73 replies to this topic

[Razor Kotovsky]

Mason Grimm, on 21 January 2012 - 08:30 AM, said:

City Fighter (Full Details)
1x Gauss Rifle (2 tons ammo)
2x ER Large Lasers
7x Medium Lasers
Jump Jets

With that much beam weapons you are at a disadvantage in an actual brawl (talking simulator here). Sure, you have JJs but if you rely on them it is more of a support than frontline mech.

I'd swap the gauss for LBX20 and ERLLs for PPCs and strip the JJs.

Edited by Razor Kotovsky, 21 January 2012 - 08:50 AM.

[Mason Grimm]

Razor Kotovsky, on 21 January 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

With that much beam weapons you are at a disadvantage in an actual brawl (talking simulator here). Sure, you have JJs but if you rely on them it is more of a support than frontline mech.

I'd swap the gauss for LBX20 and ERLLs for PPCs and strip the JJs.

Thanks for the recommendations but I do ok

[Datum]

juxstapo, on 05 November 2011 - 08:51 AM, said:

We may yet get the unseens... or we may get "reseen" substitutes. (I'd be happy with that).

But mostly this is a topic for BattleTech Marauder fans in general. Even though gameplay is vastly different between the tabletop, MechWarrior games, Assault Tech, etc. Lots of folks still love using their favorite mech (whichever that is) in any setting. This is a discussion for any and all games but for only one mech, capice?

I'd STILL prefer the unseen, but seeing Iglesias's work on redesigning the mechs makes me very happy either way.

[Semyon Drakon]

For me the marauder is an ideal company commanders mech in a standard mixed IS company. It has the gear to allow you to coordinate a battle, the speed to keep up, even with your recon lance if they are sensible and the armour and firepower to act as both a reserve for when you need to throw a heavy mech into the line or to dissuade rude strangers bothering you while you are thinking.

The PPC's aren't that great an issue in a city if you are smart and have some support. A Commander shouldn't be going anywhere without a bodyguard after all, in this case I am thinking an Orion or if you want the shorter range punch,a hunchie or centurion.

Besides, it's just a nasty machine, 75 tons of nuclear fire and death.

Semyon

[juxstapo]

Jake Grafton, on 21 January 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

Honestly I thing the MAD is going to be at a disadvantage in the urban setting. While the one two punch of the PPC is awesome, how often are you really going to be able to stand in an avenue and let fly? In most cases I can envision only showing half of my mech and using structures for cover. To me it would make sense to have a mech with more smaller weapons so that I would have a greater chance to hit from behind obstacles. That's just my two cents.

Depends on playstyle (like everything else). I've had success cranking my torso 90*, ramping the throttle all the way up, running across the opening at the end of a street, letting loose with both cannons, then slowing to cool behind the opposing buildings before turning and doing it again. (Requires range and lance mates for success). Actually running down said street would be problematic.

[Harrow]

Datum, on 21 January 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

I'd STILL prefer the unseen, but seeing Iglesias's work on redesigning the mechs makes me very happy either way.

Project Phoenix...

[Durant Carlyle]

I like some of the variants that came out in 3068 -- the MAD-5R with two ER PPCs, two Medium Lasers, one RAC/5, Guardian ECM, and a C3 Slave; or the MAD-5T with two Large Pulse Lasers, two Medium Pulse Lasers, one RAC/5, and a Targeting Computer; or the MAD-9M with four ER Large Lasers, two Streak SRM-6 packs, Guardian ECM, and TAG.

If I had to pick one to start the game, it would be the MAD-5D with two ER PPCs, two Medium Pulse Lasers, one Large Pulse Laser, and a Streak SRM-2 pack.

I'd like to see the Marauder (all variants) done up in the Project Phoenix style, as I much prefer that to the original.

I like the canon variants as they are. If I customized any of them, it would likely only be to add C3 computers to those variants that didn't have it originally (removing jump jets and/or downgrading other weaponry to make it fit). The Marauder is a heavy command 'Mech and it needs C3 for that. Of course, its lance-mates need C3 as well for the network to do any good...

As far as piloting style goes, most of the Marauder variants are long- and medium-range bruisers. By the time enemy 'Mechs get to short range (assuming they survive the bombardment), the so-called "short range light 'Mech weaponry" will be more than enough to finish them off. Pilots just have to remember to carefully manage which weapons they fire when, so the heat doesn't melt the 'Mech to slag.

Edited by Durant Carlyle, 30 January 2012 - 11:07 AM.

[Marauder3D]

I agree with many people here, (and myself with a post from 3 months ago ) that the 3068 MAD-5R is a sweet machine. The weapons/electronics mix is darn near perfect, and I actually enjoy the new Project Phoenix look so it's kind of my current favorite.

However, our game is launching in what would be summer of 3049, so I'm still praying they include the Marauder in Project Phoenix form with a FlyingDebris rework.

In 3049, the MAD 3R is still common, with no Star League tech, 2 PPC's, 2 ML's and the AC/5, with lightish armor for a 75 ton heavy.

House Davion and Kurita are producing the MAD 5D, which has an XL engine, DHS, and ERPPC's with two mediums and a large pulse laser backed up by a streak 2, in addition to extra armor and jump jets.

House Marik is producing the MAD 5M, which sticks with the relatively low armor of the original but upgrades to twin Large Pulse Lasers over Medium Pulse Lasers in the arms, and an LB 10X AC in the RT. It also has jump jets.

Finally, House Steiner is producing the MAD 5S, sticking with the original armor, lacks Jump Jets, but in addition to the Twin ERPPCs and Medium Pulse Lasers mounts a very sexy Gauss Rifle.

So, the political/economic union of House Davion and Steiner means that the 5D and 5S would be available to both houses.

House Marik is churning out mechs, and by 3051 they are selling to the entire inner sphere. That means every house has access to the 5M.

Finally, House Kurita is also turning out the MAD 5D on a factory that used to be in Davion space.

So to sum up, I love the look of this mech, new or old version. It has good reason to be in the armies of every inner sphere power, and because it has been constantly produced for nearly 450 years across the stars, mercenaries with enough C-Bills to own one of these monsters would certainly be able to acquire one.

O Lords of 'Mech inclusion, HEAR OUR CRY!

INCLUDE THIS MECH AND YE SHALL BE BLESSED!






Cheers all!

[Kasiagora]

Did they get back the LB-10x AC from Star League caches by 3049? If so I might swap out the PPCs for ER Large Lasers (Sarna says they're avail. to the IS in 3037), swap the AC/5 for the Shotgun-10 and another ton of ammo for greater chance for criticals, keeping the Med Lasers. Maybe swap the engine with an XL and use the weight savings for more armor or more heatsinks. If I upgrade them to doubles then I'd keep the PPCs for the long range punch, but wouldn't get ER PPCs because even with the DHS 15 heat with each shot is too much IMO.

For the MAD-3R I use the common tactic of one PPC and the AC/5 with the other PPC only when I can afford it or an alpha strike.

[Skwisgaar Skwigelf]

I basically built a 5R for my MW4 single campaign and holy cow - stagger fire the PPCs and keep the RAC spinning and it will tear through just about anything. I made sure to max the armor first so I had to compromise on the heat sinks a bit but it's definitely a keeper.

[Randal Waide]

As for the new look on the old chassis, automobile manufacturers have been doing that for years. I played the 100 ton Mad II fairly stock most of the time. If it was good enough for the Wolves, it's good enough for me.
It can take a severe pounding, Almost the armor of an Atlas. And better guns. Plus, jump jets. Nothing says "hey y'all watch this" better than flinging a 100 ton mech in the air. Jets will save your butt too if you gun skills are good.

[Durant Carlyle]

I've been playing with Solaris Skunk Werks 'Mech creation software, and came up with a good (IMHO) version...

MAD-5Z Marauder -- 75 ton Heavy Command/Attack BattleMech
Endo Steel internal structure (2RA, 2LA, 2RT, 2LT, 2CT, 2RL, 2LL)
Standard 300 Fusion Engine (4/6/0)
Standard Gyro
Standard Cockpit
14 DHS (12 in engine; RT, LT)
Standard Armor (14 tons; 224 out of 231 armor points)
2 ER PPC (RA, LA)
2 Medium Pulse Laser (RA, LA)
1 ER Large Laser (RT)
1 C3 Master (LT)
Max Heat: 52
Heat Dissipation: 28
BV: 1,755
Cost: 10,130,750 C-Bills

Advantages:
Maximum survivability (no XL engine).
No ammo dependence.
No minimum range on main weapons.
The C3 Master can connect with up to two other C3 Masters to facilitate coordination of up to a company of 'Mechs.
The C3 Master also acts as TAG.

Disadvantages:
Heat -- pilots must be very careful not to overheat the 'Mech.
Mobility is not as good as those variants with jump jets.
Won't be usable until 3050. I'll pilot a standard MAD-5D variant until then.

[RoninV3]

I have always used Marauders as anchors for unit actions. Have them hold the line and move forward drawing fire while providing firesupport to faster flankers. And if the chance arises have them close to 210 meters and unleash both PPC's for kill shots.

[juxstapo]

Heh, although it gets shot off nearly every game, I still love poking that top-mounted ac/5 up over hills and buildings on MW4 online matches. Kinduva uber-hostile peekaboo.

I've got that image of the FlyingDebris 'Maud in the repair bay as my desktop now.