OBT Forum

Huntsman

Despite its relative newness the Huntsman had seen some combat in the Inner Sphere and whilst quickly gaining acclaim and popularity with Clan Smoke Jaguar and Wolf amongst the Invading Clans, the initial battles did show up some potential issues with an otherwise superb chassis.

For a Clan Medium class Mech the Huntsman is quite slow ‘only’ capable of hitting 86kph but this is still fast enough to keep pace with Inner Sphere Mech’s of equal weight and outrun most Heavy Mechs in service with the Inner Sphere.  Unlike many of the Mechs involved in REVIVAL however, the Huntsman did not feature any fixed items, which gave it a considerable amount of pod space in which weapons and equipment could be installed.

Whilst generally successful the changes that were put forwards by Warriors who had tested them in the field were able to contribute to the Quicksilver Program and allow for the quick implementation of the changes to the Configs with next to no disruption in construction.

Prime – Whilst effective, Smoke Jaguar Warriors found the amount of tonnage dedicated to scouting and anti-infantry work to be excessive.  Poor sighting of weapons also caused maintenance issues, mainly in the right arm and right torso due to the placement of the LRM-10.
With the EW fit being rather more expensive and time consuming to construct this raised the resource cost of the Mech and as the Jaguars were already facing resource shortages in their frantic efforts to rebuilt their Shattered Tourman removing this was only logical.
For anti-personnel work the flamer was retained whilst the A-Pods were removed.  The biggest change was to replace the Ultra-2 with an LB-5X and 2 tons of ammunition. This increased the Mech’s already much touted versatility, allowing it to engage aircraft and cripple vehicles, which were a common opponent on the Combine front.  Initially the plan was to simply replace the cannon with a large pulse laser or ER PPC but the heat burden of these weapons would add to an already stressed heat system and so the cooler running autocannon was selected.


Nobori-nin (Huntsman) Prime

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,145

Cost: 12,067,188 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 10 [20]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

Streak SRM 6                    LT     4

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

AMS                             HD     1

Flamer                          CT     3

LRM 10                          RT     4

LB 5-X AC                       LA     1

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

Streak SRM 6 Ammo               LT    15

AMS Ammo                        RT    24

LRM 10 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  RT    12

LB 5-X AC Ammo                  LA    20

LB 5-X Cluster Ammo             LA    20

 

Equipment                      Loc

----------------------------------

Artemis IV FCS                  RT

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad

A – The Clan Wolf Warriors who had the most experience with the A config found it to be somewhat scatter brained.  The pulse lasers made it lethal at ranges that the Clans would consider medium range but the LRM and autocannon are best used at long range.  To turn the Mech into a more ‘normal’ combatant the autocannon was stripped out whilst another LRM-10 was installed as was Artemis IV for both launchers.  Two additional tons of heatsinks were installed to help keep the Mech cool whilst an ER small laser rounded out the armament.  The result was a simple but brutally effective Mech.  The A also recived fully functional arms and hands which added to the versatility in the field.

Nobori-nin (Huntsman) A

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,184

Cost: 11,633,594 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 12 [24]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

Large Pulse Laser               LA    10

Large Pulse Laser               RA    10

LRM 10                          LT     4

LRM 10                          RT     4

ER Small Laser                  HD     2

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

LRM 10 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  LT    12

LRM 10 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  RT    12

 

Equipment                      Loc

----------------------------------

Artemis IV FCS                  LT

Artemis IV FCS                  RT

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
 
 

B - In the brutal fighting on Tukkayid the Clans found their long range firepower advantage was only useful when they could control the engagement.  In the huge brawls that erupted as Clan and Comstar Mechs engaged, often at point blank range, the long range of Clan guns counted for little.  Recognising this the B was re-designed with Smoke Jaguar influence to be a close quarters killer.

However the Clans experience with swarms of vehicles also tempered this and the initial pick of an Ultra-20 class autocannon saw it get replaced by a LB-20 type weapon.  Three tons of ammunition supported the cannon, giving it adequate endurance whilst a trio of medium pulse lasers gave it formidable saturation firepower.  And at the shortest of ranges and for anti-infantry work, a pair of small pulse lasers and flamer could be brought to bare.

Nobori-nin (Huntsman) B

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,042

Cost: 11,621,875 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 10 [20]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

LB 20-X AC                     LA/LT     6

Medium Pulse Laser              RA     4

Medium Pulse Laser              RA     4

Medium Pulse Laser              RA     4

Small Pulse Laser               HD     2

Small Pulse Laser               CT     2

Flamer                          RA     3

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

LB 20-X AC Ammo                 LA     5

LB 20-X AC Ammo                 LT     5

LB 20-X Cluster Ammo            LT     5

 

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad

C – Clan Wolf’s experience on Tukkayid also tempered another version of the Huntsman that would become the C config.  Taking a leaf from the Falcons, the Wolves had found that their biggest foe was logistics, or a lack of it.  The Clans had not fought a battle on the scale of Tukkayid in centuries and their system of short, sharp battles failed them during the multi-day long slog with the Comguard forces.

This was reflected in the weapons choices for the C which featured a pair of ER Large lasers as its primary armament and a quartet of ER Mediums supporting them. A Streak SRM-6 was also installed as was an ER Small laser.  The cooling system was also greatly enhanced, with another 7 tons of cooling systems installed.  With the Streaks endurance guaranteed by its firing systems and the large energy battery the C was far better suited to long engagements whilst still having a heavy punch.
Nobori-nin (Huntsman) C

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,496

Cost: 11,710,469 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 17 [34]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

ER Large Laser                  LA    12

ER Large Laser                  LA    12

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

Streak SRM 6                    LT     4

ER Small Laser                  HD     2

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

Streak SRM 6 Ammo               LT    15

 

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
 

D – Hailing from Clan Nova Cat the D was designed in a similar vein to the Wolf machine, although it had greatly enhanced electronics compared to the Wolf design, which included a targeting computer which was tied into the ER PPC and ER Large laser that provided the Mech’s main punch.  A pair if ER Medium lasers provided mid-range firepower whilst a pair of machine guns would let the D chew through infantry forces.
Unfortunately the weight of the targeting computer and ECM meant that the cooling system could only be increased by 6 tons, this still left it able to fire its main battery and run at full speed and the D could give accurate long ranged firepower from a mobile and agile platform.
Nobori-nin (Huntsman) D

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,817

Cost: 11,691,250 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 16 [32]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

ER PPC                          LA    15

ER Large Laser                  RA    12

ER Medium Laser                 RA     5

ER Medium Laser                 LA     5

Machine Gun                     RA     0

Machine Gun                     RA     0

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

Machine Gun Ammo                RA   200

 

Equipment                      Loc

----------------------------------

Targeting Computer              LT

ECM Suite                       HD

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
 

E – Designed by Clan Diamond Shark Warriors the E also is a bit of a sales driven design.  With its huge batteries of missiles, it needs constant resupply, which of course Clan Diamond Shark is willing to provide in Trade.
The E’s main punch comes from a pair of Artemis enhanced LRM-20’s, each with their own 2-ton ammo bin, a pair of LRM-10’s also add to the barrage letting the Mech act as an answer to artillery used by Inner Sphere forces and allow it to drown hostile Mechs in missile fire.

Nobori-nin (Huntsman) E

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,243

Cost: 12,317,969 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 10 [20]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

ER Small Laser                  HD     2

LRM 20                          LA     6

LRM 20                          RA     6

LRM 10                          RT     4

LRM 10                          LT     4

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  LA     6

LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  LA     6

LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  RA     6

LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  RA     6

LRM 10 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  LT    12

LRM 10 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo  RT    12

 

Equipment                      Loc

----------------------------------

Artemis IV FCS                  LA

Artemis IV FCS                  RA

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
 

F – Another lesson from Tukkayid was the growing threat of Inner Sphere Battle Armour which was encountered shortly before, during and immediately after the battle and to this end a counter was needed when friendly Elementals were not available.  The F answered this whilst also being a potent if hot running combatant.
Armed with a large pulse laser and Ulta-10 pattern weapon with 2 tons of ammo, the F features 6 ER small lasers and a flamer as well as an ECM and active probe to let it hunt for hostile forces and jam any C3 systems.  Although hot running it’s aggressive nature found favour in Clan Smoke Jaguar Warriors who preferred to go for the enemy’s throat.

 
Nobori-nin (Huntsman) F

Clan TW

50 tons

BV: 2,064

Cost: 11,798,125 C-bills

 

Movement: 5/8/5

Engine: 250 XL

Heat Sinks: 10 [20]

Gyro: Standard Gyro

 

Internal: 83 (Endo-Steel)

Armor: 169/169 (Ferro-Fibrous)

                     Internal    Armor

--------------------------------------

Center Torso               16       25

Center Torso (rear)                  7

Right Torso                12       18

Right Torso (rear)                   6

Left Torso                 12       18

Left Torso (rear)                    6

Right Arm                   8       16

Left Arm                    8       16

Right Leg                  12       24

Left Leg                   12       24

 

Weapon                         Loc  Heat

----------------------------------------

Large Pulse Laser               RA    10

ER Small Laser                  LA     2

ER Small Laser                  LA     2

ER Small Laser                  LA     2

ER Small Laser                  RA     2

ER Small Laser                  RA     2

ER Small Laser                  RA     2

Ultra AC/10                     LA     3

Flamer                          HD     3

 

Ammo                           Loc Shots

----------------------------------------

Ultra AC/10 Ammo                LA    10

Ultra AC/10 Ammo                LA    10

 

Equipment                      Loc

----------------------------------

Active Probe                    RA

ECM Suite                       CT

 

!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad

Huntsman (Nobori-nin)

Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3049
Cost: 9,934,375 C-Bills
Battle Value: 791

Chassis: Mynx Type Medium Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Consolidated 250 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Northrup Starlifters M50s Standard
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Alpha Compound Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    23.5 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Brim Ironworks
    Primary Factory: Brim
Communications System: JNE Integrated
Targeting and Tracking System: Build 3 CAT TTS

Overview:
As a new and promising design, the Huntsman was felt to have untapped potential
and thus the IlKhan opened the possibility of new configurations to those Clans
which make use of the design. Five different Clans have all submitted
configurations that are either improvements of existing options or entirely new.


Capabilities:
Having seen the worth of the Huntsman in action in the Inner Sphere, Clan
Diamond Shark decided to tweak the primary configuration to appeal more to the
Home Clans. With the much more limited use of unarmoured infantry they removed
the A-pods, replacing them with a second flamer, moving these weapons to the
arms in order to give them a wide arc of fire. The autocannon was also removed
with a second LRM launcher, letting the Huntsman Prime soften up a target from
a distance before closing in to use to the medium lasers and Streak SRMs for
decisive engagement. Even using bracket fire the Huntsman Prime can run very
warm so Mechwarriors have to be careful to select the right weapons for the
situation they're faced with.

While Clan Wolf appreciated the twin pulse lasers of the Huntsman A, they felt
that the autocannon lacked punch. Still wanting the advantage of cluster
ammunition against the vehicles of insurgents and Inner Sphere troops they
removed the missile launcher in order to upgrade the autocannon. Additional
heatsinks allow the Huntsman to jump and use its lasers without any heat-build
up and even a jumping alpha strike is quite manageable.

Not wishing to be left behind in the development of configurations for their
own new OmniMech the Nova Cats have refined the Huntsman B by replacing the
machineguns with small pulse lasers and the medium pulse lasers with an LRM
launcher. By relocating the ammunition to the arms they've limited the damage
that an ammunition explosion can cause. While the Huntsman can run warm in this
configuration, it's by no means unmanageable. A small number of Huntsman 'Mechs
have found their way in to the hands of Jade Falcons, who use this
configuration as a substitute for Summoners lost on Tukkayid.

Jumping on the parallel to Summoners, the Cloud Cobras removed the autocannon
from the Huntsman C and expanded the missile armament to approximate the
armament of the Summoner B: a pair of LRM-20s and a pair of SRM-4s. Rather than
fit NARC and anti-missile systems they instead used Streak SRMs and augmented
them with medium lasers and flamers for close range engagements once the,
admittedly limited, LRM payload has been emptied.

For their own use Clan Diamond Shark developed the Huntsman D as a long range
trooper configuration that was with good heat management. Firing from a
standstill the configuration is heat neutral and in motion the heat can be
managed by alternating the use of the missiles and gauss rifle. The design is
favored by 'headhunter' stars who seek out enemy commanders since the Gauss
Rifle and ER PPC can destroy a cockpit with a single hit to the head of a 'Mech.

In keeping with their aggressive tactics, the Smoke Jaguars paired a powerful
autocannon with four lasers, tying them all into a targeting computer. Using
the beagle probe to move through dense terrain and an anti-missile system to
defend against infantry with SRMs, an increasingly common insurgent tactic in
their Occupation Zone the Jaguars use the Huntsman E for bunker busting and for
tank hunting in the maze of Draconian cities.

The Huntsman F is a Nova Cat design optimised for sniping from long distances.
Inner Sphere Mechwarriors faced with it describe the configuration as 'An
Awesome On Amphetamines' with the three lasers delivering equivalent punch over
long range while the Nova Cats use the speed and - judiciously - the jumpjets
to prevent their opponents from closing in.

The Could Cobras decided to double-down on Streak SRMs, more or less reversing
the balance of the Huntsman C for their G configuration. While a single LRM
launcher provides token ranged fire, each arm can fire sixteen SRMs, a barrage
that can cripple a Mech with a single salvo although securing a lock with all
eight launchers is quite challenging for Mechwarriors.


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    83 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             250                       6.50
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       2.50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 169                  9.00
    Armor Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     16           25       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  7         
                                           L/R Torso     12           18       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     8            16       
                                             L/R Leg     12           24       



================================================================================
Loadout Name: Prime                                          Cost: 12,521,875
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,409

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe                                 RT        0         1         1.00
LRM-10                                       RT        4         1         2.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           RT        -         1         1.00
LRM-10                                       LT        4         1         2.50
    Artemis IV FCS                           LT        -         1         1.00
Anti-Missile System                          LT        1         1         0.50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           RA        10        2         2.00
Streak SRM-6                                 RA        4         2         3.00
Flamer                                       RA        3         1         0.50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2.00
Streak SRM-6                                 LA        4         2         3.00
Flamer                                       LA        3         1         0.50
@Streak SRM-6 (15)                           RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-10 (Artemis) (12)                       RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-10 (Artemis) (12)                       LT        -         1         1.00
@Anti-Missile System (24)                    LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 6

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 24
5j         4       3       1       0      2     4   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, AMS, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: A                                              Cost: 11,207,969
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 1,963

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 RA
    CASE Locations: LA                                                     0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Pulse Laser                            RA        10        2         6.00
ER Small Laser                               RA        2         1         0.50
Large Pulse Laser                            LA        10        2         6.00
LB 5-X AC                                    LA        1         4         7.00
@LB 5-X (Cluster) (20)                       LA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 12

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 20
5j         3       3       3       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: B                                              Cost: 11,681,875
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,102

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
    CASE Locations: LA, RA                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Small Pulse Lasers                         RT        4         2         2.00
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
LRM-10                                       RA        4         1         2.50
LB 10-X AC                                   LA        2         5        10.00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 RA        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      LA        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10)                         LA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 15

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 21
5j         3       3       3       0      2     1   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1, FLK 1/1/1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: C                                              Cost: 11,945,313
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,407

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             12(24)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LA, 1 RA
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, LA, RA                                         0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-20                                       RT        6         4         5.00
LRM-20                                       LT        6         4         5.00
ER Medium Laser                              RA        5         1         1.00
Flamer                                       RA        3         1         0.50
Streak SRM-4                                 RA        3         1         2.00
Streak SRM-4                                 LA        3         1         2.00
ER Medium Laser                              LA        5         1         1.00
@LRM-20 (12)                                 RT        -         2         2.00
@LRM-20 (6)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           RA        -         1         1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           LA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 2

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 24
5j         4       4       2       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, LRM 1/1/1, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: D                                              Cost: 11,446,563
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,437

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
    CASE Locations: LA, RA                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RT        15        2         6.00
Gauss Rifle                                  RA        1         6        12.00
LRM-10                                       LA        4         1         2.50
@Gauss Rifle (16)                            RT        -         2         2.00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 LA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 24
5j         4       4       4       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: E                                              Cost: 12,231,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,116

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             11(22)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB 20-X AC                                   RT/RA     6         1/8      12.00
Active Probe                                 RT        0         1         1.00
Anti-Missile System                          LT        1         1         0.50
Targeting Computer                           LT        -         3         3.00
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2.00
2 ER Small Lasers                            LA        4         2         1.00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (5)                       RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 20-X (Slug) (5)                          RT        -         1         1.00
@Anti-Missile System (24)                    LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 3

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 21
5j         4       4       0       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, AMS, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, FLK 1/1/0


================================================================================
Loadout Name: F                                              Cost: 11,226,719
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,496

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             18(36)                    8.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        1         4.00
ER Small Laser                               RT        2         1         0.50
Targeting Computer                           LT        -         3         3.00
ER Large Laser                               RA        12        1         4.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 5

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 25
5j         4       4       4       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: G                                              Cost: 11,871,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2,190

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       0.00
    CASE Locations: LT, RT, LA, RA                                         0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-10                                       RT        4         1         2.50
4 Streak SRM-4s                              RA        12        4         8.00
4 Streak SRM-4s                              LA        12        4         8.00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 RT        -         1         1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           LT        -         1         1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (50)                           RA        -         2         2.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           LA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 10

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 22
5j         5       5       1       0      2     2   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1

Perhaps. We finally have some tonnage to work with

...No...

I'd like to, but there's so much to do and it looks like in mid-march, I'll start a tertiary treatment program for my knee injury that means a 12-week course of 4-hr days with me possibly going back to work in June - ten months after the accident.  Which means MWO takes a backseat to the fluff work I promised.

I do!  The end of this dang tunnel is coming into sight, I just made the assessment appointment for the 6th!   

I’d like to thank the two contestants this time around for working on one of the newer OmniMechs in Clan service. Both marauder648 and drakensis did a great job in filling out this young design with solid configurations and fluff. The bonus point for fluff goes to marauder648 this time around as I liked his presentation better than drakensis. Now on to the configurations.

Primary Configuration from canon is just about as all over the place making for a good generalist especially against the InnerSphere but what about the Clans? Doubling up on the missiles and flamer of the canon version drakensis drops the Ultra AC/2, A-Pods, and TAG for an interesting first submission. I liked marauder648 version that drops the A-Pods and electronic gear for a bigger LB 5-X AC a little better. It feels more capable to me and keeps the spirit of the original design so point to marauder648!

Alternate A from canon also features another popgun LB 2-X AC with tremendous range but little firepower. I just can’t picture this slower Clan design as an effective harasser with those small caliber ACs so when marauder648 eliminated them altogether from his design I thought not bad. He then doubles the LRM battery and attaches Artemis IV FCS to both for a pretty hard hitting long range variant. However, I liked drakensis A which drops the missiles for a larger LB 5-X AC and extra heat sinks which is more heat friendly in my opinion. Plus, it can deal with aerospace threats well which could be a focus of the configuration. Point to drakensis!

Alternate B pairs an ER PPC with an LB 10-X AC for a pretty solid combination. I thought this would be the canon configuration which could make it across the finish line but didn’t figure on drakensis coming up with a better choice of secondary weapons. Dropping the Medium Pulse Lasers and Machine Guns for an LRM-10 and two Small Pulses gives this model better range while keeping something for close in protection. Don’t worry marauder648 I didn’t forget your LB 20-X entry I just moved it down the line to face off against another configuration. Point two to drakensis!!

Alternate C uses a strange combination of LRMs with minimal ammunition that I wasn’t fond of and man did I get two good options. Both marauder648 and drakensis came up with winning configurations here but ultimately, I went with drakensis C for this spot. His Crusader like twin LRM-20s supported by dual Streak SRM-4s, two ER Mediums, and a Flamer was closer to the original. Feels like it belongs here so point three to drakensis!!!

Alternate D had no canon challenger but it seems like this one is always the long-range fire support configuration so I went with marauder648 E. Two LRM-20s with two dozen rounds of ammo linked to Artemis IV FCS and supported by two more LRM-10s with two dozen rounds of ammo is a good fire support option. While it only has an ER Small for backup I like it here delivering missiles from down range. Point two for marauder648!!

Alternate E goes to drakensis F with three ER Large Lasers and an ER Small linked to a three ton Targeting Computer. Eight additional Double Heat Sinks help cool the configuration well even if movement puts the Mechwarrior slightly overheat. Very Nova Cat and I feel that this variant suits the Huntsman well. Point four for drakensis!!!!

Alternate F goes to marauder648 F which pairs a Large Pulse Laser with an Ultra AC/10 supplied by twenty shots. Six ER Smalls provide excellent short-range support in addition to a Flamer that helps hunt infantry I would think. An Active Probe and an ECM Suite makes for a solid hunter killer in almost any urban environment. Point three for marauder648!!!

Alternate G has gotta go to the Gauss configuration from drakensis which pairs it with an ER PPC and a LRM-10 with a dozen rounds. This creates a configuration that can hit hard from range and is relatively heat efficient as well. Point five for drakensis!!!!!

Alternate H sees two LB 20-X AC configurations square off as marauder648 B faces down drakensis E. For pure combat I think marauder648 is slightly better with its three Medium Pulses and two Small Pulses. But I liked how drak used a three ton Targeting Computer in addition to two ER Mediums and two ER Smalls for solid short and medium range accuracy. An Anti-Missile System helps knock down incoming missiles while another Double Heat Sink cools the design. Finally an Active Probe detects hidden enemies. Close contest but point six for drakensis!!!!!!

Alternate I is a winner for marauder648 C which uses two ER Larges, four ER Mediums, an ER Small and a Streak SRM-6 to deal with any opponent. Seven Double Heat Sinks help deal with some of the heat generated by this arsenal but a pilot has to watch his thermometer as it can easily get to warm. It is very effective and edged out drakensis G with its massed Streak SRM-4s for the win. Point four for marauder648!!!!

The win goes to drakensis with six more design points with marauder648 nipping at his heels with five overall points. You both managed to shutout canon once again as you racked up more points. This is pretty solid accomplishment as the Nobori-nin is a relatively new canon design which usually makes it tougher on you guys to replace something. Another very close contest gang, look forward to next week. See you then!

*dofts cap* A well fought race good Sir!  Hurrah indeed!