Bossing Around Mad Cats for Fun and Profit: Let's Play MechCommander 2!

[Artanis]

Yeah, I really hate how the AI locks on like that, especially when it's a scout mech that has to run away sooner or later. I've been doing everything I can to avoid doing it, but in this case, I didn't think that Palerider would survive the fight unless he ran away. It was pretty much either shoot the Men Shens in the back or else lose Palerider

[SparkMandriller]

See, even the AI's abiding by zell! Except well it's not. But it's trying, which is more than you can say. Freebirth.


The AI in the game is pretty terrible, though, isn't it? Chasing targets they can't catch while ignoring the guys shooting them, running into minefields, s'not good. Gonna have a hard job keeping this interesting, though you're doing okay so far.

[Demented]

You can usually 'solve' that problem by leading with a heavy mech. If things get too hot you can say goodbye to your heavy mech; they're too slow to run away properly. Though, that can mean spending a lot on repair trucks, and I like my salvage.

[Starbuck_II]

I love how huge explosions = stealthy. Like Ninjas!

[Ka-ther Fangfoot]

I like to lead with my big mechs full of pulse lasers, and the only mission so far that I did not get on my first try was the moon drop one. I use repair trucks all the time, but even with not salvaging all that many mechs I have excessive amounts of money lying around.

[BooNL]

What's with all the Raven bashing? They're my favourite mech *goes to sulk in a corner*.

Anyway, I think I've caught up with you Artanis. I'm at the start of Campaign 2 at the moment (3rd mission).
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding on a close combat mech for my team. The Zeus and Highlander are good choices but the former lacks jump jets and the latter is incredibly slow (despite its jump jets).

My standard team so far is: Highlander, Catapult, Raven and then whatever else I can fit in with my drop weight. So far it's usually a Liao Hu (did I spell that right?) or a Hollander.

The Hollander's actually pretty fun, sniping off heads at maximum range is a nice past-time. I was actually surprised the first time I took one with me, Dagger (the pilot) had the highest kill count for two or three missions. After that, the Highlander just owned her...

I've got three elites so far.
Longshot - Laser, Pulse Laser, PPC (honestly, you can't build a good Assault Mechwarrior with the lower level skills...)
Worm - Sensor Specialist, Light Mechs, Long Range (usually seen in a Raven)
Steel - Toughness (yuck), LRMs, Long Range (seriously, the guy starts with insane stats)

[SparkMandriller]

What's with all the Raven bashing? They're my favourite mech *goes to sulk in a corner*.

I like Hellbringers. :(

The Zeus and Highlander are good choices but the former lacks jump jets and the latter is incredibly slow (despite its jump jets).

Two Starslayers. Got the speed, got the guns, got the jumping, got the ability to team up to backstab people. More armour, too, overall, though you'll need to avoid letting one get focus fired unless you hate your pilots. Starslayers are actually surprisingly good.

[Timberwolf]

Highlander. For my money the second best assault mech in the game, after the Blood Asp. Give that thing a Heavy UAC, pulse lasers and streak srms and watch it shred stuff.

[Artanis]

What's with all the Raven bashing? They're my favourite mech *goes to sulk in a corner*.

Ravens aren't bad mechs, and I'll always have a soft spot for them because coming with a Large Laser was a big deal early in MC1. It's just that the Raven's two main advantages, the advanced sensor and ECM, rarely if ever make a real difference. With so damned many scout mechs out there, that means there's usually something that gives you more of what you want.

Liao Hu (did I spell that right?)

Close. It's Lao Hu

Steel - Toughness (yuck), LRMs, Long Range (seriously, the guy starts with insane stats)

What's sad is that Toughness is probably one of the two or three best skills (behind Laser and occasionally Sensor) at that level



Regarding close-combat mechs, old habits die hard for me. Salvage and ammo-related problems played a much bigger role in MC1, so I wound up using a lot of ER Laser-type weapons and Large Pulse Lasers. In MC2, I haven't managed to completely break myself of that no matter how hard I try, so I find myself using the Zeus - and its insane 72 base heat capacity - a lot

The fact that all the Autocannons suck doesn't really help matters though

[Artanis]

==STEINER CONTRACT, MISSION 6c==


==MISSION BRIEFING==

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TYPE: Defend Friendly Area

LOCATION: Base Aries, Fetters Sector - Steiner Territory




TEAM:
--STEEL, Catapult
--HACKSAW, Bushwacker
--TWITCH, Bushwacker
--CLAYMORE, Men Shen
--WORM, Anubis

==MISSION LOG==

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After my strike on Liao's chemical plant, I hadn't waited around to see what scheme they were concocting for me. They adapted, however, and sent their scheme after me, in the form of a massive attack against a refit base that I had sent my newly-salvaged mechs to.

Liao had seriously planned things out, too. They had waited for the first-string combat team to head towards home, then used a feint to draw off the Steiner troops defending the base. Even ordering Longshot et al to turn around and go back to the base would only get the pilots there in time, so the only reinforcements close enough were a backup team on training exercises one sector over. Ultimately, the base's defense wound up consisting of the salvaged Catapult and Men Shen, piloted by Steel and Claymore (respectively); an Anubis piloted by Worm; and two Bushwackers piloted by Hacksaw and Twitch.


Before launching their attack, Liao had snuck in and captured the local Sensor Control, as well as a forward firebase that would have stood in the way of one of their main attack routes. Worm and Claymore, respectively, were sent to take them back.

Worm reached his objective first. Whatever had captured the Sensor Control had long since moved on, as it was only guarded by a pair of LRM Carriers. Despite the vehicles' firepower, the speedy Anubis easily destroyed them simply by dashing into point-blank range.





Claymore reached his objective not long thereafter. Like the Sensor Control, the firebase also had virtually no defenders: just a single Rommel medium tank. However, that tank was backed up by the very turrets that Claymore had been sent to capture, and the brief fight was long enough for Claymore to be injured by a hit to the cockpit.






In the short time remaining before the Liao forces arrived, I sent Worm and Claymore to grab whatever RPs they could while I assessed my defensive options. Half my tonnage was still using stock loadouts and the other half was piloted by inexperienced Mechwarriors, so I needed some way to lighten the load that the mechs would have to bear.

The answer was mines. Lots and lots of mines.


It didn't take long for my defensive strategy to be put to the test. The first attack group was a sizeable force of vehicles and a Sha Yu that approached the forward firebase. The Sha Yu and several LRM Carriers quickly fell victim to the mines, much to my delight. However, between their numbers and the handful of mine-immune hovertanks, they were able to overcome their heavy losses and destroy the turret control.







There were only three hovertanks left after that fight, and they would eventually fall prey to the main base's turrets in the blink of an eye.

(Note: Seriously, I was looking the other way for like, five seconds when they got to the main base, and they were dead when I checked back in on them)


The second test of my defensive strategy came when a trio of Starslayers led a half-dozen choppers past the still-incomplete minefields to the west of the lake. They attacked one of the main base's central turret bunkers, with the Starslayers getting into firing range before finally running into mines. The area was too treacherous for most of my forces to go help in the fight, so Worm wound up being the only one able to assist the turrets in repelling the enemy before they could destroy the turret control.



I don't know what it is about Starslayers, but they always seem to give me the most trouble here on Carver V. Somehow, one of them managed to get through the minefield, through the turrets, and through Worm's lasers to attack my main force. For the first time since the assault began, the combat mechs saw, well, combat. Brief combat, but still combat.




By this time, the main team's pilots had arrived at the base. With their mechs still a good distance away, I assigned Longshot to the battered, salvaged remains of that Starslayer. However, she would prove not to be needed as my defenses finally came into their own.

You see, I had mined the roads...



...the forest...



...the fields...



...the other roads...



...even more fields...



...and really, pretty much the whole damn engagement area. What little got past the mines was easy prey for the huge number of turrets surrounding the base.




To be honest, once the Starslayer-led attack was repelled, the rest of the battle was pretty uneventful. I spent most of it munching on popcorn with Diaz and Cash as we watched wave after wave of Liao forces get their legs (and wheels and tracks) blown out from under them. The repair techs would be working overtime to get so much legless salvage back up and running.

We all agreed that it would be best if those repairs were done in a more secure area though.

==MISSION COMPLETE==

[Demented]

I'm pretty sure that fielding that many mines violates some form of legal convention.
Even if it does take 40 tons to activate each mine.

[Breltar]

!Caution Mines!

Hilarious.

[BooNL]

Yay, Steiner still holds their base! Though by the time their own reinforcements show up you'll have switched sides. I hope you forgot to clean up those mines .

Nice touch using different 'Mech Warriors, though they didn't really have a chance to develop, did they?



There's two things I don't like about MC2 in comparrison with Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries (the other 'mech game I have the most experience with).

In MC2, heat is only used to measure how many weapons you can fit on your mech. It has no use in game. I find that a shame as in MW4, managing heat is one of the most important aspects on the field.

Also, every single mech in MC2 is an omni-mech... So far, I've been keeping the mechs close to industry model. So if the mech has ballistics weapons, I'll just put a better gun in it, but I won't fill all the slots with LRM's.

And a final rant. They wrecked Ullers to uselessness. They were so awesome in MW4 with their double PPC's.

[SilentDragoon]

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I think Uziel was the smallest with double PPCs in MW4, if you're restricting yourself to stock loadouts.

[BooNL]

*facepalm*, you're right, it was the Uziel I was thinking about. Now what the hell is an Uller then?

[SilentDragoon]

Two Large Lasers instead of PPCs I think. With heat management in play, one of the worst possible scout mechs to use.

[Artanis]

Nice touch using different 'Mech Warriors, though they didn't really have a chance to develop, did they?

Twitch and Steel have both had a few chances at jumping practice with salvaged mechs (Steel even got to Veteran), but otherwise, not a whole lot of development, no

There's two things I don't like about MC2 in comparrison with Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries (the other 'mech game I have the most experience with).

In MC2, heat is only used to measure how many weapons you can fit on your mech. It has no use in game. I find that a shame as in MW4, managing heat is one of the most important aspects on the field.

At least MC2 has heat, unlike MC1

I always figured heat management was handled by the Mechwarriors. Remember, as a MechCommander, you aren't actually in the field. All you really need to know is how much heat each mech can handle, and let the pilots deal with using it

Also, every single mech in MC2 is an omni-mech... So far, I've been keeping the mechs close to industry model. So if the mech has ballistics weapons, I'll just put a better gun in it, but I won't fill all the slots with LRM's.

They kind of had to. In MC1, one of the biggest gameplay elements was using whatever components you wanted and/or could get your hands on*. As such, that kind of customization was probably the #1 thing they couldn't get rid of in a sequel.

FWIW, they did manage to downplay it a bit, with the component grid and heat ratings putting constraints on customization that weren't there in MC1.


*The backstory even makes a mention somewhere that the IS mechs they brought were actually "omni-fied" or something so that they'd be able to use captured clan tech.

*facepalm*, you're right, it was the Uziel I was thinking about. Now what the hell is an Uller then?

In both MechCommander games, the Uller has a C Ultra Light Autocannon, a C ER Laser, and a couple of dinky short-range weapons. They're actually really good for their weight when modded, and in MC1 manage to wind up with one of the more usable stock configurations as well.

[Demented]

I've only played MW2 and MC2, so I suppose I don't know what a non-omni-mech is. If it fits, it ships. :P Though, a Rifleman II-C with missile launchers did seem odd (and likewise, anything with ultra autocannons in it that didn't have barrels half the length of the mech).


The default 'Prime' configs in MC2 don't always put the weapons in the right order for them to be fired from the correct hardpoints of the mech. The default Mad Cat config ends up firing its PPCs from its right arm and right torso, for example. That's usually enough reason to reconfigure them for me.

[SparkMandriller]

Also, every single mech in MC2 is an omni-mech...

Not like MW4 is any better. What couldn't you modify in that game?

And a final rant. They wrecked Ullers to uselessness. They were so awesome in MW4 with their double PPC's.

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I think Uziel was the smallest with double PPCs in MW4, if you're restricting yourself to stock loadouts.

Thinking of adders, bros.

*The backstory even makes a mention somewhere that the IS mechs they brought were actually "omni-fied" or something so that they'd be able to use captured clan tech.

Haha wow are you serious? That's, uh, wow.

[Breltar]

Not like MW4 is any better. What couldn't you modify in that game?
The mechs can't have any weapon in any slot, so at least with the rifleman you did have to put in a ballistics weapon in the arms... even if that meant LBX autocannons or machine guns.

Thinking of adders, bros.
Adder aka Puma to us IS crazies. It has two PPCs and nothing else.


Haha wow are you serious? That's, uh, wow.

The IS eventually gets some omni style capability, but they never really follow exact BT canon for the video games.

All in all I liked MC2, but it is obviously dated nowadays and hopefully the free release of MW4:Mercs will give the whole series a much needed boost.

[SparkMandriller]

Oh, right, that's a point. When he said omnis I assumed he meant special omni bushwackers or whatever. You know, specially made ones for random mercs.

Though wait, now that I think about it, are there any IS omnis in MC2? I can't think of any.



Also MW4's slot system sucks because it doesn't let me build any of the K series catapults. PPC catapults look awesome. They should be in every game ever.

[Artanis]

In MC2 they never say one way or the other whether the IS-tech mechs are omni or non-omni. One way or the other though, their gameplay mechanics work the same way as the Clan-tech Omnimechs that eventually get brought in.


Also, there are a couple personalized mechs you run into here and there, including the Atlas that Claymore pilots when you rescue him.

[SparkMandriller]

Wait, they don't? I thought you said the backstory suggested they did. Oh well, guess it's just BT video game magic again. Not that I really have a problem with that. Lances of Blood Asps, hoo.

And hey, I was wrong, Men Shen's in. Bringing the grand total of IS omnis in that game to 1.

[Artanis]

MC1 says somewhere or other. MC2 doesn't.

[SparkMandriller]

Well, don't I look stupid now?

[Artanis]

Ah ha, finally found where I had read that about MC1: the game was supposedly part of Operation Bird Dog, which used captured and DC-made omnimechs.

[SparkMandriller]

MC1 didn't have any of the DC omnis though, did it? I'll admit it, it's been forever since I've played it, but I'm pretty certain it didn't.

[king.com]

MC1 didn't have any of the DC omnis though, did it? I'll admit it, it's been forever since I've played it, but I'm pretty certain it didn't.

Nah, you were running with FedCom recaptured omnis i think, though the tech trade with Dracs at the time was pretty high.

[Breltar]

Oh, right, that's a point. When he said omnis Also MW4's slot system sucks because it doesn't let me build any of the K series catapults. PPC catapults look awesome. They should be in every game ever.

With the free release coming for MW4 it includes the mektek modded mechs and I believe there is a 'katapult' that has gun arms where the missile racks (mickey mouse ears) should be.

The mektek mods double the amount of mechs in that game and once the free release happens they will be around for purchase in the single player campaign too.

[RandomLunatic]

MC1 did not have any of the IS Omnis. OTOH, all of the Clan 'Mechs save one were Omnis (the Hunchback IIC being the holdout).

The manual mentions that units fighting the Clans often retrofit prototype adapters that allow Clan equipment to work with Inner Sphere-made components, and vice-versa. Basically hand-waving the matter of how your techs are pulling it off.