How to make your players sweat -- SPAs

[abou]

Make them fight against an Annihilator with an elite pilot and the Demoralizer and Natural Grace SPAs in urban combat.

So who else has been using SPAs in their games and how do you limit them? Do you follow the rules as outlined in the Companion? Maybe just one per pilot?

[GoldBishop]

My group uses the SPAs as outlined in the Formation Bonuses... a healthy mix of every type for most battles, though (all of us on my end) tend to favor the Recon + IndirectFire/Artillery lance combos ...which has often lead to thrown dice and foul moods.

Since only two of us actually own the ASC, we tend to just stick to the Formation bonuses.  We've occasionally sprinkled in uncommon/unattached SPAs not available through the Formation bonuses (such as Marksman, SharpShooter, and Melee-oriented SPAs) but primarily assigned them to specific, skilled pilots (1 per formation as Lance/Star, either the lance/star leader or specialist).

We also use a few home-brew Formation types geared towards Ambusher-types and weapon specialists, but haven't really play-tested them thoroughly.

As far as making my peers sweat?  My pair of Mars Assault Tanks [HAG] would certainly qualify.  Granted they are slow and expensive, their presence on the field has proven devastating if taken lightly or ignored.  Coupled with some of the above-mentioned SPAs, they are outright mean.

[Von Ether]

Generally we give one or two to a Commander in a company and one to a subcommander. We don't stack formation bonuses on top of those two.

While that avoids ubermench, it can kit out a whole lance, which is it's own kind of scary when used as a team with alt ammos.

Inferno, heat seeking and sniper is a special sort of he'll.

[Fear Factory]

Make them fight against an Annihilator with an elite pilot and the Demoralizer and Natural Grace SPAs in urban combat.

Dirk in his Phoenix Hawk, shooting outside of the Annihilator's front arc:  "Ef' it, ef' Tim, I'm shooting him!"

GM:  Hold on, he has Natural Grace...

Other two players:  What's Natural Grace?
Me:  *Angry and fearful stare*

GM:  He overheats *Rolls* and you take 6 damage.

Other two players:  Whaaaaaaa?
Me:  You.. bastard.

Dirk, jumping from battle and reaching for his flask:  "DAMNIT!  My fire control is down, I'm out!"

[JadedFalcon]

In my last game, my opponent put a Speed Demon SPA on an Atlas in an assault lance. I'm rather surprised he didn't push into close range and use Demoralizer on my striker lance.