At a movement of 5/8/5 you're not<em>fast</em>, Apple, just faster then most things heavier than you (it's those XL engines and crazy fast 60 tonners these days...). In a recon lance, mechs like the<em>Griffon</em>and<em>Wolverine</em>tend to be backup, especially things like the<em>Griffon</em>you're piloting with all that long-range firepower. From what I remember, lances are meant to operate individually, so it's important the pure-light scouts (moving anywhere from 6/9/* to even 10/15/* or more!) have integral support. They need that support to be able to keep up, more or less, which is where medium mechs come in.<br/><br/>At the other end, the reason a 'typical' lance is supposed to be 2 heavies, 1 medium and 1 light mech is the same. The lance needs that flexibility, though I don't remember that configuration being seen everywhere. Things tend to be like 2 heavies and 2 mediums, or 3 heavies and 1 medium for command and 'middle' lances, then 1-2 mediums and the rest light for the recon lance.<br/><br/>In those heavier lances, medium mechs take on the role of scout, but then thier backup is big mean things like<em>Thunderbolts</em>and<em>Marauders</em>. Medium mechs make up the vast majority, or at least they are supposed to, because they can fill so many roles. And as you can tell by my examples, I'm very old school, so take everything above with a grain of salt.  :D