OBT Forum

I've just downloaded it and flicked through it. This is looking very impressive so far, Takiro. Thanks a lot for sharing!

First up, a reprise of a variant from BattleTechnology Magazine Issue #13 (December 3049).

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                          BattleMech Technical Readout

CGR-1A2 Charger

Mass: 80 tons
Chassis: Wells 990
Power Plant: Pitban 320
Cruising Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
   Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Durallex Heavy
Armament:
   1 Magna Hellstar PPC
   1 Magna Mk III Large Laser
   3 Magna Mk II Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Khorsakhov's Cossacks (Refit)
   Primary Factory: Indicass (SIC)
Communications System: Tek BattleCom
Targeting & Tracking System: Dalban HiRez

Type: CGR-1A2 Charger
Technology Base: Inner Sphere Level 1 3050
Tonnage: 80

Equipment                                                Mass
Internal Structure:                                       8.0
Engine:               320                                22.5
   Walking MP:          4
   Running MP:          6
   Jumping MP:          0
Heat Sinks:            22                                12
Gyro:                                                     4
Cockpit:                                                  3
Armor Factor:         248                                15.5
                        Internal           Armor
                        Structure          Value
   Head:                     3                9
   Center Torso:            25               30
   Center Torso (Rear):                      20
   R/L Torso:               17               20
   R/L Torso (Rear):                         14
   R/L Arm:                 13               26
   R/L Leg:                 17               34

  BV 1: 1,298   Cost: 7,549,321 C-Bills

Weapons and Ammo          Location   Critical   Heat     Mass
Large Laser                   RA         2        8       5.0
PPC                           LA         3       10       7.0
Medium Laser                  RT         1        3       1.0
Medium Laser                  LT         1        3       1.0
Medium Laser                  CT         1        3       1.0

ACTUATORS RA RH LA
HS RA1 LA1 RT2 LT2 RL2 LL2

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Second up, a more technologically advanced successor.

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                          BattleMech Technical Readout

CGR-3SIC Charger

Mass: 80 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: LTV 400 XL
Cruising Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
   Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Durallex Heavy
Armament:
   1 Magna Firestar II Enhanced ER PPC
   1 Magna Mk VI ER Large Laser
   3 Magna 400P Medium Pulse Lasers
   1 Magna 200P Small Pulse Laser
Manufacturer: Khorsakhov's Cossacks (Refit)
   Primary Factory: Indicass (SIC)
Communications System: Tek BattleCom
Targeting & Tracking System: Dalban HiRez

Type: CGR-3SIC Charger
Technology Base: Inner Sphere Level 3 3070
Tonnage: 80

Equipment                                                Mass
Internal Structure: ES                                    4.0
Engine:               400 XL                             26.5
   Walking MP:          5
   Running MP:          8
   Jumping MP:          0
Heat Sinks:            18 [36]                            8
Gyro:                                                     4
Cockpit:                                                  3
Armor Factor:         248                                15.5
                        Internal           Armor
                        Structure          Value
   Head:                     3                9
   Center Torso:            25               30
   Center Torso (Rear):                      20
   R/L Torso:               17               20
   R/L Torso (Rear):                         14
   R/L Arm:                 13               26
   R/L Leg:                 17               34

  BV 1: 1,635   Cost: 20,658,122 C-Bills

Weapons and Ammo          Location   Critical   Heat     Mass
Small Pulse Laser              H         1        2       1.0
ER Large Laser                RA         2       12       5.0
Enhanced ER PPC               LA         3       15       7.0
Medium Pulse Laser            RT         1        4       2.0
Medium Pulse Laser            LT         1        4       2.0
Medium Pulse Laser            CT         1        4       2.0

ACTUATORS RA RH LA
HS RT1 LT1
ES RA3 LA3 RT3 LT3 RL1 LL1

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Essentially, the St. Ives Compact took note of how the Draconis Combine created the CGR-3K Charger in an attempt to combine the speed of the CGR-1A1 with the weaponry of the CGR-1A9 and filed it away for future referance. When Candace Liao made the necessary resources available to Khorsakhov's Cossacks, they set about combining the speed of the CGR-1A1 with the weaponry of the CGR-1A2 to create the CGR-3SIC.

(They ended up producing, in effect, a heavier and more expensive imitation of the Maelstrom.)

To quote from the Victor Victorious timeline:

On the plus side in innovation terms, however, the continued unity of the FedCom means that the intellectual powerhouse of the NAIS remains in regular contact with the research departments of major weapons manufacturers in Steiner space. Cross-fertilization of ideas leads somebody at Defiance Industries to stumble upon the same improved focusing techniques Clan Wolverine used to create the Enhanced ER PPC nearly 250 years before. The NER PPC is widely deployed across the FedCom within a few years and the other Successor States are able to copy the technology before long.

Eh, what can I say? My players and I all liked the concept a lot when it was introduced in Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents and I decided to contrive the history of my AU a little to make it available to IS factions as of the late 3060s. I've considered doing the same with one or two of the other transitional technologies that the fledgling Clans developed by pushing the limits of the Inner Sphere Technology Base, before they made the switchover to the Clan Technology Base, that were featured in Interstellar Operations. As yet, though, I haven't.

Years ago now, over on the CBT forums, I made the point that even in the canon timeline, once Chandrasekhar Kurita learned that the Enhanced ER PPC had once existed, the PPC-loving DC ought to have made a determined effort to re-create it. Herb Beas conceded that I had a point but emphasized that, as the Dark Age novels made no mention of the IS factions having the technology by then, The Powers That Be at Catalyst couldn't give it to them. He went on to say, in short, that we should put it down to a combination of the disruption and exhaustion caused by the Jihad and the willingness of the Diamond Sharks/Sea Foxes to sell full-Clantech ER PPCs to the IS factions, in such quantities as they could afford, for the lack of a concerted effort to re-develop the Enhanced ER PPC.

I found that argument dubious at best... but then it was clear that Herb did too! It was simply the least bad argument he or anyone else in his position could have come up with under the circumstances. But although it was rather unconvincing in this particular case, given just how much the DC love PPCs, I think it's actually rather more convincing with most of the other Early Clan transitional technologies from IntOps. The ones I've been most tempted to introduce in the AU are the Improved SRMs (which weigh the same as standard Inner Sphere SRMs but have the increased range of Clan Streak SRMs), but I'm not sure the IS factions would consider them worth the effort. If only because, for example, for the same weight as a standard SRM-6 (or, hypothetically, an Improved SRM-6) you can carry a much more versatile MML-5. On the other hand, though, the Former FWL factions in particular really do love all kinds of missile weapons... and would be eager to add a new category of them to their arsenals.

Decisions, decisions... !

Superheavy Mechs are neat and all but ill suited for anything other than siege combat.

Note that a 130-ton Superheavy is (theoretically) a viable assault 'Mech, because it can move at 3/5 speed with a 390 XL engine.  Yes, you could theoretically put a superheavy XL engine on 135+ ton 'Mechs, but the weight of the engine quickly negates any tonnage advantage.

Basically, a Poseidon (125ton, with 375XL engine) with an optimized weapon load-out is a moderately nasty beast.

Of course, I love the ability to put a full-size Long Tom on any kind of 'Mech, so that's my own bias

Well since we are into level 3 tech pretty heavy here you could do an XXL Engine.