Author Topic: Urban Combat Tactics  (Read 9772 times)

JadedFalcon

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #30 on: 01 October 2017, 22:08:34 »
Acid SRMs deal extra damage to infantry, approximately 1.5X. It's because you are hitting them with caustic acid. Literally nothing else.

And it's also not optimal in the least; It's just an alternative to Infernos, should you somehow not have any.

Then again, I've also used harpoon SRMs against infantry as a practical joke on tabletop before, so I've done the whole "Not optimal" thing quite a few times.

Fragmentation SRMs should be easier to acquire than acid SRMs if you have the extra ammo bins. And Infernos will be setting fires, which becomes an issue if there are orders against demolishing the city.

Gonna agree that Thunder/FASCAM weapons are great at hampering enemy movement.

Caedis Animus

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #31 on: 02 October 2017, 00:00:16 »
As I said, not optimal. Although Harpoon SRMs might be your safest bet, if you are that worried about trashing Mr.Steiner's storefront; Worst case scenario, you ruin the town china shop. Even if you'll only ever kill infantry.

After all, Fragments of steel can do really, really nasty things to anyone. Civilians included. Especially if one of your SRMs is unfortunate enough to go off in the second floor, in the kitchen of an apartment of a family who decided evacuating wasn't in their best interest, and had just sat down for dinner or were cowering in said kitchen;Now little Jimmy's an orphan and quadriplegic, thanks to the opfor. Point is, the Civilians should've left a long time ago; And depending on the faction, they might not care what happens to Mom and Pop civvies, or anyone who isn't them. Such as pirates, or exceptionally barbaric commands.

EDIT;

Another thing to consider is 31st and 32nd century fire safety. I'm not 100% sure how well automatic fire suppression systems work around then, but I'd imagine most cities have failsafes in order to prevent an entire district going up in flames from anything that isn't massed fire-based artillery bombardment. And the fact that most buildings would be made of ferrocrete or nonflammable materials certainly helps. Not that I know anything about Battletech City planning.
« Last Edit: 02 October 2017, 00:03:29 by Caedis Animus »

Col Toda

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #32 on: 02 October 2017, 05:01:19 »
The problem with inferno and other incendiary ammo is a rules of engagement question . I would assume that most high tech buildings commercial , military or industrial areas would have a Haylon gas fire suppression systems which would register is a person's ID badge ia present and if the employee's badge is registering the RFID chip in the portable emergency exphiltration Oxygen canister before the system eliminates the Oxygen feeding the fire . Residential would not have anything of the sort . Fire ****** materials everywhere ect . It works grrat once maybe twice before it stops working altogether . As for Uban Planning that question would revolve around when was the world Colonized and for what purpose .

JadedFalcon

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #33 on: 03 October 2017, 01:39:43 »
Apart from the previously mentioned armored buildings, is there anything in the rules to simulate fire suppression systems?

The issue with Inferno SRMs and other incendiaries is that they'll likely overwhelm the fire suppression system of most buildings, especially if the world isn't subject to constant raiding or sustained border engagements. But I'm not an expert on incendiary munitions so I couldn't tell if they burn hotter than most residential or industrial fires.

On the subject of ortillery, are there any advantages to orbital bombardment over traditional artillery? I'm asking for a warrior from another Clan.

Major Headcase

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #34 on: 03 October 2017, 03:00:41 »
  Close, physical, combat. Hatchetman, Axemen, Charger Kamikaze, Archer wielding a 10 meter length of I-beam, a Jeager swinging a Chinese cargo ship like a Jose Canseco baseball bat... 😁
  I play in cities a lot since it's my main home game terrain collection, and I have had the best success with very high very mobile aggressive maneuvers. Knife fighting range. Use the buildings and never be afraid to go through them if you have to. I've only gotten stuck on a couple of occasions. Maybe its mental effect makes it more effective than it should be, because my opponents always seam to act very cautious when the game begins, and when I start rushing in, in cross-supporting units, it steals the mental initiative, and unless I screw up badly (happened a couple times... 😉) I can ride that for half the game and do tremendous damage and disrupt his/her plans completely.

Col Toda

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #35 on: 03 October 2017, 05:19:34 »
Ortilarty is a trade off . Just about an automatic breach of the Ares Conversation and perceived as a war crime. As for going through buildings as both the attacker I minimize collateral damage as a point of pride as a defender I supposed to minimize collateral damage period . Going through buildings unless strictly necessary tactically to make the overall combat shorter and reduce an even greater amount overall damage to the city . If you are mercenaries depending on ERA you are expected to adhere to the Ares Convention .

Major Headcase

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #36 on: 03 October 2017, 06:01:50 »
The Ares Conventions aren't really "rules" per se. They're more like, guidelines... 😉

Weirdo

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #37 on: 03 October 2017, 08:38:23 »
I'd say fire suppression systems are factored into the background of the 'starting fires' rules. After all, when you consider the sheer amount of energy most mech-scale weapons put out, it really should be easier to ignite stuff. I'd just assume that a failure on the ignition roll doesn't mean you didn't light anything on fire, it means you didn't create enough fire to overwhelm the suppression systems.

On the subject of ortillery, are there any advantages to orbital bombardment over traditional artillery? I'm asking for a warrior from another Clan.

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Col Toda

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #38 on: 05 October 2017, 04:40:55 »
As for the Ares Convention I did say depending on ERA . The Star League before the Reunification War . Mercenaries after Wolf's Dragoons practically unionized the trade.  Kept to for the most part during Clan Invasion Era as a means of reducing escalation abs where it was broken then consequences happened . Used for toilet paper during the Jihad . Enforced whenever politically expedient during the Republic or Dark Age . If your employer's find it easier to throw you under a bus for exceeding your mandate and violating rules of engagement it is easier to outlaw the unit than pay it the balance of your fee.  Regardless of legal issues if given a choice of who to hire to defend a position would you hire a unit that did more damage to the real estate than the attacking force ? Fighting in Urban areas is tough . Clear rules of engagement plus making sure your liaison officer does not die is the best way to defend yourself . Many scenario's are written that defections happen when you push the collateral damage too high .

grimlock1

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #39 on: 14 November 2017, 19:44:06 »
the guy in the 35 ton light had a lightbulb moment.  Hey, he said, how much can I see from that level 10 building.  We told him he would get an invite to the GM table so he could see it all.  He literally jumped at the chance and launched to the top.  While at our table his mates helpfully pointed out the building in question was a CF10.  Yup, down he went and promptly took all the damage to his left leg ramming it up through his left torso and out the center. 

Rooftops are great vantage points but always be aware of the CF...  A couple medium lasers to the ground floor and that rooftop was strong enough to hold your Executioner....
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grimlock1

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #40 on: 14 November 2017, 22:27:21 »
Oh, and speed!

The fluff talks about slow mechs being good/tolerable in cities.   Wrong. It's tight, nasty terrain with a lot of obstacles. Running on pavement is chancy.  Sooner or later, you'll fail a PSR, fall on your keister and slide right through the front of a building. 

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mbear

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Re: Urban Combat Tactics
« Reply #41 on: 17 November 2017, 09:59:59 »
Oh, and speed!

The fluff talks about slow mechs being good/tolerable in cities.   Wrong. It's tight, nasty terrain with a lot of obstacles. Running on pavement is chancy.  Sooner or later, you'll fail a PSR, fall on your keister and slide right through the front of a building.

Especially if you're playing against Weirdo and he brings Fluid Guns with Oil Slick ammo...

...and uses Thunder munitions to mine the hex your unit will slide into...

...which will be right in front of a Demolisher.
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