Author Topic: Harebrained Battletech - Silly rabbit. Mechs are for kids. (Read 30035 times)

Akamia · « **Reply #60 on:** 24 July 2021, 01:39:15 »

Yeah, I kneecapped myself in my first playthrough by not taking pirate contracts early and maintaining decent rep with them. By the time I finally bought into the Black Market, all the good ‘Mechs and most of the weapons were so expensive I might as well have not bothered. ;D On the other hand, superior versions of autocannons already loaded in my first BSK-MAZ were available there and within my price range.

I’m going all-in on the pirate contracts in my ironman campaign playthrough. I don’t know how much I’ll commit to that in my career run, though.

Jim1701 · « **Reply #61 on:** 24 July 2021, 12:56:31 »

I like the Davion Faction stores. Those high end UAC-5's, 10's and 20's are da bomb!

MarauderD · « **Reply #62 on:** 27 July 2021, 12:08:35 »

I haven't played the Campaign for ages, started it again without all the lostech in the stores, with 7 pieces for mech assembly. Probably won't get too much salvage, but I enjoyed the story so much I thought it worth playing through again!

Elmoth · « **Reply #63 on:** 27 July 2021, 12:56:13 »

I did the Campaign twice. First time with heavy modding. Easy.
Next time I did place a number of restrictions on myself:
1. 6 pieces to assemble a mech
2. no upgraded weapons
3. limiting myself to official mods for the mechs.
4. NEVER use LRM spam to throw enemy mechs to the ground
5. Do not use called shots.
6. Slow experience for mechwarriors AND limiting them to 5 in all skills and 6 in a top skill. That means not getting access to the skill 8 ability for any of the Mechwarriors, yeah.

It was a quite tougher and more enjoyable experience for me, and one that felt less like gaming the system and more like gaming battletech to me :)

Jim1701 · « **Reply #64 on:** 28 July 2021, 14:03:45 »

One of the updates made LRM spam a lot less viable anyway. Especially with bigger mechs. By the time you've knocked them down a couple times they're pretty much shredded. At least that's been my experience.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #65 on:** 28 July 2021, 15:27:46 »

Unless you've got a couple Archers loaded with ++ or better LRMs that increase stability damage.

paulobrito · « **Reply #66 on:** 28 July 2021, 15:35:14 »

Quote from: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 28 July 2021, 15:27:46

Unless you've got a couple Archers loaded with ++ or better LRMs that increase stability damage.

Archers? Try Bull Shark's M3 - 4xLRM20 with 8 tons of ammo. The ultimate LRM boat.

truetanker · « **Reply #67 on:** 29 July 2021, 20:48:33 »

I wonder...

Could one create a Clan mech using just the upgraded IS tech and pit those against your campaign opponents?

Like using ER weapons, LBXs and such?

Just wondering... ( Still haven't been able to upload the game yet... but I'll find a way. )

TT

Luciora · « **Reply #68 on:** 29 July 2021, 20:58:54 »

I mod the star league weapons into clan weapons so the AI doesn't use them, for fun.

Quote from: truetanker on 29 July 2021, 20:48:33

I wonder...

Could one create a Clan mech using just the upgraded IS tech and pit those against your campaign opponents?

Like using ER weapons, LBXs and such?

Just wondering... ( Still haven't been able to upload the game yet... but I'll find a way. )

TT

truetanker · « **Reply #69 on:** 29 July 2021, 21:06:54 »

Oh...

I still wonder, could it be done as if one or more missions be built as a clan probe attack?

( See my cheese wheel brain frying... hmm... fried cheese!)

TT

Jayof9s · « **Reply #70 on:** 30 July 2021, 08:11:57 »

Not entirely sure what you're asking. There are mods that add the clans entirely.

If you mean could you more-or-less recreate clan mechs using just things unmodded? Well, the ++ lostech weapons are basically to clan spec (improved damage, lower weight, etc.) - you would be missing the missile systems though. But if a design only used ballistics and lasers and you could find an IS chassis with a similar move/weight profile and the right hard points you could basically do it.

Triptych · « **Reply #71 on:** 01 August 2021, 11:14:50 »

My fav mech for converting into an LRM boat is the Centurion. An LRM-10 and an LRM-15 with at least 3 tons of ammo, couple of MLs and max the armor.

The only mod I use gamewise is the CBT builder mod. Oh, and the custom portraits mod too, but that doesnt change the gameplay. 8)

MarauderD · « **Reply #72 on:** 01 August 2021, 14:21:55 »

Just had a great scripted encounter in the game. Crew member needs a million c bills to get a rare bird that is big enough to eat people, and in exchange I’ll get a rare mech part.

Since I had 5 mill at the time, and I didn’t care too much; I went for it. My rare mech part was a whole pristine SLDF Marauder 2R! My heaviest mech at the time was a 60 ton Rifleman—so it was a big upgrade to retire the Blackjack and replace it with that beast. Funny thought is that I probably could have got a locust for my trouble as well!

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #73 on:** 01 August 2021, 15:11:27 »

Now that was some well-spent c-bills.

Jayof9s · « **Reply #74 on:** 01 August 2021, 18:42:02 »

That's money well spent! I'm pretty sure I've gotten just a single part and not even a lostech one from that same event.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #75 on:** 01 August 2021, 20:41:23 »

I remember getting a nice piece of Lostech from that event. Can't remember what it was, but it was nice.

Fat Guy · « **Reply #76 on:** 01 August 2021, 22:30:23 »

Quote from: Jayof9s on 01 August 2021, 18:42:02

That's money well spent! I'm pretty sure I've gotten just a single part and not even a lostech one from that same event.

:stupid:

Jim1701 · « **Reply #77 on:** 02 August 2021, 12:09:33 »

Quote from: Jayof9s on 01 August 2021, 18:42:02

That's money well spent! I'm pretty sure I've gotten just a single part and not even a lostech one from that same event.

Some of those random lostech rewards can be quite the white elephant. I'll never forget my first one was a small pulse laser. :(

I was mildly irked to say the least.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #78 on:** 02 August 2021, 12:17:30 »

HA! Did not even really notice it hit 50!

MarauderD · « **Reply #79 on:** 02 August 2021, 13:48:35 »

I'd taken a good years break from the game--I'd been painting the Wave 1 minis. It's nice to come back and enjoy it again.

UACs are pretty overpowered in 3025 play, I'm remembering....in HBS version of the game they never jam and seems like when the first shot hits the second does as well. Makes them very, very stronk.

Luciora · « **Reply #80 on:** 02 August 2021, 15:28:47 »

I modded a Highlander to have the Mauler hardpoints, 4 UAC2s with 2 LRM10s and 2 meds can core mechs with an appropriate pilot.

Quote from: MarauderD on 02 August 2021, 13:48:35

I'd taken a good years break from the game--I'd been painting the Wave 1 minis. It's nice to come back and enjoy it again.

UACs are pretty overpowered in 3025 play, I'm remembering....in HBS version of the game they never jam and seems like when the first shot hits the second does as well. Makes them very, very stronk.

Jayof9s · « **Reply #81 on:** 03 August 2021, 08:26:46 »

Quote from: MarauderD on 02 August 2021, 13:48:35

I'd taken a good years break from the game--I'd been painting the Wave 1 minis. It's nice to come back and enjoy it again.

UACs are pretty overpowered in 3025 play, I'm remembering....in HBS version of the game they never jam and seems like when the first shot hits the second does as well. Makes them very, very stronk.

They work just like missiles in that each attack rolls to hit, so it's not assured to hit but if you're firing with 95% chance, you're basically going to hit every time with both.

Balance wasn't a big concern with Heavy Metal but I'd say more than a few of the weapons are drastically over-tuned and I don't even necessarily mean the ++ ones that are basically clan spec!

Colt Ward · « **Reply #82 on:** 03 August 2021, 09:10:02 »

Quote from: Jayof9s on 03 August 2021, 08:26:46

They work just like missiles in that each attack rolls to hit, so it's not assured to hit but if you're firing with 95% chance, you're basically going to hit every time with both.

Which is what I wish CBT did with UACs . . . and love that option on MM.

Yeah, Heavy Metal was great except . . . rather than power creeping, it felt like a sprint.

MarauderD · « **Reply #83 on:** 03 August 2021, 11:02:41 »

What I wish is that I could get all the mech chassis goodness of the Heavy Metal DLC, but NONE of the cheese weapons. I tried using a mode to make the system stores and salvage only contain stuff from the original game, but it is obviously not working: I found several UAC/5++ (essentially clan weight UACs, as mentioned previously) and it has made my Glitch in my Rifleman a monster.

I think the campaign plays better with the Mad Max Periphery vibe. I don't mind the cheesy weapons in the Careers, because you often end up facing 8-12 enemies with your single lance. In the Campaign, I'd rather be super excited to find that AC/10++ than looking at ER Medium Laser++ that doe 35 damage for only 25 heat at Large Laser range. It just gets ridiculous so fast!

Colt Ward · « **Reply #84 on:** 03 August 2021, 11:47:59 »

I just do not buy or salvage those weapons. But I have also been keeping most my pilots at what I feel would be 'regular' or 'veteran' status as far as gunnery- with the exception of the PC, he is 'elite' . . . but not maxed out.

MarauderD · « **Reply #85 on:** 03 August 2021, 12:04:22 »

Quote from: Colt Ward on 03 August 2021, 11:47:59

I just do not buy or salvage those weapons. But I have also been keeping most my pilots at what I feel would be 'regular' or 'veteran' status as far as gunnery- with the exception of the PC, he is 'elite' . . . but not maxed out.

I think Maybe I should just replay without special weapons at all. It'll increase the difficulty without tempting me to indulge in cheese. I like the Cockpit mods, Communications and Targeting systems to create specialist mechs--but I'm going to have to skip out on all the +++ craziness. It is just too much by the time you get to heavies (I've got a Rifleman and Marauder now with +++ weapons and they just auto-delete mechs when focus fired).

Colt Ward · « **Reply #86 on:** 03 August 2021, 12:29:18 »

Yeah, I do not use any L2 weapons . . . but I will use some of the +, ++, or even +++ weapons but I generally focus on damage, range or heat and leave accuracy off. Trying to maintain what would be a BTU appropriate force in the campaign- so I have the original Blackjack still even if it is in storage and keep 2 lances of mechs up. Limited assaults- just Highlander & Kamea's Atlas- 3 or 4 heavies, and the rest meds that are active with a Firestarter and Jenner in storage with the BJ. I think I also have a RFL in storage to round out my forces.

MarauderD · « **Reply #87 on:** 04 August 2021, 10:36:58 »

Did another couple missions in the Campaign--the mission on Itrom where you fight in the sandstorms is still crazy easy--probably too much so. The mission where you fight on Panzyr again in the snow storm against APC's and need to send a fast unit up a hill to save a barracks is crazy easy because you know exactly what will happen--send a 5/8/5 mover up the hill and plug the holes where the APCs want to drive and you pretty much autowin.

The mission where you rescue Lord Madeira has been redone in Heavy Metal, and is now better. There is a fun moment when you get charged by a couple Firestarters--they roasted Kamea's Atlas hitting with 8 flamers in one round, auto shutdown. Other than that, a slug fest still. All these missions done with Griffin/Rifleman/Star League Marauder/Star League Highlander on 'hard' settings, for whatever that is worth. Subbed Kamea in for the Rifleman on Guldra.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #88 on:** 04 August 2021, 14:12:45 »

Quote from: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 01 August 2021, 20:41:23

I remember getting a nice piece of Lostech from that event. Can't remember what it was, but it was nice.

Oh, I remembered, that was how I got my Royal Atlas.

Euphonium · « **Reply #89 on:** 04 August 2021, 16:39:31 »

Is there a reasonably simple way to mod the game to alter the availability of items in the store? I don't like that in the final official release it's easier to buy partial assault mechs than it is to buy basic weaponry is many systems.

I'd also be interested in a mod that made heavy and assault mechs much rarer in the game as a whole for career mode. Ideaaly I'd want to alter it so that the ratio of L:M:H:A is something like 4:5:2.5:0.5