HBS Expansion Thread- its time for II (spoilers)

[Mendrugo]

Agreed, I enjoyed that solo fight quite a bit.  The Hatchetman was perfect.  Would have been even better if I had an LBX-10, but hey, nothing's perfect.

I like giving the Hatchetman max armor and jump jets, +++Leg Mods that reduce damage (allowing me to DFA with no damage to myself), and a battery of ERSL++s.  That way, I can either hatchet the bad guys or DFA them, then double down with the support weapon array. 

[Nav_Alpha]

I’ve managed to capture two Hatchetmen so far, but in both cases... no hatchets.
So one I still in storage and the other is a stripped done chassis in the Mechbay, taking up space.

Every planet I’ve dropped into so far has not had a hatchet for sale

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I didn't realize that the hatchet was rendered as a distinct piece of equipment in the game.

I thought it was just a part of the mech's arm due to the limitations of the game engine.

[Mendrugo]

I believe the hatchet is fixed special equipment, like the command computer in the Marauder or Cyclops.  It's functionally equivalent to an Arm Mod +++, but takes up less space, and you can't move it around.  So, if you're feeling particularly brutal, you can fill all the arm space with Arm Mods of various shapes to maximize your damage when you do hatchet your foe. 

[Nav_Alpha]

I believe the hatchet is fixed special equipment, like the command computer in the Marauder or Cyclops.  It's functionally equivalent to an Arm Mod +++, but takes up less space, and you can't move it around.  So, if you're feeling particularly brutal, you can fill all the arm space with Arm Mods of various shapes to maximize your damage when you do hatchet your foe.

You’re kidding... that Hatchetman has been just sitting there in the hanger doing nothing and all this time....

[MarauderD]

You’re kidding... that Hatchetman has been just sitting there in the hanger doing nothing and all this time....

This is correct--unless you are running some very specific mods, all your hatchetman have the hatchet built into the right arm.  Just pull them out and configure.  If memory serves, the really bonkers variant is the 3X, which has a bunch of support hardpoints that you can fill with MG's, Small Lasers, or flamers and make a short range murder variant.  Not very flexible, but incredibly fun to wreck shop with.

[Greatclub]

I actually burned through a ton of ammo with a full load of +5 shot mgs

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I love the -0.5 ton MGs.

[Nav_Alpha]

This is correct--unless you are running some very specific mods, all your hatchetman have the hatchet built into the right arm.  Just pull them out and configure.  If memory serves, the really bonkers variant is the 3X, which has a bunch of support hardpoints that you can fill with MG's, Small Lasers, or flamers and make a short range murder variant.  Not very flexible, but incredibly fun to wreck shop with.

Yep... now running a Hatcheman in my pursuit lance. It had its first outing last night.

[paulobrito]

For me, I use the BEX-CE / BTX / Extended 3025-57.
Includes several new FPs, Clan invasion, new nations, like the FRR, OWA, The new, advanced mechs and weapons only appear at the correct time, etc.
Very stable, with plenty of other-mods working with the core system (improved/extended contracts hubs for example).
Is the one that respects more the Lore and time progression by a wide margin.

[truetanker]

I still haven't been able to download the first one, even when I have the keys from being a backer...

My system is so slow, until it crashed ( Damn feline overlord! )... and of course I got a new computer that well... I don't have enough bandwith to play on.

Do you think it would work on a X Box 1? ( After all it is a computer... )

If that can be had... I'd pay for the data next check! ( might be two weeks, gotta dig it out of storage first, if I remember which corner it's in... and move some heavy stuff to reach it first!  xp

TT

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Hey, is there any point in keeping the PPC Cicada?  There any way to mod that into being a useful mech?  The ballistic hardpoints seem pointless because it lacks the tonnage to use an autocannon, it's only got one energy hardpoint, and only four support weapon hardpoints.  I salvaged one a little bit ago but I can't really figure out anything to do with it.

[Luciora]

Could use it as a coil laser carrier.  I used one modded out with full jump, a med laser and the rest into armor to get an achievement where you use a single mech to complete a mission.

Hey, is there any point in keeping the PPC Cicada?  There any way to mod that into being a useful mech?  The ballistic hardpoints seem pointless because it lacks the tonnage to use an autocannon, it's only got one energy hardpoint, and only four support weapon hardpoints.  I salvaged one a little bit ago but I can't really figure out anything to do with it.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Hmm, haven't seen any coil lasers yet.

[Euphonium]

Could use it as a coil laser carrier.  I used one modded out with full jump, a med laser and the rest into armor to get an achievement where you use a single mech to complete a mission.

I found a Jenner with a single large coil laser and extra armour to be a great scout & sniper. I'd normally only shoot every other turn, but 105pt called shots are brutal  >:D

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Man, I need to find a planet that sells Coil guns.

[Nav_Alpha]

So, riddle me this - you’ve completed the campaign and you’re now playing through the Flashpoints.
So you’re going to have some fancy rides (Atlas II, SLDF Highlander and a bunch of assault Mechs).
You’ve also got some elite pilots.

But I’ve also got a light/medium lance and hired up some newbies with the idea that a) j can slowly train them up to also be an elite scout/recon lance and b) have some fun with light Mechs to get away from the Grind that is “assault lance v heavy company... boom, boom, bang!”.

But for the life of me - I can’t find any planets offering low skull contacts. The best I’ve seen are a handful of three skulls. And when I tried to roll on them with a light lance, I got the “you’re picking way too low a tonnage, boss” message from the XO.

I’m just seeking a couple planets for training missions to get some green pilots in light Mechs up to speed

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Why are you trying to train green pilots in light mechs?

Why not stick them in heavies and assaults?

[Mendrugo]

So, riddle me this - you’ve completed the campaign and you’re now playing through the Flashpoints.
So you’re going to have some fancy rides (Atlas II, SLDF Highlander and a bunch of assault Mechs).
You’ve also got some elite pilots.

But I’ve also got a light/medium lance and hired up some newbies with the idea that a) j can slowly train them up to also be an elite scout/recon lance and b) have some fun with light Mechs to get away from the Grind that is “assault lance v heavy company... boom, boom, bang!”.

But for the life of me - I can’t find any planets offering low skull contacts. The best I’ve seen are a handful of three skulls. And when I tried to roll on them with a light lance, I got the “you’re picking way too low a tonnage, boss” message from the XO.

I’m just seeking a couple planets for training missions to get some green pilots in light Mechs up to speed

I tend to train my greenies up by pairing them with one or two of my elites in tricked-out murder machines (while also putting the greenies in fully armored tricked-out murder machines), and let the greenies provide supporting fire while my A-team one-shots most of the enemies with alpha-strikes to the cockpit (Marauder 2Rs are great for this).

[paulobrito]

In vanilla, after you finish the campaign don't exist low skull planets.
In BEX-CE / BTX / Extended 3025-57 if you go the campaign path, after ending the campaign just save the game, exit, and reload and the planets have reset to start values.
BEX-CE / BTX / Extended 3025-57 is the same supermod, is just called one of those ways.

[Jim1701]

I'll stick one green pilot in with three vets and it seems to work out pretty well. 

[Luciora]

I have a Highlander that I modded the .json so it could theoretically carry the loadout of the Mauler.  2 LRM10+++ and 4 UAC/++ means it wrecks mechs at range.  The 2 arm medium lasers are there just to add insult to injury.  I stick greenies in it to get them to level up faster.

[Fat Guy]

Well, seeing how it doesn't matter what a pilot actually does in a mission (Get all the kills/basically do nothing. They all get the same experience just for participating.), I stick the noob I'm trying to level up in a missile boat and keep him/her in the back.

[MarauderD]

Well, seeing how it doesn't matter what a pilot actually does in a mission (Get all the kills/basically do nothing. They all get the same experience just for participating.), I stick the noob I'm trying to level up in a missile boat and keep him/her in the back.

The late game trick I found for leveling noobs is to stick them in an assault in the back.  Stick two vets in the 3 UAC marauder variant in front and headshot galore in front.  It feels very, very cheap but is pretty damn effective for both salvage and leveling XP. 

Having targeting computers for the lurms helps your noobs get hits as well, as I'm sure everyone here already knows!

[Jim1701]

So how long has Victoria had that devastating blow ability?  I admit it's been quite a while since the last time I played through the story campaign but holy crap suddenly my crack gunner can't hit the broad side of a barn.  That's some whacky stuff right there and how can I get some?  :)

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'm pretty sure that's just a boss-only ability that she gets the second time you face her.  Only way to get it yourself is with mods.

[Jim1701]

I'm pretty sure that's just a boss-only ability that she gets the second time you face her.  Only way to get it yourself is with mods.

Yeah, I figured it was a boss ability but I played though the store campaign at least a half dozen times pre-expansions but I never remembered seeing that ability before.  Since the expansions started coming out I've pretty much stuck to playing career mode so I figured it was something "new" from one of the expansions. 

[Jayof9s]

Yeah, I figured it was a boss ability but I played though the store campaign at least a half dozen times pre-expansions but I never remembered seeing that ability before.  Since the expansions started coming out I've pretty much stuck to playing career mode so I figured it was something "new" from one of the expansions.

It was, though I also forget exactly when they added it. They definitely made that last fight feel a little more epic than it was originally! I played through again a few months ago after not having done the campaign since right after release.

[Mendrugo]

Natasha and the Bounty Hunter also have unique special abilities that can really mess up your team.  The first time I did that encounter, I hid on a ridge and pelted anyone that came in sight with long range fire, then finally descended to finish off the survivors once both battling lances were depleted.  The second time through, I was more confident, circling around to put the wrecked ship at my back and forcing the Widows to come through the Bounty Hunters if they wanted a shot at me (while getting rear-armor shots on the Hunters all the while).

[KuzeFanAcct]

I reinstalled this game with the Battletech Extended 3025 mod after having only played it at launch - it's what got me into tabletop Battletech back in 2018! And wow... wow! It's utterly amazing what they've done with this game in the meantime. I'm starting the campaign in 3039 to build my forces up before the Clan Invasion, which has been a rather exciting challenge.


(apologies for the potato camera phone shot, I was showing an IRL friend real fast)

More than anything - the regular newsfeed updates, is one of those small features every Battletech universe game needs. Especially Mechwarrior 5, which I feel like was released half-finished. Hopefully the Steam release and the mod community really take that game to the next level this year, I did really enjoy the base combat in MW5.

My big complaints with HBS Battletech is the variety in stuff like falling and melee. Where's my charging and displacement, damnit?!