Defense missions

[VsT_Church]

Defense missions, be it base or convoy need some tweaking. The AI lances always bum rush the base or convoy, which is fine, its a sure fire tactic that i would employ myself. However in the event of a convoy i think there should be operational knowledge of WHERE THE CONVOY IS GOING. Otherwise mechs fall behind and then 4 medium lasers wipe one of the vehicles and GG on the bonus objective. And on base defense, the buildings should be tougher, at least able to last a turn or two so the player has a valid chance to engage all 4 (sometimes up to 8) enemy mechs. In the Hatchetman mission you are supposed to defend a "fortified base" there is nothing fortified about it, against 11 mechs. One of your lance HAS to be the Hatchetman with a "guest" pilot. The pilot is GARBAGE and the Hatchetman IS NOT suited for that kind of battle.
(Edit: all base defense missions have at least one building that will fall to a few medium lasers or 2 LRM 15's, all of which are fired before you can even get LOS on the enemy. {I am referring to the Hatchetman mission in particular, a Javelin rushes and there's no stopping it, it targets a building with 100 HP and fires 4 medium lasers.})

 

[Prussian Havoc]

...(Edit: all base defense missions have at least one building that will fall to a few medium lasers or 2 LRM 15's, all of which are fired before you can even get LOS on the enemy. {I am referring to the Hatchetman mission in particular, a Javelin rushes and there's no stopping it, it targets a building with 100 HP and fires 4 medium lasers.})

If you defend on your Protected Target, yes, the Target is all-but-guaranteed to take damage

 

[VsT_Church]

What I am saying is that there is NO way to successfully defend that attack. I don't even think a Locust could sprint fast enough to get over the hill before he crests said hill and Alpha Strikes a weak building.
All I am asking for is a delay, or maybe they shoot at my mechs first.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

What I am saying is that there is NO way to successfully defend that attack. I don't even think a Locust could sprint fast enough to get over the hill before he crests said hill and Alpha Strikes a weak building.
All I am asking for is a delay, or maybe they shoot at my mechs first.

The Hatchetman FLASHPOINT Base Defense Mission?

That mission is very completable.

Loss of a single building does not prevent you from successfully defending the base and completing the mission.

What can sometimes have a fair degree of difficulty are Secondary Tasks.

I would not want Secondary Tasks, like defending ALL buildings, to be easily within grasp. It is here that HBS can offer us challenges that we may fail. It is these failures which spark BATTLETECH’s replayability for me.

If AI Mechs had that delay you asked for, or if AI Mechs had fired at my Mechs rather than my buildings/Protected Assets... that particular Mission would not have been part of what has me coming back and back for Career and Campaign Attempt after Attempt after Attempt.

 

[VsT_Church]

The point is that it isn't just hard to do, the Javelin I am referring to is impossible to get to before it demolishes a building. I tried even with a speed freak locust, there's no way to get over the hill and get LOS on it before it runs by you fires in the same turn. I'm not saying that isn't a valid tactic, I am saying that maybe not have it fire all its ML's at one target on the first turn. A warning shot if you will. Secondaries should be harder, but still completable within the parameters of the mission. I wouldn't expect an assault lance to pull it off with their slow speed, though for the primary objective they would probably one-shot all the OPFOR.

 

[wolfhoundtoo]

Sensor lock would work.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

Sensor lock would work.

Agreed, an aggressive game plan, a Sensor Lock and a Multi-Target MechWarrior in an LRM Mech have gotten me through some tough Missions, racking up more Secondary Objectives than I missed out on.

There are no impossible Missions or Secondary Objectives in BATTLETECH. Even on Missions and Maps that are brand new to me there is a Point or Decision...

Do I move out Hard and take consequence-laden risks early in the Mission, or do I play conservative and wait for the AI to give even the barest glimpse of its intentions before committing my forces in a particular direction and timing?

To wait is to risk being caught out of position.

To move out aggressively is to risk being flanked by the AI.


By nature I prefer to take risks and am very comfortable with baring the consequences of my actions, be it a lost Building or lost Torso / Limb.

I am enjoying BATTLETECH at its best when I am new to a map or mission and the AI has surprised me. : )

 

[VsT_Church]

just seems detrimental to play style to HAVE to have certain mech/pilot combos to win

 

[Prussian Havoc]

just seems detrimental to play style to HAVE to have certain mech/pilot combos to win

While that would be true, I don’t see that happening here.

You take the right tool for the right job.

If I am chasing down an Enemy Convoy, I don’t take four non-Jump, 3/5 Assault Mechs.

I take Mechs and MechWarriors most suitable for the Mission at hand.

Lance Composition for a Base Defense Mission for me emphasizes Multi-Target MechWarriors and Indirect Fire BattleMechs. In this way they can be mutually supportive, at long ranges and somewhat independent of Line of Sight.

Speed and Damage/Turn is a combination that works as well. If the first Lance is being obliterated fast enough, I have cut one, two and even on occasion three Mechs lose to reposition back toward the Base and other Attack Lanes.

 

[wolfhoundtoo]

just seems detrimental to play style to HAVE to have certain mech/pilot combos to win

Not all mechs, pilots, abilities, or tactics are equal in general let alone specific scenarios. Add to that there is a difference between Winning the scenario and achieving an optional objective. It is possible to do so with more than one combination of pilot skills and mechs but some combinations will make it easier to win than others.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

BATTLETECH is nuanced sufficiently that different combinations of Mech, Weapons, Equipment, MechWarriors and MechWarrior Skills and Abilities enable different sets of Tactics and Schemes of Maneuver. All of which sets conditions to Tactically-Tailor Lance Capability Sets for different Missions and specific Mission Challenges.

A true and challenging BattleTech CommandSIM. : )