Author Topic: Clan grand melee tips  (Read 9484 times)

Natasha Kerensky

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3437
  • Queen of Spades, First Lady of Death, Black Widow
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #60 on: 24 August 2017, 15:36:47 »
And I just came up with another option . . . the Guillotine IIC . . . 2 LPL & a ERPPC, SFE, 4/6/4 . . . slower than I suggested, but mobile with the jumpjets and a SFE . . .

That is a solid choice. 

The Guillotine IIC's 4-6-4 movement and 192 points of armor aren't the best and it still doesn't get to -3 target modifiers.  So I'd still take the Vapor Eagle (6-9-6 movement, 173 points of armor, -3 target modifiers) and Timber Wolf S (5-8-5 movement, 230 points of armor, -2 target modifiers) over the Guillotine IIC.

But with an SFE and two long-ranged weapons with -2 targeting modifiers, the Guillotine IIC probably beats the Summoner (182 points of armor, XLE, and only one -2 or -1 long-range weapon) and the Stooping Hawk (173 points of armor, SFE, and two -1 long-range weapons) and everything else on the list.

Taking the IIC logic a little further... the Rifleman IIC is 2,307BV2.  Four pulse large lasers, the freezers to use them, and 211 armor points with an SFE and no ammo is nothing to sneeze at, even if it moves 3/5/3.
« Last Edit: 24 August 2017, 18:32:36 by Natasha Kerensky »
"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."

Mattlov

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1210
  • Fnord.
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #61 on: 24 August 2017, 17:56:23 »
I would add a few more . . .

Huntsman Prime (2034) and H (2495) . . . you can get away with the H b/c of electronics, it jumps and it has a TC for the two best guns in the game- cERLL.  Prime jumps and has 2 LPL.

In 3055 the Huntsman H would not be available...

A Nova Prime is always a fun choice for a melee.  Absolutely NO ONE is going to get close to you, so if you stay mobile, you shouldn't take much damage.  Close when you can, murder, wait for next opportunity.
"The rules technically allow all sorts of bad ideas." -Moonsword


Vonshroom

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 703
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #62 on: 25 August 2017, 00:45:01 »
I think speed is really the way to go here. Especially in heavy woods. Its not so you can "close with the enemy and make your shots count". Its so they don't close with you and kill you. Sure a Guillotine IIC or Rifleman IIC is a brick, has plenty of LPL's and JJ with great armor, but they miss the maneuverability category. The other major problem with them is that other players are going to specifically target you. I would be extremely leery about having the "baddest mech on the block" when it comes to a melee. Because guess who everyone is going to want to shoot first.

And come on....we are talking clanners here. Guess who they'll shoot.


Taking the IIC logic a little further... the Rifleman IIC is 2,307BV2.  Four pulse large lasers, the freezers to use them, and 211 armor points with an SFE and no ammo is nothing to sneeze at, even if it moves 3/5/3.

Now ironically I think it might have a slightly greater chance than the Guillotine IIC even with the slower movement. At these speeds 4/6/4 - 3/5/3 you honestly cannot afford to carry ammo. Even with an SFE. You will get critted. The Rifleman IIC is nasty, but I think it will face the same issue of being singled out. Could be a lot of fun to use though. ;)

The Huntsman A is another decent idea, it is giving up a lot of tonnage on that LB-2X for a mech on mech battle though..almost too much.
For The Archon!

JadeHellbringer

  • Easily Bribed Forum Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 21696
  • Third time this week!
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #63 on: 25 August 2017, 07:58:48 »
In 3055 the Huntsman H would not be available...

A Nova Prime is always a fun choice for a melee.  Absolutely NO ONE is going to get close to you, so if you stay mobile, you shouldn't take much damage.  Close when you can, murder, wait for next opportunity.

I suppose you could trade out the H's heavy lasers for ERMLs and not suffer too badly... obviously not if you have to stick to canon configs, but it's at least workable. Lose some power, gain some range.
"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+

Kovax

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2421
  • Taking over the Universe one mapsheet at a time
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #64 on: 25 August 2017, 08:06:34 »
The Rifleman IIC is nasty, but I think it will face the same issue of being singled out. Could be a lot of fun to use though. ;)
I recall one grand melee where someone took a RFL-IIC.  It tore up a couple of Mediums, and was an absolute beast, at least until practically everyone on the table started shooting at it.  Thanks to its lethargic movement, it couldn't do anything to avoid the attention.  It wasn't the first 'Mech to die, but it really didn't last long.  When you're a conspicuously dangerous target, you get shot at......a lot.

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: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #65 on: 25 August 2017, 08:54:22 »
Are TacOps rules allowed in a Grand Melee? Because a Black Hawk Prime actually gains a fair amount of sustained damage potential if you dial down the power on the lasers a bit. :)
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

Stallion12

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 169
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #66 on: 26 August 2017, 00:21:35 »
Are TacOps rules allowed in a Grand Melee? Because a Black Hawk Prime actually gains a fair amount of sustained damage potential if you dial down the power on the lasers a bit. :)
I think it's basic rules unless gear is only found in tac ops, but what rule are you referring to?

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25633
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #67 on: 26 August 2017, 02:09:31 »
He's referring to the TacOps rule by which lasers can be dialed down for reduced damage and heat.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

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: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #68 on: 26 August 2017, 10:22:16 »
Bingo. You're only dishing out five-point hits, but the sheer number of lasers you can safely fire when they're only generating three heat apiece makes up for it, especially if you're in the mood for crit-seeking.
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

Stallion12

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 169
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #69 on: 07 October 2017, 14:36:18 »
Haven't been on the site, made it to the second to last round, took out the warhammer I was engaged with, but the warhammer and two assualt mech jumped me. Had I known they were going to do that, I would have positoned differently, the following round the assualt mech basic took each other out.

Colt Ward

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 28960
  • Gott Mit Uns
    • Merc Periphery Guide- Bakunin
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #70 on: 07 October 2017, 18:05:38 »
Must have missed it, but what did you use?  And if it was a Clan mech, it was a Warhammer IIC which is also a assault.

Had someone posting on FB how official Grand Melee rules (never told where they were published) said you could only use a heavy.
Colt Ward
Clan Invasion Backer #149, Leviathans #104

"We come in peace, please ignore the bloodstains."

"Greetings, Mechwarrior. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Daoshen and the Capellan armada."

casperionx

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 318
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #71 on: 11 October 2017, 20:53:45 »
Where's the hunchy IIC?? If you really want to earn some kudos, nothing is better (or probably more fragile).

Otherwise, can you take a spheroid mech? Wouldnt be the first time according to the cannon if memory serves correct?


Stallion12

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 169
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #72 on: 17 October 2017, 23:13:17 »
Must have missed it, but what did you use?  And if it was a Clan mech, it was a Warhammer IIC which is also a assault.

Had someone posting on FB how official Grand Melee rules (never told where they were published) said you could only use a heavy.
I used the goshawk, and it was a mkiic the warhammer. The guy running it also allowed a murder because his one player only ever wants to play them.

JadeHellbringer

  • Easily Bribed Forum Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 21696
  • Third time this week!
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #73 on: 19 October 2017, 09:32:56 »
Hard to argue with the Goshawk, at least the standard version. Jump jets, pulse lasers, and a targeting computer, with some SRMs for crit-seeking? Perfection, if a bit cheesy. (Dump that MG ammo, son!). But hey, it's a Grand Melee, cheese is encouraged!

...that said, if you have a player who will only use assault Mechs and nothing else, that sucks- adapt to the game or don't play, dude. I used to be the same way when I first started out- if it was under 85 tons it was crap. Now, I'm a jaded Jade Falcon who doesn't use assaults unless forced into it in-general, preferring mediums and fast heavies. You learn new tricks as you play the game- but you have to actually play other units to learn them. (Actually, a Goshawk getting behind an assault Mech is pretty entertaining. You're fast and jump-capable, so you can almost always either get back there to munch on that sweet back-armor, or hop to safety if you need to.)
"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+

blackjack

  • When you're a professional pirate ...
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1008
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #74 on: 22 October 2017, 19:18:27 »
Been a long time since I messed with grand melee game. Clarification needed. I thought that only Omnimechs were allowed? Nova S , Huntsman A or B & dang near any stormcrow.
#704

Firesprocket

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2945
  • Broke the Bandwagon
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #75 on: 22 October 2017, 19:36:16 »
Between it schooling me a few times and a duel where I used one against a Masakari years ago, I attribute the Goshawk as the mech that helped me see the light that a balanced mech is typically one that reliant on armor.

wantec

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3874
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #76 on: 26 October 2017, 07:27:17 »
Been a long time since I messed with grand melee game. Clarification needed. I thought that only Omnimechs were allowed? Nova S , Huntsman A or B & dang near any stormcrow.
I think for the grand melee that's not set in stone. For the Bloodright tournament it's almost guaranteed Omnis only, but in the melee you see all the folks who didn't get a nomination and are battling for that last spot. As such, those folks probably won't necessarily have the best units available to them.
BEN ROME YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD, I READ YOUR BOOK!


MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25633
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #77 on: 26 October 2017, 16:07:55 »
It depends on the Clan, too.  Clans with a tendency to put non-omnis in their front line units will be more likely to have them in Bloodrite trials, too.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

Frogfoot

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 262
Re: Clan grand melee tips
« Reply #78 on: 26 October 2017, 17:41:58 »
It depends on the Clan, too.  Clans with a tendency to put non-omnis in their front line units will be more likely to have them in Bloodrite trials, too.
This. There's also some specialist duelling mechs like the Vapour Eagle and Black Python, and it wouldn't surprise me to see non-omni totem mechs used too. I bet at least one Ghost Bear has won a Bloodname using a Kodiak.