Field More Than One Lance

[CptBlunt]

Love the game but I think it would be are more fun if we could field more than one lance for certain missions. I've noticed for most missions I simply take my big guns and if you could field 2 lances or even better a full company (3 lances) it could be more interesting.

You could put a tonnage limit on the dropship for the over all company so players would need to bring a variety of mech classes and not just load up on Assault and Heavy mechs. I think that would really open things up.

[craigmercer60]

i totally agree only been playing it a week and i want to start my own regiment and ether carve out my own empire or be like big mac and the death legion own my own system or three that i govern but also do my own research or make improvements to my weapons give them the +

also be able to get proper lander military ones like the leopard or overlord dropships

[Firelock]

You'd probably have to program special missions for using multiple lances, to keep it from being too easy, but it seems possible and I agree, it would be fun to run a merc company that has more than one lance of mechs.

Maybe also let us field vehicles.

[Sentient_Toaster]

You've got one Leopard dropship. Canonically, they're set with a capacity of four mechs + 2 fighter craft.

Theoretically multiple trips might be possible with a single Leopard, but it would take some time between drops and also the magic "withdraw" button should probably not be so magical if you've got too many mechs on the field to pick up at once.

The other bit is yes, difficulty. Tonnage isn't the only difficulty issue --- e.g. if you can field multiple lances mechs, it's going to be easier to always have *somebody* get in an enemy rear arc, or to strip evasion chevrons from individual enemies, or to detach a small force to take care of a remote objective (e.g. hitting the enemy base while the rest of your force defends your own in an attack/defend), or you 'lose' less of your force escorting a convoy while the rest of your team waits in ambush too hit the enemies when they spawn at the convoy destination sight.

[Dux Aquila]

Originally posted by Sentient_Toaster:

You've got one Leopard dropship. Canonically, they're set with a capacity of four mechs + 2 fighter craft.

Theoretically multiple trips might be possible with a single Leopard, but it would take some time between drops and also the magic "withdraw" button should probably not be so magical if you've got too many mechs on the field to pick up at once.

The other bit is yes, difficulty. Tonnage isn't the only difficulty issue --- e.g. if you can field multiple lances mechs, it's going to be easier to always have *somebody* get in an enemy rear arc, or to strip evasion chevrons from individual enemies, or to detach a small force to take care of a remote objective (e.g. hitting the enemy base while the rest of your force defends your own in an attack/defend), or you 'lose' less of your force escorting a convoy while the rest of your team waits in ambush too hit the enemies when they spawn at the convoy destination sight.

I mean, arguably you could get a second Leopard.
Or modify the Leopard you already have - the Clanners got rid of the fighter bays to carry 5 'Mechs instead of 4, because they're organised to field stars, not lances. Not sure how we'd justify a mercenary company in the Periphery fielding 'Mech stars before the Clans even invade though.

I suppose we could also just use a larger DropShip. We see Unions all over the place, but they're Spheroid DropShips, so we'd be pretty limited in terms of landing sites, and there aren't a lot of options for Aerodyne DropShips that don't require a runway and aren't too big while still being intended for 'Mech transport.

We'd also have to use something that fits within the timeline (game's set in 3025). Sure, we can buy stuff like gauss rifles, even though those aren't really supposed to be available in the Inner Sphere until 3040, but a case can be made that you're much more likely to find a LosTech weapon than using a DropShip that hasn't even been designed or built yet.

There's a reason why the Leopard is so common, and why it's the DropShip used in-game. It can land basically anywhere and it carries a single lance. Most other DropShips in a similar role are intended to field 3 lances or more, and most aren't Aerodyne designs.

[Ichthyic]

the Mission Control mod has been doing this since the Flashpoint DLC came out.

works.

most of the time.

every once in a while something wonky happens and you need to restart a mission, but it usually works.

several of the larger overhaul mods like Roguetech now incorporate this as well.