I have been going down the rabbit hole more on individual mechs and listening to videos. Got me thinking on what makes a good command mech? I know the cyclops got some command computer thing but does that matter?
Personally I've been kinda falling in love with the Merlin as of late.
I sell any equipment lower than tier 3, and I sell any non-hero mech variant that I know I'm not going to use. I also sell excess ammo and heat sinks.
I'm also playing on Xbox, and my game is mostly stable. I start getting frame drops and lag, and I know it's time to sell excess shit before the game crashes.
I've tried. It gets me relief for like a system or two, but goes right back to it. It's not even on my biggest save file. I never lag except for the loading screen when jumping to a new system, which is immediately followed by a crash.
Side note that it's a shame you have to sell equipment and mech variants in a sandbox game in order for the game to work. Like I want to experiment, test, and advance my designs but the game says no.
What Xbox do you have? I have hundreds of mechs in storage and at least 20 of every weapon/item in the game and I get that error occasionally (once every couple of hours maybe) but not enough to make it unbearable.
Yeah the Archer too, and Longbow, and some Catapults. Gotta love mechs that send so many little packages of joy long distance, right into their enemy's face 🤣
You know I had a real answer to this prompt. A good clean answer, full of wisdom and gaming experience. and this FUCKER comes in with the anime answer that lives in my heart.
Tonnage and Crits don't contribute to BV, which the game is balanced around, and Command Consoles already get a bonus by having a second pilot.
Also winning the tie every time just kinda sucks for the opponent, and can tend to force others to take command units as well as soon as one person takes one, which makes the list building less fun
Quirks. Zero weight high quality electronics and communications gear that doesn't show up on an spec sheet, but nevertheless have a big impact on the battle due to the improved coordination and situational awareness those quirks provide.
What the mech is armed with is almost irrelevant except insofar that the commander can defend themself from anyone that gets past their bodyguard units.
Not anymore. As of the new rules they don't give initiative bonuses anymore. They said that, for now, they're just a 2nd pilot. Whatever bonuses they will grant outside of pilot abilities will be explained in a new campaign rule book.
Yeah I don't mind it not being a core rule. I wouldn't mind if it came back as an optional rule in one of the future books because I think it still has a place in narrative games.
Maybe it could grant an extra Battlefield Support Card, or the ability to draw two at random then throw away two from your hand that you like the least.
It really did break initiative bonus though. You can get a bonus for a quirk, a bonus for the console, and a bonus for whatever the pilot is throwing on top of it.
Personally, I like ‘wins ties’ as a buff, regardless of whether it’s mine of the enemy’s. My table has the strangest luck with initiative ties. Our record so far is 5 re-rolls in a single turn, or 17 in one game.
Well you can only use battle computer or Command Mech but not both. Yeah, I think a limit of 4 should be it, and like all the initiative bonus granting abilities should just be +1 only. Maybe for any leveling up abilities you get a half point (rounding down during rolls) for the initial tier bonus and the remaining half point as the final bonus. That way you can still level up but not radically tilt the bucket in your favor.
Seriously, without the initiative bonus, all that communications equipment tonnage and space becomes functionally useless on certain designs and scenarios.
Yeah. But, also, let’s be real. About half of the quirks also serve no real purpose during normal play, instead only mattering at all in a campaign setting where players want to bother with finding repair parts, etc.
That’s a fraction of a fraction of a tiny fraction of games.
Disregard CGL. Never written a decent ruleset in their life I doubt they're gonna start now. Dont need em. Battletech been fine for 4 decades without em.
So odd isn't it? Their "horrible ruleset" is almost identical to 1st edition, how exactly is it not decent? And they've been the caretakers of battletech for 2 of those 4 decades
A lot of the stuff in the play test isn't making it into the new rules specifically because people didn't like it, it's a play test for a reason, and even with the biggest of the changes, the game is still almost identical in most games you will play
First and foremost, a solid comms array. You can have all the geographical data and sensors equipment on the planet, but if you can't tell your Lance/Company/Battalion any of it, you're useless as a Commander.
Second up, you need all that geographical data and sensors equipment I just called useless. It's still worthless if you're unable to talk to your Unit, but without it, you have nothing worth saying.
Finally, you need a weapons and armor layout that favors personal survivability above everything. People (rightfully) rag on the Shadow Hawk for its anemic weapons load out, but if your Commander is in the cockpit you'll be very glad it's got so much armor when the OpFor headhunting forces inevitably arrive. Just a couple extra minutes of battlefield endurance can be the difference between your Unit destroying an enemy infiltration force and your Unit being blinded, deafened, confused, and then finally defeated in detail.
Good armor and long range weapons. You want don't want your commander getting stuck in the front line and killed or taken down by stray fire. Command Console equipment or the command mech or battle computer quirks are also good adds because they can allow you to produce an initiative bonus so long as the pilots are concious if you declare the mech as your commander
So comand mechs with the command quirk are the better ones that make it easier on the commander but comander meks dont need to have those for smaller commands
But generally something with long range capabilities is preferable but it jsut depends on the commander maybe hes a scout or a brawler
Only the unique, experimental 2XC was ever fitted with a battle computer, and it loses both the heavy ppcs and the standard engine I prefer taking the 2D for.
I acknowledge the weaknesses of an IS XL engine but the thrill of rolling for 10 medium lasers against some poor idiot that tried to close with the 2G is almost unmatched.
Yes, but only because of its specialized tactical computer (which not ever Cyclops has anymore) and not because the Cyclops is a good at actual fighting.
Lorewise it has one of the fanciest, most andvanced tactical computer ever made. thing can project holographic data, maps and all that. You have great vision from the large cockpit screen and its so tall you just have vision for miles. Its armored well and has a few neat guns but in terms of playing it in CBT its pretty meh as far as assaults go.
Also lorewise the tacticon 2000 is such a complex computer almost no cyclops still has a working one by the end of the sucession wars much less the ilclan. I assume by that point its been overshadowed but by stuff that works differently so you coulnt use modern computer tech to repair or re-engineer the tacticon 2k.
It's never explicitly stated, but by the time the information from the Helm and Dallas memory cores are fully understood, and both civilian and military technology based on that knowledge is returning, I reckon they ought to have recovered the ability to repair or manufacture those battle computers.
Plus, the Clans returned, along with their scientists that never lost any knowledge along the way.
Even if the schematics for for the Tacticon computers are gone, collectively, they ought to be able to come up with a similar new design.
Long range guns typically denote a command mech best. This is usually among all weight classes.
Good command mechs typically have longer range weapons in order to better orchestrate the battle(watching over the battlefield and giving live orders), as well as not to endanger the commander needlessly. They can be good at close range combat with weapon options, but almost all command mechs at bare minimum have LRMs, a PPC, or a Gauss Rifle, the classic long range weapons(among others).
You will never find a Javelin in the role of a command mech, for example. You will, however, typically see Panthers or Valkyries commanding squads of light mechs, as they have a PPC or an LRM.
So, to give you a small list of typical command mechs, in no order of importance:
To me the perfect command mech is basically a very well armored, fairly quick generalist. Survival and communication are paramount, mobility important but secondary, and firepower should prioritize a spread of weapons that can do something at any range.
Reading that description of what makes a good command mech, I couldn't help but think of the Cataphract. It seems to tick all those boxes, doesn't it? General-purpose weaponry, decent speed (average for a heavy), and durable for its weight class (especially with the base variant, once you've burned through the AC/10 ammo and don't have to worry about it exploding). Dou you think It would be a decent command mech?
Thanks! It’s nice to see that what I was planning to do isn't crazy. If there were also a Wolverine in the lance, would you choose the Cataphract over the Wolverine as the command mech?
Okay, hear me out; A good command mech is whatever mech the enemy can't/ won't shoot. It just needs to stay alive and be able to keep cohesion with its other lance mates, so there's nothing to say that an ECM Electric Warfare Raven with a tag, er large, and a narc can't be your command mech, especially if it's surrounded by bigger scarier targets.
As far as using quirks, the Marauder has a great combo. Despite the exposed linkage (AC5) quirks, the others a great: Command Mech, Directional Torso Mount, Hyper Extending Actuators, and Narrow/Low Profile.
Not many people know (or care), but that's how the first Hetzer was... errr... born.
On a hot day back in ye olde 2887, a long forgotten and short-sighted goober drove his vintage Cybertruck with a broken aircon unit into a mechbay, instead of the auto garage next door, and told one of the mech-techs inside:
"I want an AC. 20 quid?"
Err, because he was a Brit... and he used quid as slang for c-bills... or something... and he was cheap... with not very good taste in cars...
But the mech-tech actually thought he said:
"I want an AC/20, quick!"
Imagine that goober's surprise when he came back to collect his overturned skip on wheels to find it filled with AC/20 ammo bins and a big shiny gun barrel on the front. Also imagine the wording of the lawsuit... that never got to court... because his planet was invaded 3 weeks later and he got stepped on by an Atlas while trying to be patriotic, screaming his last words: "Hetzers gonna Hetz!"
Just putting my creative writing degree to good use 😆 - great fun, but £60k I'll never get back 😂
I'm having a silly day today. I know silly stuff goes down better here - and on some DC, Marvel, and Star Wars subreddits - than if I get silly on any of the 40k subreddits. Clearly 40k is serious business! 🤔 - but at least they help me remember why I climbed out of that bucket of crabs back in 4e 🤣
I just realized how much the Merlin looks like the Night Gyr.
I'm struggling to map the weapons shown in that Merlin image to the weapons Sarna says it's supposed to have. Looks like the artist threw some extra ones in there.
Arms are the medium lasers. PPC is the circle just below the LRM-5. Flamer and machine gun are on the other side of the torso. That's all the guns it has in the base version. Some variants drop some of those weapons though.
They've been depicting PPCs like that more regularly, with a few holes inside the divot. Check the Marauder. The one on the Merlin is just so large and detailed, comparatively.
I think the doohickeys between the LRM-5 and the PPC are just sensors or something. Then you've got the Machine Gun and Flamer in the other torso and the Medium Lasers in the arms. It also looks like more because the PPC is one where you can see the multiple emitter ports, but that's all one weapon.
Cheap enough to afford a bodyguard/escort. OG Kerensky could have chosen the Atlas he commissioned or the King Crab but preferred the Orion. It wasn't for cost, I think he wanted to move faster and push harder when the opportunity showed itself.
The Merlin is a GREAT trooper and/or medium sized (yes, I KNOW it’s a heavy mech!) command mech for 3025 era games. Think striker/merc force. The addition of SLDF/Clan Tech only makes it better.
I do like the Merlin, but I've never thought of it as a command 'Mech. I suppose it can serve that function for Merc units and Periphery powers that can't afford a lot of heavier chassis.
The fallback Mercenary command 'Mech that is mentioned a lot in the novels and related lore is the Archer, because it's relatively inexpensive, packs a punch and stays behind the front lines.
A command mech should have good communications gear, and be survivable. The Cyclops does the former, but basic models have very thin armor for a 90 ton mech.
I'd also say some standoff weaponry like LRM's, Large Lasers (ER is nicer) and Gauss Rifles helps too.
If I have to have a commander on the field it's in the jumpiest mech I can find. Hard to kill something with decent armour that's getting 3+ TMM & cover every turn.
In universe command mechs basically act as Radiomen from WW1-2 and double as control center for a lance or company.
You know the funny UI that you get in Mechwarrior games for lancemates? If you dont have the computer installed, you have to eyeball/rely on allied callouts for their condition, the fancy ones even get a little local map so you can issue orders like in Clans and targeting data from all allied mechs and can feed that to everyone else, since your the big radio tower 5G network everyone has to piggy back off of, Atlas Command mech could connect with Warships in Orbit to call for targeted orbital strikes.
I've never read anything to confirm it, but I assume this also helps crack ECM when multiple mechs are trying to lock onto the same target. Its why command mechs tend to want to have enough armor to survive.
Your basically given all the info and tools you need in the field to micromanage those around you, In game/tabletop this just translates to you as a commander acting on more info than anyone else so you get a bonus to initiative.
In universe command mechs were super important, in games... it does not translate very well.
Representing a tactical battle computer that offers more effective control of a combat force, the Battle Computer Quirk designates an advanced command unit. Having at least one in play, with a conscious pilot or crew\11]) grants a bonus to Initiative Rolls made by the unit's force. This modifier is not cumulative with that granted by the presence of a Command BattleMech.\6])
Points: 5
Applicable to: BattleMechs, IndustrialMechs,\12]) Combat Vehicles and Support Vehicles.\7])
Alpha Strike:
As above, but only applies if the unit with a Battle Computer is part of a formation of four or more units. It also adds two points to the force's MHQ ability if using the Intelligence rules.\12])
Strategic BattleForce:
Grants a bonus to Leadership and MHQ:6 if at least one Element in a force's Command Unit has the quirk, is Active, and has sufficient Morale.\9])\13])
The BattleMech has been designed as a command unit. If one or more Command units is present on the battlefield, with a conscious MechWarrior,\11]) their force receives a small bonus to its Initiative Rolls. This modifier is not cumulative with the modifier granted by units with the Battle Computer Quirk.\6])
On tabletop, initiative bonus components & quirks (Battle computer, command mech, etc.) and long range guns
In universe, better communications/sensors/C3 equipment (Tacticon B-2000 battle computer, Harpo-Relay communication suite, Olson/Garret communications array, etc.) and little/no ammo dependency (one of the reasons the Archer struggled as a command mech was commanders had to leave the battle to reload a lot)
1: Communications ability. Battle Computer, Command Console, or C3.
2: 1-2 good Long-range weapons. A commander does not need to be in the thick of fighting.
3: Some decent short-range weaponry. While the commander's job isn't to fight up close, the enemy is almost guaranteed to try to force the issue sooner or later. While you don't need to load up on Medium Lasers and SRMs, just making sure at least one of your big guns doesn't have a minimum range can be a lifesaver.
Quirks are probably what you want to be looking into. They're optional rules, but Command Mech is one of said quirks. Battle Computer is another (on the Cyclops). +1 or 2 to the Initiative roll, respectively. These quirks represent some of those fluffy advanced electronics that don't otherwise have rules or added weight.
Other than that, some Cyclops variants and other mechs/vehicles may mount several tons of Communications Equipment or Double Cockpits, which interacts with some other optional/mission rules, but mostly gives you some Initiative bonuses based on weight.
Other than that? Most Command Mechs tend to either be Snipers or Brawlers, and thus tend to stick either to the back of the fight or right in the middle of it. This isn't exclusively the case - the Phoenix Hawk is a Command Mech and a Skirmisher, but it's also been designed to lead Light Lances.
If you're doing this from a hardware perspective (command console, commus gear) having an e-war suite also helps. If you're ECM'd, you lose the bonuses, so ECCM them back.
You want it to be tough enough to survive. Have a solid long-range punch to contribute without being lost in the brawl, and have sufficient secondaries to fend off infantry/battlearmor/light mech assassins.
Beyond the game, you want excellent communications equipment, and a second seat (command console) if you can get it.
From a combat perspective, something that is tough, mobile, well heat sinked and equipped with strong long-range weapons. For the Late Succession Wars era the Marauder II 4A can be viewed as something of the gold standard for heavy-weight units.
If we move into the world of Quirks then Command Mech, Improved Communications, Low/Narrow Profile and Battle Computer are all desirable. Anything that gives an initiative bonus, increases efficiency or durability. Maintenance buffs could also be beneficial depending on how well logistically supported the unit is.
Moving forward into the Clan Invasion and post-Tukayyid scene and then C3 systems are powerful. Citing another heavy-weight example, the Combine Naginata is a superb command Mech.
Per my interpretation of the lore and military theory, a good command mech has better-than-average sensors and communications equipment, probably on the faster side for its weight class, and above all is easy to pilot. A field commander's job is to coordinate their forces to maximum effect using the most accurate and up-to-date intel, not to personally lead the charge.
P.S. - Ignore all that if you're the MC of a novel or any clanner
Outside of the quirk of command mech and the better communication gear in the fluff. A good command mech should be well armored and be more of a generalist though armed more for fire support. Mechs like the archer, and the marauder a some well know and common command mechs. For light units the Phoenix hawk solid command mech. Then there is 80% of all assault mechs though they become easy to spot target.
Everybody talking about fancy electronics or armor or weapons loadouts, all well and good. But if I’m commanding a force, I want jump jets so I can A) get to a vantage point to see what the hell is going on on the battlefield and B) keep up with the front in mixed terrain.
Quirks: battle computer and command mech are the ones you want.
Equipment wise:
The command console has been temporarily nerfed. It still grant 2nd pilot abilities but beyond that you're gonna have to wait for the revised campaign rule book.
After that, any sort of c3 master system, combined with Long range weapons, or large ones. Even the emergency master system can work in a pinch. The boosted is the most secure and helps the ECM dog pile in your favor, but it's the bulkiest one. The old Nagainta is a great example of a long range missile boat command mech. Tai-sho goes the opposite way with hole punching Equipment and 2 c3 computers. It's not the strongest hole punch mech, but it's something to be respected while the rest of the company makes the holes it made bigger.
Communications Equipment is next best thing but it really depends on the tonnage. IiRC, 3-6 tons grant a initiative bonus one one while 7 tons grant 2... I think. After that it's all niche uses for it.
After that, usually something that can fill a role that is needed in some capacity.
I think there's two kinds of command mech to me. One is with specialized equipment such as the command cockpit or command console. Others I think are just define on their protection they offer the commander or roles they take. Fluff in canon suggest they have good communication abilities and stuff like that. I think that's just a designation to get some distinction and character to any given design. Unless there's some kind of game mechanic that gives them an advantage, like the Design Quirk.
and my response:
the distinction between "specialized equipment" and "are just good machines for commander to fight in" largely defines the difference between types of command positions..
are you are high commander who is directing multiple companies, battalions, etc? if so you'll probably want a machine with specialized command equipment if you plan to be in a mech near the front, and not hanging out in a command bunker or mobile HQ vehicle. this is where the command consoles, comms gear, or even gimmicks like the deployable HQ module fall. these machines are usually not expected to actually seek out combat, but fall more into exploiting the extra mobility mechs offer, and/or combining the role of HQ and HQ bodyguard into a single machine.
or are you a frontline commander who is managing a lance or company in the thick of the fighting? then you are mostly going to be looking for machines that offer good combat ability, but which also have (usually fluff/quirk based) benefits like reliable comms, or combat styles that allow you to hang back and observe the battlefield while still contributing. the phoenix hawk is by fluff this sort of machine for lighter, fast moving lances or companies, and i suspect the reason that so many combat commanders seemed to like supporting mechs like the archer.
now every so often you'll get high commander's rank wise who prefer to fight as a frontline commander, like Alexander Kerensky, and during the succession wars the tech decline meant that fewer specialised equipment type command mechs were available forcing some to have to operate more like frontlien commanders (which is where Jaimewolf, morgan kell, Yorinaga, etc end up on this divide.. though Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita at least would probably be like kerensky and choose to fight as frontline commanders even if they had access to the more specialized 'high command' type options.)
Command console is helpful for any larger unit where commanding them takes up so much time that the CO has no time to actually fight with the 'Mech.
...Though at that point you would be better off just taking a mobile HQ and letting other people handle combat.
For Lance leader or company CO, you want the command 'Mech to be tough enough that you won't get immediately taken out by a stray shot (no Locusts as fun as that 'Mech is) and better than average communications systems and it absolutely has to be able to keep up with the rest of the unit.
There is no one ideal command 'Mech because 'Mech units are all different. There's a reason why Phoenix Hawk is popular for scout unit commander (I'm not even going to bother with the "Steiner Scout Lance" joke), since it is able to keep up with most recon 'Mechs. But that speed would be wasted on commanding a Heavy 'Mech company where you instead but the officer into one of the beefier 'Mechs available.
Also though some 'Mechs are more suitable for command role than others, if possible your unit would have some variety as SLDF learned the hard way that if every important officer is in a Marauder, the enemies will just pour fire onto them to take them all out first.
Command console is helpful for any larger unit where commanding them takes up so much time that the CO has no time to actually fight with the 'Mech.
...Though at that point you would be better off just taking a mobile HQ and letting other people handle combat.
For Lance leader or company CO, you want the command 'Mech to be tough enough that you won't get immediately taken out by a stray shot (no Locusts as fun as that 'Mech is) and better than average communications systems and it absolutely has to be able to keep up with the rest of the unit.
There is no one ideal command 'Mech because 'Mech units are all different. There's a reason why Phoenix Hawk is popular for scout unit commander (I'm not even going to bother with the "Steiner Scout Lance" joke), since it is able to keep up with most recon 'Mechs. But that speed would be wasted on commanding a Heavy 'Mech company where you instead but the officer into one of the beefier 'Mechs available.
Also though some 'Mechs are more suitable for command role than others, if possible your unit would have some variety as SLDF learned the hard way that if every important officer is in a Marauder, the enemies will just pour fire onto them to take them all out first.
This is new to me. I'll have to watch some lore videos. I've only watched a few painting videos, and just learned there's a brawler class. I had just assume recon was light and fast and then there would be a heavy. Didn't know about these
The armor to survive someone jumping you, the weapons to beat the guy jumping you into the dirt, and enough comms gear that you bitch out the picket line for letting someone slip through to try and headhunt you.
If it was a BAD command mech, it wouldn't be sitting here discussing it with you now would it? One missed contact, one wrong vector, one errant TWITCH! And Kablooey! They got more *BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP* than they got the likes of me.
Highlander. Lead by example and plow a motherfucker into the soil from above. Oh, and it also has long ranged weapons and actual command and control equipment if you need that.
Good visibility and excellent comms suite. The Black Knight and Highlander instantly come to mind, with their upright posture and height. The marauder and king crab make that theory lean heavily towards the later.
Irl: unless people are using quirks or other broken abilities, good armor and a mix of close and long range weapons. Depending on the mission (assassination mostly), you want to stay at long range and do fire support.
In universe: good communication equipment and sensors, followed by armor. I’m sure there’s other things that would be helpful too
Personally, I believe the most impactful command that can be given is actually to the enemy, not your allies, and that command is “Explode and be on fire now.” Therefore, the Hunchback is my favorite command mech. The AC/20 is one of the most effective line-of-sight communication devices ever devised
But in the interest of answering your question earnestly, I think the best qualities are durability, longevity, effective battlefield awareness and communications equipment and, to a lesser extent, an inspiring presence. That’s why the Black Knight is a Hall-of-famer. It looks badass and keeps firing lasers and directing its allies until you chew through its considerable armor and finally kill it.
In theory, a relevant quirk. Except majority of the people do not play with quirks. Regardless whether you are using quirks (again, outside of the online theorycrafting in the wild people usually do not play with the quirks) or tactical operations commander rules, you want a mech that is fast and durable. Plus it should be good at the long range so your commander isn't commanding whilst having to throw fists at the enemy.
Whatever game mechanics (quirks, command console, TacOps rules) you are using for representing command abilities, your force commander mech is almost guaranteed to become the opponent focus. So it has to be survivable, it can't be too slow and it should have ability to contribute to the fight over the larger distance.
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u/dapperdave Jul 29 '26
Lots of fancy buttons in the cockpit to push during mission downtime or smash when things start going wrong.