Battletech Mecha First Loves, Favourites, and just plain silly.

[TheQuestionMan]

Battletech Mecha First Loves, Favourites, and just plain silly. I am sure that every Battletech Fan has a favourite Mecha and Why. So here is your chance Fan Boy (and Girls)

First Love: Griffin 3025 - The design looked like a giant man in a battlesuit rather than a Battlemech. In my first Lance on Lance Battles they were the mainstay of my units.

Favourites Light: Valkerie - These Mechs were blessed or something. They always managed to leave the field.
Favourites Medium: PheonixHawk 3025 - Speed, Maneuverability, and Fire Power all combined with saome descent armor (Once you removed the Machine Guns and Ammo and Added Armour. If a GM would not let me I always dumped the MG Ammo at the begining on the Mission. BOOM!!!
Favourites Heavy: A toss up between the ELH - Thunderbolt (Jump Jets) and Liao Crusader.
Favourites Assault: None


Just Plain Silly: Cheetah 3055 - (Clan Tech), 25 tons, Quad, XL Engine, WMP 12, RMP18 (*24) 5 Tons Ferro Fiborous Internal Structure, and 4 Tons of Pod Space.
Primary Configuration: (Designed to Scout for Arrow IV's, etc...)
Active Probe
ECM Suite
MASC (24 Movement Points and Lateral Movement Capablities)
TAG

Configuration A: (Designed as a Scout Hunter)
x4 ER Medium Lasers

Configuration B: (Designed as a Pursuit and Harrassment)
x1 ER Large Laser

Configuration C:
x1 Heavy Large Laser (Designed as a Head Hunter)

Configuration D: (Designed to Support Primary Variant)
MASC
x3 ER Medium Lasers

Configuration E: (Designed as a Anti Infantry and Anti Power Armour)
Active Probe
x6 Micro ER Pulse Lasers

Special Tactics: Maneuver and Attack, never sceed the initiative and draw the enemy close and leave him with nothing to hit or an impossible shot.

Pheonix Hawk's controlled by me joined forces and fought as a team. I have to gloat a little as I recently proved to a friend that a Pheonix Hawk is more than an challenge for even a Warhammer.



LOL

QM

[Thia Halmades]

Good heavens. It's actually been quite a while since I've played anything except the video games, which is a shame in & of itself. I would have to say. Hrm.

My first love is probably the Phoenix Hawk since it was the first LAM I'd ever encountered and I thought the concept was just fantastic. That was a definate spark of the imagination, so you could say 'First Love' right there. That was from playing the ORIGINAL MechWarrior game on an 8088 back in the day-day; also why I bought the game and spent the next few years building mechs.

Favorite? Eh. I preferred to design my own. The Warhammer always made for a great piece of cover art, and then later I got involved on the Clan Side and that created a whole new debatable realm. I don't think I have a favorite, to be honest. Nothing that jumps out and says "Pilot me!" since I didn't pay attention to the Spec Sheets as they were released; i alwasy flipped through them thinking "I can build something better than this!" And I did.

Just Plain Silly: Playing MechWarrior 3 online with my clan, the first thing they said after recruiting me: "Go build a 40 ton SCAT. Equip it with nothing but small lasers." I stared at the speakers in disbelief. "Dude, I'm much more effective in the 50 to 60 tonnage range - I prefer balance, what's the deal?" "Just trust us."

Sure enough. You could do some serious head hunting in an L-SCAT; 10 small lasers, some heat sinks, a couple of jump jets and a crap load of manueverability. All without touching the point buy bank on a Clan drop. To this day, I still file it under "Absurd but somehow functional."

[bwdemon]

My first battle ever pitted my BLR-1G Battlemaster against a friend's MAD-3R Marauder. The original TRO:3025 compared them as equals and I just refused to believe it. Despite the massive amount of luck involved in any game of Battletech, the BLR-1G handily won that battle and many that would follow, losing only twice to good weapon grouping and crits. Because of this, the BLR-1G Battlemaster will always be near and dear to me.

Another mech I really like is the 3025 Rifleman. I like both the RFL-3N (LLs & AC/5s) and the RFL-3C (AC/10s), preferring the former for looks and the latter for ability. Any of the later variants tended to carry XL engines, which made them unusable, AFAIC.

I always liked Archers with LRM20s, because nothing seemed so cool to me as the thought of forty missiles streaking away at some far off target, covering it in a series of explosions. The LRM15 Archers are occasionally the better mech, but they just don't seem "Archer" enough to me. The ARC-7L Archer is just amazing - the epitome of what an Archer should be.

I'm a fan of Wolf's Dragoons and have been since the mid-80s. This tends to color my mech selection, too. Unlike many of my peers, I prefer the lumbering Annihilator to the unstoppable Marauder II. Why? I like autocannon and missiles - things that go "boom" - and the Marauder II focuses on energy weapons. Plus, people underestimate the Annihilator. As you move forward in the timeline, the Gallowglas also becomes a favorite.

I could really go on about so many mechs that it would take forever. Suffice to say that I am more than happy to ditch mobility for mass, long-range weapons, and armor. Basically, if you don't move and use mobility as a "dump stat" for your mech selections, then it becomes easy to make the most of the rest of your attributes (mass, armor, and lots of big, long-range weapons) within the BV allowed. Part of this is due to BV overrating mobility (especially jump jets), so if/when they fix the system I may have to change my ways.

[shadowcat1313]

I will list my favorites by Weight Class:

Light: Wolfhound, Commando

Medium: Hatchetman, Centurion, Wolverine,

Heavy: Thunderbolt, Marauder

Assault: Awesome, Highlander, Steiner Banshee upgrade, Marauder 2

My personal favorite mech was in our last campaign a good many years ago
it was a modified 3025 Awesome.

dropped the 3 PPC in favor of 3 ER Large Lasers and 3 Medium Pulse Lasers
or 6 regular medium Lasers

you lose a bit of damage and range, but gain close in firepower bigtime

my other favorite, modified Black Knight, which has plenty of room for an XL engine, and adding extra firepower of choice

[incrdbil]

The first mech I really used consistantly was a Battleaxe.

I was partial to the Griffin, when facing anything other than a medium/light mech.

I was fond of Warhammers for a while.

Currently, my favorite mechs in the Light rage are the Osiris (4d version only) And the Dasher H.

On the medium side, I'm partial to the new Griffin, The variosu Woverines, and the Phoenix Hawk 3d and 6d. As ta clanner, the Stormcrow is king,.

On the heavy side, the Warhammer 8D, the Black Knight 12C, and the new Steiner Maruader are favorites. Too many fun Clan machines to list, though ther Nova CVat Omnimech series deserves special note. Nothing wrong with a Classic Archer or Warhammer 6D either.

On the Assault side, I'm currently a big fan of the Stalker 8D. The egg with legs is deadlier than ever.

[Sundog]

The original model Battlemaster remains my all time fave; I still condsider it the best 85 tonner, with the latest upgrades.

However, I also like the Clan Supernova. Not an Omni, but who cares?

[Old Man]

Anybody did something silly like build 5-10 ton mechs?

[Supreme Serpent]

Faves are Phoenix Hawk and Marauder. Partly due to Robotech images in memory, partly because they suit my playstyle pretty well. In campaigns those are generally what I gravitate to if I can.

I like most of the old school mechs (ie those in initial set) to a large degree and some of their variants. The jump-Thunderbolt is great, like some of the Archer mods. Most of the later designs never did anything for me on an emotional level, but don't mind playing them.

[Kaeto]

First Love: Shadow Hawk

Faves: Scorpion (modified to have one size smaller engine and jump jets and E.R. PPC) ,Rifleman(modified with 2 large lasers on one side and an AC 20 on the other)

[Dale A. Ward]

Anybody did something silly like build 5-10 ton mechs?

:confused:

Don't they call that body armor?

:p

[Old Man]

Usually they only have .5 ton of armor at best. I think you could fit a 1 ton weapon and .5 ton of ammo.

Having 10 of them peck away at your mech is a pain.

[incrdbil]

:confused:

Don't they call that body armor?

:p

Well, some industrial mechs (that use ICE engines) that little. The Clans now have advanced machines called protomechs that weight up to 9 tons.

[tgrandjean]

Favorite: Clan tech: Blackhawk. 12 ER Med lasers. Just plain fun.

First love: I had managed to convince the rest of our group to buy Heavy Class mechs in the 3025 Mechwarrior game that we were running (aside from the player we designated Lance Leader after he went whole hog and bought Assault and with a lucky roll netted him an Atlas). I was hoping for the classics: a Warhammer, a Marauder, maybe even a Grasshopper. Instead I ended up with a Thunderbolt. What the hell? This doesn't have enough punch to it's weapons! It doesn't even move that fast! However, in play I realized that it was a pocket Assault mech: It packed more armor than anything else. I spent most of the game charging the enemy, netting buckets of damage in physical attacks, and taking firepower that would have crippled the Warhammer and Marauder in the group. I ended up dubbed 'Punisher' after I charged a gate, knocked it off it's hinges flattening the Phoenix Hawk behind it, trampled the mech kicking it's head off, then proceeded to intimidate the rest of the pirates by exclaiming 'Who wants more?!'.

Silly: I upscaled the Blackhawk to 65 tons and boosted the MA to 6/9/6. I suprised the player opposing me by keeping the speed down to that of the Blackhawk, then jumping behind him at the perfect moment unloading with all the lasers scoring 10 hits. Mech goes boom. (And I spend a turn or two unloading all the heat I had accumulated.)

[Inu]

Faves are Phoenix Hawk and Marauder. Partly due to Robotech images in memory, partly because they suit my playstyle pretty well. In campaigns those are generally what I gravitate to if I can.

I like most of the old school mechs (ie those in initial set) to a large degree and some of their variants. The jump-Thunderbolt is great, like some of the Archer mods. Most of the later designs never did anything for me on an emotional level, but don't mind playing them.
The robotech designs were the classics. :)

Yes, I'd have to agree that the Veritech was my first love. Nothing drew me to it like that one did. It DEMANDED that I pilot it.

My favorite mech was probably the Battlemaster, like others. Good combination of abilities, particularly with the upgraded technology. Actually, in the 3025 tech, I always found it a tad lacking. Was never a huge fan of PPCs -- too much heat and not enough damage increased from large lasers to really bother with the extra tonnage, if I remember right (though it's been ages since I looked at the rules, I might be misremembering it).

Odd: the obsession with AC-5s that heavier mechs had. I dont' know about you, but using hte official maps, I never ended up playing at ranges that allowed those things to matter. I guess it was more my play style, though. I was one of those 'get in close and blaze away' players, so I favoured medium lasers. Nothin' but medium lasers!

Unless, of course, we were buying forces with money. Then it was vehicles all the way. Nothing gives you bang for your buck like tanks.

[Zed-F]

True.

Especially helicopters. Small, cheap 5-tonners that go 15/23 or some absurd speed like that.

Loaded with ammunition. Lots of ammunition.

Which you use to ram into the enemy mechs. Boom!

One shredded enemy mech costing millions of C-bills, in exchange for a helicopter costing maybe tens of thousands of C-bills. I'll make that trade every time. :D

---

Even if you don't want to do/allow that, a dozen 5 ton helicopters with a couple popguns each is still a serious threat to most mechs, and far cheaper to boot. Good luck hitting something that fast, or preventing it from getting behind you...

[Enforcer84]

First Loves:
Light: Wasp
Medium: Phoenix Hawk
Heavy: Archer or Crusader
Assault: ...? What are those? :) BattleMaster I guess.

[incrdbil]

Even if you don't want to do/allow that, a dozen 5 ton helicopters with a couple popguns each is still a serious threat to most mechs, and far cheaper to boot. Good luck hitting something that fast, or preventing it from getting behind you...
Helicopters can be a great harassing element. You have to be careful not to get carried away, and attract seriosu fire. The rotor hit tables are unforgiving. With pretty much every weapon in the game capable of destroying the rotors with one hit, and rotor destruction equalling an instant, nearly always fatal crash, the VTOL in CBT is a very fine instrument to wield.

and it really gets scary if anythign on the board carries cluster ammunition. Whats real fun is the conventional matchps--no mechs, just vehciles, infantry, VTOLs. Equip them with infernos, or thunder munitions to lay minefields, and you can really make the enemies day miserable.

Before I gave up the ways of the munchkin and using custom designs, I had a VTOL with 6 LRM-5 launchers and tons of amo as one design, then at one truely shamefuul period, I contemplated putting an Arrow IV artillery launcher on a VTOL. That would have been a hilairous image upon launch. I've since reformed my wicked ways.

Mostly.

[TheRavenIs]

Helicopters can be a great harassing element. You have to be careful not to get carried away, and attract seriosu fire. The rotor hit tables are unforgiving. With pretty much every weapon in the game capable of destroying the rotors with one hit, and rotor destruction equalling an instant, nearly always fatal crash, the VTOL in CBT is a very fine instrument to wield.

and it really gets scary if anythign on the board carries cluster ammunition. Whats real fun is the conventional matchps--no mechs, just vehciles, infantry, VTOLs. Equip them with infernos, or thunder munitions to lay minefields, and you can really make the enemies day miserable.

Before I gave up the ways of the munchkin and using custom designs, I had a VTOL with 6 LRM-5 launchers and tons of amo as one design, then at one truely shamefuul period, I contemplated putting an Arrow IV artillery launcher on a VTOL. That would have been a hilairous image upon launch. I've since reformed my wicked ways.

Mostly.

Yeah you did go overboard. I remember the pain of having to deal with you. I still remember being ambushed by those VTOL's.

[TheRavenIs]

Now I loved LAM's. The others knew that, so as soon as I find one....boom, lost the conversion tech, got stuck in the middle form. After that it was still a great mech, but not all that good in space.

[incrdbil]

Now I loved LAM's. The others knew that, so as soon as I find one....boom, lost the conversion tech, got stuck in the middle form. After that it was still a great mech, but not all that good in space.

Well, you have to admit. Being 'stuck' in aeromech form wasn't all that bad :) Jump 15, hello back shot!

[TheRavenIs]

Yeah I did like that part of it and we did finally find a new unit and my C then lied, cheated and stole everyone he could find to replace that one he did have. Plus he was a natural pilot. Wheee!!!

[Jhamin]

My first love was always the 2025 Awesome. When I started reading the Tech Readouts and not really understanding the rules I still understood that here was something tough and powerful that could reach out and hurt from a long way away.

On the other end of the scale was the Spider. Blindingly fast for 2025, full jumping, and twice the armor and firepower of the only other mechs that could keep up.


Just plain favorite? The Panther and the Hunchback. Both punched way above their weight class but couldn't get cocky. I love that in a game.

[JmOz]

Mech wise I think my first love was the Phenoix Hawk LAM (I only really got into the mini game, never the video)

For munchkiny build

a Lance
1) Command Mech, C(3) master computer, lots of armor, lots of guns
2) Artilery Mech, couple long toms, slave computer
3) LAM mech, Slave Computer
4) LAM Mech, slave computer

Drop of maps away, LAMS switch to Aerotech mode to fly in, change and target, artilery drops are nasty

Pure Looks, love the warhammer

[incrdbil]

Mech wise I think my first love was the Phenoix Hawk LAM (I only really got into the mini game, never the video)


Drop of maps away, LAMS switch to Aerotech mode to fly in, change and target, artilery drops are nasty



You know, when they were in the game, in theorey you could have mounted Arrow IV Artillery on a LAM. Talk about your mobile fire support.

[TheRavenIs]

Didn't I do that with my Phoenix Hawk? I seem to remeber doing that incrdbil.

[shadow_walker]

First Love: Griffin 3025. Good speed, armor, weapons load out and has jump.
Favorites: If it has a PPC of any kind, I'll play it.
Special Tactics: Win initiative advance, lose initiative fall back into cover. Jumping behind cover works wonders. Yes I know this doesn't sound to special, but it seem to works for me.

[Old Man]

Lasers in the chest so you could walk up, fire lasers, then pound with fists and feet.

That was when you could still fire, punch, punch, kick.

[MarioTani]

Battletech Mecha First Loves, Favourites, and just plain silly. I am sure that every Battletech Fan has a favourite Mecha and Why. So here is your chance Fan Boy (and Girls)


As I am a Battletech player (pen & paper) still today...

First Love: WarHammer! Hey! it's on the cover of the box-set! That's what you bought the game for!

Favourites: PHX, surely, but today I got a fancy with BlackJack, or the Spiders.

Just Plain SillyCharger, 5 small laser and a kick^_^, the real matter is that the other player would not sit ther waiting for you to come! (but there's some good canon variant out there)

Special Tactics: I usually stay with a standard flanking attitude. 1 sniper or 2 cover the ground, 1 strong mech to take the blunt of the enemy, 1 or 2 fast with long range
To propose a lance^_^: Dervish/BlackJack, Awesome, Spider/Hussar
ahhh I forgot there's a special tactic: came close to kick range (1 hex) then shoot something else^_^.
I noticed that usually when you're in close combat with another mech they tend to not consider the mech anymore... "hey we're not the clans! You got a kick on the leg, but it's you friend who got the PPC!":smoke:

[Matt Frisbee]

Oh my....Battletech....well, I suppose I should share my embarassing story concerning this game. Actually, I have two, but they're both really short.

1) I love ugly mecha. My faves from 3025 (the only era to play IMHO) are Stinger, Phoenix Hawk, Crusader and Cyclops. (To be fair, I ran a lot of mercenary units with limited repair facilities, so I had to go with what was easiest to service.)

2) I am a terrible modeler. It was so bad that I intentionally took on mecha for my collection that had no parts to attach other than a hex base. I was known in the gaming circles as the guy with the "No Assembly Required Battalion." My paint schemes were attrocious as well, and I eventually repainted all of them with a reserved three-color paint scheme and the odd decal to break up the monotony...

Matt "Did-play-with-the-cardboard-standups-sometimes" Frisbee

[Zed-F]

Helicopters can be a great harassing element. You have to be careful not to get carried away, and attract seriosu fire. The rotor hit tables are unforgiving. With pretty much every weapon in the game capable of destroying the rotors with one hit, and rotor destruction equalling an instant, nearly always fatal crash, the VTOL in CBT is a very fine instrument to wield.
True, in BattleTech any vehicle is vulnerable to critical hits, helicopters especially. That's why I used mainly 5- and 10-ton helicopters rather than the bigger ones. I preferred to go for larger numbers of inexpensive vehicles, rather than smaller numbers of expensive vehicles. I would build a vehicle with enough capability to fulfill its mission, none of the fancy extras that would drive up cost, and then mass-produce them. :)

But that was years ago.

[The Rose]

I have to say this is a easy question for me. My first love for BattleTech and the one that will never be removed is the Black Knight. Now I always do my own load out for it. I personally LOVE close combat. I don't know why but something about close in fighting seems so much more "honorable" so me. Also being the Stiener style player I am. I never use JJ in opt for all the different weapons and armor I can Have.


Lights: Puma but loaded out so he carries two clan ER PPC, flamers(so he can breathe fire), max armor and boost the speed to 5/9 I think it was. If you spce the wieght just right you have a mobile PPC boat that doesn't build heat if he shoots both PPC and runs.

Meduim: Centurian. Just sounds and Looks cool.

Heavy: BLACK KNIGHT

Assult: Pillager out of 3055. Remove the JJ and in little better weaponry. It has the most armor possible and packs two guas rifles. Also It is one of the few A. Mechs thats design was made so it could run and fire all weaponry with no Heat effects. This is my Second Fav.


SouGen.

[Spidey88]

My favorite light mech: Tarantula. Wicked mobility - though I tended to swap out the SRM 2's for a couple more med. lasers. Followed very closely by the spiders (I've got about four minis of each). Not just a name thing (though it satisfied my arachnophile tendencies to no end) - I love mechs with mobility, and I love quad mechs too - so the Tarantula was a natural choice. Plus, I think it looks cool.

Favorite medium: ProbablyBlackhawk or Blackhawk-KU off the top of my head - there might be other contenders. I love energy weapons for not having to worry about ammo (just fire all you want, as long as heat is ok) - and none had more than these two! Medium lasers/ER med lasers out the wazoo, and jumping to boot.

Favorite heavy: Tough call. None really jump out at me, though I like the look of the old Black Knight. Needs a major refit to be any good in a fight, though - at least by 2060-ish standards.

Favorite Assault: Thunder Hawk, hands down. I lean towards energy weapons in my own builds, but I have a soft spot for gauss rifles. 15 damage at stupid range? Sign me up! (wait - you say this thing has three, and max armour? Drooool...)

overall, I much prefer using fast, jump-capable light mechs - a challenge, to be sure, but I excel at hit-and-run combat in Battletech. My personal favorite munchkin build: a 30-ton quad mech that moved 10/15/10, with pulse lasers. Unhittable on the mixed forest maps - every piece of cover was just far enough apart to get the maximum movement modifier to hit. I regularly destroyed mechs 3 times my size with nary a scratch (of course, this beastie could only take 2 scratches before being reduced to a pile of rubble, but that's beside the point...)

My philosophy for homebrew mechs: Light mechs suck at being tough. Heavy/Assaults suck at being mobile. Stick with the strong points ( eg. the unfortunately named Champion).

[Manic Typist]

No mention of the Timber Wolf, or the Cauldron Born?

[Old Man]

I like Archers with the LRMs replaced by Arrow IVs

[bwdemon]

No mention of the Timber Wolf, or the Cauldron Born?

I didn't think people were ever too pumped about the Cauldron-Born, but I know enough people that worship the Timber Wolf that it should be significantly more popular.

I can't help myself, I have to post my current favorites by tech and class...

IS1 Light: OTT-7J Ostscout, because it is heavier and better-armored than a Spider
IS1 Medium: GRF-1S Griffin, because it's the best all-purpose mech in the era
IS1 Heavy: RFL-3C Rifleman, because it can cause 20pts per round at up to 15 hexes without any heat buildup
IS1 Assault: ANH-1A Annihilator, because it can cause 40pts per round at up to 15 hexes without any heat buildup

IS2 Light: BZK-F3 Hollander, because I want a big gun if I have to play a little mech
IS2 Medium: BSW-1L Bushwacker, because it is good both defensively and offensively
IS2 Heavy: GAL-2GLS Gallowglas, because I do so love those GRs on IS mechs and good defensive characteristics
IS2 Assault: HA1-OB Hauptmann, because it has great defensive characteristics and firepower for all ranges

Clan Light: Cougar B, because if I have to pilot something this light, I want the biggest guns possible.
Clan Medium: Crimson Langur Prime, the GRF-1S of Clantech
Clan Heavy: Nova Cat B, because of ninety freakin' missiles! *WHOOSH!*
Clan Assault: Turkina B, because there is nothing more powerful in the game.

[SuperPheemy]

Warhammer. It just looked so butt-kickey!

[egaroadkill]

Light: Jenner –F removes the SRM and replaces with extra armor and a heat sink or two.

Medium: Wolverine, the all laser variant
Heavy: Marauder variant with large lasers and mediums. No AC or PPC. But, the humble Archer with all its LRM’s was tons of fun too. Oh, and must not forget the T-Bolt either!
Assault: Toss up… Awesome with its three PPC’s! The Charger variant with four large lasers or the Banshee 3S are all great fun. The original 3025 Pillager was fun too.

Overall my favorite was the Jenner –F

Later with Star League tech I loved the…
Light: Hussar
Medium: Crab, Komodo and Starfire
Heavy: Any Marauder variant, Gallowglas
Assault: Devastator, Pillager, Marauder II

Overall, Komodo

Clan
Light: Piranha, Puma, Cougar
Medium: Shadowcat, Nova
Heavy: Rifleman, Marauder
Assault: Masakari, Dashi, Supernova

Overall, Nova

[daeudi_454]

First love: Wasp, Phoenix Hawk, Tomahawk (old School)
Favorites: Anything from the Japanese Battletech
Playability: Tomahawk

Fave Dirty trick....
Lots of Packrats - SRL replaced with Targeting laser :eg: Then come the Archer's LRMs

[Dr. Anomaly]

The first Battlemech I fell in love with?

The Ostscout. I kid you not. I still love those things!

[Spiral]

OK I’m not a big Battletech fan or player even though it was the actually my first experience with a RPG gaming group. We were playing and they gave me this big 100 ton Mech. Atlas I think was the name of it. It had long range weapons and a 2 movement I remember that.
So anyway we started the game and were placed on the edge of the game map and I ended up being the last to move. I stood still fired a weapon and got a head shot on a medium size mech being played by my hubby. It was great he failed his roll and was out of the game. The dice was good to me that night I got real good rolls. Since then that has always been my favorite.

[pendelfield]

My first and favorite was the Archer. It was the first Mech my character recieved, and was still going when we finally ended that campaign all be it a lot revised.

[TheRavenIs]

My first and favorite was the Archer. It was the first Mech my character recieved, and was still going when we finally ended that campaign all be it a lot revised.

And you were so effective with that Archer. I loved it when we played the bad guys never knew what was going on.

[TheQuestionMan]

And you were so effective with that Archer. I loved it when we played the bad guys never knew what was going on.
INDIRECT FIRE!!!

RAAR!!!

QM

[shadow_walker]

INDIRECT FIRE!!!

RAAR!!!

QM

Steel Rain is always fun.

[TheRavenIs]

Well pendelfield at the time we ended that game he had Arrow IV and we had advanced Badger Probes, so it was fun to watch the bad guys get burned. incrdbil was the GM, so you know he hated to have to watch he's enemy mech gets chewed up.

[shadow_walker]

incrdbil was the GM, so you know he hated to have to watch he's enemy mech gets chewed up.

I know all to well.

[daeudi_454]

Fave Dirty trick....
Lots of Packrats - SRL replaced with Targeting laser :eg: Then come the Archer's LRMs
Forgive me, it's been a LOoonng time....

That should read:

Fave Dirty trick....
Lots of Packrats - Flamer replaced with TAG system :eg: Then come the Archer's LRMs

[TheRavenIs]

One thing that got to me when playing BattleTech was we had a player that ALWAYS held back. He could be in the biggest, most battle worthy mech on the board and he would hold back and let the rest of us take the brunt of the hits, then after we had the enemy damaged, here would come this un-damaged mech in to take the bad guys down.

Needless to say we got feed up, he did that one too many times so we all had jump capiable mechs, he didn't. We jump away and leave him to take the pounding, so when he falls we jump back in and fight like a team and save he's sorry butt. Form then on we told him, "You hold your mech back we will be the ones that trash it." Not long after that we told the chump to go and never come back.

I can't believe this but I want to play BattleTech, and I usually hate it. I like Mech Warrior, because I like RP, but after not playing BT for so long I miss the mindless violance.

[TheQuestionMan]

I always had problems when Game Mastering/Refereeing. The group I gamed with were all high caliber ;) players. That meant that you had to rise to the challenge or be left behind as salvage.

I also had a hard time following House or Mercenary Battle Doctrine and would switch back to my own fairly quickly. We also did not play last Mech standing, but allowed the enemy to retreat from the field rather than take more damage. We also would surrend the field and retreat if we could not win our Objective.

Our battles were long drawn out affairs as each player maneuvered for advantage.

I ran Mechwarrior Hero awhile back and think I did pretty well. ;) My players used Luck Chits (aka; Edge Points) to stay alive.

Lots of fun

QM

[shadow_walker]

One thing that got to me when playing BattleTech was we had a player that ALWAYS held back.

In are group we call him Ralph. The best way to get campers on your side to move is by threating them with a "get your butt out there or I'll attack you" threat. I'm sure Incrdbil remembers what I did too his combine lance when he wouldn't move up and give me some support. :snicker:



I can't believe this but I want to play BattleTech, and I usually hate it. I like Mech Warrior, because I like RP, but after not playing BT for so long I miss the mindless violance.

Come to the darkside, we have cookies.

[Velocinox]

Light: Panther - A 35ton jumper with a PPC. All the other light mechs drained their coolant when they saw it.
Medium: Hunchback - A HB in a city was scary. You turn the corner and get a face full of AC20...
Heavy: Warhammer - Won MVP of a tourny in one of these. Best looking mech in the game.
Assault: Battlemaster - This was the assault you met most. Nobody wanted to pay for the Atlas, and the Awesome just got to darn hot.

I have great stories in both wargames and Mechwarrio RPG games in all four of these mechs. I'll never forget them...

As far as clan... the complete flexibility of omni mechs helped kill the battletech wargame. (imo)

[TheQuestionMan]

Light: Panther - A 35ton jumper with a PPC. All the other light mechs drained their coolant when they saw it.
My Valkerie's ate Panthers for breakfast.

Medium: Hunchback - A HB in a city was scary. You turn the corner and get a face full of AC20...
Definitely ugly. When it came to city fighting I let it be known the only way I enter a city is by LEVELING IT!!! as I advance from Long-Range.

Heavy: Warhammer - Won MVP of a tourny in one of these. Best looking mech in the game.
Match you a ThunderBolt or Crusader vs your Warhammer.

Assault: Battlemaster - This was the assault you met most. Nobody wanted to pay for the Atlas, and the Awesome just got to darn hot.
I never enjoyed running Assault Mechs, but I thought the Victor a good mech.

I have great stories in both wargames and Mechwarrio RPG games in all four of these mechs. I'll never forget them...
I know what you mean.

As far as clan... the complete flexibility of omni mechs helped kill the battletech wargame. (imo)
Your preaching to the choir.



INCOMING!!!

QM

[shadow_walker]

I never enjoyed running Assault Mechs, but I thought the Victor a good mech.


I like big mechs and I can not lie, You other mechwarriors can't deny.

[TheRavenIs]

I loved modifed Atlas, or Maurader 2's.

[TheQuestionMan]

I like big mechs and I can not lie, You other mechwarriors can't deny.
In truth we cannot, but I prefer a Medium. Do you not?

[TheRavenIs]

In truth we cannot, but I prefer a Medium. Do you not?

Yes, a Phoenix Hawk LAM, I shall always have a place for that in my heart.

[TheQuestionMan]

Yes, a Phoenix Hawk LAM, I shall always have a place for that in my heart.
A mixed breed to be sure and an excellent target to be sure. ;)

[shadow_walker]

In truth we cannot, but I prefer a Medium. Do you not?

It varies on the scenario and terrain. Playing on heavy wooded maps I'll use jump cable mechs with out little thought. Snatch and grab scenarios I chose the fast but fragile style. Of late me and my group games have been mainly beat downs on semi open terrain. I may be a House Steiner mechwarrior but I haven't forgot what I learn as a fedrat.;)

[TheRavenIs]

A mixed breed to be sure and an excellent target to be sure. ;)

Yeah it might be, but when in guardian......man talk about maneuverablity.

[TheQuestionMan]

Yeah it might be, but when in guardian......man talk about maneuverablity.
Yeah that was cool. About the only way to bring one down was with a Grasshopper, not moving, and lots and lots of skill. Next to impossible to hit.

Cheers

QM

[TheQuestionMan]

It varies on the scenario and terrain. Playing on heavy wooded maps I'll use jump cable mechs with out little thought. Snatch and grab scenarios I chose the fast but fragile style. Of late me and my group games have been mainly beat downs on semi open terrain. I may be a House Steiner mechwarrior but I haven't forgot what I learn as a fedrat.;)
I have been a Eridani Light Horseman from the start. Born in the saddle yah might say ;) . My second most used Faction is the Federated Suns then the Draconis Combine (a Black Wave Warrior).

"Fire your Auto-Cannons until they glow. If need be till they explode!"

QM

[shadow_walker]

I have been a Eridani Light Horseman from the start. Born in the saddle yah might say ;) . My second most used Faction is the Federated Suns then the Draconis Combine (a Black Wave Warrior).

"Fire your Auto-Cannons until they glow. If need be till they explode!"

QM


Lets see I've started by battletech career as a merc. Then once I got into the background i went to house davion. The clanners came, I went to steiner because for a while the only type of mechs that seem the most "success" against the clans were assaults. Now thought I feel then need to move on, maybe I'll try my luck with Periphery state.

[TheRavenIs]

I have been a Eridani Light Horseman from the start. Born in the saddle yah might say ;) . My second most used Faction is the Federated Suns then the Draconis Combine (a Black Wave Warrior).

"Fire your Auto-Cannons until they glow. If need be till they explode!"

QM

My C wanted the ELH, but ended up in a Merc Compnay, Gamblers Gambler's. This group of Merc's were unknown but made a name for themselves. Over Time we expanded into two companies, my C was the overall second-in-command. We were for the length of the game always FedStar aligned.

GG became the primere Merc Compnay in FedStar, we won fights when we shouldn't, we tricked others, we did things in a way that no one else would consider, but we won.

[shadow_walker]

GG became the primere Merc Compnay in FedStar, we won fights when we shouldn't, we tricked others, we did things in a way that no one else would consider, but we won.

I know the feeling *looks at Incrdbil* :D

[ghost-angel]

We always ignored the Clans so they never came into our BTech world...

Locust, refitted with Small Lasers and Jump Jets (remove the machine guns). Because a real assault mech doesn't need any more than that. Hey, I dropped a Battlemaster with that thing. But I don't recommend a Death From Above ... results were messy.

[Dr. Anomaly]

Locust, refitted with Small Lasers and Jump Jets (remove the machine guns). Because a real assault mech doesn't need any more than that. Hey, I dropped a Battlemaster with that thing. But I don't recommend a Death From Above ... results were messy.
:lol: Yeah... those Locust legs are spindly!

[TheQuestionMan]

A had a Wasp jump behind my Crusader he rolled Center Torso Critical, 2 Criticals, Gyro and Gyro. I ejected and my Lance withdrew.

The next game, Piloting a Wasp myself I lept behind an enemy Crusader rolled Center Torso Critical, 2 Criticals, Gyro and Gyro and ordered my Lance to grab the fallen Mech and run back to base.

Sometimes fate has a strange sense of humor.

QM

[shadow_walker]

Sometimes fate has a strange sense of humor.

QM

Ya I know, I play Megamek.

[TheRavenIs]

I have learned that the randomness of dice can always alter the fate we find in games, but BT can be the worst for that to happen in. I've also learned that the more you add to the randomness can actually help you.

[Dr. Anomaly]

I played in a Mechwarrior campaign for several years, and we used Battletech for our mech fights, of course. My character hated combat, and had initially opted to be a scout because scouts are, by and large, supposed to run away from danger. Fate seemed to have other plans for Marissa Duvall, though, and she kept getting pushed into situations where she couldn't run away from combat, and her piloting and gunnery skills kept on inching higher and higher.

One extended adventure found us doing some undercover work on Solaris 7 as part of one of the big name gladiatorial stables there. Marissa's prefered mechs were lights (very mobile, very agile, very good at running away fast). For the arena fights she was in, she was forced (partly by the stable owner, partly by circumstances) to use an lumbering assault-class mech... and a Goliath at that!

During her tenure in the stable, Marissa won every single one of her arena duels with one salvo. Let me repeat that: Every. Single. One. while she was fighting for that stable (and she only had one arena duel where she wasn't fighting for that stable).

I had an unbelievable penchant for "Center Torso: Possible Critical" and "Head" shots. The GM switched dice on me frequently. His dice, my dice, my fellow player's dice... it didn't matter. Marissa entered every arena duel for that stable scared stiff, and fought by playing hide-and-seek, and avoiding her opponent, until they got frustrated, did something stupid that gave her an opening... then she went for it, guns blazing.

The only arena duel she didn't win with one salvo was AFTER she'd retired from the circuit as #1 of the Top Twenty, and was getting set to leave Solaris. At the press conference where she'd announced her retirement, a woman she didn't know stood up and challenged her to a duel. Marissa replied (rather sarcastically) that she was retired, and told the stranger (in somewhat... less than polite language) what she could go do with herself. The woman then informed her that if Marissa didn't accept her challenge, she'd hunt Marissa down and shoot her in the back. (The newsfeeds were, of course, following all this with glee.) Marissa lost her temper and told the stranger that she'd meet her at the time and place of the stranger's choosing, and who the [censored] was she, anyway?

The daughter of the Bounty Hunter, the stranger said.

Marissa got one of those horrible stomach-leaving-on-vacation-now feelings, but it was too late to back out... and besides, if she didn't show, she fully expected the woman to follow through on her threat of hunting down, etc.

The Bounty Hunter's daughter chose a small second-rate arena called "The Pit" for the challenge. It was nothing but an open square of bare earth with thick earthwork embankments around it. In other words... no place to run, no place to hide, no place to avoid the enemy until they made a mistake Marissa could capitalize upon. But it got worse.

The Bounty Hunter's daughter was piloting a Marauder II that had been largely rebuilt with Clan tech. We were also using the optional initiative rules and the arena dueling rules and manuevers, so I kept using the Evade action, waiting for a time when I manged to beat the GM on the initiative roll, so I could take a shot. When the time came that I rolled the maximum I possibly could for initiative and at the same time the GM rolled the lowest possible... and I still lost initiative... I began to get the idea of what was going on here... he was bound and determined that by God I'd lose at least ONE arena duel, and this had been set up specifically so I couldn't win.

I decided at that point I'd have to stop dodging and take a shot, and hope the shot the Bounty Hunter's daughter got off first (because of her higher initiative) wouldn't be instantly fatal, and would leave me in a state to be able to return fire. She pivoted around, brought up one of those massive forearms... I asked the GM what she was firing and, grinning, he replied "The ultra AC/20". And then he added "And with her gunnery skill, there is NO WAY that I can miss. Rolling the dice is just a formality." That was the first time I've had the weird experience of playing a character and literally having their life flash before their eyes.

Chortling, he rolled... and the dice came up double 1's. On an ultra autocannon... that's a weapon jam.

He stared at the dice in stunned disbelief... and so did I. Then I grabbed for my dice and told him I was, for my shot, taking a called shot to a specific weapon location (by this point, Marissa was a good enough gunner that, under the expanded dueling rules, I had a CHANCE of pulling that off). I aimed for the ultra AC/20, fired... and hit, putting that weapon permanently out of commission so she couldn't clear the jam and fire again. Her return shot shredded a lot of armor and one medium laser, but that was all. My second shot... gauss rifle slug... center torso, possible critical... 3 criticals... engine, engine, engine.

Given the dueling rules, I now owned her mech. But I graciously decided to let her ransom it back... for an astronomical sum, of course. ;)

So the only arena duel Marissa fought that wasn't while employed by a stable she won, but took two shots to do it. And it was a situation that was blatantly set up for me to be impossible to win. :)

Marissa then shook the dust of Solaris off her feet and got the [censored] out of there, along with the rest of her lancemates...

-----

I have NEVER had a run of luck like that, before or since, with that character or any other, or in any other game. (In fact, I tend to be mildly imfamous for how low my rolls for my own characters tend to be, or during playing games like the Mechwarrior click-based game.)

[ghost-angel]

:lol: Yeah... those Locust legs are spindly!

I performed exactly two DFA Attacks with that Locust. The first was on a Marauder. With aformentioned messy results.

The second time i'd learned my lesson. I hit a squad of PBI. That one was successful!!

After that the JJ were used to play frogger through large battles.

[TheQuestionMan]

Odd as it may seem I only ever preformed Death from Aboves with Heavy and Assault Mechs. The others could never sustain the Damage.

[shadow_walker]

Odd as it may seem I only ever preformed Death from Aboves with Heavy and Assault Mechs. The others could never sustain the Damage.

Ya you know your in trouble if you get DFA by a 100 ton mechs. :eek:

[TheRavenIs]

Hey doing it with a modifed Atlas can really do alot of damage to the one you landed on, but don't do what a friend always did when he tried it.....miss and fall face first, major oach.

[TheQuestionMan]

ROFLOL, the Grasshopper and the Victor were DFA masters.

[TheQuestionMan]

(Battletech) What type of Battlemech are You?
http://quizilla.com/users/Gon/quizzes/(Battletech)%20What%20type%20of%20Battlemech%20are %20You%3F/

Cheers

QM

Land Air 'Mech (LAM).
You are a very rare breed of 'Mech that can either fight on the ground or sprout wings and fly! This makes you extremely manouverable and versatile on the battlefield. Outside your cockpit, you have a kind heart and are confident of being able to cope with any crisis, though this can sometimes lead to arrogance. Examples of Land Air 'Mechs include the Pheonix Hawk LAM, Stinger LAM and Wasp LAM.

[TheRavenIs]

I love Beagle Prob, and a scout team in battle armor working together as FO, then call in the IDF and artilery and watch your enemy either run or die.

Land Air 'Mech (LAM).
You are a very rare breed of 'Mech that can either fight on the ground or sprout wings and fly! This makes you extremely manouverable and versatile on the battlefield. Outside your cockpit, you have a kind heart and are confident of being able to cope with any crisis, though this can sometimes lead to arrogance. Examples of Land Air 'Mechs include the Pheonix Hawk LAM, Stinger LAM and Wasp LAM.

I do love those Mech's.

[shadow_walker]

Real 'Mech.
You are the backbone of the battlefield. A balanced mix of speed, armor and weaponry has you suitable for many applications; no doubt helped by your relative ease of maintainance. Tactics and skill are the key to your survival. In person you are friendly and outgoing, and a cooperative team player. You will always be there to help or protect a friend in need. Examples of Real 'Mechs include the Bushwacker, Ryoken and Goshawk.

[shadow_walker]

I do love those Mech's.[/B]

Thats what I keep hearing.:p

[ghost-angel]

Recon 'Mech.
You are usually very fast. Most of your gear includes nifty electronics like ECM, BAP, TAG etc. Lightly encumbered, your duty is to transmit information about enemy units or harass them, until reinforcements come to help you. Personality wise, you trust your friends a lot, and have a knack of using quick thinking to get you out of trouble, as you hate prolonged conflict. Examples of Recon 'Mechs include the Vixen, Locust and Raven.
--

They forgot to mention that as a general rule Locust pilots are bat-s*** insane.

[mayapuppies]

My absolute favorites were the original write-ups for the Thunderbolt and Wolverine. Both of those mechs could move and shoot all weapons without overheating...very, very handy

[Old Man]

There are certain weight classes that are just plain more efficient than others in Battletech. If memory serves (and it often doesn't) they are 5, 10, 20, 55, 75 and 90.


Fire Support 'Mech.
You provide artillery cover for everyone else, and help to weaken enemy forces before they close within range. You possess the most powerful weaponry, but since you rarely claim kills, others take the glory usually. As a person, you would be strong, silent and introspective - a pillar of strength for others to lean on and glean wisdom from. Examples of Fire Support 'Mechs include the Hollander, Catapult, and Naga.

[TheQuestionMan]

My absolute favorites were the original write-ups for the Thunderbolt and Wolverine. Both of those mechs could move and shoot all weapons without overheating...very, very handy

Uhm.. I mised this earlier. Dude a Thunderbolt has 15 Heat Sinks. Firing all Weapons costs 25 plus Movement? I think you were refering to the Dragon?

Maybe

QM

[shadow_walker]

Uhm.. I mised this earlier. Dude a Thunderbolt has 15 Heat Sinks. Firing all Weapons costs 25 plus Movement? I think you were refering to the Dragon?

Maybe

QM

or the old charger. ;)

[TheRavenIs]

Lol

[TheQuestionMan]

The Charger was an Assaul Mech that was barely worthy of the name. 9 times out of 10 my Players would sell it for a Medium Mech or Low End Heavy Mech. If they could find a buyer.

Talk about a bad design.

QM

[shadow_walker]

Talk about a bad design.

QM

I don't disgree. One time I played a game were I was playing a commado against a charger. When a light mech has more damage potenial then a assult mech, you know its a bad design.

[incrdbil]

The Charger was an Assaul Mech that was barely worthy of the name. 9 times out of 10 my Players would sell it for a Medium Mech or Low End Heavy Mech. If they could find a buyer.

Talk about a bad design.

QM


when using Battle Value based games, it becomes interesting. Charger fighting other assaults =bad. Charge fighting other light mechs = interesting.

[incrdbil]

I don't disgree. One time I played a game were I was playing a commado against a charger. When a light mech has more damage potenial then a assult mech, you know its a bad design.

Well, as the physical combat rules now use piloting skill as a base, you can buy a Charger with a great pilot, forget about the gunner, and suddenly have a really mean fighter--especialy as chargging is total hexes moved, not just straight line. Get a 6, 7, or even 8 hex charge going from a charger..and a light mech is hurt. Heck, most mechs are pretty unhappy.

Of coiurse, the Charger is now woefully inadequate--with the new tech and rules out now, 5/8/5 is nice, but that Warhammer that moves 5/8/ and jumps 7(yes, seven, legally...)

Still, lets not bash the Charger too badly--the other variants of it pack quite a wallop-naturaly reducing speed to do so.

[shadow_walker]

Still, lets not bash the Charger too badly--the other variants of it pack quite a wallop-naturaly reducing speed to do so.

It took them awhile to figure that out.