When I asked myself that question, I caught myself thinking of Nystul's categories in "First Strike" (which should still be elemental reading for any newbie). He talked of 7 categories of 'mechs:
Scouts
Strikers
Skirmishers
Brawlers
Missile Boats
Snipers
Juggernauts
Clearly, the Marauder only ever fulfills two of these roles: Brawler and Sniper. Let's look at the designs in that context:
MAD-3R - admittedly, out of the 4, this is the one least suited as a Brawler. In fact, its heat issues make it rather bad in running and/or close ranged battles. It is, however, IMO the best sniper of the lot. It is the only one that has a long range bracket (for 3025) on all 3 primary guns. It will be forced to bracket-fire, but can do so beautifully: once it finds a sniper nest, firing PPC-PPC-AC and then PPC-AC in the following turn will balance the heat perfectly, without ever putting any modifiers on to-hit nos. In fact, simply because it needs to be more careful about the heat than an Awesome (and because it is also generally seen as less dangerous), I'd consider the MAD-3R to be the single best SNIPER of all the 3025 stock designs!
MAD-3D - ah, now everyone loves this one. It is easy to see why: with 20 HS, it can now fire the two PPCs with impunity. There is also no nasty ammo to explode. Does this make the design more powerful? In many ways, definitely. It changes the dynamic of the design, leaning it more towards the Brawler category. However, there are some draw-backs which is why I prefer the base chassis - it is seen as much more of a threat, but still mounts the same armour (sufficient, but not really all you'd want on a 75-ton BRAWLER). It will also overheat even more than the base design when trying to fire all 3 primary weapons. Really, the MAD-3R is the better Sniper and there are quite a few Brawlers out there that are more intimidating. All in all, it is an obvious and powerful upgrade, but it doesn't really feel all that great to me, for above reasons.
I do like the fluff explanation for it: the designers wanted to get rid of the autocannon, whose joint was unreliable. I envisage a chin turret, just as the one found on the 3025 MAD-II....
MAD-3L - this variant, more of an improvised hodge-podge that is much-maligned in-universe, I actually like quite a bit. It does a good job of firing its main weapons, while still retaining 2 long ranged punches. Really, the reason why not to like it is that it fulfills the jack-of-all-master-of-none stereotype just a little too well. Other than that, I think it just adds to character to be driving a haphazard lowtech LIAO field variation of the best machine that the Star League had to offer!
MAD-3M - I dunno, I don't like it one bit. Hard to speak about it objectively, then. I mean, I'd have to get past my irrational dislike of LL in the first place. It also loses its long-range capabilities, it's the only Marauder that definitely is NOT a Sniper. As a Brawler, the MAD-3D and even the -3L are actually more intimidating...... A point of merit would be that this is the only MAD that can easily handle an alpha-strike without penalties.
So yeah, this is my take on the Marauders. I love the -3R. I am fond of the -3L - it is the only one which I've 'converted' (slight mod of the muzzle on one of my plastic models). I miss the AC on the -3D and don't like the -3M at all. What are your thoughts?
*Disclaimer*: I don't have the same take on overheating as many newer players. I also don't share the view of many old hands that you don't need to get worried until you are some 20 points over. But heck, I for one have NEVER had problems with the heat of a Rifleman 3N!
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