Background This started as a testing build because I am trying to decide which assault LRM boat to keep - either the BLR-1S or the AWS-8R. What I like most about the 8R are the fantastic missile tubes as well as the fully actuated right arm including 2 energy hardpoints. This thing is very capable of defending itself close-up because of this arm. The BLR on the other hand has 5 more tons to work with and also gets a third module slot when mastered. It lacks a bit in the close-range department, though, because firing circling lights and such is difficult when mounting torso lasers only. Enter SSRMS. Loadout 2x LRM20 +A I usually don't like it when the LRM launchers don't fit the size of the LRM mounted so that the launcher fires more than one salvo each time, especially becaue this usually means that an opposing AMS has an easy job to do. When group firing double LRM 20 from two 15-sized launchers, though, there will be a 30-sized salvo going first, followed by a 10-sized one. A single AMS won't be able to completely negate that second salvo in this case, and suddenly this becomes an advantage because of continuous LRM impact causing cockpit shake. The second salvo might also be able to explore holes in the armor caused by the the first salvo as well. Finally, 40 LRMs seem to enough. 50 are nice as well, but 40 do the job for me as well, especially considering this boat isn't helpless at all when not being able to stand still and spam those LRMs. Those double SSRMs are where the build differs from other BLR-1S missile boats. As we're mounting a BAP anyway, they now look like a natural fit. Triple ML and TAG seem to be pretty standard for the 1S, nothing to see here. Note that I tried to fit a single LL in the same spot as the TAG as they're somewhat matching in range. This requires some sacrifices elsewhere, so this was it. I consider BAP to be essential for any serious mech basing on LRMs and / or SSRMS. The AMS is just a bonus - there was some free space left after I switched to the XL300 after testing an XL320 in the first draft. Variant: XL320 This was my first draft of the build. The XL320 isn't that bad, but the mech seems to be both fast and agile enough when mounting the XL300. This version also doesn't mount an AMS and also misses some armor in comparison to the other version.
Hi Aylek, you asked for my opinion. Well, i like the idea of yours - having two Streakpods to deal better with annoying Lights and two Volleys of LRM+A "30+10" is not too bad. If i compare this to an AWS-8R, where the Power is to have LRM45+A, LRM50+A or even LRM60+A in one blow, then this concept is far inferior if it comes to an 1on1 Missile Battle. The good site is having more close range defense, but imo a true Missile Boat doesn't need to have good defense power, because if it comes to a close range fight for the Missile Boats, your team already did something very wrong. I tried to tweak your build by not completely dropping the LRM/Streak-Idea but also to get 1. a stronger one Blow Strike, 2. more LRM.Ammo and 3. more Speed to reposition fast. This is what came up: or with STD300: pls make fieldtest in comparison to your original concept, because i don't own this Mech yet and tell me, what works better for you. I'm really interested in this Mech as Assault-Class Missile Boat and somehow see it superior to the AWS-8R due to the additional Energy hardpoints. Because of Ghostheat, LRM60+A (the only reason to run the AWS-8R) doesn't work anymore as it did in the past. Blagg p.s.: if you don't need the speed, then you can go for this: drop one Streak for LRM40+A in one Blow! Defense Power is still better than most Missile Boats. And the Ammo should suffice for breaking 1K Damage! ;-)
Thanks for the initial input. LRM60 being pretty bad nowadays is a point I didn't even think of because I was running 3x LRM15 +A at max in my AWS anyway. Your proposal is pretty close to Verb's Lurmageddon, which I consider the ultimate BLR Missile boat when it comes to pure boating, but don't you think a single SSRM2 makes a big difference when trying to fight of a nausy light mech? Double SSRM and triple ML on the other hand is equal to a very typical loadout of a RVN-3L, which was considered the best lighthunter for quite some time. I played three or four rounds this morning when the kids were still asleep, and in on of these I was able to fight of an X5 which came to kill that missile boat. The BLR's massive armor and the RVN-like punch enough to f*ck him off quickly. This is only anectotal evidence, though, but at least this showed me the concept works. Mounting an XL350 is an interesting idea. I tried this once in the -1S, but used SRMs in the torso then. Do you really think that speed is necessary? Considering a 12-drop you only need to be as fast as your slowest brawler.
I think as Missile Boat you can contribute much more to the Team Performance with a real nasty big Missile Punch in one Blow than having good Anti-Lights Defense. (That said, LRM40+A in one blow is not even very powerful - even a CAT can deal the same Missile Punchpower!) Staying close to team mates forces Lights to risk their life anyways, so I don't see it necessary to have that extra Streakpunch. If you can succeed to keep your enemies above 180m range, you can f*ck them up better with a hard missile punch. And for both (staying close to team movements and keeping enemies at that said minimum LRM range) imo Speed is necessary. Even 5kph makes a big difference in gameplay. And the Battlemaster can move a lot faster than the Awesome, so it's good to have this advantage. Why not use it? The only reason to keep me using a small Engine would be, if i can have higher Firepower, e.g. loading a fourth LRM Launcher as Verb did in his build. The single Streak is not powerful but provides the same psychological effect for Lights - "shit, he has streaks!" Pls try both concepts intensively and report me, because next year when i can buy this Mech for C-Bills, i will have your xperience.
Will do. Here's another possibility when following your proposals, which can be seen as some kind of compromise regarding the engine, but doesn't require to mount Endo. Also, the XL320 seems to be pretty common.
I only got time for some limited testing, but so far a single SSRM2 and 3 MLas weren't enough to scare a light away on one ore more occasions.
