From: pwg25888@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Patrick W. Grady)
Subject: Re: Locust revamp
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:08:01 GMT

Steve.Lamb@f1369.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Lamb) writes:

>All,
>    I just got the Battletech v3.0 set, and love the one new rule....  #
>heatsinks = <enige rating>/25 need not be allocated.  YEAH!  Remember, coming
>from v1.0 this is a a godsend.

I thought that this rule was good also.

>    Anyway, my two revamps of the Locust.  In the age of redicoiusly stupid
>mechs (about anything outside the basic game rules qualifies) the locust
>became quickly obsolete no matter how it was revamped.  So here's my entries
>for the locust under the set rules ONLY!

>SL-Locust-1M3

>    This modification is rather simple, and probably was thought of already.
>The locust can WALK faster than most mechs can RUN.  Placing machine-guns on
>it is a waste of good tonnage.  remove the machine-guns and ammo and replace
>with two more Medium lasers.  If it walks...  *NO* heat build-up and it's
>combat effective range damage jumps from 5 to 15.  If a Locust is close enough
					     ^^^^^^
'Scuse me.  Is this Clan ER Mediums you are talking about?  Last time I looked
at the rules, the only ER weapons the IS had were Large Lasers and PPC's.
	
>to use machine-guns, it's TOO close!

>SL-Locust-1P1  (Mini-Marauder)

>    This locust is called the mini-marauder for one reason.  It sports a PPC
>on the left torso.  The medium-laser, machine-guns, ammo, and all but ONE ton
>of armor have been stripped.  Since when it is playing with the heacies it's
>dead in one shot ANYWAY this gives it the chance, AND the range to do some
>damage. If it's up against some of it's brethen it will whollop them something
>fierce! This mech is EXCELLENT for sneak attacks and quick retreats. Obviously
>not a front-line mech by a long shot!

Gee.  One shot. One hit. One kill.   No armor is a pain in the butt.

>    OK, so, there's three mods...

>SL-Locust-1A1  (Sniper)

>    Same as the SL-Locust-1P1 except the PPC is replaced with an AC/2 and the
>ammo is in the center torso.  Like I said before, this mech can walk faster
>than most mechs can RUN.  A smart cookie can take down a BM with this puppy.
>Stay out of PPC range and play sniper.  Have this sucker hiding WAAAAAY back
>and it becomes your ace in the hole when their heavies have more armor than
>yours. (PING!)   (PING!)   <snicker>
 
This idea works only if you have some terrain advantage.

>    So go ahead, point out that being in a mech with little or no armor is
>suicide.  And I'll point out two things in return.  1:  Being in a Locust
>anywhere NEAR heavies is suicide ANYWAY and...  2: I'm the dude who took a
>lowly Romulan vessel and beat the Excelsior.  Remember, boys and girls, if
>they can't find you, they can't shoot you, and if they can't shoot you, who
>needs shields? And if you don't run with shields up...  It's considered
>suicide... But you can also FIRE when cloaked.  <EVIL GRIN>  Fire from 1 hex
>away... Awesome damage and next round, if you keep your movement up, they have
>to guess which arc you are in.  :)
 
Personally, I modify my Locust's by dropping that MG/ammo garbage for a second
Medium Laser and a larger engine.  Currently the Locust has a 160 engine, but
for an extra ton, you can install a 180 engine and move W 9  R 14.  That 
worked great in our pre-Clan campaigns.  A little extra speed and firepower
for just a few C-bills.

>Steve C. Lamb, SysOp of Abcb Cafe     | "Wherefore art thou Ushiko-san!?"
>Abcb Cafe 1:203/1369@Fidonet.org      |                    -- Umao-san
>    Data: (916) 363-1424              | "Wherefore art thou Umao-san!?"
>cm644@cleveland.freenet.edu           |                    -- Ushiko-san
>abcbcafe!foxx@csusac.ecs.csus.edu     |   From Kimagure Orange Road

Patrick

-- 
Patrick Grady               |  I express my opinion,
                            |  I express your opinion
email: p-grady2@uiuc.edu    |  for large sums of money.

From: Steve.Lamb@f1369.n203.z1.sac.ca.us (Steve Lamb)
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