Author Topic: Can't Find the Right Unit (Read 4578 times)

Drewbacca · « **on:** 11 July 2018, 07:38:07 »

After putting together two of the Flashman resculpts and cleaning up some mechs from a lance pack, I suddenly realised that the really cannot find a mech or tank that really speaks to me and makes me want to use it above all others. Has this ever happened to anyone else? How did you fix it?

Psycho · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 July 2018, 07:53:10 »

There is no spoon.

Once you understand that there is no one right answer, you'll be fine. You don't need one unit above all others, you only need units that you like and suit the role you want them to fill.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 July 2018, 08:10:17 »

Quote from: Psycho on 11 July 2018, 07:53:10

There is no spoon.

Once you understand that there is no one right answer, you'll be fine. You don't need one unit above all others, you only need units that you like and suit the role you want them to fill.

Then I am really in trouble because I cannot find anything I like! :D

Moonsword · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 July 2018, 08:52:10 »

Okay, if you're just looking for people to pitch things, here's one idea taking the Flashmen as the starting point of a lance. Go SLDF-themed with an Excalibur for distance sniping with the Gauss rifle and a Starslayer to add something that can jump and provide a bit of crit-seeking. If you'd rather stay on the ground, use a Crab. Either way, that gives you a 5/8 lance that can move and fight together but still a bit of variety.

The Excalibur and Starslayer were reintroduced in the 3050s by the Lyran half of the FedCom (the Flashman is built on Tharkad, the Lyran capital) and the Crab has always had a few knocking about, so they're not hard to justify in modern games, especially if you're running mercs, Steiner, Davion, or ComStar/Word units. There was some trade with the DC and FWL at different points, too, along with salvage, and none of these BattleMechs are super-rare, so you can probably squeeze something out even farther afield if you wanted to.

For less pure SLDF and more FedCom, try an Enfield, Enforcer, or Falconer.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 July 2018, 08:59:23 »

That is a good idea. I even have a Crab and an Excalibur model but my Crab is missing an arm.

Xiwo Xerase · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:04:08 »

You can buy a new arm sprue for the Crab from IWM (item code is 20-804AMS).

Drewbacca · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:08:40 »

I live in Germany. I think it may be easier to just buy a new Crab. I noticed the front laser is missing too.

Xiwo Xerase · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:13:18 »

You can get a new weapons sprue too (20-804WPS) but I don't know how much that would cost to ship or if it's available by itself from any vendors in Europe. If it's not, I agree it would be simpler to buy a new Crab. (If you do buy a new one, you could use your current one in a diorama with simulated damage around where the arm used to be.)

worktroll · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:46:41 »

I have an unholy lust for Marauders. There's a Marauder for every period, and for every occasion. Unseen, Reseen, Classic, kitbashed - love'em all.

(Remember, FASA put Riflemen in Recon lances. Go figure).

And for Crab arms, email Iron Winds. They'll be happy to give you a quote on just an arm. I also reckon Ral Partha Europe might help too if asked nicely.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:54:12 »

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 08:59:23

That is a good idea. I even have a Crab and an Excalibur model but my Crab is missing an arm.

Put a heavy PPC in the other arm statswise and call it the Fiddler Crab. It'll make a hilarious OH GOD WHAT moment.

guardiandashi · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:56:33 »

Depending on how you play, i actually have a love of marauders also, but there was a mech in the old battletechnology magazines that really appealed as well, the ventilator think an 80 ton warhammer/rifleman hybrid with gauss rifles and you basically have it.

Another mech that is just ripe for a few tweeks is the 3050 arrow catapult. If you dropped the extra hs and upgraded to dhs, there is a lot of sins that can be fixed (like more than 5 shots) of ammo

Drewbacca · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:57:46 »

Quote from: ANS Kamas P81 on 11 July 2018, 09:54:12

Put a heavy PPC in the other arm statswise and call it the Fiddler Crab. It'll make a hilarious OH GOD WHAT moment.

That is an amazing idea but where would I get the tonnage?

Weirdo · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:58:56 »

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 08:10:17

Then I am really in trouble because I cannot find anything I like! :D

Use everything, then. Keep using different things until you come across something that lead to a really fun game. Use any method you like to choose new units, wether it be RATs, the random function on the MUL or MegaMek, actual rats, asking people on the street, whatever you want.

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 09:57:46

That is an amazing idea but where would I get the tonnage?

In the Fan Designs forum. C:-)

Drewbacca · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 July 2018, 09:59:29 »

Well my favorite weapons to use are Gauss Rifle/ LB-20X AC/ AC-20 and SRMs.

But mechs with that combo, even tanks with that combo are very rare. I have not seen any yet.

If I have a play style it would be moving at medium speeds (5/8 with or without jump) and either crit seeking/sanpapering or hitting the big hit.

ActionButler · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:08:56 »

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 09:59:29

Well my favorite weapons to use are Gauss Rifle/ LB-20X AC/ AC-20 and SRMs.

But mechs with that combo, even tanks with that combo are very rare. I have not seen any yet.

Doesn't the Mars have that combo?
I mean, I seem to recall that the Mars mounts every weapon in the game twice, but I may be wrong.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:13:29 »

IIRC, on the Mars its either a GR or a LB-10X . . . but I get your joke, lol.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:18:36 »

Quote from: ActionButler on 11 July 2018, 10:08:56

Doesn't the Mars have that combo?
I mean, I seem to recall that the Mars mounts every weapon in the game twice, but I may be wrong.

I do love Tripods. I think if we had star league era Quad-vees of tripods I would take one of them.

Weirdo · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:21:05 »

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 09:59:29

Well my favorite weapons to use are Gauss Rifle/ LB-20X AC/ AC-20 and SRMs.

But mechs with that combo, even tanks with that combo are very rare. I have not seen any yet.

The solution is to spread the combo across multiple units. Find a unit with the desired big gun, find one with the SRMs, and run them together as a team.

As an example, try putting a Blitzkrieg and an Arctic Wolf together in the same lance. For funsies, maybe two of each so that the lance operates as two semi-independent pairs. If your headache hasn't been transferred to your opponent by the end of the game, up the dosage. :)

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 10:18:36

I do love Tripods. I think if we had star league era Quad-vees of tripods I would take one of them.

He was referring to the tank, not the Ares-class tripods. :)

Drewbacca · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:27:30 »

Quote from: Weirdo on 11 July 2018, 10:21:05

He was referring to the tank, not the Ares-class tripods. :)

Ah, well just as good!

ActionButler · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 July 2018, 10:31:02 »

I was referring to the tank, yes, however, on inspection, it is just an LB-10X.

Kit deSummersville · « **Reply #20 on:** 11 July 2018, 11:41:21 »

Quote from: worktroll on 11 July 2018, 09:46:41

I have an unholy lust for Marauders. There's a Marauder for every period, and for every occasion.

Well, except the Noisiel Games juggling competitions.

Quote from: Drewbacca on 11 July 2018, 09:59:29

Well my favorite weapons to use are Gauss Rifle/ LB-20X AC/ AC-20 and SRMs.

But mechs with that combo, even tanks with that combo are very rare. I have not seen any yet.

The Jade Falcons offer the Wakazashi with a GR and LB-20X but for SRMs you'll have to have a Flamberge help you out.

Weirdo · « **Reply #21 on:** 11 July 2018, 11:57:59 »

Quote from: Kit deSummersville on 11 July 2018, 11:41:21

Well, except the Noisiel Games juggling competitions.

If your mech can't juggle Marauder BA, you're not ready for Noisiel.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #22 on:** 11 July 2018, 12:01:14 »

But it can do the Comedic entry for the Noisiel Games- a Marauder stumbling around trying to shake off Marauders with their magnetic clamps. An attempt to imitate the circus act where a clown is battling midgets who try to hold on/restrain the clown from cozying up to a circus showgirl.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #23 on:** 14 July 2018, 13:16:35 »

Tried something out today that did not really work but has potential. I used an Excalibur with three Flashmen to run interference. I went against to lance of bots in a free for all and took out at least 3 mechs though the Excalibur went early.

Weirdo · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 July 2018, 13:47:48 »

Yeah, that sounds like a fun cavalry lance. If you ever need to gain anti-conventional firepower/crit-seeking and are willing to lose some raw punch, you could swap one of the Flashmanlies for a Champion.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #25 on:** 14 July 2018, 14:07:14 »

Quote from: Weirdo on 14 July 2018, 13:47:48

Yeah, that sounds like a fun cavalry lance. If you ever need to gain anti-conventional firepower/crit-seeking and are willing to lose some raw punch, you could swap one of the Flashmanlies for a Champion.

I was thinking a Kintaro.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #26 on:** 14 July 2018, 14:10:15 »

Quote from: ActionButler on 11 July 2018, 10:31:02

I was referring to the tank, yes, however, on inspection, it is just an LB-10X.

The Mars isn't a tank. It's a munitions depot with treads.

Ruger · « **Reply #27 on:** 14 July 2018, 14:20:15 »

Quote from: Drewbacca on 14 July 2018, 14:07:14

I was thinking a Kintaro.

Crazy idea...what about a Spartan?

Ruger

Drewbacca · « **Reply #28 on:** 14 July 2018, 14:47:44 »

Quote from: Ruger on 14 July 2018, 14:20:15

Crazy idea...what about a Spartan?

Ruger

That is not so crazy.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #29 on:** 14 July 2018, 15:09:30 »

Just to see if it works I tried to make some low tech versions of the Spartan and Excalibur. It works pretty well. The Excalibur trades the Gauss for a AC/10 and keeps the LRM20 and has the heat sinks to use it. The spartan keeps all of its weapons and has decent heat management.

Best part, replacing the XL fusions meant I had to lower the speed to 4/6 which means it matches the Flashman.

Weirdo · « **Reply #30 on:** 14 July 2018, 17:24:15 »

Unless you're talking about the Succession Wars downgrade, Flashmanlies are 5/8.

Drewbacca · « **Reply #31 on:** 15 July 2018, 09:00:47 »

Quote from: Weirdo on 14 July 2018, 17:24:15

Unless you're talking about the Succession Wars downgrade, Flashmanlies are 5/8.

Yes. The SSW downgrade. All the mechs scale down well and still fit together. I was even able to up the armor on the Excalibur.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #32 on:** 15 July 2018, 09:59:36 »

The Flashman is build on Hesperus II, not Tharkad. It's a Defiance Industries mech.

/nitpick

mbear · « **Reply #33 on:** 16 July 2018, 07:27:16 »

If you have two laser-equipped units, maybe balance it with a missile carrier like a Catapult?

Ice_Trey · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 July 2018, 01:17:23 »

With type 20 ACs, GRs, and SRMs in mind, though it's not a star league design, there are some Charger versions that happen to pack something similar.

There is a Liao 4th SW version (1a5) with an AC20, double SRM6es, and a few lasers. There is also a later-era Kurita version (SA5) that is almost the same, with an LB-X 20 and Streak SRM launchers, again with a few lasers.

Again dipping into the Star League era, there's also the Pillager 1N with double AC20s, ten shots each, with an SRM4 and a few MLs for good measure.