Battletech/Mechwarrior PbP: "Days of the Jackal" [closed]

[Douane]

[...] My first choice would be a Locust pilot.

My hero!

Seriously, it's been a long time since I saw someone using mechs at the lower ends of their available bracket. (And I have a soft spot in my heart for the Locust.)

If you are concerned about load-out, you might perhaps consider the 1E variant. Chaosmarch.com lists it incorrectly, in fact it has 2 medium lasers and 2 light lasers, a rather big increase in firepower and still without heat problems.


Folkert

 

[Douane]

I think I'm going to go with the Wolverine WVR-6K (large laser, extra medium laser, heat sinks, and armor replace the AC-5 and the jump jets of a normal Wolverine). A family mech taken in battle versus the Draconis Combine and handed down through the years. I'd like to have been a graduate of the NAIS Military School if that is alright Douane. That covers the tech heavy background and the mech skills.

Looking good so far!

No problem with the NAIS, but you'd better come up with a good explanation why you deserted House Davion.


"Yeah, we don't take kindly to traitors."


(Er ... )


Folkert

 

[doghead]

I would second the Jenner F reccomendation, the two high end lights would both have a very good speed not to mention the power to pretty much shred other lights, it would also let us help out our bigger lance mates if we hit on some problems.

If your set on the Locost, er "trashcan with guns", I would suggest the E, 2 medim Lasers, 2 small lasers, although I wouldn't suggest the mech at all since to shoot with those, it needs to be in range of other mechs, and the thing does not have th armor god gave a turtle.

OK Shalimar, you convinced me. The Locust it is. I particularly like the "trashcan with guns" and "god gave a turtle" observation.

"God gave a Turtle." That's the name of the mech. Hasic's family couldn't pick the winning side if they were give two choices. Now all thats left of their once proud forces is the old training/house/garrison Locust "god gave a turtle".

From the sounds of it, the SRM/Med laser may also be an option - get in as close as possible as fast as possible and open up with everything. Sounds like a plan. I'll need lotsa points in Piloting and Gunnery. Prolly not much left over for Seduction this time ...


The Jenner is a good machine, but my hearts just not in it. I'll roll up a couple of back up characters.

 

[doghead]

Hasic - beta version

A2 - 30 points attributes, 20 points skills, 2 advantages

Hasic

Attributes

Build (BLD) - 3 (3 points)
Reflexes (REF) - 6 (6 points)
Intuition (INT) - 6 (12 points)
Learning (LRN) - 4 (4 points)
Charisma (CHA) - 5 (5 points)

Athletic (18-BLD-REF) - 9+
Physical (18-REF-INT) - 6+
Mental (18-INT-LRN) - 8+
Social (18-INT-CHA) - 7+

Advantages
Title 1 (Heir to Baronet)
Reputation 1

Skills

"Academy package" (15 points)

Gunnery/mech (Phys.) - 3/3+
Piloting/mech (Phys.) - 3/3+
Small Arms (Phys.) - 1/5+
First Aid (Ment.) - 1/7+
Blade (Athl.) - 2/7+
Bureaucracy (Soc.) - 2/5+

Tactics (Ment.) - 2/6+ (3 points)
Streetwise (Soc.) - 1/6+ (1 points)
Negotiation (Soc) - 1/6+ (1 points)

Background

Hasic grew up watching first his grandfather, then his father carefully negotiate their House's fortune into oblivion. It's financial back was finally broken appart on the rocky shoals of political life in the IS, surviving just long enough for Hasic to graduate from his acadamy. It was perhaps the most seminal lesson in his young life so far - "caution leads to distruction".

He grabbed old "god gave a turtle", the last remaining Mech in the family hanger, and fled for the frontier. There, with his deft touch, cool head, and devil may care approach to danger, he has made something of a reputation for himself as a freelance pilot. A reputation, which along with his easy charm and way with people, has aloowed him to keep body and mech together so far.

 

[doghead]

Douane, the skill packages really speed things up. Thanks.

 

[Douane]

OK Shalimar, you convinced me. The Locust it is.

YAY!

 

[Douane]

Doghead,

a few things things if you don't mind:

1. You should only have 20 skill points, not 24. (Probably would be best to downgrade two of the non academy skills to skill level 1.)

BTW, seeing that he's more an 'operator', have you thought about exchanging your values for LRN and CHA?

2. From your description I got the impression that Hasic's family is finished for good. Does he ever intend to go back and lay claim to that family title?

3. "Reputation": He's really well known for something. What would that be in his case? (Being a deal-maker?)


Folkert

 

[doghead]

Doghead,

a few things things if you don't mind:

Shoot.

1. You should only have 20 skill points, not 24. (Probably would be best to downgrade two of the non academy skills to skill level 1.)

24 skill points? Oh, those 24 skill points. Bonus points for being so cool? No? Well worth a try ... OK. Negotiation and Streetwise down to 1 each.

BTW, seeing that he's more an 'operator', have you thought about exchanging your values for LRN and CHA?

Good point, I'll look at it when I do the corrections ... took your suggestion on this one.

2. From your description I got the impression that Hasic's family is finished for good. Does he ever intend to go back and lay claim to that family title?

I was thinking about this as I wrote it up. He's an Heir, but has no land grant. Perhaps his family was once landed, but lost it. So the family survives, but its fortune was distroyed, lost, squandered. I was going to take Knight, but thought that being a heir is a better hook.

3. "Reputation": He's really well known for something. What would that be in his case? (Being a deal-maker?)

Probably Pilot. Thats what he is best at. Mech Pilot/Gunnery 3+. He only started learning the fine art of finding and making a deal in the last few years. Even more so after the skill point adjustment.

OK. Thanks for the once over.

As to whether we play Merc or House, I'm not bothered. I can rewrite the background if need be. Its only an outline at the moment. And Urbanmech made a good point about House intrigue.

A final question. How big a spanner in the works would it be have Hasic be of asian decent, Kurita and Liao i suppose from Urbanmech's post.) Liao is especially appealing if they are destined to get a good kicking in the "4th Succession Wars". Just a thought.

the head of the dog.

 

[Douane]

I was thinking about this as I wrote it up. He's an Heir, but has no land grant. Perhaps his family was once landed, but lost it. So the family survives, but its fortune was distroyed, lost, squandered. I was going to take Knight, but thought that being a heir is a better hook.

Great! Already getting some devious ideas.

Probably Pilot. Thats what he is best at. Mech Pilot/Gunnery 3+. He only started learning the fine art of finding and making a deal in the last few years. Even more so after the skill point adjustment.

The more I think about it, the clearer the picture gets.

Anyone who refuses to give up a Locust for better mech is bound to have a reputation of same kind.


From the BT novel "D.R.T.":

"Would you ever consider piloting something else?" [...]

"Yes, I guess I would consider it but I'd have to call it the greatest waste of my life not to pilot a fast mech. You know what I mean?" [...] "Something with more speed than armor. That's the mech for me. I'd take an Urbanmech if I thought that's what it would take to get back in the hot sest, but I'd trade you a Marauder for a Locust any day."

"Oh, really?"

"Well, maybe not." [...] "But I'd trade a Shadowhawk for one. Even up."

A final question. How big a spanner in the works would it be have Hasic be of asian decent, Kurita and Liao i suppose from Urbanmech's post.) Liao is especially appealing if they are destined to get a good kicking in the "4th Succession Wars". Just a thought.

I don't see any problem with that, especially if we are going merc. (And nobody worry, there's plenty of intrigue in for them, too. )

I would actually prefer Liao in that case, too. Always good for some storyhooks and gets around the clichéd "samurai" mentality of Kuritas. (Besides I already have some plans for Kurita.)


Folkert

 

[doghead]

I'd take an Urbanmech if I thought that's what it would take to get back in the hot seat, but I'd trade you a Marauder for a Locust any day."

How fast is the Marauder? If it can do 6/8, I'd consider keeping it. Otherwise I'm with this guy.

Feel free to get stuck into the background. I love surprises. Well, good surprises.

If the Kurita's are based off the Samurai, what Liao's shtick? Imperial China?

The way I saw it, once his families fortunes collapsed, he was pretty much on his own. His family went one way, he another. I'm was thinking about rolling up a younger brother. Lower Attributes, Higher Skills. He took a place with one of the larger families, perhaps. Anyway, Hasic's had to make his own way since, hence the Streetwise and Negotiation skills. Tactics seemed to be a bit of an ommission from the Acadmy's training, so I popped it in.

Have fun.

PS - just pulled up the Marauder. 4/6. Perhaps a stripped down one, cos it is the second coolest looking Mech around.