From: arp2@ellis.uchicago.edu (andrew robert polis)
Subject: Re: BTECH-Gamer/Player  which are you?
Reply-To: arp2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:45:02 GMT

Mok writes:
>
>*SIGH*
>
>it has been a while since i last posted on this thread.
>i think it is because i am becoming jaded in my 'old age'.
>
>all the arguements...errr....discussions on the net right
>now are ones that i have seen at least twice before in the
>past 2 years.
>
>it seems that people who play BattleTech in the BattleTech
>universe are going the way of the dinosaurs.  i can remember
>when a 'mech force was just that, a BattleMech force.  lately,
>BattleMechs have been chosen as only about 1/3 the tonnage 
>and less than 1/4 of all the vehicles shown. 
Well, I play a battletech campaign in the battletech universe,  and it
just so happens that mechs do not mske up the majority of thearmed forces
in this univesre.  Take for example, the copmosition of the 3050 Rasalhague
Kungsarme (from 20 year update).:
                       Mech Regiments   15
                       Tank Regiments   32
                       Inf. Regiments   97
                       Militia Regiment 62

So, you can see that mechs make up significantly less than 1/4 of the total
units.  And while the idea of combined amrs units is relatively new to the
successor states (c. 3039, though many mercenary units had been using long
before then), it is now a part of the battletech universe.
>
>am i the last of my kind?  i play campaign Btech.  the motto
>for me is how much material was lost, not how many people
>were killed.  even Kurita fanatics would start running dry
>with the number of spotters and suicidal hover pilots that
>seem to be on battlemap sheets now.

People always count as moch as the material (from a practical standpoint). It
becomes very difficult to recruit new soldiers if you get a reputation for
killing them off.  And also, no tech or trainee is a sybstitute for a 
skilled veteran warrior.  (although, in prior years, due to the 
technological decline, equipment may have been more important to many units).

And I never have used or advocated the use of hordes of suicidal VTOL or 
hovercrat pilots.  I only use reasonable and feasible units, and they
usually work better.

>
>there are always techs and trainies to step in and pilot a 
>mech.  but, there are not always mechs to pilot.  my
>characters personal best juryrigging was 2 engine,
>2 ppc, and 1 medium laser after a particularly bloody
>guerilla campaign.  yes, it WAS a marauder.  bloody
>hot towards the end.
>
>as towards having longtoms, snipers, thumpers, and arrow IV
>missile systems:
>
>longtoms are scenerio object items.
>snipers, thumpers never are mech fitted and are SO SLOW in shells
>                  arriving to be nearly worthless.
>arrow IV made mostly by capelians for capelians.

Now I know that according to Objective Raids, the only pice of artillery
manufactured in the inner sphere is the aroow IV on th Capellan world of
Menke.  but I'm not sure if I'm willing to completely believe this.
Still, you're right about artillery being rare, but most regiments
will contain an artillery lance.  Some such as the Eridani Light Horse,
could have several long toms per regiment, though these would only be
prosperous and elite units.
>
>i am personally happy to have a Star Lord jumpship with 1 Union
>and 4 Leopards to ship my companies.  i could not imagine having
>enough resources and transportation facilities to take vehicles,
>infantry, artillery, and the like with me on raids and assaults.

Oh, this is good, you're complaining about people who use too moch artillery
and you've just got to have your Star Lord monstrosity.  Well letr me tell
you it's just a little easier to get artillery than one of those babies. Why
couldn't you just get another union, and ride on a "common" invader?
 Jumpship Hog.
>
>is there ANYONE left who still campaigns and does not use clan?
Well, since the clans are now a part of the battletech universe, I do
use them, but only rarely actually.
>
>					Mok
>
>a.k.a.  Mjr Kessel
>        CMDR 537th Reinforced Heavy Company
>        CMDR 369th Heavy Company
>        Mercs now employed by Snakes
>
>	How can you expect to outwit a maniacal genius on an
>	empty tummy?   
>					-Eve
>					 Mann and Machine
>
>



-Andrew Polis