Difference between revisions of "Death From Above"

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{{otheruses|the combat maneuver|the show or other uses|Death From Above (Show)|Death From Above (disambiguation)}}
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{{otheruses|the combat maneuver|the show or other uses|Death From Above (disambiguation)}}
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'''Death from Above''' (DFA) is a maneuver in which the attacking [['Mech]] engages its [[jump jets]] to jump and then land on its target.
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:''"'''DFA'''" redirects here on the assumption that it refers to Death From Above. You may be looking for [[Degenerative Feedback Anomaly]] instead.''
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:'''Highlander Burial''' and '''Jump-Kick''' redirect here.
  
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Although the exact rules differ depending on the overall ruleset, Death from Above is invariably a risky and difficult maneuver that inflicts a great deal of damage to the target and usually also some damage to the attacker. It cannot be performed by 'Mechs without jump jets.
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'''Death from Above''' (DFA) is a type of [[physical attack]] maneuver in which the attacking [['Mech]] engages its [[jump jets]] to jump and then land (drop) on its target.
  
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When performed by a ''[[Highlander]]'' 'Mech, it is sometimes referred to as a "'''Highlander Burial'''".
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==Characteristics==
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Although the details differ depending on the overall ruleset, Death from Above is invariably a risky and difficult maneuver that inflicts a great deal of damage to the target but usually also some damage to the attacker. It cannot be performed by 'Mechs without jump jets. Many MechWarriors consider this tactic reckless, but admit it gives a strong advantage to BattleMechs equipped with jump jets.<ref>''Technical Readout 3025'' p. 36</ref>
  
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==Game Rules==
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==History==
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Under standard [[BattleTech (board game)]] rules, Death from Above is a physical attack maneuver, i.e. it is resolved after the weapons attack phase and thus damage suffered from weapon attacks in the same game round may make the attack more difficult or even impossible.
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Death from Above seems to be a tactic as old as jump jets, first fielded on the ''[[Wasp]]'' which entered service in [[2464]].  
  
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Under [[Alpha Strike (rules)|Alpha Strike]] rules, Death from Above is a physical attack that deals damage to both the target and the attacker.
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It was pioneered by [[BattleMech]]s like the ''Wasp'' during the [[Reunification War]]. As the war got underway, [[Light 'Mech|light]] and [[Medium 'Mech|medium 'Mech]] [[MechWarrior (pilot)|pilots]] often found themselves confronted by heavier opponents against whom their standard weapon payloads were insufficient. Searching for a way to inflict greater damage on their opponents, these pilots began using their [[jump jets]] to launch their 'Mechs into the air and smashing their legs into the enemy's head or chest in what was then dubbed the '''Jump-Kick''' maneuver. While gaining some popularity among light 'Mech pilots, the designers had never foreseen this use of their 'Mechs and so had never built the machines around this function. The end result was that, after just one or two good jump-kicks, a 'Mech's lower leg assemblies would actually be torn off from their bodies, leaving them dangerously immobilized; the ''Wasp'' in particular suffered from this. The problem was solved when the designers replaced the stress bars along the actuator paths with monomolecular stress-resistant material, and by [[2610]] nearly all light 'Mechs had been updated with this fix.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025'', p. 10</ref>
  
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In the [[MechWarrior: Dark Age]] and [[MechWarrior: Age of Destruction]] games, the Death from Above maneuver is a special attack that brings a +2 to the 'Mech damage modifier, at the cost of an attack malus.
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When performed by a ''[[Highlander]]'' BattleMech (or possibly any [[Assault 'Mech|assault]] class 'Mech), this attack is sometimes referred to as a "'''Highlander Burial'''", because a light 'Mech can be crushed and literally buried into the earth by the ''Highlander''&#39;s impact.<ref>''Technical Readout: 2750'', p. 52</ref> In fact, the ''Highlander'' was redesigned specially to perform it better.<ref name=TRO2750p52-53>''Technical Readout: 2750'', pp. 52-53, "HGN-732 Highlander 'Mech Profile"</ref><ref name=ACtA02>''Combat Manual Mercenaries'', p. 58</ref>
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The [[Northwind Highlanders]] were specialized in this type of attack.
  
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In the [[BattleTech CCG]], Death from Above is a [[Death From Above (CCG - Unlimited)|mission card]] which has a chance of failing and dealing damage to your 'Mech, or succeeding and dealing equal amounts of damage to an opposing 'Mech as well as your 'Mech. The damage is increased if the jumping 'Mech weighs 60 tons or more.
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During the [[Dark Age]], [[Clan Jade Falcon]]'s followers of the [[Mongol Doctrine]] chose DFA as one of their main tactics. For the conquest of [[Terra]], [[Clan Wolf]] created a BattleMech, the ''[[Amarok]]'', with a defense system specifically designed to counter and deflect DFA attacks. The system saw a short live use, though it was a great help during the [[IlClan Trial]].<ref>''Hour of the Wolf'', p. 278</ref>
  
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Death from Above can be performed in many entries in the [[MechWarrior (video games)|MechWarrior series of games]], and it does deal additional damage, though it is fairly difficult to pull off against a moving target. Some bugs were reported in graphically enhanced versions of [[MechWarrior 2]], where Death from Above maneuvers were impossible.
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==Notable casualties==
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* [[Colonel]] [[Fiona Cochraine]], commanding officer of [[Cochraine's Goliaths]], was killed by [[Andrew Redburn]] in the battle of [[St. Andre]] at the beginning of [[Fourth Succession War]] in [[3028]].<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 253-254 - Prince Hanse Davion is debriefed on the battle of St. Andre.</ref>
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* Marshal [[Carl Sanders]] of the [[Tenth Deneb Light Cavalry]] was killed by a [[Stinger]] performing a DFA attack in the [[Battle of Glenmora (3028)]].<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 40: "Glenmora"</ref>
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* [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]], leader of [[Stormhammers]], was killed in this way by the [[Clan Jade Falcon]] commander [[Stephanie Chistu]] during the [[Battle of Coventry (3148)]].<ref name=ACtA20>''A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil'', p. 126</ref>
  
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In the turn-based [[BattleTech (Video Game)|BattleTech computer game]], Death from Above is a melee attack that deals extreme amounts of damage but also damages the attacker, especially in the legs.
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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File: Historical Liberation of Terra I cover.gif|''Royal Black Watch'' ''Highlander'' executing a DFA attack during the ''[[Amaris Civil War]]''
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</gallery>
  
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[[Category:CBT Tactics]]
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==References==
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<references />
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==Bibliography==
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*''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
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*''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]''
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[[Category:Strategic and Tactical Doctrines]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 28 February 2024

This article is about the combat maneuver. For the show or other uses, see Death From Above (disambiguation).
"DFA" redirects here on the assumption that it refers to Death From Above. You may be looking for Degenerative Feedback Anomaly instead.
Highlander Burial and Jump-Kick redirect here.

Death from Above (DFA) is a type of physical attack maneuver in which the attacking 'Mech engages its jump jets to jump and then land (drop) on its target.

Characteristics[edit]

Although the details differ depending on the overall ruleset, Death from Above is invariably a risky and difficult maneuver that inflicts a great deal of damage to the target but usually also some damage to the attacker. It cannot be performed by 'Mechs without jump jets. Many MechWarriors consider this tactic reckless, but admit it gives a strong advantage to BattleMechs equipped with jump jets.[1]

History[edit]

Death from Above seems to be a tactic as old as jump jets, first fielded on the Wasp which entered service in 2464.

It was pioneered by BattleMechs like the Wasp during the Reunification War. As the war got underway, light and medium 'Mech pilots often found themselves confronted by heavier opponents against whom their standard weapon payloads were insufficient. Searching for a way to inflict greater damage on their opponents, these pilots began using their jump jets to launch their 'Mechs into the air and smashing their legs into the enemy's head or chest in what was then dubbed the Jump-Kick maneuver. While gaining some popularity among light 'Mech pilots, the designers had never foreseen this use of their 'Mechs and so had never built the machines around this function. The end result was that, after just one or two good jump-kicks, a 'Mech's lower leg assemblies would actually be torn off from their bodies, leaving them dangerously immobilized; the Wasp in particular suffered from this. The problem was solved when the designers replaced the stress bars along the actuator paths with monomolecular stress-resistant material, and by 2610 nearly all light 'Mechs had been updated with this fix.[2]

When performed by a Highlander BattleMech (or possibly any assault class 'Mech), this attack is sometimes referred to as a "Highlander Burial", because a light 'Mech can be crushed and literally buried into the earth by the Highlander's impact.[3] In fact, the Highlander was redesigned specially to perform it better.[4][5] The Northwind Highlanders were specialized in this type of attack.

During the Dark Age, Clan Jade Falcon's followers of the Mongol Doctrine chose DFA as one of their main tactics. For the conquest of Terra, Clan Wolf created a BattleMech, the Amarok, with a defense system specifically designed to counter and deflect DFA attacks. The system saw a short live use, though it was a great help during the IlClan Trial.[6]

Notable casualties[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • Royal Black Watch Highlander executing a DFA attack during the Amaris Civil War

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Technical Readout 3025 p. 36
  2. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 10
  3. ↑ Technical Readout: 2750, p. 52
  4. ↑ Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 52-53, "HGN-732 Highlander 'Mech Profile"
  5. ↑ Combat Manual Mercenaries, p. 58
  6. ↑ Hour of the Wolf, p. 278
  7. ↑ Warrior: Riposte, pp. 253-254 - Prince Hanse Davion is debriefed on the battle of St. Andre.
  8. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, p. 40: "Glenmora"
  9. ↑ A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil, p. 126

Bibliography[edit]

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