Author Topic: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?  (Read 2008 times)

SC_Dave

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Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« on: 13 March 2019, 07:51:34 »
After recently perusing the Alpha Strike Companion rules for four-legged/quad mechs (p.40) it seemed to me that quads cop it a bit rough. Of particular note was the 90 degree forward firing arc. This is even narrower than the 120 degree forward arc under Total Warfare rules and I imagine it would make quads quite vulnerable to attacks from their flanks.

Not only do quads get a narrow firing arc, they lose other advantages they have under Total Warfare Rules. Lateral shifts & piloting skill roll modifiers generally don't apply in Alpha Strike. It is however noted that if certain optional terrain rules are in play, quads do get a -2 to control rolls in Alpha Strike.

As such, it would seem to me that unless you are using the optional rules for quads in conjunction with some optional terrain rules, quads cop a narrow firing arc without any benefits to offset this disadvantage. This seems particularly rough when there are vehicles without turrets that get the standard 180 degree firing arc.

I would note that I'm just pondering the rules here and haven't actually tried playing the quad rules. Anyone given them a go, and if so did you find the 90 degree firing arc a big disadvantage?

Xochi

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #1 on: 15 March 2019, 10:45:14 »
I play with quads pretty frequently because of my RoS units I like to run. I find that while its slightly annoying, as long as you position yourself correctly, it usually isn't a huge issue.

The only time its truly crippling is when you lost initiative and its one of the only units that you can move and have to move it first. I mainly keep them in the back line giving support, rather than put them in the brawl due to this nature.

The fun part is though, that 4-legged BA and protomechs don't suffer this penalty.

SC_Dave

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #2 on: 19 March 2019, 19:50:02 »
Thanks for the reply. It would seem to support my thoughts that quads are somewhat disadvantaged.

Since my first post on this topic I finished reading Test of Vengeance which coincidentally contained a description of an ill-fated Thunder Stallion that couldn't bring its weapons to bear fast enough.

 

Tai Dai Cultist

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #3 on: 19 March 2019, 20:04:41 »
Even without the firing arc consideration... the advantages quads have in Boardgame Battletech are moot in Alpha Strike's format... there's no falling down and everything already can move sideways if it wants to.

EDIT: A thought struck me... maybe they ought to have better base structure values for the tonnage compared to bipedal battlemechs... if that's not already addressed in the conversion rules maybe it should be.

Weirdo

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #4 on: 19 March 2019, 22:35:36 »
It is what it is. So many units gained immensely during the transition to Alpha Strike, something had to be the loser.
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SC_Dave

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #5 on: 21 March 2019, 05:01:33 »
So many units gained immensely during the transition to Alpha Strike, something had to be the loser.

A good thing that they make up less than 1% of my miniature collection then.

Major Headcase

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #6 on: 24 March 2019, 09:48:09 »
  I use a lot of quads in AS, I have an entire company of just quads for one faction!  ;D
  The reduced arc bothered me at first and sometimes still annoys me when the perfect storm of bad placement bites me. But for me it's not quite as bad as it could be, I play a lot in 3145 and 4 of my 12 quads have Quad Turrets, which annoys my opponent when he's trying to sneak in the back shots!

Son of Kerenski

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #7 on: 24 March 2019, 21:30:09 »
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I only have 3 Quads, a Barghest, Thunder Stallion and a Scorpion (the only one I ever used in AS) and I didn't realize about the firing Arc restriction.

Fear Factory

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Re: Quad mechs hard done by in Alpha Strike?
« Reply #8 on: 11 April 2019, 22:15:46 »
You could give them the ability to duck behind L1 terrain and duck in depth 1 water, give them an overheat bonus in depth 1 water since all legs are submerged, give them a partial cover bonus in depth 1 water since they take less damage in it in TW (leg hits whiff), even allow them to perform standard physical attacks from the front and rear arc (kind of like a donkey kick). Kicks in the rear arc would suffer the same rear attack modifier.

EDIT: There are things that can be done outside of "Well, too bad."
« Last Edit: 14 April 2019, 09:35:48 by Fear Factory »
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