Author Topic: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker  (Read 60595 times)

garhkal

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #90 on: 29 April 2013, 15:56:50 »
And this is also assuming you even play WITH plasma rifles.
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Diplominator

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #91 on: 29 April 2013, 16:13:04 »
The new JHK-03 Jade Hawk pretty much requires that you turn off a lot of heat sinks. I'm not even sure if you're allowed to turn off partial wing cooling, but even if you can't, turning off all the sinks, firing the lasers, and jumping four gets you to 9. Then it gets trickier since it doesn't have any odd-heat weapons but it's doable (although you'll get to ten from time to time).

Kotetsu

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #92 on: 29 April 2013, 17:22:08 »
Play with plasma rifles? Check.

Play with a Plasma Rifle on a Berserker? Check.  >:D

RyuWanderfalke

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #93 on: 29 April 2013, 17:27:36 »
The new JHK-03 Jade Hawk pretty much requires that you turn off a lot of heat sinks. I'm not even sure if you're allowed to turn off partial wing cooling,

No, not even when you don't jump.

Diplominator

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #94 on: 29 April 2013, 19:47:07 »
No, not even when you don't jump.

Well, that's a little problematic, then. Aside from jumping 3 or walking (and letting the third JJ or the supercharger go to waste) there's no way to generate an odd amount of heat, so given the PW's three heat dissipation you can't stay at nine heat.

I...I think the supercharger might be there to give yourself an engine crit and make staying at nine easier. Maybe not just for that, but...it really simplifies things.

chanman

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #95 on: 29 April 2013, 22:21:50 »
I think of Berzerkers as urban shepherds. What would need shepherding? Fenrirs, Hetzers, Demolisher IIs, Typhoons, SRM carriers, y'know. There's a lot of stuff that might get lost in a Lyran metropolis if left to wander off on their own. Small children, tourists, scout companies...

Kotetsu

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #96 on: 30 April 2013, 02:43:33 »
I think of Berzerkers as urban shepherds. What would need shepherding? Fenrirs, Hetzers, Demolisher IIs, Typhoons, SRM carriers, y'know. There's a lot of stuff that might get lost in a Lyran metropolis if left to wander off on their own. Small children, tourists, scout companies...

UrbanMechs?

RyuWanderfalke

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #97 on: 30 April 2013, 02:55:48 »
Well, that's a little problematic, then. Aside from jumping 3 or walking (and letting the third JJ or the supercharger go to waste) there's no way to generate an odd amount of heat, so given the PW's three heat dissipation you can't stay at nine heat.

I...I think the supercharger might be there to give yourself an engine crit and make staying at nine easier. Maybe not just for that, but...it really simplifies things.

I think the IS market Jade Hawk is just a very bad design. ;)
Though the artwork is awesome.

Dakkagor

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #98 on: 30 April 2013, 07:51:54 »
Sure it isn't the most practical 'mech ever designed, but it's a hundred ton axe-murderer. If loving that is wrong I don't wanna be right.

This, so this.  I'd love to see a C4 variant of the Berserker with jump jets and pulses, TSM and ECM, maybe a C3 Slave if you can find the tonnage.  Ditch the AMS and let that beast of a machine loose in an urban environment.  It would be like Friday the 13th combined with Godzilla.

Also, on the subject of hatchet design: I like the hatchet design on the Beserker more than on the Axman or the Hachetman.  It looks like something designed to smash into a mechs side torso, and when pulled out, take its guts with it in a spray of coolant, oil, and expensive components.  A slab of brutal armoured death aimed for the head, wielded by a fire-breathing monster from legend. . .

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RyuWanderfalke

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #99 on: 30 April 2013, 07:54:13 »
If you're using TSM, JJs are kinda beside the point. An Engine supercharger would be much more useful.

StCptMara

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #100 on: 30 April 2013, 08:01:41 »
If you're using TSM, JJs are kinda beside the point. An Engine supercharger would be much more useful.

If your goal is ground speed, sure. However, JJs have several advantages for a melee 'mech. It can clear
buildings, and, Jump jets can, in some terrains, actually get more movement then the TSM boosted running
speed. And, more importantly: they generate heat. Which helps keep the TSM active. Since your TSM is for
making the "Hassan do chop!" (That is a Bugs Bunny reference)
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #101 on: 30 April 2013, 08:08:08 »
Well, if you're fighting in the Alpes then obviously JJs are still preferable. But usually running 10 should be > jumping 4, 5 and even 6 (especially given how heavy those IJJ are on an assault chassis).

Dakkagor

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #102 on: 30 April 2013, 08:10:55 »
Exactly StCptMara.   Raw speed is only so useful, and in urban environments a 4 hex jump movement can be vital.  Even a shortened jump (3/2) can be useful for clearing buildings and obstacles safely and stalking your prey, especially if using scenario/double-blind rules that allow that mech to hide and ambush potential prey.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #103 on: 30 April 2013, 08:29:15 »
Exactly StCptMara.   Raw speed is only so useful, and in urban environments a 4 hex jump movement can be vital.  Even a shortened jump (3/2) can be useful for clearing buildings and obstacles safely and stalking your prey, especially if using scenario/double-blind rules that allow that mech to hide and ambush potential prey.

And...Cities? They are my home. Seriously, my group uses clear plexiglass over city map boards to keep track of building CF as
we run and smash through them to get at each other..
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Savage Coyote

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #104 on: 30 April 2013, 08:33:14 »
I think of Berzerkers as urban shepherds. What would need shepherding? Fenrirs, Hetzers, Demolisher IIs, Typhoons, SRM carriers, y'know. There's a lot of stuff that might get lost in a Lyran metropolis if left to wander off on their own. Small children, tourists, scout companies...

What are scout companies?

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Kane

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #105 on: 30 April 2013, 09:29:03 »
The Berserker -C3 variant is possibly my favorite 'mech of all time. How can you go wrong with a 40 damage hatchet attack?

wellspring

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #106 on: 30 April 2013, 09:41:13 »
And...Cities? They are my home. Seriously, my group uses clear plexiglass over city map boards to keep track of building CF as
we run and smash through them to get at each other..

oooh I like that idea.

Diplominator

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #107 on: 30 April 2013, 10:40:26 »
I think the IS market Jade Hawk is just a very bad design. ;)
Though the artwork is awesome.

It hits like an iHGR.

On the punch table.

That earns a lot of leeway in my book.

RyuWanderfalke

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #108 on: 30 April 2013, 11:35:46 »
"bad" as in "really, really much less than what it could have been".

Moonsword

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #109 on: 30 April 2013, 11:47:31 »
"bad" as in "really, really much less than what it could have been".

Actually, we knew pretty much what that stinker was going to look like.  It lines up quite well with the original design specs from the original Dark Age material.

Whatever you want to say about the JHK-03 and the standard Jade Hawk, the Jade Hawk 2 is a very different ball of wax.  And a much sparklier one than the JHK-03 since it's lit up like a Pink Floyd concert after dark thanks to those laser heat sinks.

EDIT: The Clan base model and the JHK-03 both have enough SRMs to be enormous pains in the neck to tank commanders, too, especially if they pile on with the ERSLs.  You're running the risk that the tank gets to return the favor but no one running tanks wants that many SRMs spammed across their rear or side arcs.
« Last Edit: 30 April 2013, 11:52:07 by Moonsword »

RyuWanderfalke

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #110 on: 30 April 2013, 11:59:03 »
Actually, we knew pretty much what that stinker was going to look like.  It lines up quite well with the original design specs from the original Dark Age material.

Whatever you want to say about the JHK-03 and the standard Jade Hawk, the Jade Hawk 2 is a very different ball of wax.  And a much sparklier one than the JHK-03 since it's lit up like a Pink Floyd concert after dark thanks to those laser heat sinks.

EDIT: The Clan base model and the JHK-03 both have enough SRMs to be enormous pains in the neck to tank commanders, too, especially if they pile on with the ERSLs.  You're running the risk that the tank gets to return the favor but no one running tanks wants that many SRMs spammed across their rear or side arcs.

Yeah, I was referring to the JHK-03.
And of course, the short range punch is devastating, but given the horrible TSM management, the overall subpar armament, the almost worthless jump jets as well as the partial wing... it's just a bad design in terms of min-maxing.
But well, WizKids had the sculpt made up which obviously incorporated a wing structure and missile launchers and since TPTB decided against coming up with external heatsinks I guess there was only so much one could do in terms of the JH's conversion to battletech.

shadow_walker

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #111 on: 30 April 2013, 20:32:38 »
Ah No Dachi's.....Cruelst fate I saw was a declaration of an Alpha Strike..then the opponents completely ignored it to fire at and damage another mech because, sure enough, he blew up from his own ammo.

It's amazing how that has never happen to me. Oh wait. It's because I know what I'm doing in a Kurtia death trap.
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chanman

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #112 on: 30 April 2013, 21:38:32 »
It's amazing how that has never happen to me. Oh wait. It's because I know what I'm doing in a Kurtia death trap.

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William J. Pennington

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #113 on: 30 April 2013, 22:16:50 »
It's amazing how that has never happen to me. Oh wait. It's because I know what I'm doing in a Kurtia death trap.

Well, to be fair to the guy, he's lost initiative and had to declare fire first; he thought he was a goner.  It was just the reaction when we declared fire elsewhere that was priceless.

It was almost as fun as when you inferno'd one of your own allies TSM equipped Mechs to 'help' them on the heat scale when they wouldn't engage. :)

A. Lurker

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #114 on: 01 May 2013, 03:37:40 »
It was almost as fun as when you inferno'd one of your own allies TSM equipped Mechs to 'help' them on the heat scale when they wouldn't engage. :)

Heh. Not strictly cricket by the book (you're not allowed to target friendlies, period), but of course there's no good in-universe reason why you couldn't do exactly that. ;)

I find my own relationship with TSM running a bit hot and cold (ouch), but lately I've been warming up to it again a bit (okay, okay, I'll stop now...). The main problem is purely in my head anyway -- for some reason I've got the idea stuck in there that TSM is something you either put onto a finely-tuned specialist flashbulb or don't bother with at all. Which is obviously silly since as long as you can afford the six critical slots TSM is always at worst a weight-free way to mitigate the worst movement effects from overheating...

And on reflection, that whole "Cult of the Magic 9" movement? Seems to owe much of its existence to the purely meta-reason that Battle Value also exists and prices TSM as though it was always on (without then accounting for the to-hit penalties you'd get if it really was, of course) -- thus creating the situation in which players feel they have to justify their "investment" in the first place.

I mean, 9 heat would still be a perfectly fine breakpoint for TSM 'Mechs even without BV -- but would people really feel quite as driven to always get and stay there purely on TSM's own merits?

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #115 on: 01 May 2013, 04:27:18 »
And...Cities? They are my home. Seriously, my group uses clear plexiglass over city map boards to keep track of building CF as
we run and smash through them to get at each other..

That. . .is a really good idea.  going to suggest that to our gaming group.
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StCptMara

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #116 on: 01 May 2013, 08:06:31 »
That. . .is a really good idea.  going to suggest that to our gaming group.

When we thought of it, my group spent several minutes laughing because we had not thought of it sooner...
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William J. Pennington

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #117 on: 01 May 2013, 10:01:30 »
Heh. Not strictly cricket by the book (you're not allowed to target friendlies, period), but of course there's no good in-universe reason why you couldn't do exactly that. ;)

Well, it was a 'friendly' game. :)

Quote
I mean, 9 heat would still be a perfectly fine breakpoint for TSM 'Mechs even without BV -- but would people really feel quite as driven to always get and stay there purely on TSM's own merits?

I would. If it wasn't for TSM you wouldn't want to hang out at heat at all. Going over 9 heat negates the bonus MP--which can be pretty  darn important for getting you to melee quicker, maybe even to a higher defensive modifier.  Losing that bonus MP for being unable to maintain 9 no matter what movement mode I chose would lead me not to take such a 'Mech in the first place.  The extra movement is part of the package, for the ability to close quicker, get into a better spot than I normally would--and maybe actually force that physical combat, and not being able to maintain it except under very limited circumstances matters.

That said, my longest running and one of my favorite MechWarrior characters was a heat scale riding hatchet wielding nutjob who loved his TSM, who would ride heat to 29 then look at a DFA as a cool down maneuver. Sometimes, its not about efficiency, but style.

A. Lurker

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #118 on: 01 May 2013, 10:20:33 »
I would. If it wasn't for TSM you wouldn't want to hang out at heat at all.

I suppose, but what about TSM supposedly makes it so that once I have it I suddenly do? What's keeping me from just saying "hooray, I've got TSM, guess I'll save it for an inferno-rich day" and then simply running the 'Mech just as cool as I would if I didn't?

There's the whole BV thing I already mentioned in my last post, of course. But other than that?

StCptMara

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: BRZ-*3 Berserker
« Reply #119 on: 01 May 2013, 10:29:04 »
I suppose, but what about TSM supposedly makes it so that once I have it I suddenly do? What's keeping me from just saying "hooray, I've got TSM, guess I'll save it for an inferno-rich day" and then simply running the 'Mech just as cool as I would if I didn't?

That actually reminds me of one time where we used random 'mechs, but blind variants(as in: Random mechs, but only
let people know something had what they saw it use). I got a C3, and I did not turn off heat sinks or such. I was keeping
it dead on heat curce, in fact..and one of my opponants fired Inferno's at me...and generated enough heat to put me to 9
over heat....poor 3050 Missile Boat Jenner...
"Victory or Debt!"- The Battlecry of Mercenaries everywhere

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Reality and Battletech go hand in hand like a drug induced hallucination and engineering a fusion reactor ;-)