I had played Mechwarrior Dark Age and fielded a Davion/ Swordsworn/ Mercenary Army. I stopped playing when Age of Destruction came out and I was told I could no longer use my older units (the new units had gear and pilot slots, etc.).

When I was in the store recently I noticed that this restriction seems to have been lifted. Whether all units are useable, or only some, I do not know. What I am doing posting here in this forum is listing my Army as it existed prior to 2003(plus extra inventory) with the hope that some of you might have some advice on how to "modernize" and catch up on 3 years worth of missed expansions. If some units are still "banned", please let me know.

Preferably on a budget if at all possible.

Here is my old army waiting for your modernization inputs:

Davion/Swordsworn Unit with Mercenary Reinforcement

Headquarters (499 Points)
Command & Support
1x Mobile HQ
1x MIT 23 MASH
1x Ordinance Transport
1x J-100 Recovery Vehicle
3x Clan Battle Armor
143 Points Subtotal
Artillery
4x Sniper Artillery
4x Hauberk Battle Armor
356 Points Subtotal
499 Points

Sometimes substitute:
1x Partisan AA for 2x Hauberk Battle Armor (10 point loss, 489 point total)

Combined Arms Unit 1 (500 Points)
4x Fenrir Battle Armor
2x Giggins APC
1x Partisan AA
1x Demon Medium Tank
1x Sgt Alec Brenner (Demon Medium Tank)
1x Hoverbike
1x Tank Destroyer
1x Diane Jameson (Ryoken II)
500 Points

Notes: 75 Ton Heavy Mech

Combined Arms Unit 2 (490 Points)
4x Fenrir Battle Armor
2x Giggins APC
1x Partisan AA
2x Demon Medium Tank
2x Hoverbike
1x Cpl Cesar Spano (Ranger VV1)
1x Sgt Gregory Lee (Condor)
1x SSgt Leo Bordan (Schmidt Tank)
1x Santiago Padilla (Firestarter)
490 Points

Notes: LE Schmidt Tank

Combined Arms Unit 3 (493 Points)
4x Fenrir Battle Armor
2x Giggins APC
1x Partisan AA
2x Hoverbike
4x Tamerlane Strike Sled
1x Condor
1x Jacqueline Tadaka (Legionnaire)
493 Points

Mercenary Faction Support (496)
4x Raiden Battle Armor
2x Giggins APC
2x Di Morgan Assault Tank
2x Sortek Assault Craft
1x Lori Kyle Blackhawk
496 points

Sometimes substitute:
2x Crane Heavy Transport & 4x Raiden Battle Armor for the 2x Di Morgan Assault Tanks (2 point gain, 498 point total)

I have the following extra pieces available:

Davion/ Swordsworn
Derrick Hasbar (Atlas)
Capt Ben Gerringer (Panther)
Fetanet Eryaman (Panther)
4x Centurions
1x Spider
2x Laser Team (Infantry)
Assorted Infantry
Various misc units that where worthless (such as the Agromech, Mining Mech, etc.)

Mercenary
Rosin Douglas (Mongoose II)
1x Blade
1x Uller
2x Mobile HQ
1x J-100 Recovery Vehicle
5x Condor
2x Giggins
2x Di Morgan Assault Tank
4x Sniper Artillery
Assorted Infantry

Misc:
I should have a Dropship stored somewhere if I ever find it. It was damaged but playedable as I recall.

"Modern" Pieces (2003+)
1x Ares Posiedon puchased last week (still in box with whatever else in in boxed set.) I know nothing about this 135 ton mech other than it looked sweet so I bought it.

Thanks in advance for this discussion, I will monitor and respond as quickly as I can (which is my way of saying every day or two).

-----------
Malliver

There were only a few sets that you could not use when AoD came out. But yes several months ago the restriction was lifted and ALL units are now tournement legal. Some venues banned a few "uber" powerfull pieces but that was up to the BM.
I'm not a Davion player but I do know that the new Loki mechs are deadly as are a few of the other pieces I've encountered and there are some great merc units as well. Then there are the Wolf Hunters who are both a faction and merc.

Here's the short answer regarding usability of formerly retired pieces. Infantry are as useful and potent as they ever were.

Vehicles are more utility pieces. Transports are highly valued. Artillery is still very potent. Powerful drop vehicles are still useful. Attack VTOLs have a niche, but they are fragile and can't go toe to toe with modern mechs.

Formerly retired mechs are mostly pretty paper weights. Pilots and gear make modern mechs too powerful for their retired kin.

Mechs to seek out are HD Lokis, MadCat IVs, Stalking Spiders, Griffins, Thunder Foxes, Hellions, Vixens, Osirises

HD HellStars are crazy fun, but some would disagree with me.

You will also need pilots and gear, but I'll have to save that advice for someone else.

...and I'd get "Sunfire" if just for it's pilot Victor Deserai (Enrico's stats for no extra charge (recruit cost that is) on a Hellstar or Zeus...or the two Templars and non-Atlases coming soon).

Duke Sandoval's also a good pilot to grab as well...especially on a T-Fox or Stalking Spider. I'd also fetch "Damocles" as well (the pilot's a good one to have as well...Julian Davion).

For a generic, the SSw Captain is most useful. (The M-class Davion pilot isn't that useful IMO).

For gunslingers... the Davion-preferant pilots are hard to come by (Adam Stark, Scott Graves). Other good ones to grab would be Alberto DeJesus, Steven Frohnhoffer and OEJ (yes, his new ride's gunslinger...take his 'Mech with him).

And get rid of Caesar Spano...a Davion Shamash is so much more useful!

Also, there's L-class repair for lights (which eliminates the need for dedicated repair vehicles).

I'll think of other suggestions later, but this is a good start.

Thanks all for the advice. I think I'll play a bit now and see what direction I want to go in.

Swordsworn/Davion huh? Don't forget lots of ice cause you still run hot!:D

Davion Heat problems are over-stated...except for the HellStar, and the Atlas. Most are quite manageable.

SS Artillery still rocks (but mechs are so fast, you'll just get 1 shot off I guess),

SS Hoverbikes & Kage are wonderful high-damage units,

SS Purifiers are only 13 points w/ 10 jump,

Towed Autocannons are frightening,

SS Balac VTOLS rock,

J37s are cheap,

Hendrene is evil,

HD Bishops are essential as a durable transport,

HD Havoc Osiris and Vixen are some of the best light mechs

SS Clan Battle Armor are great in formations,

and HD ATVs are things I cannot live w/o.



The mechs that everybody else mentioned are really good!


Don't forget about the HD Reroll Faction Pride! This makes any Gunslinger or Wolf hunter recruited to Davion become awesome. Hate missing stuff w/ low rolls? Get this card.


Have fun!

Thanks agains everyone. I've revamped my army and posted it in a new thread as it is significantly different. Please consinue to critique it there and hopefully it will be in its final form soon!