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

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:27 am

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:21 am So we just need to eliminate one more target, right? Also, will the Hetzer still be firing?

Yes. The less that get let through, though, the better.

The Hetzer's crew has bailed out, so it won't be firing.

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:36 am

>Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) suffers catastrophic damage, but the autoeject system was engaged.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) must make a piloting skill check (landing in clear terrain).
Needs 1 [2 (ejecting) + 1 (automatic ejection) - 2 (landing in clear terrain)], rolls 5 : succeeds.
The pilot ejects safely!
*** Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) DESTROYED by ejection! ***
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 80 damage to LT.
SECTION DESTROYED.
LIMB BLOWN OFF Left Arm blown off.
73 damage transfers to CT.
Critical hit on LT. Roll is 6; no effect.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 73 damage to CT.
SECTION DESTROYED.
Critical hit on CT. Roll is 10; 2 locations.
CRITICAL HIT on Standard Gyro.
CRITICAL HIT on Engine.

Location has no more hittable critical slots.

LRM 20 at Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor); needs 4, rolls 6 : 16 missile(s) hit (using Right Side table).

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to LA.
5 damage transfers to LT.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to LT.
5 damage transfers to CT.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to CT.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to RL (critical).
14 Armor remaining.
Critical hit on RL. Roll is 6; no effect.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to RL.
9 Armor remaining.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 1 damage to LA.
1 damage transfers to LT.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 1 damage to LT.
1 damage transfers to CT.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 1 damage to CT.

LRM 20 at Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor); needs 4, rolls 10 : - Direct Blow - 20 missile(s) hit (using Right Side table) (w/ +4 bonus).

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to CT.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to RT.
SECTION DESTROYED.
LIMB BLOWN OFF Right Arm blown off.
3 damage transfers to CT.
Critical hit on RT. Roll is (10+2) = 12; 3 locations.
CRITICAL HIT on +AC/20.
CRITICAL HIT on +AC/20.
CRITICAL HIT on +AC/20.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 3 damage to CT.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to RT.
5 damage transfers to CT.
Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to CT.

Thunderbolt TDR-5D ID:206 (Mercenary Primary Opfor) takes 5 damage to CT.

Stop, stop, he's already dead!

The Mix, you're going to want to pull back from those shells landing to your east. And I think I'll pass on firing off any more artillery rounds, since they probably won't land before the match ends and we're all getting awfully intermixed.

I'll move to 1030 and continue firing at the Shadow Hawk.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:42 am

I'll turn twice to the left. I don't have LOS on the Fire medium pulse lasers at the 2128 Vedette, right? If that's right then I'll fire the medium pulse lasers, two large lasers, LRM and LBX-10 at the 2323 Archer (who I think I have LOS to)

I guess my buddy can join in too if they don't bail out.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:33 pm

That's a damn lot of damage to land square on on an already dead Thud, for sure.

Nick, am I within 10 of the Archer?

Also, which spots is arty trying to hit this turn?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:40 pm

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:33 pm Nick, am I within 10 of the Archer?

Also, which spots is arty trying to hit this turn?

Yep, exactly.

4727 and 1819

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:53 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:40 pm
TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:33 pm Nick, am I within 10 of the Archer?

Also, which spots is arty trying to hit this turn?
Yep, exactly.

4727 and 1819

The Bandersnatch is probably growing very sick of these clairvoyant Long Tom shots

The surviving Griffin still has all its guns, yes?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:58 pm

I assume 2621 will give me coverage from the Partisan?

If so, face NE and engage the Vedette.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:08 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:58 pm I assume 2621 will give me coverage from the Partisan?

If so, face NE and engage the Vedette.

You could move and stomp on the Partisan, and then shoot whatever you wish to.

Melee vs vehicles is usually a great idea, and AC/5 have a mininum of 3, so it's highly unlikely to hit you regardless.

I think the 2022 Hetzer is still active, you are in a good spot for unloading into its side/rear.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:09 pm

I'm trying to count it, but I keep confusing myself. I'll move to 4130 or 4230, as far west as I can reach, and fire at the Bandersnatch. Explosive round at 4728.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:31 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:58 pm I assume 2621 will give me coverage from the Partisan?

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:08 pm
You could move and stomp on the Partisan, and then shoot whatever you wish to.

Melee vs vehicles is usually a great idea, and AC/5 have a mininum of 3, so it's highly unlikely to hit you regardless.

I think the 2022 Hetzer is still active, you are in a good spot for unloading into its side/rear.

In fact, standing on top of a vehicle means that it can't fire on you, while you can stomp it with impunity. Of course, due to MP restrictions, you can only target the 3118 Vedette with one PPC if you move on top of the Partisan, so that's up to you.

But yes, 2621 blocks LOS to the Partisan.

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:53 pm The surviving Griffin still has all its guns, yes?

Correct.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:11 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:31 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:58 pm I assume 2621 will give me coverage from the Partisan?

TotallyNotEvil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:08 pm
You could move and stomp on the Partisan, and then shoot whatever you wish to.

Melee vs vehicles is usually a great idea, and AC/5 have a mininum of 3, so it's highly unlikely to hit you regardless.

I think the 2022 Hetzer is still active, you are in a good spot for unloading into its side/rear.
In fact, standing on top of a vehicle means that it can't fire on you, while you can stomp it with impunity. Of course, due to MP restrictions, you can only target the 3118 Vedette with one PPC if you move on top of the Partisan, so that's up to you.

But yes, 2621 blocks LOS to the Partisan.

Let's go with that plan

Akalon · Post by **Akalon** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:19 pm

Can I make it to 4225?

If so I'll move there and hit the griffin at 4826 in the back with my lasers, while my buddy comes around to 4324 and fires on the griffin and the SRM carrier(laser on the Griffin, missle's on the SRM carrier).

Can we get a smokescreen shell to 4231 from a long tom to help cover TheMix pulling back, please?

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:38 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:43 am
TheMix wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:26 am Not sure why I'm facing to the NW. I thought I specified NE, but irrelevant now.
Sorry about that, I completely blanked on the facing. Even had it written down.

Didn't seem to stop me from getting in a couple of shots. Though it may have helped in getting my right side demolished. I don't remember how it was looking before that round.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:45 pm

Actually... it looks like the safer play is to actually head west instead of trying to get off the map ASAP.

I have 7 movement if I run, correct?

Can I get to 4129 and face south? That would put the hill between me and the Griffin, Bandersnatch, et. al. And put my left side to them.

Assuming, of course, that the Vedette way up in 3118 won't be able to target me.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:51 pm

TheMix wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:45 pm I have 7 movement if I run, correct?

Can I get to 4129 and face south?

8 - facing south will use up the last of your MP, so that works out pretty well.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 4:31 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:51 pm
TheMix wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:45 pm I have 7 movement if I run, correct?

Can I get to 4129 and face south?
8 - facing south will use up the last of your MP, so that works out pretty well.

Let's go with that.

And I suppose if there is any feasibility, I'll fire off a LRM salvo at any worthwhile targets. Assuming there is anyone to direct my fire.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:28 pm

Akalon wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:19 pm Can I make it to 4225?

If so I'll move there and hit the griffin at 4826 in the back with my lasers, while my buddy comes around to 4324 and fires on the griffin and the SRM carrier(laser on the Griffin, missle's on the SRM carrier).

Can we get a smokescreen shell to 4231 from a long tom to help cover TheMix pulling back, please?

You think you can finish the Griffin on your own?

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:24 pm

Is my Drillson nimble enough to go from hex 1425 to 1229 facing the Locust in 1034 and unloading whatever weapons are effective?

I’d like to move the Mackie to hex 0932 facing the Shadow Hawk in 0335 and joining WestorEast in pummeling the Shadow Hawk with whatever weapons are best, including my crotch beams.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:40 pm

$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:24 pm Is my Drillson nimble enough to go from hex 1425 to 1229 facing the Locust in 1034 and unloading whatever weapons are effective?

Yep, he's good. Will need to make a few PSRs to avoid skidding, but that's the nature of hovercraft.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:01 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:40 pm
$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:24 pm Is my Drillson nimble enough to go from hex 1425 to 1229 facing the Locust in 1034 and unloading whatever weapons are effective?
Yep, he's good. Will need to make a few PSRs to avoid skidding, but that's the nature of hovercraft.

Thanks! Let’s light that Locust up then!

Sgtsoldier123 · Post by **Sgtsoldier123** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:07 pm

I'd like to move towards 2524 and hit the Archer at 2624 with my pulse Lasers and hit the Hetzer at 2023 with my ER Large Lasers. As for my buddy, I'd like him to focus on the Archer.

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:53 pm

Damn, that poor Archer is getting all kinds of unfriendly attention.

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:04 am

WestorEast wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:53 pm Damn, that poor Archer is getting all kinds of unfriendly attention.

Somebody give it a blindfold... Ready... Aim... Fire!

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 6:40 am

I was going to shoot the Archer, but everyone pilled up on it so hard that if it doesn't die this round, it's on you

> LICH: Both ERLLs and LRMs on the surviving Griffin.

I'm really digging this "Prime with extra missiles" config. We don't have 15-tube Clan LRMs, right?

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Tue Jun 14, 2022 9:23 pm

I'll move to 1030 and continue firing at the Shadow Hawk.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 12:55 am

Behemoth bailout roll, target <73; roll 82 - bails out

"Artillery, cease fire, cease fire, you're hitting friendlies!" WestOrEast calls out to the buddy Long Tom as a shell goes stray and catches one of our bailed out crews in a blast (along with a Scorpion tank, which rattles around but remains intact). Bass's Long Tom buddy is a lot more accurate and the shell lands right between the surviving Griffin and Bandersnatch, pinging the Griffin's head with shrapnel while stripping some armor off the Bandersnatch's right arm.

---

"Ugh, where'd everything go?" Isgrimnur asks, levering the Thug up from the ground. "Hey, come back here!" he calls out, chasing after the escaping Partisan. "And hey, artillery, watch it, some of us aren't camped out on top of a hill!"

The Thug lets loose PPCs and SRMs at the escaping Hetzer - most of the fire impacts the bottom of the intervening hill, but a pair of SRMs find their way at the wheeled assault gun's left side, blowing the wheels away - it slides off and stops moving, carving a line in the ground.

Weapons fire from the Crusader comes at our assault mech as it gets up, but the LRMs go wide. Isgrimnur frowns at the Partisan below him, then brings the Thug's foot down straight through the top, crushing the tank's engine.

--

"Well, at least I don't have to worry about overheating now." Akalon grumbles as the Vulcan's lasers both strike intervening terrain instead of the target Griffin. His buddy swings around the hill, only to eat LBX autocannon rounds from the Bandersnatch, making hash of the hovertank's drive fans. Along with its sensors. And jamming the turret. A large pulse laser from the Griffin brings it down to the ground.

Said Griffin takes a good number of LRMs to its upper section from Lich, the right arm taking severe damage - sparks and blue heat sink fluid can be seen coming out of the limb, which is subsequently severed by a gauss slug from Leraje's Demon tank buddy.

TheMix retreats to the west, putting a hill between himself and the bulk of the hostiles, but turns left a little - with Bass designating the Bandersnatch, our mechwarrior is able to achieve LRM lock and fire off a salvo of LRMs, intending it more as suppressive fire than anything else.

To TheMix's great surprise, the target icon for the Bandersnatch disappears. "Hey, good shot, nailed 'im right in the head!" Bass calls out.

---

WestOrEast and Siljanus continue trying to take down the Shadow Hawk, Siljanus easily levering his mech up from a kneeling position and opening up with the "central mount" lasers. Siljanus scores a PPC and a laser hit on the 55-ton mech's left side, nearly melting its left arm. An autocannon string from the Hatchetman strikes the hill to the northwest of Siljanus' Mackie while a laser removes a small amount of armor from the right torso. The Locust briefly turns around, eating a small number of SRMs from Siljanus' tank buddy, and drills the Mackie in the right torso, hitting the weak spot and frying a heat sink.

The distraction allows WestOrEast to line up a PPC shot at the side of the Shadow Hawk's protruding head, removing it. Unfortunately, our mechwarrior triggered the Griffin's whole weapons package, so a laser also connects with the 55-tonner's left torso ammo bin, shattering the mech. "Whoops." our mechwarrior quips.

---

SgtSoldier sidesteps the approaching Archer, ignoring for a moment the Phoenix Hawk's heat alarms and moving forward to support Isgrimnur, blasting away at the Archer with all weapons - unable to get a good bead on the Hetzer weaving through the canyon below. Two lasers hit the heavy mech's upper section, damaging the armor. The Archer retaliates, melting the armor off the Phoenix Hawk's left arm.

Then, El Guapo's heavy weapons - lasers, autocannon rounds and a small LRM salvo - come in, gouging and melting armor from the heavy mech's left side. Leraje joins in with four PPC blasts - the 70-tonner's foot melts as a result of one particularly nasty hit.

The volume of fire brings the Archer down, where it crunches both its right arm and right leg, including the right arm laser.

---

"Hey, they're running! Locust breaking south!" Siljanus reports.

"Condor breaking south." TheMix's buddy tank calls out.

"Everyone else retreating north." El Guapo confirms. "Good shooting everyone."

"Should we pursue?"

[] "Negative. All units cease fire."
[] "Affirmative - pursue southern units only."
[] "Affirmative - take them all down."

If a pursuit option is chosen, I'll play it out "off screen".

Final Battlefield State:

Spoiler:

Raw Data:

Spoiler:

Objective Update:
Hetzer disabled (18/18) (Kill credit Isgrimnur)
Bandersnatch destroyed (19/18) (Kill credit TheMix, Bass assist)
Shadow Hawk destroyed (20/18) (Kill credit WestOrEast, Siljanus asssist)
Partisan disabled (21/18) (Kill credit Isgrimnur)

Scenario Outcome: Total Victory
Kill Board:
Lich: LRM Carrier, Thunderbolt TDR-5D; 1 assist
Lich/Schrek: Manticore
WestOrEast: LRM Carrier, Shadow Hawk
WestOrEast/Long Tom: Vedette
El Guapo: Griffin GRF-1S
El Guapo/Behemoth: 2x Vedette, Falcon, Hetzer
Akalon: 1 Assist
Akalon/Drillson: Drillson
Isgrimnur: Vedette, Hetzer, Partisan
Isgrimnur/Manticore: Vedette AC2
Leraje: SRM Carrier, Spartan SPT-N2
Leraje/Demon: 2 assist
TheMix: Bandersnatch BNDR-01A; 1 assist
TheMix/Manticore: Drillson ERLL
Bass: 2 assists
Bass/LongTom: 1 assist
Siljanus: 1 assist

Awards:
Heaviest kill: Leraje - Spartan (80 tons)
Highest kill count: El Guapo/Behemoth - 4
Biggest headache: Isgrimnur (3 pilot hits)
Two-fer: Isgrimnur (Hetzer and Partisan disabled in the same turn)

Random post-battle thoughts:
The RNG really screwed the Archer over - the poor bastard was a 6/6 pilot
Trying to plow through that canyon to the east of hill 2 was probably ill-advised

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:56 am

[] "Negative. All units cease fire."
[X] "Affirmative - pursue southern units only."
[] "Affirmative - take them all down."

Seems like the southern units are part of our contractual duties for this battle, so might as well do it, as long as it's reasonably safe.

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:11 am

El Guapo wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:56 am
[] "Negative. All units cease fire."
[X] "Affirmative - pursue southern units only."
[] "Affirmative - take them all down."
Seems like the southern units are part of our contractual duties for this battle, so might as well do it, as long as it's reasonably safe.

Agreed. Flip arms and fry the condor

Also, the Archer is better not think about going anywhere. It's our Archer now.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 6:35 am

El Guapo wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:56 am
[] "Negative. All units cease fire."
[X] "Affirmative - pursue southern units only."
[] "Affirmative - take them all down."
Seems like the southern units are part of our contractual duties for this battle, so might as well do it, as long as it's reasonably safe.

That plucky little Locust could have chosen to retreat and live but since it’s determined to keep advancing south I agree that we need to fulfill our duty and crush it.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 6:37 am

That Griffin is a lucky git

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:58 am

TheMix retreats to the west, putting a hill between himself and the bulk of the hostiles, but turns left a little - with Bass designating the Bandersnatch, our mechwarrior is able to achieve LRM lock and fire off a salvo of LRMs, intending it more as suppressive fire than anything else.

To TheMix's great surprise, the target icon for the Bandersnatch disappears. "Hey, good shot, nailed 'im right in the head!" Bass calls out.

I saw the "but" first and was all "uh oh...". Definitely preferred this outcome.

And I agree with pursuing the southern units. That was the contract.

"NONE SHALL PASS"!

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:35 am

That's too many units to the north to want to go after, especially when a number of them are completely untouched. Southern side only.

TotallyNotEvil · Post by **TotallyNotEvil** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 12:41 pm

*Grumble grumble* that Griffin lost like six tons of armor and didn't go down.

But yeah, that Archer better power the hell down.

Just pick off the two runners, we've taught the rest a pretty good lesson I think.

If they were smart, they'd instantly surrender.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:56 am
[] "Negative. All units cease fire."
[X] "Affirmative - pursue southern units only."
[] "Affirmative - take them all down."
Seems like the southern units are part of our contractual duties for this battle, so might as well do it, as long as it's reasonably safe.

Agreed.

WestorEast · Post by **WestorEast** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:21 pm

It was quite obliging of the mercs to bring so many Vedettes for us to shoot up! We might have been in trouble if they had something thicker-skinned or longer-ranged that could have made a difference.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:29 pm

Thanks for playing folks, it's always a blast to run these things.

FYI, updates will slow quite a bit over the next week due to non-overlapping summer vacations for various members of the household (aka I'm watching the kids).

Leraje · Post by **Leraje** » Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:45 pm

NickAragua wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:29 pm Thanks for playing folks, it's always a blast to run these things.

FYI, updates will slow quite a bit over the next week due to non-overlapping summer vacations for various members of the household (aka I'm watching the kids).

Introduce them to the joys of Batttletech. If you are lucky they will be stuck by the computer non-stop

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:59 pm

Leraje wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:45 pm Introduce them to the joys of Batttletech. If you are lucky they will be stuck by the computer non-stop

50% done.

The younger one will have to wait a few years.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:28 pm

Thank you for taking the time to run these manual scenarios and answer all of our questions! It's always a lot of fun.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Mon Jun 20, 2022 7:11 pm

gbasden wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:28 pm Thank you for taking the time to run these manual scenarios and answer all of our questions! It's always a lot of fun.

+100!