Dispatches from the Middle Circle

Since my Space Wolves Battlemechs were my most popular post so far I present Adeptus Custodes Battletech mechs.

In the grim Darkness of the 41st Milennium...

Short King Logan zone.

because Eldar are T O L

say hello to Solitaire Deadpool

Okay this is a new one for me! I've never tried dazzle camo but I saw an amazing example recently and had to try it myself.

So outlining with a pencil really helps, for one. Also, don't try to fight the shape of your 'Mech...it can be tricky to get the lines consistent around corners but it's okay to make those corners break points in the pattern.

The scheme itself is supposed to be the Andurien Guards. Sarna and camospecs describe the scheme as "alternating stripes of green and buff, a garish scheme that opponents find distracting"... and I always had a tough time picturing it. But dazzle camo just feels like a natural fit ... it certainly hits "garish and distracting".

the ball mount m laser is so funny cos like from an engineer perspective i can see why they would think its a good idea. a torso weapon can only aim where the torso is pointing, so if they put it on a ball mount, it gives the pilot more chance to bring the weapon to bare on their foe. however, as engineers throughout history have been prone to do, they forgot it was soldiers who were going to use their equipment and had to install anti-self-immolation countermeasures

It's really the little details like this that really show that FASA understood the universe and that the people they put in it... are people.

Finally! I bit the bullet and bought the Battletech starter box so I could get my blasted modern Vindicator. Oh and I guess it also came with a Griffin. I've got the whole 55 ton trio now.

My feelings on the mech are... mixed. I like my fire support to have its feet planted, so the idea of an exclusively long range skirmish mech is a bit anathema to my play style. Also holy fuck this thing is susceptible to torso losses. It isn't as mediocre as the Shadow Hawk in its succession war era loadouts at least, so that's a plus.

The next Design by Committee poll will be live on Monday, but until then I could use some help! With 9.5 tons of armor on our mech, we have 16 tons of space left for equipment (at some point I messed up the weight of a 55 ton chassis so a half ton went unaccounted for). Instead of just death marching through a series of polls asking people how they want that allocated in excruciating detail, I figured I'd just ask y'all for your ideas on guns and heat sinks.

Now, some ground rules:

Interact with this post or shoot me an ask with your idea, I'll take whatever I get by noonish Eastern time Monday and build the next poll. Cheers!

I'd assist but I'm on the lam. My tablet is not the greatest, we're talking Strong Bad levels of capability. Have some Dankbarfest morning WIP for compensation.

I swear that pun wasn't intended.

This weekend's hobby work. Stormcrow F complete, Executioner 75% painted, Icarus II and Wolverine 6M assembled and their bases textured. Sorry for the sub potato picture quality.

Yes, I did use fluorescent paint and glow in the dark pigment as usual.

The next Design by Committee poll will be live on Monday, but until then I could use some help! With 9.5 tons of armor on our mech, we have 16 tons of space left for equipment (at some point I messed up the weight of a 55 ton chassis so a half ton went unaccounted for). Instead of just death marching through a series of polls asking people how they want that allocated in excruciating detail, I figured I'd just ask y'all for your ideas on guns and heat sinks.

Now, some ground rules:

Interact with this post or shoot me an ask with your idea, I'll take whatever I get by noonish Eastern time Monday and build the next poll. Cheers!

I'd assist but I'm on the lam. My tablet is not the greatest, we're talking Strong Bad levels of capability. Have some Dankbarfest morning WIP for compensation.

More mechs!

The Quickdraw! Often maligned, but evidently a fair sight better than most people give it credit for. I still think rear-mounted weapons are... not the best, especially on a 5/8 heavy that should be up in your face, but this guy gets decently better down the line, and comes in C3 flavors too.

The Wolverine WVR-7K. It's a Wolverine 6K, but BETTER. Double the missiles, and all the lasers are pulses for that sweet sweet accuracy, AND keeps the standard jump jets. Did this guy in Arkab Legion getup, and if you're interested in that, Camo Specs Online has a wonderful tutorial that I follow. Also, the base was my first attempt at using Crackle paint, and I love the way it turned out.

I'm Wolverine

Art by Dan Schkade

For those wondering, this is the last panel of Archie Meets the Punisher:

Wolverine, First Canopian Lancers

Stomping across a soccer field

First Lance of the Lexington Combat Group #battletech #lexingtoncombatgroup #miniature #wargaming #wolverine #griffin #catapult #thunderbolt (at Lexington, Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/swordchuck/p/BvYQwncnYFD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=22dn7rjswweu

A lance of light reinforcements had arrived, and in order to pin them down long enough for my assault lance to get into position. I sent my Wolverine pilot to go and deal with them.

He jumps into their midst and opens with an alpha strike on the nearest mech. The following round, the Wolverine pilot charges a valkyrie and ends up slamming it into a building, the building collapses and traps the mech inside, knocking out the pilot. Next round, the wolverine is up and gunning at a nearby wasp, which makes the unfortunate mistake of leaping up onto a building for some height advantage and takes a gauss rifle to the back. 2 mechs down in just as many rounds.

A stinger has been chewing up the wolverine's armor and is next on the menu. The Wolverine unloads another alpha strike at the stinger in reply, blowing it's arm off before advancing toward another Wasp in the lance. This guy gets it the worst. The wasp and wolverine trade a salvo or two and the wasp loses a leg in the process. While closing distance for a coup de grace, the wolverine pilot uproots a nearby hickory tree and proceeds to replant it in the cockpit of the fallen wasp.

Dual Magazine

Franz Vohwinkel artwork (AI upscaled) #battletech #mechwarrior

Cinematic art for @BATTLETECH_Game by Ben Zweifel