hello! i've never posted on this thread but i'm looking for some advice. 90% of the time i play Kurita and do so very well usually but i need a break from all that so my playstyle doesn't go stale. I'm partial to blocking terrain and very CC oriented armies but i'm trying something different so with that in mind what do you guys think of this ? (600pt army)
loki + star commander + camo (SU)
vixen+ warrior
R10 + Carnivore
3 X Oni BA + Yasha VTOL
I figure this is fairly flexible and this is what pops into my head when i think of jade falcon now (post MDFA) can you fellows give me some advice, so i don't get massacared when this fish changes streams ?

From a first glance, I like this configuration. That is probably because it reflects my own playstyle. Remember that this is a ranged game configuration. The Oni are not my favorite Battle Armor, but your Draconian grasp on that particular configuartion should give you the edge on deployment.

Overall, I give this a thumbs-up.

Would you please relate your intended strategy behind this force?

SO a vixen is good I take it. Alright, I will use it to support the BR. Pulse right?

Actually the Vixen isn't as good a BR cover unit as the PHI. The Vixen is relatively weak ballistically and the PHI can do a better job covering BR's flanks with infantry. A BR/Vixen will eat a heck of a lot of a 600 build and will probably be weak overall.

The Vixen works better with mechs that have a ballistic strength. The Loki, MC and Vulture are all great Vixen teammates. They have ballistic weapons. The PHI works very well with the Thor and Black Rose with their Jump Jets and the PHI's heavy damage (Thor) and ballistic (Black Rose).

If the Vixen or PHI is the only mech (or, say, paired together) then it's less of an issue. A tank drop compensates for the Vixen's ballsitic.

I don't personally get the PHI, whats good about it?

I just heard a verbal can of woop-arse open. *Bows to Highdancer*

Here's the shortcut.

http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarr...sp?unitid=9972

The short version is this:

Fast, relatively long RaO, jump-capable (means long range MDFA)....and finally:

PPC Capacitor = 1.5 damage=5 clicks from a Light.

Let me say that again. FIVE clicks from a Light....in ranged combat.

Consider that the MDFA alone has a possible range of 14" with a +2 Move pilot (like Minoru Kurita Grad)

What is not to like?

Right.

At it's core, the PHI is possibly the quintessential CJF light mech. High AV, high Move, high damage and a slightly inferior DV.

The main gun on the PHI dishes out, yep, five clicks of damage. At 12 inches. Unlike some other CJFs, the big damage gun is the longest ranged one; you can poke holes in people as soon as you hit the field.

Backing this up is a respectable ballistic weapon. The ballistic weapon can get away with a lower range, most of the time it's going to be sniping infantry. But it also means that your opponnt can't rely on Reflective Armor to save them. The PHI can pack AnP for a nasty little infantry whacker, should that apply to you.

The thing is fast as all get out, 12 inches of jump jet love. The AV is 10 and the DV is slightly below average. The heat dial isn't bad, but the PPC Cap can quickly drive it into trouble.

Basically the PHI is, at the core, a first strike weapon. It's also a light, which gives it a stellar selection of excellent gear and pilots. The PHI can be configured in any of a number of roles.

Starting with pilots, you can equip the Hero grad giving you a 13/11/20 mech for 127 points. Or you can strap on the +3 move pilot for a 15 inch move (when DFAing this means you can hit things 17 inches away if you were shooting). If you want an uber offense mech, a Kurita grad brings it to a 14/12/19 nightmare. Or if you have the points, Kelly Bonilla. 13 AV. 5 damage. 12 inch range.

Then there are the gears it can use and abuse. Evade, Decoy, IT and AnP are all likely suspects. ECM makes the PHI into a nightmare in blocking. Jump Jets get you over and around blocking while ECM makes you INVINCIBLE. I was cheerfully packing a Kurita/IT PHI as my primary hitter for several games.

The PHI is an offensive mech from top to bottom. It'll never have the Vixen's defensive expertise, but, bare naked, it can punch a lethal hole in a mech. With a pilot and gear, it can approach complete accuracy (13 IT, next question?) Combined with a defensive stalwart (hello Kelswa) the PHI can lurk in the shadows, striking once and crippling the victim in a single turn.

Thanks for the feedback on my army guys (you falcons are friendly to snakes who woulda thought?) Recon Raven asked what my strategy for the army was and it's a pretty strait forward "take and hold army" the moves are similar so they "should" be able to gain ground without any body parts left flapping in the wind per say. On the flip side though with exception to the R10 drop it is rather mobile and could deal with flanking armies rather well. The only mod i could offer to this army would be to drop the R10 and let the tank formation move with infantry and put advance pulse, hyperlaser, and better pilots on the mechs just a thought.
Thanks agin for the pat on the back Recon i'll have to post how it preforms

PS speaking about the PHI (form the perspective of the guy that usually faces them) they are good but they are also first on my list to get charged and knock them well out of prime so it's best to leave them well supported in case your opponent thinks the same thing

Bondsman are not necessarily from Clan space. A new Falcon lurks within any Warrior.

That would be one of the things I would want you to do. Spend too many resources on one thing of lower point value. The thing I like about the PHI is it does take alot of attention. which in turn sets you up for some nice counterattacks. "Mech A charges PHI. PHI breaks. Loki shoots at Mech A." One of my favorite things about PHI is most people treat it like a 200pt Mech and put that much or more into taking it out of its prime.

Since returning to MW I havent been playing long but I loves my Vixens and PHIs. Though the Loki is my favorite Mech :classic:.

Keep the talons sharp
Razi
Seyla

Thanks guys sorry for asking so any stupid questions. Highdancer you really do know quit alot, and live up to your reputation around here.

There are no stupid questions; Only ignorant actions.

*bows*

I'm just a loudmouthed schnook like everyone else on the internet. ;)

Hehehehe, then I wish I could be like you. Hehehe...ignorant actions.

If you're a fan of blocking, the PHI would work better. However, this is a good army to start with. My personal preference would be to drop the Camo (Jade Falcon clicks tend to come at a higher premium than almost any other faction and you should be loathe to give them up for any reason) and use the extra points to upgrade your BAs. Keep the BAs in formation with the R10 and move the whole kit and kaboodle downfield as one solid mass.

If you toss the VTOL off on a flanking mission it'll probably get isolated and annihilated; leave it lagging behind the Loki. What rational person is going to run past the Loki to waste your Yasha anyway? They'll go after the Loki and when they do, you can scoot the Yasha up and attempt to punish whatever they used. It can also be used to clean infantry off the Loki or Vixen.

The Vixen, on the other hand, flanks away. Although I'd leave in the same group as the Loki, if you need to run something off to the side, the Vixen's your answer. If you face something like artillery or some other rear echelon asset, the Vixen will be your choice to exploit it. If your opponent leaves something your Vixen could exploit, don't fall over yourself to take it. If you send your Vixen chasing down, say, a Shamash or some other lame piece while he violates your Loki, you're not going to win that way. But if you can ravage some command unit or artillery, go for it.

The R10 and BAs should be a constant companion. Use the Carnivore drop to threaten second line units. Most of the time your Carnivore won't be an effective attack against his main mech, so don't waste it there (on the other hand, if it is an effective attack, abuse it). Use it to put a hole in his transports or infantry. As soon as you kill more things than your opponent, you're winning. Doesn't matter how much you're winning by; a VC is a VC is a VC. Doesn't matter if you have VC2 by 1 point or 700 till there's a tie. Use the Carnivore to put him down an infantry; this puts the pressure on him.

The Loki, well, that's your beatstick. You'll probably go toe to toe with something and this'll do it. If you're not clear on what the Loki's role is, you're probably playing the wrong game. :)

Go forth and do dirty deeds with glee and, of course, malice aforethought.