’Mech of the Week: BLD-** Blade

[Weirdo]

Any 'mech of similar or greater speed will do the trick, such as the Locust-5W2, or Mongoose II. I can't say for certain, as ECM isn't something I usually select units for, just a handy bonus I like to make use of, so I don't know of many Republic ECM carriers off the top of my head.

[Nahuris]

I've found that the right arm of the Blade is not all that fragile .... I've had them routinely survive combat against a number of opponents.
As far as support goes, I like to pair them up with the Nyx-100.....
As a pair, these two can easily chase down hover tanks, and ruin their day.......

I do have a force that I like to field, which consists of 2 Blades, 2 Nyx-100's and a second lance with a Razorback 10T, a Talon 6W, and 2 Hollander III's in the D3 variant.

I use this to hunt down mediums that are trying to flank, fast hovers, and pretty much anything else that I can catch alone, or in small groups...... to include a lone, wandering Hauptmann..... sadly, he didn't last long.

Nahuris

[Nav_Alpha]

Hmm, looks good. I've just discovered the SPR-5F Spector has the same movement profile, ECM and is available to the Republic.

A Blade supported by a Spector and a Locust that can range far and wide while something like a WLF-5 can range back and forth using MASC?

[Empyrus]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Blade-XR? Featured in XTRO Republic 2.
That one has reactive armor and a LPPC and a LAC/2 with a ton of ammo in each arm. Looks awesome but wonder about function. Lacks the power of the standard model, but perhaps it works as a harasser?

[Wrangler]

The Blade-XR is long range fast harasser to me. It stuck in a certain role. Especially good that light AC/2 can swap out the ammo for Precision. I personally dont think this was big production run.

[Empyrus]

Per the XTRO, looks like there was at least 5 years of production but further production afterwards went to the FedSuns.

Overall, looks like the Blade was pretty much a Republic design until the 7R came along which is used by the former FWL states, and at that point the Republic ordered the XR. And then they lost that too.
EDIT 7R ate all the AC production :P

[GreekFire]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Blade-XR? Featured in XTRO Republic 2.
That one has reactive armor and a LPPC and a LAC/2 with a ton of ammo in each arm. Looks awesome but wonder about function. Lacks the power of the standard model, but perhaps it works as a harasser?

Yeah, not really a fan of this one. The armor is handy enough if your table uses Artillery Cannons as an anti-Light weapon, but the Small Cockpit adds another weakness and that's never fun.

The Light PPC and LAC/2 match up well in terms of range, and I guess it can be used to dance around lighter brawlers that rely on ER Mediums or RACs (like the original Blade, huh..) and it can act like more of a skirmisher, but there's something a lot more fun about bringing a Light 'Mech to the table that can puke out 40 damage in a turn.

With that said, I am definitely more interested in the Davion variant mentioned in the write-up. It looks like it could carry a RAC/5 w/ 2 Small Re-Lasers and the Reactive Armor, for less BV than the original even with the specialty armor - now that's worth talking about. Like Small Re-Lasers or not, they have more of a home on a quicker chassis like this. From what I can tell, the BV would be low enough to make it the cheapest (good) 'Mech to carry a RAC/5.

[Empyrus]

With that said, I am definitely more interested in the Davion variant mentioned in the write-up. It looks like it could carry a RAC/5 w/ 2 Small Re-Lasers and the Reactive Armor, for less BV than the original even with the specialty armor - now that's worth talking about. Like Small Re-Lasers or not, they have more of a home on a quicker chassis like this. From what I can tell, the BV would be low enough to make it the cheapest (good) 'Mech to carry a RAC/5.

Depending on how extensive we're talking, it could carry medium RELs. Would require XXL engine (not impossible, the FedSuns seem to love those things nowadays) and composite skeleton, maybe small cockpit depending on ammo. BV would be about 1400.

[Nav_Alpha]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Blade-XR? Featured in XTRO Republic 2.
That one has reactive armor and a LPPC and a LAC/2 with a ton of ammo in each arm. Looks awesome but wonder about function. Lacks the power of the standard model, but perhaps it works as a harasser?

I used this in a MegaMek scenario - a Knight Errant facing off a mixed Mech/vehicle/BA Wolf star. From memory, the Blade was backed by a couple heavy tanks.
Keep running and plinking away with those light ACs.  I scored a lot of vehicle mobility kills or outright kills with the Blade, but it struggled with facing down Mechs that could hammer it big missile salvos, bypassing the reactive armour.

[GreekFire]

Depending on how extensive we're talking, it could carry medium RELs. Would require XXL engine (not impossible, the FedSuns seem to love those things nowadays) and composite skeleton, maybe small cockpit depending on ammo. BV would be about 1400.

I worked backwards from the -XR, so kept the Small Cockpit as well. But while I can see the appeal of putting an XXL on a Blade, switching over to composite in addition to it would make me not so pleased.

[Empyrus]

I worked backwards from the -XR, so kept the Small Cockpit as well. But while I can see the appeal of putting an XXL on a Blade, switching over to composite in addition to it would make me not so pleased.

I assumed -XL would be the base due to the Tornado RAC. Composite Skeleton is necessary for XXL engine and medium RELs, no space for it otherwise. Of course if we stick to small RELs, neither is necessary.

[Colt Ward]

Yeah, the LAC/2 with Prec ammo was to me for scout hunting and plinking moderately fast vehicles . . . then again, if you can catch a 7/11+ hover to within 6 hexes, you can get -2 TH on it & the LPPCs.  But to me that would be its roll, flank security and pursuit force.

[GreekFire]

Yeah, the LAC/2 with Prec ammo was to me for scout hunting and plinking moderately fast vehicles . . . then again, if you can catch a 7/11+ hover to within 6 hexes, you can get -2 TH on it & the LPPCs.  But to me that would be its roll, flank security and pursuit force.

Bleh, at that point I'd prefer a Blade -XX with its LB-X for additional Flak duties and the added abilities to punch holes and force PSRs.

[Colt Ward]

I love the LB-10X, it was the absolute best multi-function gun in the game . . . now the Plasma Rifle gives it a run.  But a pair of LAC/2s increase your chances to hit fast movers (-2 instead of -1) and gives you more opportunities to hit with 2 rolls instead of 1.  Throw in you get another two chances with LPPCs, albeit at higher rolls, and its a better mech to send off in pursuit of fleeing enemies you are trying to slow down or to cause havoc against a flanking enemy armor column.

[Empyrus]

Figured out what the XR reminds me of. The Rokurokubi 4T. Similar mobility, a bit more range and more hits though less powerful ACs.
The Rokurokubi is about 100 BV cheaper, though naturally reduced range and overall firepower account for that.

[LastChanceCav]

Figured out what the XR reminds me of. The Rokurokubi 4T. Similar mobility, a bit more range and more hits though less powerful ACs.
The Rokurokubi is about 100 BV cheaper, though naturally reduced range and overall firepower account for that.

The first time I saw the XR it made me think of a Rifleman that had traded half its guns for twice the speed.

Cheers,
LCC

[Empyrus]

It occurs to me the Blade XR really should have a variant with twin LAC/5s and twin ERMLs, with four tons of ammo. Shorter range, but more damage overall and reasonable flexibility.

[mbear]

It occurs to me the Blade XR really should have a variant with twin LAC/5s and twin ERMLs, with four tons of ammo. Shorter range, but more damage overall and reasonable flexibility.

Looking at the XR I think you could drop the LAC/2s and ammo to swap in two more Light PPCs. That leaves you with 4 free tons you could use to swap in a regular cockpit and gyro, and maybe an extra heat sink. Not exactly a baby Awesome, but not terrible either.

[Empyrus]

Hmm, maybe not but i feel the Blade's feel requires ACs. Never been a fan of turning energy boats into something else, or non-energy 'Mechs to pure energy boats.

[Colt Ward]

The LACs let it load Prec rounds to hunt down fast vehs & VTOLs, plinking them to slow them down.

[Scotty]

I would rather have a Partisan AA Vehicle for that, or a single LB-5X and some meaningful backup weapons or durability, or even double Ultra/2s.  Range advantage is at minumum equivalent to the precision ammo bonus where the UAC has longer bands.  In this case, the LAC has advantage at 1-5 and 9-10, is identical at 6-8 and 11-15, and can't even shoot past that while the UAC is still at medium range.

It'd match the best looking Blade, though.

[Colt Ward]

You also get only one chance to hit and the LACs have a individually lighter weight.  Its why you put LACs doing that sort of mission on something fast like this . . . also LAC/2 hit out to 18.  The LAC/5 is at 15 max range . . . not looking it up, but is your weight comparison also off?

[Scotty]

You also get only one chance to hit and the LACs have a individually lighter weight.  Its why you put LACs doing that sort of mission on something fast like this . . . also LAC/2 hit out to 18.  The LAC/5 is at 15 max range . . . not looking it up, but is your weight comparison also off?

No, I made sure that there was enough tonnage based on what was being bandied about.  To be completely honest, I'd rather have one UAC/2 than two LAC/5s (responding to Empyrus), because that range advantage is indescribably important as an AA gun.

[Empyrus]

I don't really see the Blade as an AA 'Mech. A light support to be sure, and I'd strongly prefer to trade energy weapon range for increased AC power, LAC/2s are just kinda lackluster. With my twin LAC/5 concept, i'd probably go for AP, precision, flechette, standard as ammo options, though specifics would vary depending on the scenario and expectations about what enemy will bring, of course. Run around, slowly add some damage to 'Mechs, not unlike the Rokurokubi, possibly deal with infantry where relevant.

Of course, i don't play with air power, except maybe battlefield support stuff from BMM.

[Scotty]

I mean, most of the point I was going for is that multiple LACs is a lot of tonnage for only a little bit more than the same-class standard Autocannon.  Which is also pretty bad.  It sounds a lot like trying to be a generalist, which is already a fairly dead-end career for a Light 'Mech, but also doing so with a massive tonnage investment for not a lot of damage (damage being the great generalizer).

I am suddenly, however, very curious to see what happens when you put an MRM-30/40 on in place of the RAC/5 or AC/10.  That seems like a fun time for a fast Light 'Mech. :D

[Colt Ward]

No, I made sure that there was enough tonnage based on what was being bandied about.  To be completely honest, I'd rather have one UAC/2 than two LAC/5s (responding to Empyrus), because that range advantage is indescribably important as an AA gun.

Sorry, I was responding to Empyrus comments about mbear putting LPPCs on instead of LAC/2s.

Plus for me it was not about AA hunting, rather flank security against VTOLs and fast hovercraft.  The Prec gets the -2, which adjusts their move mod and you get 2 chances at the motive crit at longer ranges.  And 2 TH rolls is different than the Ultra's double tap.

[Scotty]

Rather than get bogged down in a confusing three-way discussion about two things at once, I'll return to my thesis statement: Light 'Mechs aren't good generalists (which is the beneificial use-case for LACs, you have an answer for multiple situations with special ammo) and you should use vehicles for that instead.  Having a Light 'Mech haul around multiple LACs and specialty ammo for flank support is something accomplished arguably better by a couple of Scorpions with genuine antique AC/5s you hauled out of mothballs.

One LAC is an acceptable secondary weapon if you're running out of crits for heatsinks on a bigger 'Mech.  LAC-as-primary-'Mech-weapon is a waste.

The tragedy of the Blade is that its coolest looking version (the XR) is also the worst, and doesn't even have the good graces to be cheap at the same time.

[Empyrus]

I'm not terribly interested in what's optimal use of unit X. And sometimes vehicles are not an option, so i'm inclined to take a light 'Mech. (BV cost isn't a big deal either, for Dark Age games i bump BV limit -but cap unit numbers- quite a bit due to inflation caused by greater access to Clan tech and various Dark Age techs like specialty armors being expensive.)

[Nahuris]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Blade-XR? Featured in XTRO Republic 2.
That one has reactive armor and a LPPC and a LAC/2 with a ton of ammo in each arm. Looks awesome but wonder about function. Lacks the power of the standard model, but perhaps it works as a harasser?

I have used it, and refer to it as my lot attendant.... with precision ammo, I still get over 20 shots per AC, and enough range to go after the hover tanks that are more prolific in the Dark Ages ... one of those floating around deals with a good number of flanking hovers in an era of combined arms ...... Park em and deal with them later......

Nahuris

[packhntr]

Good weaponry, Good armor, Good speed.  POOR decision on placing ALL the weapons in the right arm.  Otherwise, I like the mech.