I don't like mechlab

[Fallenkezef]

In the game's time period the IS is screwed, few factories survive, few mechs are built outside the major planets like Hesperus or Luthien.
Most mechs have been lovingly maintained snd nurtured for centuries.

Yet I can rebuilld and totaly refit a mech out of spare parts in a Dropship's mech bay?

It's better than some past BT games whrn every mech was basicly an omni-mech, the hard points are a good limiter.

Dunno why but the whole thing is a little annoying. Mechs are not modular, thats why Omni-mechs where eventualy created.

At least there are no silly engine and internal structure refits

 

[Pedroig]

Umm, then don't use it...

 

[AFnord]

I think this is where gameplay and balance has to trump lore.
Yes, refitting a mech would take a lot of time and resources, but it would not be very fun if you had to wait for a really long time to refit a mech.
Modifying mechs is both an important part of the tabletop game, and something that happens a lot in the lore, and it's fun, so not having it in-game would be pretty bad.
And always getting complete mechs as salvage would likely break the economy/progression, so the current system f

 

[IloveSteak]

I had a great hamburger earlier. I put lettuce and tomato on it, which i normally do not do, but i just felt it needed that. I had some honey mustard too that is made locally and i spread just a tad on the top bun. That really made a difference. The 3 cheese blend was melted over the sides, i love it like that.

 

[VanSinn]

The lore is FILLED with examples and anecdotes of "field expedient refits," even in rough conditions on a hostile planet. Yeah, you're likely not gonna see full on arm/leg replacements outside of a mech bay, but where do you think merc units repaired and refitted their mechs? Not every merc unit is a Wolf's Dragoons, with a planet and home base of their own.

Assembling full mechs out of 3 components is an abstraction of the actual process. Take chassis A, cannibalize parts from chassis B and a few from chassis C, and you make chassis A into a functioning mech, while the remains of B & C are dropped off at the nearest scrap yard after making sure any usable components have been stripped to allow for further repairs on chassis A.

The Inner Sphere, compared to the height of the Star League, is a rough place, but also be aware that it's a full millenium ahead of our current tech level, and it certainly doesn't surprise me that techs are capable of repairing and salvaging Mechs and parts from what appears to be fairly well equipped repair facilities on board the Leopard and Argo.

 

[SuriViruS]

The restriction are the weapon hardpoints. So they are not really modular like the clan 'Mechs.

Yen-Lo-Wang in it's first "arena-mod" is the best example.

 

[Ryoken]

This was talked about at length (many, many times) before the game was released.. But as the first reply said it boils down to if you don't like it don't use it. No one forces you to use non-stock loadouts. But having that option in game helps it to appeal to a wider audience.

Also I find the Lore more grey in these areas than others. Mechs of the great houses are loveling maintained, but once you get beyond that people need to make due with what they have. The idea that mods wouldn't happen is nuts.. I agree it is a little too easy in game vs lore, but not impossible. Lore wise it would take longer, and have quirks.. But it did happen. As othhers have said there are lots of examples of custom/modded mechs in this erra.

 

[Tsar_Bomba]

In the game's time period the IS is screwed, few factories survive, few mechs are built outside the major planets like Hesperus or Luthien.
Most mechs have been lovingly maintained snd nurtured for centuries.

Yet I can rebuilld and totaly refit a mech out of spare parts in a Dropship's mech bay?

It's better than some past BT games whrn every mech was basicly an omni-mech, the hard points are a good limiter.

Dunno why but the whole thing is a little annoying. Mechs are not modular, thats why Omni-mechs where eventualy created.

At least there are no silly engine and internal structure refits

The almost post-apocalyptic, resource poor state in which the inner sphere existed was lore that was ignored almost as fast as it was written. It's been given some lip service, but it's a limiting factor in a wargame that thrives on new mechs, and blowing them up. It was just a terrible idea, given the end use for it.

 

[Fallenkezef]

The almost post-apocalyptic, resource poor state in which the inner sphere existed was lore that was ignored almost as fast as it was written. It's been given some lip service, but it's a limiting factor in a wargame that thrives on new mechs, and blowing them up. It was just a terrible idea, given the end use for it.

Aye, I'm oldschool, still have my original 80's House books. I keep my mechs stock, except to replace like for like upgraded weapons.

All about personal choice in the end.

Just all these posts with people building missle boats to deliberately abuse the mechanics are annoying.

 

[kylania]

Just all these posts with people building missle boats to deliberately abuse the mechanics are annoying.

Just remember, they are only ruining their game, not yours. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go find a new paint pattern for my LRM 30 CN9...

 

[CyberianK]

Aye, I'm oldschool, still have my original 80's House books. I keep my mechs stock, except to replace like for like upgraded weapons.

All about personal choice in the end.

Just all these posts with people building missle boats to deliberately abuse the mechanics are annoying.

To be honest missile/ppc boats and long range camping is why I quit playing the original CBS in the first place so maybe that's why I am not doing it in my game

But modifying Mechs and doing builds has been for me an essential part of Battletechs initial success. Intentionally not including that would be very stupid for a game designer imho. Would be like Magic the Gathering without deck building or an RPG without leveling up your characters.

 

[ItWasRhetorical]

Aye, I'm oldschool, still have my original 80's House books. I keep my mechs stock, except to replace like for like upgraded weapons.

All about personal choice in the end.

Just all these posts with people building missle boats to deliberately abuse the mechanics are annoying.

I empathise with the impulse, but at the end of the day there's no sense getting wound up because other people enjoy playing a different way than you. And as someone who's experimenting with a Stalker refitted into a slightly tweaked STK-3H, I can tell you that missile boating isn't OP.

Honestly, Mlas boats like the Battlemaster and spamming Precision Strike is a lot more effective for me, but tends to net you a lot less salvage...

 

[Ryoken]

Ya while I have no issues at all with min-maxing mechs, so far the only time I've messed with one is during a forced refit.. most of the times because I was lacking part(s) (Like no AC10 when I got the Centurion), or drooping something to add another heatsink. The way HBS did it everyone can play the game their way, which is what I love.. I can go (mostly) stock this run, next time I can see just what fits I can come up with

 

[Rifter]

I agree its not the best, i liked MWO's better, its actually one of the only things i liked in MWO.

Would love to be able to dive as deep in BT as MWO and get into XL engines and engine upgrades/replacements, FF armor, lighter structures etc.

 

[Ryoken]

I agree its not the best, i liked MWO's better, its actually one of the only things i liked in MWO.

Would love to be able to dive as deep in BT as MWO and get into XL engines and engine upgrades/replacements, FF armor, lighter structures etc.

None of that exists in this erra if I'm not mistaken.. Need the Clans to show up and say Hi first

 

[Rifter]

None of that exists in this erra if I'm not mistaken.. Need the Clans to show up and say Hi first

It will happen, all the BT games go clan eventually and it usually breaks everything lol.

At the least im sure someone will mod it in.

 

[Remnar]

Just all these posts with people building missle boats to deliberately

Then complaining the game is too easy, while also abusing the precise strike skill.

I exaggerate some... but not a ton.

I keep most of my mechs mostly stock, perhaps moving ammo bins or dumping/adding 1 or 2 weapons to change heat characteristics.

Such as ripping the MGS from my TDR 5S to upgrade the SRM 2 to a 4.

 

[ItWasRhetorical]

It will happen, all the BT games go clan eventually and it usually breaks everything lol.

At the least im sure someone will mod it in.

Tyler has talked about some ways to make the Clans less broken. Including not having engine heat sinks count as Double Heat Sinks. I can't remember anything else that was said, but I'm quite hopeful.

 

[Remnar]

Tyler has talked about some ways to make the Clans less broken. Including not having engine heat sinks count as Double Heat Sinks. I can't remember anything else that was said, but I'm quite hopeful.

If clans are a paid DLC, I'll pass.

 

[Homis]

I don't see an issue with the mech bay. Back with the TT and RPG there were rules that allowed a tech to repair just about anything in the field with the ad of a gantry (IIRC the dropships included repair gantries, certainly on the larger Union and Overlord class). This included Engine and Gyro replacement using another mech as a repair gantry, it was harder and took longer. There were time tables and difficulty checks. I don't remember any individual job taking more than a day or two. The current system seems reasonable to me. The hard point limitation seem realistic to me but still allows quiet a bit of modification to tailor it to a pilot/mission.