From: eda858xsft@vx24.cc.monash.edu.au
Subject: <None>
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 00:22:31 GMT

> In article <1992Nov5.230744.13904@midway.uchicago.edu>, arp2@ellis.uchicago.edu (andrew robert polis) writes:
>>>I can smear any mech lance with artillery (no problem--none).
>>>I can take out a city with artillery. 
>>>I can take out a lance with elementals.
> 
>    Under the right conditions, I would agree.  In open terrain against such
> and such lange which uses PPC's (blah, blah) the elementals get shot at too
> far away, unless of course you are dealing with say, an entire trinary of
> elementals, but then you are still dealing with conditions.
> 
>>>I can take out anything that I want with an AeroTech fighter.
> 
>    I used to think that myself, and while I agree with you, all it takes is
> one mech loaded down with nothing but medium lasers or large lasers with no
> regard to heat to lay waste to the fighter, and he doesn't have to be in
> the strafe arc.
> 
>>>I can take out infantry with Mechs, elementals with artillery (or AeroTech).
> 
>    Agreed.
> 
>>>All I really have to do is say "I want all artillery (plus some of my handy  
>>>spotters: 30/45 5-ton heilos with...C3 (or TAG--take your pick), or all  
>>>AeroTech fighters (configured to strafe, of course)", and you can't win.  
>>>
>>>Period.
> 
>    Unless I take similar forces.
> 
>> Oh,  is ths so?  What if against your fighters, my mechs were to hide in 
>> heavy woods, giving you a 10+ to hit us (not even counting movement, its 
>> impossible for you to hit if Ijump 5 alo), and giving us 6+ to hit if
>> you strafe, and 10+ if you just fly overhead( again not counting 
>> movement). Even though you get more shots, it looks like the odds aer 
>> against you.  And you can't bide your time like we can, what with
>> that fuel expenditure.
> 
>    I like that stratagy, but I haven't used Aerotech with Battletech in so
> long that I'm not sure how effective it would be. 
>  
>> Artillery: (and weanie spotters) those spotters would have to be TAG,
>> since those C3 computers (the master units, anyway) weigh as much as the 
>> chopper (so sorry).  These spotters unfortunately wouldn't work very well,
> 
>    Make 15 ton choppers that move a minimum of 10, have fusion engines and
> the C3 slave unit, and a (10 or 12) small lasers just in case you are
> fighting an idiot (no reflection on anyone here).  Put the master units on
> your artillery, 1 to a system.
> 
>> since it really only takes one hit to destroy them.  Even though their to hit
>> chances would consistently be about 1-3 better than mine( depending on what 
>> mechs I had)., we each get many shots of which only 1 needs to hit, and also
>> they would have to come in close, to not waste their precious homing missels
>> (we are talking about a campaign after all) on 10+(long range & flank speed)
>> or harder shots. So they would each last through one or two spots, and then
>> we would beat up your artillery with their 9+ base direct fire shots.
> 
>    You try targetting 30 helos moving 10 (cruise) apiece, that comes out to
> about +5 to hit, and that doesn't say anything about your movement or
> terrian modifiers.  If you let even just 1 or 2 of those little guys get
> by you, you will find out just how fast a helo can shred your back armor,
> and as her turns to run, he can TAG you in the butt.  This tactic works
> well even against intelligent opponents, especially when you give them
> something else to worry about, like a 100 LRM carrier cutting loose with
> Thunders and normal munitions (Oh, yeah, he has a C3 master, too, so he can
> sit back at long range and shoot as if it was whatever the little spotter's
> range was.)  If you haven't guessed, the whole idea here is misdirection.
>    Also, we may just be talking about a single battle.  You don't need an
> entire campaign to take a world all of the time.
> 
>> And you would be sorry.  Period.
> 
>    In Battletech, as in any game where you use random dice rolls, there are
> no definitive "period"s, just high probabilities.
> -----
> Master Hawk
> Leader of the Night Parade
> 
>    "And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered, and
> the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age, and the Dark One shall
> once more lay his hand upon the world of man."
>                               -from The Karaethon Cycle:
>                                The Prophecies of the Dragon.

Ahhhh Bunnies Just since we don't seem to be worrying about cost or
availability I'll take 3 McKenna's and a full complement of fighters.

Was that a city down there? What happened to that Mech Regiment.....

Paul Ortenburg