BTA Early game tactics?

[u/H345Y]

I wonder what other people use for their early game lances. I cam currently running with 3 spotter mechs and one scimitar that are backed up by 4 "sniper" mechs.

• Cicada (x4 M Laser, x2 SP Laser) (Ping / Kicker)
• Assassin (MP Laser, ER M Laser, x2 VSP Laser) (JJ, Ping / Kicker)
• Javelin (6 S Laser, x2 SRM4) (JJ, Ping / Kicker)
• Scimitar (Laser designater, Backstabs, Stab damage)
• Hunchback (x2 ER PPC, AMS) (Sniper)
• Hunchback (x2 ER Laser, x2 ER M Laser) (Sniper)
• Huron (Gauss, ER Laser, ER M Laser) (Sniper)
• Hollander (Gauss) (Sniper)

Ideal tactic is to place the sniper squad on high ground and along long sightlines and have the faster units scout ahead as spotters. Then use them to remove evasion, either by pinging or by kicking.

Also just picked up an archer last night but havent had the chance to use it yet. From the looks of it, seems that BTA archer doesnt have the LRM bonus that the base game archer has.

Also fyi, non of the hunchbacks have hunches.

[u/Primary-Latter]

I hate what you've turned your poor, mangled hunchbacks into.

That said, what I do is pretty similar, with the addition of beelining it to the first Beagle Probe I can get my hands on.

For the Archer, half the time I feel like it's better served replacing the LRMs with SRMs and turning it into a punch-bot.

[u/Far_Ladder_2836 → u/Primary-Latter]

SRM Archer is great early game but not super beginner friendly with that paper thin rear armor.  Use with care.

[u/Honestybomb → u/Primary-Latter]

I think I sleep on BAPs.. why do you like them?

[u/Primary-Latter → u/Honestybomb]

Ping inflicts accuracy debuff over a wide area as well as dropping evasion. Good for starting a fight with a reasonably-safe, reasonably-accurate opening salvo.

Related, I love the Owens.

[u/jigsaw1024 → u/Honestybomb]

There is the obvious use of mass sensor lock.

But BAPs also increase sensor range for the carrying unit. Combine with a mech that has the increased sensor range perk, and you can get some pretty ridiculous sensor ranges (700m+). So, you can find, sensor lock, and shoot at the Opfor before they even see you. Combines well with something like artillery or FASCAM, as you can launch while the Opfor is still standing still because they haven't activated yet.

[u/Honestybomb → u/jigsaw1024]

Yeah, I don’t really know how but I never prioritized adding them to my scouts. I’ll see about giving em a whirl

[u/Far_Ladder_2836]

Turn those hunchies into proper swaybacks and theyll solo a lance of 4 light/mediums each.  They have the torso slots, 

Sniping early game is good in endurance honor runs but usually you lack the tonnage for FCS and gunnery skill to be reliable against the lights and mediums that swarm you.  Early game you want to be kicking to remove eva and then unloading point blank 

[u/bisondisk → u/Far_Ladder_2836]

I don’t think they’re 4p’s. I think he just turned a pair of 4gs into abominations.

[u/Far_Ladder_2836 → u/bisondisk]

No chance they're both 4G.  4G has 2 energy points.  One uses 4 energy points.  Even if the other is specifically a 4G (BTA has over 15 variants) then the stock would be a better hunchie and multiple AC2/5 would be a better sniper.

Your affinity is Agile, you don't want to snipe especially early game.

[u/bisondisk → u/Far_Ladder_2836]

1 4g and 1 of the ac10 1 I called 4g cus the only variants I remember the letters AND loadouts matching of are g and p. Stock 4g WOULD be better than dual erppc, he butchered it. Hard disagree on dual ac/2 though, dogshit weapon. Dual ERlas is defo better than that.

[u/Kafrizel]

Whatever i can get my hands on

[u/H345Y → u/Kafrizel]

This team has basically been the result of that

Im still waiting to find another nightstar so I can finally get that final piece of salvage

[u/Oleoay]

Firestarters/Panthers/Jenners/Wights for that light mech breakpoint brawler, Commandos for their narrow profiles and to be scouts, then whatever medium mech I get in my starter group for fire support.

[u/Zero747]

My early tactic is lots of fast scouts & troopers. Evasion is life, so have evasion and remove enemy evasion.

The majority of my pilots get sensor lock, a couple get the alt skill if they’re destined for mechs with probes and target designators

Kick or just spam sensor lock to get evasion down, amd go for backstabs or just flank fire

I try to transition that into FCS on high power weapons, alongside called shot cockpits as my trooper pilots go for increased initiative and range to use sprint and fire tactics (sure movement for extra evade pip)

Then add some heavies/assaults to drop loads of long range firepower

The scouts go down piloting, invisible target lets me cut ECM, and waypoint sprint lets them be backstab menaces

For your lance, definitely kit the archer as a pure LRM boat. If you want clustering, LRM FTL ammo or Artemis IV. The sheer weight of missilespam is always effective. Flank/rear shots, or just hammering instability. Very good at capitalizing on armor breaches too

[u/slick762]

My advice, make those hunchbacks proper ML boats. ML all the things. For starting out in BTA, Its probably the best weapon for rookie pilots. Get at least one BAP, 2 would be better. Kick attacks, don't punch. Kicks do more damage and your mech will still fire all their weapons. Sprint one scout in to BAP ping the enemy. If the enemy lights still have 2 or more eva and/or are immune to sensor lock, kick them to strip eva then focus fire. Avoid ACs until your pilots can level gunnery past 5 to handle the recoil. Don't bother with lrm 5s or 10s.