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hey Dakka, I have come to a stand still with my Battletech armies, I have a huge collection that I simply jumped into(they are soo addictive ><. I have a large sized clan force, and a fledgling Inner Sphere force, I have found after my last few games, that as it is a pure Omni Mech force is quickly out numbered by their Inner Sphere counterparts. so for the time being till I figure out the rules more, and get a few more games under my belt I will be focusing on the Sphereoids.

so this is where I need some help, I haven't the foggiest idea how to match up the mechs, sure I could just slap them together by weight matching, but I want more tactically flexible units than merely a solid heavy lance, or lone assault lance. so my question to you veteran players is how would you pair up the following mechs into lances?

Assaults: (8)
Atlas
2x Battlemasters
2x Imps
2x Victors
Shogun

Heavy’s: (11)
Warhammer
Cestus
2x Orions
Marauder
Riflemen
Crusader
Archer
Thunderbolt
Exterminator
Ryoken II

Mediums: (9)
Shadowhawk
3x Wolverines
2x Centurions
Blackjack
Sentinel
Crab

Lights: (5)
Wasp
Stinger
Locust
2x Javelin

Support: (3)
Cheetah Aero Fighter
2x Manticore

this comes to a total count of 36 mechs, or nine full strength lances. so any input would be great, what variant to play them as would also be very helpful.

though I know I will be fielding the Sentinel as a STN-3Lb(the one packing a Gauss Rifle) unless of course there is a far more fitting one I didn't notice.

thanks again Dakka Dakka,
Garuss Acine

You have time to play more than a lance?

it's not so much that I have time to play more than one lance all the time, I have had a few games of 3v3 with at least each player playing with 3-5 mechs. it more of the ability to bring more than one lance to the table, either to supply other players with models, or simply to put in some filler mechs to equal out forces. not to mention I will be trying to get new gamers into BT, so knowing what lances would fit together would very useful in giving both sides an equally competitive force to match to each other.

Go to the Official Battletech Site and find the MASTER UNIT LIST. It isn't completely done at this point, but should be done enough for what you need.

It is a list of EVERY FRIGGIN' THING in the BT universe. I believe it also has the Battle Value for the listed unit as well.

If you are doing free-for-alls, take the 'Mechs you have and figure out the BV for them. If you have 'Mech generation software, it should also have BV listings. If not go to:

Solaris Skunk Werks

This is the most up to date 'Mech creation program, and from the site you can download a metric feth ton of designs. All it takes is the latest version of Java to run it. The entire program (Jave included) is free.

Once you see the units you have, start matching up things by BV. Make nice and balanced forces BY BV first. As you are figuring out variants and such, you'll start to see 'Mechs fitting into categories and you can figure out good pairings from there. Any questions can also be thrown to the Battletech Forums, where a larger BT community resides. Just click the "Fourum" tab from the main page of the Battletech Site.

I like to do it by mission...fire support, scout, assault, defense, etc.

This also seems to be the way you see it in Battletech published scenarios.

You might have a fire lance with 3 Archers and a Marauder for support.

Maybe a scout lance with 2 Locusts, a Wasp, and a Shadowhawk for support.


As far as competitive forces...thats pretty hard to do. Tonnage doesnt work, and even the battle value system is flawed. My advice would be to get ahold of some of the old Battletech scenario books and use the mechs and scenarios they put out. Most of those were tested before being published and are pretty balanced.