Author Topic: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?  (Read 6730 times)

abou

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Thinking of making a generic, medium weight company from what 'mechs I have representing a Marik company from the SW.  I plan on buying some minis in a future order from IWM so there is some flexibility.  Here is what I have so far as compared to what is published in the back of the old Marik sourcebook.

Command/Heavy Lance
- BattleMaster (might make this an Orion though)
- Orion
- Hunchback
- Hermes II (need good communications equipment, right?)

Fire Lance
- Archer
- Trebuchet
- Wolverine M
- Rifleman

Recon Lance
- Phoenix Hawk
- Vulcan
- Wasp
- Wasp

Thoughts?

Moonsword

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #1 on: 08 August 2012, 18:39:42 »
I might swap the Wolverine for a Shadow Hawk or a stock WLV-6R - at 15 hexes, you're not really a fire support 'Mech - but otherwise, that's a pretty general company.  You could also replace the BattleMaster with a Warhammer, which the FWL was manufacturing per TRO3039 if I remember correctly.  Or a Guillotine for a more Marik-specific feel, although they're rarer.

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #2 on: 08 August 2012, 18:45:32 »
You may find my Army Report: FWLM, 3025 useful. All your choices come out as common FWLM equipment; despite its presence on the 8 slot of the table, the Battlemaster doesn't feel right to me though. Perhaps an Awesome (always an FWL favourite) or Stalker?

But don't drop the WLV-6M. Every fire lance needs a bodyguard, and that's one of the best 3025 mediums in the game.
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Sartris

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #3 on: 08 August 2012, 18:53:23 »
You could also replace one of the Wasps with a Hermes HER-1A for a faster element - though I see all of the units in that lance are 6/9/6 jumpers

Edit: You could also toss in a Spider SDR-5V.  I've always been happy with one as the forwardmost recon element.

« Last Edit: 08 August 2012, 19:28:25 by Sartris »

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Moonsword

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #4 on: 08 August 2012, 19:38:11 »
But don't drop the WLV-6M. Every fire lance needs a bodyguard, and that's one of the best 3025 mediums in the game.

Trust me, I don't dislike the WLV-6M.  Quite the opposite.  But between them, that lance is pretty capable of handling anyone who wants to mix it up close and decides to do so alone, so I figured a little more range might be handy.

Blacksheep

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #5 on: 08 August 2012, 20:40:34 »
Well, you already have an Orion and the Battlemaster is very Marik considering they produced them in one of their factories, but then I'm partial to Beemers.  Otherwise, I think it looks great.

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #6 on: 08 August 2012, 20:48:41 »
Looks good.

Only suggestions I might make are Swap the Hunchie & Wolvie in lance positions.

And replace the Wasps with Stingers, Locusts, or Spiders that are all produced in the League.


PS.  I love that you didn't stick in an Awesome,  its a great mech but it would slow down that company IMHO.
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Lysenko

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #7 on: 08 August 2012, 21:07:20 »
I too like the Wolvie M for this job.

Everything else looks great, imo. Most of them are classic Unseens, which always makes me proud.. :)

My only comment is, much as I like the BattleMaster, I have to agree that a Marauder (-3M!) and Awesome are both choices to replace it. You don't have to have a nother command 'mech (the Orion counts as a command unit), so might I also suggest the Thug (-10E)? It was produced at the Earthwerks plant inside the FWL (Keystone?).

Edit: You could also change the Hunchback into a Swayback (-4P). 6 medium lasers to replace the AC20.
« Last Edit: 08 August 2012, 21:10:35 by Lysenko »

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #8 on: 08 August 2012, 21:35:56 »
Everythign needs more Wolvie-Ms.
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Frabby

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #9 on: 09 August 2012, 05:02:07 »
Looks fine save for the assault 'Mech. The SW-era FWL was famous notorious for two things: A shortage of PPCs, and a shortage of assault 'Mechs.
If you really want an assault 'Mech, I suggest the Longbow which supposedly was a very common design in the FWL (as assault 'Mechs go).
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Merwyn

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #10 on: 09 August 2012, 08:52:23 »
I really don't see the problem with the BattleMaster. It's the only assault 'Mech in a full company, which is IMO quite reasonable even in an era where assaults were scarce. And as for it being a BattleMaster, that's a design favored by the FWL. Yes, so are the Awesome, the Stalker and the Longbow, but during the Succession Wars all three are 3/5 designs that would end up slowing their lance and ultimately the entire company. Much better IMO to go with a BattleMaster.

Alan Grant

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #11 on: 09 August 2012, 14:44:40 »
What you have looks good, I would politely like to offer an alternative arrangement.

If your goal is to make this a 'medium weight' company, as stated, then I'd not include any assaults at all. (FYI I think the Battlemaster is fine in a generic FWL company, I just think its too heavy weight for this one). My offered revisions are designed to steer the company composition closer to that medium weight bracket. I'm assuming that this company is part of a FWL regiment that has heavy/assault lances in other companies.

Combine the functions of the command lance with the fire support lance, they may not always operate together (they may split into pairs instead) but on-paper they'd be organized as a lance. That leaves two lances as your fire/maneuver/scout component with some integrated fire support in the form of the Trebuchet.

Something like this.

Command Lance (Alpha Lance)
Orion
Rifleman
Archer
Hunchback

Fire and Maneuver Lance (Bravo Lance)
Shadow Hawk
Wolverine M
Trebuchet
Hermes II

Maneuver and Scout Lance (Charlie Lance)
Phoenix Hawk
Vulcan
Cicada (2B model)
Wasp

Primary tactics: Bravo and Charlie lances finds the enemy and fixes them in place, Bravo does most of the straight-up fighting, using a combination of direct and indirect (LRM) fire. They also have the speed and maneuverability to try and outflank the enemy, and to grab the best terrain. Charlie Lance can scout but also be used as a flanking force and to chase down fast vehicles and overrun infantry (with the Vulcan and -2B Cicada being infantry killers). The Hermes II driver, using the communications gear, keeps the Alpha Lance appraised of the situation and serves as the communication officer for the whole company. The slower Alpha lance is held in reserve, providing air defense (Rifleman), fire support (Archer and Rifleman), and command (Orion) functions. If and when elements of Alpha Lance get into a close quarters fight, the Hunchback serves as escort for Alpha. In situations where Alpha moves in first, they have Bravo in immediate support with Charlie deployed as skirmishers/flankers/scouts away from the Alpha/Bravo main body.

If the presence of the Shadow Hawk bothers you  (not always seen as a FWL machine, though in 3025 it is manufactured by Earthwerks on Calloway VI), you can remove it and bump the Phoenix Hawk up to Bravo Lance, and add another lower weight medium or light to Charlie, like a Locust or Stinger. Or you could replace the Shadow Hawk with a Quickdraw, which the FWL does make.
« Last Edit: 09 August 2012, 15:10:20 by Alan Grant »

worktroll

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #12 on: 09 August 2012, 18:30:12 »
Oooh, that's an ethical dilemna. Take a stock Shadow Hawk, or a Quickdraw? The mediocrity is underwhelming! :)

I'd probably stick with the Shadowhawk; at least it looks better. The Quickdraw is very Marik, though.

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abou

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #13 on: 10 August 2012, 21:51:23 »
Thanks for the input, guys.  The reasoning for the recon lance having what it haves are two-fold:  The first is that all the movement profiles of the 'mechs are the same.  The second is that not only are they produced in the FWL, but I have a number of Wasps I've accumulated.  This puts them to good use.

As it stands, I do have a number of Marauders that I have yet to utilize, but not all of them are in the best of shape.  A leg of one model is badly cast and I need to decide what to do with it -- either have someone sculpt repairs on it, sculpt repairs myself, or use the leg of another Marauder to cast a replacement.  I have something like four metal Marauders that are available with one missing its dorsal cannon.  Maybe I could make that a Davion version or that custom one with SRMs.

I think I'll keep the BattleMaster as I have a number of those as well.  What I may do instead is replace the Archer with a Quickdraw.  This does a couple of things: lowers the weight of the lance, introduces a bit more mediocrity, and gets the average weight of the entire company down to 50 tons.  That is squarely in the medium bracket.  This weight matches the plans I have for a Davion company, which is an interesting target to aim for.  Just so you guys can see it, here are my rough plans for a Davion company:

Command
- BattleMaster
- Marauder
- Centurion
- Enforcer

Fire
- Rifleman
- Crusader
- Valkyrie
- Dervish

Recon
- Phoenix Hawk
- Wasp
- Javelin
- Javelin

I was really debating adding an Orion to the Davion command lance as it is one of my favorites, but I decided against it... although I really want it.  The variants may be Ds or the standard versions.  Either way, medium 'mechs dominate both companies.  I'll be saving my Victor for a Davion mountain/rough terrain lance.

After these two companies are done, a Liao medium company is next.

smcwatt

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #14 on: 11 August 2012, 19:32:19 »
More Trebs. A Fire Lnce with 3 Trebs is pretty iconic.

SMc.

Alan Grant

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #15 on: 11 August 2012, 20:42:11 »
Nevermind
« Last Edit: 12 August 2012, 17:18:01 by Alan Grant »

Blacksheep

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #16 on: 11 August 2012, 23:59:27 »
For the Davion company, all looks good, but I might replace the Rifleman with an Archer if you have another...

Devens

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #17 on: 12 August 2012, 06:52:29 »
For the Davion company, all looks good, but I might replace the Rifleman with an Archer if you have another...

The Rifleman is very davion, I would keep it.  I would replace the crusader instead if you had to replace anything.

Jayof9s

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #18 on: 12 August 2012, 09:53:50 »
The Rifleman is very davion, I would keep it.  I would replace the crusader instead if you had to replace anything.

They're all very Davion 'Mechs, personally I'd switch the Crusader to a 3D before making it an Archer.

My only thought for the recon lance, instead of 2 Javelins, replace one with a Firestarter. Davions love their Firestarters.

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #19 on: 13 August 2012, 02:37:01 »
We love our Javelins just as much...  I'd suggest using at least one as a 10F variant.   ;)
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Blacksheep

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #20 on: 13 August 2012, 06:44:26 »
I didn't say a Rifleman wasn't Davion, but in 3025 I personally prefer Fire Lances that maximize indirect fire, i.e., LRMs.  Yes, Fire Lances may be direct fire lances although in the SW era I don't believe they're near as effective.  How about this: switch the Centurion and the Rifleman within your lances so we're all happy O0   

Devens

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #21 on: 13 August 2012, 06:59:33 »
I didn't say a Rifleman wasn't Davion, but in 3025 I personally prefer Fire Lances that maximize indirect fire, i.e., LRMs.  Yes, Fire Lances may be direct fire lances although in the SW era I don't believe they're near as effective.  How about this: switch the Centurion and the Rifleman within your lances so we're all happy O0   

Its the Succession Wars era that his company is from,  the Rifleman gives more of a era accurate flavor than an all missile lance.  Also, you may prefer an all Missile Lance but the original poaster might not.
« Last Edit: 13 August 2012, 07:01:12 by Devens »

Blacksheep

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #22 on: 13 August 2012, 07:40:34 »
Mechs may be rare in that era and you must make due with what you have, but I think changing the lance assignment for a particular machine you already have is well within a particular commander's authority.  Besides, what's a "poaster"...an insincere Blakist ;)

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #23 on: 13 August 2012, 10:57:12 »

Command
- BattleMaster
- Marauder
- Centurion
- Enforcer

Fire
- Rifleman
- Crusader
- Valkyrie
- Dervish

Recon
- Phoenix Hawk
- Wasp
- Javelin
- Javelin



I'd mix it up a little more, something like this.

Command
- BattleMaster-1D
- Marauder-3D
- WarHammer-6D
- Rifleman-3C

Fire  Battle
- Crusader-3D
- Dervish-6M
- Centurion-9
- Enforcer-4R

Recon
- Phoenix Hawk-1D
- Valkyrie-QA
- Javelin-10D
- Wasp-1D
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abou

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #24 on: 13 August 2012, 22:52:45 »
I could make those changes, but I'm aiming for an even 600 ton company, which would put me squarely in the medium weight range on average.  Also, I'm using what miniatures I have while still making room for other companies for other States.  As long as my composition is not wrong, I'm not concerned with min/maxing my force.  I want something that more represents the flavor of the Succession Wars than anything else.

Also, I'm not made of money.  I just spent over $330 on veterinary reference books.  Oi, my pocket book.

Hellraiser

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #25 on: 12 September 2012, 23:19:02 »
I could make those changes, but I'm aiming for an even 600 ton company, which would put me squarely in the medium weight range on average.  Also, I'm using what miniatures I have while still making room for other companies for other States.

Well if its a "these are the minis I have available" situation then that I can support.

In that case I'd just swap the Rifleman & Centurion.
It gives you a few more LRMs in the Fire Lance while giving the CO/XO some AAA protection.
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Vonshroom

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #26 on: 13 September 2012, 00:46:56 »
I would do this instead but still pretty close

Orion or Stalker
Marauder
rifleman
centurion

Crusader
Dervish
Enforcer
Shadow Hawk

Pheonix hawk
Javelin
Wasp
Wasp


I'd mix it up a little more, something like this.

Command
- BattleMaster-1D
- Marauder-3D
- WarHammer-6D
- Rifleman-3C

Fire  Battle
- Crusader-3D
- Dervish-6M
- Centurion-9
- Enforcer-4R

Recon
- Phoenix Hawk-1D
- Valkyrie-QA
- Javelin-10D
- Wasp-1D

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Lysenko

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Re: Generic Succession Wars Marik company -- how is my composition?
« Reply #27 on: 13 September 2012, 17:26:41 »
Trust me, we've all been there. You work with what you got! :)

So, you're like the Successor Lord (Janos) going, "Gee, I wish I had a Black Knight or Thug to put in there, but this is what I got.":)

 

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