This isn't a new 'Mech - I designed it almost six years ago by now and posted it to the boards - but I thought I'd dig it out and see how well you guys think it's aged over time.
OW-2 Hobelar
Mass: 35 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3084
Cost: 6,984,281 C-Bills
Battle Value: 558
Chassis: Alshain Class 48 Omni Standard
Power Plant: VOX 280 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 86.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 129.6 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: New Samarkand Royal Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
11.0 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Various
Primary Factory: Various Repair Yards
Communications System: Sipher CommCon SCU-9
Targeting and Tracking System: Matabushi Stalker
Overview:
Originating as a rebuild of the surviving Owens chassis in DCMS service after
the end of the Jihad, the OW-2 Hobelar retains a number of similarities with
its parent design. The engine and skeleton are completely unchanged by the
refit package, for instance, and the operational role has the Hobelar doing
everything the Owens was intended to do. Even the name has ties to the
original, taking a name for light cavalry that originally goes back to Ireland,
the island nation where the song the Owens was named for originated.
Capabilities:
The differences are more than skin deep, though with the New Samarkand Royal
ferro-fibrous armor, the skin is a good place to start. Slightly lighter
despite marginally improved protection, the armor frees up tonnage along with
the removal of the fixed electronics that simultaneously made the Owens a great
spotter and reconaissance platform and got in the way of doing anything else,
creating a BattleMech much closer to the "Omni-Jenner" that was originally
envisioned. After a series of glitches and gremlins, engineers finally settled
on just replacing the communications and targeting systems outright with
modules nearly identical to those installed on the Avatars built by Victory
Weapons on Marduk. Twenty years of experience and improved debugging support
had enabled them to eliminate the Avatar's persistent inability to remove the
medium lasers. Given the utility of the weapons and the aggravation involved
in refitting the one testbed production model, the original Avatar design has
never been changed. Finally, the VOX engine was overhauled with double heat
sinks, eliminating the other major impediment to the Owens as anything other
than a scout. In the end, the changes resulted in a cooler-running machine
with better than 50% more podspace available for use in just about any role a
35 ton light 'Mech can perform.
The Hobelar Prime turns around and puts pod-mounted versions of those same
electronics back in place, providing the same C3 and TAG spotting capabilities
as before along with the improved performance of a Beagle Active Probe. That
performance was supplemented with a Guardian ECM suite. Weaponry is
reminiscent of the Owens Prime in a sense with a light particle cannon mounted
in the center torso while three medium lasers are distributed in the arms. As
a replacement for the Owens Prime or C, the Hobelar Prime performs admirably as
long as the job at hand doesn't involve indirect fire or minelaying.
Instead of going where the Owens had already gone, the Hobelar A is intended to
replace the classic Jenner designs by carrying a quartet of arm-mounted
extended-range medium lasers with a four-tube short-range missile rack in the
center torso. Five jump jets offer identical jump performance to the
Succession Wars-era Jenners it resembles and CASE keeps the 'Mech salvageable
in the case of a catastrophic ammunition explosion. A C3 slave gives it the
ability to spot for friendly units. Some units have been known to replace the
C3 slave with a TAG system or even go so far as to strip the missile rack,
ammo, and CASE for additional jump jets, an active probe, and TAG, putting the
TAG in the head to avoid any battle armor the unit might be moving.
The Hobelar B reminds some commentators of the Owens C but the differences tend
to have dramatic implications. Lacking the C3 slave, a feature that
occasionally suggests to observers that the Capellans might have somehow been
involved, the Hobelar B trades the original's large laser for a center-carried
plasma rifle supplied by two tons of non-explosive ammunition. Each arm has a
medium laser while the head conceals the same TAG module mounted on the Prime.
The Hobelar C is intended to provide a solid, fast-moving Narc spotter to the
DCMS. The Narc launcher, supplied by two tons of ammunition, is carried in the
center torso, while a trio of ERMLs offer a bit of a sting to assist other
units once the ammo is expended. A C3 slave provides additional targeting data
while a Guardian ECM module allows the Hobelar C to either act as a defensive
jammer or neutralize enemy jamming for friendly Narc and C3-equipped units to
exploit.
Two configurations loaded with Clan pods have also been spotted, both
associated with the Nova Cats. The most common is the Hobelar NC, sometimes
referred to as the "Little Huntsman" for its weaponry's resemblance to the
Huntsman H. The head carries a Clan-grade extended-range large laser and each
arm packs in a heavy medium laser, all three tied into a targeting computer.
Emissions analysis reveals that this may be a Spheroid model rather than
Clan-spec; given the weapons load, either type would handle the lasers
acceptably. At the same time, nearly all of the capabilities of the Hobelar
Prime's electronics are available with an active probe and ECM in the left
torso and a TAG module slung under the center torso.
A more general configuration is deployed when the electronics are not necessary
or when large quantities of unpowered infantry are expected. The R carries a
15-tube Clan LRM launcher in the center torso, fed by two tons of ammunition
protected, to many warriors' annoyance, by Spheroid CASE. Each arm mounts a
pair of the new anti-personnel Gauss rifles and a single Clan-grade
extended-range medium laser. The fact that the 'Mech can fire all of its
weapons without heat buildup offers it a respectable amount of firepower.
Deployment:
Early deployment of the Hobelar was limited due to the need for both machines
and repair facilities reducing the time and space available to do the
conversions. Recently, the rate of domestic production has picked up even as
the refit kit has spread beyond the Combine's borders. The Nova Cats,
desperate for materiel in the wake of Alpha, Delta, and Gamma Galaxies'
emigration to the Republic of the Sphere, has already converted all of their
Owens to the Hobelar standard and operates them in the distinctive NC and R
configurations. Their Republic-based kin have taken similar measures with the
handful still in their possession.
The remnants of the Free Worlds League, with access to Owens production
facilities, have moved to heavily refit their surviving 'Mechs to the OW-2
standard.
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 58 points 3.50
Engine: XL Fusion Engine 280 8.00
Walking MP: 8
Running MP: 12
Jumping MP: 0
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 - 116 6.50
Armor Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 11 16
Center Torso (rear) 5
L/R Torso 8 12
L/R Torso (rear) 4
L/R Arm 6 11
L/R Leg 8 16
================================================================================
Loadout Name: Prime Cost: 8,621,156
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A BV2: 1,084
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C3 Computer (Slave) HD 0 1 1.00
Light PPC CT 5 2 3.00
Guardian ECM Suite RT 0 2 1.50
Beagle Active Probe LT 0 2 1.50
TAG RA 0 1 1.00
Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
2 Medium Lasers LA 6 2 2.00
Free Critical Slots: 20
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 11
8 2 2 1 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, TAG, C3S, ECM, PRB, RCN, ENE, MHQ1, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
================================================================================
Loadout Name: A Cost: 8,427,094
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A BV2: 1,223
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jumping MP: 5 (Standard)
Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT 2.50
CASE Locations: 1 RT 0.50
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C3 Computer (Slave) HD 0 1 1.00
SRM-4 CT 3 1 2.00
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2.00
2 ER Medium Lasers LA 10 2 2.00
@SRM-4 (25) RT - 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 18
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 12
8/3j 3 3 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, C3S, CASE, MHQ1, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
================================================================================
Loadout Name: B Cost: 7,642,406
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A BV2: 1,227
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAG HD 0 1 1.00
Plasma Rifle CT 10 2 6.00
Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
Medium Laser LA 3 1 1.00
@Plasma Rifle (10) RT - 1 1.00
@Plasma Rifle (10) LT - 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 24
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 12
8 2 2 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, TAG, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
================================================================================
Loadout Name: C Cost: 8,401,781
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A BV2: 1,009
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASE Locations: 1 RT 0.50
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser HD 5 1 1.00
Narc Launcher CT 0 2 3.00
Guardian ECM Suite RT 0 2 1.50
C3 Computer (Slave) LT 0 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1.00
@Narc (Homing) (12) RT - 2 2.00
Free Critical Slots: 20
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 10
8 2 2 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, SNARC, C3S, ECM, CASE, MHQ1, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
================================================================================
Loadout Name: NC Cost: 8,452,406
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-X-A BV2: 1,605
Rules Level: Experimental Tech Tech Base: Mixed
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser HD 12 1 4.00
TAG CT 0 1 1.00
Targeting Computer RT - 2 2.00
Active Probe LT 0 1 1.00
ECM Suite LT 0 1 1.00
Heavy Medium Laser RA 7 2 1.00
Heavy Medium Laser LA 7 2 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 21
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 16
8 3 3 1 0 1 1 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ECM, TAG, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
================================================================================
Loadout Name: R Cost: 7,701,469
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-X-A BV2: 1,472
Rules Level: Experimental Tech Tech Base: Mixed
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASE Locations: 1 RT 0.50
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-15 CT 5 2 3.50
2 AP Gauss Rifles RA 2 2 1.00
ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1.00
2 AP Gauss Rifles LA 2 2 1.00
ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (16) RT - 2 2.00
@AP Gauss Rifle (40) RT - 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 19
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 15
8 4 4 1 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1
