65 replies to this topic

[Samuel Maxwell]

I was on the fence until reading the post dealing with the uselessness of the weapon. Ignoring canon and balancing an obsolete weapon is just not worth it for something this obscure.

[CaveMan]

Mike Silva, on 08 May 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

Man, you're splitting hairs. The Battletech Master Rules may as well have been called "Compendium v3." I'm saying Compendium because when I played tabletop was the "master rule book for the game of Battletech."

You won't find rifles in any iteration of the whatever you want to call the master rule book so what difference does it make which version of the master rule book I choose to mention?

Fair enough. It just seemed a little odd to refer to a 20-year-old title (that was already long out of print when I started playing back in the day) when discussing whether an item ought to be included.

[Justesp]

I don't think anyone would ever really use them. I know I wouldn't, though it'd be interesting to have just for the sake of having the option, I suppose.

Mildly unrelated, but while we're on the subject of unused kinda-crap tech: http://www.sarna.net...ry_Laser_Cannon

I'd like to mount one of these. =D

Edited by Justesp, 08 May 2012 - 11:46 PM.

[Victor Morson]

Well this thread blew my mind, because I had no idea these things even existed. I voted no because I didn't even think they were canon at first and was about to make a quip about the only rifle worth seeing is the Gauss Rifle.

After reading about them, well, I'd be OK with them. They're just pretty terrible Autocannons. That said I honestly and sincerely rather carry Light Rifles than an AC/2, because at least you are only paying 3 tons for it and you're still getting an extra point of damage.

I doubt we'll see them, ever, but it's interesting they even exist. How recently were these retcon'ed in?

EDIT: The Heavy Rifle is clearly superior to the AC/5 in every way except heat and ammo. How are these supposed to suck again??

Edited by Victor Morson, 08 May 2012 - 11:58 PM.

[Cranston Snord]

they receive a -3 damage penalty to shooting anything with armor worth mentioning

[LackofCertainty]

If you implement rifles without the -3 damage rule, then they're just better than AC's. Low tonnage + low crit space more than makes up for their slightly higher heat/low ammo per ton.


I don't think there's any reason to implement them.

[Gigaton]

Victor Morson, on 08 May 2012 - 11:54 PM, said:

...and was about to make a quip about the only rifle worth seeing is the Gauss Rifle.

Wha... I want my BA with recoiless rifles. Those are my fav BA weapons

[SquareSphere]

I'm in the boat of "too similar to A/C" Add to the fact that clan/SL tech is about a year away just makes "junk tech" even more worthless.

[CapperDeluxe]

If Rifles can make it in the game, then I think we should also be able to mount an array of pistols on a mech. They'll have a maximum range of 50 meters and just plink right off the armor of the enemy mech. But at least they'll be too busy laughing at you when you pimp slap them with the Nerf Gun on your left arm, followed by your Cardboard Tube Club in your right arm. That'll teach em!

[DarkTreader]

CapperDeluxe, on 09 May 2012 - 06:07 AM, said:

If Rifles can make it in the game, then I think we should also be able to mount an array of pistols on a mech. They'll have a maximum range of 50 meters and just plink right off the armor of the enemy mech. But at least they'll be too busy laughing at you when you pimp slap them with the Nerf Gun on your left arm, followed by your Cardboard Tube Club in your right arm. That'll teach em!

Pistol mounted to Left Hand.
Pistol Mounted to Right Hand.
Sorry, Cardboard Tube Club cannot be fitted to this 'Mech model. Too heavy. (and no melee. >_<)
Sorry, Nerf Gun cannot be fitted to this 'Mech model. Not enough ballistic hardpoints.

[Hawks]

Yes, they should be included. I also think WW2-era battleships should be included as legitimate alternatives to 'mechs. I understand that they're considered 'old tech', and don't work on land, but if you coated one in ferro-fibrous and put some legs on it it would be a legitimate alternative to an Atlas.

I hope you're reading this, devs, because I'll be disappointed if my idea isn't implemented.

[Alexander Fury]

It would be like giving our soldiers today the ''option'' of going to battle with a musket. There is a reason these things were relegated to the dust bin of history.

Hawks, on 09 May 2012 - 07:52 AM, said:

Yes, they should be included. I also think WW2-era battleships should be included as legitimate alternatives to 'mechs. I understand that they're considered 'old tech', and don't work on land, but if you coated one in ferro-fibrous and put some legs on it it would be a legitimate alternative to an Atlas. I hope you're reading this, devs, because I'll be disappointed if my idea isn't implemented.

They have this, its called a Stalker

[Hawks]

Will 'mechs be able to throw pilum, too? I think they should. I know it's old technology, but I think it would be a legitimate alternative to LRMs.

[Gigaton]

Rifle as in a shorthand for a rifled gun. I guess it's a rather outdated to use the term for (non-recoiless) artillery pieces these days, but during US Civil War rifled guns were often called simply "rifles". Like the famous Parrott Rifles.

Edited by Gigaton, 09 May 2012 - 08:31 AM.

[Josh Davion]

While I agree that the Binary Laser should be included. I am under the inclination that Rifles shouldn't be included due to their inferior nature and the rework that would be better spent on other resources.

[Lettuce Prey]

how about if they don't break stealth when used?

it would make them a great sniper weapon on some light mech.

[Geist Null]

i'd use them just cause they could look cool. even if the stats stayed the same

[TheRulesLawyer]

CaveMan, on 08 May 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

The Compendium was already 10 years out of date when the jihad stuff started. That book is old enough to vote--hell, it's almost old enough to drink. If you're a FASA-era purist then Battletech Master Rules is where it's at.

If you're going to be pedantic, you might as well get it right. Total Warfare is the current book.

[Dras Black]

I voted yes purely on the bassis that I would like to see a sigle shot kind of DMR style weapon. Something like the MK14 of the mech world. As for rifles apparently being dated, just look at how much everyone still uses the AK47 or vairents of it to see how much time really matters for a really good weapon.

[Ramien]

Dras Black, on 09 May 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

I voted yes purely on the bassis that I would like to see a sigle shot kind of DMR style weapon. Something like the MK14 of the mech world. As for rifles apparently being dated, just look at how much everyone still uses the AK47 or vairents of it to see how much time really matters for a really good weapon.

Many of the other weapon systems have been around for a while too, though, and an AK47 is still consistent with modern weapons design. Might want to ask who uses black powder rifles instead.