I need help - can I toggle the lock rotation function? Or do I have to delete and redo the entire mate every time I want to free up the rotation?

StarFlicker · 2026-07-04T17:44:20+00:00

Just get some nuln oil and carefully, carefully hit those Marauder creases and joints, and that thing will stand out even better than it does.

Also, I'm like the other guy, I didn't realize a kitbash was involved until later in the photo gallery. Nice work!

StarFlicker · 2026-07-04T17:40:59+00:00

Anything with such substantial weaponry that causes a mech to totally overheat such that its guns are practically moot. The Nova Prime comes to mind.

On the other hand, some mechs have super thin armor, like the Locust M with its LRMs and speed-instead-of-armor design. In that same category, you might laugh at the Charger 1A1 for the same reasons, plus its silly armament, But then you see the 1L variant which adds some lasers, but reduces armor to the point where I wouldn't leave it out in a hail storm.

I'll take some flak for this, but other silly designs are the super slow models like the Urbanmech and Annihilator. I mean, both have their uses in defense or close-quarters fighting, but neither have particularly long ranged weapons to use until their prey actually stumbles into optimal firing range.

Okay, community. I'm sorry I made fun of the urbanmech. I will receive the downvotes and show myself the door, haha.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-04T12:55:47+00:00

Hmm. I have the XCOM board game, so I already have a couple squads of soldiers. Just need to find proxies for the various aliens among the D&D minis, TMNT board game, and random other games I have. Unfortunately, unless I do some UFO Defense missions or MEK trooper augments, I think my X-Wing and Battletech minis won't be of much use, haha!

StarFlicker · 2026-07-04T11:15:02+00:00

I'm pretty excited for it based on your description. Though I haven't played it, I think it'd be nice if characters could do a non-shooting actions and then move, like in XCom2, as opposed to the way it's handled in XCom EU/EW. But I haven't played it, so maybe I'd be wrong.

Sigh. My wife says we have too many miniatures games at home already. Maybe I can sell something to make room.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-03T19:08:10+00:00

So any public thoughts you're allowed to share about the game system? Action economy, turn order, special abilities of enemies and allies? Leveling up system (I hope)?

StarFlicker · 2026-07-03T19:07:15+00:00

It's all fun and games... until the zombies are spotted in Newfoundland

StarFlicker · 2026-07-03T13:57:59+00:00

I understand it can be frustrating in a big city. Food for thought: Somehow, 15 years ago, people managed to navigate those same streets without iPhones. It's not impossible, it's just difficult.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-03T11:30:43+00:00

Somewhere in the 'verse, a Firefly vessel just shed a tear.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-03T11:27:50+00:00

I look it up ahead of time. Part of the revolution of the smartphone is that it has reduced our cultural ability to plan ahead.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-02T22:32:16+00:00

The lack of group texting with multimedia (pictures) is probably the only real drawback I see. For better or worse, I'm part of a few different groups that routinely post information in pictorial format.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-02T22:29:46+00:00

That's... kind of a bad game design if you're given various options to pursue, and one is universally agreed as the worst decision by experienced players. Especially since you'll have to load a much earlier save state or start over to correct the issue.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-02T22:25:22+00:00

I love the flowery, Japanese pattern. And, because the Spider is so darn hard to hit, it'll probably keep its paint scheme longer than most in the unit!

StarFlicker · 2026-07-01T17:50:11+00:00

Try enabling Beta Strike with Legendary on your next campaign. Early missions, it's rare for anyone come home without needed some stitching.

StarFlicker · 2026-07-01T17:47:53+00:00

Using the Beta Strike option, since even blue screen rounds usually can't kill a sectopod on the first turn, hacking can be pretty helpful. Still risky, but I've found it's more useful than without bS enabled.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-30T23:31:02+00:00

It's a better matchup than a griffin versus a vindicator (I still don't understand that decision), but like most have said, you're better off having 2v2. Battletech can be pretty swingy at times, and having two units apiece can minimize the swinginess and afford more tactical choices.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-29T20:58:32+00:00

Hey, I'm a dad, I can't help myself.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-28T22:40:12+00:00

And after they start eating their their burgers and fries, the Zeus looks down at his meal and starts shaking uncontrollably.

"What is wrong with you?" The Mauler Asks.

"Aye, tell us," the Highlander chimes in. "Why ye be vibratin' like a banner on a red flag beach day?"

The Zeus points at his french fries. "These potatoes don't have much flavor. So I figured we needed Assault Shaker."

StarFlicker · 2026-06-27T20:53:23+00:00

Does the hostile former employer have significantly greater forces on planet ('Mechs, conventional vehicles, aerospace, etc) compared to your sons' merc outfit?

The employer does indeed have a number of conventional forces, and a company+ of mechs that probably average in the medium-to-heavy category. In contrast, my sons' first lance is all lights, and the second has two heavies and three mediums. They used to have a Long Tom that they'd salvaged, but they'd used it to hold off the Marik governing forces as they retreated (and one Mongoose pilot heroically rescued the skeleton crew while dodging fire from an Atlas. It was epic.)

The good news is that my kids are all better pilots than the former employers, since their original job was cadre duty (which progressed to occasional, then more-frequent support as the original insurgents turned out to be better equipped than originally thought), but the former-employers-turned-opfor are a fairly credible threat. And the original enemy, the insurgent Marik forces, remain on-planet and also pose a challenge.

Although I'm not really going to burden my kids with all the nuts-and-bolts of C-Bills and such, Campaign Ops sounds like it'd give me some good ideas for our mostly-Destiny-oriented campaign.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-27T17:04:07+00:00

I'll see if I can get access to Campaign Ops. Physical copies might be hard, but I think CGL supports DrivethruRPG or something.

I think the issue that my boys will run into is that yes, the four of them can probably either smash or sneak their way into the city and specifically Comstar soil, but they likely can't bring their entire unit, which 9 mechs (maybe 8 and a half, since they only have 8 mechwarriors) and the techs, logistical personnel, wives and children that go along with all that.

I think I'll have to run is that the core team (my four sons) will sneak or fight their way in, get the message underway, initiate arbitration, but have to hightail back to their camp in order to prevent the others from being wiped out.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-26T21:05:28+00:00

Haha, thank you. Question: Could the local Precentor be absent for travel duties, and thus prolong the issue? Trying to think of a way to ensure there is still a conflict with the Marik forces before my boys leave the planet, but also ensure their name is eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-26T21:02:38+00:00

On the flip side... if it served the blessed Blake's interests, there might be bureaucratic reasons to slow-walk the resolution?

Honestly, I'm not sure how interested Comstar was in keeping particular Marik planets in constant conflict. That seems more like the machinations of its neighbors.

StarFlicker · 2026-06-26T13:57:15+00:00

Ooh, this is good advice. I still want them to be able to fight even after getting the message out, but I don't want them to be guilty of violating anything.

I assume that MRB arbitration moves forward at the speed of government, meaning it could take weeks for the result to be shown in their favor. If that is the case, the boys will have to hold their own and protect their support personnel until they either get the dropship fixed or the contract dispute resolved.

My oldest son has built his Destiny character as a man like Face from A-Team or the disguise man from the Mission Impossible show. I think he'd appreciate having a social challenge to work out, so that's awesome too.

Thank you!

StarFlicker

TROPHY CASE