DS II: Combat Walkers

After purchasing some clearance rack Battletech minis, I set about getting
them ready for an upcoming game of Dirtside.

While going through the rules on walkers, I noted that the only sizes
mentioned are size 1 infantry walkers and size 4 or 5 combat and transport
walkers.

Why not size 2 or 3? Has anyone noted unbalancing effects from designing
combat walkers in sizes 2 and 3?

> on 4/24/01 10:45, Kevin Balentine at balentine_media@yahoo.com wrote:

(snip)

> While going through the rules on walkers, I noted that

I don't believe there's any real unbalance with size 2 & 3 vehicles of this
type. IIRC, when I was working on DS2 Vehicle Designer (Mac), in one of my
discussions with St.Jon there was a consensus that there was little or no
reason to restrict the walkers to a limited number of size classes. I haven't
been through the rules in a while but if there's a difference in the
formulas between the size 1 infantry walkers and the 4/5 transport
walkers.

Is there a site with more information about your
Mac-based designer?

> IIRC, when I was working on DS2 Vehicle

I am unsure why they put this distinction in the rules (other than to give a
visible distinction between infantry and combat walkers).

Infantry walkers (size 1) seem to me to be nothing more than larger and easier
to kill Power Armor. Easier to kill, because you can use all Heavy weapons at
normal ranges and strengths against them, while range and chit draw are
limited against power armor.

If your group agrees (and I see no reason not to agree), expand Combat
Walkers to sizes 2-5. Most Battletech mechs fit this range.  I would
use: Mech Type: Walker Size: Example: Light: Size 3 Wasp, Locust Medium: Size
4 Phoenix Hawk Hvy & Assault: Size 5 Warhammer, Atlas

If you want to try to convert actual Mechs, you can try: Weapons Conversions:
BT Weapon DS2 System AC's (All Types)
AC2                       HPK/2
AC5                       HVC/3
AC10                      HVC/4
AC20                      HVC/5
ECM (any type) Superior ECM
ER PPC                    HEL/5
Flamer                    DFFG/1
Laser, Small              HEL/1
Laser, Medium             HEL/3
Laser, Large or ER Large  HEL/4
LRM (All Types) LRM 5 3 SLAM LRM 10 4 SLAM LRM 15,20 5 SLAM Machine Gun APSW
PPC                       DFFG/5
Probe or NARC Superior Guidence or FCS
Pulse Laser, Small        DFFG/1
Pulse Laser, Medium       DFFG/3
Pulse Laser, Large        DFFG/4
SRM (All Types)
SRM/Streak 2 or 4         GSM/L
        SRM/Streak 6              GSM/H
Thunder Warhead - Places a mine marker

To figure the armor, take the Center Torso Armor and divide by 5 (maximum
armor = walker size).
Give all Mechs Stealth/1 or better (if you want it to survive)
If the Mech has jump jets (and your group agrees), allow the Mech to do a
pop-up attack like a VTOL.
Sometimes the equipment of a BT mech won't fit in the capacity of a Combat
Walker, so choose the most often used systems.

> on 4/24/01 11:15, Kevin Balentine at balentine_media@yahoo.com wrote:

> Is there a site with more information about your

Sorry, but there isn't that I know of. If you're interested in it let me know
and I can send up a SEA file with it and some sample vehicles files (the ones
in the book). There's a PPC version and a 68K version. When I get the
situations with employment (lost my major client due to their closing) and my
home basement issues solved I may be working on a combined Mac and PC versions
of DS2 Vehicle Designer 2.0, but until that time the Mac version will not be
Carbon or OS X ready.

Thanks to you, Brian, and Kevin Walker for the information. We're planning our
first "real" game of Dirtside II this weekend. I'll post an AAR so everyone
can see how it turns out.

As a side note, has the "1" rolling crowd had better luck at Dirtside since
part of the resolution system is based on chits?

I'm looking forward to that. For so long in Stargrunt my luck has been to have
the first squad broken by
hostile fire. Many times, it's a long-range shot at a
squad in cover that takes no casualties - just rolls a
one on the confidence check.

--- "Bell, Brian K (Contractor)"
> <Brian.Bell@dscc.dla.mil> wrote:

> Kevin Balentine wrote:

In the handful of games I've played my opponents always draw
the 'boom' chit and I draw 'systems down' chit.  ;-)

Actually, I haven't played enough games close enough together to get a good
statistical feel. I *think* I'm doing average in this category based on the
games I have played over the years.

Awaiting the AAR.

[quoted original message omitted]

> I did design some walkers using battletech minis, specifically the
Thanks, Biff Was wondering what to do with all these blasted MECHs I got a
clearance, well now I do. Was going to use them for HeavyGear but the rules
are horrid, Dirt Side is a great system over all and your research saves me a
bit of work!

[quoted original message omitted]

On Tue, 24 Apr 2001 08:45:43 -0700 (PDT) Kevin Balentine
> <balentine_media@yahoo.com> writes:

You too? Did you get the last clearance BT infantry at the Going Out of
Business  sale for GCH&S?  Somebody did (before me) - I'll blame you
<grin>.

> While going through the rules on walkers, I noted that

Well, no but I just decided to look into them because of the BT sale...

> Why not size 2 or 3? Has anyone noted unbalancing

Good question.

The only walkers we have used are all Class 3 and treated as combat walkers. I
have two solid opinions on them:

1) There is no better place to stick artillery observation ability. The
mobility is outstanding and introduces an fantastic threat on the battlefield.
You think arty is intimidating enough now? Wait until a hill or woods won't
stop the observer from sighting your position this
turn...

2) Combine the arty threat with the fact that they are tall draw attention on
the battlefield and boy do they get shot at a lot.

[quoted original message omitted]

> -----Original Message-----
-----End Original Message-----

It is only 33% greater weapons load. But it is still limited by the size rule
(no more than 1 size larger than the vehicle). And the rule about only being
able to fire 1 type of weapon limits the effectiveness (you could fire
2 of the same weapon as a multi-mount, but not 2 different weapons in
the same round). And the "1 class size larger" penalty can be devastating (or
expensive to buy the extra level of stealth).

---

G'day Kevin,

We've had walkers of all sizes (1 to 7) and haven't found any problems as yet.

Cheers

G'day,

> As a side note, has the "1" rolling crowd had better

Wouldn't say I get 'boom' chits hand over fist, but at least I get some!
;)