OBT Forum

Looking forward to it fabulousorcboy!

An absolutely crit-backed little fire-support design.  Basically a ‘baby’ Fafnir (nearly a decade before that notorious design would be first introduced to the Inner Sphere), this Zeus can rain down damage for quite a while, at very long ranges, all while staying in the game, and sucking up tremendous damage, courtesy of its strengthened armor.

Internal Struc (Endo): 4t
Engine: GM 240: 11.5t
  Walking: 3
  Running: 5
Heat Sinks:   11(22): 1t
Gyro/Cockpit (std) 6t
Armor Factor (std): 15t

Head   3/9
Center Torso 25/32/15
R/L Torso 17/24/10
R/L Arm 13/26
R/L Leg 17/32

Quirk: Easy to Maintain (note: loses Barrel Fist in this variant)

1x Long Tom Art Cannon (15cr, 20t) 10RA/5RT
3x Ammo (LTAC) 15 (3cr, 3t) LT
2x Ammo (Gauss) 16 (2cr, 2t) LT
1x CASE (1cr, 0.5t) LT
1x Gauss Rifle (7cr, 15t) LA
2x Medium Lasers (2cr, 2t)


Designed by the Banzai Weapons Design Company, the engineering firm created by legendary mercenary, musician, doctor, and scientist Dr B. Banzai, the Zeus 9F refit uses the latest technology being produced in partnership with venerable armaments firm General Motors to create an assault ‘Mech that features formidable long-range firepower.  With a large number of older Zeus 6S ‘Mechs still fielded in large numbers by the AFFS following the Peace at Tukayyid, FedCom military leaders wanted a low-cost refit kit that could make the underwhelming design (particularly when facing the Clan) a more formidable presence on the modern battlefield.

Enter Banzi Weapons Design.  Although their ‘refit’ requires a full factory-level rebuild (such as GM’s extensive facility on El Dorado), it has two major adventages that proved to be ready selling points, for both the AFFS and manufacturer General Motors.  First, the price-point for these refits is quite low, barely more than that of a stock 6S.  Given that the design removes the heavy (and costly) Pitban 320 engine and replaces it with a lighter and less pricey GM 240 (produced as an alternative power source for FedCom manufacturers of Sparrowhawks and Manticores), this is not surprising, though this does reduce the 9F to a mere 53 kph top speed.  However, Banzai felt it was still comparable to other Inner Sphere assault units, and as the remainder of the design really leans into the ‘fire support’ role, this was not seen as a major problem.

This is the single major cost-cutting effort, however, as every other element of the venerable assault ‘Mech has seen either a lostech upgrade, or been substituted for comparable GM components.  The chassis has been upgraded to a newly developed GM Marauder Special-brand Endo-Steel frame, hinting at future ‘Mech development in GM’s signature Marauder line.  All heat sinks have been stripped out and replaced with double strength “freezers”, including two in the side torsos that were not integrated into the modest 240-rated engine.  The underwhelming armored protection of the 6S has been replaced with fifteen full tons of Kallon Royalstar Heavy Type K standard-grade armor, an armor weave intended for assault ‘Mechs, whose specifications were among the many techs in the Helm Memory Core.

The comms and targeting systems were both replaced with signature GM products: the Dalban Micronics Comms System, and Dalban HiRez II targeting system.  These were tied to the two primary, and two secondary, weapons systems: a massive Mydron Model S Long Tom Artillery Cannon (a short-barreled version of the Mydron Model L artillery piece) replaces the LRMs (and entire right arm assembly) of the Zeus 6S, while an only-small-by-comparison Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle sits in the left-arm housing for the former Defiance Type J AC/5 cannon.  Five tons of ammunition (three for the LTAC, and two for the Gauss) sit in a CASE-protected ammunition bin in the left torso.  Two Magna Mk II Medium Lasers (both center-line mounted in the center torso) round out the weapons array. 

All this bulky equipment means that the massive ‘Mech is intensely ‘crit-packed’, but Banzai Weapons Design put a good deal of thought into the arrangement of components, meaning that the 9F is as easily maintained as any other Zeus – something the assault ‘Mech is well known for.  And although ponderous and quite ammunition-dependent, the new 9F “refit” can put a world of hurt on enemy units – both conventional, battle-armor, and ‘Mech – at considerable ranges due to its pair of “big guns”.  The success of the 9F would eventually convince Defiance Industries to design a ‘new and improved’ variant about a decade later, when they first introduced the 100-ton Fafnir with twin heavy gauss rifles.

I might have to rule them both Level 3, experimental designs, but the development of the artillery cannons can certainly begin now in the Salient Horizon universe. Its on my agenda for the Salient Horizon universe.

Well, good?  If they're available in Salient Horizon, that means that a bunch of my prior designs are also contest legal.

But artillery cannons begin production in 3012 in canon.  And they first showed up in the BTech rules in 1997 (in game).  In that, they predate Blazers, and are truly low-tech variants of existing weapons: literally a sawed-off artillery piece.

I hope to see other Artillery Cannon test beds...

Then you're in luck!  I've been proposing Artillery Cannon test beds for months now, starting with a Catapult build with twin Thumper Artillery Cannons!

I've also proposed: a Crusader with twin Mortar-8s, a T-Bolt with Long Tom Artillery Cannon, a T-Bolt with Sniper Artillery Cannon, a Marauder with Long Tom Artillery Cannon, an Orion with Long Tom Artillery Cannon, and a Victor with Long Tom Artillery Cannon.  Given how long I've been designing these, I assumed you were totally a-okay with Artillery Cannons, as you gave me a (lukewarm) go-ahead when I asked about using them back when designing my Catapult, and never said "boo" since.

I've also been throwing full-scale Artillery Pieces onto Mechs for a while now, too.  The LTAC is basically a Sniper Artillery Piece, with only a 20-hex max range, and 5 fewer crits -- in exchange for which it costs twice as much (!), spikes twice the heat (!!) and carries half the ammo per ton (!!!).   That makes it a substandard Heavy Gauss Rifle, which is why I would prefer an HGR (or iHGR) in almost every situation, but it's still hilarious good fun in a 3053 setting.  By comparison, the Sniper Artillery Piece has a 17-hex direct-fire range, and is better all-around, for the 'cost' of just five extra crits; and its off-board range, cost, ammo capacity, AND ability to use alternation munitions make it competitive with the HGR or iHGR -- and it's fully level 1 tech!

Did I mention that artillery is awesome?

Unfortunately, the Long Tom Artillery Piece (= Big Daddy) doesn't fit onto a 'Mech that's not an Ultraheavy.  And I like the idea of a BFG, so I proposed LTACs instead of Sniper Artillery Pieces.

I've also kept trying to shoehorn a Mortar build into more 'Mechs, but the Mech Mortars are just SOOOOO inefficient compared to an LRM, it's not even funny how substandard they are.  I would have tried a Rifle build, because there are some edge cases where a Large Rifle could be superior to an AC5 or AC10, but despite it being (in canon) a super retrotech pre-Star League technology, it got vetoed hard by the contest judge, so I didn't bother.

Artillery Cannons, on the other hand -- despite being hilariously inefficient in terms of weight and heat compared to LBX or Gauss when shooting at 'Mechs or vehicles -- are fanTASTIC for blasting dug-in infantry and (especially!!!) Battle Armor squads.  Especially those frikking Elemental points, which I hate with a blinding white-hot passion.

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

Anyway, long story short -- if you really don't like the LTAC, warts and all, just let me know.  Not to mention the Sniper AC and Thumper AC, which are both waaaay less effective than comparable artillery pieces.  I thought I had the yellow light to proceed.

Zeus ZEU-5R

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3070
Cost: 8,945,400 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,911

Chassis: Stanwhich 800 Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Pitban 320 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Glasgow Limited Primo Ferro-Fibrous w/ CASE
Armament:
    1 Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle
    1 Johnston High Speed Long Rang ER PPC
    1 Coventry Starfire LRM-15 w/ Artemis IV FCS
    2 Defiance B3M Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries
    Primary Factory: Hesperus II
Communications System: TharHes Calliope ZE2
Targeting and Tracking System: TharHes Ares-7

Overview:
Defiance Industries has been looking at upgrade options for the LCAF's benchmark heavy trooper for over a decade, with several prototypes in contention. The ZEU-5R was presented to the AFFC in 3048, with designers having gone back to the original development before the First Succession War and perfected a design that had lost out to the 5S and 5T models.

AFFC procurement took issue with the claim that the design was perfected, citing that the interior was a tangled mess that would be a nightmare for technicians, while the design lacked the additional missile storage and would have less endurance for the main ballistic weapon that the original autocannon. The ZEU-5R was rejected... only to be recalled the following year with the first reports of the Clans.

The prospect of facing more advanced technology meant that the AFFC had no further time to argue over these details. The ZEU-5R was affordable and available, it would have to do.


Capabilities:
Armed with a Gauss Rifle, an Extended Range PPC and a LRM rack, the ZEU-5R isn't lacking in the long range firepower needed to contend with Clan forces. Defiance claim that it should be able to contend with Clan heavy 'mechs in direct combat, but the lack of speed may allow the Clans to dictate the terms of the engagement.

The decision not to use an extra-light engine has left the Zeus relatively sturdy compared to newer designs and the CASE contains the consequences of any hits to the ammunitions. However, it doesn't shield the 'Mech if the gauss rifle capacitors have hit. Some Mechwarriors have pointed out that they would want to expend the LRMs early to soften up targets, meaning that by the time their armour is damaged and the bin is at risk, it is likely to be empty. The Gauss Rifle, on the other hand, will always pose a risk.

Technicians find the new model Zeus a trial to work on, with the bulky armour and structure constraining access to many components and making it hard to substitute alternative components if original parts aren't available. Attempts to replace a damaged Johnston PPC with a Lord's Light 2 provided by the DCMS after Teniente were noted as unsuccessful and wasted considerable man-hours as the Tenth Lyran Guards returned home.


Battle History:
So far the only action seen by the ZEU-5R was on Teniente. Their firepower was noted as an improvement over the original and the relatively short battle didn't strain their endurance. With the AFFC looking at the data on the invasion, the need to wage extended defensive battles in the future may lead to the ZEU-5R being superseded by designs more in line with this expectation.


Deployment:
The first production run of the ZEU-5R went to the Tenth Lyran Guards as they rebuilt after the defeat on Alyina. Other elite AFFC commands have received small numbers now that production is ramping up.


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   122 points                4.00
    Internal Locations: 5 LT, 6 RT, 3 RA
Engine:             Fusion Engine                320                      22.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 197                 11.00
    Armor Locations: 1 HD, 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
    CASE Locations: 1 RT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           26       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  8         
                                           L/R Torso     17           25       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     13           22       
                                             L/R Leg     17           24       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                                 CT        3         1         1.00
ER PPC                                       LT        15        3         7.00
(R) Medium Laser                             LT        3         1         1.00
LRM-15                                       RA        5         3         7.00
    Artemis IV FCS                           RA        -         1         1.00
Gauss Rifle                                  LA        1         7        15.00
@LRM-15 (Artemis) (8)                        RT        -         1         1.00
@Gauss Rifle (16)                            LA        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 1

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 19
4          3       4       4       0      4     0   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1

I just need to fluff I'm out of ideas for unique 80 tonners at this point

I still have some but only because I don't produce as much designs as the others engineering teams 

Hot stuff Ice Hellion! 

Final day for entries today folks, make sure your all set by close of business.