Your Four Favorite ‘Mechs from 2750
Star Leagues Unite!
The classic Technical Readout: 2750 displays the beginning of Readouts that feature newer technology. The impact this Star League era book had on many players can still be felt today. Even with much of the book devoted to non-BattleMech units and information, TRO: 2750 introduced iconic additions to battlefields everywhere. Let’s look at some of our favorite ‘Mechs from that book!
Sure, it’s been a long time since the original 2750 was in bookstores around the world. But its legacy lives on! With its updated Star League technology and lots of fun, I still remember borrowing it from a friend in the early 90s, back when it and 3050 were the lone voices of updated tech in the universe.
I thought I would explore my own four favorite ‘Mechs from the book (one from each weight class) and then ask you what your own were. What ones do you go back to over and over again? What are your little secrets that you like to unleash on opposing forces? What ‘Mechs inspired that story that you tell over and over again?
Just Requires a Nutcracker!
King Crab – The King Crab has a lot of weaknesses, such as low ammo for its two major weapons. I got it. But I don’t like to use it as the front of an anvil that smashes into my foes, like many other ‘Mechs with the devastating AC20. Instead I like to use the ‘Mech with long range units, where its LRM 15 and Large Laser are suitable. Then it’s mere presence often keeps foes off my back. The same sort of enemies that look to flank and disrupt my fire support units tend to be the same that seriously fear an AC20 shell to the body. Plus, the AC20 in the hand enables the ‘Mech to have serious reach to hit a unit that split off to the side. I often don’t even need guards for my units like Archers, Whitworths, Riflemen or Catapults when this is around.
Not the French Version…
Guillotine – I think the Guillotine is one of the solid, reliable designs that you can always find a use for. It was one of the first BattleMechs I used in my games, and I leaned on them time after time. I don’t even mind the range loss to the ER Large Laser from the later 5M version. Nope, it’s good and reliable, with solid speed, weapons, heat dispersion, and armor. The weapons might be a little on the lighter side for a 70 tonner, but you avoid the fragility of an XL engine for it, and that’s useful. It’s battle-tested and fun.
Capturing Snakes since 2660.
Mongoose – Sometimes it seems like the SLDF and I disagree on what constitutes a good BattleMech. But not this time! The Mongoose is a stable, reliable design with the speed of other light ‘Mechs, a powerful weapons payload, and even armor that won’t keep you up at night. However, the addition of a Beagle Probe enables me to run this with alacrity. It’s durable, annoying, and serves a useful role in flushing out hidden positions and such. It’s one of the key scout units I turn to from the era when I’m rolling up units.
KTO-20 is also really good…
Kintaro – My little nickname for this unit is the CriticalMaker. I can’t tell you how often I’ve gotten cockpits, ammo explosions, hip actuators and gyros with this thing. In the right squad (with Narc useful weapons loads and weapons that tear holes into opponents), it’s just a deadly threat. It’s the nail in the coffin that will secure death for enemies that were just hit by PPCs, Gauss Rifles, and Large Lasers. The best thing about them is that I never find my Kintaro’s targeted by enemies early on. There always seem to be better ones. And the longer the game goes, the more damaged my enemies become, and the more likely my lil’ CriticalMaker is to find those holes in your armor and finish off that ‘Mech!
So now that you’ve seen my own favorites from the 2750 Technical Readout, what are yours? Share your stories!