Author Topic: Replacing the Highlander 732b (Read 5544 times)

Colt Ward · « **on:** 10 January 2020, 11:54:37 »

So this career through HBS's BattleTech I had a difference experience & story than my first time- for one thing all the DLC mechs added changed what I ended up using and in some cases fighting against. Which leaves me wanting to use this run as a seed for a new background merc group for my files. I am dumping the Argo & Atlas II as well as going lighter for the company over all but still want something to replace the uniqueness of them getting the Royal Highlander- it might end up being the only assault they field, rest of the company being 3H, 6M and 2L.

What would you consider of similar nature to the Highlander and rarity among the SLDF to be placed into a cache?

The_Big_Red_Bear · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:03:39 »

Devastator. If we're talking Gause firepower.

That was an SLDF mech IIRC.

Ruger · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:10:27 »

Shogun

Ruger

Arkansas Warrior · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:11:49 »

What about a Spartan? It’s not nearly as powerful as a Highlander, but given the light makeup of the rest of your force, a 5/8 assault might be helpful. It’s certainly rare, if not quite unique.

Colt Ward · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:21:12 »

Quote from: Ruger on 10 January 2020, 12:10:27

Shogun

Ruger

Okay, a Shogun would be interesting- 'Are they with the Dragoons? did they find the same cache?'

Sartris · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:27:08 »

They were produced before the fall of the league so there might be a few hidden underground here and there

The_Big_Red_Bear · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 January 2020, 12:34:49 »

Quote from: Sartris on 10 January 2020, 12:27:08

They were produced before the fall of the league so there might be a few hidden underground here and there

You know what an even better option would be?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE0wfjsybIQ

The King of those. lmao

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 January 2020, 22:37:27 »

The only King Crab that really fills the same general role as the Royal Highlander is the Clanbuster version, which wouldn't be found in a Star League Cache. But you could get the effect from a Nightstar.

glitterboy2098 · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 January 2020, 22:43:35 »

Guillotine maybe? its a heavy but it jumps and has pretty good armor and firepower for its size. plus the star league GLT-3N's main advanced tech is the endosteel and CASE, so you'd have an aspect of "we can;t let it get beat up too badly" but at the same time they can keep the armor and weapons going as it does take damage.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 January 2020, 22:44:35 »

That's a good option.

TigerShark · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 January 2020, 22:49:58 »

Quote from: The_Big_Red_Bear on 10 January 2020, 12:03:39

Devastator. If we're talking Gause firepower.

That was an SLDF mech IIRC.

The Devastator was incredibly rare and only seen in the very last stage of the invasion of the Amaris Empire. The Highlander was widespread, being used by every House, available to mercenaries, and (therefore) to the Periphery states who hired these soldiers.

I would say the Pillager is a much more analogous 'Mech in the Star League era, having been around since the Reunification War. Only the Periphery states and Draconis Combine made no usage of it.

Hellraiser · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 January 2020, 00:06:26 »

Devastator was only a prototype in the SLDF era.

Only 6 of them made IIRC according to the fluff.

Pillager is much more direct fire mech & overall much more firepower with the XL engine.

I like the Shogun suggestion.

The 2H is 5 tons lighter but over all a similar amount of firepower & close in armor.

JPArbiter · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 January 2020, 18:14:22 »

How about the emperor. Same mobility and tonnage, weapons load is a little more common, and in Liao spce apare parts are not uncommon as the mech was still deployed, albeit rarely

Colt Ward · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 January 2020, 17:05:37 »

Looking through and accounting for suggestions . . .

Emperor 5A
Pillager 1N
Royal Crockett
Shogun 2F

The four designs were SL-era, avoid some of the more complicated ammo situations (Emp & other advanced Crockett's LBX, SSRM for Shogun) without being over the top deadly at range (Pillager 3Z) and keep to the Highlander's class & movement profile. The Emperor & Pillager is kind of iffy IMO b/c it does not have any of the advanced component/weapons like the other 2 designs- so easier to maintain & repair. The Emp is light in the firepower department and the Pillager has a range problem . . . but is a jumping pair of AC/20s lol.

Shogun gets that 'could be Dragoons!' hook into the Periphery.

Arkansas Warrior · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 January 2020, 20:28:37 »

No thoughts on the Spartan?

TigerShark · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 January 2020, 20:51:19 »

Quote from: Arkansas Warrior on 20 January 2020, 20:28:37

No thoughts on the Spartan?

It's very rare and not many were made before the factory was destroyed. Even then, it was invented/produced during the Star League Civil War.

Natasha Kerensky · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 January 2020, 21:02:07 »

I’d go with a Nightstar -9J if you want to emphasize the Gauss/hole-punching/command nature of the Highlander. It was in production for nearly a couple decades before the Exodus.

But if you want to emphasize the jumpy/fire support/crit-seeking nature of the Highlander, then the Shogun is the way to go.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 January 2020, 21:17:24 »

Has the Royal Stalker been suggested?

Jester006 · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 January 2020, 21:25:39 »

If you're looking for a long range sniper, either the Nightstar (as many have already mentioned) or a Thunderhawk.

guardiandashi · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 January 2020, 01:09:11 »

if you consider things from Battletechnology magazine, what about the Ventilator

Caedis Animus · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 January 2020, 01:54:19 »

I'd say a Royal Battlemaster or Royal Black Knight.

SteelRaven · « **Reply #21 on:** 21 January 2020, 02:27:50 »

~~It would be a super rare find but a Atlas II AS7-D-H2 is the only thing that can come close to beating what has already been listed.~~

-Edit: never mind, I got nothing :(

glitterboy2098 · « **Reply #22 on:** 21 January 2020, 02:51:39 »

guys, please note the following:

Quote from: Colt Ward on 10 January 2020, 11:54:37

I am dumping the Argo & Atlas II as well as going lighter for the company over all but still want something to replace the uniqueness of them getting the Royal Highlander- it might end up being the only assault they field, rest of the company being 3H, 6M and 2L.

he's trying to reduce the number of big mechs on the field, and trying to find something that fits that trend to use instead of a royal highlander. so proposing stuff that is even heavier and with more firepower than a royal highlander probably isn't very useful.

Jester006 · « **Reply #23 on:** 21 January 2020, 03:10:42 »

Quote from: glitterboy2098 on 21 January 2020, 02:51:39

guys, please note the following:
he's trying to reduce the number of big mechs on the field, and trying to find something that fits that trend to use instead of a royal highlander. so proposing stuff that is even heavier and with more firepower than a royal highlander probably isn't very useful.

They did say it may be the only assault they field.

glitterboy2098 · « **Reply #24 on:** 21 January 2020, 14:49:01 »

yes but the general assumption that smaller is preferred should still be in play. go down into the 80 and 85 range rather than up to 100 and above if suggesting an assault,

Colt Ward · « **Reply #25 on:** 21 January 2020, 15:36:38 »

Oddly enough . . . outside the Guillotine, I cannot think of many upper end heavy or lower end assaults that are 4/6/x from the Star League era.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 January 2020, 15:41:06 »

Hmm. The only 4/6 assault mechs from the Star League era I can think of are the Banshee, Cyclops, Battlemaster, and Striker.

SteelRaven · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 January 2020, 15:47:50 »

Quote from: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 21 January 2020, 15:41:06

Hmm. The only 4/6 assault mechs from the Star League era I can think of are the Banshee, Cyclops, Battlemaster, and Striker.

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 January 2020, 16:04:28 »

I think of that more as a really well armored heavy mech.

Insaniac99 · « **Reply #29 on:** 21 January 2020, 16:07:06 »

Quote from: MoneyLovinOgre4Hire on 21 January 2020, 15:41:06

Hmm. The only 4/6 assault mechs from the Star League era I can think of are the Banshee, Cyclops, Battlemaster, and Striker.

Rifleman II, Thug, Victor, Zeus, Longbow, Rampage, and Ymir all have at least one variant from the Star league with a movement of 4/6