I have to disagree with you Mara..
My T1 fit kain with a T4 frame goes 79kph... So assume I could get that to low 80's with T2 gear. I agree this is a big advantage when considered by itself, but isolating a single advantage to the exclusion of all other counter-advantages and disadvantages is nonsense.
When we go out in a mixed group I put a range extender on... after that I need TWO sensor amps to boost my locking range to match and even then I'm only effective out to around 425m (375 optimal + .5 * 100 falloff). I know I could optimize my skills better and run tech gear to compensate but from a practical standpoint 425-450m is max range, so I'm still standing in front of everyone else.
Alternatively I could go with less range but that would put me way in front of the rest of the pack, a prime target, and dangerously close to demob range.
While standing at the front of the pack, I still need to maintain LOS unlike the greens and I have no bonus to resists like the yellows. The defensive bonus to active armour tanking is in NO way viable (we'll see what the new armour plates bring). Finally, the blue's DPS advantage is slight when compared to lasers at any kind of range. We are as Syndic says glass cannons.
Without a speed advantage, allowing you to dash in and then retreat, the Kain is SERIOUSLY gimped. That is the day to day reality of a kain pilot.
Your argument against speed really only holds water in the very specific and isolated scenario that you allude to. A pack of speed fit, DPS kains on a cavalry charge...
It is a very specialized blitz offensive tactic, that is extremely effective against an unsuspecting target but that may be easily countered in several ways...
Without going into too much detail,
- Plate up and demob
- Use your range and terrain
- Don't engage when unprepared
- Focus fire (they're very squishy)
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Edit: Since the assaults are getting some love, it's a good time to remember that after you figure in the extra turret slot 5v4, the dispersion modifier to DPS and the horrible range of EM... assault bots hit about as hard as kains at any kind of range... So, what advantage is the more expensive, more EP intensive kain left with when you take the speed advantage away?
"You're living in a parallel universe." ~Syndic