Medium Fire Lance poll

[Simon Landmine]

Yeah I am not letting you lead me into battle.
"yeah he's fired 8 shots boys.  Means he's out!  CHARGE!"

Well, you're not going to have to worry about him leading you into battle twice!

(Can't get too harsh, though, as I still need to look up almost anything that wasn't in 2nd edition just to confirm it's what I think it is, if I have any idea.)

[Nibs]

The Catapult C-1 has always been a pain to face. It's a long-range firing unit, but if you try to get a quick jumper near it, the Catapult can re-position quickly with its jump jets and it has those damn medium lasers! The thing doesn't go down easily.

That's what makes it my choice in this poll. That and the sweet appearance (which is 90% of the reasons why I choose 'Mechs).

[ThePW]

I didn't vote anything but to be observant (but I'm surprised nobody has picked the Dakamech: The Jagermech-A.)

[Daryk]

A rational fear of infantry. >:D

Mere machine guns wouldn't stop you, though...  ^-^

[worktroll]

I didn't vote anything but to be observant (but I'm surprised nobody has picked the Dakamech: The Jagermech-A.)

Medium fire lance. Yes I know heavies are allowed, but ... and yes, love the JM6-A.

[Weirdo]

Mere machine guns wouldn't stop you, though...  ^-^

A lance with 4 or 6 machine guns might, if I'm not running troops with heavy armor. I try not to throw units away willy nilly, even grunts. You put a Crud in your fire lance, maybe escort them with a Stinger, and I'm already considering sending my troops after a nice juicy Atlas instead.

[Daryk]

Emphasis on the "might" there... You have quite the reputation, sir!  8)

[Weirdo]

If reputation alone makes players plan ahead and bring antipersonnel guns just in case, then I've done Battletech right, even if I didn't actually bring any such troops. :thumbsup:

[Minemech]

 To clarify any confusion, I am adding suggestions. That is why some mechs may not have votes yet. I was tired when I first posted this poll, and it shows.

[Daryk]

If reputation alone makes players plan ahead and bring antipersonnel guns just in case, then I've done Battletech right, even if I didn't actually bring any such troops. :thumbsup:

PSYOP is all about getting people to act on their assumptions...  ^-^

[Arkansas Warrior]

I didn't vote anything but to be observant (but I'm surprised nobody has picked the Dakamech: The Jagermech-A.)

I think it was added late.  That or I just didn't see it.  I chose the Whitworth.

[CrossfirePilot]

So what is the weight range of a Medium Fire Lance?

Would it be a I would think it would be no more than 200 total tons?

[Sartris]

depends on what source you're working with. NAIS 4th war atlas volume 1 puts a medium lance between 135-200 tons.

tw's random lance table gives you the possibilities of
1L 2M 1H
4M
3M 1H
2M 2H

CampOps says a medium lance has two mediums and no assaults but doesn't put any other restrictions on the remaining two. A heavy lance has two heavies and no lights - so the 2M 2H could be either (the special ability gained doesn't change so it's semantics, really)

personally the judgement call i made before i knew any of the official designations was that the average weight of units the lance determined the size

[Matti]

personally the judgement call i made before i knew any of the official designations was that the average weight of units the lance determined the size

Makes most sense when lance has 2 lights and 2 heavy-assault. There are canonical examples of such, at least in the novels and in some scenario books. What weight of lance is Firelance of Black Widow Company? (2 ARC and 2 WSP/STG)

[Arkansas Warrior]

So what is the weight range of a Medium Fire Lance?

Would it be a I would think it would be no more than 200 total tons?

I mean, 4 55 tonners would be 220 tons, and that's certainly a medium lance.  Even if you throw in a low-end heavy, make it 60/55/55/55, for 225 tons, and I'd still call that a medium lance.  Broadly, anything with an average weight under 60 tons and more than 35 tons could be called a medium lance.  Though that does lead to absurdities like "An Atlas and three UrbanMechs is a medium lance, right?  It averages 42.5 tons."

[Sartris]

yeah, the old-school 4SW ranges had some weird items like being able to have an assault lance without an assault mech

[Daryk]

Heck, the low end of the range you quoted for a Medium Lance could be reached with three Jenners and an Urbanmech...

[Rainbow 6]

I've voted for the Catapult-C1 for the reasons stated by others, second place would be the Dervish-6M.

Would have considered the Shadow Hawk-2K as well.

[Crimson Dawn]

I've voted for the Catapult-C1 for the reasons stated by others, second place would be the Dervish-6M.

Would have considered the Shadow Hawk-2K as well.

If we add that we should probably add the vindicator as well.

[Hellraiser]

This poll is broken, because its about Medium Fire Lance members.... AND THERE IS NO GRIFFIN-1N LISTED !   :D


There are a lot of great options up there about the only ones I wouldn't consider are the Locust any anything 4/6/0 for speed/size reasons.

[House Davie Merc]

I guess I'm in the minority on this poll .

The question was which mech to pick for a MEDIUM fire lance .

I chose the Whitworth , and my second choice might be the
Catapult CPLT-A1 .

IMHO-the majority of the other choices just don't have enough ammo
to provide fire support for long enough to fill that roll.
Those that do either lack good secondary weapons , adequate heat sinks,
or have one shot rear armor .
A fight with other mechs in this weight class means that a lot of medium
lasers are gonna be used for back shots .
I only chose the Whitworth over the Catapult because weather you balance
games by BV or tonnage-the CPLT costs a LOT more  .

The Whitworth is far from perfect ,but it's low BV in a balanced game can
make it well worth it to field.

[Rainbow 6]

If we add that we should probably add the vindicator as well.

I may (on occasion) have been known to run a lance consisting of a pair of Catapult's and a pair of Vindicators.

[Daryk]

That's a solid lance, but not a "Medium Fire Lance", I think.

[Ruger]

That's a solid lance, but not a "Medium Fire Lance", I think.

Rounds off to an average mass of 55 tons. All units have LRM's, with half having dual large size racks, and the other half having smaller racks, but backed by PPC's.

Fits the requirements in my mind. And seems decidedly Capellan at that.

Ruger

[Daryk]

100% Capellan, certainly.  A Warrior House might classify that as "Medium", but I think any line units would call it Heavy.

[Failure16]

Well, for me and how I was brought up in this game, anything past 200 tonnes is a heavy lance.  That is to say:

• 0-135 Light Lance
• 140-200 Medium Lance
• 205-280 Heavy Lance
• 285+ Assault Lance

[Ruger]

Well, for me and how I was brought up in this game, anything past 200 tonnes is a heavy lance.  That is to say:

• 0-135 Light Lance
• 140-200 Medium Lance
• 205-280 Heavy Lance
• 285+ Assault Lance

Of course, a 200 ton medium lance could consist of two Awesome's and two Flea's, and still meet the 200 ton limit. And to match with the theme of this thread, this same lance could still be considered a medium (direct) fire lance with 6 PPC's and 2 large lasers.

Ruger

[CrossfirePilot]

So my buildout would be:

Crusader CDR - 3D
Trenchbucket
Whitworth
Valkyrie

Trying to keep with just 2 LRM types.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Well, for me and how I was brought up in this game, anything past 200 tonnes is a heavy lance.  That is to say:

• 0-135 Light Lance
• 140-200 Medium Lance
• 205-280 Heavy Lance
• 285+ Assault Lance

Three Centurions and a Griffin is a Heavy Lance to you?

[truetanker]

A Hunchie-4J fits into any weight class...

Just need to know how to work it, most people don't.

Just saying...

I'd use a Hunchie-4J, Thud-5D, Centurion-AH and a Valkyrie-QF in this lance. Let's see if you can see what I've done, eh?

TT