Trashtalk on Battletech: Rakshasa

The False Mad Cat at Its Finest.
Twitter: / dragonkid112
References:
www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page
bg.battletech.com/forums/inde...
www.megamek.org/

[@RighBread]

I specifically like the Rakshasa because it's a hideous mockery of the Timber Wolf, which is way over-represented in my eyes.
Also the Dragon using a pool cue as a pointer is fabulous.

[@conwaysquest6961]

Good to see GM is still around in the 30th century.

[@christianholzschuh6853]

My prince, I'd like to visit the clans to pilot a Timberwolf!
"We have a MadCat at home!"

[@mward5962]

Ehhh. I like the 1b Rakh. You can just keep firing turn after turn with minimal problems until things get really close, at which point someone has probably blasted off one of your LL's at the very least. It's also got decent pace as well.

[@snsm6730]

Timber Wolf fan myself but...considering what the Inner Sphere is working with
the Rakshasa is actually passable. Speed is actually valuable here as you cannot
jump and the weapons mix is reasonable considering the Tech level. No CASE on
some of these so care should be taken...

[@ikiry0830]

As opposed to the Mad Cat III, the Real Mad Cat at Its Worst!

[@revolrz22]

That's largely because Battletech has the childish "bigger is always better" ideology going on.

[@Boseeinsteinshake]

@@revolrz22 But... the Mad Cat III is basically the running, shooting proof that smaller can be worse, being a 55ton Diet Timberwolf, absolutely loathed by most Clans.

[@revolrz22]

@@Boseeinsteinshake That's because Battletech has this childish "bigger is always better" thing going on.

[@ian5395]

Mad Cat III is the most angery
Pewpewpew

[@ssjjshawn]

​​@@revolrz22Someone hasnt played vs Clan Medium mechs, or SS era Medium mechs with Jump jets.
I think its likely you just set up on an open plane vs Assault mechs and let them run you down rather than try and out flank them, use Terrain, Use Infantry, Use VTOLs, Use Vehicles, etc.
Vehicles and Infantry have at multiple times taken over the Battletech tabletop space. Let alone the Dark Age Clix game that was dominated by them.
Battletech has a scale issue of a 100 ton mech being as tall as it is (which even then is explained as a lot of the steel is forged in mirco gravity) but as for "bigger is better" thats just laughably not true.
And Ill point to Super Heavy Mechs in Battletech. Look them up and youlll see I dont need any other true argument.
But Ill do it anyways.
The most "optimised" mech in the game is the Hellstar at 85 tons, 15 short of super heavy via Battletech Classifications, and lighter than some rewl world historical Tanks.
The best Class of Mech in the Game is Clan Medium Mechs.
The Best Units in the game are Clan Vehicles.
I really really think that if you have the idea "Battletech has a Size issue" you have a Skill Issue. Because even back in the 80s Infantry and tanks liked to to take over and had to be nerfed.
At best you could say it in lore, but in Lore the best Pilots usually have training in light mechs and have moved up to Heavier mechs.
But even in lore, lighter mechs defeat Heavier mechs consistently.
This is even true on Table top if you know how to use Jump Jets and Terrian.
So yeah, not a size issue, you just have a skill issue

[@ian5395]

It's like the timber.
But made by quickcell
aaaaaaaand I'm as dead as a succession wars era manufactory

[@ssjjshawn]

People shit on the Rakshasa, until they realise that NAIS just stuck a Catapult on a Maruader frame.
Sure the mech may be 2/3rds the cost of the Clanner version, but since it straight up uses Catapult and Marauder parts, the thing is actually not only possible to repair even in bumfuck nowhere Davion space, its cheap as shit as new Catapult and Marauder parts are almost as common as Wasps. You'll get an Assault Mech's worth of Enegry fire out of an Inner Sphere Support fire Heavy, that costs even less than most heavy mechs to maintain and repair.
Tho I do recommend reinforcing the cockpit armor. It is a Catapult shield so if you or any tech has done basic reinforcing on that, it should be the same for the Rakshasa unless you installed some weird probe shit
Also is a mockery of the Clanner's and going full Davion and swapping the Lazers for LB/X 10 or 5 autocannons produces hilarious results.
Thus my recommendation for any anti clan Lance is this
Salvaged MadCat (bait, just throw any pilot in there, get techs to keep structure and critical systems intact, it is only bait not lifefire so no need to pay for full repairs)
Wolverine (×2)
Its a useful little brawler mech, but for some reasons Clanners fucking hate it, so it is apart of the lance and doubled. Tho don't put a logo of a Wolverine on it, that leads to more focus fire than a Davion Stalker in a Taurian artillery range.
The Rakshasa (fire support)

[@lordtomlluckrahthegreat9014]

If I was an free Mechwarrior, I would definitely pick the Rakshasa before the Mad Cat. I mean, you can say whatever you want about it's performance, but the Rak is three Commandos cheaper than the Mad Cat + it's only going to be using unsophisticated IS gear, so it's going to be even cheaper on the long run if I am to survive a couple of engagements.
I also find Clan mechs unappealing in general. They are all made to be so incredibly versatile and effective that they kind of become boring, and they all kind of feel the same. IS mechs have a lot more personality.
Finally, I really like the Catapult, but hate that it doesn't have arms. So this, the Rakshasa, is like the perfect long range fire support mech, to me

[@DIEGhostfish]

Wonderful life lesson.