Visual Mech Design/Hardpoint Allocation

[Scoughman]

Does anyone else add some challenge to their playthroughs by only equipping weapons that "match" their slots?

I was reading the custom rules for stock-design RP campaigns and a lot of cool ideas came up, but I figured this was a different issue since it can apply to totally custom variants. Here are some examples...

Blackjack BJ-1 - I always make sure to either put a gun or PPC on each arm, because the game creates a barrel for those as opposed to simply a square emitter for MLs and LLs.

Wolverine, Panther, Griffin - many of these can run 3+ lasers on a single arm, which looks ridiculous - they all get stacked up or hang down from the limb and would be totally unbalancing. I often run a max of 1-2 depending on how it looks.

Shadowhawk, Cataphract - the way the game sizes barrels doesn't seem to make sense; I can stack two AC/2s on a Shadowhawk and the top one will have a bigger one. For the Cataphract, I'm running an AC/20 over a Gauss Rifle in part because the Gauss barrel looks absurdly small on the Cataphract's torso.

Any other quirks you can think of or regularly use?

 

[_Firefly]

The TDR-5SS has two additional energy hardpoints on the right torso, which I presume are leftovers from a stock Flamer that used to reside there... And then HBS decided to add two support hardpoints in that location, because Flamers are a different category in this game (the Firestarter suffers from similar hardpoint inflation issues). I'd decided to put 2 MLs on each side torso, Battlemaster style, but I then reverted to the stock layout of 3 MLs and an SRM-6 in the left torso. I simply did that because the change felt wrong and looked terrible, completely out of character for a Thunderbolt. I'm still looking for a regular TDR-5S, so I can move the SRM launcher to the RT for a more survivable package.

I did the same thing in my beloved Grasshopper - despite there being additional energy hardpoints in the side torsoes, I refrained from using these despite the added survivability this would give me, at a slight cost to accuracy. This is what she looks like now... Even the ammo bin is in the original location, though if it were originally in the CT I would've moved that in an instant.

 

[Donvale]

I don't have hard and fast rules, but I EXPECT all my mechs to look awesome!
So I will tend towards loadouts that match the model or at least make it look nice!
Classic example is symetrical mechs (i.e. Blackjack) I always try and keep the loadout on these symetrical , I just wish there was a safe place to put ammo that was in the centre.
The one I hate the most is when you have a mech model with a MASSIVE weapon on one arm and then a loadout with no weapon on the arm!

 

[Prussian Havoc]

“Shield” Arms and Side Torsos are nearly irresistible for me. Asymmetric Blackjacks, Jenners, Catapults, Stalkers, etc are the types of Mechs I very much enjoy employing.

 

[stjobe]

the way the game sizes barrels doesn't seem to make sense; I can stack two AC/2s on a Shadowhawk and the top one will have a bigger one.

This one's on PGI, not HBS. the PGI models have some serious sizing issues; back when I was active on their forums I used this picture to play a little game I call "Spot The UAC":

Three machine guns and one UAC on the right arm of an Urbie - now which one is the UAC?

The "Variable Geometry" project PGI undertook with their (fantastically beautiful) 'Mech models sometimes turned them from stunning to eye-sore, like my favourite the CN9-A:

Original model on the left, "Variable Geometry" model on the right - note the missing missile bay doors and the horrendous travesty the AC/10 arm turned into...

I think I'll stop there, before I upset myself with the Catapult's VCR boxes or the hilariously poorly done missile pods on the Commando...

Does anyone else add some challenge to their playthroughs by only equipping weapons that "match" their slots?

I generally play close to stock, or stock-Plus, so I probably do this.

 

[Scoughman]

@_Firefly - absolutely, I have always struggled with the 5SS. One thing I'd like to try is a PPC with accuracy bonus in that right side torso, an LL in the right arm and then the stock 3ML/SRM6 in the left torso. Often times the PPCs look better on a torso just because of how the end of the barrel looks vs. a laser. I've never liked the fact that the variant puts so much weaponry in a single side torso; the 5S is much more balanced that way. On the other hand, my Grasshopper is using almost every slot - it's much more symmetrical so I don't mind having it festooned with guns, even the SLs with their weird emitters sticking out.

@Prussian Havoc - I love shields but struggle to use them on symmetrical mechs. The Centurion, sure, sounds great - Shadowhawk-2H with the laser hardpoints in only one arm, Panther, even Hunchback, ok. I don't mind semi-symmetrical loadouts either, like a Jager with a PPC in one torso and guns on each end. But when you strip everything from one side torso on a Catapult, what happens? It just has a giant empty box on one shoulder?

@stjobe - totally on PGI, for sure. Honestly I don't even hate the new Centurion arm other than the fact that it looks crazy dumb unless you put another weapon below it. My Cents often have an SL in that slot and an AC/10 at minimum, for just that reason. I don't miss the missile bay doors much, though. I really wish you could see a preview of the loadout before committing to the change...

 

[Prussian Havoc]

@Scoughman, the Catapult actually has a nub that takes the place of its trademark LRM box whenever I dedicate a Shield Arm for a particular build.

For me, functional trumps visual aesthetics.

 

[Scoughman]

I don't blame you, but aesthetics are kind of the point of the thread

 

[_Firefly]

Exactly. I wouldn't run a Catapult with that little stub of an arm even if my life depended on it.

 

[Scoughman]

I've been working on a Hatchetman and discovered that two SLs look great in the left torso, but two Lasers look weird in the right-hand mount; one is in a pistol grip, and the other is slung beneath. You can also run a laser in the left arm but it looks odd bulging out from beside the hatchet. It's also possible to stack an energy weapon above the AC slot in the right torso, which is super weird looking. My loadout right now is AC/5, two SL, one LL in the left arm, but it feels like a strange setup for a melee mech. Anybody have a good setup for this one?

 

[Jade_Rook]

I like dual large laser on a Hatchetman. Gives it enough tonnage to have decent armor and the lasers have decent range. The AC/5, LL setup sounds reasonable to me. Long range damage on the way in, then hatchet when you get close.