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Author Topic: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories  (Read 32385 times)

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Takiro

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Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« on: March 14, 2024, 05:33:15 PM »
This has probably been covered before but I thought I'd spell out an idea which I've had before (and if I posted it before please remind, I'm getting old). Say and InnerSphere military (led by some design strategist person) looks at the 20-ton-design and says these Mechs have limited military value. Screams Lyran right but objective they are pretty weak (internal structure and max armor value I'm looking at you) compared to 25-tonners which he, she or they would term the lightest of new Light BattleMechs. 20s would fall into a new Ultra-Light Category where they'd serve as auxiliaries (support roles, training, logistics, militia at first and then even out of there) at best, basically non-combatants.

Lights would now range from 25 to 40 tons (25, 30, 35, 40) and like all other categories there would be four integers of 5 ton design in each.

Medium would be 45 to 60 tons (45, 50, 55, 60).

Heavy would be 65 to 80 tons (65, 70, 75, 80).

Assaults would be 85 to 100 tons (85, 90, 95, 100).

Story wise this could have been an SLDF project that was never executed but thought of during the Golden Age. Perhaps the Arms Control Amendment of 2751 killed it as the Star League needed great numbers to project force and hence was dropped.

Thoughts??
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2024, 07:00:23 PM »
Ultralights being only 20 tons?
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Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
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The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2024, 10:54:17 PM »
Well citing the original rules Mechs could be built from 5 to 100 tons. So Ultralights would fit with this reclass as 20, 15, 10 and 5 tons. Ideally they'd be non combatant cause of their inherent structural limitations.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2024, 01:39:39 AM »
Quote from: Takiro on March 14, 2024, 05:33:15 PM
Story wise this could have been an SLDF project that was never executed but thought of during the Golden Age. Perhaps the Arms Control Amendment of 2751 killed it as the Star League needed great numbers to project force and hence was dropped.

I don't remember if this Amendment were like the Washington treaty on Earth, ie focusing on total weight and specific limitations or just focused on raw numbers?
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2024, 04:28:46 AM »
The Council Edict of 2650 (also referred to as the Cameron Act of 2650, Council Edict 2650 or Star League High Council Directive 30), was an edict by the First Lord Michael Cameron II of the Star League limiting the size of military forces that governments and private families could muster. (Copied from sarna.net, link below)

https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Council_Edict_of_2650

Any way the High Council amended this Act after the death of Simon Cameron allowing the Great Houses to double the size of their militaries. The SLDF needing to keep the peace would therefore need to keep pace hence any kind of action to reclass here would be abandoned. Everyone wanted numbers.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2024, 04:01:04 PM »
Since it is raw numbers, I don't see the Star League burying this project.
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2024, 09:29:00 PM »
Well I'm just riffing here. You might get distracted enough with everything happening to table it.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2024, 02:01:15 AM »
Quote from: Ice Hellion on March 15, 2024, 04:01:04 PM
Since it is raw numbers, I don't see the Star League burying this project.

By that, I mean that the SLDF would see an increase in weight, which could be a good thing thanks to its superior technology. For the others, it could be more problematic (provided high tech isn't everywhere).

It could also lead to an increase in 20 tons and lighter designs for grey operations or for paramilitary/police ones (like in Patlabor).
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2024, 08:25:41 AM »
Essentially yes, I use the term Auxiliary for Ultra Lights. I could see Police 'Mechs especially in a SWAT or special Heavy Weapons units. I don't know if they would be affordable at least at first for local municipalities but on a World/Planetary or Continental scale rather. Be interesting if Stingers and Wasps were redeployed it this fashion. Locusts I see as more of a rapid response asset.
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Wrangler

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2024, 09:55:28 AM »
You forgot superheavies.  Their a thing, though honestly I think their too slow the way they currently are.
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rufusexc

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2024, 11:51:35 AM »
And those above 100 tons belong to which category?
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Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2024, 04:04:30 PM »
Superheavies are so new, at least to me, it's really hard to say. I feel like they are still finding their niche. The catchall Superheavies still works for me but you could divide them into two groups split at 150 tons.

Ultra or Mega Assaults
Siege(r) Machines
Gargantuan
Colossal 
Extra Heavy or Large
Jumbo

But perhaps one day in the far future you could divide into four categories all based on Super such as Super Light, Super Medium, Super Heavy or Large, and Super Assault.
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Wrangler

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2024, 01:18:57 PM »
I won't want the classifications overdone.  Essentially, there Superheavies BattleMechs.  Tripods, (3-leggers),  Quads (none canon shown up yet) and 2-leggers (Two have ever appeared, the Omega and the Orca [Yes it's canon now.])

There the opposite way, the Ultra Lights.  Not super great, but their there.  Only one I know of is the Roadrunner (canonized)
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namar13766

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2024, 07:10:50 AM »
Honestly for Superheavies, I’d just use Colossal for designs up to 150 tons and Titan for designs up to 200 tons
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Takiro

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Re: Reclassifying 'Mech Mass Categories
« Reply #14 on: July 14, 2024, 08:39:09 AM »
That sounds good but I am imagining a time when these are your new Heavy and Assault class Mechs while everything 100 tons and lower are Medium and Lights. Finally the Steiner Scout Lance makes sense. The Lyrans are just ahead of their time.
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