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PoptartsNinja posted:Build Your Own Pirate I"m kind of interested in this! But i'm not especially a battletech afficionado. What kind of weapons are appropriate star-league era? Nothing too fancy, I'm guessing? What kind of stuff is appropriate for low-tech? (rockets, machineguns, flamers?) I'm biased by the MW game series, which takes liberties with things occasionally. Edit: Is there also some grand list of what units are available by time-period somewhere? TheParadigm fucked around with this message at 09:28 on Dec 26, 2014 |
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Dec 26, 2014 09:24
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TheParadigm posted:I"m kind of interested in this! But i'm not especially a battletech afficionado. What kind of weapons are appropriate star-league era? Nothing too fancy, I'm guessing? What kind of stuff is appropriate for low-tech? (rockets, machineguns, flamers?) Star League era technology is anything you see on Sarna.net with a "reintroduced" date, which means the technology was developed during the Star League and was eventually rediscovered. That includes things like the ER PPC, ER large laser, pulse lasers of all sizes, standard Gauss rifles, double heat sinks, Streak SRM-2s, UAC/5s, LB-10X ACs, XL Engines, Endo/Ferro-Fibrous, CASE, Guardian ECM, Beagle Active Probe, MASC, and probably some stuff I'm forgetting. Low-tech gear is the basic 3025 gear. Lasers, PPCs, Autocannons, LRMs, SRMs, machine guns and flamers. Hatchets are also 3025 technology but weren't developed by the Star League. At this point in the timeline the method for manufacturing a mech-grade hatchet that doesn't get ruined after one swing like most melee weapons do is still limited to a few factories, so pirates probably won't have them and instead will probably have primitive-tech melee weapons like the wrecking ball in this scenario.
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Dec 26, 2014 09:33
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TheParadigm posted:Edit: Is there also some grand list of what units are available by time-period somewhere? Sort-of, but I don't have access to it at work. As a general rule of thumb, if you see a unit you like check it out on Sarna.net and keep your eyes out for 'production date.' Anything made after 3020 is probably not going to be in widespread service, and really anything made after 2900 probably won't be in pirate hands except very rarely. Also watch for the date units left production--some SLDF or RWR machines like the Lancelot or Jackrabbit left production so long ago that they're incredibly rare. A pirate with a Lancelot could turn up on Outreach with a bounty in the millions and go legit mercenary just by virtue of owning a special snowflake machine. Merc units would be throwing money at him or her for the chance of having a rare SLDF `Mech in their unit.
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Dec 26, 2014 15:17
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If you're using Solaris Skunk Werks with the SSW Master List you can filter for introductory tech level and it'll generally give you stuff that's still around in the 3020s.
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Dec 26, 2014 15:43
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PoptartsNinja posted:Sort-of, but I don't have access to it at work. Are in-universe 'mech logistics that generic? Or would they just hangar queen the museum piece?
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Dec 26, 2014 21:10
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propatriamori posted:Are in-universe 'mech logistics that generic? Or would they just hangar queen the museum piece? Would this be like the real life equivalent of a private security company in Africa somewhere dragging out a WW-2 vintage ISU-152 or something and using it in combat? Edit: Or this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Z4IOQWNKY
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Dec 26, 2014 21:28
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Saint Celestine posted:Would this be like the real life equivalent of a private security company in Africa somewhere dragging out a WW-2 vintage ISU-152 or something and using it in combat? Like that, but the IS-3 has a railgun and is invisible.
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Dec 26, 2014 21:42
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propatriamori posted:Are in-universe 'mech logistics that generic? Or would they just hangar queen the museum piece? By the 3020s there are mechs that have been in active service for centuries. They might have to hangar queen that fancy SLDF mech if it has an XL engine or EndoSteel structure (requires materials and components that haven't been in production for centuries), but otherwise it's not that hard to swap out broken weapons for lower tech versions and ferrofibrous armor for standard. Even if they mech does have fancy internals, that Lancelot PTN mentioned is a fast sniper that could probably still be deployed if you're willing to baby it a bit.
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Dec 26, 2014 21:46
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How feasible would it be for a pirate to have a cobbled together Clan mech?
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Dec 27, 2014 01:06
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The Casualty posted:How feasible would it be for a pirate to have a cobbled together Clan mech? It would be vaguely feasible for a pirate near the invasion corridor to steal or salvage a second line clan mech and have to replace clan components with standard ones as things break or he runs out of clan ammo. One of the player mechs this mission is like that, actually.
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Dec 27, 2014 01:14
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The Casualty posted:How feasible would it be for a pirate to have a cobbled together Clan mech? Incredibly unlikely (you have to get a Clanner alone, vulnerable, and stupid enough to fall victim to you and have enough time to abscond with his machine). Clanners don't bargain with pirates, they just exterminate them. If it weren't for Susie Ryan being a special snowflake in canon she probably wouldn't have a Clan machine either.
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Dec 27, 2014 01:45
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dis astranagant posted:It would be vaguely feasible for a pirate near the invasion corridor to steal or salvage a second line clan mech and have to replace clan components with standard ones as things break or he runs out of clan ammo. One of the player mechs this mission is like that, actually. The main stumbling block is keeping the thing running. It's the same problem they have using an old SLDF machine. Pirates have trouble keeping the 3025-tech shitboxes they run around in going when they can strip parts off enemy machines, let alone anything newer. Even most mercs can't maintain Clantech; they'd much rather trade it to their House employer for an equivalent IS piece and a cash bonus. Despite the construction rules being the same, the maintenance and repair of Clantech is basically an entirely different skill than IS stuff. I see a Clan mech as something like a pirate band's "white whale," something that their leader pursues and ends up running their entire crew into the ground trying to get one.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:08
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PoptartsNinja posted:Incredibly unlikely (you have to get a Clanner alone, vulnerable, and stupid enough to fall victim to you and have enough time to abscond with his machine). Clanners don't bargain with pirates, they just exterminate them. What if you literally fall through the roof of a hidden Clan mech depot? (That book was godawful)
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Dec 27, 2014 02:09
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Saint Celestine posted:What if you literally fall through the roof of a hidden Clan mech depot? Then I reveal it was a trap and you're taken out back by ROM and all shot.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:10
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code:Spiff's machine is certainly a cause for intimidation. Individual pieces of clan equipment are rare, but mostly-complete examples of clan battlemechs are almost unheard of. One thing's for sure, people know exactly who is knocking on their door when the maroon and gold Rifleman IIC arrives. It hasn't survived completely intact, and the ongoing modificatons would be cause for alarm for any "civilized" technician in the inner-sphere, but the machine is still quite dangerous. More dangerous, perhaps, than Spiff's mediocre piloting and gunnery skills allow. The Rifleman that stands at the front of Spiff's Band is curiously equipped. To the radomed head, an ostentatious armored cowl in the shape of an ancient pirate's tricorn hat has been affixed, black with white Jolly Rodger. The right arm carries the classic twin-mounted Clan Large Pulse Lasers. The chest was carved out to fit a captured Streak SRM-4 and a single ton of ammo. Spiff has managed to get the left arm blown off in a failed raid, and replaced it with the south paw of a salvaged Cataphract. Spiff equipped this arm with a bizarre assortment of weapons. He carries a customized Large Vibroblade, to the hilt of which the former owner had also attached a Light TAG. Spiff's pirate band lacks the technology and coordination to really use TAG effectively, so he uses it instead to point at targets or menacingly intimidate civilians and foot infantry. On the forearm is another of Spiff's signature weapons: a One-Shot Thunderbolt-5. Spiff prefers to use this for "close encounters." It's probably for the best, because all these lopsided, Inner Sphere mods, combined with a general lack of upkeep, has caused problems with Space Invader's sensor suite. The giant metal hat covering the radar doesn't help, either. Spiff's machine suffers from Poor Targeting (Long Range) and the Non-Standard Parts mean Space Invader will only turn into a bigger Frankenmech with time.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:35
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Do Thunderbolts even exist in PTNverse? Not to mention I don't think streaks have really hit the open market yet.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:44
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dis astranagant posted:Do Thunderbolts even exist in PTNverse? Not to mention I don't think streaks have really hit the open market yet. (IS)Streak SRM-2's have been around for a few years, being reintroduced in 3035, but the larger variants aren't around yet at all. You're right that they'd probably still be extremely rare outside House armies though.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:50
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Lord Koth posted:(IS)Streak SRM-2's have been around for a few years, being reintroduced in 3035, but the larger variants aren't around yet at all. You're right that they'd probably still be extremely rare outside House armies though. I think the ammo would be a major stumbling block, too.
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Dec 27, 2014 04:07
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Defiance Industries posted:I think the ammo would be a major stumbling block, too. Thats the beauty of streaks, though. You never spend ammo unless you're guaranteed a hit! Ammo should last a great deal of time, especially if you're a bad shot who can never get a lock despite holding down the trigger all the time.
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Dec 27, 2014 07:36
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I thought Thunderbolts were valid? I could swap out the Streak and Thunderbolt for an SRM-6 and 2 tons of ammo, plus max armor. But it's less fun 
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Dec 27, 2014 07:41
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The Casualty posted:I thought Thunderbolts were valid? I could swap out the Streak and Thunderbolt for an SRM-6 and 2 tons of ammo, plus max armor. But it's less fun Thunderbolts don't show up in the canon timeline til the 3070s except as janky Solaris toys in the late 3050s. They're also the exact last thing you'd ever want to use at short range other than regular lrms.
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Dec 27, 2014 15:29
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It's a one-shot, it's clearly just a pirate who is a hobbyist rocketeer building his own "mega LRM" It's obviously on an exterior shoulder hardpoint and has a chance to just explode if that arm takes any fire before the pilot launches it. The real problem is the Targeting Computer. 
PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 15:59 on Dec 27, 2014 |
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Dec 27, 2014 15:57
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All this talk of difficult maintenance is a good point. I better add 'Difficult to Maintain' to my own entry since it mounts an XL Engine and is
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Dec 27, 2014 16:15
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PoptartsNinja posted:It's a one-shot, it's clearly just a pirate who is a hobbyist rocketeer building his own "mega LRM" If that's the case, why not use the original, super janky version from Unbound. The one that explodes when hit for 10 damage and 15 heat
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Dec 27, 2014 17:31
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^^^ I didn't see the original in Solaris SkunkWerks, that was what I really wanted. PoptartsNinja posted:It's a one-shot, it's clearly just a pirate who is a hobbyist rocketeer building his own "mega LRM" But his inability to maintain it is giving him a to-hit penalty 
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Dec 27, 2014 18:16
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PoptartsNinja posted:The real problem is the Targeting Computer. I have the weirdest urge to watch Dark Star again.
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Dec 27, 2014 18:44
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dis astranagant posted:Do Thunderbolts even exist in PTNverse? Not to mention I don't think streaks have really hit the open market yet. Star league prototypes!
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Dec 27, 2014 20:15
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In case people are still unaware of the current tech level here's an old post by Defiance Industries explaining what tech the Star League had:Defiance Industries posted:For people who want to enter but maybe don't have what weapons did or did not exist during the Star League memorized, here is a handy list of what weapons that adds to the pile of level 1 tech. You can justify most of this stuff by saying your pirate found and looted a Brian cache.
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Dec 27, 2014 20:28
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Frankly, you can justify drat near anything with "they found it in a Brian Cache" and you shouldn't let a silly thing like "the rules" get in the way of making a spectacular and terrible robot. For example, I'm going to justify a 'Mech in this era having a Partial Wing if it kills me. Maybe it's a Star League prototype no one ever found, or some pirates got really, really inventive. (The Partial Wing won't actually work, but they tried.)
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Dec 27, 2014 23:11
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The AUTRO Cougar's got a Partial Wing. The Jade Falcons have been busy. I just haven't had PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 23:55 on Dec 27, 2014 |
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Dec 27, 2014 23:51
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Nice sprite, although I could have sworn that the Cougar in Breakout had a Partial Wing.
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Dec 28, 2014 00:17
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code:Every credit was used to purchase Brigadier scrap auction lot #1138. A couple shot out SCP-1N mechs, missing weapons and engines. Kyle took the better chassis and installed the 275 engine, giving the Scorpion a slower rate of speed, but opening up almost 10 tons for weapons and armor. A large laser replaced the PPC in the right torso and a second laser was mounted in the left torso, giving the Longhorn its distinctive appearance. The canister for the SRM-6 was fitted with a half-dozen medium lasers, giving it the appearance of a standard SRM rack with 2.5x the firepower. Double-strength heat sinks are fitted to deal with the increased heat. Four additional tons of armor were added, mostly to the torsos. The larger gyro for the 330 engine was retained to improve the SCP-1Ns notorious rough ride. Kyle has yet to carve out his own pirate kingdom, but has slowly begun building his empire by raiding backwater worlds in the Periphery. His current stockpile of parts and equipment might keep him going for six months if he can avoid FedCom regular forces.
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Dec 28, 2014 04:10
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FedCom stands for Federated Combine in the PTNverse, right?
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Dec 28, 2014 05:29
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Voyager I posted:FedCom stands for Federated Combine in the PTNverse, right? Yeah, that background sounds like it was written more for the original timeline, not PTN's...
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Dec 28, 2014 06:13
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How's this? I changed the Thunderbolt to the version from Unbound, which is a big rocket that will probably blow my own arm off. Plus to further neuter the TarComp, I added the EM Interference quirk [cLPL -> TarComp], meaning each time the Pulse Lasers fire, it trips a breaker and ol' Spiff has to bop it over the head a couple times. Because Pirates!code:
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Dec 28, 2014 07:33
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quote:Kyle Andersen was a lowly tech during Operation Bulldog who found himself pressed into service as a mechwarrior during the bloody fighting on Huntress. Following the end of Clan hostilities, he returned home with a mostly destroyed SHD-2D and a deep distrust of Prince Victor. When the FedCom Civil War began, Kyle decided that it's a big galaxy out there and he was going to carve out a piece of it for himself. He cashed in all of his savings, sold his car, house, and every bit of his mech except for the CoreTek 275 engine. The problem with this background is that it was written for Canon Btech universe, and not PTNverse. In PTNverse, there is no FedCom (The Draconis Combine ended up surrendering/joining the Fed Suns after Luthien was taken by the Clans and their Coordinator killed), the Inner Sphere hasn't launched Operation Bulldog or anything like it (They're still mostly on the defensive against the Clans), and Victor Steiner-Davion doesn't exist, having not been born at this point of the timeline, nor ever will be.
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Dec 28, 2014 08:49
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Rorahusky posted:The problem with this background is that it was written for Canon Btech universe, and not PTNverse. Well, in his defense I didn't say it had to be thread-canon. It just means I probably can't 'mine' his pirate for ideas. 
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Dec 28, 2014 17:15
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And I'm still missing orders. That's what I get for not making sure those two new PMs were from players and relaxing this holiday. Please do not make them feel bad, it's my own fault for making stupid assumptions and not wanting to bother them during the holiday season by sending them a PM. I did send PMs to the pilots in question, I really can't blame them for missing orders given the time of year. This is the busiest weekend of the year for me, too, so I know how it goes. Hopefully they're both still alive.
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Dec 28, 2014 21:43
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PoptartsNinja posted:Well, in his defense I didn't say it had to be thread-canon. It just means I probably can't 'mine' his pirate for ideas. Yeah, I had a brain fart. I'll go back and re-write it. Still a cool mech though...
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Dec 29, 2014 00:45
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Still no word from one of the players. I'm going to give him a little more time and then contact an alternate so we'll be good to go for next Sunday's update.
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Dec 29, 2014 18:30
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