MiningMechs...MODS...you gotta love em. That being said, I'm wondering if anyone has ever managed to find a good use (in a MW game I mean, not as a paperweight or something else) for a MiningMech or MiningMech MOD of any kind.

Now, granted, most of my experience with these mechs are with the SS MiningMech, SS MiningMech MOD, and the HL MiningMech MOD-B. I'm sure there are plenty more of these but, after my use of all of these above, I can't imagine one being good for anything but a special scenario where range is limited to 6 inches.

I'll admit that I have used the HL MOD-B in a Solaris campaign and it did very well because of it's defence. Right away it became almost impossible to ever hit. But this is the only time I have ever had a MiningMech be worth the points. And even then it's speed was causing me a lot of problems with the way Solaris rules work.

There are so few pros versus cons in using a mech like this that it makes me wonder why it was ever made at all for the game. Especially considering that another unit, like a relatively good tank, VTOL, or artillery unit (even with the new rules for Mechs and breakaway, heat/pushing, etc. and the new arty rules) seems to have more capability than the MiningMechs for the points a player would spend, even on the cheapest one. Let's see...66 points for a Swordsworn MiningMech MOD or a Swordsworn Balac Strike VTOL.

I like the sculpt and their defense is relatively good. But everything else makes it almost useless in any game. Especially the SS ones. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they should rule the game or anything. After all, they are modified mechs meant for work, not combat. But most of them don't seem to even be able to get into combat before being cut apart by another units guns. Lacking speed, range, heat sinks and a good vent rating (for the SS units anyway) pretty much criples it before it's even damaged by anything.

Is there anyone out there that would ever use a MiningMech MOD over another type of unit? This isn't a complaint at all, I would just really like to know. I just can't manage to force myself to ever use one, even with the newer rules strengthening mechs and the new artillery rules. If not, I hope Wizkids doesn't bother to make more of any mechs that are as disadvantaged as this one. If I was a Mech Commander I couldn't ever rightfully ask any pilot to climb into one of these :rolleyes: :confused: .

Given the way their stats work out in Real Battletech, they're actually considerably overpowered in MWDA.

I have been known to use the SH Mining Mech mkII MOD in competative play.... and have done fairly well with it.

The trick is to see where the unit your going to use strengths are, and capatalize on those while minimizing the weaknesses.

Take the Stormhammer mech I mentioned above. Its not going to fair well in combat against the high defense/high damage Battlemechs. Its not going to be used as a charger like the 87 point BR ConstructionMech MOD.

But its 10 attack and 21 defense combined with Anti Personel make it an excellent support mech. You can use it directly against your opponents infantry and vehicles. But you can bring along a pair of VTOLs, a SS Balac or a DF Donar, as well as a tank drop with infantry support to go after the mech.

So thye long and short of it is that most ICE mechs are not going to be worth the point cost, but combined with the right units, some will be worth thier weight in gold.

The Highlander MiningMOD and MiningMOD-B (theyre nearly identical, one has HtH weapon the other Rapid Strike) are both very ####ed respectable for their 82 point pricetag. Dont expect results that outweigh that 82 point pricetag and you wont generally be disappointed.

I primarily play DF and they have several nice IndustrialMechs, particularly the Agro MOD-B, the ForestryMech and the ForestryMech MOD. although they range from 93 to 107 pts, and you can get a light BattleMech for that cost, it all depends what you want the Mech to do. For example the Agro is slow but pretty tough and has a decent long range wpn as well as HtH. The other two are good overall, with good defense initially (although it decreases rapidly), good speed, camo and the signature HtH wpn. The Forestry in particular is excellent at tying up opponents in HtH and then chopping them to pieces.
Another thing to keep in mind is that for this price youll be picking up lights which usually have a max armor of about 18, whereas most Industrials have about 20 to 22 (depending on faction and type)
Are they competitive pieces? probably not, but theyre certainly fun to play with and by no means are they automatically a pushover. I dunno how they fare with the other factions as I havent really used their Industrials that much.

Warflail is absolutely right about the HL Mningmechs, but I've taken a shine to the SS ones.

You could field four of them (MOD or non-MOD, they cost the same) with plenty of support, use them as potential one-shot chargers (like cheaper, shorter ranged, Mjolnirs), throw them into the role of really big infantry that just happen to block line of sight to more important things and at that price, you're never hesitant to throw one or two away to get something important done, the way you might be with a 110+ point BattleMech.

Their high(ish) defense makes them somewhat inured to infantry swarms, and while their vent rating might blow large chunks, the heat dial itself (while short) isn't totally awful. Plus, against some of the newer players that got in after DFA, they've probably never seen one played, and thus will be completely surprised when a 66 point 'Mech is capable of dishing out a completely nasty six or seven clicks in hand to hand. And then his three friends try for the same thing. Even with my sub-par rolling, I had a lot of luck with a 2 Mining Mech/2 MOD/season with Hoverbikes 'sworn pure force back in the days of 300.

It doesn't suit everyone, and I've since traded my extras of those nasty little buggers, but it sure does take me back, thinking about them... Anyone got a few they'd give up for something equally "useless" like a HL Joust?

- GhostPony