I haven't played Nova Cats in a while and I don't have a large collection of them but wanted to try something different. Please give your suggestions and possible tactics.

Declan Devalis Marauder II 255
Vixen 117
War College of Goshen 19
Improved Targeting 23
Thunderbird BA elite 23
Thunderbird BA grn 19 x2
Clan BA 17 x6
Faction Pride +2in range 20 597

I am thinking of droping the two green Thunderbird BAs and adding a CNC Coolant Truck. When playing this Sunday I managed to shut both mechs down. And I couldn't get them up before a Thug salvaged both of them, of course missing a restart roll on Declan doesn't help either.

DeClan is your weakness,you've got 258 pts, find another mech. the rest of the stuff you can work with

The reason Declan is weak is the 10 attack. For back in the day, he was a great 'Mech, but that attack is too low to be useful in this day and age. If you have like the CNC Marauder II, or a CNC Nova Cat, or something along those lines, would give you the range you're looking for, but with a higher attack to be worth their points.

and the Marauders AV is really stable (remains on 9 for a very long time)

Hell Declan was a weakness even with his 10 Attack. I swear I rolled so low on almost all attacks with him ,I swear he must be the "Pacafistic Kitten"!:laugh:

An alternative would be the Elite Nova Cat with a good pilot (+2 AV) and IT, if you can get your mitts on it. Loaded like this it would be around 300 points if you use a unique 2/2/1 pilot.

personally i prefer the veteran NC with Tsemp. but any NC goes basicly.
if you dont want to be troubled with infantry armies the Thor is a solid Alternative. (atleast better then the Scourge)

i usually field 2 Lights with 1 Heavy (2phx en 1 cnc )

I normally would choose the Vet, but here's where I see it going. With a +2AV pilot:

:^^^: = 12 AV + Pulse on Dial + IT added Equipment at 14" range.
Total possible damage at green = 10 damage. IT can help counter misses and Decoy.

:^^: = 12 AV + TSEMP on Dial + Refined Pulse or SU Pulse at 16" range.
Total possible damage at green = 5 damage + shutdown TSEMP (10 for pulse). No IT, possibility of a miss increases.

He's got the +2" energy range FP card, so I don't see where it is a problem. The Vet is a good alternative, but I still would drop IT in it so I could shut down a mech, then use the Vixen and it's PPC Cap to give it a really bad day. Personally, if I can get the massive damage with one mech, I prefer doing it that way. The downside is that you are putting all your eggs in one basket, and if that NC goes down, that's a lot of points you just lost, and your heavy hitter is gone.

Ok I've got a few changes I could do.
Vixen 117
Goshen College 19
IT 23
Coolant Truck 40
Clan BA 17 x5
Nova Cat elite 217
Frihet training 31
IT 44
Faction Pride +2in range 20
596
OR
Vixen 117
Goshen 19
IT 23
Coolant Truck 40
Clan BA 17 x6
Thor 201
Frihet 31
IT 44
FP +2in 20
597
OR again
Same as above with the Thor but replace the Thor's IT with Experimental Pulse 37, subtract two Clan BA and replace with one Thunderbird BA elite 23 and one Thunderbird green 19 for 598pts.