they could still pilot it. Some pilots weren't even that good in mechs of the same weight class, just because the mech required a different fighting style than they were used to.

Almost ,I see the point, but in CBT most pilots are origiannly from House units or a merc unit,and trianed in a specific weight class, thye can switch to other units,but need the training to effectively use other weight classes. I don't think it's made to make them look like they can't use other mechs,but the specific weight class is what they excell in.

As Blanner said, House MechWarriors are normally trained in a single weight-class grouping, usually after initial training in a light/med mech. Some mercs, though, would probably be cross-trained, usually because they're willing to pay for it themselves and have time between contracts. Obviously some elite house units have cross-trained MWs.

To be utterly realistic, pilots that can switch mech types (ie. Rifleman to, say, Catapult) should have a lower bonus, and if you switch weight class, your bonus gets even less. But we already have a somewhat working system, so I think realism can be explained away or take a back seat to gameplay.

Just for my own edification, you guys have any sources supporting the idea that training works that way in CBT? 'cause I can't think of any.

Personally, I would think differences in mission role, speed, jump jets or no, and weapons would matter more for training purposes than what are ultimately arbitrary distinctions like weight class. For example, the Warhammer and Warhammer IIC have identical movement profiles and very similar weapons complements, but the latter is an 80-ton assault while the former is a 70-ton heavy. What, exactly, is going to make the pilot of one have a hard time piloting the other?