Need help re-organizing my 'Mechs

[Alain Dumont]

...so I've got about 60 'Mechs for my Merc force.  All have been chosen based on my desire to paint the miniature (my main joy in Battletech), rather than for concerns of cost, BV, or faction availability.


As noted, my main draw to this game is painting the minis; I'm a tactical dunce, really, and only the fact that my son and my wife (my opponents when I do actually play the game) are *also* tactical dunces makes the board game fun. 

Since I'm so clueless on the actual military side of things, I thought I'd post the list of all the minis I have, and ask for help in organizing them in a way that actually made sense.  At the moment, my TO&E is broken into two battalions, with a Regimental Command Lance.  It's not necessary to keep that, but we are IS, not Clan (there are currently all of 2 Clan machines in the group), so I'd rather stick with a more-or-less standard IS scheme, not use Clan Stars or WoB/C* groups of six.


When we do fight, it's mostly lance-on-lance, though I've been toying with the idea of using MegaMek to fight company-on-company battles with my son, so presume that we would engage at the company level.


Here's what I have so far (i.e., I have minis for all these), along with some of my comments on what I think they're good for. 

Reg. Command Lance
            Role
4/6/4   85   TLR1-O      CO      Tancred variant.  Kitbashing one later today to replace my previous (stock) Templar mini.
4/6/3   90   Mad Cat II   SgtMaj      
4/6/4   90   Y-H9G      Bdygrd      
4/6/4   70   GLT-8D      Bdygrd      

1st Battalion


1st Company - lots of missiles, plus spotters.  switch to C3?
   A Lance (Assault)               
3/5/3   90   HGN-732         
3/5/3   80   Excelsior      Bdygrd      Reaper Minis 'Mech - 2 LRM 10s, maybe a LL and a UAC?  no sheet for it
3/5/0   95   Cerberus MR-CC      
3/5/0   100   Tiamat            Reaper Minis 'Mech - 4 LRM20s w/Art IV

   B Lance (Fire Support)
4/6/0   70   ARC-4M      Fire Support
4/6/0   70   ARC-4M      Fire Support
4/6/0   75   MAD-5R      Battle/FireSup
4/6/0   75   MAD-5R      Battle/FireSup

   C Lance (Light/Recon Lance)
7/11/6   30   VLK-QD3    Recon      
7/11/5   35   JR7-F      Recon      
10/15/0   25   KST-2B      Recon/TAG   
10/15/0   25   KST-2B      Recon/TAG   Reaper Minis 'Mech - 2 ERML, G.ECM, C3 Slave


2nd Company
   A Lance
4/6/4   75   PTR-4D      Pulse Boat         
4/6/0   70   Valiant      Urban/Brawler   Reaper Minis - UAC20, 2 SRM6, 4 ML, G.ECM
4/6/4   65   AXM-1N      Urban/Brawler   
4/6/0   70   CTF-4L      Battle      

   B Lance
5/8/0   70   WHM-9DA   Cavalry      
5/8/0   45   Huron R4L   Cavalry      
4/6/4   45   VND-3L      Battle-ish   
4/6/4   45   VND-3L      Battle-ish       

   C Lance
6/9/0   25   COM-5S            
6/9/6   20   STG-3R      Anti-Inf.      
6/9/6   20   STG-3G            
8/12/0   30   RZR-2B            Reaper Minis - 8 MLs, 1 SmL, MASC, TargComp

3rd Company - All Reaper Minis
   A Lance (Fire Support)
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   Reaper Minis - Marauder analog
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   

   B Lance (Battle)
5/8/0   65   Spitfire            MASC energy boat - 2ERPC, 2MPLs, ERMedL, G.ECM
5/8/0   65   Spitfire            
5/8/0   70   Campaigner          Bushwacker analog   
5/8/0   70   Campaigner         

   C Lance (Strike)
6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            TSM, SSRM6 + a bunch of lasers
6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            
6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            
6/9/6   55   HWK-3T      TAG/Narc/ECM/BAP   Phoenix Hawk analog



2nd Battalion

4th Company
   A Lance (Battle)   
4/6/0   75   HBD-3X            Reaper - 1 RAC/5, 2 PPC, 5 MPLs, 1 ML, G.ECM
4/6/4   65   CPLT-C4   Aide      
4/6/0   75   ON2-M      Fire Support   
*don't have a mech/mini for this slot yet                  


   B Lance (Mobile Fire Support)
5/8/0   75   Timber Wolf          
5/8/5   55   BSW-X1            
5/8/5   50   TBT-7M            
5/8/5   55   GRF-1N            

   C Lance (Strike/Cavalry)
6/9/6   65   EXT-6D Exterminator         
6/9/6   50   Raijin RJN101-A      -- will be replaced [thus my thread on Replacing Raijins. :-)  ]
6/9/0   60   Grand Dragon DRG-5K      
6/9/0   50   CN9-D Centurion      

5th Company
   A Lance (Battle)
4/6/0   75   BL-12-KNT             
4/6/0   75   MAD-3D               
4/6/0   70   CES-3R            
4/6/0   75   DGR 4F Dragon Fire         

   B Lance (Strike/Cavalry)
6/9/6   50   UZL-2S            
6/9/6   50   UZL-2S            
6/9/6   50   RJN101-A         
6/9/6   50   RJN101-A         

   C Lance
4/6/0   55   Centurion CN10-B      
4/6/4   50   ENF-4R            
4/6/4   50   ENF-4R            
                  

Spare Mechs:
3/5/3   90   EMP-6A
7/11/7   55   Wraith TR1



Feel free to re-arrange 'Mechs to different lances, companies, etc., and if you'd be so kind, help me label the purpose of each lance/co (strike, battle, recon, assault, etc.).


...as far as re: future plans, I was considering adding a lance of 2 Anubises and 2 Osirises.

Thanks!

[Alain Dumont]

Probably going to replace the Raijins with new Ospreys, though I did just order 2 of the Wolf and Blake Wolf's Dragoon mini packs (for the Uziel 2Ses), so maybe I can use something from those instead.  I /do/ rather like the way the Osprey looks, though.  Maybe I'll get one to replace the third Raijin I didn't realize I had. 

[Kobold]

Just as a minor comment:  I would definitely include the Wraith, if only because it pains me that you only have one unit faster than 6/9/6.

[Alain Dumont]

Only one unit?   Are you using unit to mean lance?  (looks at the 7/11 and 10/15 mechs listed)

[Kobold]

Whoops!  Somehow I missed an entire lance when I skimmed the list.  I still say the wraiths is too good to not use though.

[Alain Dumont]

I have yet to field any of those ultra-fasts; though other than my Templar (my first 'Mech), my favorite 'Mech is the Uziel, so I'm certainly not averse to the idea of running like hell.   O0

[Alain Dumont]

I take that back; I've used the Valykrie several times; it was one of the first few 'Mechs I got.  I think my Mercs' first lance was . . . the Templar, a Bushwacker, the Valykrie, and a Mad Cat.    :D  There was also a Whammy and a Jenner right around that time...I'd have to look back through my early notes to be sure.


But about that Wraith--the TR-1 has a range of . . . 10?   Really?   I'm not expecting Clannish 25+ ranges, but . . . 10?  What do you use it for?  A jumping backstabber?

[JoeJones]

But about that Wraith--the TR-1 has a range of . . . 10?   Really?   I'm not expecting Clannish 25+ ranges, but . . . 10?  What do you use it for?  A jumping backstabber?

That is exactly what it's used for.

[Alain Dumont]

Hmm.  I'm thinking of buying another Valkyrie, simply because I want to paint another one.  That would give me three 7/10 'Mechs.  One more, and I could make a 7/10 lance, though what I'd then do with the 10/15 KST Kestrels, I don't know.


Hmm.  Already have the Jenner.  Given that I have at least two plastic boxed sets, that lance could be the Wraith, the Valk, and my metal Jenner, and a plastic Jenner. 


...what about using the Wraith and a Jenner to replace the Raijins in 5th Co that I'm writing off?  Would two Uziels running around blasting stuff while the Wraith and Jenner hopped around backstabbing be practical?

[Alain Dumont]

I need to look to see if any of these 'Mechs have decent C3 Master variants; seems a shame to have so many C3 slaves scattered about and have no C3 at all.

[Hawkeye Jim]

Here's my take, since you like to match speeds. Put the Emperor in 4th Company A lance. It's only a little slower and has some good firepower.

Take the Kestrels out of the 1st Company C lance. Put the Wraith in there, then fill that lance and use the Kestrels to start a new lance.

[Hellraiser]

My 1st thought is to but all the BT mechs in 1 group (2) and all the Reaper stuff in another.

My 2nd Thought is unless you are really fixed on using them as completely new custom designs to instead find the BT mini that closest resembles the Reaper mini in Looks and substitute it for that.



I'm off to work soon but will take some time when I'm bored there to do some arranging suggestions.

[Alain Dumont]

My 1st thought is to but all the BT mechs in 1 group (2) and all the Reaper stuff in another.

My 2nd Thought is unless you are really fixed on using them as completely new custom designs to instead find the BT mini that closest resembles the Reaper mini in Looks and substitute it for that.



I'm off to work soon but will take some time when I'm bored there to do some arranging suggestions.

I did originally have all the Talon minis in one group--3rd Company.  Then I bought more.   I've thought about re-organizing them such that all the Talon (now Reaper) minis are in 2nd Battalion, but I'm not sure I have enough to constitute an entire Battalion. 



I've also been giving though to missiles and TAG/NARC.   I have a few TAG and/or NARC platforms in there.  I've been working on re-arranging such that each company with missiles in it has at least one TAG or NARC 'Mech in it.


I'm not 100% dedicated to new stats for the Reaper minis (the old Talon ones actually had them provided by the company), which is why I tried to note what they appear to be analogs of to me. 

I'm really more interested in good/logical/tactically sound ways to organize them beyond simply matching movement speeds.

Last, although we're battalions on paper, in reality the biggest battles my son and I fight are company-on-company, so that's the primary unit of organization I'm concerned with.

[Snimm]

I always like to build balanced lances whenever I get into a campaign.  It makes me vulnerable in some situations where, say, extreme firepower is needed, but I like having the flexibility to meet most challenges.

To that end, I typically have one recon type unit, one meatshield, one fire support, and the fourth unit will reflect the purpose of the lance fairly closely - fire support will have a second fire support Mech, a recon unit would have another scout type, etc.  Of course, the terms 'fire support' and 'meatshield' are relative - if the unit is part of a recon company, the 'meatshield' simply might be the heaviest, best-armored unit in the lance, though it still moves 5/8/5 or 6/9/6  some such.  You make do with what your GM gives you, but this is the ideal I'll strive for.  I have had some miserly GMs in my time.   ;)

To expand this idea to your company on company fighting, you can still put your lances together with the above guidelines, then see how you might reorganize yourself in the event of the entire company in action.  It's very likely you'll still have at  least a lance of fire support and a lance of armored slugs you can move together if you must, and a lance's worth of skirmish-type Mechs to create a cavalry screen against the approaching enemy.

[Hellraiser]

So, as I started going through your list, some of your models had the wrong speed on them, others I didn't even recognize the variant.

I did my best to correct the speed issues where I saw them but some might still be off (Cerberus?).


Okay, as I looked at it I saw a few interesting facts.
You have 45 CBT minis & 19 Non-CBT minis.
Of the 45 CBT minis you have 2 Clan & 3 Raijins (That you were wanting to replace anyway)
So this left me w/ 40 CBT minis of wanted IS types, and another 24 that don't fit up.

What a coincidence !    A Battalion w/ Com Lance & 2 Extra Companies !!  I hit on a plan here.

Working off your 40 remaining minis I sorted them by speed, by firepower, by tonnage, by roll, etc etc, and I think I came up w/ a workable new configuration.


So Here goes....


Bat-Com Lance
4/6/0   85   Templar-O      CO   Tancred
4/6/0   75   Blacknight-12-KNT       XO      
4/6/0   65   Thunderbolt-7M            
4/6/0   55   Centurion CN10-B
  (Built around your CO in the Omni but w/ a smaller/ranged support crew, its job isn't to be the front line, its job is to protect the CO & provide ranged fire to back up the Line companies)


A-Co
3/5/0   95   Cerberus MR-CC
3/5/3   90   Highlander-732   
4/6/0   70   Catafract-4L      Battle      
4/6/0   70   Caesar-3R            

3/5/3   90   Emperor-6A
4/6/4   90   Yu Huang-H9G      Bdygrd   
4/6/4   75   Penetrator-4D      Pulse Boat         
4/6/4   65   Axeman-1N      Urban/Brawler   

5/8/0   70   Warhammer-9DA      Cavalry      
5/8/0   45   Huron Warrior R4L   Cavalry      
6/9/0   60   Grand Dragon DRG-5K      
5/8/0   55   Bushwacker-X1            

(A-co is your big boys, Direct Assault is their game.
  You have Gauss Boat, Urban Brawl, & Flanker/Skirmisher Lances, and even your "fast/little" guys are not very fast & not very little.   


B-Co

4/6/0   75   Dragon Fire-4F
4/6/0   75   Marauder-5R      Battle/FireSup
4/6/0   75   Marauder-5R      Battle/FireSup
4/6/0   75   Marauder-3D               

4/6/0   75   Orion-2M      Fire Support   
4/6/0   70   Archer-4M      Fire Support
4/6/0   70   Archer-4M      Fire Support
4/6/4   65   Catapult-C4      Aide   

6/9/0   50   Centurion-9D       
6/9/0   25   Commando-5S            
6/9/6   20   Stinger-3R      Anti-Inf.      
6/9/6   20   Stinger-3G            

(B-Co is your Battle Group, lots of Heavies w/ a spotter lance tossed in.
You have Direct Fire & LRM Fire groups while the spotters are weak & are a traditional, don't get shot at, light lance)


C-Co
4/6/4   70   Guillotine-8D      Bdygrd      
4/6/4   50   Enforcer-4R            
4/6/4   50   Enforcer-4R            
5/8/5   55   Griffin-1N            

4/6/4   45   Vindicator-3L      Battle-ish   
4/6/4   45   Vindicator-3L      Battle-ish   
6/9/6   50   Uziel-2S   
6/9/6   50   Uziel-2S   

6/9/6   65   Exterminator-6D
7/11/7   55   Wraith-TR1
7/11/5   35   Jenner-F      Recon      
7/11/6   30   Valkyrie-QD3       Recon   

(C-Co is designed around Jumpjets, these are the guys you insert behind lines in the worst terrain imaginable.  Just Enough Ranged guns to snipe & harass, & enough size that they can't be ignored, no baby weaklings but no monsters either.... Command, Fire, & Striker lances included)




I'll follow up w/ the remaining 2 companies shortly.

[Hellraiser]

D-Co
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   Reaper Minis - Marauder analog
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   
4/6/4   70   Nightshade   Fire Support   

5/8/0   70   Campaigner          Bushwacker analog   
5/8/0   70   Campaigner         
5/8/0   65   Spitfire            MASC energy boat - 2ERPC, 2MPLs, ERMedL, G.ECM
5/8/0   65   Spitfire            

6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            TSM, SSRM6 + a bunch of lasers
6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            
6/9/6   55   HMI-2A            
8/12/0   30   RZR-2B            Reaper Minis - 8 MLs, 1 SmL, MASC, TargComp

(Delta is all reaper minis and is also designed to be fast/direct attack.
  They don't slow down & they shread you and pass you by.)




E-Co
5/8/0   75   Timber Wolf          
4/6/3   90   Mad Cat II   SgtMaj      
3/5/0   100   Tiamat            Reaper Minis 'Mech - 4 LRM20s w/Art IV
3/5/3   80   Excelsior      Bdygrd   Reaper Minis 'Mech - 2 LRM 10s, maybe a LL and a UAC?  no sheet for it

4/6/0   75   HBD-3X            Reaper - 1 RAC/5, 2 PPC, 5 MPLs, 1 ML, G.ECM
4/6/0   70   Valiant      Urban/Brawler   Reaper Minis - UAC20, 2 SRM6, 4 ML, G.ECM
10/15/0   25   KST-2B      Recon/TAG   
10/15/0   25   KST-2B      Recon/TAG   Reaper Minis 'Mech - 2 ERML, G.ECM, C3 Slave

6/9/6   55   HWK-3T      TAG/Narc/ECM/BAP   Phoenix Hawk analog
6/9/6   50   Raijin RJN101-A      -- will be replaced [thus my thread on Replacing Raijins. :-)  ]
6/9/6   50   Raijin RJN101-A      
6/9/6   50   Raijin RJN101-A      


(Finally comes your 5th Company, partial Reapers, partial C*/WoB, partial Clan.
  Its hard to match up the speeds here so I put the 2 close ranged brawlers in w/ the sprinters just to show that these guys move forward and leave the 4 fire support units in the back.
  Honestly this unit would work well as a pair of WoB LII's at 6 mechs each as well, w/ the Clan units being captured at Tukayid & purchased from the Sharks.)



Anyway, hope you like how it all worked out.

[MemphisMark]

If you really want to step up your game and get away from the "tactical dunce" label, pick up a copy of "The Art of Maneuver." It helped me out a lot.

[Alain Dumont]

Thanks for the recommendation.  Just bought the Kindle edition; will start on it this weekend.