OBT Forum

...I've had to work on this one for a while, in between other projects, work, and everything else, but finished it and lost the design - Finally, I found it and had time to type it up.  What do I find I missed?  The freaking COCKPIT!  Hard to pilot it without a cockpit, eh?  The Prime below is my original 3050-version of the Guillotine, updated with the New Clan tech - still my favorite 'Mech, canon or fan-designed.  The Alpha Config (in fluff only here so far) will lose 3 of its four ER-MLs, leaving it with 1 pod-mounted ER-ML and between 2-4 Hardpoint-mounted ones - I haven't had time to add up the heat.

Anyway, there are some AU tech items added on - Leg extensions are basically a set of drywall stilts adapted to 'Mechs, to increase ground speed.  They weigh 5% of the unit's mass, in exchange for immobilizing a unit with a single critical hit.  Both bipeds and quads can use them, but quads pay 10%.  Similarily, Hardpoints are arm-mounted, and take advantage of the old lifting ratio, allowing 'Mechs to lift 10% of a unit's mass.  These Hardpoints are Shoulder-mounted, not at the bottom of the arm, and do not hinder the 'Mech's movement (unlike the old rules for carrying cargo).

Yes, I know, they aren't legal - yes, I know they might be considered munchie - but compared to twin-engine, 200 ton FighterShip Small Craft and 150- or 200 ton Assault Components (two 'Mechs physically joined together) they aren't too bad.  By comparison, the ER-TAG seems a reasonable item, reaching 21 hexes (630 m), but otherwise identical to the canon weapon.

And yes - I know the BPV, and the crit-packing, is absurd.  But my New Clans are a quarter of the size of their canon opponents, the Clans (dezgra Clans or dezClans in the article).  In order to give them a chance, they have fewer but better designed 'Mechs and make up the difference with vehicles.  WarShips have a similar situation, with only Corvettes and Destroyers available in 3052 but 200-ton FighterShips available to carry single nuclear-tipped Capital Missiles in the anti-WarShip role.

So - The Carnoraptor, pride of the New Clans!

CARNORAPTOR CAR-O-1


ORIGIN
     Having chosen the Star League’s Guillotine design as the basis for a new, excusive design for the Warrior Caste of Clan Carnoraptor with elements of established and experimental construction techniques and technology, Khan Alexander was forced to share its specifications with the rest of the New Clans to gather the political and military support necessary to begin production when the Clan failed to gather the resources needed by the Scientist Caste.  Requiring an expensive XL engine and Endo-Steel to reach its full potential, IlKhan Lawrence McEvedy approved the addition of OmniTechnology to the design with the enthusiastic support of both Warriors and Technicians assigned to the prototypes during their Trials.
     Approved for production in 2915, the design was christened the Carnoraptor by the IlKhan both for its designers and its fearsome speed and ferocity.

CAPABILITIES
     Where cavalry units traditionally trade endurance and protection for speed, New Clan Scientists used experimental technologies developed since the Legacy Cluster’s Civil War to offset this effect.  As a result, beside the Endo-Steel skeleton and Extra-Light Engine combination common to the Star League-era ‘Mechs engineers have found room in the Guillotine’s roomy chassis for the New Clan Limb Extensions and Hardpoint system.  Able to reach 87.4 kph (69.2 kph before Extensions) without assistance, the ‘Raptor updates and expands the Guillotine’s classic payload and electronics while simultaneously carrying the near-maximum armor rating of its frame. 
     Assigned to Pursuit and Assault roles, the Prime substitutes a dezClan ER-PPC for its main weapon and uses ER lasers for the remainder with a SRM-6(ST) in each Torso while its arm-mounted Hardpoints commonly carry a mix of Heatsinks and Lasers.  With the Prime’s new role comes an expanded electronics suite, centered around a Beagle AP and Guardian ECM system to locate the enemy while frustrating the enemy’s ability to respond, and a New Clan-manufactured ER-TAG to direct artillery fire from supporting vehicles.  Finally, a 120-meter Jump radius and MASC system allow the design to reach a desired range or flee before heavier units with ease.
     Developed by the Warrior Caste of Clan Carnoraptor, the A Configuration removes the standard weaponry in favor of a pair of one the heaviest weapons available, the Ultra AC/20.  Taking advantage of the Hardpoint system to provide backup weaponry, the A uses the risky MASC system and Supercharger in tandem to reach speeds in excess of 150 kph, with enough ammunition to spend nearly two minutes at maximum-rate fire.  When that ammunition is finally exhausted, the ‘Raptor relies on the ER-Medium Lasers carried in each Hardpoint, allowing it to retreat to rearm or continue fighting.  The design has since become the most common Heavy unit in the Carnoraptor Touman, able to destroy lighter units in a single salvo of the massive guns.
     Considered a failure, the B Configuration carries a selection of missile launchers to take provide support to the faster A Configurations.  The expense and wasted potential of such a unit has relegated it to the simpler export version available to the Cluster’s Civil Government, while Stars of fast hovercraft with heavy missile armaments have become frequent sights accompanying Assault Stars of ‘Raptors.
     Barely accepted among front-line Units, Freeborn Warriors have traditionally accompanied them with the ‘Raptor’s C Configuration, using the space reserved for the massive Ultra AC/20s to carry the Arrow IV artillery system to provide missile fire for the Prime’s ER-TAG systems.  Besides the standard- or TAG-equipped ammunition, recent developments have allowed the system to carry Anti-Aircraft munitions as well as the Tandem-Charge ‘Golden BBs’, making the design more flexible and thus more acceptable to front-line units.  Normally refused the honor of closing to join the remainder of their unit in an assault in favor of returning to reload, several front-line New Clan units have been permanently assigned standard export versions modified for artillery support.  One or two of these units have managed to overcome the stigma associated with artillery support, serving as official members of front-line units, albeit with Freebirth Warriors.

BATTLE HISTORY
     Since its introduction, the Carnoraptor has captured the attention of New Clan Warriors; its speed and firepower have made it a natural for aggressive MechWarriors.  Perhaps the most famous event in the ‘Raptor’s history occurred soon after its introduction, as Clan Carnoraptor’s elite 1st Strike Cluster struck the opening blows in the infamous Heartforge assault.  Depending on the ‘Raptor’s incredible speed to reach the pumping stations ready to flood the low-lying swampland around the Heartforge facility, entire Trinaries burned out their fragile MASC systems with the demands placed on them.  As the remaining ‘Raptors reached the banks of the dam and began to overrun the surprised defenders, the massive Ultra Autocannons proved their worth, opening massive rents in the fortifications and armor of the defending units.
     As the 102nd Strike began a hot drop on the defenses, the defenders realized the defenses were almost overwhelmed and began to blow the dam and surrounding fortifications before they could be captured, allowing the crumbling concrete of the dam and pent-up water to avenge their losses with the decimation of nearly a Cluster of troops and several DropShips.
     The ‘Raptor has proven its ability on the defensive, as well – Civil Government forces in standard ‘Mechs proved that although the B- and C Configurations had been overshadowed by the Prime and A variants, their combination of multiple deep ammunition bins and variety of munitions suited a wide variety of roles.  Forced to fight Clan-style Trials for the right to participate in the IlKhan’s Joint Development Program to develop new weapons and technology, a Trinary of mixed Star League and exported Clan designs met a slightly smaller Wolverine force on Lever.  Unable to match the Wolverine’s skills or technology, the CG forces retreated to the edge of the field where two ‘Raptor-Bs began preparing layered minefields and the long-range punch of the single –D variant began firing to support slower units in danger of being trapped outside the minefield.
     The Trial ended with the CG ‘Raptors shooting themselves dry before engaging, having sacrificed the Assault units inside the mines to distract the lighter Clan ‘Mechs and cripple them by forcing them to repeatedly move through the minefields to attack and evade retaliation.

VARIANTS
     Having become an icon and symbol of the New Clan military, the standard (or export) version of the Carnoraptor has been produced for second-line forces by most of the New Clans involved in the JDP, especially those Clans who have been unable to muster the resources to manufacture the advanced version.  Known variants include the standard configurations, as well as several experimental versions used by the IlKhan’s JDP.

NOTABLE WARRIORS
     Star Captain Fergus, 1st Carnoraptor Strike
     Fergus was one of the few to avoid burning out the delicate MASC equipment during the Heartforge Assault and reach the top of the dam, then move past it into the fortifications on the North side of the artificial lake.  Trapped when the fortifications were abandoned, Fergus made his way into the rear of the onrushing defenders to launch a successful Headhunter strike, depriving them of their Star Colonel and the opportunity to concentrate on salvaging the units lost in the rush to surprise the defense.
     Able to reclaim over twenty units with various degrees of structural damage and MASC burnout, the Clan was able to reconstitute the survivors into a viable force, saving the Clan from having to temporarily withdraw the 1st from service.


CAR-1 CARNORAPTOR

Type: Carnoraptor
Tech Base: Mixed
Tonnage: 70 Tons

Equipment         Tons
Internal Structure:            3.5
Engine:      280 XL      11.5
     Walking MP:      5
     Running MP:      8 (10)
     Jumping MP:
Heat Sinks:
Gyro:               3.0
Cockpit:               3.0
Armor Factor:    208 AP      13.0
                                          Internals          Armor
     Head                 3                 9
     Center Torso             22                34
     Center Torso (Rear)                  9
     R/L Torso             15                22
     R/L Torso (Rear)                     8
     R/L Arm             11                22
     R/L Leg                15                26

Fixed Equipment        Loc           Crits              Tons
     Leg Extensions      LL/RL          1/1    3.5
     Hardpoint x 2       LA/RA          1/1    1.0

Primary Configuration
  ER-PPC      LA   2    6.0
  SRM-6 (ST)   LT   2    3.0
  SRM-6 (ST)   RT   2    3.0
  ER-ML      LT   1    1.0
  ER-ML      RT   1    1.0
  2 x ER-ML      RA   2    2.0
  ER-TAG      H   1    1.0
  MASC      RT   3    3.0
  TARGETING COMP   LT   3    3.0
  ACTIVE PROBE   CT   1    1.0
  ECM SUITE   CT   1    1.0
  JUMP JET      LL   1    1.0
  JUMP JET      RL   1    1.0
  JUMP JET      LT   1    1.0
  JUMP JET      RT   1    1.0
  HS      LA   2    1.0
  HS      LA   2    1.0
  HS      LA   2    1.0
  HS      RA   2    1.0
  HS      RA   2    1.0
  (ES – RA-2, LT-3, RT-2)

(LA-POD – 3 Double Heatsinks)
(RA-POD – 3 Double Heatsinks)

*My apologies for the way the crits/tons transfer across - I've never been able to get that to work properly.

Opinions and comments, anyone?