Author Topic: What is your favourite scout mech?  (Read 11228 times)

The_Livewire

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 731
    • The Livewire's Battletech Blog
What is your favourite scout mech?
« on: 14 August 2017, 07:15:00 »
Just curious.  I've been playing around with Megamek of late, taking out different designs.  Iv'e found the Ostscout has become my favorite. 

3025 - the intro tech ostscout, able to get in and get out quickly, with that medium laser to rely on if needed.

Royal Ostscout - Simple upgrade, enough ammo to survive most surprises with enough speed to get out and report.

Ostscout 9-s.  Some flaws (two lasers, no hands, single heat sinks) but with all the toys needed for modern EW, and a-pods for when you accidentally jump into an infantry nest.

Plus I like the NuSeen mini.
Alamo - When you care enough to send the very best.

And Purifiers *still* suck.

Now doing battletech blogging
https://livewire2112.blogspot.com/search/label/Battletech

Decoy

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2704
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #1 on: 14 August 2017, 09:06:34 »
For me? It's the Wolverine. Sure, some are better over all scout 'mechs....but what happens when you need to take advantage of a situation? Most Wolverines have the throw weight to do just that.

snewsom2997

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2187
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #2 on: 14 August 2017, 09:14:58 »
Always been Partial to Phoenix Hawks to Scout in force. I agree the Ostscout, is probably the best pure Intro tech Scout Mech for LRM and Artillery Spotting.

JadeHellbringer

  • Easily Bribed Forum Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 21696
  • Third time this week!
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #3 on: 14 August 2017, 09:51:14 »
Urbanmech.  8)

Nah, I'm a believer that jump jets are generally better than super-high speed alone- I'll lose a few tons off the engine generally if it means 6/9/6 instead of 8/12. Ostscouts are lovely for the job (particularly later versions with artillery/C3 spotting capabilities), but even handier are fast Omnimechs so that I can swap out equipment to meet the situation better. Dragonflies are excellent for this job, and really it's not out of the question to use the Thor- a little slower, naturally, but still able to jump five hexes, and if you expect to meet opposition during your scout run the extra durability and firepower can make the difference.
"There's a difference between the soldier and his fight,
But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

Decoy

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2704
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #4 on: 14 August 2017, 09:59:49 »
Well, there is the Grand Summoner that goes 5/8/8. Speaking of Clan 'mechs, I've always liked the Hellbringer as a scout 'mech. Walk in and lay down enough fire power to kill most lights, especially the 3025 ones. Anything heavier, bring in the rest of the star.

Kit deSummersville

  • Precentor of Lies
  • Freelance Writer
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 10397
  • The epicness continues!
    • Insights and Complaints on Twitter
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #5 on: 14 August 2017, 10:07:01 »
The Ostscout IIC.
Looking for an official answer? Check the Catalyst Interaction Forums.

Freelancer for hire, not an official CGL or IMR representative.

Everyone else's job is easy, so tell them how to do it, everyone loves that!

Millard Fillmore's favorite BattleTech writer.

Kovax

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2421
  • Taking over the Universe one mapsheet at a time
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #6 on: 14 August 2017, 10:12:47 »
In 3025, it depends on weight:

Light: I'll take a basic LCT-1V Locust as the "default" scout, for availability, versatility, and "effectiveness per ton" (I've killed quite a few Heavy 'Mechs with these things), or better yet, a Mongoose if there's one available.  In dense terrain, I'll probably choose a Firestarter instead (FS-9A or 9M, given the choice).  An Ostscout is suitable if you're not expecting to meet much opposition (purely recon), and aren't going our of your way to establish "recon superiority" over opposing scouting forces, but the torso-mounted weapon doesn't offer much flexibility in a fight.

Medium: the Phoenix Hawk has a well-deserved position as a scout lance leader: able to kill anything it can't outrun, and outrun anything it can't kill.  Up to 3050, it's pretty much the ultimate recon/skirmishing design.  In the later 3030s, the Hermes II "Mercury" becomes available in the FWL, at 7/11 speed, and becomes a good alternative to the PXH.

Assault: Charger, seriously.  Anything that gets within its 8 hex "circle of doom" gets a 16 point kick to the legs.  Judging from the sum of both weapon and physical damage, considering its armor protection, and by its movement profile (and by BV), it's a solid "medium 'Mech", except that it unfortunately weighs 80 tons.

Once you hit 3050 and beyond, the availability of XL engines and advanced sensors adds a long list of harder hitting, faster, and better data collecting machines to the list, so it depends heavily on the requirements of the task.

Empyrus

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9102
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #7 on: 14 August 2017, 10:42:16 »
Raven.

It is not terribly fast but it has superb electronics loadout, reasonable firepower, and it is very stylish.

Tai Dai Cultist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7127
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #8 on: 14 August 2017, 10:43:01 »
LCT-1V

It's cheap, it's ubiquitous, and notably durable for a scout.  It even has dual machine guns to deal with the most probable sort of opposition a scout will be shooting at.  It'd be the perfect scout if it only had jump jets.. but even without them its other benefits make it my favorite.

Even when you get into the LosTech and Clan tech where those scouts get to pick three out of speed/armor/firepower they lose out on ubiquity and economy.

Valkerie

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2522
  • Gravity always wins.
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #9 on: 14 August 2017, 11:12:45 »
Personal favorite is the JR7-D Jenner.  Speed, jump jets, and enough firepower to knock out other light mechs, and some mediums as well.
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.   -Machiavelli

Greetings, Mechwarrior!  You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against...Oops, wrong universe.  -unknown SLDF Recruiter

Because overkill is underrated my friend.  -John "Hannibal" Smith

Unit/Scheme of the Month Master Index

Sartris

  • Codex Conditor
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 19827
  • Kid in the puddle eating mud of CGL contributors
    • Master Unit List
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #10 on: 14 August 2017, 11:47:38 »
Cicada 3G. Super bouncy, fast, probe-equipped, can needle at range.

You bought the box set and are ready to expand your bt experience. Now what? | Modern Sourcebook Index | FASA Sourcebook Index | Print on Demand Index
Equipment Reference Cards | DIY Pilot Cards | PaperTech Mech and Vehicle Counters

Quote
Interviewer: Since you’ve stopped making art, how do you spend your time?
Paul Chan Breathers: Oh, I’m a breather. I’m a respirateur. Isn’t that enough?

Easy

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 591
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #11 on: 14 August 2017, 12:06:05 »
TL;DR: 3025 era: JR7 Jenner. If you really need more JumpJets, then the Spider.

I'll talk about the 3030MUX, et al, experience here, as it seems to still hold the title of implementing the strictest adherence to the books while playing in realtime.

The first rule for a Scout, or Recon 'Mech was, if you were trading shots with the enemy, You Were Doing It Wrong. This was a pretty damned serious rule, and noobs who violated it ran a very concrete risk of losing their rides and getting reassigned to the Urbie.

The most basic quality of a 'Mech that you wanted was speed. "Speed Is Life" was the official Scout/Recon motto. Probably the most salient reason for this was that, in realtime, with imperfect information, there is simply no, or little, opportunity to calculate optimum paths, ranges and solutions. First, you had to be a pretty good pilot to drive something moving at 129kph and not 'cliff', which meant crashing into a hexside you couldn't climb. For a light 'Mech, this could, and did, result in a legged, or destroyed 'Mech. If you were out of radio range, and especially if you were in the off-hours, you could literally be stuck out there for hours before anybody even realized you were gone. Part of the morning agenda was seeing if any of your noob recon-scouts did exactly that, and got found by an enemy strike pack or wound up at the bottom of a lake or river. And if it was a valuable munch 'Mech, your ass was grass. Even if you wound up running right through an enemy formation, accidentally, with enough speed and luck, you could survive it.

The other reason for this was that, because of visibility, possibly having some ECM, and speed mods, with enough speed, you could become practically unhittable while yet remaining within sensor range of the target, while the enemy would be forced to tolerate the observation, or break out of their chosen defensive spot and try and chase you away. Of course, this could also result in the pursuers getting ambushed, so it could really put them in a jam. There were plenty of times where a lone scout determined the outcome of an entire two or three hour op, simply by making the enemy main body in a timely fashion without getting killed.

As pilots proved their skill at piloting, scouting the right locations, and relying the right info they could be moved up to more 'valuable', generally meaning faster first, then better armored, Recon/Scout 'Mechs, some of which might even be decent skirmishers. Especially with the later units, '67-'85, you could have a 'Mech with enough intrinsic speed to do scouting missions, and armor and guns to engage in a little light combat without getting one-shot disabled/killed.

'Time to study' and 'respawn', video and tabletop, still pretty much sort of corral you into a different set of tactics than a straightforward application of by-the-book BattleTech rules in realtime.

For the 5/8 & 6/9 'Mechs, I think there is definitely a role. but they might be more like a 'command' 'Mech for a scout element, or a backup to scrape enemy pursuit 'Mechs off a Scout's tail, etc, which are part of the Recon mission, you might say, in support of the Scout role, and vice-versa.
« Last Edit: 19 August 2017, 18:42:39 by Easy »

Mendrugo

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5842
  • Manei Tetatae
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #12 on: 14 August 2017, 12:48:54 »
It depends on the ruleset.

Amusingly, the quick campaign resolution table from the original Mercenary's Handbook makes the UrbanMech as good as any of the other dedicated scouts, since the table to check for a successful recon raid only looks at weight, not speed.  Using that ruleset, the Urbie outperforms the 7/11/7 Wraith as a scout unit.

It's far from optimal (no jump jets), but I have a soft spot for the Fireball as a scout.  Its very lack of armament and jump jets often leads to its being ignored on the battlefield, allowing it the freedom to get behind enemy lines and wreak no end of havoc.  The XTRO variant with an XXL engine and a supercharger allows it to achieve LUDICROUS SPEED (they've gone to PLAID!), which allows it to scout enemy positions and retreat back to friendly lines in the same turn.  (Picture the FOX version of Quicksilver in 'Mech form).  Its shape also lends itself to getting a paint job to resemble an M&Ms mascot.

In the MechCommander games, the Cougar made a serviceable scout - able to mount Clan Probes and ECM, while maintaining decent armor and weaponry, and being able to jump a significant distance.  It outclasses the Raven due to its superior speed and jump capability.
« Last Edit: 14 August 2017, 12:52:32 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

garhkal

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6605
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #13 on: 14 August 2017, 13:26:42 »
TL;DR: 3025 era: JR7 Jenner. If you really need more JumpJets, then the Spider.

I'll talk about the 3030MUX, et al, experience here, as it seems to still hold the title of implementing the strictest adherence to the books while playing in realtime.

For me it also depends on whether the enemy forces are known to use hidden units.  If not, Spiders and other good jumpers.  If hidden units, a moderate fast jumper with Beagle..
It's not who you kill, but how they die!
You can't shoot what you can't see.
You can not dodge it if you don't know it's coming.

jimdigris

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8734
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #14 on: 14 August 2017, 14:14:11 »
Royal Hussar: excellent speed, good armor for a light mech, long range firepower, and a good electronics suite.

RoundTop

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1372
  • In Takashi We Trust
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #15 on: 14 August 2017, 14:59:53 »
3025: Spider 5D.  Fast as a locust, jumps the farthest, and has a flamer to deal with infantry.
3050+: Owens. Tons of fixed equipment for scouting, can move it pretty well too. And the LRM5s give it some stand off distance
No-Dachi has a counter-argument. Nothing further? Ok.
Demo team agent #772

Phobos101

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 243
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #16 on: 14 August 2017, 17:05:56 »
3025-50
JR7d and the spider with all lasers and no machine guns - can't remember the model number. Ive seen those little spiders do terrible things to bigger mechs and barely take a hit.

Ruger

  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5562
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #17 on: 14 August 2017, 17:53:48 »
Raven.

It is not terribly fast but it has superb electronics loadout, reasonable firepower, and it is very stylish.

Me too...although my version does move 8/12...

I also like the Ostscout, Spider, Locust, Mongoose, Dart, Stilleto, Spector, Stealth, Phoenix Hawk...

Ruger
"If someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back." - Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly

"Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand is where I fall...Stand with me." - The Doctor, The Doctor Falls, Doctor Who

Fear Factory

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4070
  • Designing the Enemy
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #18 on: 14 August 2017, 18:28:31 »
The Phoenix Hawk for obvious reasons.  It's just a damn good 'Mech overall.

However, you really can't beat the Assassin, Spider, and Ostscout.  When you just need a 'Mech that can get in and get info they're a great choice.

I really can't decide on a favorite even if the Assassin is my favorite 'Mech.
The conflict is pure - The truth devised - The future secured - The enemy designed
Maj. Isaac "Litany" Van Houten, Lone Wolves, The Former 66th "Litany Against Fear" Company

Luciora

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5754
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #19 on: 14 August 2017, 18:44:14 »
Charger.  Especially if you can camo it with a silhouette of a lighter mech on the frame.    I swear it was a Commando that was in the woods!  Then it kicked off my leg!  ;D

Liam's Ghost

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7860
  • Miss Chitty finds your honor rules quaint.
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #20 on: 14 August 2017, 18:52:35 »
Locust. Not because it's necessarily the best, but because I just like it. Locusts are fun.
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Alexander Knight

  • Peditum Generalis
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4960
  • O-R-E-O
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #21 on: 14 August 2017, 21:59:23 »
Liao Suicide Jeep Recon Patrol Represent!

Vonshroom

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 703
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #22 on: 14 August 2017, 22:34:26 »
Being primarily a 3025 - 3050 player I have a number of units that Jump to mind when I think of a scout mech. Ideally for me I want a fast jump capable mech. I also want something cheap and easily available though, ideally your scout isn't even going to engage in direct combat, and as such, you want to spend as little as possible on it, or them. As such these are my choices.

Locust Fast dependable little scout for 3025 play, it doesn't jump, but I love the look of the original. I find they really shine in pairs. Not the best mech, but definitely my favorite. Machine guns make hamburger out of infantry. None of the other bugs are fast enough. Has the guns to deal with infantry and light vehicles or mechs, which is important to me in a scout role.


Jenner  Another really cool design, I have mad respect for this mech and have used it to hunt down and kill units much heavier than it. Good speed and jump capability make it a great candidate for scouting.


Commando As a pirate player I really like fast, light, cheap units with good punch and two hands. Pretty much check every one of those boxes for the Commando. Plus I love the aesthetics of the mech. 6/9 is just a little slow for it to fill the "scout" niche perfectly though.


Assassin Its fast, it jumps, and the LRM 5 makes it really deadly and a major factor in games where the heaviest mechs are low end mediums.


Honorable mention the Spider. I just haven't used it much, although I've seen how effective it can be as it is one of my friends favorite mechs. He enjoys making my units miserable by parking his Catapults behind rocks and running Spiders in my backfield. Good mech, and I like the two medium laser model best.
For The Archon!

JadedFalcon

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 868
  • Wins at Battleteching
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #23 on: 15 August 2017, 00:55:29 »
and it is very stylish.

Glad someone is taking that into account. Even as a scout mech, first impressions are everything.

I'm going to break with some of the more hardline Lyran players and mention the benefit of lighter designs like the Banshee and the Zeus, able to endure the stress of first contact with enemy forces while still having enough mobility to disengage and call in party invitations.

But honestly, I've never had the opportunity in Battletech to actually run a scenario that included scouting. Got close a couple of times. From experience, jump jets would be crucial for moving consistently, and maintaining movement despite engine damage. I've had a Locust that's taken engine hits when trying to cross a river, so I'll have to side with those choosing Wasps, Stingers, Spiders, and so on.

Frabby

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4242
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #24 on: 15 August 2017, 02:12:39 »
I've always had a soft spot for the Ostscout.
Beyond that, I'm old school - when I hear "scout" I think of the classic bug 'Mech trio: Locust, Wasp & Stinger.

Surprised that nobody mentioned the Hermes II yet. Its sensor suite is supposed to be almost as good as the Oscscout's.
Sarna.net BattleTechWiki Admin
Author of the BattleCorps stories Feather vs. Mountain, Rise and Shine, Proprietary, Trial of Faith & scenario Twins

Jellico

  • Spatium Magister
  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 6120
  • BattleMechs are the lords of the battlefield
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #25 on: 15 August 2017, 04:25:18 »
Viper OmniMech.

Kovax

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2421
  • Taking over the Universe one mapsheet at a time
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #26 on: 15 August 2017, 08:09:33 »
Surprised that nobody mentioned the Hermes II yet. Its sensor suite is supposed to be almost as good as the Oscscout's.
Actually, I did bring it up about a dozen posts back, specifically the HER-2M "Mercury" variant.  The standard (and slower) HER-2S model is decent (the AC gives it some stand-off fire capability out to 18 hexes), but I would prefer a PXH over it in most circumstances.  The HER-2M has that bit of extra speed to make up for the lack of jump capability, and a Flamer to either do light incendiary actions (flame and smoke to cover an escape) or incinerate infantry in droves, but lacks a long-range gun like the PXH or its HER-2S sibling.

Note too, the Hermes I has a fantastic 9/14 speed rating, which makes it uncatchable by most other 3025 designs.  Unfortunately, the 'Mech is a bit on the rare side compared to something like the ubiquitous Locust, and expensive because of the large engine.

My only issue with the Spider is the same as with the Ostscout: its weapons are all torso-mounted, so it's got a significant blind spot if it's engaged by another fast scout (such as while being chased).  Otherwise, both are excellent in their roles.

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #27 on: 15 August 2017, 08:26:03 »
Liao Suicide Jeep Recon Patrol Represent!

I want stats for this. >:D
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Simon Landmine

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1223
  • Enthusiastic mapmaker
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #28 on: 15 August 2017, 08:38:36 »
I've always been a fan of the Locust 1E - it's got the pace and armour of the standard Locust, and that nice pair of Medium Lasers.
(Although given the speed with with my Locusts lose arms, I do have a homebrew 1E2 that puts the two MLs back in the CT - though that then suffers from the lack of twisting.)
The Raven is pretty good, too. And yes, I should support them with machines with jump jets ...

Glad to have this thread - I've somewhat lost track of the profusion of mechs since the 'old days' - thanks to threads like this, I'm now building up a list of 'mechs to have a punt at using in MM. Ta!
"That's Lieutenant Faceplant to you, Corporal!"

Things that I have learnt through clicking too fast on 'Move Done' on MegaMek: Double-check the CF of the building before jumping onto it, check artillery arrival times before standing in the neighbouring hex, and don't run across your own minefield.

"Hmm, I wonder if I can turn this into a MM map."

Getz

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 752
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #29 on: 15 August 2017, 08:42:59 »
For the succession wars I'd generally go with an Assassin.  Sure the Ostscout and Spider are faster, but the Assassin can actually survive contact with the enemy scout forces.

Once you get into the clan invasion era, my allegiance switches to the Cicada 3F and G.  I wouldn't touch the introtech Cicadas with a barge pole, but the heavily armoured, jump capable versions are excellent scouts and skirmishers.

I fell out of favour with heaven somewhere, so I'm here for the hell of it now...

JadeHellbringer

  • Easily Bribed Forum Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 21696
  • Third time this week!
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #30 on: 15 August 2017, 09:22:18 »
LCT-1M. Twin LRM-5s to rain down a barrage on the enemy, a laser for backup... and by having one ton of armor total, it will die from one or two decent-sized hits, which means it's a great scout Mech- I now know where the enemy is because of the pall of smoke rising from over behind those low hills!
"There's a difference between the soldier and his fight,
But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

RoundTop

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1372
  • In Takashi We Trust
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #31 on: 15 August 2017, 09:27:58 »
My only issue with the Spider is the same as with the Ostscout: its weapons are all torso-mounted, so it's got a significant blind spot if it's engaged by another fast scout (such as while being chased).  Otherwise, both are excellent in their roles.

K Variant then.  It takes out 1 ML and some armour (which was already paper thin) and replaced it with a machine gun in each arm and 1/2t of ammo.
No-Dachi has a counter-argument. Nothing further? Ok.
Demo team agent #772

Ice_Trey

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 671
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #32 on: 15 August 2017, 09:29:52 »
The spider won my heart early on.

Just to give you a primer. I'd been a fan of Battletech since I was 8 years old, but due to reasons, couldn't really get into anything more in-depth beyond the CCG until I was 18. My first exposure past that was not actually the wargame as with most (There had not been a starter box on any shelves anywhere in my town since the 4th edition, long since phased out, and the 5th edition pre-Catalyst wasn't a common sight) but rather through Mechwarrior 2nd edition acquired through 5th-letter-cove (Not allowed to say it. Do the math). I created a GMPC due to lack of players, and ended up with a Spider. At first I grumbled and groaned because it had no guns or ejection seat, but quickly learned that TMM is a thing, and not being shot on anything less than 11 is frequently a bigger help than 12 tons of armor.

I still have yet to play a scenario where scouting is a real thing, but it was thanks to that early experience that I learned that simply strapping as much guns and armor onto a 100-ton chassis isn't the be-all-end-all. Official BT maps are usually much more generous than randomly generated ones, but there are times where jumpless mechs are hamstringed my terrain. I like that the Spider gives the option to run for +4 TMM, or jump for the same. Plus, the ability to 2ML, and choose between whether to take the -2 to hit to risk a PSR, or opt instead for punches without any cost during the shooting phase like you'd see with the Quickdraw, Clint, Assassin, or Stinger.

Later, someone on a megamek client would teach me that if you're playing Inner Sphere, anything more than 2000 BV is too many eggs in one basket. I don't remember the player, but I play by what he taught me to this day, if only because of his win/loss ratio.
« Last Edit: 15 August 2017, 09:38:38 by Ice_Trey »

Col Toda

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2943
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #33 on: 15 August 2017, 09:45:33 »
Argus 4D . Yes it is a heavy mech but it has a chance of taking down what it encounters not just runs away and report

Kovax

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2421
  • Taking over the Universe one mapsheet at a time
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #34 on: 15 August 2017, 10:23:13 »
Argus 4D . Yes it is a heavy mech but it has a chance of taking down what it encounters not just runs away and report
That's what's known as "recon in force", where you go in with the big guns to see what's there.  It works for House Steiner, using fast Zeus and Banshee scouts to figure out the best place to send in the slower Atlases between parties.

Rorke

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2243
  • Absolute Shower
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #35 on: 15 August 2017, 10:36:08 »
The Stealth, whether 1D or 2D.  It's nippy, it's got a reasonable punch
and it's well kitted for the essential electronics.  it also satisfies the two
most important other factors for me, it's Davion made and looks cool.

"you come at the king you best not miss" Omar Little

JadeHellbringer

  • Easily Bribed Forum Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 21696
  • Third time this week!
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #36 on: 15 August 2017, 10:44:40 »
The Stealth, whether 1D or 2D.  It's nippy, it's got a reasonable punch
and it's well kitted for the essential electronics.  it also satisfies the two
most important other factors for me, it's Davion made and looks cool.

We'll disagree on that last portion, understandably, but I'll back the rest for sure. Stealths are a lot of fun to use- great scout hunter, tank-parker, beefy recon unit (especially downtown)... it's like the FedSuns sat down with the Assassin and said "the idea is nice, now how do we get it to not suck?", and came up with very, VERY good answers to the questions. One of my favorite IS designs, probably my absolute favorite FedSuns design.
"There's a difference between the soldier and his fight,
But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

Easy

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 591
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #37 on: 15 August 2017, 10:50:15 »
The True Scouts just go right on forward.

There's a definite difference between favorites and optimals,

ex. JR7 (favorites), Raven/Ostscout/Locust (optimals).

Not to mention the ppl who take the time to find the less commonly well known units.

We, the Strikey Bunch, salute you.  ;)
« Last Edit: 15 August 2017, 10:55:22 by Easy »

Saint

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2676
  • Keeper of the Reaper
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #38 on: 15 August 2017, 14:19:45 »
Lights: Locust,  looks alone wins it but she's a dependable ride.

Medium: Shadowhawk, not the fastest or best armed but a jack of all trades.

Heavy: Exterminator great mix of speed, armor and firepower.

Assault: none really but in a pinch I prefer the Charger K variants.
"Our eyes lie on Glory, Honor, Strength. Burned worlds will declare our name as cause."


Liam's Ghost

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7860
  • Miss Chitty finds your honor rules quaint.
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #39 on: 15 August 2017, 17:17:44 »
I kinda want to add the "new" Flea to the list. It's basically a locust but faster and with less armor, therefore even more fun.
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Natasha Kerensky

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3437
  • Queen of Spades, First Lady of Death, Black Widow
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #40 on: 15 August 2017, 17:41:25 »

Viper Z
"Ah, yes.  The belle dame sans merci.  The sweet young thing who will blast your nuts off.  The kitten with a whip.  That mystique?"
"Slavish adherence to formal ritual is a sign that one has nothing better to think about."
"Variety is the spice of battle."
"I've fought in... what... a hundred battles, a thousand battles?  It could be a million as far as I know.  I've fought for anybody who offered a decent contract and a couple who didn't.  And the universe is not much different after all that.  I could go on fighting for another hundred years and it would still look the same."
"I'm in mourning for my life."
"Those who break faith with the Unity shall go down into darkness."

Sartris

  • Codex Conditor
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 19827
  • Kid in the puddle eating mud of CGL contributors
    • Master Unit List
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #41 on: 15 August 2017, 18:00:37 »
Viper Z

For when you need to recon and destroy a recon lance
« Last Edit: 15 August 2017, 18:24:54 by Sartris »

You bought the box set and are ready to expand your bt experience. Now what? | Modern Sourcebook Index | FASA Sourcebook Index | Print on Demand Index
Equipment Reference Cards | DIY Pilot Cards | PaperTech Mech and Vehicle Counters

Quote
Interviewer: Since you’ve stopped making art, how do you spend your time?
Paul Chan Breathers: Oh, I’m a breather. I’m a respirateur. Isn’t that enough?

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #42 on: 15 August 2017, 18:18:27 »
I've grown rather fond of the Havoc of late. Sure it lacks actual recon gear, but it's like a faster, less explodey Jenner otherwise.

Author of BattleCorps stories Grand Theft Agro and Zero Signal



How to Draw MegaMek Icons the Deadborder Way. Over 9000 so far. Determination or madness?

Diamondshark

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1292
  • Bringing back the enlightenment to the Star League
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #43 on: 15 August 2017, 21:12:19 »
Just curious.  I've been playing around with Megamek of late, taking out different designs.  Iv'e found the Ostscout has become my favorite. 

I love the Ostscout--it's amazingly good at reconning things without being hit; in all my Megamek games, whether it's on my side or the OpFor, I've never seen one die, and only one ever ejected or surrendered, no matter how hard the odds--they just keep jumping and dodging.
"We are the Clans, the Star League incarnate.
None can stand against us and survive."

-- The Remembrance, Passage 272, Verse 8, Lines 18-19

JPArbiter

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3139
  • Podcasting Monkey
    • Arbitration Studios, your last word in battletech talk
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #44 on: 15 August 2017, 23:41:25 »
For me it is the raven. Smart weapons package and full EW suite of tag, narc, probe, and ecm... what is not to love?
Host of Arbitration, your last word in Battletech Talk

Firesprocket

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2945
  • Broke the Bandwagon
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #45 on: 16 August 2017, 00:24:21 »
Clan: Parash

IS: Bloodhound B2.

Failing the access to any of the above an Atlas 7D.

The_Livewire

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 731
    • The Livewire's Battletech Blog
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #46 on: 16 August 2017, 06:24:11 »
I love the Ostscout--it's amazingly good at reconning things without being hit; in all my Megamek games, whether it's on my side or the OpFor, I've never seen one die, and only one ever ejected or surrendered, no matter how hard the odds--they just keep jumping and dodging.

Tangent.

All my battletech is me and the bot in Megamek.  Played a game vs randon forces, was down to an OST 9s and a AWS-9V fighting.  The Ostscout not having DHS made firing the lasers risky, but I stayed in his 6 or jumped out to medium range, giving him 10+ Target numbers, and kicked it to death.

Another game, I gave the bot Tripods to see what they did.  Spider jumped in, fired both med lasers, pushes the tripod off the hill it was on, down 3 levels into water.  Head hit, cockpit breech, dead tripod.  30 ton mech soloing a 150 ton mech?  I figured he never had to buy drinks from his unit again. :-)
Alamo - When you care enough to send the very best.

And Purifiers *still* suck.

Now doing battletech blogging
https://livewire2112.blogspot.com/search/label/Battletech

Sharpnel

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 13414
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #47 on: 16 August 2017, 15:49:13 »
I believe in Recon in Force so the bigger and well-armored the better. Given this the MSK-9H Mackie sounds like the perfect ride.
Consigliere Trygg Bender, CRD-3BL Crusader, The Blazer Mafia
Takehiro 'Taco' Uchimiya, SHD-2H Shadow Hawk 'Taco', Crimson Oasis Trading Company

"Of what use is a dream, if not a blueprint for courageous action" -Adam West
As I get older, I realize that I'm not as good as I once was.
"Life is too short to be living someone else's dream" - Hugh Hefner

Alexander Knight

  • Peditum Generalis
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4960
  • O-R-E-O
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #48 on: 16 August 2017, 19:27:13 »
I want stats for this. >:D

We called it "Recon by following the smoke signals."

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #49 on: 16 August 2017, 23:03:22 »
Ablative reconnaissance will always be a thing. :)
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Siden Pryde

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 531
  • Papermaster
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #50 on: 17 August 2017, 00:26:17 »
Really, anything 6/9/6 or better.  Size and tech level depends on the era, region, and unit type played.  Though I am a fan of the Phoenix Hawk.

Kojak

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4610
  • Melancon Lives!
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #51 on: 17 August 2017, 01:55:44 »
The Parash, Bloodhound B2, Stealth 2D, Ostscout 9S, Cicada 3G and Stiletto 6S are all favorites of mine, these days. That being said, I'm generally more inclined to use a combination of hovertanks and VTOLs for recon duties, rather than 'Mechs.


"Deep down, I suspect the eject handle on the Hunchback IIC was never actually connected to anything. The regs just say it has to be there."
- Klarg1

ANS Kamas P81

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 13208
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #52 on: 17 August 2017, 02:41:18 »
That's what's known as "recon in force", where you go in with the big guns to see what's there.  It works for House Steiner, using fast Zeus and Banshee scouts to figure out the best place to send in the slower Atlases between parties.
More like send your Marauders in, actually.  Check the 9S, it has a flamer for marking hexes, an ECM pack, and a Beagle Probe.  Stack all that up with two ERPPCs, an LB10, and two ERMLs, and you've got a great recon-in-force unit.  Makes a great ambush-tripper.
Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,
Tod und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Fühlt nicht durch dich Jadefalke Todesschmerzen,
So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr!

Cptmachine

  • Recruit
  • *
  • Posts: 9
    • Captain Machine Channel
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #53 on: 17 August 2017, 03:14:25 »
I sm mainly a succession war played and gone it back far I would say the Locust as it's fast and has the guns to deal with other light mechs, vechiles or infantry they can't escape.

Slightly later I am a big fan of the Wolfhound. Sure it's not as fast but love it's silhouette along with its loadout.

Kovax

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2421
  • Taking over the Universe one mapsheet at a time
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #54 on: 17 August 2017, 09:15:54 »
Slightly later I am a big fan of the Wolfhound. Sure it's not as fast but love it's silhouette along with its loadout.
The Wolfhound makes a good scout lance leader, something for the Locusts, Wasps, and Stingers to fall back on in case something like a Spider shows up to chase them.  It's also a bit lighter and cheaper than a P-Hawk.

As pointed out by previous posters, I would typically send in hovertanks or other light, fast vehicles as scouts in most instances, with a LCT/PXH lance of 'Mechs for those situations where the vehicles just don't cut it.

Siden Pryde

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 531
  • Papermaster
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #55 on: 17 August 2017, 09:26:14 »
I sm mainly a succession war played and gone it back far I would say the Locust as it's fast and has the guns to deal with other light mechs, vechiles or infantry they can't escape.

Slightly later I am a big fan of the Wolfhound. Sure it's not as fast but love it's silhouette along with its loadout.
The Locust and Wolfhound are great mechs, but the lack of jump jets stops me from using them as scouts.  I like being able to get to places or over obstacles that purely ground-bound designs can't.

worktroll

  • Ombudsman
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 25569
  • 504th "Gateway" Division
    • There are Monsters in my Sky!
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #56 on: 17 August 2017, 15:57:30 »
For the succession wars I'd generally go with an Assassin.  Sure the Ostscout and Spider are faster, but the Assassin can actually survive contact with the enemy scout forces.

Once you get into the clan invasion era, my allegiance switches to the Cicada 3F and G.  I wouldn't touch the introtech Cicadas with a barge pole, but the heavily armoured, jump capable versions are excellent scouts and skirmishers.

Ninjaed! Came here to say just that.

The Assassin has enough speed and some armour to survive, and not enough weapons to think it can fight. The Cicada 3F has it all, and the 3G has the party favours. It's also about the only useful deployment of an ERLL I can think of, off the top of my head.

W.
* No, FASA wasn't big on errata - ColBosch
* The Housebook series is from the 80's and is the foundation of Btech, the 80's heart wrapped in heavy metal that beats to this day - Sigma
* To sum it up: FASAnomics: By Cthulhu, for Cthulhu - Moonsword
* Because Battletech is a conspiracy by Habsburg & Bourbon pretenders - MadCapellan
* The Hellbringer is cool, either way. It's not cool because it's bad, it's cool because it's bad with balls - Nightsky
* It was a glorious time for people who felt that we didn't have enough Marauder variants - HABeas2, re "Empires Aflame"

Vonshroom

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 703
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #57 on: 18 August 2017, 01:40:11 »
Ninjaed! Came here to say just that.

The Assassin has enough speed and some armour to survive, and not enough weapons to think it can fight. The Cicada 3F has it all, and the 3G has the party favours. It's also about the only useful deployment of an ERLL I can think of, off the top of my head.

W.

Another huge draw to the Assassin for me is the LRM 5 not a lot of speedy recon capable units pack an LRM 5 in this era, and having the ability to reach out and punch other scouts and lights at 21 hexes really makes a difference. Sure an LRM 5 might not look like much, but when the mechs you are going up against are armed primarily with medium lasers and some mgs?
For The Archon!

StoneRhino

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2269
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #58 on: 18 August 2017, 02:41:02 »
I haven't used it much in games before, but if we could get things to the point where we could introduce elements of scouting it would likely be my go to mech. A mech that is not an omni would likely be the Raven.

Sellsword

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 494
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #59 on: 18 August 2017, 09:47:31 »
The lowly Firestarter.  If it runs into trouble it can cause havoc and leave.

garhkal

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6605
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #60 on: 21 August 2017, 18:08:26 »
Surprised no one's mentioned the wolftrap..
It's not who you kill, but how they die!
You can't shoot what you can't see.
You can not dodge it if you don't know it's coming.

Firesprocket

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2945
  • Broke the Bandwagon
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #61 on: 21 August 2017, 21:32:27 »
Surprised no one's mentioned the wolftrap..
I have never really considered it a scout mech.  It isn't until 3090 a good, non-unique, Wolf Trap appears and that doesn't have a probe.  The Daitama certainly could be a scout, but it isn't mass produced.

Caedis Animus

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2129
  • How can a bird be sultry? Very carefully.
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #62 on: 21 August 2017, 21:56:30 »
The Uziel. It's technically a "Recon" design, but the twin-PPC model is a viable threat to enemy fast responders.

That, and I always felt like it paired well with the Wolfhound and Commando, other traditional Steiner Scout Mechs (Not the meme ones, actual scout mechs).

garhkal

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 6605
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #63 on: 21 August 2017, 22:59:44 »
I have never really considered it a scout mech.  It isn't until 3090 a good, non-unique, Wolf Trap appears and that doesn't have a probe.  The Daitama certainly could be a scout, but it isn't mass produced.

While it is a medium mech weight wise, it has decent speed and weaponry.
It's not who you kill, but how they die!
You can't shoot what you can't see.
You can not dodge it if you don't know it's coming.

Requiemking

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 61
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #64 on: 22 August 2017, 03:15:41 »
Mist Lynx. I'm sorry, its just that the idea of "scout mechs" kinda makes me salty.
Mist Match

Empyrus

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9102
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #65 on: 22 August 2017, 16:31:37 »
The Mist Lynx is an excellent scout regardless of the config thanks to the fixed Active Probe. The Prime is ideal due to its flexibility.
If using mixed tech or Clan forces, there are few as good choices as the Mist Lynx, at least if you don't know what you're up against and thus can't pick an optimal choice.

Requiemking

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 61
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #66 on: 22 August 2017, 17:27:35 »
The Mist Lynx is an excellent scout regardless of the config thanks to the fixed Active Probe. The Prime is ideal due to its flexibility.
If using mixed tech or Clan forces, there are few as good choices as the Mist Lynx, at least if you don't know what you're up against and thus can't pick an optimal choice.
Its not that. In fact the Mist Lynx is my favourite Light mech in Battletech. You see, I'm from the MWO fanbase, and unfortunately we Light pilots have been getting crushed by nerfs for the past couple years. There is also the fact that MWO's scoresystem is based almost entirely on combat, so anything that doesn't directly involve shooting then enemy team earns next to nothing, and every time we try to get a buff the Assault Potatoes, MW4 Grognards, and Skirmish Junkies whine and scream until the devs undo said buff.
Mist Match

Empyrus

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9102
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #67 on: 22 August 2017, 18:20:47 »
It was clear for me that MWO's lights would be worthless the moment it was clear they wouldn't actually do the information warfare system or whatever it was called back in the closed beta...

In BattleTech proper, scout 'Mechs work. And the Mist Lynx is effective.

Caedis Animus

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2129
  • How can a bird be sultry? Very carefully.
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #68 on: 22 August 2017, 20:57:23 »
Its not that. In fact the Mist Lynx is my favourite Light mech in Battletech. You see, I'm from the MWO fanbase, and unfortunately we Light pilots have been getting crushed by nerfs for the past couple years. There is also the fact that MWO's scoresystem is based almost entirely on combat, so anything that doesn't directly involve shooting then enemy team earns next to nothing, and every time we try to get a buff the Assault Potatoes, MW4 Grognards, and Skirmish Junkies whine and scream until the devs undo said buff.
And I'm just sitting here wondering why lights apparently suck, when I've seen a 3SRM2 Commando kill two assaults solo. Either way, this is Battletech. MWO has little to do with it except for shared units. And most of us here are aware of what goes on in that game anyways, so exposition is somewhat unneeded (For future reference).

Tyler Jorgensson

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2854
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #69 on: 23 August 2017, 08:11:30 »
And my Mist Lynx on the original Alpine maps rating PPC death on people stacking the gates , with arty strikes and air drops, while calling out numbers in the pass, and finally dropping into the valley at a good pace to trip up their assault and buy more time.

And then they made the recon thing in Clan Warfare... ugh.

I haven't played a double blind game of BT so recon isn't really my forte in the board game: but in TW and AS I find those TMM's are killer and all my friends agree the box set Spider is key. Getting a Fire Moth soon with an Elemental Point to show them Ghost Bear Recon.

Vonshroom

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 703
Re: What is your favourite scout mech?
« Reply #70 on: 23 August 2017, 14:58:12 »
Surprised no one's mentioned the wolftrap..

I really like it, and it could certainly be used for Scouting, but I wouldn't n ecessarily classify it as a "scout mech". More of a recon capable cavalry mech or skirmisher design. Definitely a good unit, not my definition of a scout mech.
For The Archon!