LoreWarrior Online - The Lao Hu

[@kookythekooker]

Crazy channel, still pumping battletech content 👍

[@CriticalRocket]

Is my main feature yes, just wish more games would come out to make videos for it.

[@erwinzyx]

I remember the Lao Hu from MechCommander 2. It's a dangerous 'Mech. Especially if a lance contains two Lao Hus.

[@boneshaman8912]

My Deaths Commandos has a Thunder, Lightning, Lau Hu, and a Sha Yu in a lance. Backed up by each of them having a squad of Fa Shi battle armor.

[@alphaone5406]

Ah memories of mechcommander 2 Was expecting you to start singing Lao-Hu what is it Good for absolutely nothing.

[@Ragsta]

I remember the first one! 🥹

[@nachoneitzscheese]

Love the Lao Hu! I like how it fills a niche that you don't often get with IS mechs. It's usually only on Clan designs that you see something this big and fast that still has good weapons and decent armor. You do pay for it with the XL engine, but the Lao Hu is great for running down 4/6 mediums and heavies, and threatening to get behind 3/5 assault mechs. The gauss rifle variant is a good sniper, and while the C3M one isn't amazing, you don't have many other options for a Capellan-themed lance.

[@CriticalRocket]

Has that same kind of feel of the Summoner with that balance of speed, agility and firepower.

[@jiiaga5017]

When light engines become available as opposed to XL, you could probably make some minor downgrades to the weapons and ammo - 3 LRM 5's instead of a 15, downgrade your ammo for the LBX and LRMs by a ton each, drop the laser to multiple ER Mediums instead of the ER Large - and get a similar mech performance without the critical vulnerability of the XL, sneak in case as well.

[@CriticalRocket]

Light engines do seem like the way to go logically for any XL equipped unit for survivability. I can't remember when Liao start getting their own production running for them since the late 3060's the light engine is mainly a Lyran piece of equipment I think? I'm too lazy to double check sarna quick haha.

[@myles5276]

I feel sometimes I don't give the capellans enough credit. They make some cool mechs. I still fight against them the majority of the time. But I appreciate them as solid villains.

[@franksmedley8619]

Hello CR. I tend to agree with most of the things you brought up about the Lao Hu Mech. My favorite is the LHU-3C variant with the Gauss Rifle. I see what was done there by removing the LRM15 and its ammo, to add three LRM-5s and three tons of ammo. This gives a total of 360 missiles, 24 'alpha strikes' using all three of the LRM-5s. This is actually better than the LRM-15's ammo total and able to fire for longer periods of time before running out of missiles. The longer duration of the LRM launchers, longer range of the Gauss Rifle, and the ER Large Laser, all combine to give the Mech good ranged firepower and 'staying power' on the field of battle. 16 total shots with the Gauss plus the range and damage potential of the Large Laser, all combine to allow this Mech to 'stand and deliver' and be a near-continuous threat in a 'rolling' retreat, where the Mech slowly moves backwards to help maintain distance from targets. I have fought with, and against the Lao Hu Mech's various variants. Singly or in combination. It is a 'high priority target' if facing against it, and a 'valuable asset' if using it. Used as a Command Mech, it can replace heavier designs in some scenarios, and be a good long-ranged support Mech for the 'Thunderfoots'. The only real opinion I have is that it is just too expensive. There are other designs that perform as well, or better, that are cheaper alternatives. House Liao units that field this and other Capellan Only designs will just have to 'suck up' the high cost, and protect such valuable assets even more dearly. Before someone like myself, floods the battlefield with far more numerous, much cheaper, and ultimately expendable Battlemechs.

[@CriticalRocket]

Triple to hit rolls is always better than a single definitely and with more shots for the battle. I quite like all of the official builds of the Lao Hu, they just work well in their intended roles with few drawbacks. It's nice to see Liao getting something that either isn't stolen the instant they encounter Davion forces or it be a dud.

[@hawk9mm]

Echoing a lot of others here, yeah this thing was one of the more used mechs in MC2 and it worked great, good combination of weapons, good armor for the tonnage and for being an IS mech design plus visually it's cool looking. In a way it reminds me of an up-gunned Hunchback in a way.

[@CriticalRocket]

It's a very solid design and works in all ranges. Probably one of the best trooper or executioner machines out there really for it's era.

[@hawk9mm]

@@CriticalRocket and considering it comes from Capellans yeah very good.

[@BoisegangGaming]

I like the Lao Hu. I'd probably up-armor it by downgrading the AC/20 to an AC/10 and install some CASE in the torsos. But for a capellan mech, it's pretty solid.

[@twodaves9480]

I always liked the Lao Hu. If I were to build out my perfect version, it would probably swap out the LB-20-X for 2 ER PPCs and several more double heat sinks. The odds of my death being seen from orbit go down considerably and it keeps a similar level of firepower.

[@CriticalRocket]

True the chance of becoming a surprise fireworks display is reduced. I do like the ability of the LB to cause massive crit rolls though when you go cluster shot on open locations.

[@SomeKindaSpy]

That's a pretty cool 'mech, ngl

[@CTXSLPR]

Tea Break With you mate!

[@g3heathen209]

Another meccomander 2 mech. A good mech to jump fortification walls to capture those control towers

[@Dreadwolf3155]

hey a mech i was unaware of!

[@YalelingOz]

I like it too

[@sovietalex]

The Jinggau looks cooler, but the -2B & -3C variants are both solid performers.

[@CriticalRocket]

The Jinggau is the better looking of the two yes.

[@teehasheestower]

*somebody* has Clan chassis envy

[@Wastelandman7000]

The perspective on the right arm is giving me a headache. Also, how does it pivot? Is this what Lovecraft meant by "non-euclidean geometry"???? LOL

[@CriticalRocket]

You just have to assume the pilot is very adept at torso twisting to shoot to the side :D

[@derekburge5294]

It looks... Good? ... Happy brain chemicals!

[@teehasheestower]

Also Free Saint Yves.

[@CriticalRocket]

I kind of wished FASA had allowed more of these minor factions to exist in the Inner Sphere longer. St. Ives Compact, Tikonov commonality for example. They gave more options for GM's to run campaigns as smaller factions trying to survive against the big boys.