Would you . . .

[Colt Ward]

As stated, if you were the CO of a unit that salvaged a stock No Daichi of any flavor would you replace the sword for something that does more damage?

Yes I am familiar with Gray Carlyle's position and mostly agree but  as someone else has said- rule of cool and it is fun bashing a mech with a melee weapon.

[Charistoph]

Honestly, I'd go after the Missile systems first, then the Sword.  After that, upgrade it to a proper Hatchet and figure out how to put Jump Jets on it.

[Fat Guy]

Absolutely.

I love the 2KO and 2KC, but almost never use the sword. I go for 28 point kicks whenever possible.

[Cannonshop]

consistently, there's not a lot on a No-Daichi I'd keep.

The sword is one of those things that's not on the list of things I'd keep.

In simple terms, if you're that close, punching is more likely to be more effective, and you get two tries instead of one for the same amount of damage per try-if you installed a hand actuator.  basically, a sword gives you punching damage on a broader hit location table-at a fairly high expense in weight.

As a TSM mech, the base model suffers from a hard-to-manage heat curve with inaccurate weapons that are also ammunition limited, making it difficult to gain and keep the necessary heat to both function, and actually still keep moving.

TSM punches do quite sufficient damage on their own-the sword doesn't actually add to that curve, and unlike punching, you're as likely to hit their feet, as you are their head. This is less useful than simply punching (Punch table) or kicking (*if they have leg damage).

There aren't a lot of situations where a 1 in 6 chance of hitting the cockpit with a headcapper blow isn't superior, and having two chances instead of one? far superior.

So, I'd probably move the PPC and add a hand actuator, drop the inaccurate MRM for energy weapons and a heat sink arrangement to hit 9's consistently while in use, and the SRM rack for similar, while dropping the sword for...well...maybe more energy weapons and heat sinks, or jump jets or something that I can use reliably either to manage the heat curve so I keep the benefits, or take more hits, or maybe just a nice C3 unit.

[General308]

A Sword sure isn't on my must keep list on a salvaged mech.  I guess it depends on what my goal is.  But I would never have a problem removing a physical attack weapon.

[JadeHellbringer]

Sword: OUT.

Giant array of rocket pods: IN

(I'm not a nice person.)

[WONC]

I voted no, because if I'm the commander of a unit: a.) a 'Mech is a 'Mech is a 'Mech, and I'm kinda stingy on wasting cash, and b.) it gives me something to stick that one "special" pilot in for hilarity purposes.

Sword: OUT.

Giant array of rocket pods: IN

(I'm not a nice person.)

...damn dude. That's sadistic, and I kinda love it.

[RifleMech]

Hmm... maybe? It'd depends on what else has been salvaged, what shape the No Daichi is in, the pilot and lance I'll assign it to, and how fast I need it. If I do replace it wouldn't be a priority. I'd want to get the mech up and running before I go replacing a working weapon.

Should I replace the sword, I'd lean towards replacing it with another hand-held physical weapon. Swapping physical hand-held weapons would be less expensive and risky than customizing with a different weapon. I also like how they can be swapped, dropped, picked up and even thrown as needed. It also applies to hand-held industrial weapons allowing me to use the No Daichi as an engineering mech if needed. I do wish that would legally extend to hand-held rifles, and cargo though. 

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Heck yeah, the sword is out.  I'm upgrading that sucker to a 3S.

[Weirdo]

I would vote no, because every single mechjock that thinks they're special enough for the unit to waste time and resources in personal mods needs to be laughed out of the quartermaster's office. And if they ask a second time, battlesuit troopers should be called in to literally throw them out.

[O5P_Ghost]

As a loyal servant of the Dragon, I would never question receiving such a fine machine as a No-Daichi. Its a blessing from the Coordinator!

With that said, a couple pulse lasers would be nice

[Catfur]

As a loyal servant of the Dragon, I would never question receiving such a fine machine as a No-Daichi. Its a blessing from the Coordinator!

Indeed, as long as it's a 2KO...

[Kargush]

As stated, if you were the CO of a unit that salvaged a stock No Daichi of any flavor would you replace the sword for something that does more damage?

No, I'd try to sell it off (intact) and buy (or trade) for something more suitable. If I *had* to keep it, there are other things I would change before the sword.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The level of difference between the poll and the posts is interesting.

[Apocal]

The level of difference between the poll and the posts is interesting.

I didn't bother posting because it is such a no-brainer decision. OP says "salvaged" and "if you were the CO" which means in-universe. And knowing what I know, if I were in-universe, I'd leave the sword off for hands that punch, save a bunch of weight for better weapons and be better off for it.

[BrianDavion]

I feel like this is asking "would you replace the head of atlas"

[Sartris]

i would stop being a loser baby and use better tactics to hit with the sword.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

i would stop being a loser baby and use better tactics to hit with the sword.

The thing about melee weapons is that "better tactics" often devolves into "stop losing initiative."

[Weirdo]

The thing about melee weapons is that "better tactics" often devolves into "stop losing initiative."

Usually only in a duel. Especially given the No-Dachi's speed, it's usually not extremely hard to wait until at least one enemy has moved.

Also, in any scenario with objectives, place the No-Dachi in a location the other player MUST go. Boom, doesn't matter near as much who goes first

Finally, try pairing it with a unit that provides a command bonus. Literally win initiative more often.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Usually only in a duel. Especially given the No-Dachi's speed, it's usually not extremely hard to wait until at least one enemy has moved.

Yeah, so long as you're fine letting your opponent get back shots at it.

Also, in any scenario with objectives, place the No-Dachi in a location the other player MUST go. Boom, doesn't matter near as much who goes first

That helps but it's still not foolproof.

Finally, try pairing it with a unit that provides a command bonus. Literally win initiative more often.

That works in campaigns.  In pick-up games I find that players tend to hate it.

[Sartris]

The thing about melee weapons is that "better tactics" often devolves into "stop losing initiative."

RIP you but i'm a winner in all aspects

[Youngblood]

I feel like this is asking "would you replace the head of atlas"

Yeah, I would.  With slag.

Kill that Kuritan sucker with a Heavy PPC, no careful cockpit aiming required

[BrianDavion]

Yeah, I would.  With slag.

Kill that Kuritan sucker with a Heavy PPC, no careful cockpit aiming required

you must be the only person in the world who thinks of the Atlas as a Kuritian mech

[Lorcan Nagle]

The thing about melee weapons is that "better tactics" often devolves into "stop losing initiative."

Not losing initiative is literally one of my many skills.

[Youngblood]

you must be the only person in the world who thinks of the Atlas as a Kuritian mech

Would you have preferred that I had replaced "Kuritan" with "Davion" instead?

[idea weenie]

Remove the Sword, and replace it with a flat panel of metal holding a bunch of M-Pods

The other hand has a ranged weapon of some kind, so the opponent is encouraged to get into melee range.

[Weirdo]

Yeah, so long as you're fine letting your opponent get back shots at it.

That helps but it's still not foolproof.

No tactic is foolproof. That doesn't mean it's not a tactic.

That works in campaigns.  In pick-up games I find that players tend to hate it.

I've only ever used command units in pickup games(because I don't campaign), and can definitely say your experience is not universal.

[JadeHellbringer]

The thing about melee weapons is that "better tactics" often devolves into "stop losing initiative."

I TRIED THAT. IT DIDN'T WORK.

[DOC_Agren]

As someone who never had great luck with Melee weapons on Mechs yes...

[bobthecoward]

While the advantages don't manifest at the scale of the game, it still has advantages that I would consider from a roleplay perspective.