TRO 3145--Federated Suns

[Captain Jonah]

isn't that what the Grenadier and Hauberk are for?

Nope. Grenadiers (and the berks) are for fire and manoeuvre. Bringing firepower to the enemy from cover then moving away before they can focus on us.

We are not there to stand out in the open and act as punch bags. That is why we assign the crap troopers to the Fusiliers, it’s not hard to walk around and get shot at while the Grenadiers do all the work  ;D

Ambush varient Grenadiers.  O0

When you absolutely have to ruin some mech jocks day with two dozen SRMs in the back from suprise

[Decoy]

I think that that had anything to do with elastic defense doctrine, just typical power-jockeying.  See: March Lords, District Warlords, House Cameron-Jones

Well, it does explain why elastic defense broke like the waistband of a 20 year old pair of underwear. *shrugs* ><

[MarauderD]

So I tried to use a lance of gunsmiths yesterday, and I found it exhausting. They do decent damage and staggering their fire was fine, but every time you lose initiative you need to get outta dodge with that reflective armor: I'd be in a good position after 15 rounds, make one mistake, get kicked and lose a leg.

Seems like a good machine but perhaps not my style.

[RyuWanderfalke]

Eh, as I predicted... exhausting to play.
I prefer my Walls of Steel and a straight fight.

[Molossian Dog IIC]

So I tried to use a lance of gunsmiths yesterday, and I found it exhausting. They do decent damage and staggering their fire was fine, but every time you lose initiative you need to get outta dodge with that reflective armor: I'd be in a good position after 15 rounds, make one mistake, get kicked and lose a leg.

Seems like a good machine but perhaps not my style.

There are Mechs that just get better the more of them you take (like the Vindicator, Enforcer, Orion, Awesome) and there are Mechs chasses that work best solo or in pairs.
I have no experience with the Gunsmith yet, but its record sheet makes me think it is one of the latter.

More a nice addition to an already established lance than a Mech of the line, so to speak.

[BrokenMnemonic]

I'm oddly sad that the Atlas is a FedSuns design, rather than a Lyran one. I know the shields aren't *that* big, but if it were a Lyran design, then each shield could have the Commonwealth fist painted on it, and the commanders of senior Lyran regiments could spend the entire of each battle telling opponents to "talk to the hand".

[MarauderD]

The Lyrans will get new shinies to continue thei wall of steel. Who is to say they aren't using Atlases?

[Youngblood]

Eh, as I predicted... exhausting to play.
I prefer my Walls of Steel and a straight fight.

And this is why TRO 3145 will never sell well. :'(

[Weirdo]

3145 has stuff for all kinds of players. Prey Seekers and Gunsmiths are for players who enjoy raiding and hit and run tactics. For those who prefer stand-up fights, 3145 gives you toys like the Centurion, Black Knight, and Templar III. Something for everyone, but it doesn't mean that every player will like everything.

[Jellico]

So I tried to use a lance of gunsmiths yesterday, and I found it exhausting. They do decent damage and staggering their fire was fine, but every time you lose initiative you need to get outta dodge with that reflective armor: I'd be in a good position after 15 rounds, make one mistake, get kicked and lose a leg.

Seems like a good machine but perhaps not my style.

And you just described Clan play.  O0

[RyuWanderfalke]

I'm oddly sad that the Atlas is a FedSuns design, rather than a Lyran one. I know the shields aren't *that* big, but if it were a Lyran design, then each shield could have the Commonwealth fist painted on it, and the commanders of senior Lyran regiments could spend the entire of each battle telling opponents to "talk to the hand".

The office of procurement approves.

[FedSunsBorn]

There are Mechs that just get better the more of them you take (like the Vindicator, Enforcer, Orion, Awesome) and there are Mechs chasses that work best solo or in pairs.
I have no experience with the Gunsmith yet, but its record sheet makes me think it is one of the latter.

More a nice addition to an already established lance than a Mech of the line, so to speak.

I agree.  O0

Use one or two to backstab when needed while having another mech or two like the Cent Omni be in your face and up front. Basically, hammer and anvil tactics. Something I also plan to do with the Vulpes as well while the Black Knight holds the line.

[Weirdo]

Okay, that Vulpes/Black Knight combo sounds fun. Always good to have a truly dangerous hammer, and a Black Knight definitely will make an excellent anvil. O0

[TheLemons]

And this is why TRO 3145 will never sell well. :'(

I don't feel this way at all, actually. I've bought all of them, and will continue to do so with glee. I love oddball units, and sub-optimal ones. I find it more entertaining to play with units like that.
Granted, I can only speak for myself, but I feel TRO:3145 brings a bit for everybody to enjoy. To be honest, this TRO and the current state of affairs in general has me more interested in playing the Fed Suns than ever. I've never hated them, just never been that curious till now.

[Banzai]

Okay, that Vulpes/Black Knight combo sounds fun. Always good to have a truly dangerous hammer, and a Black Knight definitely will make an excellent anvil. O0

Played a couple of those games today.  Yes, the Vulpes/Black Knight is a most excellent pairing, even against Clan 'Mechs.

[Weirdo]

Realization: Take a Skulker Mk.II and a few Krugers, and you've got yourself a pretty solid recon and strike lance. O0

[Sharpnel]

So I tried to use a lance of gunsmiths yesterday, and I found it exhausting. They do decent damage and staggering their fire was fine, but every time you lose initiative you need to get outta dodge with that reflective armor: I'd be in a good position after 15 rounds, make one mistake, get kicked and lose a leg.

Seems like a good machine but perhaps not my style.

There's you problem, you used tham as a lance rather than one or two as part of a lance. Four backstabbers in the same lance is just a PITA. Team one or two up with something that will draw the enemies attention and then use the gunnies to exploit an invloved enemy.

[Nav_Alpha]

Just downloaded it today - had a quick look through and so far i'm liking what i see.

The FedSuns and CapCon TROs have really made me want to play through the Dementer and Cumberland campaigns.

[VhenRa]

Honestly. The new FedSuns hardware and doctrine pretty much inspires a Hammer, Anvil and Knife in the back strategy.

You have the Anvil (Black Knights, Centurion Omnis, Templar IIIs, a few older slower designs and the conventional tank and infantry arms), Hammer (Cavalry Mechs, Hover Tanks, VTOLs, Artillery, Air Support) and then you have the Knife in the back (Gunsmith, Prey Seeker, Scarecrow).

I mean. The Scarecrow is the most insidious of it. It's target isn't Infantry.

It's Target is the enemy's logistics section. You don't gun down their infantry, you gun down their repair fields for their Mechs, their Dropship crews while they are off stretching their legs, their trucks which are moving more ammo up to the front, their command and communications posts.

[StCptMara]

I mean. The Scarecrow is the most insidious of it. It's target isn't Infantry.

It's Target is the enemy's logistics section. You don't gun down their infantry, you gun down their repair fields for their Mechs, their Dropship crews while they are off stretching their legs, their trucks which are moving more ammo up to the front, their command and communications posts.

Not disagreeing with you, since we know the Sea Fox is doing that sort of work, as well, but: How do you figure?

[Gus]

The weapon stats at least are on the record sheets at the end.  Not sure about any other special rules though.

I really hope re-engineered lasers have something interesting going for them, because they look rather uncompetitive based purely on their available stats.

[Adam Vagus]

Fluff states they treat reflective armor like it's standard.

[ColBosch]

I don't feel this way at all, actually. I've bought all of them, and will continue to do so with glee. I love oddball units, and sub-optimal ones. I find it more entertaining to play with units like that.
Granted, I can only speak for myself, but I feel TRO:3145 brings a bit for everybody to enjoy. To be honest, this TRO and the current state of affairs in general has me more interested in playing the Fed Suns than ever. I've never hated them, just never been that curious till now.

Quite true. One thing the TRO pdfs have shown is that BattleTech players love their toys. For every person who says, "I'm only buying the book for faction X because I hate fun," there are a hundred who buy them all. I know I am; it's like a bi-weekly magazine filled with neat stuff I enjoy.

[Gus]

Fluff states they treat reflective armor like it's standard.

Hmmm. If that turns out to be true, consider the Medium RE laser. 2.5 tons, 2 crits and 7 heat for 6 points of damage to both normal and reflective armour. Compare that to two standard medium lasers at 2 tons, the same crits, and 6 heat for 4 points of damage against reflective armour, and 10 points against normal armour.

I hope RE lasers have a bit more going for them.  :-\

[Aldous]

Hmmm. If that turns out to be true, consider the Medium RE laser. 2.5 tons, 2 crits and 7 heat for 6 points of damage to both normal and reflective armour. Compare that to two standard medium lasers at 2 tons, the same crits, and 6 heat for 4 points of damage against reflective armour, and 10 points against normal armour.

I hope RE lasers have a bit more going for them.  :-\

Add the fact that not all mechs will have Reflective armor. I doubt even most will have it.

[StCptMara]

Add the fact that not all mechs will have Reflective armor. I doubt even most will have it.

However, what about Battle Armor and vehicles? Take a look at the Kurita TRO, as well...they
had a good bit of reflective armor in there.

[marauder648]

The RE-Laser just seems to be very niche and simply not worth its costs for its benifit  Its a Light PPC without any of the advantages, just a heavy bulky thing. 

[Aldous]

However, what about Battle Armor and vehicles? Take a look at the Kurita TRO, as well...they
had a good bit of reflective armor in there.

The TRO only reflects the newest stuff. How much new mechs/tanks/BA does an average company have? A lance would be pretty high. The rest will be upgraded old equipment.

[VhenRa]

Not as much as you'd think. Everyone is expanding their militaries and back during the Republic they would have wanted to get rid of the worst of their gear to replace with newer more advanced hardware.

[ColBosch]

Not as much as you'd think. Everyone is expanding their militaries and back during the Republic they would have wanted to get rid of the worst of their gear to replace with newer more advanced hardware.

Worst, sure, but there are still plenty of older units still in service.