9 replies to this topic

[MustrumRidcully]

All Jagermechs so far come with 8 weapon hard points.
All Catapults come with 6.

With the most recent "quirk" update to the Catapult, there torso twist range is not that special compared to the Jagermech. SO I wonder, don't these mechs need more hard points, too?

Of course, not all mech builds require more than 6 hard points, and I suspect a lot of Jagermech buidls are content with using 4 (Personally, I drive Dual Gauss and Dual AC/20, and use 2 mediums as side weapon).

Now, there is one difference between most Jagermechs and the Catapult - the Catapults have jump jets.

All Catapults, except the K2.

THe K2 was (and maybe still is) very popular, especially for its ability to equip 2 Gauss Rifles or 2 AC/20s. PPC based K2s required the introduction of double heat sinks to become an idea.It was also very popular because - like all Catapults - it had an extreme torso twist range, making it very flexible to engage enemies even at close range. And of course, equipping only torso mounted weapons, you could skimp on arm armour.

For me, the K2s biggest tragedy has always been that it was supposed to carry its main weaponry in its arms, but very rarely did you see people using it like that.
I think the main reasons for this was:
- PPCs used to suck big time. Slow speed, high heat (with single heat sinks, anyone remember those dark days?), overall just a poor weapon.
- (ER) Large Lasers were not very impressive compared to Gauss Rifle
- There is only 1 hard point in each arm. So you couldn't decide "Oh, PPCs suck, but maybe I try 2 LLs and 2 MLs in each arm..."

So, I am starting to think that the K2 needs some "help". I am not saying it's a poor mech, and the skimping on the arm armour trick for ballistic variants is neat and all. But ... adding two energy (or ballistic?) hard points to the arms won't take that option away, and enable more options. Options that the Jagermech just can't do, because there are so far no energy focused variants with energy hard points in the arms.

What do you think?

[Howdy Doody]

My understanding is they get all mechs and their hardpoints from Battletech lore. They don't change anything.

Someone with more "lore" knowledge may know better.

[Davers]

Well, all mechs have the hard points to carry the weapons they normally come with. But many have added hard points to give more flexibility.

Catapults are generally very powerful and versatile mechs. Just because they had a gross advantage taken away from them doesn't mean that they are now in need of 'buffing'.

[MustrumRidcully]

Howdy Doody, on 06 May 2013 - 11:44 AM, said:

My understanding is they get all mechs and their hardpoints from Battletech lore. They don't change anything.

Someone with more "lore" knowledge may know better.

Hard Points are not from the Battletech lore, and they intentionally add more hard points then the actual weapon loadut requires.

[Khobai]

Catapults have jumpjets. Jagermechs do not. Therefore Jagermechs should have more hardpoints. Simple as that.

The only Catapult that should get more hardpoints is the K2 since it lacks jumpjets. I could possibly see the K2 having 4 energy and 4 ballistic hardpoints, and I dont think that would be unbalanced since the K2 lacks the tonnage to abuse 4 ballistic hardpoints.

Edited by Khobai, 07 May 2013 - 02:19 AM.

[Roburn Bliss]

The K2 did have 6 energy and 2 ballistic hard points way back when. They removed 2 energy hardpoints (from the arms, I think) as people were boating 6 medium lasers, back when medium lasers owned everything.

[Joseph Mallan]

Roburn Bliss, on 07 May 2013 - 02:20 AM, said:

The K2 did have 6 energy and 2 ballistic hard points way back when. They removed 2 energy hardpoints (from the arms, I think) as people were boating 6 medium lasers, back when medium lasers owned everything.

How far back does that go Roburn? I remember 4 Energy and 2 Ballistic when I joined CB.

[Karl Streiger]

The MLAS got nerfed by heat... K2...really need 2 energy hard points...int the arms.... ...6 PPC K2 weird

[Roburn Bliss]

Joseph Mallan, on 07 May 2013 - 02:45 AM, said:

How far back does that go Roburn? I remember 4 Energy and 2 Ballistic when I joined CB.

About a year ago. The only weapon worth using back then was the medium laser, and an Atlas could be killed in seconds with a head shot

[Joseph Mallan]

Roburn Bliss, on 07 May 2013 - 03:02 AM, said:

About a year ago. The only weapon worth using back then was the medium laser, and an Atlas could be killed in seconds with a head shot

So jus before I got involved?
Well with a head that size...
...
...
Easy pickins!