MotW: Dart

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I think Colt was suggesting dropping the TC to get the mass for TAG.

[Colt Ward]

TC works with TAG?

Sorr, did not mean 6S, meant 6T- I referred back to the wrong part of the article.  It links into the targeting system . . . hmm, but TM says it does not apply, so I guess there is no point!  I always included it when figuring modified designs for MM, but its a ton so must not have thrown it off much.

[Takiro]

TC works with TAG?

Not unless the rules were changed. I mentioned the TAG cause it is a natural fit for the Dart especially if it is looking to avoid direct combat.

Thanks to your inspiration I finished my optimized version of the Dart (what I called the DRT-4FC) along with two other variants (the DRT-5FC compares to the new Locust pretty well I think). Check it out if you like and thanks again for the good discussion!

https://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/index.php?topic=3869.0

[Liam's Ghost]

It occurs to me that using a stock Dart to hunt infantry still carries considerable risk, since it's engagement range is short enough that it will almost certainly take fire it might not be able to handle from conventional troops, but how about something less organized? I find myself wondering about using the stock Dart as a militia or police mech, particularly on unruly worlds.

How low can you dial down the laser power, anyway? Low enough to be incapacitating and disorienting without being lethal?

[Takiro]

Rubber bullets??

Non-lethal ammunition or a laser stun setting would certainly be level 3 tech but there are possibilities....

[Orin J.]

I like the Dart- not in any sort of direct combat role, because it's useless there but as part of a pirate raiding force it's perfect. no ammo costs, anti-infantry to keep people's heads down and the arms are free to yank whatever you might want and then leg it. and boy, it's good at the "legging it" part.

it's also a pretty sweet ride, as far as looks. it's even got a fin! this is a 'mech with some serious style for a squishy light.

[Greatclub]

the -4S is a respectable introtech machine. Running one in the succession wars is an anachronism, but I'd allow it if going by tech level.

[massey]

When TRO 3055 came out, I hated the Dart.  I wanted every machine to make perfect game sense, and be efficient, and it did neither.  The only time a Small Pulse ever had an advantage over a Medium Laser was at range 1, and even then it did less damage.  The Dart variant with mediums made a lot more sense.  With the TW change to infantry rules, I looked at it again and I kind of like it now.

The Dart's job is to zoom across the battlefield getting a +4 TMM, stop in heavy woods or some other cover, and annihilate a couple squads of infantry.  Then it runs away again.  It really should be a cleanup machine, one that stays away from real combat and just skirts the edges of the engagement area looking for targets of opportunity.  Oh, you've got a squad of dudes sitting in a jeep, acting as lookouts for enemy activity?  The Dart runs up and murders them.  Yeah they'll get a distress call out, but that doesn't really matter because the bulk of your forces is far away.

The Dart can also operate in your enemy's backfield or hunt damaged units.  I wouldn't want to fight a MadCat with one under any circumstances, but it might be okay if the Clan mech already had an arm blown off, with two engine hits and a stripped side torso.  It's limping back to the dropship 30 km away with a damaged hip, and suddenly this little bastard shows up and starts pecking at you while moving for +4 and hiding in an arc where you don't have weapons anymore.  If it loses initiative, it moves where there's no LOS.  If he wins, he runs back over and hassles you some more.  He's fast enough to get away from anything except a Dasher, so I can see how it's useful.  Very situational, and totally dependent on the user to find a good role for it, but it's not the worst mech out there.