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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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 Posted: 10-Dec-2003 21:33 Post subject: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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Do not make this too complicated; think a little more in terms of generalities.
Should a Merc unit, anything battalion sized or smaller, field Assault Mechs? No matter how cool they are?
Remember Merc Units run on C-bills not BV, tonnage, or any other metric.
Yes or No and support it.
AWAD- I am even talking about a Marauder II
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 10-Dec-2003 21:39 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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Well I need to support my won question and assertion. NO.
Assault mechs for smaller units are big hindrances. For the same money I can get a heavy and maybe a medium. This does a few things, my unit gets big faster and is more employable; If I loose one Mech I still have another; Assaults are generally not as flexible as other mechs to take on many roles (assault, riot, garrison, guerilla warfare).; finally they are what you build around instead of a lance idea.
AWAD- Yep show me a bunch of Assault Mechs in one Merc Company..... and I show you a bankrupt Merc Company
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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5724
Location: United States
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| Posted: 10-Dec-2003 23:58 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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i would say 1/12 or 1/6 is reasonable for a Merc company. [with the higher tonnages being rairer, 3025 being more avalible.] i think thou not as flexable as lights they can be the potential weight to throw around when you need it.
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one must work hard to cultivate the mind and body. and one must always cultivate the mind.
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 01:13 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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Yes but rarely. The Occasinal Assult Battle field salvage will fall into their hands, and the occasinal transfer to the unit, bringing in their own mech.
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Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 07:14 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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Yes, there would be Assaults in any Merc Company. It would be rare and used to anchor a line or to aid in protecting the Fire support mechs....
Most merc's wouldn't use it every Battle and Skirmish, but it would see it's fair share.....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 605
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 09:57 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I would go even farther and say that the bulk of ANY unit should be mediums. The way units have been fielding heavies and assaults makes me wonder if mediums are even being built anymore. Mediums are supposed to be the mainstay of mech units. Heavies are used to defend or attack high value targets and assaults are used to attack fixed positions.
Or I should say were. Ever since 3050 it seems every other mech is a hundred tonner.
The best mechwarrior campaign I was involved in was a light lance. My mech was a 2ml version of the Stinger. In the same battle it got shot out from under me I salvaged a Vindicator. Big upgrade, but I would have been happier in Pistol Pete, my Stinger. Granted my light lance didn't go toe to toe with big units like the 7th Sword of Light, but we had a good time raiding behind the lines and shooting up ammo dumps and convoys. And in the end what is going to win a campaign, a couple of of lances of mechs or your supply train?
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The more I get to know people the more I like my dog.
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Paul
Capellan Confederation
Sang-wei
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 255
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 10:44 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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My take:
Yes and no.
First the no:
Assaults can be a powerful, but specialized tool. Their speed in particular really limits their strategic deployment. You just can't go about raiding behind enemy lines with one; you'll get intercepted in no time by a company of mediums. You might take 1-2 of em out, (If they're stupid and don;t rotate damaged Mechs out of range) but you're dead anyway.
Specialization can be fun, and I suppose there could be money in being trucked along as a hammer that';s used a handful of times in a campaign, but most Merc units would thrive based on how many *different* mission profiles they can fit in.
Additionally, cost is an issue. They're more expensive to field. Their components are more expensive. For the price of 1 assault you can get a number of lighter Mechs.
Now the yes part:
In a 3025 setting, 4/6 is adequate as far as speed goes. Mechs such as the Zeus, Cyclops and Banshee will keep up with Mechs such as the Centurion, Hunchback and Enforcer.
In that situation it becomes more useful to have those types of Assault Mechs around since they can then be relied upon to do the duties other Mediums do as well.
3/5 and slower is a problem though, tactically and strategically, forcing 3/5 Mechs to be used defensively or against fixed positions. Seems too expensive an investment for such limited utility.
3050+ things get foggier. XL engines allow for swifter assaults with quite some punch, but other Mech classes get faster as well.
Tonnage is an issue as well. If, as a Merc Company, you have 1 Union, and you have to pick between fielding 12 Centurions or 12 Zeus', it seems obvious to me you'll be a lot more lethal and useful when you bring those Assaults.
Unit size is another consideration. Small Merc units typically can't afford to weight their unit down with an Assault, decreasing their utility. But a Merc regiment would typically find use for it's Assault Company or Battalion.
Overall, I voted No though. Go Medium instead.
Paul
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 11:19 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I vote yes. If you're fielding a command lance it might as well contain a few heavies or fast assaults. They're no good for scouting, but you can use them when you really need to kill things dead. Hey, they can stay at your LZ guarding the dropships if the contract is about speed.
Battlemaster, Charger, Zeus and the like, these are the kinds of assault mechs suited for general use in merc companies. Not too specialized, fast enough to keep up with any ordinary heavies you might have.
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 11:30 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I have to agreed with Nightmare. Certain assault mechs have a very generalized setup, especially in 3025. You also have to "repect the banana" ( those who play Worms Armegedon will understand  ). There is nothing like deploying to defend a target against a raiding force or pirates and watching them hestiate as your Assault (s)comes forward. Can you imagine the radio chatter..........
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"Ours is not to question why, ours is just to do...."
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Paul
Capellan Confederation
Sang-wei
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 255
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 11:49 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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True, the type of horror you feel when your Light Lance full of PC's realizes it has to, somehow, get past that Awesome is something else.
Still, the relatively limited use of Assaults means you'll be better off with Mediums far more often than not.
Assaults won't be useless, but they won't contribute significantly to a unit's success or failure.
Unless you're in the habit of defending static targets for a living.
Paul
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 12:36 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I vote yes. in the smaller units, they belong in the command lance, to boost any final efforts. (companies and battalions) In the larger units, they should be about a company per Regiment. Most mercs do not specialize, but I could see where a merc unit that specialized in relief, or other missions where high endurance and firepower are needed- not speed-would have a lot more assault mechs.
The main limiting factor on assaults is their mobility, if it wasn't for that they mount enough weapons to provide a lot of flexibility.
To get even marginally acceptable mobility out of an assault you need XL and Jump, and that is difficult to find. Most mercs cannot afford custom assault mechs with that kind of tech, so the number should remain low.
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Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and strings also lie under it all.
Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 13:45 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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It's also funny to watch those lights race for an end-around only to meet up with a couple of Awesome's and Atlas's....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 13:55 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I would have to agree with the general consensus. If you are a smaller merc unit than you would not have any, but the larger units should have a few. In order to get flexability you also need to be able to run those defense missions. Occasionally an assault would be just the thing for a merc unit. It helps if you are lucky enough to be able to salvage some. Overall you should be using lights and mediums with the occasional heavy and assault.
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1258
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 21:01 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I don't see many except the richest merc units being able to plain afford an assault mech.
I would expect that most merc units would have a large number of medium mechs, possibly a few heavies, and a decent number of lights.
There are just too many missions that you cannot run with assaults because they run too slowly. If a merc company landed a lance of assault mechs on a planet, that lance would be targets of everything the planet could throw at em. They cannot maneuver well, or quickly.
Pin
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Dec-2003 23:42 Post subject: RE: Assaualt Mechs in Merc Units |
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I would see larger merc units having fast heavies, solid mediums and a few light scouts.
The heavies give you the firepower with enough mobility, the mediums the flexiblity, the lights info gathering.
Enough light mechs could get busted up trying to fight, that you would wish you had an assault mech. I tend to stick to the heavier side of the light mechs, they can carry enough armor to take some hits with out major damage.
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Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and strings also lie under it all.
Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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