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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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 Posted: 09-Feb-2004 16:15 Post subject: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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How many Locusts do you need to create a "swarm"? I mean, 4 is a lance, 12 is a company, etc...
Mental picture... out of a dozen Overlord dropships stream Locusts of different variations. That would be a sight. (please suspend reason or logic when answering this question as only an insane leader with a Locust fetish would squander Overlord resources to launch an attack with only Locusts).
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Old Dog
Capellan Confederation
Sang-wei
Joined: 24-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 299
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 16:32 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Well, one general of old did just this ... Locusts, Stingers, and Wasps, unleashed in a ravening horde.
Didn't work too well.
At all.
It's in the 3025 book. I'll dig up the story in a bit. 
-- Old Dog, historical hound
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Motown Scrapper
Clan Ice Hellions
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 24-Jul-2003 00:00
Posts: 2074
Location: United States
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 17:24 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Quote:
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On 2004-02-09 16:32, Old Dog wrote:
Well, one general of old did just this ... Locusts, Stingers, and Wasps, unleashed in a ravening horde.
Didn't work too well.
At all.
It's in the 3025 book. I'll dig up the story in a bit.
-- Old Dog, historical hound
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You are referring to Captain Mercer Ravannion who used Wasps and Stingers it is mentioned twice once in the Stinger section and again in the Blackjack section...he got his but handed to him both times.
--Lots of books in the scrap yard. 
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 912
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 17:32 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Hey, I have a Locust fetish.. must have something to do with seeing the AT&STs of Return of the Jedi in my childhood.
Have you checked out my TRO 3025 Reloaded in my website? The Locust improves a lot with a customized 'Mech template, and all the variants become possible, even the LRM one ! (actually I'm stuck with the fluff on that one, but will finish soon)
And I think a battallion of assorted Locust s variants would be an excellent raiding force.
PS: Ravannion met his end in a battle with McKinnon's Commandos (Fox Teeth Scenario pack)
Ravannion theory was good, but implementation didn't work. If you use my TRO 3025 templates, the horde tactics would work.
[ This Message was edited by: Vampire on 2004-02-09 17:35 ]
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Motown Scrapper
Clan Ice Hellions
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 24-Jul-2003 00:00
Posts: 2074
Location: United States
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 17:47 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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I hold the Locust in rather High regard myself I especially like the LCT-1E One of the best level one lights
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Having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have-Rush Limbaugh www.rushlimbaugh.com
Force of nature
Still crazy after all these years
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 19:38 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Quote:
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On 2004-02-09 16:15, Havoc~Ronin wrote:
How many Locusts do you need to create a "swarm"? I mean, 4 is a lance, 12 is a company, etc...
Mental picture... out of a dozen Overlord dropships stream Locusts of different variations. That would be a sight. (please suspend reason or logic when answering this question as only an insane leader with a Locust fetish would squander Overlord resources to launch an attack with only Locusts).
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Insane what do you mean insane!!!??? That is a stroke of pure genius!!!!! Like all great minds they are thought of as wackos and then after they die.... hey that idea works and it is cool.
For me a swarm is at least 8, 12 or a company is better. And I can visualize a Locust horde easily, and all the variants.
As for a standard Overlord, it would be a waste, but if you use my alternate rules, then you may get 2 battalions of Locusts on the ground.
AWAD- But as a pillage raid..... what do you do as defender? 36 high speed gooney birds have just flown the coop
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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: 09-Feb-2004 20:25 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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the Amphegean Light Assault Groups are the result of the Kuritan Generals experimenting.
An emphasis on a lot of light mechs in "super lances" with a few lances of fast mediums or heavies to provide some punch.
Focus too much on the heavier"really dangerous" mechs and the locusts spread out in your back arc and pull a hail ceaser on you with a bunch of lasers in the back.
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 21:48 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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To the best of my knowledge, Ravinnon and Co. are most closely detailed in "The Fox's Teeth: Exploits of McKinnon's Raiders." The specific scenario was "The Swarm's Sting" on pp. 15-16. (according to my "unseen" copy of that particular resource).
I would be willing to run the scenario for anyone interested in seeing how Ravinnon's tactics would actually work out.
My personal favorite Stinger pilot was the Pilot of the "Lots o' Luck VII." I remember a Mechwarrior campaign set in the 3050s where this guy was still a Stinger pilot, and on the "Lots o' Luck XXIV."
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 21:58 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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| As the defender, you deploy hordes of hidden infantry and fixed emplacements around anything of value. Any 'mechs should be used this way as well. As soon as those Locusts start hitting contrated RPG or LAW fire, they will start taking casualties. Even if a Battalion-sized force of Locusts had some LCT-1Ms providing fire support, they would get bogged down pretty quick in any sort of limiting terrain concealing hidden units. Hovercraft and conventional fighters can also be useful against Locusts.
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Old Dog
Capellan Confederation
Sang-wei
Joined: 24-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 299
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| Posted: 09-Feb-2004 23:18 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Darn you all. I'd gotten the book fished out and found the right passages when you'd already posted it all. Nyeah!
Didn't know about the scenario, tho. I'm still missing scads of the old, cool modules and such. Need to fix that someday.
Still, done right, it can be pretty harsh. When I was slashing through people in our biggest tourney a few years back, my Clanners (Yes, this was when I was showing everyone how broken they were) were using primarily Puma ... twin Large Pulse (Clan flavor) with targeting computer and 10 DHS? Yeep! I was fielding about six, a pair of missile and AMS-sporting ... ack. 30 tons, really stinks? Ack! Brain melt! And then a couple units of battle armor. Two stars to teh average company or pair of heavy lances. Heck, once I fought a lance of assault mechs and had teh IS outnumbered by two to one! That was crazy!
My small mechs would stay on the run, using teh crazy raneg of teh Clan LPL and their speed advantage to just hammer away at teh IS mechs. When one would suffer an armor breach, he'd retire frmo teh field and another warrior would issue challenge, and step up to finish the poor IS mech. It was ugly. DOubly so since we put in repair cost ruls, for teh ongoing campaign. WHile other people were losing half tehir mechs or more in battle, I was getting out with armor damage and maybe a half dozen Internal Structure damage. Virtually no criticals (I think I lost one arm actuator and a DHS the entire time), and certainly no missing limbs, let alone destroyed mechs.
My leader took teh field in her Masakari, tooled for full cheese with four LPL and teh DHS to fire them all without buildup, and just LPL-TC'd everyone silly. Stay at a distance, and she'd win just by racking up hit after hit. CLose in, and she'd take a leg or, if you had an XL engine, a side torso via targeted fire.
It wasn't even a fight.
Thankfully, using 3025 tech, this strategy gets much, much harder, and you actually have to use tactical movement, trying to triangulate for rear shots and keep on teh move, wearing a target down like a pride of lions on an Elephant. Nip here, bite there, then pounce when it's weakened.
-- Old Dog, much prefers 3025.
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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| Posted: 10-Feb-2004 11:30 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Good point, but I would have to disagree with you on the lions and elephants analogue. Perhaps a pod of orcas and a whale would be better, since the elephant's hide is too thick for a lion to puncture. Plus, having faced a pissed off male elephant before ( just to jump into my landrover secs later and hightail it out of there), I can attest to the fact that they can do serious damage.
However, the mental picture is well worth it!! I like it !!
Thanks for the references. I just bought that scenario off ebay, so I will have to look it up.
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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| Posted: 10-Feb-2004 11:31 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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lol...
I would be willing to give it a try. Campaigning is always so fun.
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Havoc~Ronin
Federated Suns
Major
Joined: 13-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 427
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| Posted: 10-Feb-2004 11:36 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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This is great!! I did not expect this kind of response. I too like the Locust for what it does, but I did not know there were references to the tactic actually being used. lol
Now to throw this on its head.... Replace the Locusts with Urbies!!! How is that for a mental picture... slow waddling garbage cans lumbering from dropships, fanning out to engage the enemy. Perhaps tactic employed by an opium-loving Liao general?
My head hurts.....
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Old Dog
Capellan Confederation
Sang-wei
Joined: 24-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 299
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| Posted: 10-Feb-2004 12:22 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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Nahh, Urbies are purely defensive mechs. Putting them in the field is *always* a mistake, as noted in the original 3025 Urbanmech writeup where a general (I think a Liao!) went ahead and marched his Urbies out to hold off teh enemy, rather than fight in the city.
Oopsie.
The Rubbermade Brigade can be an effective fighting force, but you have to stick to teh cities to have a chance.
-- Old Dog, loves dem Urbies!
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-Mud
ex-Jade Falcon
Bounty Hunter
Joined: 04-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1082
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| Posted: 10-Feb-2004 21:21 Post subject: RE: An Outer Limits Locust Question. |
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With all of the stuff which is either out of print or illegal to produce these days, getting good battletech stuff is a lot like finding losttech. If only I had a Marauder mold...I'd be set for life given the amount people are willing to pay for an unseen Marauder these days. I'm glad I bought mine for five bucks at the store.
[ This Message was edited by: -Mud on 2004-02-10 21:22 ]
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