Author Topic: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082  (Read 3584 times)

Tyler Jorgensson

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Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« on: 01 September 2013, 21:49:42 »
This is what I have for a unit which uses nearly ALL energy weapons. Coments, concerns, ect appreciated.

Quote
Fire Hawks

The Fire Hawks are led by one Colonel Stephen Brennan, originally of the Lyran Alliance. His family resided in the Lyran Alliance for hundreds of years, with members of his family serving the LAAF in every Succession war. His father had six sons and one daughter, all but two serving in the LAAF: one son serving as a doctor and Stephen who chose to join ComStar. Stephen rose to become a Demi-Precentor in the ComGuards before the Clans attacked. Serving at the battle of Tukayyid with the 138th Division his command was mauled by the Wolves, led by Khan Natasha Kerensky and Phelan Kell. Rather than stick with the Com Guards he opted for retirement. Making his way back home he had discovered that the majority of his brothers and his sister had died, mostly fighting against Clan Jade Falcon.

Rather than bitterness, Stephen took the lesson to heart. Contacting fellow Com Guard expatriates and fellow family friends he built a Mercenary Battalion around his new core philosophy: the Clans COULD be beaten if one was smart about it. His initial unit was two battalions strong, a combined force of Mechs and vehicles, primarily which used laser based weaponry. He hired his unit to the Draconis Combine and volunteered for long range harassment missions, one which his supply lines could not be guaranteed. Due to the nature of his unit he was successful in these missions, and raised a Third Battalion.

The unit continued to take missions that were against the Clans, netting various salvage. The missions were not always cake walks, one being the Falcons decimated two battalions sent against them, but their salvage and their high risk missions kept drawing more and more pay days.

The Jihad struck in 3067 and once against Stephen, now with a combined arms Regiment, took to the task. Extended members of his family assisted the unit in a variety of roles, including his one remaining brother the doctor. The Jihad tore them up but the unit survived, which is more than can be said of a lot of Mercenary commands. Their free wheeling, lack of supply units, and their tactics kept them alive against the Blakist Militia's and Divisions sent against them. Thankfully they were not sent against any major Blakist Divisions or Shadow Divisions, and none of their attacks featured chemical or nuclear weapons.

The command was reduced to little more than a Battalion. Selling some of his damaged units, and his damaged dropships he has spent the previous few years outfitting his command to Battalion size with advanced tech. He took a temporary garrison contract with the Federated Suns, training Militia units while he rebuilds.

The unit uses a stylized angel, with flaming wings and a flaming sword as it's insignia. The mechs use a black and grey camo scheme, with fiery accents in red, orange, and yellow.

Unit Commander Colonel Stephen Brennan is reaching his mid-sixties now, and had no intentions of stopping from old age. he mantains his body to physical fitness, and keeps his mech just as fit. His BL-12 KNT Black Knight has been his ride since his time in the Com Guards, and despite several mauling his technicians are top quality.

Unit composition is four Lances of Mechs and one of vehicles. Lances are designated Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Zeta. The unit also has one remaining Overlord class Dropship Vulcan". They spent a hefty fee upgrading her past the standard, replacing the autocannons and missile launchers with double the laser based weaponry, all now extended range and pulse models. Double Heat Sinks are now standard as well. The unit mantains a high number of technicians, filling the remaining berths and they are veteran rated capable of installing Clan or advanced tech. They write into their contracts for preferential salvage of energy based systems and mechs, eschewing those with missile or canon based weaponry.

The unit is rated Veteran/Fanatical, bordering on Elite (which is good considering their recent mauling and numerous rebirths).

Alpha Lance

BL-12-KNT Black Knight
Ebon Jaguar B
CTS-6Z Cestus
GRH-7K Grasshopper


Alpha Lance serves as the Command Lance for the unit. Colonel Brennan commands from his Black Knight, while the Ebon Jaguar (salvage from their battle against the Smoke Jaguars) and Cestus serve as long range combatants. The Grasshopper serves as their mobile reserve.

Beta Lance

MTR-5K Maelstrom
Nova Prime
CRB-30 Crab
LNX-9R Lynx


Beta Lance is a heavy striker lance. Long range firepower consists of the units ER PPC’s and Large Lasers, only to give way to a phalanx of ER Mediums should the enemy come to close.

Delta Lance

LNC25-04 Lancelot
CLN-7Z Chameleon
WLF-3S Wolfhound
SDR-8M Spider


Delta Lance is a fast fire support unit capable of maneuvering around the conflicts. The unit is formerly the Second Battalion which favored mechs like the Spider and Chameleon: a dime a dozen. The Commander, Captain Jason Freedman, is also commander of the units provisional C3i Lance (consisting of Beta's CRB-30 Crab, his own LNC25-04 Lancelot, and Gamma's MON-266 Mongoose II and NXS2-B Nexus II), giving him dual roles in the unit. He also serves as unit XO.

Gamma Lance

SYU-2B Sha-Yu
MON-266 Mongoose II
SPR-ST Spector
NXS2-B Nexus II


Gamma Lance is the remainder of the units Recon Company. rapidly approaching at over 100 kph the unit serves as both recon specialists and spotter units for allied units.

Zeta Lance

DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank

Zeta Lance is a new acquisition of assault class tanks. Stripping the machine guns for an additional heat sink and an ER Small Laser, they provide assault class firepower to a less than mobile battlefield. They so far have served as OP-FOR protecting the unit's dropship in simulated games against the Militia.

martian

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #1 on: 02 September 2013, 03:17:47 »
A few random thoughts:

1) The BL-12-KNT Black Knight was built exclusively for the AFFS. For your former ComGuards commander, the "Clanbuster" BL-9-KNT model would be more suitable.

2) The designation "Ebon Jaguar" is correct, but rarely used. Both the Clans and the Inner Sphere MechWarriors use the codename "Cauldron-Born".

3) The Inner Sphere uses the reporting name "Black Hawk" for the Nova.

4) The CRB-30 Crab is extinct after the Jihad. The available models are CRB-27/C, and the reintroduced Royal CRB-27b. I think that this Royal model is as good as the CRB-30 that you selected. It can cool its weapons better and it is much more durable.

4) The LNC25-04 Lancelot is extinct. I think you should take the still available LNC25-01. It's not as good, but at least spare parts are still available from the Draconis Combine.

5) Forget the C3i. It's so easily jammable and so BV-expensive that it's usually not worth taking.

6) Forget the Sha-Yu. The Capellans do not sell their good 'Mechs on the open market (well, almost), only to their allies in the Magistracy of Canopus and the Duchy of Andurien. And you said that your mercenaries work for the Federated Suns ...

7) MON-266 Mongoose II was manufactured for the ComGuard. But its production ceased after the end of the Jihad. You may take either the MON-267 with the Stealth Armor or the MON-268 with the C3 Master computer. I would say that the -267 might be the right variant for you.

8 ) The Blakist Nexus II disappeared after the Jihad.

-----------------
A) C3 networks are not a good idea, especially if we talk about common C3/C3i networks. They can be very easily disrupted with the simple Guardian ECM suite, which is very common in the Inner Sphere. The Clans use their improved Clan ECM suite and the Watchdog CEWS - both systems can jam the C3 network too.

B) C3 networks inflate your BV significantly. Your opponent will be able to field heavier and more powerful 'Mechs.

C) It's not a good idea to disperse your C3i-equipped 'Mechs among three different lances. If you really really want to use some kind of C3 network, then at least concentrate all relevant 'Mechs into one unit.

D) C3i networks all but disappeared from the Inner Sphere. You may try to organize a C3-networked lance instead.
----------------------------

I understand that you like the all-energy 'Mechs. I know that it offers some import advantages to a mercenary unit. But keep in mind that two new weapons have appeared in the Inner Sphere in late 3060s - the Plasma Rifle and the Plasma Cannon.
Some enemy 'Mechs may mount two or more of them.

Just imagine you took your all-energy 'Mechs against the Clan Jade Falcon and met opposition fielding Loki D or Flamberge B.
Or you went against the Clan Wolf and had to fight the Masakari E or the Ryoken F, among other 'Mechs.

The Diamond Sharks are selling the Warhammer IIC 8 to all interested buyers.

Your energy-based 'Mechs may have significant difficulties when dealing with such opposition. Even old Infernos are still in use. Not to talk about such nasty things such as Inferno warheads for the  Arrow IV artillery.
The engine shielding hit(s) will limit the usefulness of you 'Mech more then on some other 'Mechs.

Tyler Jorgensson

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #2 on: 02 September 2013, 11:39:22 »
Okay in order again (thanks for commenting again)

1) I’m dumb and yes

2) Yup: I’m aware and prefer the Inner Sphere designation myself, and for some reason have been trying to switch all the clan designs around.

3/4/7/8) Aware that most of these designs were exinct/ Com Guard and thats why I was writing in former Com Guards members. I can drop some of these mechs to their pre-designations: but the one major question is what would you reccomend for the Nexus II (Which I totally forgot was actually mostly Blakist produced for a good couple decades)

5/B) Yes your right: I had included it based on the fact the commander would want to continue recruiting additional members to make his unit a Regiment in size again, and he recruits a lot of former Com Guard if possible. In addition it gives his units the capabilities to work with units that are not his own and that have missiles and stuff. Plus I don’t actually play any games with my units (big sad face).

6) Also true: For some reason I’m a big fan of the Sha-Yu now... maybe since I found out that Sandra Tseng was actually Capellean I’ve grown tollerant of those crazy Cappies. Anyways back on topic, what should I replace it for: something fast and medium for the ‘scout lance’.

A) Yes: especially with the Jihad and all, these computers are just leftovers from a better time: one could even write into fluff that the Captain (or Colonel) is looking to sell off the fancy computers and replace them with something (more likely heat sinks or targeting computers).

C) Logistically true: it’s really like “Hey! We can form a C3i lance if we want and you supporting House units we can tie two of your liasons in. Oh dont have C3i... well nevermind back to original missions.” Window dressings and extra titles/pay really.

D) Did I mention I really dislike regular C3 systems? C3i is just better IMO and gives the system a lot of good stuff and takes away very little. If I have to drop it I can but I would never replace it with a normal system.

I tried to put in a few plasma weapons I though, but I may have to check the composition again. Could easily buy a Warhammer: but I do see your point.

This unit (and I suppose a re-write of fluff be in order) is meant to take high risk guerilla or harasment raids as part of a larger force or acting behind enemy lines. The commander took Focht’s stragety for the clans and applied it piecmeil, no supply chain for the Wolves to disrupt. He aprently forgot the combined arms and blocked the vision of his whole command getting obliterated.  If/when they rebuild they would not keep a Regiment of mechs solely with energy weapons, and considering the time frame they are definetly going to start combining arms soon. I also think a twenty year update can show your points clearly how badly he failed when maybe an invasion force pummeled the unit and the CO lost his life because a cracked engine shielding, a dozen plasma cannons, and a couple inferno’s (all from one cruel infantry force) took out his mech.

martian

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #3 on: 02 September 2013, 12:42:16 »
but the one major question is what would you reccomend for the Nexus II (Which I totally forgot was actually mostly Blakist produced for a good couple decades)
LCT-5W/5W2 Locust - much more common in the IS, and in use after the Jihad
OTT-9S/9CS/10CS/11J Ostscout - those older ComStar models are extinct, I am afraid, but they used to be relatively common, should you wanna take one

Anyways back on topic, what should I replace it for: something fast and medium for the ‘scout lance’.
GST-10 Ghost - produced in the FWL and the LA and sold to mercenaries.
MON-267 Mongoose II - produced in the LA and sold to mercenaries.
STH-3S Stealth - if you have good relations with the AFFS, they may let you buy one
- realisticaly speaking, the Sha Yu heat capacity often allows you to fire only one ER Large Laser with the Stealth Armor switched on, so the difference between the Sha Yu and those listed 'Mechs is not as big as it might seem; plus, those 'Mechs have often significantly better protection

Plus I don’t actually play any games with my units (big sad face).
Have you tried the MegaMek? It's very useful if you have nobody to play with (in your town or so)

This unit (and I suppose a re-write of fluff be in order) is meant to take high risk guerilla or harasment raids as part of a larger force or acting behind enemy lines. The commander took Focht’s stragety for the clans and applied it piecmeil, no supply chain for the Wolves to disrupt. He aprently forgot the combined arms and blocked the vision of his whole command getting obliterated.  If/when they rebuild they would not keep a Regiment of mechs solely with energy weapons, and considering the time frame they are definetly going to start combining arms soon. I also think a twenty year update can show your points clearly how badly he failed when maybe an invasion force pummeled the unit and the CO lost his life because a cracked engine shielding, a dozen plasma cannons, and a couple inferno’s (all from one cruel infantry force) took out his mech.
The basic rule of the BattleTech is: "Whatever works for your game."
The basic goal of the BattleTech is: "Have fun."

I am just posting a few random ideas. If you like your unit and your chosen 'Mechs, then go with it.

Tyler Jorgensson

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #4 on: 03 September 2013, 11:26:05 »
The whole reason to post on here is to get other people's ideas and learn how to do it right ( but there is no way in hell I'm letting anybody mess with my full clan supernova galaxy filled with Dire Wolves and Elementals  >:D ) and I appreciate the help. Please don't stop posting help because sometimes I am a m****.


Locust 5W looks good enough for that role in the scout lance (I did always enjoy the 6m’s 300kph speed burst :D )

Three very good replacements, I think the Mongoose II will work for now: I can always say it's part of that unit that had a working C3 Lance and is now gone: no one bothered to strip it out so it's wasted space in his mech for now.

Yes I've been introduced to MegaMek and I'm working my way thru learning how to play it effectively

Tyler Jorgensson

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #5 on: 10 September 2013, 11:47:07 »
Quote
Fire Hawks

The Fire Hawks are led by one Colonel Stephen Brennan, originally of the Lyran Alliance. His family resided in the Lyran Alliance for hundreds of years, with members of his family serving the LAAF in every Succession war. His father had six sons and one daughter, all but two serving in the LAAF: one son serving as a doctor and Stephen who chose to join ComStar. Stephen rose to become a Demi-Precentor in the ComGuards before the Clans attacked. Serving at the battle of Tukayyid with the 138th Division his command was mauled by the Wolves, led by Khan Natasha Kerensky and Phelan Kell. Rather than stick with the Com Guards he opted for retirement. Making his way back home he had discovered that the majority of his brothers and his sister had died, mostly fighting against Clan Jade Falcon.

Rather than bitterness, Stephen took the lesson to heart. Contacting fellow Com Guard expatriates and fellow family friends he built a Mercenary Battalion around his new core philosophy: the Clans COULD be beaten if one was smart about it. His initial unit was two battalions strong, a combined force of Mechs and vehicles, primarily which used laser based weaponry. He hired his unit to the Draconis Combine and volunteered for long range harassment missions, one which his supply lines could not be guaranteed. Due to the nature of his unit he was successful in these missions, and raised a Third Battalion.

The unit continued to take missions that were against the Clans, netting various salvage. The missions were not always cake walks, one being the Falcons decimated two battalions sent against them, but their salvage and their high risk missions kept drawing more and more pay days.

The Jihad struck in 3067 and once against Stephen, now with a combined arms Regiment, took to the task. Extended members of his family assisted the unit in a variety of roles, including his one remaining brother the doctor. The Jihad tore them up but the unit survived, which is more than can be said of a lot of Mercenary commands. Their free wheeling, lack of supply units, and their tactics kept them alive against the Blakist Militia's and Divisions sent against them. Thankfully they were not sent against any major Blakist Divisions or Shadow Divisions, and none of their attacks featured chemical or nuclear weapons.

The command was reduced to little more than a Battalion. Selling some of his damaged units, and his damaged dropships he has spent the previous few years outfitting his command to Battalion size with advanced tech. He took a temporary garrison contract with the Federated Suns, training Militia units while he rebuilds.

The unit uses a stylized angel, with flaming wings and a flaming sword as it's insignia. The mechs use a black and grey camo scheme, with fiery accents in red, orange, and yellow.

Unit Commander Colonel Stephen Brennan is reaching his mid-sixties now, and had no intentions of stopping from old age. he mantains his body to physical fitness, and keeps his mech just as fit. His BL-12 KNT Black Knight has been his ride since his time in the Com Guards, and despite several mauling his technicians are top quality.

Unit composition is four Lances of Mechs and one of vehicles. Lances are designated Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Zeta. The unit also has one remaining Overlord class Dropship "Vulcan". They spent a hefty fee upgrading her past the standard, replacing the autocannons and missile launchers with double the laser based weaponry, all now extended range and pulse models. Double Heat Sinks are now standard as well. The unit mantains a high number of technicians, filling the remaining berths and they are veteran rated capable of installing Clan or advanced tech. They write into their contracts for preferential salvage of energy based systems and mechs, eschewing those with missile or canon based weaponry.

The unit is rated Veteran/Fanatical, bordering on Elite (which is good considering their recent mauling and numerous rebirths).

Alpha Lance

BL-9-KNT Black Knight
Cauldron Born B
CTS-6Z Cestus
GRH-7K Grasshopper

Alpha Lance serves as the Command Lance for the unit. Colonel Brennan commands from his Black Knight, while the Cauldron Born (salvage from their battle against the Smoke Jaguars) and Cestus serve as long range combatants. The Grasshopper serves as their mobile reserve.

Beta Lance

MTR-5K Maelstrom
Black Hawk Prime (not the Draconis Combine Black Hawk, but the Clan Nova)
CRB-27sl Crab
LNX-9R Lynx

Beta Lance is a heavy striker lance. Long range firepower consists of the units ER PPC’s and Large Lasers, only to give way to a phalanx of ER Mediums should the enemy come to close.

Delta Lance

LNC25-01 Lancelot
CLN-7Z Chameleon
WLF-3S Wolfhound
SDR-8M Spider

Delta Lance is a fast fire support unit capable of maneuvering around the conflicts. The unit is formerly the Second Battalion which favored mechs like the Spider and Chameleon: a dime a dozen. The Commander, Captain Jason Freedman, serves as unit XO.

Gamma Lance

STh-3s Stealth
MON-266 Mongoose II
SPR-ST Spector
LCT-5W Locust

Gamma Lance is the remainder of the units Recon Company. rapidly approaching at over 100 kph the unit serves as both recon specialists and spotter units for allied units.

Zeta Lance

DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank
DI Morgan Assault Tank

Zeta Lance is a new acquisition of assault class tanks. They so far have served as OP-FOR protecting the unit's dropship in simulated games against the Militia. They also provide overwhelming firepower in ambush situations, or are rumored to when the unit deploys on its first mission since accquiring them.

3145 Update coming :D

klinktastic

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Re: Fire Hawks Mercenary Unit - 3082
« Reply #6 on: 18 October 2013, 11:30:14 »
Playing your mercenary unit in MegaMek can be very fun and rewarding.  Checkout mine if you want to see what it's like.

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20495.0/all.html
Check out our actual play campaign website which contains all our after action reports, unit profiles and mission analysis at: www.ourbattletech.com/hexare