OBT Forum

Interesting topic. Sadly, I don't have much experience in this department, so I can't contribute much to the discussion. Still, I'm interested in hearing what others have to say. I'll learn through digital osmosis.

I don't think it's ever truly possible to dictate the targets an opponent is firing at unless they are inexperienced or inattentive.  Obviously, you can offer up a low modifier as an incentive to fire on a certain unit, but after the first turn of contact, a wise player will factor existing damage into his target selection process.  Of course, sometimes the to-hit # goes so high that even against a damaged unit, you're throwing away shots. 

The problem really comes down to force selection - most players gravitate towards slow heavy & assault 'Mechs with 2-4 large, long-range guns.  While these weapons are great at crippling 'Mechs, they're pretty poor when it comes to actually killing an evasive target, and at 4/6 or slower your ability to dictate your own to-hit # is negligible. 

A properly designed force should always include a force of faster light or medium units armed with LB-X, pulse lasers, SRMs, or multiple smaller weapons.  Mechs with only a couple of weapons are generally throwing their damage away at 9+ or worse to-hit.  With the force I just described, if you attempt the maneuver mentioned in your article, the gunline shifts fire to a new target, but the medium lance rushes down the damaged unit and finishes it off.  Make enough to-hit rolls,and even at 9s or 10s you're finishing off a target.