Mechwarrior is just different than Hawken. For all it's mechy skins Hawken is really a rather normal FPS. You run, you jump and you respawn. Being able to make different weapon load-outs is really the only mechy part of it IMO.
MWO has you pilot lumbering mechs, if you're not a Light mech you will not really be going fast. There are a good number of mechs who have no ability to jump. You cannot heal during a battle, can't resupply and once you're dead that's it for that particular match! I also find it a far more challenging game (some may say unforgiving).
Mechs differ in all kinds of aspects. Tonnage, which influences maximum armor and internal structure. Maximum engine ratings, which limit how fast a mech may go, also the engine rating vs your tonnage determines how fast you can torso twist and move your arms. Weapon Hardpoints, divided in Energy, Missile and Ballistic weapons, each of which have a good selection of weapons which differ in weight, size, range, damage, heat etc. The location of the hardpoints is also important. Arm mounted weapons have more freedom of movement for instance, allowing you to peek around corners or just snap that last shot off.
Even within a certain location hardpoints may be mounted high or low. That Jaeger MrDWhitey is talking about has high arm weapon mounts, which makes it easy to fire over terrain. It's arms are limited in terms of sideways movement though which is a handicap.
All in all I think MWO is a far deeper game than Hawken, which also makes it harder and less suitable for just jumping in and blasting stuff. I've found that impatience is a killer in MWO and even though you may think yourself a FPS god (or even are) that won't help you much in MWO. Charge in alone and you'll die, simple as that. If I need to blow of steam or are tired/cranky MWO is a bad game to play. That's when foolish actions are undertaken and you die horribly (at least your mech does).
And I see you've found one of the pictures I posted in the Meme-thread MrDWhitey!
Don't tell me you have an actual connection with that picture?
I could also have gotten into Beta. Back then they made a mistake and basically send out Beta invites to everyone who was already a member of the forum. So in the end they allowed everyone in. I didn't though because my laptop back then overheated within 30 minutes and the internet connection was shit.
I also want a mech with a good amount of ballistics in the future. Right now the only two mechs I have/ever had with Ballistics are the Locust 1V (can't even mount an AC/2 really, just MG's) and the Champion Centurion you could win a few weeks ago. Really like that one. AC/2, ERLL, 3 SSRM2's, a 250XL (or was it 275?), I love the dakka and do well with that mech.
But if you say dakka you can't go around the JaegerMech or the Cataphract. I think the Cataphract looks better and those 5 tons help with extra ammo and back up lasers. Those low slung arms though! It's really a brawler where the Jaeger is more direct fire support.
And an Atlas like a sir! I've also got one (a D-DC). I'm actually saving up for a second one, the one with the 300XL in it. Very expensive but I want that XL300 to rip it out of him and give to the KTO-18 I've got (the only Kintaro I kept after Mastering them). Then I'll have 3 mechs with an XL300 and won't have to swap that engine around anymore (for now).
The Atlas (or at least the D-DC) is also the only mech for which double Basic skills do not really feel needed IMO. Hence why I've gone off Mastering 2 other mech types before even buying a second one of them.
