From: clarka@netcom.com (Andrew Clark)
Subject: Re: BTECH-Gamer/Player  which are you?
Followup-To: rec.games.board 
Summary: both, and neither 
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: world 
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 05:01:46 GMT

elm4252@zeus.tamu.edu (MOORE, ERIC LEE) 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'.

You're not a senior already?  :)  Hope to see you on rec.games.mecha.

>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. 

If FASA wanted us to use only Battlemechs, then they shouldn't
have written tank/hover/VTOL/submarine/naval/hydrofoil/wheeled
vehicle or building rules.  I'm glad they included these other
options, but 'Mechs still reign supreme in many roles. 

Mechs are the strike units.  When you have to go in under
heavy fire, you'd better be in a 'Mech.  Mechs are hardest to
kill and can dish out very respectable damage; they have
staying power.  They are more maneuverable in close terrain and in
cities; they can be dropped from orbit; and they can perform
physical attacks.

In a campaign game, they can build field fortifications :)

>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.

Something I regularly complain about.  However, the average
survival rate for my hover pilots is higher than that for many
'Mech pilots.  If a 'Mech pilot loses, s/he's dead (even though      
I often put a couple of VTOLs on combat search and rescue if I've      
got a few tons to spare.)  Hover pilots can run away from
overwhelming forces.

>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.

True.  That's why there are lots of vehicles around.  It's
easier to build tanks than 'Mechs -- in fact, tanks should
be less vulnerable to criticals (which is more vulnerable,
a steel box with treads or a steel body with four articulated 
limbs and a head?)  It's just F*SA making sure that a   
well-designed vehicle can't beat a well-designed Mech. 

>as towards having longtoms, snipers, thumpers, and arrow IV
>missile systems:
>
>longtoms are scenerio object items.

Agreed, but many large units will have them, as will some cities
or key points.  I don't use Long Toms in my forces for this 
exact reason.

>snipers, thumpers never are mech fitted and are SO SLOW in shells
>                  arriving to be nearly worthless.

That's what you think.  Snipers and Thumpers are great for
doing damage when the enemy cannot respond, or providing smoke
at a key moment, or at finishing off a downed 'Mech.  Slow is 
relative -- if it's at the limits of its range, it will take too
long.  Predicting where an enemy will be three turns from now
requires a different level of tactical skill; and it's so joyous
when everything works!  (We require that hex numbers be written down
and folded, with the turn of landing written on top.)

Snipers and thumpers aren't 'Mech fitted in your universe.  They
are legal in Btech rules, and you'd better believe they are in mine.
Why put an expensive piece of sophisticated hardware in a vulnerable
tracked vehicle when you can install it in a 'Mech and take advantage
of the neurohelmet and better sensors?  

>arrow IV made mostly by capelians for capelians.

Yes!  Absolutely!  I hate Arrow IV unless I'm using it ;)
It's a good system, but there should be a limitation on its use.

>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.

Star Lord?  You're rich.  I've got a Merchant.  BTW, F*SA's
Dropships and Jumpships book (out of print, I think) has
listings for lots and lots of transport DropShips not
designed for dropping 'Mechs.  After this much war, guess what
kind of DropShip is most common?

>is there ANYONE left who still campaigns and does not use clan?

I campaign on large-scale, not small.  I fight the Clan, but I'll
never use it myself.  I get a kick out of being the Russians
(Inner Sphere) against the Americans (Clan.) 

>	How can you expect to outwit a maniacal genius on an
>	empty tummy?   
>					-Eve
>					 Mann and Machine

At UC San Diego, it's safer to have an empty tummy than to eat
the cafeteria food  . . .
-- 
clarka@netcom.com     Andrew Clark     My ignorance is my own fault.
"We have virtual reality today: Pete Wilson lives in it." | Bad cop! 
"Macs are to computing what television is to journalism." | No donut! 
Secondary account at aclark@UCSD.EDU -- prefer mail at netcom site.   
Newsgroups: rec.games.board