Let's Play Together: GM'd Battletech via Megamek

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:51 pm

gbasden wrote:How tall is the building in 1216? I can't read the height. I'm guessing it would block sight to the MG turret from 1716?

It's height 3. You will be able to shoot at the MG turret from 1716, as you'll be effectively at height 4.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:31 pm

Madmarcus (and everyone else): A note on your move - I read the rules again, and it looks like flamers and machine guns only do the 4d6/2d6 damage to infantry not inside buildings. If an infantry unit is inside a building, the weapon does standard damage and some percentage of it is passed on to the infantry unit.

That being said, you can still set the building on fire (almost guaranteed at a 3+, according to some arcane table), which will automatically do damage to any units inside and also will kill infantry outright unless they roll an 8+ on a 2d6. So it's still a pretty good move.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:55 pm

OK, I'll jump to 1716 and fire the large laser at the MG turret.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:24 pm

Ok, I'll set the building on fire then. I'm skipping the laser this turn to reduce heat.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:11 pm

Gbasden jumps over to the north side of the hill and opens up with the large laser on the machinegun turret, inflicting damage on one of the weapons' ammo feeds. The operator will be spending the next turn scrambling to unjam it.

Isgrimnur takes some SRM's from the Saracen and Warrior attack helicopter, which throws off his aim so his PPC and LRM impact the woods instead of the Saracen. Armor holds fine though.

Madmarcus jumps right up to the southern infantry platoon. The flamer attack sets the building on fire and prevents them from getting an effective shot. He follows up with two punches to the building, with the debris killing two of the troopers. The rest mount up and book it out into the open, hanging on to their light hovercraft transports for dear life.

El Guapo walks northeast and takes a large laser shot at the Skulker, removing one of the wheels.

"Searching outlying southwest building", the Maxim calls out, then follows up shortly with. "Whoa, we got a hovertank trying to make friends!"

The enemy vehicles start making the somewhat treacherous descent down the hill to the base intersection. The Pegasus gets a little overexcited and side slips a little too far, going off the cliff edge and shattering to bits on the bridge below.

Raw firing and heat data:

Spoiler:

"Gonna be another twenty seconds for air support, little bit of a *grunt* *crackle* party going on here." Chimes in the air support.

Beta lance, place your orders. Be aware that enemy reinforcements from the northeast will arrive at the beginning of next turn. Air recon reported that this batch is all fast-moving hovercraft.

Mechanical note: smoke in 0920 acts like light woods for purposes of LOS and to-hit difficulty.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:30 pm

I said that I would back up, so I should be facing the other direction, FWIW.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:44 am

El Guapo wrote:I said that I would back up, so I should be facing the other direction, FWIW.

Can't back up down hills, unfortunately.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:51 am

NickAragua wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I said that I would back up, so I should be facing the other direction, FWIW.
Can't back up down hills, unfortunately.

Seems like 24th+ century mechs should be able to walk backwards downhill.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:02 am

I'm going to turn around and walk back to 2020.

Feel free to adjust this if there are better / more sensible hit percentages, but I'm planning on shooting the Scorpion (ML) tank at 1519 with my medium lasers (how ironic), and shoot my large laser and LRM5 at the Scorpion Light Tank (standard). Thought about shooting the large laser + LRM at the MG turret, but the Scorpion seems a little more dangerous (MG + AC/5 > 3 MGs), and I'm more likely to disable it (plus it's a little bit closer).

Pretty sure that works with LOS rules since I'll be at level 8 (battlemech standing on level 6) and there is no intervening terrain of 8+

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:08 am

El Guapo wrote:
NickAragua wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I said that I would back up, so I should be facing the other direction, FWIW.
Can't back up down hills, unfortunately.
Seems like 24th+ century mechs should be able to walk backwards downhill.

Backwards, though! It's impossible, I tell you!

Actually, there is an optional rule, which I didn't turn on this time around, whereby you can try to walk backwards up or down a hill. It just, uh, requires a piloting skill roll.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:09 am

Aren't there any field technicians that can patch up a gyro system, incidentally?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:10 am

El Guapo wrote:Aren't there any field technicians that can patch up a gyro system, incidentally?

We should have probably sprung for the gyro gnomes.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:43 am

Three forward to 0713, facing change or torso twist, depending on 'stuck roll', to 0714, engage the Saracen at 0718.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 2:26 am

Ugh. I'm really struggling with what to do. I could jump back up into the water and unload on the MG turret, or I could move into the center and make myself a target so that the firestarter could light up those infantry.

I guess I shouldn't be playing things safe at this point. I could jump to 1415, shoot some medium lasers at the helo and target the large laser at the MG Turret. If that seems suicidal, the other alternative would be to jump back into the water at 1818 and unload the large laser at the helo and the LRMs at the MG turret and try to work my way around the bottom of the board. What do you guys think?

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 6:15 am

If it helps any I'm in a similar bind. I'd like to flame the infantry (or perhaps flush out the other infantry) but I don't want to stand still as a target for the Scorpion at 1217.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:23 am

For reference, the Scorpion at 1217 only has an AC/5 and a machinegun (6 points of damage output). Also, if you jump pretty close to it, it'll take minimum range penalties. The Scorpion and Skulker pair at 1519 has 4 medium lasers between them (20 points damage output), making them more of a threat.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 1:38 pm

I guess I just need to sack up - I'll jump to 1619 and hit the Scorpion in 1519 with the large laser and 2 medium lasers. If it survives, I'll kick it, otherwise I'll kick the skulker.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 2:10 pm

I hate to be the first one to hold things up but I didn't get my move in this morning before work and I can't see the map from work. Even worse; today is the day I have to be at a late meeting an hour away from home. I might be able to send something in or I might have to wait until tomorrow before work.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 2:12 pm

gbasden wrote:I guess I just need to sack up - I'll jump to 1619 and hit the Scorpion in 1519 with the large laser and 2 medium lasers. If it survives, I'll kick it, otherwise I'll kick the skulker.

If it matters I am also shooting at that Scorpion (and at the other Scorpion down the road as well).

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:32 pm

El Guapo wrote:
gbasden wrote:I guess I just need to sack up - I'll jump to 1619 and hit the Scorpion in 1519 with the large laser and 2 medium lasers. If it survives, I'll kick it, otherwise I'll kick the skulker.
If it matters I am also shooting at that Scorpion (and at the other Scorpion down the road as well).

Oh, right. Gah!

OK, I'll large laser the attack helo and use two medium lasers at the scorpion to help it along.

I need about 10 more heat sinks. :/

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:28 am

Sorry all.

Stand still. Large laser at the tank in 718, flammer and both small lasers at the infantry at 1218. If I can not target the tank I'll use the laser on the vehicle at 1217.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:14 am

Madmarcus wrote:Sorry all.

Stand still. Large laser at the tank in 718, flammer and both small lasers at the infantry at 1218. If I can not target the tank I'll use the laser on the vehicle at 1217.

Are you sure? You're going to get pounded pretty hard and the infantry will be pretty safe from the Saracen in the building.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:23 am

This is where not being able to see the images at work is killing me. When I looked this morning I thought that I would be hidden from most vehicles. I was making the assumption that the AI would target the Maxim and not me. If the tank at 718 targets me I would get pounded. I don't like making people wait longer but I won't be able to see the map until at least 1:45.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:38 am

As it stands currently, pretty much every mobile enemy unit has LOS on you:
The Saracen will be shooting at you at 11+ (LRM10), 7+ (3x SRM2)
The infantry in front of you will be shooting at you at 6+ (~9 damage if they hit)
The Skulker will be shooting at you at 9+ (medium laser)

As it turns out, the Scorpions have better odds on gbasden, so they'll be shooting at him instead.

Also, your flamer is at 9+ to hit on the infantry (4 gunnery, + 4 long range, +1 target movement 3-4 hexes). Large laser vs the Saracen hits on 6+ (4 base, +1 target movement, +1 secondary target)

So, it's not as bad as I initially thought, but it's still pretty risky.

Would it help if I hosted the images on dropbox or something other than imgur?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:54 am

Infantry does 9 damage? That seems high against a gigantic war machine. What are they firing?

Side question: can we just step on infantry?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 11:03 am

El Guapo wrote:Infantry does 9 damage? That seems high against a gigantic war machine. What are they firing?

Side question: can we just step on infantry?

These guys are equipped with Farshot LRM Launchers and auto-rifles. The damage is .504 damage per trooper

. That squad is down to 18 guys, so it's about 9 damage. There's some arcane formula for determining infantry damage, but I'm just having leaving it to Megamek to compute.

You can definitely step on them. As it turns out though, they don't just all file under your mech's foot, so you'll be dealing kick damage / 10 (x2 because these are mechanized infantry and x2 because they're out in the open currently).

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:31 pm

NickAragua wrote:[ As it turns out though, they don't just all file under your mech's foot

Rude.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:43 pm

Thanks for the offer of switching the hosting. Work blocks dropbox and google drive also. I can get to Flickr but can't log in so I don't know if I could see things from there. BTW, on my phone I basically can't read the heights or hex numbers.

If I jump to 1215 (N of a building and SSW of the helo) can the tank S of that building target me? I know that the Scorpion to the SSE can? Even if the tank can fire over the building I think that is a plan. Take the better of the large laser shots - either the helo of the Scorpion to the SSE.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:44 pm

El Guapo wrote:
NickAragua wrote:[ As it turns out though, they don't just all file under your mech's foot
Rude.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 3:17 pm

I'll try cross-posting to Flickr.

[edit]
The tank can't target you, because it's right next to the elevation difference.

Also, Isgrimnur, I apologize, as I didn't see it earlier, but you're unable to target the Saracen - it's at height -1, directly in front of a height 0 hex, so it's completely obscured.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 4:50 pm

Turn 3:
Isgrimnur moves along the south side of the hill, managing to avoid getting stuck in the swamp. His quarry, the Saracen, hops out of sight, so he choses to fire at the MG turret, sparing a small laser for the infantry-inhabited building in front of him. He takes some fire from the infantry, but the damage is superficial. The machine gun turret has another barrel jam.

El Guapo heads back up to the top of "vehicle hill", opening up with all his weapons on the Scorpion tanks in LOS. The AC/5 turret draws a bead on him as he's coming up and let's off a salvo. The AC/5 rounds throw off his aim and the only shots he lands are the LRM salvo on the standard Scorpion.

Gbasden jumps to the northern top side of "vehicle hill", reconsidering his landing spot slightly to save a little heat. The helicopter is impossible to hit (14+), so the large laser goes at the center-of-town Scorpion, while medium lasers zap at the ML Scorpion. He avoids the return fire and scores a major hit on the standard Scorpion's treads, basically fusing them to the pavement it's on, then breaches the ML Scorpion's right side armor with a medium laser and follows up with a boot to the Skulker - armor holds, but the crew is knocked around a bit. The ML Scorpion "lowers barrels" and speeds off as fast as possible.

Madmarcus jumps over to the helicopter, but finds himself unable to hit it (14+), so aims the large laser at the Scorpion ML instead. He dodges all incoming fire, including a laser from the Skulker and some SRMs from the helicopter, but misses with the laser.

The Maxim circles around the swamp to the south and opens up on the Saracen and MG Turret. The jump platoon enters one of the target buildings. "Negative on the target. Moving on to next location. We're taking casualties, but still combat effective." They take some fire while searching the building, losing three men, but delivering some punishment in return. Between the jump platoon and the Maxim, the Saracen is pelted with ordnance and loses all motive power. With smoke pouring out, the crew bails.

Raw firing and heat data:

Spoiler:

Last one is the "isometric" view. Do you guys prefer that or the flat view?

A lance of enemy hovercraft moves in from the northeast and worries Isgrimnur. The flushed-out infantry run for the brown building and set up there. The only remaining active vehicle within the base is the Skulker, and the crew is still trying to recover from the concussions delivered by gbasden's boot. El Guapo's center torso armor is looking a little thin (5 points left). The helicopter has a little trouble controlling its flight path and winds up much further from the center of the action than intended. Well, at least he didn't crash into any buildings.

"This is search and rescue, moving on to 1017. ETA, 20 seconds (two turns). If you guys could have those machine guns quieted down by the time we get there, that'd be great."

As a note, the ML Scorpion's armor is breached. Since it's following "forced withdrawal" rules, it won't fire at you guys any more unless fired upon first. The immobile ones are also "weapons down".

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:08 pm

I like the isometric for easier LOS determination.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:14 pm

If I jump to 0915, I should be able to engage the turret with everything but the PPC, yes? If I need a space of separation for the LRMs, will 0717 work?

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:44 pm

Could I see the MG turret from 1218? I can't tell if it's higher than the building next to it. Also, does the infantry have a harder time hitting with those LRMs if you close adjacent, or do the auto rifles do the same damage?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:22 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:If I jump to 0915, I should be able to engage the turret with everything but the PPC, yes? If I need a space of separation for the LRMs, will 0717 work?

"Minimum range" just means it's harder to hit your target at +1 per hex inside minimum range. So if you're firing your PPC at something two hexes away, that's a +1 (min range 3). Firing LRMs at something two hexes away is a whopping +4 (6 minimum range). You'll be looking at 4 with the PPC (4 + 3 for jumping + 1 for min range - 4 for immobile target). Pretty good odds.

Jumping to 0915 is one of those "go big or go home" moves. It's a building with a CF of 49, which is just 4 points more than your mech's 45 ton weight. The CF reaches 44, that building collapses. The bad part: you'd take damage from the collapsing building and from falling. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 points from the collapse and 10 points from the fall. Also, you'll wind up on the ground. The good part: the infantry will die instantaneously. You'd be able to kick the building while standing on top of it.

0717 is a much less risky move but also works.

gbasden wrote:Could I see the MG turret from 1218? I can't tell if it's higher than the building next to it. Also, does the infantry have a harder time hitting with those LRMs if you close adjacent, or do the auto rifles do the same damage?

Yes, you can target the MG turret from 1218. Infantry LRMs (these ones, anyway) don't have a minimum range, they have the same range brackets as a medium laser.

The MG building has 13 CF left and then it's rubble, so you guys should try not to overkill it too much.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:35 pm

I couldn't read the tiny numbers on the phone. Jump to 0916 was the intent.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:40 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:I couldn't read the tiny numbers on the phone. Jump to 0916 was the intent.

Awww. Would have been pretty awesome, though. If you're targeting an adjacent building, you auto-hit.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:34 pm

As much fun as stomping a building to death is, I've got a squad of enemies coming in on my six, so I'd rather keep as much damage as I can for that inevitable fight.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:23 am

Has the building in 1216 taken any damage? If I jumped next to it and lasered it/kicked it, would I do anything appreciable besides take a brace of missiles to the face? I'm lacking good flaming weapons. I guess I could death from above as you noted, but that seems a bit reckless.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 1:00 pm

Nope, it's completely intact, and has 84 CF. So, you could collapse it if you jumped on it and kicked it (and had someone else shoot it as well, your kick would only do 13 damage and you can't attack your own hex).

Based on my recent observations and reading of the rules, the way attacks against infantry in *buildings* work is you apply normal weapon damage to the building, then pass some percentage, rounded down, of the damage done onto the infantry inside. 1216 is a heavy building so that's 25%. If you fully unload on it, expect to kill ten or so dudes, but then you'll overheat pretty badly. Realistically, you'll probably get 5 or 6.