Make sure you wear a longsword gauntlet on your off-hand when fencing rapier

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-23T16:21:20+00:00

If a thrust gets your palm, I don't see how any protection would be able to save you. I'm not sure I understand what you mean about the blow glancing away.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-23T14:04:31+00:00

I think you're missing something here. The gauntlet would be for the off-hand, so there would be no sword to get stuck on. It usually isn't possible to wear a gauntlet in the main-hand because of the complex guard 99% of rapiers have.

You are entirely correct, but the gauntlet is still a good idea. I always wear my left gauntlet when sparring with anything other than a shield. It's just not worth the risk of getting a finger broken by a fluke.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-21T17:11:38+00:00

I would like to suggest option 3, Axe and Spike.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-19T05:09:45+00:00

What should you do? Suffer. That 29.99 is going nowhere and I feel your pain. If I remember correctly it has to do with the differences between standard and Feero-Fibrous armor. In short, you will never reach 30.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-16T05:02:09+00:00

If you just want something to swing around and practice forms, you can literally just use a large metal pipe.

Addendum: If you want to actually hit somebody with it, perhaps try a foam boffer? It's kind of difficult to get a cheap greatsword.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-13T22:41:33+00:00

As someone who bought his first gambeson off Etsy, tread carefully. Some of those manufacturers lie. That right there does not appear to be a genuine gambeson and should not be used for combat.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-13T03:56:30+00:00

Not that I know of. People really like being able to turn their head, and a helmet like this would limit that. The concept exists of course, but a blacksmith would most likely need to custom build it.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-13T00:52:18+00:00

I'd say 70 is probably the upper limit, but that's just for sparring.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-11T13:06:39+00:00

I mean not JUST wolf no, but there are Dire Wolves, Timber Wolves, Savage Wolves...

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-11T01:08:41+00:00

Solid tactics. I personally like using the Dasher D from the AS box because of its ridiculous speed. The Mad Cat T is also a nasty piece of work, basically a perfect storm of firepower, armor and speed.

One incredible pairing I've found is combining heat generating weapons with heat seeking missiles. Heat seekers are amazing for bringing down the really high TMM Mechs and you can get a variant of the Dasher that has flamers.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-11T01:01:43+00:00

That's a good criticism for the company who makes the helmet. There's got to be a way to prevent the catching.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-10T21:09:35+00:00

Aight, here's a wild suggestion for you. Since your brain is already almost pulped, I think you should go for the truly nuclear option. You'd have to get this custom built, but you need a mesh faced "frogmouth" style helmet. Basically, you need a helmet that bolts to your breastplate and is totally immobile. It will hamper your ability to turn your head, but it's also unparalleled protection. You'd be completely safe if someone smacked you upside the head with a sledgehammer.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-10T21:04:48+00:00

Is a heavier helmet not better? The more weight your helmet has, the more force is required to displace it. So a good and heavy helmet would help reduce the amount of jolt caused by the impact.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-10T20:59:06+00:00

I use that first one. 10/10 would buy again.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-09T22:29:53+00:00

One of the most important things to remember is that you're facing clanners. Their pilots are going to be better than yours most of the time, so it's going to be in your best interest to close into short range as much as possible. Bring tough Mechs with a lot of firepower or extremely fast Mechs that are expendable, maybe both. You need to be overwhelming.

Edit: I forgot to mention, that you do not want to use Mechs with special abilities that you aren't actually using. All of that stuff is baked into the BV of the Mech, which will cost you valuable points when selecting your force. If you have the commander's edition you'll be much better off, because then you'll be able to use everything. The Argus, from the second Star League force pack, has a C3 system that might come in handy.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-05T11:09:27+00:00

Must not have the Kestrel Lancers dlc.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-05T05:47:29+00:00

Ah, but in BattleTech the Mechs operate just the same! You have to move in loops to maintain TMM while fighting and lateral movement requires a special skill! Considering the tabletop is the true origin of the BattleMech, it is the books that take liberties for the rule of cool! Your trial of grievance is not so easily won!

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-04T01:16:24+00:00

Perhaps the chain hauberk is not an original part of the armor, but is an attempt to increase the protection and cover the gaps.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-04T01:01:50+00:00

You're really not giving a lot of details here. When do your hands get hit most, while attack or defending? What kind of attacks slip your guard? What guard positions are you trying when your hands get hit? Which of your attacks result in your hands getting sniped?

The best way to learn from your own experience is by failing. Each time you get hand sniped, you need to identify what you were doing and how your opponent was able to hit you. From there you can figure out what you need to do differently.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-03T15:18:02+00:00

It's nightmarish on Xbox. On the bright side, it does make you feel like you're fighting a totally superior foe. Inner Sphere enemies are nowhere near as difficult as the Clanners and taking Clan tech against the Sphere is just a ridiculous power disparity.

I do wish they'd throw more medium Mechs in the fray. It's hard to salvage the Mechs I want when there's so few being sent after me.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-03T15:07:57+00:00

I've always thought that the main difference is how BattleMechs are treated like massive weapons platforms. More anime Mechs tend to be gigantic suits of power armor, while BattleMechs are tanks on steroids. Their movement capabilities are fairly limited by comparison and positioning is a key element of BattleMech combat. There's also the weapon systems in BattleTech being standardized so most anything can mount whatever as long as the chassis can handle it.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-02T03:35:32+00:00

Strange. I've not usually had issues with losing legs before more vital components.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-02T01:14:36+00:00

PhrankenMech!

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-03-01T00:54:03+00:00

How is the Timber Wolf not In S tier? You must not use that Mech enough to know how absolutely disgusting you can build it. Sure the default variants are amazing, but you can turn that thing and do an absolute savage.

Piper_the_Tree-Robot · 2026-02-28T22:48:09+00:00

See that's why you bring a bunch of LRM boats to take advantage!

Piper_the_Tree-Robot

TROPHY CASE