Mobile HQ or Dropship HQ?

[Crow]

Is there any specific advantage to using a Mobile HQ as opposed to simply commanding a larger force from a Dropship?  I mean, apart from the -1 initiative bonus the Mobile HQ gets for having more than 7 tons of Communications Equipment.

Mobile HQ seems far more vulnerable, you have to constantly guard it from hunter killer type units, plus having to devote an extra Light Vehicle Bay on a Dropship. Whereas, a Dropship has way more armor and guns but is a bit more obvious of a target once it gets planetside.

What say you, chaps?

[Empyrus]

Presumably this depends on where the front line is, assuming a DropShip is actually equipped with command facilities. Depending, it might not have those really for whatever reason.
If you have well secured LZ, you probably don't want to move your Droppers even as the front line is moving further away. So, take a MHQ to the front line. Or if the front line is in terrain that is completely unsuitable for DropShips.
(Going to assume here that comms between front line and the LZ can be disrupted so having a command post near front is a good idea.)

Also, a HQ is  target, depending on the era and combatants, DropShips might get treated as non-combatants so you might not want to make them targets by using them as HQs (not sure if this actually happens, perhaps among the Clans?).

A planetary garrison force is like spread across the planet but its DropShips, if any, could be concentrated in the primary space port. So those spread out forces could use MHQs.

Another reason to use MHQ is for mobile bases, for guerrila forces and the like. You know, you have some of those mobile field repair gantry things, a mobile field hospital, and a MHQ for communications.

Personally i see MHQs as more akin to modern communications platforms (like the Finnish "Viesti-Pasi" ("message-Pasi"), an APC equipped with communications equipment for command and signaling) rather than a field headquarters usually.

[Weirdo]

In game rules, the answer is simple: You only get the bonus from an HQ if it is actually on the play area. A lot easier to incorporate a truck into your force than a DropShip.

Also, a Mobile HQ is a lot easier to hide from enemy forces, and can move out a lot faster than a DropShip if your weather report suddenly changes to Cloudy with a Chance of Arty.

[snewsom2997]

All, Just different responsibilities at different levels. Dropship for Strategic command, Mobile HQ for Theater Command, Battalion and Company Commanders for Tactical Command.

In game, especially in a campaign, you don't want your dropships anywhere near the battlefield. Despite the fluff, Mobile HQs are cheap and and easily replaced, your Command Overlord, on the other hand, costs the GDP of a small planet, and takes months if not years to replace.

[Colt Ward]

Honestly, the HQ on the dropship for a large operation should be used to run the logistics/support functions.  Its not the guys in the mobile HQ who are asking the recovery team where they are since they are a hour late to pick up that downed Hunchback the infantry platoon is getting nervous about guarding.  And 'Dang it Carl, you were supposed to take the LEFT turn at the crossroads with that load of ammo!  Who let you drive the first vehicle anyway- it was nearly guaranteed you would lose the column!'  Or making sure your engineers have got the bridge unit up close to the Forward Line of Own Troops (FLOT) so your tracked tanks can cross the river in support of the mechs and move ammo.

The mobile HQ should be tracking combat related items since unfortunately its probably following the mission commander in his mech instead of him sitting with his butt in the vehicle overseeing the unit instead of shooting.  It will be tracking intel, fire missions, crew rest rotations, and setting up the rearming points while staying in contact with the support elements.  They will pass on the needs and that DS HQ should be the one figuring out how to get it done.

[Nightlord01]

I suppose the biggest question this brings up is what is your battlefield commander doing?

If they are out in a mech, then who's actually doing the positioning of your units, assigning reserves and managing the battlespace? Junior commanders run around with the troops, battlespace commanders sit in nice, safe locations and observe and direct. I'd be more inclined to have the battlefield commander in a drop ship over the battlespace, if you have air superiority, then they have line of sight communications, camera view of the combat, and most importantly, are quite safe from pushes.

Of course, I'd also drop off an MCV as a decoy, sit it out of the way and watch as their pilots went crazy about it.

[Weirdo]

Of course, I'd also drop off an MCV as a decoy, sit it out of the way and watch as their pilots went crazy about it.

"Corporal, what made you decide to defect?"
"I was assigned to drive a command truck, and I heard an aircraft."
"That makes sense."

[truetanker]

"Corporal, what made you decide to defect?"
"I was assigned to drive a command truck, and I heard an aircraft."
"That makes sense."

What the Corporal failed to realize was said aircraft was a Cobra VTOL Command version. BV:367 vs. 319-436 Mobile HG / Daimyo HG 561-749.

TT

[mbear]

What the Corporal failed to realize was said aircraft was a Cobra VTOL Command version. BV:367 vs. 319-436 Mobile HG / Daimyo HG 561-749.

TT

I'm tempted to make a G.I. Joe Cobra Commander joke here, but I'll refrain.

Though if the Cloud Cobras used an MCV we really would have a Cobra Commander. *mind blown*

[truetanker]

An the ilkahn would be...

Serpentor!

TT

[idea weenie]

Time to have a few fake Mobile HQ that are actually hiding AA capabilities.  And give them a radio so they can send and receive data from the true Mobile HQ.

Is there a way to do that, where hidden equipment is not visible to the attacker until it is deployed or detected (via Active Probe or similar)?  Like a pirate Archer that does not have LRMs, but instead uses the twin bays to carry more loot?

In this case, it would be a Mobile HQ that removes the communications equipment and related gear, and replaces them with AA weaponry with a retracting roof.

[Weirdo]

TacOps has rules for concealing record sheets and otherwise hiding the capabilities of your units.

[Hellraiser]

Is there any specific advantage to using a Mobile HQ as opposed to simply commanding a larger force from a Dropship?  I mean, apart from the -1 initiative bonus the Mobile HQ gets for having more than 7 tons of Communications Equipment.

Mobile HQ seems far more vulnerable, you have to constantly guard it from hunter killer type units, plus having to devote an extra Light Vehicle Bay on a Dropship. Whereas, a Dropship has way more armor and guns but is a bit more obvious of a target once it gets planetside.

What say you, chaps?

Mobile HQ can follow the Mechs fairly easily & only be a few kilometers from the front if needed.   
Moving a Dropship on the other hand is a major undertaking & then means the Dropship is far closer to the enemy than you want to be.

I think it also come down to who the CO is, is this a Field Marshal in charge of an entire RCT of 10ish regiments, then a Dropship might be the way to go.
Is it a Merc Commander that just has a couple battalions, then a single Command Van is far more likely to keep the CO near his mech.

[Garrand]

I would expect the Mobile HQ to be doing things like following around the mech Bn commander a few miles down the road, with his staff officers, & escorted by the support troops, attachments (like an MP platoon, combat engineers, etc) & the like. As well as the Regimental commander & whatever other levels of command an RCT (or RCT-type) formation might have. The dropship command center would be more for the strategic level command in the rear or secure area, rather than following the front-line troops.

Damon.