OBT Forum

That finishes off our 40-ton weight class.  Tomorrow we will examine the 45-tonners in detail.

MA

Hail Keep up the great work

HCT-3Fb Hatchetman

Not a Royal 'Mech, but ComStar stole the Lyran design and upgraded it for their own forces!  For this upgrade, the ComStar engineers used endo-steel to save tonnage, while retaining the same movement profile and engine.  Ten double-strength heat sinks provide excellent heat dissipation for the weapon systems.  The largest change was the increase in armor protection to 9.5 tons of standard armor (99.3% of maximum).

Armament consists of a hatchet in the right arm (duh!), an LB-10X autocannon with 20 shots and CASE in the right torso, two medium lasers (center torso and left arm; ah, yes, now Hachi-man can axe and shoot at the same time), and a small laser in the head.

Simple, clean, and effective.

Hatchetman HCT-3Fb

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3050
Cost: 3,696,703 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,091

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 180 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor w/ CASE
Armament:
    1  LB 10-X AC
    2  Medium Lasers
    1  Hatchet
    1  Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 4 LA, 3 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             Fusion Engine                180                       7.00
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 4 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT                                         2.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 3 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               2.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 152                  9.50
    CASE Locations: 1 RT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           22       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  5         
                                           L/R Torso     11           18       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  4         
                                             L/R Arm     7            14       
                                             L/R Leg     11           22       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatchet                                      RA        -         3         3.00
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
LB 10-X AC                                   RT        2         6        11.00
Medium Laser                                 CT        3         1         1.00
Small Laser                                  HD        1         1         0.50
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10)                         RT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 5

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 11
4j         2       2       1       0      2     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: MEL, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, FLK 1/1/1

VND-1Rb Vindicator

While not of Star League origins, I love the trooper named Vindy. It has always been in my top three (along with the T-Bolt and Stalker) and is one of the best 'Mechs ever built, in my own humble opinion. But it could be better.  Now, even though the fluff text says the Vindy was designed by committe during the 1st Succession Wars, I think she was based on a rare Star League Design that didn't see much action.  Anyway, that makes it easy to build a Royal Vindicator, at least.

Right off the bat, we increase the engine size and jump jets giving the Vindy a 5/8/5 movement profile. Now, she's a cavalry trooper. To pay for the increased engine tonnage, we use Endo-Steel and 12 double heat sinks, while keeping the armor protection high with 9.5 tons of standard armor (99% of maximum).

We keep the LRM-5, but use CASE to protect the 24 missile salvoes in the left torso. The head mounted medium laser stays, but certainly the SLDF engineers would have fixed that troublesome ejection seat! The right arm PPC goes to an Extended-Range version as well.

Having a ton left over, we replace the left arm small laser with a medium, increasing the already very effective damage profile of this 'Mech.

Overheat ain't a'tal bad in the Trooper Vindy.  Jumping and firing every gun puts you at +4.  When just using the ER PPC and LRM, you are zero, the ER PPC and lasers put you at +2.  And that's when jumping.  Running or walking you got no problems, even when all four guns get used.


And that's my Cousin's Trooper Vindy; who sometime soon is going to get his law degree from a Jersey night school.

Vindicator VND-1Rb

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-E
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 4,317,520 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,403

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 225 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor w/ CASE
Armament:
    1  ER PPC
    2  Medium Lasers
    1  LRM-5
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 3 LT, 2 RT, 3 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             Fusion Engine                225                      10.00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   2.50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             12(24)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 2 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 152                  9.50
    CASE Locations: 1 LT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           22       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  5         
                                           L/R Torso     11           17       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  5         
                                             L/R Arm     7            14       
                                             L/R Leg     11           22       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        3         7.00
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
LRM-5                                        CT        2         1         2.00
Medium Laser                                 HD        3         1         1.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 12

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 14
5j         3       3       2       0      2     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

I am anxiously waiting for the Centurion and Enforcer upgrades.

CN-9Ab Centurion

Though not in my top three, the Centurion is definately in my top ten. A trooper 'Mech and not ashamed to admit it. Unfortunately, the Powers the Must Not Be Named have left it beside the side of the road in favor of more flashy 'Mechs. Flash has never been the srong point of a Cent:  being an everyday of the week workhorse has.

When you pilot a Centurion you know what you've got. A 'Mech designed to relentlessly move forward, taking whatever you can throw at it as it returns the favor. It doesn't favor sublety, nor does it threaten to outmaneuver you. It's an in-your-face kind of machine that one expects to see in heavies and assaults, not in a medium-weight design.

We keep that feel, by adding Endo-Steel (saving 2.5 tons) and upgrading the armor to nine tons of ferro-fibrous (95.26% of max). Both torsos gain CASE, while the right arm AC-10 is upgraded to a LB-10X, giving the Centurion even more range on its main weapon. The LRM-10 gains Artemis, letting it hit like an old-style LRM-15. We keep the two medium lasers in the center torso (one firing to the front, the second to the rear), but add a third medium laser to the left arm.

We don't change the heat sinks:  HUH!?!  Be still my padawan Cylons, be still.  Why didn't we mount doubles?  First of all there is no room left at the inn:  we don't have a single critical slot free on this 'Mech.  Second . . . we don't need them.  At long range, we've got the LB-10X and LRM-10 for 6 heat plus movement.  In close, we've got two Medium Lasers (left arm and center torso) and the LB-10X for 8 heat plus. 

I can just see a lance of these troopers plodding across a battlefield, their red cockpit lights shining in the distance, moving from right to left as they turn their heads. By your command.

Centurion CN-9Ab

Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-E
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 4,276,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,201

Chassis: Corean Model K7 Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Nissan 200 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: StarGuard III Ferro-Fibrous w/ CASE
Armament:
    1 Luxor DC-series LB 10-X AC
    1 Luxor 3R LRM-10 w/ Artemis IV FCS
    3 Photec 806c Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Royal BattleMech Works
    Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Corean Transband J9
Targeting and Tracking System: Corean B-Tech

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    83 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 2 LT, 5 RT, 4 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             Fusion Engine                200                       8.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               2.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 161                  9.00
    Armor Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT, 5 RT, 3 LA, 1 LL, 1 RL
    CASE Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT                                             1.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     16           23       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  5         
                                           L/R Torso     12           18       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  5         
                                             L/R Arm     8            16       
                                             L/R Leg     12           23       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC                                   RA        2         6        11.00
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
LRM-10                                       LT        4         2         5.00
    Artemis IV FCS                           LT        -         1         1.00
Medium Laser                                 CT        3         1         1.00
(R) Medium Laser                             CT        3         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      RA        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10)                         RA        -         1         1.00
@LRM-10 (Artemis) (24)                       LT        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 0

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      5    Points: 12
4          2       3       2       0      2     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1, FLK 1/1/1

CRB-27b Crab

The Crab would have become the SLDF's new standard medium-weight 'Mech had the Amaris crisis not happened. What would it have looked like as a Royal variant?

A swift, flash-bulb, zombie, that's what. We increase the engine size giving this 50-tonner a 6/9/0 movement profile. In order to free the tonnage, we ditch the medium laser and small laser and convert the internal structure skeleton to endo-steel.  Plus, instead of sixteen single heat sinks, we instead mount thirteen doubles.  For armament, we rely on just two weapons:  an ER Large Laser in both the right and left arms.  That leaves us with 9.5 tons left over:  we use all of it for ferro-fibrous armor, giving the Royal Crab the absolute maximum armor protection on a 50-ton frame.

With that combination of speed, weapons reach, and armor protection, our little hardshelled crustacean has quite a snap . . . and a range that few opponents suspect. 

And that's it. Anything that can catch our Crab doesn't want to. Slower 'Mechs it can pick to death with stilettos of light from a distance. Sure, if you get in close, you can outgun it. It's the getting there part that's hard to do; that and keeping it in close range.

Crab CRB-27b

Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-E
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 4,734,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,308

Chassis: Hollis Mk 1A Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Paulina Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2 RAMTech 1220 ER Large Lasers
Manufacturer: Royal BattleMech Works
    Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Garret T11-b
Targeting and Tracking System: Garret D2j

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    83 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 2 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             Fusion Engine                300                      19.00
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 169                  9.50
    Armor Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 2 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL

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

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               RA        12        2         5.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        2         5.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 12

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 13
6          2       2       2       0      2     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA