Author Topic: Respot: 'Mech of the Week: Highlander Family (Read 28213 times)

Scotty · « **Reply #30 on:** 13 August 2016, 15:04:19 »

Apparently RS 3050 Unabridged, according to the MUL.

cavingjan · « **Reply #31 on:** 13 August 2016, 15:53:04 »

3050U

http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5493/highlander-hgn-694

Maelwys · « **Reply #32 on:** 13 August 2016, 16:42:37 »

With 16 rounds for the HGR and 24 for the GR, standard large lasers and 10 DHS, the design can just keep coming at you, firing without worrying about heat or ammo count really. CASE and a LFE lets it survive hits to the HGR and GR, but there are ALOT of of places that can explode when hit. The large lasers tucked away in the RT are likely to survive for a while, unless you get really unlucky with an exploding GR.

Its a pretty brutal design, and when you're using large lasers as your "Crit-seekers" you know you're looking at tearing away lots of armor from your opponent's 'Mechs.

I think if you're used to Highlanders, you're going to miss the utility of the jump jets though. It plays perfectly fine without them, but I think if you're used to Jump Jets there are always going to be times where you're thinking "If only..."

And wow. 16 variants of the Highlander now, according to the MUL.

Empyrus · « **Reply #33 on:** 13 August 2016, 17:02:45 »

Just realized, the variant is missing introduction date. Logically it is a '62 or '63 'Mech, considering it is in MW4Vengeance, and that it is available during the Civil War.

Scotty · « **Reply #34 on:** 13 August 2016, 17:04:42 »

Post in the MUL thread about it. My bet is '63, personally.

Intermittent_Coherence · « **Reply #35 on:** 15 August 2016, 16:16:44 »

4 Tons of LRM ammo on the IIC and only one for SRM's. Why didn't they do 3 and 2?

Empyrus · « **Reply #36 on:** 15 August 2016, 17:07:18 »

Quote from: Intermittent_Coherence on 15 August 2016, 16:16:44

4 Tons of LRM ammo on the IIC and only one for SRM's. Why didn't they do 3 and 2?

I figure the design is meant for ranged fighting, with SRMs used when someone gets close.
Yes, the 'Mech is slow as hell, and yes, this means keeping the distance is difficult. Of course, the Clan LRMs work just as well up-close... Just save the SRM until the armor is thin and you can exploit holes with it.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #37 on:** 17 August 2016, 20:45:46 »

Quote from: Intermittent_Coherence on 15 August 2016, 16:16:44

4 Tons of LRM ammo on the IIC and only one for SRM's. Why didn't they do 3 and 2?

One ton of SSRM ammo is typically sufficient for 12 or fewer missile tubes. Since they're a secondary weapon to begin with, a second ton of ammo is typically going to increase its risk of ammo explosion without adding significant battlefield performance.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #38 on:** 29 January 2023, 17:19:59 »

Necroing this because thanks to the Rec Guides we've got two new variants: the Highlander IIC 3 (which is still in moratorium, I believe) and the HLN-740 (which is very much not).

The 740 is a WYSWYG upgrade of the 732. It upgrades the medium lasers to ER, the SRM pod to Streak, adds Artemis IV to the LRM pod, and upgrades the left torso CASE to CASE II. And for some reason it adds four M-Pods to the legs for some extra close-range crit-seeking. Unfortunately, it pays for these by grading the Gauss Rifle out for an ER PPC with a Capacitor. Upgrading the heatsinks to doubles and adding two more help deal with the increased heat but I'm going to be honest, I don't like this variant. I've never been a fan of PPC capacitor- the ER PPC gets away from the GR's ammo dependency, but you're looking at a lot more heat and stuck firing every other round if you want to actually make use the capacitor. The armor is also switched from Ferro to Light Ferro, but the reduced protection (one point on each arm and two on each leg) is probably not going to be noticeable.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #39 on:** 31 January 2023, 11:20:58 »

Huh, where was it being built since I must have missed that RG? I ask because while the RGs do not typically upgrade to cERPPCs, this is one that would make sense . . . no need for capacitor, keeps the same damage profile w/o ammo . . . though it could be the case where OOC they had to use up weight for ditching the 15 tons + ammo of the Gauss Rifle.

smdvogrin · « **Reply #40 on:** 31 January 2023, 12:16:23 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 31 January 2023, 11:20:58

Huh, where was it being built since I must have missed that RG? I ask because while the RGs do not typically upgrade to cERPPCs, this is one that would make sense . . . no need for capacitor, keeps the same damage profile w/o ammo . . . though it could be the case where OOC they had to use up weight for ditching the 15 tons + ammo of the Gauss Rifle.

Built on Son Hoa by Starcorps. Since this is an independent world at this point, it would make sense that they're not getting cutting edge tech like cERPPCs like some designs being pushed out by Successor States. I think a Heavy PPC would have been more fun, but I would guess they didn't think that had enough range for the ilClan era on a slow assault with only one other long-range weapon

Colt Ward · « **Reply #41 on:** 31 January 2023, 12:44:14 »

Really think Son Hoa is not selling or doing business with the Sea Foxes? Especially since the mech ended up in the Sea Fox order catalogue? I understand OOC it probably had to be a IS ERPPC due to weight . . . lol, a Enhanced IS ERPPC would have been cool though, did we get a new/3150 mech with the EnERPPC?

Anyone think the new Highlander will be the 3150 version in the Highlander box?

BrianDavion · « **Reply #42 on:** 31 January 2023, 14:04:25 »

not a big fan of the new highlander myself, but the original 2750 varient was just damn near perfect it's a hard design to improve on. (though the royal varient did manage it)

Kerfuffin(925) · « **Reply #43 on:** 31 January 2023, 14:30:26 »

Quote from: BrianDavion on 31 January 2023, 14:04:25

not a big fan of the new highlander myself, but the original 2750 varient was just damn near perfect it's a hard design to improve on. (though the royal varient did manage it)

Yeah I’ll probably just stick with a Royal for most eras I want to play. Not a fan of the capacitor or the copious M-pods.

Weirdo · « **Reply #44 on:** 31 January 2023, 15:09:14 »

I *really* want to try the M-Pods out. Maybe the next time my group does a Solaris grinder.

Empyrus · « **Reply #45 on:** 31 January 2023, 15:21:27 »

The new Highlander causes mixed feelings in me. Objectively, it seems questionable. Style-wise, despite losing the traditional Gauss rifle, having ERPPC feels like a fun nod to the Succession Wars era variant, and the M-pods are tailor made to be follow-ups for DFAs. I do like its relative simplicity as new variants go.

Definitively want to take it for a spin someday though.

Dark_Falcon · « **Reply #46 on:** 08 April 2023, 21:47:48 »

Since the moratorium on the Highlander IIC 4 has expired, I figure it does deserve a mention. It's another upgrade designed to match the artwork, which does mean it retains the Gauss Rifle (which is always a promising start) with two tons of ammo. The LRM-20 has Artemis V FCS and 3 tons of ammo, all ammo and the Gauss being protected by CASE II for added survivability. The mech also has two ATM-6 launchers, also with 3 tons of ammo. 3 ER Medium Lasers round out the unit, cooled by 2 Double Heat Sinks. While an alpha strike puts one up 6 heat before movement it is at least doable in an emergency. Movement and armor are the same as the original variant.

The result is a mech well suited for cutting down an opponent at long range with a punch-holes-and-crit-seek plan of attack, but at the same time boasts a close-in capability that makes being next to it a very painful experience.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #47 on:** 08 April 2023, 22:22:31 »

I'd say that an alpha strike that takes you to 6+movement heat is less emergency and more something you can rely on semi-regularly whenever you need to put some serious hurt on someone. Especially if you position yourself to be able to jump into cover the following round.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #48 on:** 09 April 2023, 00:56:15 »

Also, ATMs are not crit-seekers . . . the missiles are weird and can split a single missile's damage between to wildly divergent locations.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #49 on:** 09 April 2023, 01:37:13 »

I really wish ATMs dealt damage in clusters of 6. That would actually be evenly divisible by all types of ATM warheads.

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #50 on:** 09 April 2023, 08:11:56 »

Quote from: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 09 April 2023, 01:37:13

I really wish ATMs dealt damage in clusters of 6. That would actually be evenly divisible by all types of ATM warheads.

Cluster size 9/6/3 for HE/Std/ER would have made sense as well as made it different. And it would be such a simple rules change!

Moonsword · « **Reply #51 on:** 09 April 2023, 14:33:21 »

Folks, take the house rules ideas to the appropriate board, please.

Luciora · « **Reply #52 on:** 09 April 2023, 15:56:02 »

HBS really made me enjoy playing a Highlander. Simple loadout that just gets more lethal as you close in.

Starfury · « **Reply #53 on:** 23 May 2023, 21:29:52 »

The Highlander 740 is a godsend for the Periphery however. It gives them a mech that can compete with assaults from the other Houses that's still in production. I add one to every assault fire or command lance I can afford to provide bodyguard or support duty. It pairs well with Longbows, Victor 9Ks, Awesomes, the Charger 1A9 and Battlemasters.

Greatclub · « **Reply #54 on:** 25 May 2023, 21:45:41 »

I notice that the picture of the highlander in Snord's pack is a 694.

I expect a WYSIWYG heavy gauss is going to shake up a few tables