Mech of the Week HOP-XX Hoplite

[Baldur Mekorig]

If you have access to the tech base and techs that can handle it, I would modify them into the Klondike variant if I were you.

Cheers, Gabe

We are around mid-3069 in that campaign, and i dont think the Klondike stuff is general knowledge. IIRC the New dallas core is beign distribuited at the time. Maybe i will play with DHS and PLasma Rifles.

[garhkal]

Pity that there's no SPEAR for melee weaponry.  IMO adding one would make the hoplite a true roman!!

[Empyrus]

Pity that there's no SPEAR for melee weaponry.  IMO adding one would make the hoplite a true roman!!

Hoplites were Greek heavy infantry, not Roman.

As for a spear melee weapon, either use sword (like one Black Knight uses a hatchet that was apparently intended to be sword-looking, or how the Shiro wields as not-quite-sword), or a lance since that gives nice piercing ability.

[Orin J.]

Pity that there's no SPEAR for melee weaponry.  IMO adding one would make the hoplite a true roman!!

how many "Harpoon-6" SRM racks do you think we could jam on there if the LRM rack happens to fall onto the back of a truck?  ;D

[Weirdo]

If they could put a lance on a Nyx, they can put one on a Hoplite. :)

[garhkal]

Hoplites were Greek heavy infantry, not Roman.

As for a spear melee weapon, either use sword (like one Black Knight uses a hatchet that was apparently intended to be sword-looking, or how the Shiro wields as not-quite-sword), or a lance since that gives nice piercing ability.

I know we have swords, lances and hatchets.. I was thinking CAUSE of the lance, why isn't there a spear??

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Because mechanically, it wouldn't be any different from the lance.

[gyedid]

If they could put a lance on a Nyx, they can put one on a Hoplite. :)

Are arm and hand actuators needed to wield a lance?  The Hoplite's a bit short in that department...

What would be cool is if you could equip a Hoplite with a lance on one side, and at least a medium shield on the other.  Multiply by 12 and you've got your phalanx.  ;D

Otherwise I still think the Klondike variant is best suited to trying to emulate phalanx tactics.  No shield, but the ER PPC becomes the dory/sarissa.

EDIT:  yes, I am aware that phalanx tactics don't translate well to a BT battlefield, especially against an enemy who is prepared with artillery or aero support.
Imagine how history would be different if only the Persians had brought effective artillery to the Battle of Gaugamela.

cheers,

Gabe

[mbear]

Are arm and hand actuators needed to wield a lance?  The Hoplite's a bit short in that department...

According to TacOps:

Lances may only be mounted in a ’Mech’s arms. Installing Lances does not require a hand actuator to be located in the same arm, but arms intended to use Lances must have shoulder, upper and lower arm actuators.

[Weirdo]

I imagine any such Hoplite variant would add the needed actuators, just like they did on the normally armless(or close enough) Nyx.

[UnLimiTeD]

Well, if we are about to add actual arms to the hoplite, I think that style aside, adding a shield would have a higher priority than a lance.
It's not needed to be fast, but tough and long ranged is definitely a plus.
Besides, if a mech can have a hatchet that's fluffed as a kama, then it can sure carry a lance fluffed as a spear.

[BrokenMnemonic]

Given that Alpha Strike gives new life and meaning to 'Mechs that aren't considered particularly good in BattleTech, does anyone have an opinion on how the Hoplite would perform in Alpha Strike for it's PV cost?

[iamfanboy]

Given that Alpha Strike gives new life and meaning to 'Mechs that aren't considered particularly good in BattleTech, does anyone have an opinion on how the Hoplite would perform in Alpha Strike for it's PV cost?

Well, it has a reasonable toughness for its speed at A6/S5, and you never overpay for what you get in AS. That said, the -2B is really the only variant worth using, as a budget Sniper; the -C is pretty good but it's such a Wolf's Dragoons 'Mech that even I, with a liberal take on canon 'Mechs for factions, would find it hard to imagine just lying around randomly. The -4D is pathetic, with a 1/1/1 damage track; while it does have FLK for only 25 points, I think I'd rather find something more useful on the battlefield with an FLK special.

[Weirdo]

One of the few times where going from an AC to an LB-X of the same class can actually hurt a mech...