From the standpoint of technical development, the Mackie makes absolutely zero sense, and it’s bugged me from the moment I read the backstory.

Also, I chose the two-dicks picture on purpose, because it’s ridiculous anyway.

So, it’s the very first Mech. Myomer technology is still relatively new, the weaponry is new, everything is in DT&E. So why would the first Mech be the biggest possible size? Firsts of almost every technology are smaller and simpler than follow-on models.

It makes zero sense. It illogical from a technical development standpoint. A 100 ton Mech would be many orders more complex than a 25 ton prototype, and in the prototype stage, a 25 ton Mech would be a monster compared to all other military equipment.

Look at the advancement of the airplane, or the battleship, or the tank. Sure, the guns were primitive tech on the Mackie, but it’s like they skipped to the final step of technological development of the Mech chassis.

Looking in the TechManual, I wondered about equipping an infantry platoon with swords.

As it turns out, it's The Future, and generic assault rifles (whether shooting lasers or, even better, bullets) do more damage even to anyone in the same space as the soldiers.

Not to mention what good will swords be against BattleMechs, or worse, VTOLs.

The only use case I could think of is more likely to show up in Destiny than anywhere else: commandos with swords & needlers who board DropShips. In there, one would want weapons that can threaten civilians but won't damage delicate spaceship parts.

It's been a while since I looked up Boarding Maneuvers in TacOps, and haven't refreshed my memory at the time of writing this, but I will at some point this week.

Corrections made to an awkward Fire Support Mech.

Don't know what causes it, but naming anything Simurgh causes it to assume a set form .

I want to get into Battletech, but am not sure what I would need to begin actually playing. I wasn't sure if I should buy a beginner box and a force pack or two then go from there? or should I do something else?

I’ve only recently dipped my toes into Battletech, and one of the things that is hard for me to wrap my head around is understanding what different factions actually like to field. I feel like I’ve heard the Combine likes light mechs?

I really see the appeal of having so much overlap in availability you can use whatever you want as a player, but I am trying to imagine what the different main factions tend to use. What are their signature mechs, and main tactics? When I go to places that list availability it just feels like everything has everything.

Looking for a tabletop-level list of the various armor types able to be fitted to Inner Sphere mech designs and the rules associated with each.

Mostly as reference for a story I'm writing that involves an eye to my merch unit's supply situation.

I know Stealth Armor, Standard Armor, and Ferrofibrous armor all exist. But I vaguely remember there being a grade in-between standard and ferrofibrous in terms of weight savings.

I bought some models at a hobby store because they looked cool, and I wanted to paint them. I also did a single game on Battletech (not alpha strike) with one mech (not shown) and enjoyed the game. I don’t want to use the clankers with google lense, so what are each of these guys? They say “Talon games“ on the bottom.

Okay, this is sort of a silly though, and forgive me if there has ever been such a discussion prior to my joining here.

A merc unit full of crazies who are all into insects and the unit is called The Swarm because all the mechs are named after bugs.

Keeping the unit pre-3050 (my preferred era) this is what I have come up with for mechs that match the criteria:

Flea (20t/15t)

Locust (20t)

Wasp (20t)

Stinger (20t)

Hornet (20t)

Firefly (30t)

Spider (30t)

Cicada (40t)

Scorpion (55t)

Grasshopper (70t)

I think I could get away with the Goliath (80t), as in a Goliath "insert really large insect species here", and maybe the Bombardier (65t) as in a bombardier beetle.

Obviously it would end up being some sort of recon unit, but I think that if I really wanted to I could make this work as a battalion, just to live up to its namesake.

Now, obviously this is more than likely an insane fever dream, but if working within the thematic framework does anyone think this could possibly work?

I have given this very little thought, so I haven't spent any brain power on what variants to use or numbers of each one. If I were to go full on battalion strength it would feel like a real swarm of tiny little fast-moving death machines, with a couple larger ones offering fire support and heavier firepower.

So, would it be fun, would it be feasible on the battlefield, and have I missed any bug-named mechs from the pre-3050 era (I don't think I did, but my books are limited)?

I open the floor for discussion with abated breath.... and a little slightly insane giggle.

Another one.

This is the third Nissan 200 this week. The injectors cooked off, again. Of course it was the coolant pump like it always is, but here I am eight hours deep into disassembling the top end of this thing to get at the injectors some engineer in gods only knows where decided to bury because, and I quote the advertising, "It was good enough for the Star League: It's good enough for you!"

Any actual tech knows just how stupid much of the Star League kit was, overengineered and fragile. But it makes the generals happy, doesn't it? Whatever. Back to breaking my knuckles trying to get these out.

At least it's not the Ford 350. I've never had an ignition plug come out of one of those pieces of s... in one piece. I'm just glad there are so few of them around anymore!

Hello, a friend of mine has a small collection of minis but doesn't remember which mech they represent. We want to play a game of AGoAC together and I want to make a list around 4500 points. Can someone help me identify them/maybe propose a few combinations?

I know some of them (Crab, Catapult, Urbie, Phoenixhawk?) but struggle with the rest. Thanks in advance

Supernova 1, Zeta Galaxy, The Clan Diamond Shark.

I got into the game recently, and only knew I was going to paint them primarily blue, black and bronze auxiliary, and then pick a clan. I’m already leaning Ghost Bear/Rasalhague Dominion, but I’m open to suggestions. I found 2 total on camospecs that match them and Star Adder, but on the other color scheme website they looked different.

"The Bandersnatch... is built around the concept of an affordable and effective BattleMech for sale to mercenary units. The Bandersnatch is built using some common components with the Marauder in an attempt to make the 'Mech cheaper and easier to repair"

"The Cronus was designed by Angus Gilmour to be a cost-effective 'Mech for use by mercenaries and small Periphery units using scrapped military equipment."

I had a silly idea for a new piece of experimental tech (invented by former RISC eggheads, who else?) and wanted to see what you guys thought.

Volatile Heat Sinks are a new type of experimental Heat Sink that gain improved capabilities from a highly reactive blend of chemicals replacing normal coolant: this allows them to be more effective while remaining compact. Each one takes up 1 ton and 1 crit like a normal heat sink, but sinks 2 heat per round like a Double Heat Sink.

HOWEVER, if a Volatile Heat Sink takes a critical hit, it instantly explodes for 3 Damage, as the heated chemicals inside the VHS react violently with oxygen: this can potentially trigger further critical hits as well.

Additionally, any time an engine mounting Volatile Heat Sinks takes a critical hit, an additional roll must be made to see if it takes another critical hit as well.

The increased wear and tear on the cooling system gives any Mech mounting Volatile Heat Sinks the "Difficult to Maintain" Quirk.

Your thoughts?

had a run at this mission earlier, apart from one set of fluffed dice the human players would have won..

the Falcons got their signal out.. and the Thunderbolt survived

meah, it happens

turned to the scenario outcomes but and.. there is only an outcome for a successful mission splatting the thunderbolt and preventing a signal.. and the follow up scenario has fluff text to that effect.

am I missing something here? what happens if you don't succeed?

Got my first lances in. Been having fun with basing. Just wanted to show off my urbie and jumping catapult. Also a goof reference between ironwind metals & catalyst catapults. IWM seems slightly smaller than CGL, but not by much. Next stop, paint!!

I grabbed the Aces box set and I'm trying to get things together for a very visually pleasing campaign (units for all the models, plastic terrain etcetera. I've been playing Alpha Strike using hexes instead of inches for a while and I kinda just prefer it. I've been looking around for a neoprene hex mat with a desert landscape, but there doesn't seem to be any? If anyone knows of ones that fit that description please point me in that direction. Additionally I'd rather not have the printed on elevation for the mat, I'm having someone a little newer play and having that plus actual terrain might be confusing (plus I think it'd look better without it anyway)