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Apparently I never actually signed up to pilot. Let's fix that.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 03:14 |
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# ? Apr 28, 2024 03:48 |
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Gimmick Account posted:Wow, THAT is a textbook example for why you don't leave plot-related things to be decided via internet contests. I really feel sorry for you, now that you have to work this name into your story somehow, haha! Obviously the Hogzilla started out as a pork-barrel project.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 03:19 |
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Why not? Sign me up to
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 03:38 |
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Aw hell, Sign Me Up
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 03:40 |
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the JJ posted:Man I'd love big huge match but I went back to read the early games. There was something nice and manageable about the lance to lance fights, especially as a newbie. That one does that that one does that that one does that. And I was able to really look at the map and plan along with the lance. This game, while quite fun, I've been reading the flavor, skipping down to the crits read out, and not even following along on the map. Those poor sprites, wasted on me... If there were a big huge thing it might be fun to, I don't know, run lances against each other simultaneously, then stitch them together with flavor? Hell, when I play using megamek I mainly just skim the damage report looking for crits. That's the important part.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 04:47 |
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You know even though we lost, I felt like we did pretty well since I think all of us were essentially complete newbies. Plus I got to pilot 3 different mechs. Which was really fun! I love jumpers. I no longer think Assault mechs are the end-all-be-all anymore.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 04:55 |
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TildeATH posted:He's right, hogs are pretty mean. You remember how concerned the farmhand was when Dorothy fell into the pigpen in Wizard of Oz. Oh, that's easy - it's an affectionate name given to it by the pilots who guided it through the testing procedure, and the first field units to receive it. In this, it's similar to how the A-10 Thunderbolt II is far more universally known as the 'Warthog'. Heck, maybe it's even a play on the originally-planned designation, something like 'Razorback'. Get something big and mean like that, and the first testjock is one of those big neo-redneck throwback types who takes a look at it and says 'Shoot, son, Razorback? That thar's a damned Hogzilla.'
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 05:31 |
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I've finally caught up to the end of the thread again! I'd read through the whole thing back around the end of the DC campaign, got busy with school, and have spent the last month catching up to now. Now that I'm here, I think it's time to finally add my name to the list of people keeping TildeATH from playing again. Thanks for all the work you keep putting in to this thread, PTN. I love reading your fluff and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Urbie was the best possible thing to come back to.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 07:05 |
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PoptartsNinja posted:I dunno about that. While that would be a delight, I would kind of prefer just keeping the queue moving.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 08:30 |
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Hogzilla isn't a big deal because it's just a reporting name. Reporting names can get ridiculous, like the feared MiG-21 or as it was known to NATO the "Fishbed."
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 08:30 |
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Artificer posted:You know even though we lost, I felt like we did pretty well since I think all of us were essentially complete newbies. Agreed. Had a ball overall, and went from zero battletech rule knowledge to a solid understanding. And in three years or so I might get to play again! The mission was insanely difficult and the dice didn't do us any favours, but such is life. I actually really liked the Assault mechs, but they need support. As PTN mentioned earlier, the wave system for the Trouts (with similar speed groups of mechs that can support each other) vs the mostly random spawns for the Clan is a HUGE advantage for the bad guys. Anyways, my orders are in. It would probably be best to target the Crab, but I'm going to go for the commander and hope some magic happens. Due for it. Also, every turn I shoot the Crab I seem to roll like crap. drat thing living a charmed life. Kial fucked around with this message at 08:54 on Jul 13, 2014 |
# ? Jul 13, 2014 08:39 |
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Arglebargle III posted:Hogzilla isn't a big deal because it's just a reporting name. Reporting names can get ridiculous, like the feared MiG-21 or as it was known to NATO the "Fishbed." Not to be outdone by the Mig 15 "Fagot" of course.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 08:54 |
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Artificer posted:You know even though we lost, I felt like we did pretty well since I think all of us were essentially complete newbies. In terms of sheer firepower you can't beat an Assault but their mobility is a big issue, particularly in situations like this where the players don't always win initiative. As the Coyotes have shown, fast Heavies generally strike a good balance, particularly with Clanspec components keeping space and weight down. The Timber Wolf is an incredible mech precisely because it has the armament of an Inner Sphere Assault coupled with the mobility of a Medium.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 09:36 |
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Scintilla posted:In terms of sheer firepower you can't beat an Assault Well there are superheavies but those are absurdly rare and I doubt they've been invented at all in PTN's timeline due to various reasons. Scintilla posted:but their mobility is a big issue, particularly in situations like this where the players don't always win initiative. As the Coyotes have shown, fast Heavies generally strike a good balance, particularly with Clanspec components keeping space and weight down. The Timber Wolf is an incredible mech precisely because it has the armament of an Inner Sphere Assault coupled with the mobility of a Medium. This is all true. Again, I'd posit that this mission, a defensive action against overwhelming numbers, you'd want armor and guns over speed, but then again getting spread out due to spawn locations really hurt Goonstar's ability to create zones of denial and support one another. Had they come on close together , I think that they'd have been able to do even more damage. Though that's nothing the players had control over for a long time, and even then they couldn't always afford to leave their mech facing a good spawn direction.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 18:09 |
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If ever there were a time to fight like a Lyran that would have been it.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 18:13 |
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Defiance Industries posted:If ever there were a time to fight like a Lyran that would have been it. Do you know how many dirty looks I get when I play a Lyran force and don't ever use a single assault mech? People act like I am some kind of diseased being.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 18:18 |
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Just paint them in the colors of the 2nd or 4th Donegal. They sit about the same place on the weight spectrum as the Davion Light Guard do. Now you're role-playing.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 18:21 |
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the JJ posted:Man I'd love big huge match but I went back to read the early games. There was something nice and manageable about the lance to lance fights, especially as a newbie. That one does that that one does that that one does that. And I was able to really look at the map and plan along with the lance. This game, while quite fun, I've been reading the flavor, skipping down to the crits read out, and not even following along on the map. Those poor sprites, wasted on me... Yeah, I know what you mean. Admittedly I was always reading it more for the fluff than the crunch (well, okay, and when :battletech: magic happened), but it can be a bit difficult to follow what's going on sometimes with these large battles. dis astranagant posted:Apparently I never actually signed up to pilot. Let's fix that. Pooncha posted:Why not? Sign me up to ArbitraryTA posted:Aw hell, Sign Me Up Hey there, sign up buddies!
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 18:40 |
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Sign me up. IVIK at MAIL dot COM
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 19:07 |
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A really large-scale battle could be very effective if the action around it was similarly grand in scope. The inevitable showdown at Andurien, or the battle to retake Luthien, perhaps. It would help reinforce the fact that the battle is going to be a pivotal moment where defeat is not an option.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 19:15 |
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Shoeless posted:getting spread out due to spawn locations really hurt Goonstar's ability to create zones of denial and support one another. In hindsight, once I figured out the players hadn't figured out how to control their entrance points I should've immediately switched to a fixed entry location for Phase 3 but by then, the Hogzillas were already on the plateau unopposed and I didn't have a good "set" place to bring anyone in. I'll talk about this more in the AAR.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 19:19 |
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Oh my god I want this so badly. I love hearing about the thought process behind scenarios like this in games, talking about what could be done better for the future, what things were done well, etc. Would you be open to the thread commenting and offering advice/opinions? Scintilla posted:A really large-scale battle could be very effective if the action around it was similarly grand in scope. The inevitable showdown at Andurien, or the battle to retake Luthien, perhaps. It would help reinforce the fact that the battle is going to be a pivotal moment where defeat is not an option. Agreed. If there's going to be another battalion-sized thing, it probably ought to be something pivotal. KnoxZone posted:Do you know how many dirty looks I get when I play a Lyran force and don't ever use a single assault mech? People act like I am some kind of diseased being. Same. The Hollander, Uziel, Barghest, Commando, Wolfhound, Hatchetman, Axman and many others are all Lyran mechs. A higher proportion of forces being assault does not mean all their forces are assault. I wish more people got that.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:02 |
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In terms of an After Action Report I'd love to see exactly what's inside those Rim-Worlder uniques and to what extent the basic tech is on-par with the Clans.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:10 |
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Scintilla posted:In terms of an After Action Report I'd love to see exactly what's inside those Rim-Worlder uniques and to what extent the basic tech is on-par with the Clans. Stefan Amaris VII is going to be dropping a bombshell about this very thing after the next political vote but prior to the next Combat Theater vote. Or, should I spoil this? We may be getting two separate political votes after this mission, depending on which option is chosen.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:38 |
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No to spoilers, yes please to AARs. Actually, dream outcome, AARs for every scenario.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:44 |
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I do AARs for every scenario.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:59 |
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When (if) this thing is ever over, I really really really want to see PTN's notes on how each player vote/combat performance impacted the galaxy at large + the other things going on in the background this whole time.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 20:59 |
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PoptartsNinja posted:Stefan Amaris VII is going to be dropping a bombshell about this very thing after the next political vote but prior to the next Combat Theater vote. More political votes is always better.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 21:56 |
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Mukaikubo posted:While that would be a delight, I would kind of prefer just keeping the queue moving. If PTN is ever in a situation where he needs to tap experienced players just to help him keep the game organized it probably means that he's gonna be using something like an entire Battalion at once, so I really wouldn't be worried about queue speed. As a reminder, the last mission in the Jeronimo campaign had eighteen player-controlled Mechs on the field.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:04 |
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Oh two votes would be cool. Also it seems I'm still not on the list from February, so sign me up again please, I have PMs. Edit: Wow last year Feb, I should of checked if I was on earlier, my bad. Kirenski fucked around with this message at 22:08 on Jul 13, 2014 |
# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:04 |
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Shoeless posted:Agreed. If there's going to be another battalion-sized thing, it probably ought to be something pivotal. What about using the Battleforce rules to run a larger-scale battle? PTN, is that something you'd even be interested in?
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:33 |
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Have the dice forgiven Kial for whatever it is he's done?! Dice say... No. They apparently have not. Edit: PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 22:37 on Jul 13, 2014 |
# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:33 |
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At this stage of the thread (and your dice) we don't even have to mouse over the spoiler to know what the answer to that one is, PTN.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:53 |
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PoptartsNinja posted:Have the dice forgiven Kial for whatever it is he's done?! It's a headcap, isn't it? I don't think Kial's going to be leaving this mission with his head intact.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 22:58 |
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Pfft, as if PTN's dice would ever forgive. Devastating TAC is my guess considering this mission's trends.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 23:01 |
My guess is he trips and falls on his face.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 23:05 |
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Ardlen posted:My guess is he trips and falls on his face. Kerensky have mercy, did the NRWR deploy pavement?
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 23:09 |
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They're saving that for Andurien, where every building is a hardened building (because they paved it over with ferrocrete).
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 23:10 |
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Really fragile building designed to look like hardened buildings. So you jump on top of one and then it collapses underneath you.
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# ? Jul 13, 2014 23:16 |
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# ? Apr 28, 2024 03:48 |
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Ultimatum: Tactical Update 30 “Inner Sphere coward!” The final remaining non-disabled enemy machine, a curiously redesigned Atlas II, strode forward as though it were the king of the battlefield. Commander Alice—callsign Mandanau-3—would never have admitted that she still felt a bit of respect for the venerable design. It was strong and powerful and took every step with a pride that could only have been programmed in at the factory. Although a BattleMech was a BattleMech, it was hardly a wonder that some superstitious pilots attributed personalities to their machines: that their quirks were actually factory-intended confidence boosters or the result of battle damage or bugs induced by long-term lack of maintenance in a decaying pseudo-neural microprocessor array rather than some learned, instinctive animal cunning didn’t matter to those pilots. On more than one occasion, Alice had heard machines described as ‘timid’ after a bad hit to a leg had necessitated a limb replacement. The DI Computer’s reaction to new parts was never a certain one, as a few micrometers difference here or there could throw off sensors and suddenly a machine that’d never had trouble charging an enemy formation would suddenly develop half-an-instant of hesitation when the cockpit’s foot pedals were depressed. The technicians never noticed and rarely cared to double-check: after all, the machines would always check out fine with all parts were in working order. But a pilot who had to rely on a war machine would always notice. Battle damage weighed down on a machine’s “soul,” so to speak. Even her Hogzilla, a colloquial name born from the design’s original battlefield role as a heavy tank hunter after some amateur historian had compared its standard armament of a gauss rifle and six ultralight 50mm autocannons to that of some ancient warplane, was only forty years old. Compared to an Atlas that’d likely seen service alongside Kerensky himself, it was a child. A hundred-ton giant, metal child. She could hardly blame the machine for being a little “arrogant” for surviving so long. Alice wasn’t normally superstitious, although most pilots or former-pilots of the Minnesota 331st were ascribed to be more prone to such “flights of fancy” than most other Rim World units. Even so, in the heat of battle Alice thought most of her Blackguard comrades would’ve thought the enemy Atlas an arrogant one. It was easy to become a believer on the battlefield, even if one did choose to laugh off such things afterwards. The Atlas’s massive battle fist rose, finger curling to point at Alice’s machine. “Barbarian, face me!” the pilot roared, his voice distorted to near unintelligibility by her ECM’s attempt to shut him up. “Cease this dishonorable nonsense and face me as a true warrior in one-on-one combat!” Her left eyebrow twitched involuntarily. Warrior. Now there was a word she hated. Men and women who styled themselves “warriors” always knew how to fight and sometimes even fought well but they rarely knew anything of actual war. War was a game to a warrior, nothing more, and with a surge of defiance Alice thumbed her transmitter in the same instant she opened fire on the bulky machine. She said only, “No.” Combat Phase Dire Wolf H - No orders received! - Gains 0 heat, sinks 40! Atlas IIC - Fires Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle 40 at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System - 1 Short Range HAG = 5): rolled 2, miss! - Fires ER Medium Laser at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 8, hit Right Leg (30/37 armor remains)! - Fires ER Medium Laser at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 4, miss! - Fires ER Medium Laser at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 9, hit Left Torso (24/31 armor remains)! - Fires ER Medium Laser at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (38/45 armor remains)! - Fires Streak SRM-6 at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 3, fails to lock-on! - Fires Streak SRM-6 at Hogzilla (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range + 2 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 5, fails to lock-on! - Gains 30 heat, sinks 38! Crab (ACE) - Fires ER Large Laser at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 heat = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Arm (24/33 armor remains)! - Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 heat – 2 Pulse Laser = 4): rolled 6, hit Right Leg (31/41 armor remains)! TAC! - Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 heat – 2 Pulse Laser = 4): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (18/33 armor remains)! - Fires ER Small Laser at Atlas IIC (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 heat = 8): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (36/46 armor remains)! - Gains 34 heat sinks 34! Overheating! ACE! Hogzilla (ACE) - Fires Plasma Rifle at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 heat + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 6, miss! - Fires LB-10X Autocannon (Slug) at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 heat + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (26/46 armor remains)! - Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Atlas IIC (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 heat + 1 Void Signature System - 2 pulse laser = 8): rolled 6, miss! - Gains 27 heat, sinks 26! Overheating! ACE! Hogzilla - Fires Gauss Rifle at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 minimum range = 5): rolled 6, hit Right Leg (16/42 armor remains)! - Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 minimum range = 6): rolled 6, hit Right Arm (8/33 armor remains)! - Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 minimum range = 6): rolled 6, hit Right Torso (2/32 armor remains)! - Fires Plasma Rifle at Atlas IIC (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 4): rolled 5, hit Right Leg (6/42 armor remains)! Atlas IIC gains 6 heat! - Gains 42 heat, sinks 32! Overheating! ACE! Longbow - Holds fire! - Gains 2 heat, sinks 26! Longbow - Holds fire! - Gains 2 heat, sinks 26! Longbow - Holds fire! - Gains 10 heat, sinks 26! Thug - Holds fire! - Gains 2 heat, sinks 26! Black Knight - Holds fire! - Gains 10 heat, sinks 36! Black Knight - Holds fire! - Gains 10 heat, sinks 36! Excalibur - Fires Gauss Rifle at Ice Ferret D (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 1): automatically hit Center Torso (4/19 armor remains)! - Gains 10 heat, sinks 22! Excalibur - Holds fire! - Gains 10 heat, sinks 22! Coyote - Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah Prime (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 3): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (0/8 armor remains)! - Gains 24 heat, sinks 28! Coyote - Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah Prime (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 3): rolled 5, hit Center Torso (2/10 structure remains)! Crit! - Gains 24 heat, sinks 28! Coyote - Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah Prime (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 3): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (0/10 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed! - Gains 24 heat, sinks 28! Coyote - Holds fire! - Gains 12 heat, sinks 28! Coyote - Holds fire! - Gains 12 heat, sinks 28! Phoenix - Fires Variable Speed Large Pulse Laser at Ice Ferret D (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System - 2 pulse laser = -3): automatically hit Center Torso (0/19 armor, 7/14 structure remains)! Crit! - Gains 20 heat, sinks 30! Bobcat - Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (drained) at Ice Ferret D (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = -1): automatically hit Center Torso (0/19 armor, 7/14 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed! - Gains 20 heat, sinks 24! Locust - Holds fire! - Gains 2 heat, sinks 28! End Phase: Atlas IIC - Through-armor critical chance in Right Leg! 2 critical hits sustained! - - Hip damaged! - - Double Heat Sink destroyed! - Must pass a piloting test or fall (2 base + 2 hip damaged + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 6, succeeds! Special Rules Overheat Ace: The Rim World Blackguard gain Ace status when they overheat by 10 points or more! Blind: Enemy units are only visible in direct Line of Sight Hidden Units: Some enemy units remain hidden until they attack. Additionally, units equipped with Void Signature Systems may expend a turn’s movement to hide themselves if they are not in direct line of sight. Expect Surprises: When the players lose their Phase 1 units, they will gain control of a powerful Phase 2 unit. When the players lose their Phase 2 unit, they will still have a chance to influence the outcome of the battle with a Phase 3 unit. Some of these units start on the map, others will enter from elsewhere. Player Status: Glorious Deaths Primary Objective: - Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (0/3 remaining) Secondary Objective - Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (17/39 defeated) - Defend Clan Personnel (11 tents remain! ) - Defend Clan Equipment (11/36 units remaining) Enemy Status / Movement Mods: Command Lance Unknown Assault “Amaris Pattern” #1 – Active +ACE Coyote #6 – Active +2 Bobcat #1 – Destroyed Assault Lance Unknown Assault “Blackguard Pattern” #1 – Active +ACE Unknown Assault “Blackguard Pattern” #2 – Active +2 Thug #1 – Destroyed Thug #2 – Active +0 Battle Lance 1 Excalibur #1 – Active +1 Excalibur #2 – Active +2 Black Knight #1 – Active +2 Black Knight #2 – Active +2 Battle Lance 2 (I forgot the Coyotes all had Targeting Computers. Whoops!) Coyote #1 – Active +2 Coyote #2 – Active +2 Coyote #3 – Active +2 Coyote #4 – Active +1 Battle Lance 3 Coyote #5 – Retreated Hunchback #1 – Destroyed Talon #1 – Destroyed Chameleon #1 – Destroyed Pursuit Lance Bobcat #2 – Active +0 Bobcat #3 – Destroyed Phoenix #1 – Active +0 Phoenix #2 – Destroyed Strategic Reserve Lance Chameleon #2 – Destroyed Chameleon #3 – Destroyed Crab #2 – Active +3 Hunchback #2 – Destroyed Scout Lance 1 Stinger #1 – Destroyed Stinger #2 – Destroyed Stinger #3 – Destroyed Stinger #4 – Destroyed Scout Lance 2 Locust #1 – Destroyed Locust #2 – Active +3 Locust #3 – Destroyed Locust #4 – Destroyed Support Lance Longbow #1 – Destroyed Longbow #2 – Active +1 Longbow #3 – Active +0 Longbow #4 – Active +0 Orders Due: Saturday Night! (Wednesday’s update will be skipped due to RL concerns) PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 00:28 on Jul 14, 2014 |
# ? Jul 14, 2014 00:18 |