Let's Play Together: GM'd Battletech via MegaMek XII

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Wed Nov 03, 2021 6:13 pm

If my ERPPC can't make it, my LRMs cann't either. Well, I will take the opportunity to vent my heat, I'm up to 6.

You want to force piloting checks to stay upright, and have it fall and damage the pilot?

Well, I will grant that something with more armor on the arms than I have on CT is a good candidate for that.

Mix, wanna try to stomp the Ryoken's cockpit? That's free real state.

Or are things between clanners and us not so bad that cockpit stomping is frowned upon?

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Wed Nov 03, 2021 6:55 pm

BL-KNT >>3822, fire ErLL x2 @ Timberwolf 3506

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Wed Nov 03, 2021 8:58 pm

Does seem a bit harsh to stomp an unconscious pilot. I'm really hoping we can take the pilot prisoner. I suspect we'll have need of exchanges down the road.

I'm all for working on the smaller targets. I'm out of LRMs and my other weapons don't have the range of most of the rest of you. I'm a little leery of moving towards the Daishi. I don't know that I'd fare much better than our Kurita allies.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Wed Nov 03, 2021 9:01 pm

Assuming that the Ryoken will likely be out for another round, now looks like a good time for me to stay put and dump everything into the Mad Cat 3506. Or, possibly, jump right behind him and unload. Would that be a better option? If the Mad Cat goes down, I can probably do some surgical work with my MLs on the Ryoken next turn.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:58 am

Well, that Mad Cat is very, very nearly dead. A single ML to CT, whether rear or front, will do it in.

I'm shooting it too, but watching my heat.

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 7:11 am

TheMix wrote: ↑Wed Nov 03, 2021 8:58 pm I suspect we'll have need of exchanges down the road.

Clans do not do exchanges, and Smokey Kitties are some of the worst in that regard.
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Bondsman

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 7:50 am

Oh, they like to turn PoWs into chattel?

Go ahead Mix, stomp on that cockpit.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 10:25 am

I'll be happy to finish it off after the Mad Cat.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 10:53 am

But like...seems like the priority should be the 100 ton mech that's trying to kill us and not fleeing.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:13 am

It absolutely should be. My concern is that my remaining weapons are only good at 9 or less hexes. And his are good at much greater ranges. So even trying to get in close is going to be a challenge for me. Though maybe once his attention is disrupted by a number of other folks shooting at him.

Alternatively, if we pull back, will he be forced to get off his high hill and come to us? Or will he just sit there forever?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:47 am

Also, do we have a weapons load-out for the Daishi / Dire Wolf? Or is that still unknown to us?

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:48 am

El Guapo wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:47 am Also, do we have a weapons load-out for the Daishi / Dire Wolf? Or is that still unknown to us?

The wiki says:

4x ER Large Lasers
4x Medium Pulse Lasers
2x Ultra Autocannon/5s
1x LRM-10

Edit: That's the primary. I don't think we know if this one is running an alternate build.
Edit 2: HOLY @#$%! I just looked at the maximum ranges on the Clan versions of those weapons. He can hit half the map!

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:06 pm

Yeah, that's a stupid throw-weight.

Making a good clan mech is like falling off a tree, you don't have to even try. And this is a 100t 3/5, simply randomly picking shit is going to make a killing machine.

Let's put it into perspective: after accounting for as much armor as an Atlas, it has 50,5t of weaponry.

Let that sink in for a moment. Over fifty tons of weapons.

My entire mech is 55t, and just a dash of clan tech makes it phenomenal.

Also, sarna says it's Great Death instead of Gray Death. Intentional misspelling?

And, as an aside, this is a pretty good example of how an assault mech can be most terrifying: we will have to brave its line of fire while it ignores the terrain between us and it, sitting pretty over the hill. And those silly strong LPLs will start to sing.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:26 pm

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:06 pm Also, sarna says it's Great Death instead of Gray Death. Intentional misspelling?

It wasn't intentional at the time, but I think I'm going to roll with it - it's not too implausible that a clanner get an inner sphere translation wrong.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:14 am

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:06 pm

And, as an aside, this is a pretty good example of how an assault mech can be most terrifying: we will have to brave its line of fire while it ignores the terrain between us and it, sitting pretty over the hill. And those silly strong LPLs will start to sing.

Yeah, but at the same time we do have a lot of ER PPCs, Gauss Rifles, and other long-range weaponry which we can bring to bear on him which collectively outnumbers his large laser array. He can't maintain that high a to hit penalty from movement, and we can at least hide in large forests while we fire at him. So knock on wood seems like we should be ok in handling him, but we'll see I suppose.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:19 am

We really need a mortar team about now. Or some way to get him off that hill. We need to break LOS to get closer. But being on the hill makes that impossible.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:21 am

TheMix wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:19 am We really need a mortar team about now. Or some way to get him off that hill. We need to break LOS to get closer. But being on the hill makes that impossible.

Just sayin'

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:25 am

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:39 am

Fun fact: did you know that the Ares Convention does *not* specifically address blimp-borne nuclear weapons?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:37 pm

"We'll see about that." El Guapo counters. "All units, engage designated target. Stick to the woods and smoke, concentrate fire." Our mechs open up at maximum range on the Daishi, but smoke and vibration makes it hard to land hits. Said Daishi returns fire with its extended-range lasers, autocannons and LRMs, but only scores a single laser hit on the Kurita Awesome, digging into the thick right torso armor.

On the way north, Moley saws the downed Mad Cat's left leg off with the Thunderbolt's laser. Just in case.

TheMix moves up to finish the retreating northern Mad Cat off, taking a pulse laser to the left torso, along with some LRMs and MG rounds scattered across the front of the Crusader - the mech lurches, but our mechwarrior keeps it upright. A jump jet blows out under the onslaught, but then Leraje targets the retreating Mad Cat with the Black Knight's large lasers, melting through the already non-existent rear armor; the 75-ton mech collapses into a pile of debris as a result, with Lich's lasers not making the debris any sturdier.

The Kurita Phoenix Hawk is intercepted by the Ryoken on the way back to attack the Loki, and its left torso section sparks and sags under pulse laser fire. The Kurita mechwarrior appears to have had enough of that, and pumps the Phoenix Hawk's legs as he sprints to try to take himself out of range.

The brief, relative pause in the firefight gives our mechs a chance to cool off as they advance towards the clan holdouts - the Daishi, accompanied by a Ryoken, with an elemental squad hopping around and a Loki firmly stuck on the ground but refusing to eject.

Current battlefield state:

Spoiler:

Raw data:

Spoiler:

Target Modifiers:
Daishi: +2
Loki: +3/+1
Elementals: +5
Ryoken: ACE

Objective update:
Kurita Phoenix Hawk crippled and withdrawing (10/21)

Status update:
TheMix down to 3 jump jets; all left sections and center torso section down to 4 or less armor

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:49 pm

Ok, might be time for Mix to get out of here. Or maybe stay out of LoS and keep lobbing LRMs indirectly? If they can't see them, they should be safe.

Nick, if I'm shooting at the Daishi, do I also ignore the shitload of woods between us, as it's on a much higher level? Assuming I'm on level 0.

Also, is 3506 forest? There's an explosion in it, I can't tell.

I wonder if Moley or WoE couldn't take a potshot at the fleeing Ryoken. Salvage is salvage.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:53 pm

1711, moving to flank Daishi

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:57 pm

I has no LRMs. My max range on anything left is 9. That was a pretty bad round for me. I accomplished nothing other than taking damage.

I guess I'll go make sure the Ryoken stays down. Either via surgical (ha!) MLs or with a stomp or two. That I think I can still do. If I can still do any jumping, maybe jump to 3906. The range on that Daishi is insane, I don't want to give him any more target than I have to. And hopefully he'll be preoccupied anyway.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 3:27 pm

He's taken 4 pilot hits (wakes up on a 10+ when rolling a 2d6) and is missing a leg. He's already not getting up, lol.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:35 pm

With my forest master ability light woods has the same movement cost as plain terrain, but I assume heavy woods is 1 +2 - 1 = 2 MP for me?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:36 pm

Also do we know the movement on the ace Hadouken? Run / jump speed?

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:47 pm

My H-H will advance north at all speed and open fire as soon as I'm in range.

With my P. Hawk fleeing, is there any other mechs, actual or decoys, for me to take over?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:54 pm

Forest Master gives you a 1 MP discount for moving into woods, so yes, heavy woods is 2 MP.

Stormcrow has 6/9 movement

The Kurita Wolverine can be controlled by players, I think it's the last one actually.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:55 pm

Man it’s gonna take me a while to get there but…

Mackie keeps moving north, crosses river to hex 2219 (in multiple turns I’d expect)

Hopefully the woods will screen me when it comes time to close and engage with the Dashi.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:22 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 3:27 pm He's taken 4 pilot hits (wakes up on a 10+ when rolling a 2d6) and is missing a leg. He's already not getting up, lol.

Alright. So assuming we manage to hold on and win. What happens to the pilot? Do our allies have a brig they throw him into? Or are they just going to execute him on the spot? Just curious.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:24 pm

How well can the Daishi multi-target? Do we know?

i.e. Is it advantageous to us to have someone move in from the direct south? Will having attacks from two directions be benefit? Or just when it comes time for flavor text?

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:35 pm

TheMix wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:24 pm How well can the Daishi multi-target? Do we know?

i.e. Is it advantageous to us to have someone move in from the direct south? Will having attacks from two directions be benefit? Or just when it comes time for flavor text?

I'm trying to move my geriatric mech across the river to come at the Daishi from the south. If we can coordinate an attack from multiple mechs that would be cool to pull off. Or we just end up dying together.

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:25 pm

BL-KNT >>3718, fire ErLL x2 & ErPPC @ Direwolfwolf 1402 or Hellbinger 2003

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 8:24 pm

>> LICH: Jump to 3605 (after Mix moves), fire ERPPC (and LRMs if it's 9+ or better) at the Daishi

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 9:01 pm

Crusader "THEMIX" >> jump to 3906, if able - otherwise, somewhere on the east side of the hill as far as I can get; left side facing west

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 9:39 pm

TheMix wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:22 pm Alright. So assuming we manage to hold on and win. What happens to the pilot? Do our allies have a brig they throw him into? Or are they just going to execute him on the spot? Just curious.

He may join us as a bondsman, or, if he does not, then we hand him over to the Kurita guys for a nominal bonus. They own the planet (and it's their capitol world), so their spooks likely have plenty of places to throw him into. Some clanners also request "bondsref", which basically means "I don't want to join you, kill me instead."

TheMix wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:24 pm How well can the Daishi multi-target? Do we know?

i.e. Is it advantageous to us to have someone move in from the direct south? Will having attacks from two directions be benefit? Or just when it comes time for flavor text?

The Daishi's weapons are almost all in the arms, so he effectively has 360 degree coverage. Due to heat issues, however, he can only fire his large lasers in a 3-4-3-4 pattern, supplementing with the pulse lasers as the range closes. It's absolutely worthwhile to mob and flank him, since he a) takes a penalty for firing at secondary targets and b) can't hit everyone at once. An approach from the south also lets the attacker use smoke and hills for a little bit of cover.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:04 am

Move the Marauder to 2708. Fire at the Daishi

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:18 am

I think this was asked before, but I don't recall seeing an answer. To what extent do forests / smoke matter for us firing at the Daishi given that he's on level 3? My sense is that for fire both ways the forests don't matter (unless we ourselves are standing in a forest square), but that the smoke does make a difference. Is that right?

Also, how bad is it to get within (long) range of the Daishi's medium pulse lasers? It sounds like it can't fire those and the large lasers, right?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:35 am

God, moving a 3/5 Awesome through wooded terrain without forest master is brutally slow.

I guess move to 2611.

Also, I'll leave the targeting to the GM, since we have an ace this round. I assume that the Awesome will fire at the Daishi since I don't expect that the Awesome will have a good shot at anything else given the woods in between. Marauder probably will also, but it may have some decent shots at the elementals or Hadouken.

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:36 am

El Guapo wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:18 am Also, how bad is it to get within (long) range of the Daishi's medium pulse lasers? It sounds like it can't fire those and the large lasers, right?

MPL: 7 Damage, 4 Heat, 4/8/12 Range
ErLL: 10 Damage, 12 Heat, 8/15/25 Range

Direwolf Prime has 44 heat sinking, so within MPL range it can indefinitely sustain 4x MPL + 2x ErLL. In other words, it's bad.