Battletech - Also known as Trannytech

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StevieLasVegas said:
It's where I go to get ideas for mechs I want. Something to keep in minds, save for named/infamous mechs or the vast majority of XTRO mechs, you don't have any real restriction of mechs if you can think of ways as to how they got the mech. The factions' mech list are for the most part guidelines.
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Yep. Loot salvage is a massive part of BT, not just in the video games.
 
Gezkill said:
But also don't be that guy who running Donegal Guards in 3025 and decided "Yeah I'm fielding a Mad-Cat."
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I had to look that up just to make sure the Timby had even been invented at that point, and yep, 2945 thankfully. Wouldn't be surprised if someone tried to pull that shit with an Omni or other Clan 'Mech that hadn't even been invented yet, though.
 
This does raise a point though:

I am trying to build my lances in such a way that in their respective eras, the mechs/variants actually have been available to whatever unit that fields them. If it's extinct or only available to ComStar, I usually tend to not use them (unless in very, very few occasions, like a DC lance with a Royal Regiment Version of the Shadowhawk that I flimsily excuse as a one-off during Operation Rosebud).
In some minor cases, I put a mech or variant in a unit that was readily availabe to other factions and excuse it via salvage.

So it's not like I am 100% strict on what to put where, I just try to avoid contradicting MUL as best as I can.

But of course, putting Clan Mechs in IS lances before the Clan Invasion is a no-go....

How do you do it? And how do you go about fielding Clan units in IS lances? Are Clan units just fair game as long as the MUL says that faction has access to it, do you take into account the unit that fields them. Ie: a unit that spent its sweet time dicking around far away from anything Clan Invasion is SOOL, while some frontline Operation Bulldog veteran unit just swims in sweet sweet Clan-brand bullshit weapons?
 
Pre-coffee post, please forgive any typos and/or incoherency.
RomanesEuntDomus said:
This does raise a point though:

I am trying to build my lances in such a way that in their respective eras, the mechs/variants actually have been available to whatever unit that fields them. If it's extinct or only available to ComStar, I usually tend to not use them (unless in very, very few occasions, like a DC lance with a Royal Regiment Version of the Shadowhawk that I flimsily excuse as a one-off during Operation Rosebud).
In some minor cases, I put a mech or variant in a unit that was readily availabe to other factions and excuse it via salvage.

So it's not like I am 100% strict on what to put where, I just try to avoid contradicting MUL as best as I can.

But of course, putting Clan Mechs in IS lances before the Clan Invasion is a no-go....

How do you do it? And how do you go about fielding Clan units in IS lances? Are Clan units just fair game as long as the MUL says that faction has access to it, do you take into account the unit that fields them. Ie: a unit that spent its sweet time dicking around far away from anything Clan Invasion is SOOL, while some frontline Operation Bulldog veteran unit just swims in sweet sweet Clan-brand bullshit weapons?
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I tend to play fairly fast and loose with unit composition. If it's been in general and open use for at least ten years in-universe, it's fair game. Militaries in BT are allergic to standardization, and BattleMech manufacturers are all too happy to sell to civilian entities, so it really is no big deal to get basically anything as a mercenary or even House military unit. Buy it new, take it as salvage, find it mothballed somewhere, or receive it in parts as a contract reward and watch your techs playing with the biggest Lego set ever for a month or two. It all works out in the end.

As for mixed units with Clan tech, up to the FedCom Civil War era I field at most one Clan machine per lance, usually one per two lances or three per company, and they're usually the lightest unit in their formation unless they're also the command 'Mech. Any more than that and the unit starts feeling really cheesy, and I always have a IS 'Mech of similar BV ready to sub in if the opponent doesn't go for mixed units. On the rare post-Jihad game, since Clan Happy Merchant is around I up the limit to a maximum of 2 Clan 'Mechs per lance, up to 5 per company.
 
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RomanesEuntDomus said:
So it's not like I am 100% strict on what to put where, I just try to avoid contradicting MUL as best as I can.
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With regards to the MUL i always treat it specficaly when it comes to mercs that if it isn't in the list then it will either be rare or pretty uncommon for the mech to be seen in the Merc Outfit.
 
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StevieLasVegas said:
@Takayuki Yagami

To give you an idea of whatfactions/pirates/mercs use and in what time period, look up Master Unit List. Catalyst Game Labs runs it and updates it as frequently as they can. It does the following for the game:
  • Let's you see what each faction brings to war; mechs, infantry, vehicles, ConstructionMechs, battle armour, drop pods, the works. Even separates it all by time period
  • When you look at something, it shows you the battle value, the C-bill cost, what period it first appeared include what year. There's even a collapsible menu on the right side of the page that shows you who used the thing (I'm just gonna be lazy at this point to cover all the things and call them just that) by time period.
  • Want to play the faster paced Alpha Strike version of the game? Well most of the things on the site have printable cards with all the Alpha Strike stats needed to play. Some things, like a lot of the prime variants of omnimech, lack the AS card but whatever
  • Top right corner of the thing's page links to you what TRO (fluff on the things), Record Sheets (the stat sheets for the standard BT game), XTRO (experimental things. Most are meh and are technically only available in the FedCom Civil War or Jihad time periods. They're niche things, but you might find something you like. I dig the Banshee BSH-11X in the Lyran one as its a dumb wall of armor), Recognition Guide (the upcoming ilClan time period's TRO and record sheet combo. XRTOs are designed the same way), historical books, what issue of Shrapnel they were in, and I think you get it at this point. If you click on it, or even just go to source tab (big fuckoff list off all the books with stuff for the game), it gives you the rundown of all the things you can use in it as well as links to either CGL's store or to DriveThru RPG's site. CGL tends to be cheaper, but DriveThru tends to have more sales, so shop around
It's where I go to get ideas for mechs I want. Something to keep in minds, save for named/infamous mechs or the vast majority of XTRO mechs, you don't have any real restriction of mechs if you can think of ways as to how they got the mech. The factions' mech list are for the most part guidelines.
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I was considering getting the armored combat box. Seems to have a good variety of stuff.
 
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Takayuki Yagami said:
I was considering getting the armored combat box. Seems to have a good variety of stuff.
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Its a legit a good way to start. I know that they are going to be releasing a new starter set as well with a bunch of other nifty cool things in the next year.

Also new Kickstarter thats going to be focused on Mercs. Hoping we get some GDS BattleArmor redesigns as well.
 
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Takayuki Yagami said:
Do people generally prefer stock battletech or Alpha Strike?
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Stock BattleTech will always have a spot in my heart because I am and will always be a crunch sperg, but being able to actually finish company-level battles in less than a whole weekend gives Alpha Strike the prize in my book.

In general, though, I'm pretty sure normal BattleTech has more fans. Alpha Strike is just a variant ruleset, after all, and a lot of old-school guys say it's just "dumbing down" the game.
 
Classic BT has the same problem Warhammer 40k has: after a certain point it takes bloody forever.

(And mind you, CBT is actually faster than 40k in my opinion.)

If you absolutely MUST run company sized battles, either do it through Alpha Strike, or through MegaMek (which automates a number of processes and can speed things along).
 
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Takayuki Yagami said:
Do people generally prefer stock battletech or Alpha Strike?
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I legit prefer both honestly. Both CBT and AS bring tons of stuff to the table and honestly I don't get the hate for AS. If you want to do xbox huge battles with Classic its still there. But honestly I prefer doing those types of Battles in AS. Did a Battalion size battle and shit was tops.
 
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Gezkill said:
I legit prefer both honestly. Both CBT and AS bring tons of stuff to the table and honestly I don't get the hate for AS. If you want to do xbox huge battles with Classic its still there. But honestly I prefer doing those types of Battles in AS. Did a Battalion size battle and shit was tops.
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Nothing's going to top the month-long recreation of Tukayyid someone did, though.
 
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I prefer stock, but I am a weirdo who doesn't mind the long (many times multi-day) sessions. Battletech is one of those games that you can put up and tear-down between sessions. Taking photos and notes on last positions help. Spending 2-4 hours and then taking a break to rest the minds of the boys also helps.
 
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BONE_Buddy said:
I prefer stock, but I am a weirdo who doesn't mind the long (many times multi-day) sessions. Battletech is one of those games that you can put up and tear-down between sessions. Taking photos and notes on last positions help. Spending 2-4 hours and then taking a break to rest the minds of the boys also helps.
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It's really convenient thanks to the numbers on the hexes... but is there a preferred method to do it with, say, deep cut studio gaming matts? They don't have numbers in their hex fields, sadly.

Also, I am a bit sad. The BT store of my choice had huge sets of jumpships, warships, dropshits and fighters for like 60 bucks a pop and I always meant to buy one or two of those if I had the money to spare, but after being in that shop for like 2 years, they took them down. Maybe I'll find decent versions of some of the ships on Thingiverse or something.
 
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