What makes a good light melee Mech?

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

What I want to say is, despite of those problems, that would be superior to every non-talons physical weapons, for it increases the effectiveness of either punch or kick, which is the best physical weapons that is also for free, not because it have no option but attack with that.

edit: also, maybe add claws? But having two of those costs too much(two weights far worse than a talons), while you don't need much damage on your punch - only 12 with activated TSM is required to smash the head at once, and against rear torso you don't need so desperately enough to need for twin claws either. The fun part is despite of those problems claws seems still better than the others as well.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Claws also have a penalty to the attack roll.  That's a big weakness unless you're just going after slow targets.

[Jellico]

this is a big one. since most melee weapons do damage based on the mech's mess, light melee units tend to be a bit anemic. so your choice of melee weapon needs to be either something that can do better than the per mass damage of the typical melee weapon choice, or gives non-damage benefits. for example, the Mech Lance does damage comparable to a hatchet, but has a chance to do internal damage on the target. but vibroblades give you the best oomph per ton when active. even a small vibroblade can outperform a hatchet on mechs up to 30 tons, and since vibroblades are fixed mass, and not based on the mass of the mech mounting them, you can even mount a large vibroblade onto a light mech and be doing damage comparable to a 70 ton hatchet wielding mech. though that vibroblade might be the only real weapon you have.

I  have to admit that I have been looking at vibroblades lately as an option for OmniMechs. Everyone used to want their LRM variant. Now they want their melee variant.

[AlphaMirage]

Welcome to the Celestial camp Jellico. The Word of Blake's is for everyone.

Whether they like it or not

[Kit deSummersville]

A supercharger. A 36 point charge from the rear is gonna leave a mark on a heavy 'Mech but you'll need to time it so its buddies have to decide between the charger and the guys with the big guns in front of them. Even better if you have artillery in play; they can choose between closing ranks and increasing the artillery splash or opening themselves up to another running back charge.

[Sabelkatten]

Years ago I had a 30-ton quad taking sensor hits that meant its only realistic attack options left were melee. A damaged heavy moved in 8 (I think) hexes right in front of it (taking cover from some other units. Charge, survived fire phase, hit, put almost all damage to the CT of the heavy destroying it.

My light quad mech literally leapt straight THROUGH a heavy mech!

Of course with MASC, Supercharger, and Spikes you can make a 20-ton mech that's a legitimate threat to assault mechs. IIRC you can even load up a decent amount of hardened armor and still get a decent turn of speed.

[truetanker]

Hmmm...

11/17 Quad with TSM, Harden armor and spikes.

Meep meep, Crunch?

TT

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Is hardened armor really the best choice?  Sure, you're getting extra durability (as long as you can devote the weight to it), but it does give you the +1 penalty on piloting checks.  Doesn't seem terribly great for a mech that's built around making piloting checks.

[AlphaMirage]

That's why I initially suggested Impact-Resistant armor up thread. Reduces your received damage from Charges and DFAs as well as the enemy mech's own melee attacks against yours without a piloting penalty.

[truetanker]

Well...

Extra durabilities are needed, Reinforced Structure, armored components...

Anything to remain viable on the field.

Hech, I've even had a pillbox'd Quad with a Battlemech turret contaning a TAG, still providing telemetry for missiles.

TT

[truetanker]

That's why I initially suggested Impact-Resistant armor up thread. Reduces your received damage from Charges and DFAs as well as the enemy mech's own melee attacks against yours without a piloting penalty.

I can see an Utra-Light with this...

Charge attack on the Light Mech!

Lil' Ms. Coup going vroom vroom....

*bounces off said mech...

TT

[Aresneo]

Hmmm...

11/17 Quad with TSM, Harden armor and spikes.

Meep meep, Crunch?

TT

Impact Resistant armor would be better, it reduces the self damage from the charge better and doesn't negatively affect your speed.

Is hardened armor really the best choice?  Sure, you're getting extra durability (as long as you can devote the weight to it), but it does give you the +1 penalty on piloting checks.  Doesn't seem terribly great for a mech that's built around making piloting checks.

While physical attacks are based on piloting score they are explicitly not piloting checks so modifiers to piloting checks like the one from Hardened Armor don't actually affect them.

[Daryk]

True, but staying on your feet so you CAN charge does depend on Piloting... ;)

[Sabelkatten]

Take a look at this abomination.

Hardened armor on a light melee mech has a simple purpose: keeping the mech alive when the enemy gets irritated (or terrified after a few 60+ point charges!). Impact-resistant armor doesn't help against pulse lasers...

[Kit deSummersville]

Take a look at this abomination.

Hardened armor on a light melee mech has a simple purpose: keeping the mech alive when the enemy gets irritated (or terrified after a few 60+ point charges!). Impact-resistant armor doesn't help against pulse lasers...

Tactical note: don't charge a Balius from behind, use the flanks.

[garhkal]

True, but staying on your feet so you CAN charge does depend on Piloting... ;)

Especially since charging or any other physical, comes AFTER weapons fire!

[Sabelkatten]

Especially since charging or any other physical, comes AFTER weapons fire!

Successfully charging not only requires staying on your feet, it also requires having feet left to stand on... Lots (relativly) of hardened armor really helps with that!

[DevianID]

You can buy more piloting skill to offset hardened armor on a 20 tonner to get 138 effective armor.  You can't buy more standard or impact resistant armor past 69 points.  In general, hardened armor's +1 psr draw back is less negative then -2 to crit rolls and needing 40 damage base to even take a PSR.  Also. due to how difficult it becomes to disable a mech with a lucky shot (head shot, TAC) versus hardened armor, a mech with 80 hardened armor is more survivable then a mech with 160 armor, despite both having the same amount of BV put into armor.

[truetanker]

Scorpion nest horde Tactics...;Ultra-Lights on parade!

How many can attack per hexside before you loose containmen?

TT