Author Topic: Best Vehicle company formations  (Read 8577 times)

Daemion

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Best Vehicle company formations
« on: 21 March 2017, 12:32:12 »
So, a lot of people seem to love running tank formations. What vehicles and combinations of vehicles for a company have proven most effective for you?

Feel free to stick with the era you're most familiar with, however, if you play across eras, please break things down for me by era.

So, an example, in a lot of games I've played, the Vedette, though a stock analogue of a 20th century tank, just proves to be very ineffective, even in numbers. Whereas, I've found that partisans, Ontoses, and Missile Carriers of any kind have been giving great bang for buck. I've noticed that there are variants for chassis that work to complement each other, keeping you from having to port in a different chassis to make up for deficiencies. (I like pairing up SRM and Laser and LRM Harrassers, for example.)

Discuss, and thanks in advance.

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #1 on: 21 March 2017, 16:50:25 »
Love the Ontos.  In pre-Helm situations, I'll either go pure straight (preferable with the fusion model) medium laser spam -- if in close terrain -- or with open field engagements, I'll take a 2:2 of laser-spam and LRM-armed models.  The latter are pretty decent at providing cheap-ish, durable-ish, easy-to-conceal indirect fire batteries; the former provide close defense for their LRM-armed brothers while still contributing with their own missile batteries.

In later eras, I'm partial to the LGR Ontos, in which case I'll usually take a 3:1 ration of LGR to the 3058-era model.  The former provide direct fire support, the single laser-spam model provides close defense and again, can still contribute some with its own LRM launchers.
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Karimancer

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #2 on: 21 March 2017, 17:00:42 »
Vedettes are really only useful as distractions, bullet sponges and minefield detectors. They're just bigger, slightly faster Scorpions.

I like Zhukovs. A lot. Also Regulators. Glob how I love Regulators.

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #3 on: 21 March 2017, 17:38:27 »
Running Marik, use four Schreks and two Demolishers.  Era doesn't matter.  Dig the Schreks in hull-down on a hill.  With luck, the enemy forgets Marik tank platoons run big, and when they send in some fast-movers, your Demos annihilate them.
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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #4 on: 21 March 2017, 20:39:23 »
Here are my current armored vehicle companies:

Armor Support Company: 4x Longtoms, 2x Thumpers, 2x Mash Units, 4x Coolant Trucks

Kursk Camo Company: 4x Schreks, 4x Ontos, 4x partisans (long range, short range and anti air)

City Defense Armor Company: 2x Demolishers, 2x Von Luckners, 2x Hetzers, 2x Goblin inf., 2x Striker Lt. Tanks, 2x Hunter Lt. Support tanks.


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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #5 on: 21 March 2017, 20:53:49 »
And my other three armored companies.

Desert Camo Company: 4x Myrmidons, 4x Pikeman, 4x Heavy wheeled APCs + HQ

Green Camo City Defense 2 Company: 4x Behemoths, 4x Saladins, 4x Heavy wheeled APCs + HQ

Patton/Rommel Camo Company: 12x Patton/Rommels



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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #6 on: 21 March 2017, 20:55:32 »
I tend to design armour companies like I'd design 'Mech companies. What are they meant to do? How do the platoons interact?

So a typical company, which is likely to be thrown into battle as a unit, would have a faster scout/striker platoon, a battle/cavalry platoon, and a fire support/assault platoon. This 15th Deneb is typical:



Another variation is to make the battle platoon the heaviers, and the support lighter:



So the Fulcrums scout/slash, the Alacorns drive on, and the Strikers skulk behind.

Alternatively, when I'm building my combined ops battalions, the vehicles balance the 'Mechs. So when my 'Mech company was towards the heavier end, the vehicles provided more of the speed/scouting capabilities, while reserving the Tokugawas as a reserve force.

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Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #7 on: 22 March 2017, 07:51:57 »
I've done well in 3025 era games with a lance of Manticores supported by a lance of Strikers or Bulldogs(LRM), with a mixed lance of mostly Saracens and a Scimitar and/or Pegasus.  The Manticores pack enough PPC and LRM firepower to hurt 'Mechs, with SRMs and a Medium Laser for knife-fights, and the Strikers provide dirt cheap LRM support and some added SRM spam if needed.  Bulldog(LRM) variants (or even Scorpion(LRM) variants) are an alternative if you need to cross wooded terrain where the Strikers can't go.

The Saracens provide a versatile mobile element to go after opposing support units, tangle with the enemy's own mobile contingent, or provide additional LRM support from a hard-to-hit platform.  The multiple light SRM launchers give a high probability of doing at least SOME damage, which is great for immobilizing fast hovers on the opposing side.  A Scimitar in the lance provides direct fire from the AC/5, which allows aimed shots on anything that's already immobilized.  A Pegasus adds more serious SRM spam against easier targets, as well as a direct-fire energy weapon, which means you still have something to shoot with once the ammo runs out.  I've run my hover lance completely out of ammo in a few engagements, so this is a real consideration from my own perspective.

Getz

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #8 on: 22 March 2017, 08:10:27 »
My take on the matter is that there are three things that vehicles do better (or more cost effectively) than mechs:

Reconnaissance - I prefer to use light, fast hovers and VTOLs to light mechs for scouting, although light mechs are better for multi-role applications
Urban Combat - For roughly the same bv, I'd take a Typhoon over a Hunchback in a city every time.  Hetzers and Light SRM carriers are even more cost effective.
Heavy Fire Support - If you intend to bunker up and shoot people, vehicles like the Alacorn or LRM Partisan are much superior to their mech equivalents.

As such, in a campaign roster you can expect me to field a company of hovers for recon, a company of assault tanks to back up my maneuver element and company of (usually wheeled) vehicles specialised for garrison duties.
« Last Edit: 23 March 2017, 12:02:49 by Getz »

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #9 on: 22 March 2017, 08:24:19 »
An even dozen Moltkes, a lance of each variant.
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The Eagle

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #10 on: 22 March 2017, 08:34:01 »
An even dozen Moltkes, a lance of each variant.

That's. . . well.  I like that, actually.
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snewsom2997

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #11 on: 22 March 2017, 10:59:24 »
Main Battle
Company of Gurteltiers, nigh unstoppable, even with mechs. 9 with C3 Slaves, 3 with C3 Command

Fire Suppport
2 Lances of Arrow or LRM Carriers, with 1 Lance of Pagesus or Pinto Spotters

Fast Attack
Company of Fulcrum III's for Fast Attack.

Recon
A compnay with an even Split of Pintos and Pegesus

AAA
C3 Partisans 9 Air Defense, 2 Lance Command, 1 Company Command


AlphaMirage

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #12 on: 22 March 2017, 10:59:25 »
My common company has
2x Manticore, 1x Von Luckner, 1x LRM Carrier
2x Strikers, 2x Hetzers
2x Harassers/Pegasus, 2x Regulators/Drillson

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Natasha Kerensky

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #13 on: 23 March 2017, 10:13:45 »

The approach depends on if the vehicles support a mech force or if the vehicle force is expected to fight on its own.

If supplementing, then I think Getz has the right of it.  Vehicles are much more fragile than mechs.  You want your mechs to focus on the line fighting while your vehicles fulfill roles -- specifically fire support, ambush, and recon -- that keep them out of the worst danger.

This is my current go-to vehicle support company:

Fire Lance
4xPartisan (LRM)

Ambush Lance
4xPredator

Recon Lance
4xPegasus (Missile)

The Partisan (LRM) delivers 60 LRMs per round on a 3/5 tracked platform but is much better armored than LRM Carriers and similar fire support tanks.

The Predator is a 5/8 tracked tank with an AC/20.  Lightly armored and with no turret, it's a classic tank destroyer, good in the shoot-and-scoot role.  I like it better than the Hetzer because the Predator is tracked and faster.  The upgraded version goes 6/9 and carries an LB 20-X AC.

The Pegasus (Missile) throws 18 SRMs a turn on a 8/12 hover platform, effectively making a pair of these a much faster, better armored, more survivable, and more flexible SRM Carrier.

Depending on the terrain and situation -- hills and spotters for the Partisan (LRM), constricting woods or buildings for the Predator, or open plains or water for the Pegasus -- each of these lances would be a good complement to a mech company. 

But together, the combo is also a decent mix of fire support, hole-punching, and critting for taking down enemy mechs and other units.  They are somewhat vulnerable without friendly line mechs, but their speeds also complement each other, with the Predator or Pegasus able to fall back to protect the Partisan (LRM) and the Pegasus able to swoop in and finish off a foe struck by the Predator.

This company also makes the most of specialty ammo -- mine-laying Thunder for the Partisan (LRM), armor-penetrating (AP) for the Predator, and fragmentation and inferno for the Pegasus.

If the vehicle force is expected to fight on its own, then you want main battle tanks that can quickly punch and exploit holes in enemy forces at range, while surviving long enough to do so.  Here's my current go-to lances for an independent vehicle force:

Assault Lance
2xBrutus
2xZhukov

Battle Lance
4xManticore

The Brutus/Zhukov pair is a nice mix of LRM fire support, AC/10 and large laser hole-punching, and SRM exploiting that will quickly take down a mech on 3/5 tracked platforms.

Against faster opponents, it's hard to beat the well-rounded PPC/LRM/SRM capability of the Manticore on a 4/6 tracked platform.

You can play with even faster, non-tracked tanks -- like the Striker, Saladin, or Regulator -- in these line battle, cavalry, or skirmish roles.  But my experience is that their higher vulnerability to motive hits and lack of mixed weaponry makes them one-shot wonders rather than reliable combatants.  Mechs are really better in the 5/8 or faster battle, cavalry, and skirmish roles.

Lastly, by keeping them completely off the mapboard or out of reach, the ideal roles for vehicles are artillery support and spotting.  The durability and firepower of mechs are wasted in these roles, and there are any number of artillery tanks and spotting VTOLs that can fulfill these roles more effectively and cheaply.

Hope this helps.

« Last Edit: 23 March 2017, 11:40:08 by Natasha Kerensky »
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Colt Ward

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #14 on: 23 March 2017, 22:51:10 »
I use vehicles for some of the previously mentioned roles but I will list my reasoning . . .

I like vehicles for Fire Support (includes artillery), Gun Line, Light Cavalry and of course combat transports (mounts for dragoons!).

Fire Support, which includes on board artillery so it can adapt to the circumstances, is one of the big roles . . . Ontos LRMs, Pike Support Veh, Schrek PPC Carrier, LRM Carriers and Main Gauche are examples of the type.  Their armor means they are in the back for a reason even if they have big guns (Schrek).  Sometimes their weapons also let them be out of sight . . . its hard the beat the feeling of suckering someone into medium or short range of a IDF LRM barrage, with or without Semi-G.

Gun Line is where some of the real monsters go for direct fire support of your mech maneuver elements.  Gurtis, Moltkes, Merkava Mk IX, Zhukov, Rommel/Patton, Athens, Pixiu, Po Heavy Tank, Sch-Turtles, Ares, and Joust are examples ranging in size but they have the big gun and the armor to ignore some attention.

Light Cavalry would combine the skirmish and recon roles, things like the Scapha,  Regulators, Eponas, Pegasus, Musketeer and Harasser.  I call them light cavalry because while they may have some weapons they do not have the armor and their motive system cannot stand up to hits.  They are to flank the enemy line to get behind for backshots or threaten their rear/support area (just what could a Harasser with a ton of infernoes do to a supply dump . . . ).  While some do have big guns like the Regulator, ERPPC armed Epona, Musketeer or Scapha they cannot stand in the fight like the tracked armor of the Gun Line.

Combat transports, mounts for your BA & Infantry dragoons.  Maxims, Tyrs, Heavy APCs, Svantovits, Goblins and others get infantry & BA to where you want them positioned for the fight.  While some do pack a solid main gun- Tyrs!- they are to deliver their troops and then they could play the Light Cav role as needed.

Generally if I am creating a vehicle unit I will take worktroll's approach where they can support each other and let mechs do what they do best.  On the table I have taken things like 2 Schildkrote (or however its spelt for the turtles), a mobile medium and a squad or two of BA at 5k BV including pilots.  The turtles were the fire support for the mech and the BA screened the tanks.
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Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #15 on: 29 March 2017, 09:10:13 »
Fire Lance
4xPartisan (LRM)
The Partisan(LRM) is indeed a good unit for the fire support role, and better than the Bulldog(LRM) variants I was suggesting in support of a lance of Manticores.

While the Pegasus(SRM) variants you picked have a nasty kick, they're still range limited, and ammo is too likely to run out before the end of the fight.  I'd happily include a pair of them in a force, but give me at least one of the originals with the ML for a backup energy weapon, and at least one Saracen or Scimitar with enough range to snipe on the run, rather than have to close to "knife fight" distances to do anything.  The movement profiles are the same, so they work as a team, and the Saracen or Scimitar can load alternate ammo for their SRMs, while the Pegasi in the group spam the more traditional types of damage.

Siegfried Marcus

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #16 on: 06 April 2017, 00:14:46 »
I'm kind of a 3025 (get off my lawn) guy.  And I spend more time thinking "in universe" than tabletop, so I tend to ignore BV and focus on what I consider cost (not necessarily the C-Bill price listed).  I have a soft spot for the Axel, which I think is pretty good at its job.  I like the fluff on the Pike, and it pairs well with the Axel.  The missile Pike is probably better, but LRMs are expensive, and the Axel has some already.  I usually throw in bunch of LRM support anyway.  As for a front line tank, I haven't found one I really like.  The Manticore is fantastic, but too rich for my blood.  The Scorpion is under-armored.  The Vedette is poorly designed.  The Goblin is not too bad, and I like the idea of sticking some recon infantry in one.  I think I overlooked it b/c I assumed lasers weren't good on ICE vehicles, but looking at the numbers, it compares well with the AC 10.

I might do something like this for a general purpose company.

Assault Lance
2 Axels
2 Pikes

Battle Lance
4 Goblins

Support Lance (fire support and/or recon)
4 Strikers (LRM)
(maybe 2 Strikers and 2 Goblins if more front line units needed)

honorable mention: Scimitar (missile), Pegasus (either variety, as mentioned by others)

Edit: I remembered the Axel is actually later than 3025.  Really, I'm more of a 3050 bargain-basement guy.  Also, yes I am referring to the Scimitar variant with the LRM 15 mentioned by Kit.  The Saracen is also good, especially if you have time to use up all the LRM ammo and then close.
« Last Edit: 07 April 2017, 09:50:35 by Siegfried Marcus »
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Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #17 on: 06 April 2017, 09:20:56 »
Actually, the 3025 Scimitar carries an AC/5 as its main gun, with a couple of SRM-2 racks mainly for infighting.  The Saracen is the one with the LRM rack, and triple SRM-2 racks for close work or spamming motive crits.  Typically, I prefer fielding the Saracen for the longer weapon reach (at an average of 6 damage instead of 5) and 50% more SRM spam, but with at least one Scimitar in the formation to provide a direct-fire ballistic weapon if needed.

The Scorpion light tank is reasonably effective for its cost and tonnage, and the LRM, SRM, and AC/2 variants offer some versatility in a larger formation using the same chassis for parts compatibility.  Obviously, it's not capable of standing up well against vehicles (or 'Mechs) twice its weight, but can provide significant close fire support to a heavier front line.  Given a tight budget, limited access to parts, and technical limitations on a backwater planet, the Scorpion is one of the more reasonable options available for defense.  The Vedette, on the other hand, is significantly larger and more expensive than the Scorpion, and uses a more complex fusion power plant, but packs essentially the same modest firepower and barely any more armor.  Its only saving grace to compensate for all of those negatives is the extra point of speed.

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #18 on: 06 April 2017, 09:51:06 »
Actually, the 3025 Scimitar carries an AC/5 as its main gun, with a couple of SRM-2 racks mainly for infighting.  The Saracen is the one with the LRM rack, and triple SRM-2 racks for close work or spamming motive crits. 

He most likely meant the missile variant.
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Colt Ward

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #19 on: 06 April 2017, 11:10:44 »
 . . . the Vedette still uses a ICE engine.  Not sure what you are talking about in that weight using a SFE.  I mean the Patton uses a Fusion engine, but its firepower is way more.  The Tiger uses a ICE same as the Po.
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Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #20 on: 07 April 2017, 11:15:56 »
. . . the Vedette still uses a ICE engine.
You are correct and I was being stupid, thanks to what little is left of my memory these days.  The Vedette apparently does use an ICE engine, but it's STILL overpriced and overweight for what little it brings to the fight, unless you absolutely need that additional point of cruising speed, which is not something that a garrison unit can typically make optimal use of.  The additional crew, support requirements, and cost all weigh against it, compared to a much lighter, identically armed, and similarly armored Scorpion.

The basic Scimitar in 3025 is AC-armed, although there's a missile variant.  Still, if you don't specify the variant, one needs to assume the base model.

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #21 on: 07 April 2017, 11:29:09 »
The basic Scimitar in 3025 is AC-armed, although there's a missile variant.  Still, if you don't specify the variant, one needs to assume the base model.

Like putting (missile) behind it?  ^-^
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Frederick Steiner

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #22 on: 08 April 2017, 02:02:27 »
For Tech 1 (called Intoductory these days, I think) I use the following on a company level:

Heavy Tank Company
Von Luckner
Von Luckner
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Demolisher
Demolisher

augmented by

Light Tank Lance
Scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpion

Company level Support
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
or
Schrek
Schrek
Schrek
Schrek

Company level Recon
e.g.
J. Edgar
J. Edgar
J. Edgar
J. Edgar

which is two companies, technically...

also adding either a lance of Partisan + Pike or a Squadron of Warriors as Anti Aircraft assets

Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #23 on: 10 April 2017, 10:16:28 »
Like putting (missile) behind it?  ^-^
Yes, the adjusted post now makes it a lot clearer.

Siegfried Marcus

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #24 on: 10 April 2017, 20:25:31 »
Yes, the adjusted post now makes it a lot clearer.

Actually the (missile) designation was there the whole time.  That's how Kit knew what I meant in the first place.  The only thing I added to my post was the note at the end.
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Siegfried Marcus

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #25 on: 10 April 2017, 23:25:52 »
Back on topic, I like Frederick Steiner's supplemental lance of Scorpions.  Maybe I was too harsh in dismissing it.  They are fine for screening and probing where tracks are needed.  I would rather have my Scorpions discover an ambush than my Manticores.  Their armor is just tough enough to prevent being one-shotted by a PPC.  That means it's probably going to take several hits.  The LRM version is actually quite good if you need tracks, and it should have gotten an honorable mention on my list.  It could stand in for the Hunter in Frederick's support lance.  I could see Scorpions being a (barely) acceptable replacement for combat losses.  It's way better than nothing.  As a final note, it really shines (relative to other tanks) against an enemy who is using LBX or inferno, since it is no more vulnerable to crits than any other tank.
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Frederick Steiner

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #26 on: 11 April 2017, 04:48:51 »
We are playing very tank heavy and using most of the vehicle rules from Tactical Operations, which let us use tanks in a very dynamic way.

On Scorpions: people tend to ignore them, so it's easy to put them into position and use them for static fire support - a firing range of 18 hexes helps with covering a good part of an engagement area. Especially usefull when leapfrogging by moving alternating groups - the missing movement modifiers help in dealing with fast moving enemy units.

Should the enemy focus their fire on a Scorpion (it may last one or two rounds), they are shooting at a 300 pt. unit and not at the big stuff.

And last, they have a machine gun - anyone who has been hot dropped by VTOL carried Infantry will know how essential these are.

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #27 on: 11 April 2017, 11:11:31 »
In choosing a vehicle, one needs to consider what it can do, versus what something else could do for the same overall investment and risk.  A Demolisher is one scary piece of equipment for an opponent to suddenly bump up against, but it's expensive and easily immobilized and taken out of action if the opponent has the weapons to outrange it (like an AC/2 or LRM rack) and a clear line of sight.  In one situation, it's a good investment; in another situation it's little more than an expensive fire magnet, until it takes enough motive hits to immobilize it, in which case it becomes an expensive metal coffin, no matter how thick you make the armor.  In contrast, an LRM Carrier offers indirect fire options and an extended weapon range, but if some light hovertank manages to dash into point-blank range and unleash a barrage of SRMs, it's probably hosed.

The various choices and balances between several smaller and lighter vehicles or a few large and more powerful ones, speed versus armor, or between hover, wheeled, tracked, or VTOL movement methods, boils down to how and where they're going to be used.  The ability to concentrate firepower versus the ability to cover more area and firing angles depends on what you're likely to face.  Terrain dictates what can and can't be used effectively.  There are "safe" and "solid" choices, versus "glass cannon" approaches which may pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat, or fail miserably.  The player's own style and tactical approaches will have a large effect on what works and what doesn't.  I don't see any single answer to such a question, but nearly infinite possibilities as to what could work.

truetanker

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #28 on: 12 April 2017, 19:33:53 »
Depending on which faction:

I tend to use that flavor more often.

Capellan: Heavy Hover APCs with Condors, Condors and Scimitars-Saracens-Saladins, Brutus with Hetzers
Davion: APCs with Skulkers, Pattons and Rommels, Parisans and Demolishers
Lyran: APCs with SwiftWinds, Pattons and Rommels, Sturmfuers and Shreck PPC Carriers
Kurita: Galleons and Heavy APCs, Pegasi and Scimitars-Saracens-Saladins, Behemoths
Marik: Bulldogs with Goblins, Scimitars-Saracens-Saladins, Ontos and Demolishers ( Special note, there 5 per lance! )
Comstar:  }:) I usually run 2 heavy hitters with 3 support and 1 command per Level II. ( Demolisher, Pike and Sturmfuer ) or ( 2x Von Luckner (Royal to cheat)  with 3x Puma-005 (a to cheat) and a Rhino (Royal to cheat))  ::)  O:-) Wha....

NOTE: While I can have used anything, I went with overall flavorings here, LRM/SRM and the like can be found everywhere in abundance.

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Frederick Steiner

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #29 on: 18 April 2017, 15:20:57 »
a 8,000 point game next week:

Helicopter escort
(included anti infantry and somewhat anti aircraft capacity)

Ferret
Ferret
Kestrel
Kestrel

Tank and mechanized infantry convoy

Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)

the usual...

Scorpion Main
Scorpion Main

Scout Mech

Valkyrie VLK-QA
« Last Edit: 18 April 2017, 15:25:49 by Frederick Steiner »

truetanker

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #30 on: 18 April 2017, 20:16:28 »
Tank and mechanized infantry convoy

Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Manticore
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)
Goblin
Foot Squad (SRMs)

the usual...

Technically, you'll only need three Goblins, as they equal 3 tons for the Foot SRM Platoon.
Meaning you can swap out the 4th Goblin for something with more firepower, like a Bulldog.
Also you could upgrade one of the Goblins to LRM variant to provide more support and indirect abilities.

I tend to run with 5 tanks per lance, 3 Goblins, 1 being LRM, and 2 Bulldogs with Infantry Support, Foot SRM Platoon, personally.

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

SCC

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #31 on: 19 April 2017, 01:29:41 »
TT, individual squads of CI each have a one ton weight, doing it the way he does it means that you need 4 tons total, but those tons can be split across 4 vehicles

truetanker

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #32 on: 19 April 2017, 07:40:29 »
I know, but he said Foot... Not Jump.

3 vs 4 tons.

Meaning he can use 7-trooper squads @ 1ton each or 10-troopers for the same tonnage.

TT
« Last Edit: 19 April 2017, 07:44:21 by truetanker »
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Frederick Steiner

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #33 on: 19 April 2017, 12:50:31 »
To clarify, I'm going with squad deployment here, running them as four independent units.

For that I'm using four transports.

If I understood correctly, if I used platoon deployment I could have the platoon transported by three Goblins (3 x 1 ton = 3 tons), but would then have to load and unload them at the same time from or to the same hex?

The infantry is just a nice side note, actually - 73 points that don't hurt. I may drop them when passing a suitable location, say a wooded area, a bridge, or something like that.

truetanker

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #34 on: 19 April 2017, 19:58:01 »
Per standard cargo drop... 1 Squad at a time per Hex, same or otherwise.

I roll up to the target drop off hex, deploy 1st and 2nd Squads, next turn 3rd and 4th Squads are deployed. Moving each Goblin into the hex, remember it can hold 2 tanks per hex. Even though you have 28 troopers @ 7 per ton of cargo... I have done the math. First two Goblins carry 9 troopers and the last third has 10 troopers. Weird as it may seem...

Cool part is I can use the first two Squads the same turn I deploy the last two. Which is why I suggested the LRM variant with a Bulldog companion.

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Demon55

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #35 on: 03 May 2017, 17:02:21 »
A company of 6 Vedettes and 6 Strikers with 2 of each per lance is very effective.  A company of standard Drillsons would be very irritating. 

A bunch of Myrmidons would be good also.

truetanker

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #36 on: 03 May 2017, 19:49:40 »
I can go scary on ya'll!

6 Puma Tanks...

5x -007
1x -008

Placed in a triangle formation with the -008 in front leading the wedge on a charge, or reversed if needing a fire support mission.

All connected by a C3i with built in ECM on the -008's CO ride, keep in a three hex " bubble " at all times.

Funny thing is I can run two Level II of these things with another mixed Level II of Tau Infantry with support transport. ( That's two Bolla, Inivictus and Dominus respectfully, and 4 Tau Wraiths and 2 Tau Zombies.

Watch me make a red carpet all over your space.

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Kovax

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #37 on: 04 May 2017, 10:38:08 »
I can go scary on ya'll!

6 Puma Tanks...

5x -007
1x -008
Scary, until some joker shows up in a Vulcan or fast AC/2 vehicle variant, and "parks" those Pumas from beyond their range to respond.  Any one-dimensional force is just begging to be countered and defeated.

Frederick Steiner

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Re: Best Vehicle company formations
« Reply #38 on: 05 May 2017, 01:48:42 »
8,000 list for a game in two weeks:

It's a cityfight, where you need to control and contest six points within two city maps (surrounded by wilderness):

my urban combat lance

Bulldog Main
Bulldog Main
Bulldog Main
Bulldog Main

a company of infantry including snipers

Kestrel Main
Foot Platoon (Ballistic Rifles)
Kestrel Main
Foot Platoon (Ballistic Rifles)
Ferret Main
Foot Squad (Energy Rifles)
Ferret Main
Foot Squad (Energy Rifles)
Ferret Main
Foot Squad (Energy Rifles)
Ferret Main
Foot Squad (Energy Rifles)

something to clear buildings...

Demolisher Main
Demolisher Main

and something to clear infantry...

Firestarter FS9-H
Firestarter FS9-H

Leaves 1,266 points - I'm thinking of some Mech punch, like an Enforcer, or maybe two more light Mechs. I could however rebuild the list and choose a couple of SRM Carriers, but I think I'd be lacking in the mobility department without jump capable Mechs.