OBT Forum

Here are two submissions.

First, we have the Harasser fitted out with a Narc:

Harasser Narc Platform

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Hovercraft
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 0
Cost: 948,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 505

Power Plant: GM 120 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor: StarSlab/2 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  Medium Lasers
    1  Narc Launcher
Manufacturer: Broooks Incorporated
    Primary Factory: Irian, Suzano
Communications System: Maxell 500
Targeting and Tracking System: Maxell TA 55
Overview:
The FWLM was in need of platforms that featured the Narc launcher as it's
primary weapon When the decision makers at Brooks Incorporated received the RFP
they called in the heads of the R&D and set them on the task. The only
requirement from the FWLM Quartermaster is that it had to be based on a platform
already in use by the FWLM.


Given this rather broad request, the R&D tam chose to base the new product on
of their main product, the Harasser Missile Platform. One of the key factors
was the inclusion of the Narc launcher and battlefield survivability as the
hovercraft would have to close with the enemy. The first thing they did was
scrap the original powerplant and replace it with an equivalent fusion-based
powerplant, namely the GM 120 found in the Flea venerable Stinger and could be
sourced from Earthwerks until Brooks could manufacture the engine on its own.
[Note: this same powerplant will be used on Main Gauche in the future]. This
freed up several tons along with the removal of both SRM launchers.


The Narc launcher has been mounted in the turret along with two medium lasers on
either side of the launcher. The launcher is fed by a three ton ammunition bay
filled with 18 salvos of homing beacons. The medium lasers re used when the
enemy gets too close or when the ammo runs dry.


To protect the vehicle and its two-man carry four tons of the latest
ferro-fibrous have been mounted. This armor prection is triple of the original
Harasser. However, its greatest asset is its speed. It can close with the enemy,
fire a Narc beacon and then get the hell out of the area before the friendly
LRMs rain down.


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                120                       6.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2.50
Turret:                                                                    0.50
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV -  71                  4.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     21       
                                          Left/Right   12/12       
                                              Turret     15       
                                                Rear     11       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Narc Launcher                                T         0         1         3.00
2 Medium Lasers                              T         6         2         2.00
@Narc (Homing) (18)                          BD        -         0         3.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 5
10h        1       1       0       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: SNARC, TUR(1/1/0)


The second is battlemech is based upon the Vulcan and features an upsized powerplant:

Vulcan VT-5N

Mass: 40 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-F-E-A
Production Year: 3050
Cost: 7,379,633 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,055

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 280 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 75.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 118.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 210 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  ER Large Laser
    1  Medium Laser
    1  Narc Launcher
    1  Flamer
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
Overview:
Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited received the RFP from FLWM Quartermaster just
like every other manufacturer in the Free World League's Military Industrial
Complex and had two battlemechs on which to base their new Narc-capable
platform, the Spider and the Vulcan. Ultimately they chose the heavier Vulcan
using the 280XL powerplant that was developed for an improved Spider (Codename:
Venom) and a possible upgrade for their Warhammer.


Using the 280XL allowed for the inclusion of a seventh jump jet an allowed the
Vulcan to retain much of its combat effectiveness. The large pulser has been
stripped away on replaced with an ER large laser and the machine gun has been
replaced by a medium laser. The Narc launcher is mounted in the left torso and
fed by a large 3-ton ammunition bin. Capable of reaching speeds in excess of
110kph as well as jumping 210 meters allows this Vulcan to enter and exit in
fairly quick order. A  30 percent increase in armor protection also helps with
battlefield survivability.

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    67 points                2.00
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 1 CT, 1 LT, 2 RT, 3 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             280                       8.00
    Walking MP: 7
    Running MP: 11
    Jumping MP: 7 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT                                   3.50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             11(22)                    1.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 104                  6.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     12           15       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  6         
                                           L/R Torso     10           12       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  4         
                                             L/R Arm     6            9         
                                             L/R Leg     10           12       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        2         5.00
Narc Launcher                                LT        0         2         3.00
Flamer                                       RA        3         1         1.00
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
@Narc (Homing) (18)                          LT        -         3         3.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 13

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 11
7j         2       2       1       0      2     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: SNARC, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA



The Vulcan name change is a good idea. I don't like Snitch, because snitches get stitches

I might eventually get to fluff - but I had an idea for a varient of the Warrior H-7

Warrior H-12
Tonnage: 21

Internal Structure: 2.5
Engine 155 Fusion  8.5
     Cruising MP 14
     Flank MP 21
Heat Sinks  10
Control Equipment  1.5
lift Equipment 2.5
Armor 1 ton Ferro Fibrous Armor
     front  6
     r/l side 3
    rear  3
    rotor  2

weapons & ammo
Narc Launcher  Front   3
Ammo (12)   body  2

Now with fluff.

Warrior H-12
Tonnage: 21
Movement Type: VTOL
Cruising Speed: 146.2 kph
Flank Speed 212.7 kph
Armor: Durallex Light
Armament:
   Octagon Missile-Magnet
Manufacturer: Imstar Aerospace
   Primary Factory: Marik
Communications System: Irian UHF
Targeting & Tracking System: IMB SYS 3600


Internal Structure: 2.5
Engine 155 Fusion  8.5
     Cruising MP 14
     Flank MP 21
Heat Sinks  10
Control Equipment  1.5
lift Equipment 2.5
Armor 1 ton Ferro Fibrous Armor
     front  6
     r/l side 3
    rear  3
    rotor  2

weapons & ammo
Narc Launcher  Front   3
Ammo (12)   body  2

Overview:
The Warrior H-12 was designed during the Free Worlds League Civil War to exploit the large number of battlemechs which carried LRMs.  While some proposals called for the use of League designs, such as the Hermes or Spider Battlemechs, or the Harasser hover tank, the Imstar Aerospace design team on Marik took a more radical approach.  They managed to acquire the designs specs for the Lyran Commonwealth’s Warrior H8 Attack Helicopter from the Lockheed-CBM Corporation.  [Editor’s Note: It is believed the company provided Lockheed-CBM with access to several upgraded aerospace fighters which had been captured from the other side during the Civil War] Striping off all the weapons, the design team added a NARC launcher and a larger engine, creating a craft capable of quickly closing with the enemy, deploying the NARC beacon and escaping.  The radical design proved very successful in trials and entered production in 3052.

Capabilities:
The Warrior H-12 was designed for only one purpose, to carry the NARC Launcher.  When the design team began working on the new VTOL, they started by stripping off all of the weapons carried by the H-8.  This allowed them to add a larger engine, increasing speed by 40%.  The NARC Launcher was then mounted on the front of the craft, replacing the chin mounted missile launchers. 

The addition of the large engine, which also necessitated several changes to the Warrior’s transmission system, forced the design to remove a half ton of armor. In an effort to compensate for this, the standard armor is replaced with a newer Ferro-Fibrous armor.

Deployment:
Unlike most vehicles, the Warrior H-12 is not deployed in separate lances.  Rather they are assigned to battlemech lances.  A single Warrior H-12 is assigned to each battlemech lance which is composed mainly of missile carrying mechs.  That Warrior serves as a spotter for the lance, darting in, hitting the targets with NARC Beacons and then retreating before they can be attacked.

Well that is a dynamic VTOL NARC deliverer. The reason i was considering the Peregrine myself for this was its availability to Marik at this time. Not sure the Warrior would be even though ur fluff makes a good case for it.

Per 3039 the Warrior is found in every state- with the Free Worlds Guards having extensive numbers of them. While I disagree with it- the current trend in BT has been towards more cross-national trade (even during the SW era) then I would have expected between states that have been fighting each other for centuries. 

In regards to deployment with the Vulcan, Harasser, and Warrior NARC units would you have them all together in mixed companies or as u indicate one per fire lance?

I figure the Vulcan and Harasser would be deployed as part of lances since they are combat capable.  I figured the Warrior would be assigned to each fire lance since they have no combat capability other then to serve as a spotter for missile units.  (And I wanted a unique deployment idea, not just that therei s a unit carrying a NARC launcher in place of some weapons).

Is there a case for larger slower brawler type NARC units?

I'm not a huge fan of the NARC beacon but one thought I had was lances composed of 3 LRM units (Archers, Catapults, Longbows etc) and a close assault unit like the Victor, Battlemaster or Grasshopper equipped with the NARC launcher.  One reason I dislike the NARC Launcher is the range of the launcher doesn't work well with LRMs.  Which is why I find the designs like the Marik Trebuchet to be worthless.


Maybe for a Brawler you could do the following variant of the Orion from TR3050 (which has a NARC but is not optimized as brawler)
ON1-NARC
Mass 75 tons
IS: 7.5
Engine: 300XL 9.5
  Walking MP: 4
  Running MP: 6
  Jumping MP: 4
Heatsinks 12(24)   2
Gyro: 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor: 232   14.5
             IS    Armor
Head      3       9
CT        23      37
CT (Rear)        9
R/L Torso 16   22
R/L Torso (Rear)  10
R/L Arm   12    24
R/L Leg   16    32

Weapons & Ammo
                   location    crit    tonnage
ER L. Laser       RT        2        5
SRM 6              RT       2         3
3 SRM 6      LA             6        9
 SRM 6      LT               2        3
Ammo (45)  LT             3        3
CASE          LT              1        0.5
NARC         CT              2        3
Ammo (12)  LT             2        2
Medium Laser LA          1        1
Medium Laser RA          1        1
Jump Jets     LL            2        2
Jump Jets    RL             2        2

For lighter units you could take a Hunchback and strip out the AC/20 and 1 heat sink.  Replace with a NARC Launcher, 3 SRM 6 and 2 tons of ammo for the SRMs.   

I hear ya Irose, perhaps you could fault the technological decline for the lack of distinct national designs but yeah I would think there would be a bunch of different designs per House. That being said Marik doesn't have much to choose from VTOL wise.

It’s been hinted at in some unit write ups. IIRC the conventional fighter entries in tr3039 say each state has a design that is identical from a stat perspective. I think there should be more. Every nation should have it’s own version of the vendette for example from a game play perspective that would get confusing.

Hadn't thought of doing the Orion like that, doesn't the Crusader have an SRM variant? Also working on a new Hunchback too but that is non NARC.

After I wrote up the Orion I realized it might make more sense to start with a Guillitine which is produced in the FWL- use an XL engine cut the number of heat sinks switch to doubles and add a NARC and a lot of SRMs. I do’t think there are a lot of SRM boats especially at heavier weights

I don't think I posted this here but I redid a Commando for NARCs.

COM-3R COMMANDO

Mass: 25 tons
Chassis: Foundation Ultralight Endo Steel
Power Plant: Nissan 200 XL
Cruising Speed: 86 kph
Maximum Speed: 129 kph
Jump Jets: None
   Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Lexington Ltd. High Grade Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
1 Octagon Missile-Magnet Narc Beacon
Manufacturer:
Primary Factory:
Communications System: Cyclops 14 with Guardian ECM Suite
Targeting and Tracking System: Cyclops Multi-Tasker 10 with Beagle Active Probe and TAG

Type: Commando
Technology Base: InnerSphere - Level 2
Tonnage: 25

Equipment                        Mass
Internal Structure:         EndoSteel         1.5
Engine:            200 XL          4.5
Walking MP:         8
Running MP:         12
Jumping MP:         0
Heat Sinks:            10            0
Gyro:                           2
Cockpit:                         3
Armor Factor:            89            5

Internal Structure   Armor Value
Head            3         9
Center Torso         8         12 / 4
R/L Torso         6         10 / 2
R/L Arm         4         8
R/L Leg         6         12

Weapons and Ammo      Location      Critical   Tonnage
Narc Missile Beacon       Center Torso      2      3
Ammo (Narc) 12      Left Torso      2      2
Guardian ECM Suite      Right Torso      2      1.5
Beagle Active Probe      Right Torso      2      1.5
TAG             Left Arm      1      1