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Knightrunner
Clan Snow Raven
Star Commander
Joined: 20-Jul-2005 00:00
Posts: 123
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 Posted: 23-Apr-2008 09:32 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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Ever since I started playing, I've been hearing comments like "You're driving a light mech! That's suicide!". A common impression is that light mech pilots die like flies every time they take the field, while assault mech pilots are safe and secure in their impregnable ferro-fibrous cocoons. Note that we're talking about the _pilots_ not the mechs.
I disagree! Light mech pilots almost always survive to fight another day (possibly in another mech, true, but at least they're cheaper to replace). It's the parents of assault mech pilots that usually get the "we regret to inform you . . ." letter.
Maybe in the days of 'dispossessed = unbearable shame' pilots who lost their mechs committed seppuku, but really- their combat losses are a lot lower!
So please, don't look down on the locust pilot as crazy and suicidal. He may find himself walking back to base, but he usually gets back.
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CO_17thRecon
Kell Hounds
Major
Joined: 10-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 1297
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Apr-2008 11:29 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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You want to make someone respect light 'Mechs? Send in a force of Jenners and Wolfhounds after their precious assaults. Once you have crushed their dreams, you can begin to explain the proper use of light 'Mechs in a combined arms setting.
I still remember the first time my Wolfhound took down a Stalker with minimal damage...
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Jarylan Blackwell
"What the...?! Where did you get THAT?!"
"Creative aquisition."
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Apr-2008 13:59 Post subject: Re: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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| CO_17thRecon wrote: | You want to make someone respect light 'Mechs? Send in a force of Jenners and Wolfhounds after their precious assaults. Once you have crushed their dreams, you can begin to explain the proper use of light 'Mechs in a combined arms setting.
I still remember the first time my Wolfhound took down a Stalker with minimal damage... |
Or there's the battle I mentioned in another thread: 6 3025 Commandos and a modified 3025 Enforcer up against an ECM-equipped Battlemaster.
One of the Commandos got slagged due to an ammo hit, but the fight ended with the Battlemaster getting its gyro torn out.
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 23-Apr-2008 20:51 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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KnightRunner,
As a fan of the gooney bird, I concur. You are relatively new and may have not seen a sig I use often. REAL MEN DRIVE LOCUSTS. Many a Mordelian can confirm that. I have run at tourneys in which I get to choose it and I have run them at pre made events when people shy away and run.
People have to remember two things are needed to run a Locust effectively, maneuver and patience. Speed is an asset and will get you killed. Trick is to make them worry about you so you help your friends, or when they forget or get complacent, you run in and stab them in the back.
I disagree with a lot of the other info. Many a light pilot has their core slagged or get captured. Also for many a LL cuts the head clean off. A heavy Mech can take the punishment and limp away.
And any Locust pilot that walks back, gets a Stinger as a replacement.
AWAD- Real men drive Locusts, even on wooded planets.
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Knightrunner
Clan Snow Raven
Star Commander
Joined: 20-Jul-2005 00:00
Posts: 123
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| Posted: 24-Apr-2008 10:51 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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Actually, now that you mention it, I have seen your sig and liked it a lot. Using speedy lights definitely requires a different mindset than using heavy-duty brawlers.
In college we used to run "fight your weight in Locusts" games fairly often. Usually an Atlas (or other assault) would enter the field against five Locusts. The Atlas (or whatever) usually lost- but always took at least one Locust with it. The Locust pilots almost always survived- the assault pilots often didn't. I don't have the stats in front of me, but I think a standard Locust has 8 point of head armor, and the head usually survives a hit from anything short of an AC-20 (in Lvl 1, at least). The battle is usually over before the head takes a second hit.
So, I wasn't too surprised to see a bunch of Commandos take down a B-master. Swarms of lights can be absolutely devastating to a mech that can't get away from them- even though in a one-on-one duel the lights might be scrap metal in two rounds.
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Knightrunner
Clan Snow Raven
Star Commander
Joined: 20-Jul-2005 00:00
Posts: 123
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| Posted: 24-Apr-2008 10:57 Post subject: Re: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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| I just have to say that I have an immense amount of respect for the Jenner. It is one of the best of the canon Lvl 1 mechs, but I think a lot of players lost their fear of it from running mechs like the Clans' Vulture Prime against the 3050 upgrade. Lights, especially poorly armored lights like the Jenner, lost a lot of durability when gauss rifles, pulse lasers, and Clan tech came on the scene.
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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5791
Location: United States
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| Posted: 24-Apr-2008 15:22 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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i think that a point has been made here that goes beyond light mechs in that numerical superiority in an otherwise even (BV, Cost, Ect.) fight likely means that side will win.
Light mechs often need this in order to win on certain modern battlefields. Vehicles use the same tactic. Infantry does too but to less effect do to limited range, mobility, and endurance.
Against a modern foe with Pulse, TC, Percision Ammo, and C3 the ability to gain a positive effect of move to hit penalty for moving is limited as is the ability to choose your range rather than other way around.
I mean, what good is a +3 to-hit if the opponent has a -3 to-hit. Sure you are not making it uber easy but you biggest defense has now been nullified.
Same with range, what good is being 8 hexes from a Marauder and a 3050 Victor and 15 hexes from a B.Master if the Centurion you are 3 hexes from has been moded to use C3 with his lance mates. Ya, u kept them at range but now your facing them as if they were at short range. BOOM!
All this has just ment that the nature of warfare has changed, as it always has with technological developments. Sadly, unless your are playing a campaign or purpose game the odds of getting to use 8 lights to their 3 assaults tends to be low.
The days of the light being a back biter that had a certain immunity are numbered. Luckly, the game has moved its focus to heavies and assaults as the target of designs so the chances that a stock design carrying a C3, AC/10 w Precision ammo, and a TC are slim to none.
An unintended consequence is that lights still keep speed as a defense in most situations.
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mud
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 23-Jul-2002 00:00
Posts: 1618
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| Posted: 05-Jun-2008 12:29 Post subject: Re: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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I also like the Javelin a lot. Two SRM-6 racks can pack a heavy punch, and the Javelin also has a longer jumping range.
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11-Jul-2008 13:33 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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And one good backhand puts it on its butt....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Clifff
ComStar
Recruit
Joined: 28-Apr-2006 00:00
Posts: 6
Location: United States
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| Posted: 22-Jul-2008 07:54 Post subject: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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Chihawk was there when a 4 pack of Solitaire's jumped a Diashi and took a trophy from a Timber Wolf B. Those are some lights with a serious bite.
The Jenner 7F is a truely awesome machine.
The advanced prototype model the Rattlesnake is also a lethal unit.
As for locusts, the group I played with had a custom design for the 3025 era. Swap out all the weapons and even more armor to put a large laser in the center torso.
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 02-Sep-2008 03:44 Post subject: Re: Locust pilots are not crazy! |
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| AWAD wrote: |
You are relatively new and may have not seen a sig I use often. REAL MEN DRIVE LOCUSTS. Many a Mordelian can confirm that.
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And you're about 10 years overdue to put that into a permanent sig at the foot of all your messages. Come on, do it, you know you want to! 
| AWAD wrote: |
And any Locust pilot that walks back, gets a Stinger as a replacement.
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Oh dear, and said pilot is screwed. It was a great discovery, early on, when I picked up my friend's 3025 and started to make sense of the whole thing. Because one of the first things he showed me were his miniatures. He had one Locust and hardly any other lights. He called it "the worst machine in the game".
And I quickly discovered it wasn't. No sir, anything but. I was an early fan of the Cicada... which is just about the best illustration of why Locusts are awesome! 
To be fair, what the others have said holds true, too. Since the advent of the more advanced "lvl2" stuff, CBT has shifted towards heavier weight brackets. No longer are mediums the workhorses of the warring factions - heavies are. And assaults fulfill the roles that heavies used to have; and they aren't rare by any means anymore.
Thankfully, this has all been taken into account in the current texts, it isn't just a mere board-game phenomenon. And it kinda makes sense, what with the LosTech renaissance being long behind us, manufacturing should no longer present a real problem.
jymset - real men live in 3025 or are Clan Warriors! 
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The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
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