Favorite mech (Battletech)

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**Mad4Minis**

Cruentus wrote:I started when Battletech first came out, and the background was all about the loss of the Star League Technology, how everyone was barely capable of keeping mechs operational, and tech was being discovered here and there (or scientific advancements were made).

Then when FASA (and now others) forwarded the timeline, the clans arrived, etc., then it was basically a free for all, and the 'husbanding of resources, mechs as heirlooms, better to retreat than lose mechs' soon disappeared. I miss the almost dark ages feel of the game.

I was fine with the minor mech variants in 3025, and as mentioned, the ability to modify mechs using the mech creation rules. But it is fairly easy to optimize the tonnage v speed v armor v weapons to make effective mechs with little downside.

Most of my fun was had piloting riflemen, warhammers, and other funky mechs with serious heat issues, and being effective with them. Once I could run/jump and fire everything with no heat problems, I started to lose interest. Ymmv.

QFT. I used to make my own designs from the ground up, max armor, no heat issues, etc. My usual opponent would run stock or lightly modded mechs. In even tonnage battles I tended to own him. Once in a while he would pull a good strategy or get a good run of dice rolls. After a while it did get boring.

**thesilverback**

If you wanted to rule the field a slightly modified Chamelon was the way to go.

Best looking would be the old school unseen Warhammer or Shadow Hawk.

**Generalstoner**

The Highlander.

**chuckachu**

Phoenix Hawks, LAM or normal any version

**Field Marshal Wiley**

No order or some order but i would rather take a couple Rommels and a Ontos backed by Srm Carriers and Hunter light tanks

Light- Firestarter or Hermes but Flea is fun
Medium- Enforcer Or Cicada with PPC
Heavy- Hmmm Dragon or Grasshopper
Assault - Victor or Zeus mostly Zeus love the Trial by Fire Scenerio in the 25th box set
End Transmisson...And Crab Mech he just looks cool

**Sanguinary Dan**

Cruentus wrote:I started when Battletech first came out, and the background was all about the loss of the Star League Technology, how everyone was barely capable of keeping mechs operational, and tech was being discovered here and there (or scientific advancements were made).

Then when FASA (and now others) forwarded the timeline, the clans arrived, etc., then it was basically a free for all, and the 'husbanding of resources, mechs as heirlooms, better to retreat than lose mechs' soon disappeared. I miss the almost dark ages feel of the game.

I was fine with the minor mech variants in 3025, and as mentioned, the ability to modify mechs using the mech creation rules. But it is fairly easy to optimize the tonnage v speed v armor v weapons to make effective mechs with little downside.

Most of my fun was had piloting riflemen, warhammers, and other funky mechs with serious heat issues, and being effective with them. Once I could run/jump and fire everything with no heat problems, I started to lose interest. Ymmv.

This x10. I used to play BT every week back in the day. Then the Clans arrived and everything started downhill, fast. Then they lost (stopped paying for?) the license for all the Japanese designs and I was done.

Regardless, to drag things from the depths of my memory...
Light: Locust
Medium: Wolverine
Heavy: Marauder
Assault: Battlemaster

Good times, good times.

**Korthu**

Inner Sphere:
Light: Stinger
Med: Griffin
Heavy: Warhammer
Assault: Victor

I only play 3025 and we use "Unseen". I collected the original Black Widow Company in miniatures, bad choices and all. The only variants I'll use are the official ones. If you max out each mech, then it doesn't matter what its called. I like to use the Fasa guideline of 600 tonnes per company. It forces you to make some tough choices.

-K

**Anpu42**

I would like to play a "War of 39" Campain. I find that period of time facinating

**Orlanth**

My favourite for style first and play second, with style based on looks and play meaning the most fun not necessarily most effective.

All happen to be 3025 originals, accept no substitutes
Light: Locust and Panther
Medium: Shadow Hawk and Blackjack
Heavy: Warhammer (possibly Thunderbolt) and Quickdraw
Assault: Stalker and Banshee-S (possibly Devastator)

**Vertrucio**

Avatar

I'm not sure of the Mech's origins. I mainly know it from the old Virtual world centers. I thought I saw it was created for their game software, but turns out it's a clan vulture mech variant.

I just liked the balance of speed, power, and weaponry on that heavy. Too bad it's a clan mech.

**Mattlov**

Vertrucio wrote:
Avatar

I'm not sure of the Mech's origins. I mainly know it from the old Virtual world centers. I thought I saw it was created for their game software, but turns out it's a clan vulture mech variant.

I just liked the balance of speed, power, and weaponry on that heavy. Too bad it's a clan mech.

You sir, have bad info.

It is an Inner Sphere OmniMech designed in the Draconis Combine. It was based off of the Vulture, but is an Inner Sphere design.

**megatrons2nd**

My two favorites are the Phoenix Hawk, and the Marauder. A Warhammer follows closely behind them.

**Kaiserbudheim**

Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

**robertsjf**

Kaiserbudheim wrote:
Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

I can one up that:
Any mech with hand actuators picking up a limb from the ground, preferrably formerly attached to their target, and doing the same thing.

But the Axeman does it faster.

**Surtur**

Kaiserbudheim wrote:
Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

Only need to roll 1

. Punch table my friend.

**Kaiserbudheim**

Well, it's been a good 15+ years since I've played...so some details escape me.

Btw, did they ever errata the LRM Cluster mine issue...where the size of the launcher determined the density of the mine field and to-Hit number? Except, the book tells you to reference a chart that just doesn't exist in the player's manual? Man, that always bugged me (to this day)! I will try to identify exactly which version of the rules I'm referring to - definitely a FASA era book

**Anpu42**

Surtur wrote:
Kaiserbudheim wrote:
Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

Only need to roll 1 . Punch table my friend.

That changed with the latest edition.
Fist still use the Puch Table
Melee Weapons now use the normal Hit Location Table.

I like the latest edition, Partial Cover is no longer a Death Trap. Not it is just a +1 Modifier and if the weapon hits the Legs it just hits whaterver you are hiding behiend.

**Mattlov**

Anpu42 wrote:
Surtur wrote:
Kaiserbudheim wrote:
Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

Only need to roll 1 . Punch table my friend.

That changed with the latest edition.
Fist still use the Puch Table
Melee Weapons now use the normal Hit Location Table.

I like the latest edition, Partial Cover is no longer a Death Trap. Not it is just a +1 Modifier and if the weapon hits the Legs it just hits whaterver you are hiding behiend.

Must fix this error. Hatchets and melee weapons NEVER hit on the punch location table. Ever. EVER!!!!!!!!

Many played it wrong. It's OK.

**Anpu42**

Mattlov wrote:
Anpu42 wrote:
Surtur wrote:
Kaiserbudheim wrote:
Axeman. Old, outdated tech. But nothing ever beats scoring a critical hit on your friend's opposing mech and bringing that axe down onto the head/pilot.

Only need to roll 1 . Punch table my friend.

That changed with the latest edition.
Fist still use the Puch Table
Melee Weapons now use the normal Hit Location Table.

I like the latest edition, Partial Cover is no longer a Death Trap. Not it is just a +1 Modifier and if the weapon hits the Legs it just hits whaterver you are hiding behiend.

Must fix this error. Hatchets and melee weapons NEVER hit on the punch location table. Ever. EVER!!!!!!!!

Many played it wrong. It's OK.

This only started with the latest edition done by Catylist Game Labs

**Mattlov**

Sorry to disappoint, but you are wrong. It has always been that way.

The only time you could make the argument is with the oldest editions of Battletech, where it never said what table you rolled on.

Master Rules (and Revised), Battletech Compendium both explicitly say you roll on the standard hit location table.

I'm a Demo Agent, and many other Demo Agents didn't know it either. Hatchets, swords, any club has ALWAYS hit on the standard hit location chart, not the punch chart.

**Surtur**

Mattlov wrote:
Sorry to disappoint, but you are wrong. It has always been that way.

The only time you could make the argument is with the oldest editions of Battletech, where it never said what table you rolled on.

Master Rules (and Revised), Battletech Compendium both explicitly say you roll on the standard hit location table.

I'm a Demo Agent, and many other Demo Agents didn't know it either. Hatchets, swords, any club has ALWAYS hit on the standard hit location chart, not the punch chart.

You can choose to roll on punch or kick chart with hatchets, retractable blade and swords by eating a +4 penalty. Also spot welders hit on punch table.

**Mattlov**

Surtur wrote:
Mattlov wrote:
Sorry to disappoint, but you are wrong. It has always been that way.

The only time you could make the argument is with the oldest editions of Battletech, where it never said what table you rolled on.

Master Rules (and Revised), Battletech Compendium both explicitly say you roll on the standard hit location table.

I'm a Demo Agent, and many other Demo Agents didn't know it either. Hatchets, swords, any club has ALWAYS hit on the standard hit location chart, not the punch chart.

You can choose to roll on punch or kick chart with hatchets, retractable blade and swords by eating a +4 penalty. Also spot welders hit on punch table.

That bit right there is the new part for Total Warfare.

**Surtur**

Mattlov wrote:
Surtur wrote:
Mattlov wrote:
Sorry to disappoint, but you are wrong. It has always been that way.

The only time you could make the argument is with the oldest editions of Battletech, where it never said what table you rolled on.

Master Rules (and Revised), Battletech Compendium both explicitly say you roll on the standard hit location table.

I'm a Demo Agent, and many other Demo Agents didn't know it either. Hatchets, swords, any club has ALWAYS hit on the standard hit location chart, not the punch chart.

You can choose to roll on punch or kick chart with hatchets, retractable blade and swords by eating a +4 penalty. Also spot welders hit on punch table.

That bit right there is the new part for Total Warfare.

Isn't that the important book though?

**Mattlov**

Yes. Technically the only book you need to play Battletech.

Although a few record sheets would help.

What was under disagreement was club/hatchet attacks hitting on the Punch Location Table. Until TW came out there were almost no practical situations where you could get a club attack on the Punch Table.