BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => Aerospace Combat => Topic started by: Alan Grant on 17 January 2018, 18:23:05
-
I really like the Caerleon. In addition to shuffling BA around on a planet, I like the idea of using it as a boarding vessel in space combat.
What's bugging me is that the FWL doesn't seem to have any dropships really capable of doing that. Both 1. Small craft bays to hold Caerleons, and 2. Battle armor bays that can hold anywhere near 20 tons of BA to fill a Caerleon.
Is there some design suited for this that I'm overlooking? Or are they just accustomed to bringing those assets in separately? I'm struggling with the logistics of making use of the Caerleon.
-
Seleucus carry BA.
TT
-
But not Small Craft.
I wonder if the thinking behind the Caerleon was that it would carry the BA, despite how unlikely that is ICly.
-
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=31246.0
Remember it uses compartments not bays so no long term travel.
Well for starters the Thera has 8 (Or was it 16) small craft bays. From there it is a matter of looking for small craft bays.
This is a common failing for all factions because the writers in TRO3057 forgot Small Craft have roles beyond combat and forget to put them on anything.
-
Buy Nekohono's from the DC
-
This is the sort of thing that even in a canon game I'd want to okay someone bringing something like a Leopard CV modded with small craft bays.
-
How practical is docking/transferring BA over to another dropship that is carrying Caerleons?
Just for sake of discussion, like a Kuan Ti carrying 2 Caerleons, docking with a Seleucus full of BA. in order to load up the Caerleons for a planned boarding operation.
The two dropships docking together in space for the transfer.
It's obviously not fast, but I'm wondering how feasible that is otherwise.
Would love to hear thoughts on that. I'm trying to figure out how to make-do with canon only and FWL-only options.
-
You don't really need BA bays in this case. The suits can be stored on the shuttles, so all you need are berths for the troopers.
Therefore, anything with Small Craft bays and infantry or passenger quarters will work.
-
What I've done since the introduction of the Gorgon is to take the Overlord's Fighter bays and give them over to two Small Craft and a contingent of BA. I forget the math, but it's like 32 tons for 16 BA. That makes two Caerleons and four platoons of BA for about 644 tons. It gives some cargo space and the BA platoons that aren't being paired with the Caerleon are being used as Drop site security
-
I knew that I would remember it.
The Achilles. Standard FWL patrol ship. 2 Small Craft bays.
-
You don't really need BA bays in this case. The suits can be stored on the shuttles, so all you need are berths for the troopers.
Therefore, anything with Small Craft bays and infantry or passenger quarters will work.
Good point Weirdo. You too Jellicoe.
So an FWL Achilles, carrying 2 Caerleons, carrying up to 30 (max body count for an infantry platoon) BA troopers, with their suits on the Caerleons?
I'll have to ponder the best BA loadout options for that.
-
You don't really need BA bays in this case. The suits can be stored on the shuttles, so all you need are berths for the troopers.
Therefore, anything with Small Craft bays and infantry or passenger quarters will work.
I agree with this but it wasn't in the OP so I didn't mention it.
How practical is docking/transferring BA over to another dropship that is carrying Caerleons?
Just for sake of discussion, like a Kuan Ti carrying 2 Caerleons, docking with a Seleucus full of BA. in order to load up the Caerleons for a planned boarding operation.
The two dropships docking together in space for the transfer.
It's obviously not fast, but I'm wondering how feasible that is otherwise.
Would love to hear thoughts on that. I'm trying to figure out how to make-do with canon only and FWL-only options.
I would suggest using the Achilles & Vengeance for the Small Craft since the FWL produces both to my knowledge.
The Achilles even carries infantry platoon IIRC.
-
What about a Condor? Or even a Seeker? Both carry large amounts of Infantryman and cargo. Also would the FWL make DroST IIa?
TT