/btg/ Battletech General!

How do we Make Battletech Great Again?

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>>53091263
It'll never happen so long as it remains an IP divided.

>>53091313
But how much would it cost to collect all the aspects of it, and who had that kind of money, leading to how could someone with that type of investment make a profit?
My only guess is for someone with a long term plan to make lots of vidya along the lines of a mech version of Cowwa Dooty while maintaining the rest of the franchise.

>>53091343
What about a Battletech GSG?

Honestly, I think the series needs a reboot and new rules. Not Alpha Strike generic wargame stuff, but starting afresh.

>>53091263
You drink the whisky drink, you drink the vodka drink, you drink the lager drink, you drink the cider drink
You read books that remind you of the good times, you read the books that remind you of the better times

>>53091369
Like somebody else said, might as well just make a new franchise at that point.

Personally, I'm for the DA-style time jump with a new tier of tech that makes old tech look like primitive tech in comparison.

That way you can do new rules for new weapons, equipment and movement, what have you. Change the dice, sky's the limit. You can update whatever designs you want to modern aesthetics for their new tech redesign without retroactively fucking stuff up, the same way primitives were redesigned into modern mechs. You're far enough into the future that new people can get attached to a new group of people but the old guard can still have something new to read and recognize old names and places still playing key parts the same way they have for almost a thousand years in setting.

This obsession with wanting to do shit like the Fourth Succession War or the Clan Invasion over and over again just makes me sick. It was loads of fun the first time around, now try something new, like the Jihad. That was fun. Or even the late Dark Age between Scorpion Jar and Bonfire. Pretty good stuff there.

Reboots and halfass retcons are garbage ideas, always. They're just a crutch for someone who's run out of good ideas so they're reaching back for their greatest hits instead.

>>53091462
In game terms, single heat sinks made things more interesting and gave ballistics more of a niche. But more tech and modes balanced around introtech has limited what the game can do and makes things perhaps unnecessarily complex

>>53091515
Honestly, that's FASA's fault with throwing Clantech right to the far end of the curve tech wise. We went from Full Introtech in 85 to Lostech info in 88 and Clan in 90. Nothing really got purely better after that, just waffled around what was already there.

CGL and FASA's need to keep adding new stuff but not fooling with actually making a new tier for everyone fucked them up. That's why you have the complexity, 27 years of dicking around without making things purely better.

Hell, all you need to bring the curves back down are better armor, internals, ECM, and weapons to make up for the difference. If a Gauss Rifle is now the equivalent of an AC5, but the new Super PPC puts out 50 heat, then you start to get the balance back.

Honestly I would love to see how clantech would be balance-wise in a world without DHS

>>53091610
Welcome to all gauss all 24/7, buddy

>>53090809
The ability of the Regulans to get away with that bullshit, even when it killed coalition regiments, will always make me wonder what Regulan was giving Herb a handy under the table.

>>53091944
Have you ever read Stone's secret documents that Levin was going through after he became Exarch in the novels? Stone was full "Murder every last Blakist, no matter the cost." He was secretly patting Titus on the back for taking all the blame for something he considered necessary.

This was all written years before Final Reckoning as well so it's not justification after the fact.

>>53091997
Still doesn't explain why, for example, the Lyrans never did anything about the Regulans nuking the 4th Alliance Guards and 1.3 billion Lyran citizens.

>>53092024
What are the Lyrans going to do? Just waltz through Tamarind Abbey or Marik Stewart who hate them more than anyone on their merry way to Regulus? I think not.

Besides, Poulsbo was under different flags for twelve years prior to that.

>>53092086
To follow this up, compare it to what the Taurians did on places like Brockway and Midale. Not only did they get away with it and the entire Vengeance campaign, but kept those worlds even after the end of the war even into the Dark Age.

The only blowback they had was from mercs going all Death Wish on them, not the Fedsuns government itself.

>>53092130

Feddies invaded the living fuck out of the Taurians, anon. Operation Matador and during the late stages of the Jihad.

The Roughriders single-handedly fucking the Concordat up is a meme.

>>53092163
Reading JHS 3076 and JHS Terra sure felt like the Roughriders were the only ones doing shit, especially with the Taurians running around basically unopposed in the Capellan March.

As far as I can tell though, at the peak of the Taurian invasion, they had eleven worlds conquered, if you count the Pleades as one world anyhow even though it's a lot more. The Fedsuns took three of those back and then eight Taurian worlds.

So they kept most of their gains but lost true blue Taurian worlds to balance it out. Really bizarre that the Fedsuns didn't try to take back their actual worlds.

>>53091610
>fire CERPPC.
>warning buzzers by the hundreds start chirping.
>enemy isn't dead yet, so fire another one.
>mech starts shutting down.
>override.
>desperately fire cersmall laser, hoping enemy mech will fall over out of pity.
>it doesn't.
>mech temp gauge pegged.
>mech is glowing like the sun.
>enemy mech hasn't fired any shots, but is overheating nonetheless.
>he tries to eject but is instantly vaporized by the heat from my mech
>my cooling vest gives out as the inside of my cockpit catches flame

And thus a new binary star system was born.

>>53092843
>fire Heavy Large Laser
>Supernova

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How many minis do you own or want to own?

>>53091103

> give it to me straight my brother
>is BMM (or whatever we're calling the battlemech manual) the reason we cant freaking get TW right now?

No, not that I'm aware of. But I haven't heard of anyone having any troubles finding TW: the box set and TechManual, sure, but TW I thought was readily available still.

>>53090869

Good point: thanks for the fresh eyes on this.

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>>53094038
Pic related is old (and from a phase when I hated finishing basing because invariably people would knock off the basing after three games because they were hamfisted), but I've added another uh... 90, maybe 100, figures to that shot's 240 or so.

>>53092024
Lyrans don't care about people, anon.

>>53091944
Herb was giving himself the handy, he just has this enormous fetish for utterly pointless warcrimes that nobody punishes, and the jihad and DA are his magical realm

>>53095147
Thank fuck he's gone.

>>53091374
>I get knocked down, and I take pilot damage and I can't ever get back up again

>>53092024
>Lierans
>people

>>53094038
>>53094112
This makes me curious how many I have... a lot of mine are Introbox minis. Through some trading I have nearly 3 sets worth. Bunch of other assorted stuff too. I'd guess well over 100 at least. I've never actually counted.

>>53094038
I only bought the 25th anny. starter box, then quickly found out I was the only one in my city that wanted to play.

>>53095257
Yeah, because the post-Herb era where literally nothing happens is so much better

>>53095883
the fact that the rest of the CGL staff are somewhere on a spectrum that runs from lazy to corrupt, does not mean that an era where the game is active but being shat upon was really better.

>>53095956
I'm really at the point where all I have left is this messainic hope for the game where someone in the future will buy out CGL and decide not only to hire competant staff but also pay them well and actually review material through playtesting before its released. Now I don't even think diversification of the IP into other side or sub-games like Alpha Strike is a bad thing as it acts as a steeping stone for newcommers into the game to get their feet wet in the universe and mechs before looking into something more complex. Those people who decide to stay with Alpha Strike wouldn't want to play classic anyway so at least it acts as source of income and miniatures.

>>53096452
Really, I think the best thing that could happen is that someone starts a new game, in a new world, that plays similarly but carries none of the baggage or IP woes that Battletech has. Someone unrelated to the clowns currently mis-managing battletech.

That or Topps takes a more active hand in the IP and reaves the current staff for failing to advance the game in the last five years and gives us a clean start.

>>53094038
>0
I just want for decoration a lance of each class for IS and Clan.
I don't play, megamek with friends is hoenstly good enough for me.

>>53095956
>game being shat upon
Nah, only the turbo nerds got mad at their fictional faction stop existing in the fictional universe

>>53091369
a Battletech grand strat would literally destroy my life, especially if it was some super autistic CKII+HoI 3 combo type game. I thought about making a mod for one of the parajew games but i cant decide which one would be best, Stellaris might work but id also love some of the more family oriented shit in CKII, And thats not to mention the autism in the average HoI 3 game.

>>53096882
>Playing Battletech
>pretending you're not a TurboNerd

>>53094038
I've got about 50 or so, mostly unpainted and about half are plastics. Probably gonna buy a few more though, because I'm a collector and can't help it.

>>53094038
Got about 375 mechs in normal scale plus a handful of tanks, infantry and aero. Got about a fifteen hundred minis in other scales. My goal was to have one of every metal mini+variant including resculpts and con-exclusive stuff plus multiples of the super common stuff like bugs but I haven't bought anything new in a couple years. I got so much unpainted that I'm not in a real rush. I've still literally got a crate of blue, yellow and orange blisters.

>>53094072
We're having a devil of a time getting TW through the usual distributors.

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Marik will rise again!

>>53094038
Maybe 100-150ish. Never got around to counting.

Never bought omnimechs from ironwind before. Is there a way to get all of the extras so I don't have to just build them in prime config? Also are sculpts for the celestials any good or should I 3d print?

>>53100236
You can buy any of the main variant configs for the omnis, or just the variant parts to make your own in the scrapyard section of their site. If you ever have a question on sculpts, then look at camospecs to see what the minis look like.

In my opinion, the Celestials look good. True to the TRO. You can get the Celestials in dominus, infernus etc.

>>53094274
>>53095347
For the record the FWL used WMDs against the Lyran people first, started the Succession Wars on our border, and declined our Archon's offer for peace.

It's the plague pigeons of the League that aren't human and can't be trusted.

>>53100570
>The Lyran merchants and Regulan merchants still haven't realized their biggest threat is Clan Space Jew

As expected of spheroids, quiaff?

>>53100902
neg

>>53091147

Can I join the /btg/ merc unit?

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>>53100902
>tfw you realize the Regulans have been Lyran infiltrators the whole time

Besides Bugs or Archers what would be the most common mechs in the Lyran Commonwealth around 3025-3050?

>>53102701
Griffins, commandos, pixies and maybe thuds

Which faction runs the most highlanders? I must know for science,.

>>53102755
They make all those, right? I actually can't remember where Phoenix Hawks were being manufactured in 3025.

You think a Pixie would make a good lance leader for three Commandos?

>>53103010
House Steiner.

>>53103023
Known factories producing the Pixie in 3025:
Coventry Metal Works - Coventry (LC)
Earthwerks Incorporated - Keystone (FWL)
Achernar BattleMechs - New Avalon (FS)
Gorton, Kingsley, and Thorpe Enterprises - New Oslo (DC)

A Pixie would be a good recon lance leader for a batch of Commandos.

>>53103023
>You think a Pixie would make a good lance leader for three Commandos?
Yeah, it'd be good. Maybe even a captured -K, because the lack of JJs isn't as big a deal when commandos can't jump anyways

>>53103474
I second this, not only will it not matter to lose the JJs it's the command ride and heavy hitter so the extra armor is a plus, and yanking MG ammo is always good pre case.

So how do I get my Grand Titan vengeance to launch nukes in megamek?

>>53104436
You don't.

Scum.

>>53104436
You don't. There was a very small period of time when you could load tacnuke warheads into any artillery and not just Long Toms. TPTB made that illegal literally days after the Regulan Titan came out.

I remember the author of that design being crushed.

>>53104564
>calling me scum for wanting to nuke some blakists

>>53104608

It was only in the fluff, there were never rules. Cray was hoping he'd be allowed to write rules, but Herb said no.

>>53104725
Is Cray still around? I always liked his autistic math stuff. Helped the universe feel more real when it made its way into sourcebooks.

>>53104436
submit a feature request for a non-canon "alternate ammunition in Artillery Cannons" option.

>>53105197

Yes, and patron author of the Belters, a faction that *strangely enough* has tech far in advance of the Star League and Clans combined.

>>53105696
Ah yes, the random """"""hard sci-fi"""""" motherfuckers randomly dropped in the middle of battletech and """ surprisingly """ never mentioned again

>>53105696
>a faction that *strangely enough* has tech far in advance of the Star League and Clans combined.
Is very simple my friend, they infiltrated Pryde Rock Industries and stole the Anti-FASA-nomics forcefield

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>>53094038
>How many minis do you own or want to own?
I've got somewhere between two and three hundred 'Mechs. I lost count a while back when I started casting my own stuff, although I do know I have a little over 150 painted models ready to go. I also have about 50 Robotech Tactics models of assorted types, most unassembled while I work out my magnetized dual 30mm hex/ 40mm round bases. Proof of concept is finished but until I get my FPAs and MPAs sculpted (or released) there's really no point to getting the RRPGT basing right.

On the infantry side, I've got roughly 60 usable 10mm PA models of varying types, three Points of 6mm Ellies, three Points of Protomechs, and a few hundred infantry (many of those are moderns, though, so it's kinda cheating), and a couple Squads of motorized/mechanized infantry. I want to expand the MechInf with GHQ Hiluxes and throw in some proper Dino Cavalry, but they're lower on my priority list than the airbase and my Blakie Level III for the upcoming campaign.

I have about thirty civvie vees, including hovers and cargo trucks. I'm getting a few packs of resin/plastic cars out of China to expand and convert for terrain purposes, and sculpting some Zeon hoverbikes to go with the Gundam models.
On top of that is another 25 Scorpions, two Lances of artillery, fifteen emplacement weapons (that's my current area of focus, so it's going to get a lot bigger very shortly), some twenty Dougram vees, and a couple companies of modern armor (mostly 1980s American, with a little modern Korean/Chinese mixed in). I'm really weak on hovers and have far more armored cars than is entirely sane.

My aerospace wing is weak as Hell - I focus my space efforts on toher games. Just a quad-pack of fleet-scale Leopards, a couple Vigilants I got for free, and a sorta Destroyer/Light Cruiser I bashed out of Stalker parts (I need to take finished pics of it later, it's actually kinda cool-looking). In 'Mech-scale I've got like four fighters and a couple VTOLs.

>>53094072
>I haven't heard of anyone having any troubles finding TW
Went and checked with my LGS today. According to them their distributor has three copies left in the warehouses and lists it as OoP. The store itself has two, both older printings.

>>53100465
>>53100236
the Celestials look good but they're half again the size of pretty much anything else IWM makes; the assault ones are easily as wide as the fucking Ares tripods.

>>53094038
I have somewhere around 500ish mechs, if you count tanks/inf it has to be getting close to 1000. Ive rarely added to my collection for past 10 years, I tend to only get some of new stuff I like. Been trying to paint alot of my unpainted stuff.

>>53104613
Yes, and?

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>>53095741
Are you me?

I guess that's the fate i am bound to suffer being a yuropoor.

looking at the map the closest player is more than 1000km awaylife is suffering ;_;

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>>53094038
I feel like I'm doing pretty good for only playing for little over a year.

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>>53107554
I love mixed unit lances and want to try alpha strike but my local group has interest in neither.

>>53096713
>That or Topps takes a more active hand in the IP and reaves the current staff for failing to advance the game in the last five years and gives us a clean start.

>Implying Topps not giving a fuck isn't the root problem

>>53108245

If Topps did give a shit about anything they'd probably kill the classic game in favour of Alpha Strike though.

Them not giving a shit because the license fees are free money is all that keeps the current version of the game alive.

>>53094038
I got a mess of old Ral Partha minis I want to sell because finances and reasons. The problem is getting to them as they are in storage and if I can't do it on a certain day, they'll be a subject on Pawn Stars or some crap.

>>53106099

Good to know, thanks. I have no word on a new printing, but they often like to make sure that secondary channels are clear a bit before moving on to a new printing. Some areas my still have good amounts (I haven't heard of any price rises on the book, so I suspect there's still lots of copies floating around).

I'd be pretty happy to see a new printing, since there's a decent amount of errata to fold in for it.

>>53094112
This photograph is causing my brain to have a day

>>53091147

>clans are autists

I DEMAND A TRIAL OF GRIEVANCE FOR THIS INSULT

1V1 ME IN MWO YOU PUNY FREEBIRTH SCUM

>>53106099
>>53110466

That's odd as hell. Our local store has been unable to order them for months. We've been doing a lot of book sharing.

>>53110870
I was moving and needed pictures of my miniatures before I packed them away. And because my bedroom was a 15x20 space, I had my gaming table in there. I just had a cat tree blocking a good angle for the shot.

I miss that place so much, because I could leave a long running game set up in one room, and play others in my bedroom.

>>53107313
That's why you have the internet and MegaMek.

live thread

>>53107313
>NEVER OBSOLETE

gets me every god damn time

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>Good luck hitting me, I'm behind 9001 spoofs.

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What would be better, a gauss rifle or a HPPC with a capacitor for the Hunchie?

>>53114479
Gauss is more fitting but boring. I like the idea of a capped HPPC hunchie, it's very thematically drac, and I don't think I've seen it before

>>53113314
>>53114479
I'd fucking kill for the Lyran gauss hunchback to be a mass produced mech.

>>53114932

You'll have your over-skined piece of shit with a standard A/C-20 and one ton of ammo, and you'll like it.

I think a Thunderbolt-20 Hunchback could be pretty cool

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>>53114932
You'll get this and like it.

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>>53115462
Because pic related is TOO GOOD for you.

>>53115453
Fund it.
IE: someone make it since I'm on my phone.

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>>53115516
It's not that useful, since you get 12 shots to a GRs 16.

>>53115587
Thanks, and it's not about being good, it's about a hunchie throwing a mini tomahawk cruise missile at you. Flavorful, like a good cocktail.

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>>53115632
What about 11 heat neutral MLs?

>>53115587
On the other hand, IDF-capable insta-PSR. Nothing ruins a day like getting knocked on your giant robot ass by some shit with a T20 ten blocks away.

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Someone posted this Hunchie...

>>53115651
I don't know if the stats can allow it, but I would allow ES, then remove one HS to put a targeting computer on it if it'll fit.

>>53115892
Short by two tons.

>>53115912
The computer should be three tons, and removing one DHS, and using Endo maybe, I think if the crits allow it, leave you with a half a ton left. IDK.

Would a brace of AC2/5s on a hunchie not a RAC be good flavor or no?
Yes I'm aware it would be awful.

>>53115939
It has two crits left. Where are you gonna put the endo?

>>53115947
As a psuedo swayback maybe, but why not just use a 10, rather than smaller calibers?

>>53115587
Maybe give it a LFE for some extra ammo?

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>>53115976
Bumps up the cost by half again and the BV by 50.

>>53115970
There are already a few 10 variants only reason I thought a lot of little dakka.

>>53115947
It would be pretty thematic if you were to be using one of the fixed AC 2/5 statlines.
Though maybe a brace of LACs would also work

>>53115587
You could remove one or two MLs for extra ammo

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You guys need to get crazier. How about 20 damage at 8/15/25 at a -3 all day long for 1700 BV?

Just don't roll a 2 or a 3.

What on earth is the hyper laser?

>>53116317
The Republic brand Extended Range Extra Large Laser.

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>>53116273
And a more effective if slightly more boring version.

How do you prefer your medium lasers?

ER, pulse or regular?

>>53117139
Yes.
It really depends what you are doing, I guess gun to head I'd say plain jane, something about a weapon thats great in intro and still in DA a damned good weapon is cool.

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Quick question, I may be retarded, but is there a guide online for creating characters in A Time of War?

>>53117624
If you find a guide for MW3 or CBT:RPG you can use the same steps.

Character creation using life path is needlessly complicated and a point-buy system would be leagues better.

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Because bumping, Hunchies and reasons.

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>>53115587
>It's not that useful, since you get 12 shots to a GRs 16.
Honestly, I'd be willing to drop a pair of the MLs to SLs for another ton of ammo. That'd bring you up to 16 shots of much heavier damage, and if you're using this one you don't really need the close combat array to be as heavy anyway.

>>53115947
>Would a brace of AC2/5s on a hunchie not a RAC be good flavor or no?
>Yes I'm aware it would be awful.
A triple LAC-five array actually wouldn't be too bad, and you could jam in another cannon or an MML-rack with a crapload of ammo if you put in an LFE. Even put a cannon in each arm and then do a "main gun" with the third gun and the MMLs.

>>53116317
>What on earth is the hyper laser?
An incredibly stupid idea. It's the HVAC of lasers.

>>53119386
>An incredibly stupid idea. It's the HVAC of lasers.

It's pretty great for mooks though, especially because you can combine it with the pulse pod for only two more heat and zero additional risk. I could imagine Panthers loaded with these things. Barely more dangerous than an ultra on ultra honestly.

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I went ahead and did it just for fun. You can take a 9R, tear out all the weapons, swap to DHS, then stuff everything you need in a replacement right arm. CASEII for the machine to survive inevitable fuckups on the battlefield. No other modifications needed.

>>53119756
What about replacing the CASE with AES, for full-on prototype mech lunacy.

>>53119386
>no ammo, head capper, long range weapon

Hyper lasers fills a niche no other laser do. If wasn't made of exploding things that weapon would be amazing

>>53120867
It explodes because that's what the card did in MWDA.

>>53120867
Ops. It seems I am implying the clan ER PPC is not a thing. But Hyper lasers are more like energy heavy gauss while the ppc is the energy gauss

>>53120867
It only explodes on 2's and 3's. That's what? 1:13? Not terrible when most games are only 12-18 rounds. I use old rapid fire autocannon rules though and those explode or jam on 2's, 3's and 4's. Ultras aren't much better. I'm used to gambling hard.

Also apparently the pulse module doesn't work in megamek with it even though it should by the IOP rules. It connects but the mode won't shift. They should fix that next version.

>>53120781
Bonus, you have a half ton left for armor or a popgun.

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rev up those shitpost im ready to get annhilated

>>53121805
The Seraph Eminus did it better and it didn't even need a clan base model.

>>53121996
i tried to make it IS only, but it would literally only show up in mixed, i mean the T-bolts. Pure clan or pure IS wouldnt show it.

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>>53117139
Heavy.

>>53122035
I can see them fine on my copy of MegamekLab. Just make sure you have the tech level right.

>>53122039
Why not slap improved heavies on it? That way you get rid of the god awful targeting penalty.

>>53122165
It was meant to be a Periphery machine and I figured there was no way you could get iHMLs through the Foxes.

>>53114479
I do wonder why there wasn't an introtech PPC variant for the Hunchie, They did do it later with the -7 series but some reason no one before that though.

>>53124327
Because who makes the Hunchback?
And who was short on PPC's in the 3020's?

I'll give you a hint. They're the same people.

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>>53124358
He-hey?!

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>>53124327
There are a lot of variants that seem obvious but never happened. Like we never got an Introtech SRM Archer to bodyguard for the standard version. I'm not counting the 2S or 2W versions since they are still LRM boats for the most part. I'm talking about stripping the LRMs completely or maybe only downgrading to LRM5s and then using the rest of the tonnage for SRMs.

How would you set up the PPC Hunchie in Introtech? A single PPC to replace the AC/20 and then double up on the Medium Lasers for brawling? Twin PPCs wouldn't be that great because you'd run super hot. This got me thinking though... twin LLas Hunchie? I suppose it just ends up being a not!Crab.

>>53124358
I see Coventry Metal Works having also produced a model of the Hunchback, but it just says "HBK-4" not what actual model, so it could be a Swayback version or the base model. Is that part of the 3039 retcon or... ?

>>53124496
That didn't exist on paper until Handbook:House Steiner. It was one of those early 3060's licensed lines like the Grasshopper line in the Fedsuns.

Kalidasa had the only operational factory in 3025, even with 3039 retcons.

>>53124454
>Like we never got an Introtech SRM Archer to bodyguard for the standard version

Yes we did. It's one of the Archer variants mentioned in some of the earliest material. It just never got a proper record sheet.

>>53124592
Which is it? I don't recall that. "Earliest material" doesn't really tell me much. I would think if it were at all prevalent it'd be in my old copy of 3025 or it'd be on Sarna. 3025 does however state that there are a ton of Archer variants, attempting basically ever weapon config possible, but there isn't, as far as I know, an official Introtech SRM boat Archer. I suppose given what 3025 implies though is enough to handwave it.

>>53124660
It's in one of the early stories about the periphery where some guy tries to bumrush an Archer and when he gets close the missile doors open to reveal SRM's instead of LRM's. Shrapnel maybe?

>>53124679
Fair I suppose, but not really widespread enough to consider. Though again, we got "it just exists" in 3025 so that'll have to do.

>>53124454
> How would you set up the PPC Hunchie in Introtech? A single PPC to replace the AC/20 and then double up on the Medium Lasers for brawling?

probably, I would imagine it would be quite tough one to kill as there is no big AC/20 ammobins going off.

>This got me thinking though... twin LLas Hunchie? I suppose it just ends up being a not!Crab.

Also really neat idea, though it would run considerably hotter. Extra good part would be the survivability would be better than the regular model.

>>53124826
>This got me thinking though... twin LLas Hunchie? I suppose it just ends up being a not!Crab.

>Also really neat idea, though it would run considerably hotter. Extra good part would be the survivability would be better than the regular model.

Wait, can't you replace the AC/20 with 2 LLs, four extra SHS, then use the ammo for either more HS or possibly a couple of JJs? Are you figuring firing the mediums and small along with the LL, or holding off at a distance and using the LLs alone, and then replacing one LL in close combat with the other lasers?

>>53108917
How much are you asking for the lot?

>>53125075
There is some really rare stuff. If I can get access to them I don't want to gouge anybody for two reasons though. Someone tried to paint them for me and did a crap job so I got them to stop. (They literally tried to use paint markers.) Then they tried assembling them with... a freaking hot glue gun.
So the parts are all there and ready to be assembled, except those like old Wasps and Stingers that were molded in one piece. There's a bunch of old Star Trek ships as well, and I think a scant few Renegade Legion things. I don't know what condition they are in though.
All of them come in these old plastic boxes that have little separators in them. I'm thinking somewhere like maybe $500 for the whole lot, including the ST stuff.
It's not that I stopped playing. I love BT, but as I noted, reasons and stuff. Sometimes the die rolls of life don't roll so well for a while. I'll bounce back. Good mercs always do.

>on a whim I go visit SA's AU thread
Where did it go so wrong?

>>53117624
Just remember there is more than one kind of XP and they are all called the same thing in character gen.

>>53126631
?

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Picked up one of these. Wonder if I'll ever have time to build it.

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>>53129173

All the missiles!

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>>53130735
>All the missiles!

Every last one!

>>53091147
If you want to get noobs into Battletech in the first place, maybe show them this video. It is only a basic tutorial, but it explains the fundamental concepts and was done in TTS (which is a lot easier to follow than the 2D mess that is MM)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsOG9w2iD80&

>>53133478
Maybe this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h92N63ElI4s&list=PLmirOw7JCi80G6K0K9dyOZdxbv9tMvLzg&index=27
I know he's... weird, but whatever.

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>>53133478
>If you want to get noobs into Battletech in the first place, maybe show them this video.

But anon, that's not a link to the movie Robot Jox!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUxDmKFCD2o

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Guys question about annoying game breaking units. Things like LAMs, Rifleman IICs and Hellstars, do you use them at all? I use them very sparingly. In fact I found that making them into a type of boss character works really well. When PCs have to have a final challenge, they deal with normal enemies, and maybe the star captain or whatever has something along these lines.
Do you guys occasionally employ annoying or game breaking units? Which units do you find fit this bill?

>>53133478
>Fundamental concepts
"You are going to lose every game you play for the next three months because there is always a niche rule you don't know about that will ruin you."

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Hi. I'm here to ruin your game.

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Working on TRO layout, transcribing stats from SSW, and I was wondering "Why do the TROs have fluff info on the first page, partial stats on the second page, and record sheets on a separate page?" It's a lot of redundant info, and it occupies a lot of space and time to include.

So we were talking about ditching the stats on the side, letting the art occupy a full page, and just including record sheets. CA recommended I put it up for a poll. So, let us know which you prefer, or, if you prefer a third option, what it is.

The main issue with ditching the side stats would be an abundance of white space on those pages for some of the art pieces.

http://www.strawpoll.me/12925952

>>53136104
If the artwork looks like what you've posted then I don't know of its necessarily wasted space. Given that I've been conditioned by other TROs that page would just look empty without the stats.

Also
>that Zeus style MRM

>>53136104
Art and fluff, then stats?

Could be a good setup for a "and then the stats look like this" joke

>>53136104
Do the "Notes:" at the bottom ever include comments *other* than design quirks? Or can that be shortened from
>Notes: Features the following Design Quirks:
to just
>Design Quirks:

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>>53136374
Yes, in fact that annoyed me so I've been doing it the way you proposed instead of the retarded CGL way. I haven't fixed it on all the old sheets yet but the idea is to have it like this

>>53136634
Also the text is blurry cause it's a downsized version of a low rez layout program version.

>>53136634
Um, ER PPCs and stuff, and regular heat sinks?

>>53136902
No, DHS. Good catch!

>>53126660

I think I kind of grasp it now, gonna make some character this week so that when my group does it this weekend I should have it all figured out.

>>53136104
Don't forget to add Location Crit and Tonnage for the MML-7 on the Juzumaru, that was missing in the preview too.

>>53136329
As I pointed out to Muninn elsewhere, it's because of the fabled photocopier. The TROs were a pain in the ass to photocopy (still are to be honest), so the entries had basic stats, with the Record Sheet having the full one.

>that Zeus style MRM
It's the only way to make forearm launchers.

>>53137228
Thanks. I had a bunch of errata notes incorporated but then I lost a bunch of work so some of that stuff is missing again.

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>>53136985
>No, DHS. Good catch!

Emperor's Teeth, Muninn ... your proofreading is as bad as mine!

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>>53136634
>the idea is to have it like this
Makes sense. Is the word "Notes" actually needed though, or would something like this work?

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One more before bed.

>>53134956
I like to use the Gausswall mechs in FedCom units only as Ace/Commander's mechs, and sparingly at that

>>53134956
I find they work well when the path of the characters is not necessarily to win. A ton of people are so used to having some way of outright winning in a straight up fight that concepts like abandoning a base or a fighting withdrawal don't even cross their mind.

When Lord Calvin calls in a special favor from court to reinforce his militia that you've been beating like a Capellan stepchild, and a battalion of the Crushers shows up on your doorstep, you better start rethinking your strategy and double down on the dirty tricks.

So I liked Regulus back in the Jihad, and was happy to see them finally split off. Dropped BT for a while, came back recently after hearing about Alpha Strike, and now Regulus got forced back in somehow? Where can I find some info about that?

>>53139856
The only reference to the Regulan War is the couple small paragraphs of stuff in TRO:3150 talking about how they lost. Total bullshit how it just got thrown out of left field and glossed over.

Basically they just did an Iranian sanctions parody to them for a couple years and then said Regulus surrendered in 3148.

>>53139955
what page?

>>53140006
Open the file and Ctrl-f Regulan. There's only a handful of entries.

S-G Thunderbolt missiles when?

>>53140068
Honestly with AMS this should have been a thing before. T-bolts imho stink and SG would help a touch.

>>53140068
Sure thing buddy, but at only half ammunition per ton AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

>>53140068
never, because SG-TB-20s would be fucking obscene

>>53140110
>1 shot per ton

>>53140068
Because Xotl wouldn't let us add them. Among other ammo types.

>>53140068
I tried, trust me.

We had some other really fun stuff for them, but they wouldn't let us put any of them in the Mech Manual. I hold onto a tiny sliver of hope for later.

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>>53134956
>Do you guys occasionally employ annoying or game breaking units?
Absolutely, although sparingly. I feel like it's important to remember that they exist, but outside of crazy shit like Solaris matches I enforce a "one really goddamned annoying/hardass unit per player" rule in friendly matches. How broad that category is shifts with scenario, equipment, and player experience.

>Which units do you find fit this bill?
First off, ANYTHING WITH LB-20X.
Seriously. Even with the BoD it's so fucking annoying handling the splatter crits. Same thing with designs that mount more than ~20 SRM/MML tubes, that kinda shit.

As an aside, LAMs aren't an issue for me. But if you have problems handling aero and VTOLs you'll have them with LAMs too. It doesn't help that most people don't actually read the rules before trying to take shit like those into the game, and expect their GM/Referee/opponent to handle their fucking rules questions. Every. Single. Turn. For fuck's sake, if you can't play out a full basic turn with a unit type, do NOT take it to the table without the understanding that this is a training match.

On the same front, if everyone's comfortable using Introtech or basic TW stuff in a normal-sized (4-10 models per) game and they want to crank it up to add fire, mines, and arty I'm fine with it. But if we're playing with several players, DA/Jihad-level wanktech, multiple companies, and full-TW unit availability, I really don't want to deal with adding the necessary thirty-forty minutes per turn that alternate weather rules and shit add on to the game unless I'm >really< confident that people know their shit.

I also avoid some of the problem of "Death Star" units by running a lot of historical scenarios. At that point, the sides are more controlled. It's also a lot easier to deal with problem units/rules by sitting everyone down before the game to go over them, or have hand-outs for explaining the weird shit to the newbies.

>>53140068
Only after we get a SAM for them.

>>53140265
we need SAM ammo for regular LRMs, too

>>53140313
Heat seeking kinda sorta does that job. The big thing is a SAM T-bolt (SAT?) would fill the high damage single hit AA role left void since flak AC got changed to do damage in five point clusters.

>>53140372
>>53140313
>>53140265
I think the intent there was to make you have to "work" for the big hits instead of just handing you the Flak bonus. Plus Precision Ammo does do a lot of what a hypothetical SAM would, in getting a big-ass chunk of damage onto a fast target. You pay for the to-hit probability with proximity explosives otherwise. And, of course, "real" missiles are kind of anaethema to the BT setting as far as the devs are concerned.

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bampu

>>53140258
Am I the only one who would call dibs on the Pirate OpFor in this scenario?

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Aero-bump!

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Quick update on the akuma, mainly for the one guy who doesn't like it's TRO artworks clown-like grin.

Acceptable, or back to the drawing board?

>>53144302
I honestly don't know how to improve this, but I will say if I saw that face coming it would intimidate me more than even the old Atlas. Holy hell is that thing living up to its name Akuma. So, I like.

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>>53141939
>Am I the only one who would call dibs on the Pirate OpFor in this scenario?
Absolutely not. People like having a shit-ton of tanks to play with, not to mention being a pirate. I've run it a few times now and never had to fill in on one side or the other for more than a turn or two. Pic is from the 29th, had 4 players and a hell of a lot of fun.

>>53144302
Oh, that's delightful.

>>53121996
Makes me wonder: what if WoB's big thing for their Manei Domini was the ability to build Clan tech in limited numbers? The NAIS apparently could, IIRC. And ComStar did take the biggest haul of Clantech in the invasion on Tukayyid.

So like not the mech designs themselves, but the reactors, engines, weapons and endo-steel.

And so their Celestial series were all MD-Clantech?

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>>53147145
That would have been cool as hell but it also would have triggered too many Clanfags or general anti-WoB types.

>>53147145
That would go against the general CLAN TECH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE REEEE idea the writers have. It's always been a matter of technical expertise, easy access to the materials, and having factories to make it. The Houses should have tooled over some of their factories to Clan tech at the end of the Jihad, but nope, it's the DA. As it is, most of the Clan tech in the DA is still being made with the Clans at the wheel because reasons.

>>53147145
>what if WoB's big thing for their Manei Domini was the ability to build Clan tech in limited numbers

They did do that, but just for weapons and only on Gibson.

>>53147663
I must have forgotten that. Was it mentioned in the Final Reckoning?

>>53147325
What's the mech in the far back right?

>>53150451
Lightray.

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>>53147325
>filename

I suppose it kind of works, but you probably wanted personal, as in describing a feeling of connection, rather than personnel, a noun used for people in an organization.

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>>53150542
A Jewish Penetrator with the AMS circumcised.

>>53150521
Thank you!

>>53150713
Who designed this ugly thing? Who designed most of the 3055 machines?

>>53151967
And people have the audacity to say Dark Age designs are ugly TROs 3055, 3058, and 3060 exist

>>53152368
Dark Age designs are way uglier. Look at the originals and not the tarted-up semi-salvaged stuff in TRO:3075-TRO:3150

Also
>disliking the penetrator

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>>53152368
>>53151967
DA is a different kind of ugly.

>Who designed 3055
It's all there in the credits. Laubenstein was the AD at the time, so ultimate blame falls on him. The color plates were all done with an early paint program by Dana Knutson. The shitty "sketchy" illos were mostly Nielsen's work (based on comparison with his other stuff), while Geier did the much better "glamor shots" in-between chapters. All the VMI stuff was supervised by Miyatake, who was the original designer of the Destroids in Macross.

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>>53152685
Also that illo is from John Paul Loma and I'm not sure how I mixed up the labelling. Ah well.

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Mechwarrior living legends got an update if anyone here cares about vidya gaems. Avar and Xerxes aerospace fighters have been added ontop of a complete overhaul of all aircraft and more.

http://clanjadewolf.net/mwll/
http://clanjadewolf.net/mwll/changelog.txt

>>53152748
Since when did this come back to life? I remember they killed it because MWO was coming out years ago.

>>53152685
>Laubenstein
Isn't he kind of known for somewhat decent art in other aspects?

>>53152795
Bout a year ago? It's a new dev team I think.

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>>53153355
>Isn't he kind of known for somewhat decent art in other aspects?
He's okay, although mostly he works with figure drawing. In the case of 3055, he was already working as the art director, so he was just giving marching orders to the guys doing the lineart. Well, the lineart they hadn't already gotten from VMI, anyway.

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>>53153975
And as you can see, Laubenstein really wasn't the one >directly< responsible for the shitty art. Just the guy who signed off on it. Most of his 'Mech work is clean and characterful, but not especially precise.

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>>53153975
If I remember right he did work for FASA's Star Trek franchise. One supplement had them big hooter chicks in it. I never forgot the art style.

Where can I find descriptions of space boarding actions?

>>53155067
Like in novels and stuff? There's the LAM warship attack in 1st SW. There's the space station fight on Liberty Station in Bonfire. There's the short story about the Blue Star Irregulars where they get in a fender bender with an enemy dropship then board the ship with marines through the resulting breach.

Probably a couple more, but I can't recall well. There's definitely more actual fights on spaceships though, like the Case White story about the Blakist that tried to sabotage the reactor on one of the Comstar ships.

>>53155067
Test of Vengeance has one. So does one of the Twilight of the Clans novels.

>>53155197
I mean Star Seeds, not the Bluestars. The story is Twisting in the Vacuum

>>53155209
>So does one of the Twilight of the Clans novels

See, I remember them capturing a Black Lion, but I don't remember the scene with the troops taking the ship.

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>>53154805
Yeah, he did a bunch of work for them.
He's also responsible for the single most-racist piece of Trek art ever.

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>>53155901
>He's also responsible for the single most-racist piece of Trek art ever.
But isn't that Gene Dingleberry's vision anyway of some people?

>>53155901

What's wrong with that image? It's like a Battletech picture: Davions and Lyrans on the top, FWL in the middle (represented by Regulans, which are the only FWL sub-faction anyone cares about anyway), and the Snakes and Capellans on the bottom where they belong.

There's nothing racist about that.

>Sao-wei Duko Seng: A minor Capellan noble, Sao-wei Seng commanded the Zahn transports used during the Night of Screams. Hailed as a hero of the people by the Strategios for his actions, Seng was secreted away shortly afterward for a lengthy public relations tour, though his current whereabouts are unknown

Daily reminder that burning thousands of your own civilians to death gets you a cushy PR job in the CapCon.

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>>53156133
>represented by Regulans, which are the only FWL sub-faction anyone cares about anyway

dirty
dumb
regulan
scum

>>53155901
Fun fact, the Klingon in that picture is a member of the Federation, because the Klingon Empire collapsed in FASA Trek.

>>53155939
Given that they once had to kick him out of a script meeting because he wouldn't stop talking about Ferengi genitals, and the "Oh Spock, you silly SpaceNigger" moments at the end of pretty much every TOS episode.. yeah. Also he's probably the person who raped Grace Lee Whitney. But still, damn son.

>>53156411
>loony liberal is sex-obsessed racist rapist

hoo boy, his internal conflict must have been nuts

>>53156175
I find it funny that by the time you get to the Dark Age, the Regulans are reasonable and Oriente are a bunch of Machiavellian supervillains.

>>53152795
>>53153409
yes, the new updates have been done by members of the community who have gone to lengths to remain anonymous presumable to avoid the wrath of the pig.

>>53156510
>by the time you get to the Dark Age, the Regulans are reasonable

You clearly haven't been following the DA fluff too closely.

>>53156713
You clearly haven't read the novels.

>>53156722
Cite some sources then

>>53156722
Go read Pandora's Gambit, then the Oriente parts of Target of Opportunity, then the FWL parts of the social stuff around VSD's funeral in Sword of Sedition, and keep on keepin' on until you finish the FWL reunification and the FWL parts of Bonfire.

They're all pretty decent reads too. Pandora's Gambit alone introduces you to all the major players in the FWL and gives you the real story behind them.

There's a lot of stuff going on in the Dark Age sourcebooks that are in-universe misrepresentations much like how you saw in-universe misrepresentations of Vic and Kat in the FCCW when in the novels she was going "I KILLED MOTHER. IT WAS MEEEEEEEE!"

Like Duke Humphreys purposefully makes everyone think he has a napoleon complex and you see that reflected in ER:3145. Which you would think is just a fact if you didn't know better.

>Arundel: The end for the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth began in 3136 when a Cluster
of Spirit Cats landed and claimed Marik.

How did a single Cluster capture Marik?

>Arundel lifted off Marik as part of a small flotilla trying to escape the chaos, with Cockchafer
and Washburn, a Hannibal and a Kuan Ti.

>Cockchafer

These people should be shot

>>53156988
Meant for >>53156890

>>53156988
>novels as primary canon for a wargame

I will never go along with this. I'm not part of this debate, but this idea is just fucking dumb.

>>53157021
If you want perfect sourcebooks, then you need to not have them as in-universe publications. Otherwise you have to perpetuate all the lies told to the rest of the universe.

I think it has a charm to it though. It's why I liked all the articles and mystery of the Jihad.

>>53157044
>It's why I liked all the articles and mystery of the Jihad.

Dear god no, that shit is infuriating.

Personally I would vastly prefer at least "limited omniscience" in TROs and such.

>>53157007
That whole story was Julia's part of Pandora's Gambit.

Basically, it was just the newly-reformed Silverhawks and a small militia holding it because Anton was setting up to move his capital. Oriente launches an invasion and takes all the surrounding worlds to starve them of reinforcements. Their plan was to let the Marik-Stewart and Clanner forces wipe each other out, then mop up and claim victory.

Instead, the Spirit Cats hire the Space Jews for reinforcements and they wind up winning. So Julia makes a peace deal with the clanners to a partial claim on Marik and leaves them there.

The Captain GMILF just considers them a free garrison that does what she wants, lets her have Marik on paper for legitimacy and keeps the world from falling into the hands of her competitors. She fully intended to wipe them out once she consolidated her position. They wind up working for her directly instead for even more land and favors when she realizes she can't take Atreus from the Regulans on her own.

>>53157007
>Cockchafer
Ahem... it's a kind of beetle. http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=31063.msg722253#msg722253

>>53157153
>Captain GMILF

Sadly, the Regulans assassinated her.

Happily, this led to them getting the thrashing they deserve.

>>53159208
Not really. She should have known not to mess with the Regulans after what happened the first time she fucked with them and Lester retaliated by killing half her children. I don't know what she thought the end result would be of blockading them for years on end, but hoping they'd go quietly is silly. Knowing her, she was probably just hitting Lester right where it hurt him most since his greatest dream was to restore the premier trade status of Regulus as the merchants of the stars. She made him watch his realm wither and their products pile up on the spaceport docks with nowhere to go.

Of course I guess she was right in the end. The Regulans didn't seem to put up much of a fight when it came down to it. It doesn't exactly make sense from what little we know, but I think CGL was anxious to wrap up the FWL coming back together for the big fight against the Wolf Empire coming up so they rushed it.

I'm honestly more surprised Nicole hasn't had the whole new FWL fall apart around her ears now that her mother's gone. She's not nearly as cunning or evil or thicc as her mother. My bet would be Thaddeus helping prop them up. The man has a ton of experience in upper level government and intrigue.

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Is there something extra high tech about BT autocannons that makes them so heavy? The reason is I always wanted something like pic related, but without it being 80 freaking tons like the Partisan.
What is the difference between the 23mm guns on this, or the 32 mm guns on the ZSU 32-2 and say an AC/2?

>>53159816
Those things only qualify as light rifles in Battletech. They don't even scratch mech armor. And that's saying something when even infantry knockoff Space M16's can do half a point of damage.

Autocannons are plain higher tech.

Best way to mimic them is probably just using one of the machine gun based tanks and playing with LoS brackets.

>>53094038
I own none. I would like to own some.

>>53159744
Thaddeus is dead, hard to see him doing much to help.

>>53159839
>Those things only qualify as light rifles in Battletech. They don't even scratch mech armor. And that's saying something when even infantry knockoff Space M16's can do half a point of damage.

See, this? This is completely moronic. How does anyone fucking survive infantry combat?

>>53160636
In the old days they didn't, at least not the rifle grunts. Like that one flashback Masters has from Anton's Revolt where the bullets just ping off his armor and he mows down several platoons with the MG's in his Pixie. You had to have lasers and jump packs or be full Gray Death to live.

It's why the Davions were noted for their heavy use of infantry. Most other people just didn't bother with all the transport hassle. They were militia and specops 99% of the time. It's one of the things that made Elementals so fucking terrifying when they made their debut.

>>53160611
Oh yeah. I forgot they killed him off in Bonfire.

>>53160636
>>53159816

>How does anyone fucking survive infantry combat?
The usual answer seems to be "not."

As for the ACs, when I do a bit of math, the ammo seems to be extremely heavy. A ton of AC20 ammo serves for five salvos - if they were single shot, they would mass 200 kilos each, way more than your usual contemporary tank gun shell despite similar projectile diameters. Even if it fires a 5-round burst it's well above at 40kg/shot. With 10-round bursts we'd get somewhere.

Heavy projectiles are one side of the equation, but they need heavy powder loads too.

And the gun has to handle all that - on rapid fire, where heat dissipation becomes an issue and more mass can simply soak up more heat before the gun becomes unsafe.

>>53160739
You would think then that rifle grunts wouldn't even try to fight a mech, if they can't hurt it and they're gonna lose 60 guys in the meantime.

>>53160891
Their main hope was to be beneath notice and hang around like vultures to pick off crippled enemies. Remember a ton of the Dispossessed would sign up as infantry in the hope of staking claim to an enemy machine and getting the sweet title and lands that went with it.

Other than that, there's the normal infantry security and urban roles that's needed even in the 31st century.

>>53160987
>Other than that, there's the normal infantry security and urban roles that's needed even in the 31st century.

Yeah, sure, but those guys should just surrender as soon as a Mech looks at them.

As for Dispossessed, well, there can't be enough of them running around to provide whole platoons per battle.

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I'm really liking the latest release for MekHQ, lots of bug fixes and new features.

>>53159816
>Is there something extra high tech about BT autocannons that makes them so heavy?
Yeah. An autocannon isn't just a gun, it's a tightly packed bundle of precision machinery that can do the job of several humans all at once. You have something like:

>A cannon barrel or barrels
>A breech that can be opened and closed rapidly, yet locked securely
>An autoloader to feed the shells into the breech
>An ejection mechanism to dump shell casings or clear jams
>A recoil buffers to absorb the shock of firing

And that's just the weapon itself, that doesn't include:

>An armoured mantlet or sheath that protects the weapon where it protrudes from the mech's armour.
>A flexible ammo belt or other connection between the gun and it's ammo bin. (On an AC20 this part alone would be massive, complicated and heavy. Maybe heavier than anything else on this list)
>A series of actuators which allow the weapon to gimbal up/down/left/right internally, for stabilization and fine aim adjustment.
>Coolant shrouds and tubing that transfers heat from the weapon to heat sinks mounted elsewhere
>Electrical connections and motors required to power and control everything above.
>EMP/thermal/chemical/water proofing for everything above.
>Shock proofing for everything above so that you can mount it in a giant walking robot without any of the parts bending, shifting, breaking or exploding unintentionally when the giant robot does giant robot things.

By comparison a 120mm cannon mounted on an IRL tank weighs about 1.25 tons but is just a steel tube without a loading or aiming mechanism. Factor that other stuff in and the weight rises dramatically. Battletech numbers are pretty wonky across the board and basic autocannons are probably overweight and oversized in terms of crits. But this should give you an idea of why weapons and ammo bins are so heavy, even accounting for how light battletech materials are.

>>53161272
Okay now this makes sense to me. I mean, 12 tons for an AC/10? I don't exactly know what size that is in modern shells, but I thought that was a bit much, and an AC/2? Forget it. I always wanted an ZSU 23-4 or an ZSU 32-2 for science reasons.
A real 120mm cannon only weighs about 2500 pounds (unless you're stating metric)? Whoa.
Anyhow, thanks a bunch.

>>53159816
Straight up, AC/2 and 5s are much heavier than they should be because they weren't written with the intention of being balanced with other weapons; a balanced AC/2 would weigh about two tons
When you so that, cramming four into a 2/3 20 ton tank with thin armor is actually possible

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>>53162077
>When you do that, cramming four into a 2/3 20 ton tank with thin armor is actually possible.
One can only dream, anon. One can only dream.

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Nothing like a missile swarm first thing in the morning.

>>53161813
>I always wanted an ZSU 23-4 or an ZSU 32-2 for science reasons.
You can do a reasonable replication of the ZSU-57-2 with canon ACs, but otherwise you're SOL without using homebrew AC fixes (which you should)

>>53161813
You're comparing a tank-mounted cannon to a BT autocannon. Several key differences. BT ACs are:
-Autoloading (not many tank cannons can do this)
-Rapid firing (each burst fires a number of shells roughly equivalent to their size)
Incorporate automatic ammunition feeding and magazine adjustment without human intervention (not many tank cannons can do this)
-Capable of using ammunition from different manufacturers and sizes in an appropriate range with no/minimal modification.

The autoloading and ejection systems would be a significant chunk of that weight I wager.

>>53164644
And this makes me a sad panda.

>>53164883
This clears things up even more for me. Thanks.
However, is there also a weight issue in the cannon itself or in the individual bins of ammo that allows for say, having one AC ammo bin in a leg and another in an arm, and that taking up extra weight?

>>53165167
Well presumably part of the weight of any ammunition-dependent weapon is the feeding mechanism which may be simple or complicated as the design sees fit. The ammo bin's weight is the ammunition and the appropriate storage and egress point, along with structural changes for allowing ammunition ejection.

This is why one-shot weapons are lighter than a regular launcher.

>>53165340
For "SCIENCE!" reasons, is it possible to make a one-shot Arrow launcher with one single nuke, or is it just better to load one shot and leave the other four rounds empty or something?

>>53165340
>This is why one-shot weapons are lighter than a regular launcher.
They're a half ton heavier, what are you talking about? iOS are the same tonnage.

>>53165467
No, in theory anyway. There isn't an OS Arrow IV to do it with, and a Davy Crockett is one shot per ton, rather than five. The point's moot because very few factions would deploy Davy Crocketts for anything less than total annihilation otherwise.

>>53165558
>No, in theory anyway. There isn't an OS Arrow IV to do it with, and a Davy Crockett is one shot per ton, rather than five. The point's moot because very few factions would deploy Davy Crocketts for anything less than total annihilation otherwise.

Ah hell. I wanted to do a scenario where a rogue unit uses a supply of nukes as a hook.

>>53165590
There's nothing stopping you. Every major IS power has a nuclear stockpile, and that exact plot happened in canon. You'll just have to pick mechs with more than one ton of AIV.

>>53165590
>Ah hell. I wanted to do a scenario where a rogue unit uses a supply of nukes as a hook.

Why not just custom-build them? Since you're firing a nuke you need little targeting information (you're hitting ground), a single heavy missile, and range. Why not use a OS Thunderbolt like a Tbolt 15?

>>53165558
>iOS are the same tonnage.

No, iOS are a half-ton lighter.

>>53165716
>No, iOS are a half-ton lighter.
I must commit sudoku, I forgot they started from the weapon itself, rather than the insanity of standard OS.

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>>53165706
Thank you. I will do just that.
Side question though, can a fusion reactor be set to go critical as well by remote? I want to use that as something the bad guys do to hide their location from time to time.

>>53165716
>Why not just custom-build them? Since you're firing a nuke you need little targeting information (you're hitting ground), a single heavy missile, and range. Why not use a OS Thunderbolt like a Tbolt 15?
You can do that other than a standard unit? How? Can a SCUD be made with a Tbolt 20 launcher or something?

>>53165784
>Side question though, can a fusion reactor be set to go critical as well by remote? I want to use that as something the bad guys do to hide their location from time to time.
Self Destruction is on page 78 of TO, though you can't do it by remote by RAW, though I wouldn't disallow the option, and a Booby Trap does something similar.

>>53165832
Fantastic!
>warcrimescontinues.jpg

What about an Artillery trailer from 3145 Mercs?

>>53165848
Good luck.

>>53166079
6 shots of nukes. Go nuts.

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>>53165784
>You can do that other than a standard unit? How? Can a SCUD be made with a Tbolt 20 launcher or something?

Probably. I have little knowledge of real-world weapons and military, but I think if you set aside 12.5 tons for an OS Thunderbolt 15 that fired like an artillery weapon, and you're players were okay with it being an ad-hoc Davy-Crockett nuke launcher that would be fine. 12 tons is to the point where much of the 'mech is built around that tool (unless you're DIRTY DUMB CLAN SCUM or an assault mech) so you could likely balance it out. If you worry about balance, 1. Its a fucking nuke and 2. Go up to the Tbolt 20. It's your game anon, do whats fun and makes sense!

>>53166609

Oh and I forgot- in the games rules, only an Arrow IV can fire a nuke round, but when you consider the Thunderbolt 20 fires a missile for the SAME damage, but far less range at only 3 rounds per ton versus the Arrow IV's 5, I don't see why you couldn't. Hell, the Thunderbolt 15 still has worse ammo endurance.

>>53161067
>Yeah, sure, but those guys should just surrender as soon as a Mech looks at them.

They probably are too busy puking their guts out and clawing at their faces as any mech's regular electronic warfare radiation slowly cooks their insides... You're either fully shielded, like Jihad-era Liao infantry, or you plain don't operate around mechs.

>>53166609
Thank you. I will do what needs to be done. And I will call it, the Nuclear Potato! If anybody gets that reference, ha!

>>53166863
[Citation Needed]

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>>53167555

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>>53166609
Technically a SCUD is a Cruise Missile launcher, but those are fine on trailers or Support Vees, and relatively easy ot design around.

>>53167614
So your headcanon based entirely on another anon's headcanon with no canon fluff OR crunch support?
Might as well cite Pryde Rock Industries while you're at it

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>>53167799
You've wasted trips and double dubs being illiterate. Jesus.

>>53167799
He cites ER 2750, dude.

Potentially dangerous question here, but how has the Magistracy functioned as a government for so long?

For another game a friend and I were seeking to develop a matriarchy for a major role. I decided to use the Magistracy as a basis since there are no real life matriarchies and we both have BT experience. But reading into the Magistracy's fluff... it doesn't add up.

It never adds up or explains why it functions. Why half the population is happy to be second to the other half.
And the more recent in fluff you go, the worse it gets. The books stop pussing out of the older fluff's stances on men's rights and saying men can vote, serve in high ranks of the military, own property, etc.

Is it one of those things like "everyone uses mechs just because" and "accept the short ranges, there are reasons"?

Is it just "the Magistracy is a matriarchy only because the Magestrix is only ever female because reasons" and that's it?

How could we fix the Magistracy fluff-wise to make it a real matriarchy?

>>53091147
Give me all your Shadowhawks, /btg/. Stats and pictures. I have a need.

>>53169010
it was never a real matriarchy, it was a pretty average battletech neo-feudal place with a slight cultural sexism towards men. that's it

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Question, since I'm not fully caught up with the progress of built for war. Is this thing, the big one in front called the Concussion, going to be in built for war?

The artist claims they do almost all their BT stuff on commission and several mention an unnamed fan TRO, and I was wondering if that was BfW or not. I need this mech in my life and I'll stat it myself if I have to.

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>>53169176
Ha ha, time for rokkits.

>>53169280
No, that's someone's fan design that isn't in the /btg/RO.

>>53169280
No

I'm a friend of the guy who commissioned the art after he made the model (take the CAV Concussion, and put the fafnir torso guns on it)

>>53166640
TBolt, by the line of sight range rules, can also reach its target way, way faster. Instead of waiting turns for the artillery to arrive, it hits seconds after it fires, potentially up to miles away. So all the extra weight per missile must be dedicated to one hell of a rocket motor.

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>>53169176
In game this looks just a little different than the old Dougram / Shad. Don't ask the history behind this weird thing.

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>>53169176
>Give me all your Shadowhawks, /btg/. Stats and pictures. I have a need.
For starters, a fairly nasty one I did up for "Death's Head" Vang.

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>>53169793
Same design cleaned up for IntroTech.

>>53169176
How viable is giving a hatchet or a sword to a Shad?

I want to make a CQB one with an LBX and some SRMs. Maybe a laser to give me versatility and at least one ammo-less ranged option.

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>>53169913

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>>53169929
>How viable is giving a hatchet or a sword to a Shad?
Let me answer your question with a question. Have you ever used the Nightsky?

>>53170049
Never heard of it, but I am intrigued.

This may be my favorite troll, or it may be an earnest opinion, I've said it so many times I feel like its a joke:

The key to saving battletech is to make things SMALLER.

Show battlearmor as the new infantry standard, with battletechs as slow, lumbering bohemoths struggling to remain relevant as patriotic symbols of old glory. Introduce Hyper Advanced Protomechs, 2 for the price of 1 or 3 for a Dollar, and unleash a smorgishboard of battle armor.

>>53170049
Never seen this pic of the Shad. Nice.

>>53170344
Or, if you don't like protomechs, Hyper Advanced Lights. If mechs want to survive, they have got to get smaller and more compact.

Combat should be far more lethal in this new era, with even large mechs like assualts going down in 4 or 5 weapon hits.

Make weapons that REDUCE heat, introduce exotics such as anti-matter. Have exotic engines that run faster and do more damage with energy weapons the more heat they have, but which risk straticophic failure and damage to the mech.

>>53170344
>>53170450
so in other words make it 40K

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>>53170049
You made me go to Pixiv to look for Dougram pics. I hope you're happy.

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>>53170441
>Never seen this pic of the Shad. Nice.
JP fanart from Pixiv, The Dougram tag is the shit.

>>53170074
>Never heard of it, but I am intrigued.
From 3055. It's a 50-tonner hatchetmech with either a damned nasty Pulse array and jump jets, or some pretty brutal skirmishing arrays. With TSM it's pretty much perfect, but sadly it doesn't pick that up until the late FCCW. Still, it's one of the best all-around Mediums the FedCom ever got, and I love both of mine to death.

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new thread
>>53170833
>>53170829
I'm telling the booru guy about this. He'll be busy with this for a while.

>>53170829
>>53169929
Anywho, to wrap this up - I've made a couple custom Shads in campaigns with hatchets. My preferred model uses an XL, LB-5X, either an SRM-6 or MML-5 depending on the era, and a couple Mediums or an LPPC in the off-arm. Add TSM and engine swaps to taste, or fiddle with the missiles depending on exactly how much protection you feel like having. You can also add on IJJs if you're a dick and/or a Blakie.

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>>53170864
>I'm telling the booru guy about this. He'll be busy with this for a while.
Make sure he sees the rest of the tags. there's some baller shit in the Macross community as well.

New thread
>>53170833

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>>53171005
That is going to help! Thanks! I can't read moon runes.

>>53170529

Well, 40K's a lot more popular, so it must be better for a reason.

>>53170344
>>53170450
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

This started as me holding down the A key on accident, but I feel it's appropriate