BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat

BattleTech Game Systems => Ground Combat => Topic started by: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 26 April 2024, 18:41:33

Title: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 26 April 2024, 18:41:33
So, there have been a few times in the fiction where a defending force has used holographic projectors to simulate a battlemech while using vehicles, infantry platoons with field guns, or battle armor to simulate the weapon fire of the fake mech.  The Hell's Horses campaign on Sudeten in Elements of Treason: Honor immediately comes to mind.  Are there any rules for how to do this on the actual tabletop?
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Mendrugo on 26 April 2024, 18:53:33
Fall of Terra has rules for how the deceit might be uncovered, in the Sandhurst scenario.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Weirdo on 27 April 2024, 07:32:41
Yeah, those look pretty good. You have to be careful as to what kind of mechs you use for these decoys and what you hide inside, but in a Sudeten game at least, the Falcons have plenty of mechs that are decent at standing and sniping tactics.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: PuppyLikesLaserPointers on 27 April 2024, 07:57:20
And only the sniper mechs(or at least missile boat or anything similar with those) would be the acceptable image to project, for the device requires to making such decoys are not likely to be works while on move and are expected to be within the trench at least, and fortified sites at best. I don't think that bugmechs are the good candidates for this - such as a locust that shoots long tom shells, huh?
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Weirdo on 27 April 2024, 08:24:18
Don't forget to use something you can reasonably replicate with whatever infantry or vehicle is parked inside the holo. A Supernova or Mad IIC makes a great sniper, but no infantry can replicate their shots, and not many vehicles.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 27 April 2024, 10:44:54
Don't forget to use something you can reasonably replicate with whatever infantry or vehicle is parked inside the holo. A Supernova or Mad IIC makes a great sniper, but no infantry can replicate their shots, and not many vehicles.

Good advice except that at least once I'm going to need to have the decoy be a light mech and the actual machine be a Demolisher C.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: PuppyLikesLaserPointers on 27 April 2024, 11:43:33
Good advice except that at least once I'm going to need to have the decoy be a light mech and the actual machine be a Demolisher C.

Well, as long as it's the bait for the enemy attack, rather than conceal the real type of the unit while it keep shoots, then it does works and will be very effective.

But if you want it to be keep shooting as well it's not a wise idea at all, although it's not your intention for the example.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Weirdo on 27 April 2024, 12:10:26
Good advice except that at least once I'm going to need to have the decoy be a light mech and the actual machine be a Demolisher C.

Not sure how on earth you'd pull that off without your opponent getting suspicious...but go for it. If nobody shoots for the stars, there's no WarShips.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 27 April 2024, 13:52:26
Not sure how on earth you'd pull that off without your opponent getting suspicious...but go for it. If nobody shoots for the stars, there's no WarShips.

Doesn't matter how suspicious you are if you're dead.

Most likely I'm just going to go with a standard game with hidden units anyway.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Hellraiser on 27 April 2024, 14:10:19
Not sure how on earth you'd pull that off without your opponent getting suspicious...but go for it. If nobody shoots for the stars, there's no WarShips.

Maybe an Urbanmech or Hunchback decoy?

Not exactly some light bug but it would explain the lack of movement/shooting a bit.
Title: Re: Holographic decoys and field guns
Post by: Daryk on 27 April 2024, 16:27:05
You hide a Demolisher behind a light 'mech decoy by stacking it with infantry, of course... ;D