Best Slow Light Mech

[Nahuris]

I'm going to throw in an unexpected one that hasn't been mentioned yet: the STG-3P Stinger.  You've got 6/9/6 movement, enough armor to usually keep you from being killed one-off, and a torso-mounted light PPC allowing you to keep your distance, something a lot of light 'Mechs have trouble with.  And, given they're dirt cheap, they're actually viable to field as a Ravinnion/Sippers-style horde.

Same Reason I like the Wasp 8T -- -light PPC on a 6/9/6 in anything other than an open salt flat has uses ..... it depends on how you use it, though
Never let it be the sole target, or even the optimal target.

Nahuris

[Daryk]

I would add that you have to be just tough enough that the opponent would need to divert real firepower away from the battle line to eliminate you.

Another vote for the JVN-11A!  I once had one take a full salvo from an LRM carrier with no critical hits to show for it! 

*snip*
But consider . . . we as players tend to bring the heavies & assaults, when the latter are still sort of rare.
*snip*

Speak for yourself, brother... I prefer Mediums and Lights.

[Gribbly]

Speak for yourself, brother... I prefer Mediums and Lights.

Mediums and lights add a lot of variety and have their place in objective based non-deathmatch play, makes for a fun game. The 55-65t range is also a sweet spot, assaults can feel a little dull (at least gameplay-wise, not art).

I still have a soft spot for the Wasp and Stinger but wouldn't argue they're optimised for combat performance rather than economical value.

[Sir Chaos]

Another vote for the JVN-11A!  I once had one take a full salvo from an LRM carrier with no critical hits to show for it! 

In 3025 play, I am a big fan of the Wolfhound and Phoenix Hawk base models. Fast enough for the era, tough, and with just enough firepower that you cannot ignore them, but not so much that it´s worth concentrating on them. Also their large lasers have enough range that they can skirmish without having to get too deep into a heavy´s or assault´s range.

[Colt Ward]

Speak for yourself, brother... I prefer Mediums and Lights.

Lol, I do not usually 'assault' tend to be too slow.  If I do, usually 4/6s.

While I started the other thread about a viable battlefield light for the Dark Ages needing to be at least 8/12 . . . as stated above, for a slow light I think you have to go with damage reduction armor & internals- or use Stealth to give the TH mods speed would normally give, even if you have to stay at range which is the case for both armor choices IMO.  So then it comes down to what long range weapon do you want to use?  LRMs?  E-LRMs?  ATMs? UAC/5 or smaller?  LB-5X or smaller?  Light Gauss?  ERPPC or cERLL?

[misterpants]

Didn't see it mentioned, but the Gun (can't be bothered with the special symbol) from the Dark Ages takes the gunboat/EW platform approach to slow lights.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The Gun is an infantry-support mech.  It should never be in a position where it's fighting other mechs.

[Weirdo]

The Gun is an infantry-support mech.  It should never be in a position where it's fighting other mechs.

Exception: It is very good at dealing with the kinds of mechs commonly sent to attack infantry.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'd be worried about going up against a Scarecrow with one.

[Scotty]

The Gun is an infantry-support mech.  It should never be in a position where it's fighting other mechs.

Being "infantry support" means being able to tackle things that infantry have problems with, which is why there's the Prime with an all-around anti-infantry and armor weapon, the A with electronics support that infantry don't do well, and the B with a Heavy PPC to sucker punch 'Mechs and remove fortifications.

This notably does include being in a position where it's fighting other 'Mechs, but you're correct in the sense that "a Gun should not be trying to duel another 'Mech" even if incidental contact is expected and desirable.

[garhkal]

Mediums and lights add a lot of variety and have their place in objective based non-deathmatch play, makes for a fun game. The 55-65t range is also a sweet spot, assaults can feel a little dull (at least gameplay-wise, not art).

I still have a soft spot for the Wasp and Stinger but wouldn't argue they're optimised for combat performance rather than economical value.

For short pick up games, lights and mediums, while fun to play, generally seem to make the combats longer, due to either not hitting that often, or if they do, not doing enough damage.   assaults banging on one another, can also become slugfests..  So heavies to me, is the 'sweet spot'.

[Weirdo]

I'd be worried about going up against a Scarecrow with one.

I'm not gonna count 'unable to counter something twice as big, loaded with Clantech, and invisible' as a strike against the Gùn.

[Empyrus]

The Gun vs Scarecrow debate is funny because neither is really intended to fight other 'Mechs

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'm not gonna count 'unable to counter something twice as big, loaded with Clantech, and invisible' as a strike against the Gùn.

The Scarecrow is a mech built to be sent up against infantry that's used by the neighbor of the Capellan Confederation that's been fighting an active war with them for about a decade.

[Scotty]

You can probably leave the fluff considerations at the door, we're not posting in "The Inner Sphere" and the question is about good slow light 'Mechs, not "which light 'Mechs can punch 2-2.5x above their weight in BV".

[Colt Ward]

You can probably leave the fluff considerations at the door, we're not posting in "The Inner Sphere" and the question is about good slow light 'Mechs, not "which light 'Mechs can punch 2-2.5x above their weight in BV".

Or alternatively, faction and fluff is the lens folks view & enjoy the game through and their opinions are as valid as your agnostic approach?

The Gun is a ISM like the original Corvis, and does reflect what I was saying about slow lights end up fighting BA & vehicles in the post-3050 eras as their niche.  Not everything has to slam against mechs.

[Daryk]

BattleTech is indeed a broad church... 

[Dayton3]

I'm probably rare in this but I'm partial to the Hollander. 

Sure it doesn't have a secondary weapon,  not enough armor,   not enough ammo,  to name just three of its flaws.

But there is just something about that giant cannon (Gauss rifle) it totes around

[Giovanni Blasini]

Same Reason I like the Wasp 8T -- -light PPC on a 6/9/6 in anything other than an open salt flat has uses ..... it depends on how you use it, though
Never let it be the sole target, or even the optimal target.

Nahuris

Wasp 8T isn't bad, though my dislike of XL engines and small cockpits tends to tip me away from it, but the combination of the light PPC and an MML-3 is pretty good.

[Sir Chaos]

Wasp 8T isn't bad, though my dislike of XL engines and small cockpits tends to tip me away from it, but the combination of the light PPC and an MML-3 is pretty good.

There´s also the subtle psychological "it´s just a Wasp, I can ignore it for now" factor at work on your opponent.

[Empyrus]

I won't count anything that moves 6/9/x as slow regardless of era, there are too many light 'Mechs at that speed bracket i like. That speed is kinda slow, especially by the Dark Age but easier to ignore them.

The Panther is probably my favorite. Excellent looks and style, simple to operate, reasonably effective. Organizationally problematic though, as it doesn't fit in with other lights, yet i don't really want to group it with 4/6 heavies either. An Order Lance would be ideal organization for Panthers but alas, one can't get Panthers in packs of four.

Kinda like the Hollander F3, G1 and III-series D1. The G1 makes for a nice support light with its LB-10X, and the D1 feels interesting because it is different with its Ultra-10. The D2 is just a rehash of F3, so meh.

Of Clan light 'Mechs, the Cougar is the only slow one i find acceptable, not that there are many other 5/8/x or slower Clan lights. Have bit of love-hate relationship with the Cougar, was among my favorite rides in Mechwarrior IV, looks nice, but find it a bit meh for tabletop BattleTech.

Can't think of other slow light 'Mechs i like. The UrbanMech is funny but not something i actually like like, i'm not going to be voluntarily fielding it except perhaps in some scenarios.

[Daryk]

The Panther fits just fine with the wide variety of 4/6 Mediums, though... 

[Empyrus]

The Panther fits just fine with the wide variety of 4/6 Mediums, though... 

Not... really. Because Kuritans don't really use any. The Hunchback is the only one i can think of Kuritans using. Enforcers, Centurions and Blackjacks are very much Davion things, the Hatchetman is a FedCom design, and the Vindicator is a Capellan design. What else there is? Whitworth? I'll take another Panther over the Whitworth.

I don't really like using very faction-specific/flavored designs for other factions. I suppose a Panther in a Davion medium lance is fine, especially in the "northern" border, but i tend to avoid this kind of stuff when possible.

[Daryk]

True, but other factions use Panthers, so it works... 

[Empyrus]

True, but other factions use Panthers, so it works... 

Barely. Only the 9R ever spread really beyond the borders of the Draconis Combine, and upgraded Panthers are limited to Rasalhague, Nova Cats and mercs.

[Daryk]

Sure, if you stick strictly to canon.  Xotl's RATs give you a way get them virtually anywhere... 

[Empyrus]

Sure, if you stick strictly to canon.  Xotl's RATs give you a way get them virtually anywhere... 

You sure about that?
Looking at Xotl's RATs, Panthers aren't available to any faction but Dracs and Rasalhague (ie MUL has wider availability). June 12 2021 dated version.

I don't count salvage rolls here, because you can get anything with those. Simply ignoring any lists allows you to get anything anyway.

[Ruger]

Not... really. Because Kuritans don't really use any. The Hunchback is the only one i can think of Kuritans using. Enforcers, Centurions and Blackjacks are very much Davion things, the Hatchetman is a FedCom design, and the Vindicator is a Capellan design. What else there is? Whitworth? I'll take another Panther over the Whitworth.

I don't really like using very faction-specific/flavored designs for other factions. I suppose a Panther in a Davion medium lance is fine, especially in the "northern" border, but i tend to avoid this kind of stuff when possible.

Ah, but I maintain that a perfectly apt 3025 era average Kuritan lance would be a Jenner, two Panthers, and a Dragon.

And having gained a second Panther from a salvage box, I can make that lance with minis from the Kickstarter.

But that’s just me.

Ruger

[Daryk]

Salvage rolls are the soul of the 3rd Succession War... 

[Empyrus]

Ah, but I maintain that a perfectly apt 3025 era average Kuritan lance would be a Jenner, two Panthers, and a Dragon.

Very faction flavorful to be sure, but i organize everything by speed and jump capability first with very few exceptions (command and support lances essentially, and i avoid these whenever possible to boot). Some factions are harder to organize because of that, others easier (Lyrans love their 6/9/x units, so convenient for organization).