Cardboard Armor

[Prussian Havoc]

Why not try some of those sweet, sweet +75% Stability Damage SRMs in place of that PPC?

Sure, it’ll fight like a Crusader, but it’ll be an Archer! : )

 

[Ole122]

Honestly, my main problem when I ran a SRM24 Archer was that things just died too quickly for the stability damage to kick in. That thing just murdered any medium or heavy. 24*12 dmg from the SRMs, two ML+++ added to it and stability damage was a non-issue as the enemy regularly missed his CT.

 

[Beagá]

What about decreasing rear armor and buffing frontal armor? The AI is too dumb to regularly make jumps to hit rear armor, which is the only way to reliably hit rear armor when you know what you are doing. (Talking as a general rule, not only about this challenge)

 

[Jade_Rook]

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

I took a 1.5 or 2 skull desert battle against a lance of mechs supported by four vehicles. The mechs weren't too serious, a Phoenix Hawk, Javelin, Spider, and Commando. The problem was the the LRM carrier that fired on me from beyond sensor range. I tried to move back out of its range while taking out the mechs and was mostly able to do so. However it shredded the side of my Vindicator, taking out the leg and side torso. The light mechs nearly finished the job, but I just barely pulled through and ejected. The Archer took heavy hits. lost a torso, and got pinged twice in the head from the light mechs. I almost ejected the Archer as well or withdrew, but I had the last two mechs nearly destroyed and the vehicles hadn't advanced into sensor range. The Archer still had its PPC and both my light mech pilots had Sensor Lock. I managed to take out the last two light mechs, then carefully finished off the vehicles from long range. It was nerve wracking and all of my mechs were down for repairs. Two months later and Crackshot is still recovering. But I WON!

I managed to recover an LRM 20 from the battle, so I took the last medium laser off the Archer along with a couple heat sinks to upgrade its LRMs. The long range firepower has been excellent. I finished a Griffin and put 35 LRM tubes on it, along with 2 medium lasers (just in case). I also purchased a COIL-L and refit it to my Vulcan with 5 machine guns.

With my mechs down for some long repairs and refits, I travelled back to the deep Periphery to investigate Tarragona. I have started my second flashpoint (Prototype expired before I could re-attempt it). The first mission had me fighting 6 medium mechs. They all fell to my concentrated long range firepower. The Griffin and Archer perched up high and bombarded enemies while my Vulcan and Shadow Hawk swooped in for more concentrated damage. We had a setback, but the company continues. I have most of a Hunchback and Crab, 2 pieces of an Orion and Warhammer (I have been buying Warhammer pieces when I have the opportunity).

It has been 400 days and I finally have a solid medium lance with a Heavy anchor.

 

[Jade_Rook]

Why not try some of those sweet, sweet +75% Stability Damage SRMs in place of that PPC?

Sure, it’ll fight like a Crusader, but it’ll be an Archer! : )

The Archer variant I have only has 2 missile hardpoints and I need the long range firepower from the LRMs. Although... without the armor, I could fit 2 SRM 6s and 2 PPCs... That build might be worth a try, but I think the LRMs will fit me better for now.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

The Archer variant I have only has 2 missile hardpoints and I need the long range firepower from the LRMs. Although... without the armor, I could fit 2 SRM 6s and 2 PPCs... That build might be worth a try, but I think the LRMs will fit me better for now.

Of course. :bow:
I haven’t yet salvaged either Archer. : (

SOMEDAY! : )

 

[Beagá]

Did you try a poor man Archer? The Centurion and the Griffin both have 3 missile slots. As a matter of fact (not doing your challenge lol) if you put 3 SRM 6s they are godly for early and mid game. It´s 144 damage and in my case I even got lucky and had a SRM 6+ with + 2 damage, so it was 176 damage, enough to make even an Atlas scared, let alone anything with 60 tons or less.

So I wonder how a Centurion/Griffin with your armor choice would behave with a pure LRM build.

 

[Jade_Rook]

My Griffin is currently running LRM 35, two 10s and a 15. It works pretty well. The heat management isn't quite where I would like it, but that issue seems to be limited to hot biomes. I might drop one or both of the back up medium lasers I have on it for heat sinks, but it serves as a good LRM platform. I don't have a Centurion, but I expect it would work similarly for an LRM boat. I would have some concern about its survivability. A 4/6 mech needs to jump for evasion and that limits its heat capacity for weapons fire. The Archer actually has enough heat sinks that it is fine jumping as long as it isn't firing the PPC continuously.

Close range mechs are very risky for me. I have started to use one or two skirmishers supported by two or three snipers. My Archer, Griffin, Vindicator and Blackjack are fitted as snipers. They are my heavy damage dealers from long range. My Vulcan, two Firestarters, Wolverine, and Shadow Hawk are currently skirmishers. They are designed to be closer in and deal opportunistic damage, but prioritize evasion and keeping line of sight for the snipers (Sensor Lock is required on the skirmishers). Even the skirmishers are loaded with at least one mid to long range weapon, so that they can support at range, but also carry some close in high damage options.

My mechs are getting well enough established that I should post screenshots of their loadouts. I picked up an Orion K at the end of last session which I need to refit.

Snipers
Archer: PPC, LRM 35
Griffin: 2 ML, LRM 35
Vindicator: 2 PPC, 2 ML
Blackjack: 2 UAC/2, 4 ML

Skirmishers
Vulcan: COIL-L, 4 MG
Firestarter: LL, ML, 6 SL
Firestarter: PPC, 6 MG
Wolverine: LBX 10, SRM 16
Shadow Hawk: UAC 10, LL, SL

 

[Prussian Havoc]

...Snipers
Archer: PPC, LRM 35
Griffin: 2 ML, LRM 35
Vindicator: 2 PPC, 2 ML
Blackjack: 2 UAC/2, 4 ML

Skirmishers
Vulcan: COIL-L, 4 MG
Firestarter: LL, ML, 6 SL
Firestarter: PPC, 6 MG
Wolverine: LBX 10, SRM 16
Shadow Hawk: UAC 10, LL, SL

Interesting. : )

I’ve never had any luck with a 55-tonner and converting them to even 30 LRMs. I can’t imagine much Armor or much more than 10-reloads can be involved? Anyhow, congrats and finding something that works. :bow:

For me I am settling in on my Rule of Skulls Mission Weights in my current Career run.

2-Skull
Warhammer: 2 x ++sPPC, ++Inferno and 4 Flamers
Centurion: 4JJ, ++LB-20X, +++SRM6
Firestarter: 6JJ, 2 x Medium Lasers, 3 Small Lasers, 3 MGs
Raven, COIL-Medium

2.5 Skull sees a Griffin-1N (3 SRM6, ML and SL) added into the mix.
3-Skull sees a Grasshopper (7 ML, 2 Flamer and 4 MG) added into the mix.

Everything beyond the 2-Skull is still a bit in flux but is forming up nicely, especially as with Pieces-of-5 I am working my way ever closer to a Marauder, Archer and Rifleman (gotta love those Mech Quirks! : ) )

 

[ntw]

I now have an Archer and a Shadow Hawk. I found the final pieces needed for both in a shop and couldn't stop myself from buying both. Darius is stalking around the bridge looking for me with a bunch of expense reports, but Yang and I are in the Mech Bay giggling over the new shinies.

LOL

 

[Jade_Rook]

Its been a bit since I updated this. I took a short break with Phoenix Point and am now continuing the campaign. I will probably be juggling BT, PP, and MW5 for the rest of the month.

I have lost two more mechs to coring with both of their pilots dying. My Archer got legged by a Griffin and a Trebuchet finished it off before I could have it stand back up. My Blackjack also got cored by a Griffin. Those lucky PPC hits can really ruin my day.

I have completed the Prototype and Joint Venture flashpoints! I kept the Raven (of course).

I am keeping my mech bay full, but i constantly have repair projects running. I got a new Archer (the 2S variant, so I can make it a full missile boat).

I took a Titan Attack base defense mission to get some assault mech parts. I finished most of the vanguard off fairly easily. It was only a 2.5 or 3 skull mission, so I was curious what the assault mech would be. A Victor? Awesome? The last vanguard was still standing providing vision when the assault mech landed and took its first shots.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Momentary panic as one of the base buildings disintegrates from an Annihilator's attack! It was at 75% armor, but it still could easily destroy any of my medium mechs with a full barrage. However, with some initiative and position management I managed to get a pilot kill on it. 3 parts of my favorite assault mech! Now I just need to find 2 more.

I also managed to get 3 parts of an Awesome in Joint Venture thanks to a headshot and a lucky salvage roll.

I have outfitted a Hunchback with 2 LB 5-Xs and an LB 2-X. It deals massive amounts of damage. It has been great at killing vehicles!

Another interesting mission was a convoy interception I took for pirates. The identity of my employers should have been my first warning. Pulled up in a frozen alpine valley by the convoy's destination. Moved up to get sensor contacts, a couple in phase 3 and a couple in phase 2. It didn't look too bad, but I was cautious, jumping one of my mechs up a ridge to get line of sight on the lead elements... a Grasshopper, Quickdraw, and two Demolishers, all with Master Tactician and full armor. That is not a police convoy. That is an ambush.
Cue Benny Hill music as I run around on the hill trying to avoid the escorts and get out of range of the Demolishers. They also had an SRM carrier, Bulldog, and laser variant Blackjack. I managed to win with minimal damage, but it was a frantic few rounds. Grasshoppers are hard to wear down. Thankfully this was the last piece of Grasshopper I needed... but I don't know what I would replace. I will have to take another look through my ready mechs and sort out which ones I want to keep around.

 

[Jade_Rook]

Another bad mission and another dead pilot. I'll miss that Hunchback too.

Took the Flyswatter assassination mission, targeting a Cicada. I approached it poorly and was surrounded by 2 medium lances. I tried to use the Raven to shield the Hunchback when it lost its leg. An enemy Phoenix Hawk jumped into ECM field to provide LOS and with 5 other medium mechs still to fire, the Hunchback didn't stand a chance. At least they only took out the ammo torso and not the guns. They almost got the Raven as well. The CT was down to 6 structure after all the rear shots. I ejected rather than risking the Raven. The other mechs were able to take out the Cicada and get away, so technically the mission was a success. It definitely was not worth it though. I should have focused the guard lance first rather than going straight for the target. The guards were close enough that they had no trouble closing with me when I went for the Cicada.

Even with these losses, I am still making progress. I am now taking 3 or 3.5 skull missions fairly reliably. I took out 2 lances of undamaged heavies in a capture base mission. That netted me two pieces of Marauder and I only had some internal damage.

I completed One Man's Trash and Double Agent. That got me 3 pieces of Stalker and a piece of Banshee. I found two more pieces of Annihilator in stores and now have my first assault mech!

I recruited 3 rookies to replace my dead mechwarriors, but they need significant training. One of them beat up a mech tech and got spaced for it. I forget if we threw him out the airlock attached to the jumpship or not. It wasn't what I wanted, but I can't have mechwarriors fighting with my techs.