OBT Forum

ill bow out of this.

im stymied on loadouts, i do have HMP but i prefer the older BMD program as it allows you to do full omni loadout.   but i just dont have the juices flowing atm.

As always folks, excellent stuff!

*** Incoming transmission ***
*** Encrypted message ***
*** Security level Z3 ***

Loremaster,

I attached to this message several files that might be of interest to you regarding some interesting developments in the research programmes of some Clans.

I think it could be of interest to us for the future, either to provide them with what they need or to find a way to acquire what they make.

As always, I will wait for the decision of the Clan before taking any further step.

Yours,

Merchant Bruce

PS: I know you will ask me how I got this data but if I told you, it wouldn’t be fun anymore to surprise you.


Attachment 1: Video file.
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A room full of people, wearing jumpsuits in green and black tones. They are gathered in groups with the same camouflage pattern making this gathering look like a crowd of different teams. This impression is reinforced by the 8 different flags hanging on the walls.
The different groups are looking at each other with a peculiar shine in their eyes, as if they knew they were superior to anyone else. The atmosphere was slowly building up and heating up.

Before things got out of way, two people moved in front of the crowd and went behind a pulpit, one adorned with one of the flag, a flag which pictured an animal, whose fangs could be seen on the helmets of both people.
Putting their helmets aside, they didn’t wait for the crowd to become silent before the woman begin to speak.

“My fellow Fire Mandrill Warriors,if I gathered you here as Khan of our Clan, it is to ask you to look at you and at us. We are the proud true followers of the vision of the Great Father and no one will be able to make me or any of us believe anything else.”

Pausing in her speech, she let the room cheers to her words before beginning once again to speak.

“However, let’s not fool us. Our Ways are better and the right Ones but we are seen as weak and divided.”

Pausing once again, the Khan let the anger of the room build up and decided to speak again before it could be expressed by the gathered assembly.

“And I can’t always disagree with them.”

Silence felt in the room as the words processed in each Warrior.

“Before you take any action against me for saying these words, just look at how we fared in the last campaigns and battles. Our Ways are better, our Warriors are better but yet we couldn’t secure a position in Operation Revival. Our Ways are better, our Warriors are better but yet we couldn’t defend ourselves against hard-pressed attacked by speedy freaks...”

This time the room erupted with angry shouts targeting not the woman in front but the others, the Dezgra that didn’t follow the True Way and couldn’t hold their own in a regular and fair fight against Clan Fire Mandrill.

“Silence Warriors! We are the Sons of Kerensky, we don’t shout, we act and our rightful anger will fall on our enemies when we see it fit! However for this, we need to gain more strength and this is why I gathered you here today. All the Clans have upgraded their forces with either new designs or upgrades of older machines. I think it is time we do the same and we upgrade a ‘Mech but a mighty one that will lead our future assaults and show our opponents the might of Clan Fire Mandrill.”

The crowd roared again.

“And we will do the right way! The way every Clan should act!”.

The recording ends here and the screen goes black..


Attachment 2: Text file.
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My Khan,

As requested we looked with Scientist-General Arkady to our supply of older ‘Mechs to see which one would be appropriate for a retrofit or upgrade.
With the specifications you gave us (top Heavy or Assault Chassis, capacity to pack a heavy firepower, already heavily used by our Touman), only a few models fit the bill and we make them fight against each other in one versus one fights. The winner was the Gargoyle.

As agreed by the assembly of Warriors, the 7 Kindraas fought internal Trials of Possession to let them decide which Warrior would decide which weapons should be fitted in one Configuration (Configuration A to G). Configuration Prime weapons are to be decided by a Trial of Possession between you and the saKhan, the loser deciding for Configuration H. As you requested, the specifics for Configuration I were asked to the Blood Spirit ilChi who said that “this honour spills over the whole Clan.”

Here are the technical specifications for each Configuration.
Your Configuration Prime remains much of the original spirit (including the way the weapons are placed) but upgrades it at the cost of a little range. Two Large Pulse Lasers backed up by a LRM-10 can deal with all kind of targets at longer ranges while two Streak SRM-4 with two tons of ammo upgrade the accuracy of the firepower at closer ranges, being in the end as effective as the original SRM-6. Thanks to its 16 Double Heat Sinks, it can alpha-strike without any problem.

Configuration A was selected by Star Captain Diana of the 53rd Assault Cluster of Kindraa Sainze. Strangely enough, she didn’t select weapons able to take down Aerospace Fighter, which are her speciality, focusing instead on precise firepower at long ranges to take down quickly BattleMechs. This might have something to do with the pro-BattleMech bias of this Kindraa. With 3 ER Large Lasers and 3 ER Medium ones, all tied to a Targeting Computer, it can quickly disable most opponents. Its main weakness is that it is not really optimised for dealing with the generated heat. Thanks to its 19 Double Heat Sinks, it can fire all its ER Large Lasers and still move. When the ER Medium Lasers are added, it must drop one ER Large Laser and will still lightly overheat. The only concession to  this brutal efficiency was the addition of a Flamer because “it made it look like a dragon breathing fire”, which as you know is the symbol of Kindraa Payne.

Configuration B was given to Kindraa Faraday-Tanaga, the winner of their internal Trials being Kindraa Leader Sarah Farady, an Elemental. Mixing the tactics of the units under her command, she tried to improve the original Configuration B producing something that could be used in a duel or in a normal fight. With its Gauss Rifle provided with 3 tons of ammo and a LRM-10 with 2 tons of ammo, battles can be quickly decided or last longer. These ammo-dependant weapons are backed-up by two ER Medium Lasers.

Warrior Edward Lopez of the 71st Firestorm Cluster was the designer of Configuration for the Kindraa Mattila-Carrol. Following the head-hunting approach favoured by this Kindra, he decided to go for a close combat fighter able to quickly destroy its target. The weapons are split in two with 5 ER Medium Lasers and a massive LB 20-X with 3 tons of ammo, it can destroy quickly any armour and aim at the complete destruction of its target, be it a BattleMech, a Tank or an Aerospace Fighter. Since this design will see combat close and personal, a Flamer was added to deal with any Dezgra tactics. The identified weakness of this Configuration is the lack of any long range weapon but its mere speed should allow it to get within range as quickly as possible.

Kindraa Leader Laurel Payne designed Configuration D, which seems to be inspired by the Warhammer, a choice coherent with their lack of Aerospace support and therefore their need to end battles quickly before their enemy can use this weakness. With 2 ER PPC and 3 ER Medium Lasers tied to a Targeting Computer, it can make use of precise fire, disabling quickly its targets with the back-up of a SRM-6 linked to an Artemis IV to improve its accuracy. Like Configuration A, its main weakness lies in its capacity to manage heat. At one moment, the ‘MechWarrior must decide for the 2 ER PPC or for 1 and the extra firepower of the 3 ER Medium Lasers.

Surprisingly enough, for an Aerospace heavy Kindraa, the winner of the Trials for Kindraa Mick-Kreese was Warrior Taman, an Elemental of the 4th Elemental Assault Force. However he managed to design a generalist Configuration able to efficiently fight at all ranges. The LRM-15 and ER Large Laser for long range are reinforced by a Streak SRM-6 and 3 Medium Pulse Lasers. The energy weapons are all linked to a Targeting Computer for increased precision. What is really impressive is that this ‘Mech can almost alpha-strike without overheating.

Star Captain Andrea Bush of the 21st Vanguard Battle Cluster is a tank specialist in Kindraa Kline, a Kindraa that due to its small size specialises in defensive operations. This odd positioning shows in Configuration F, which is a support ‘Mech, able to provide artillery fire support and still stand alone. The Arrow IV with its 3 tons of ammo is the main punch of this Configuration while an ER Large Laser, 2 ER Medium ones and a Flamer protect it should anyone want to make the “Wrath of God” silent.

Another surprise came with the winner of the Trials of Kindraa Beyl-Grand, Star Captain Andrea of the 17th Auxiliary Cluster. Her post in a Garrison unit is obvious since Configuration G is an urban specialist. With 5 Jump Jets, it can move freely in the restricted grounds of cities. An ECM Suite and an Active Probe protect it both from surprise and sneaky attacks and decrease the efficiency of other electronic systems. A Large Pulse Laser and 2 ER Medium Lasers are its main weapons while 4 ER Small Lasers should be able to cut down most targets coming into range. To deal with infantry or Elementals, 2 Machine Guns are also available. Sticking to the combat ethos of the Clans, a Targeting Computer was added to decrease the risk of not hitting the target, something that in urban settings can be disastrous.

The next Configuration was designed by your saKhan and without any surprise, it is meant to end up things quickly with overwhelming firepower. An ER PPC and an UAC/10 are able to dismantle anything at longer ranges and 2 ER Medium Lasers and a Flamer are there to deal with those getting too close. 3 tons of ammo insure that the Autocannon can fire without any major problems.

The Configuration provided by Clan Blood Spirit is strange for this Clan and reminds me of an Archer. With 5 LRM-10 and an ER Large Laser, it can fire at the longest range possible while two ER Medium Lasers can join the fight later on.


Attachment 3: Audio file.
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Here is

Statics

of the 10th Battle Cluster of Clan Coyote. Don’t worry Coyotes, these are only some fools of some Kindraa. We will show them who will be bleeding in the end and who will remain on Foster.

Statics

Did you see the heavier firepower they are packing? My Battle Computer identified 3 Gargoyles Prime but something is wrong there. It seems we will have more fun than we thought.

Screams

Anyone knows where the Grenadiers are? They were supposed to hold our flank but it seems we are being outflanked by the lighter elements of Clan Fire Mandrill.

Statics

Repeat. I said repeat. Something is messing with my electronic systems. How can I know where it comes from? My Battle Computer only shows me unknown Gargoyles but they are too heavy to be used in this way.

Impacts

I have been hit. This Gargoyle just jumped in my back like it was nothing and I was hit by several Lasers. My systems are going down.

Statics
Statics
Statics


Attachment 4 : Text file
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Diagrams begin appearing.

Through several analysis of conversations on the Chatterweb and from publicly available information, we have managed to make an estimate of the rate of conversion of the Gargoyles of Clan Fire Mandrill to the new standards. As we speak our estimate is that 90% of the Fire Mandrill units have been converted, which makes more than 25% of their Assault ‘Mechs being now upgraded.
Surprisingly enough, it seems that for now, only one factory is producing this design for the whole Clan, Phan Industrialplex. From their recent orders both to our Merchant Caste and to their own, it seems they are planing to upgrade it by doubling its capacity before then end of this year.

A personal file appears

Star Captain Garrett Sainze is a ristar in Clan Fire Mandrill. He is impulsive and not to be trusted but displayed considerable skills during the Trials before Operation Revival. True to his nature, he prefers the Gargoyle A to quickly destroy his targets.

Gargoyle

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A
Production Year: 2945
Cost: 24 127 500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 026

Chassis: Clan Series Assault SXC Standard
Power Plant: Model SF-3 XL 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Forging C626/J Ferro Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    21.5 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Phan Industrialplex
    Primary Factory: Huntress
Communications System: Raldon R1
Targeting and Tracking System: Version Kappa-III TS

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     122 points                8,00
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             400                      26,50
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             16(32)                    6,00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 211                 11,00
    Armor Locations: 1 HD, 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           30       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10       
                                           L/R Torso     17           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     13           23       
                                             L/R Leg     17           24       



================================================================================
Loadout Name: Prime                                          Cost: 25 770 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 164

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-10                                       RT        4         1         2,50
Large Pulse Laser                            RA        10        2         6,00
Streak SRM-4                                 RA        3         1         2,00
Large Pulse Laser                            LA        10        2         6,00
Streak SRM-4                                 LA        3         1         2,00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           RT        -         1         1,00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 RT        -         1         1,00
@Streak SRM-4 (25)                           LT        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 30

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 22
5          5       5       3       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: A                                              Cost: 26 142 375
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 766

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             19(38)                    3,00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 1 RT
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Targeting Computer                           RT        -         3         3,00
Flamer                                       LT        3         1         0,50
2 ER Large Lasers                            RA        24        2         8,00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4,00
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        15        3         3,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 24

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 28
5          5       5       3       0      4     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: B                                              Cost: 25 635 900
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 112

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: LA, RA                                                 0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gauss Rifle                                  RA        1         6        12,00
LRM-10                                       LA        4         1         2,50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2,00
@Gauss Rifle (24)                            RA        -         3         3,00
@LRM-10 (24)                                 LA        -         2         2,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 24

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 21
5          4       4       3       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: C                                              Cost: 26 520 375
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 222

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             17(34)                    1,00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
    CASE Locations: LT                                                     0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flamer                                       RT        3         1         0,50
5 ER Medium Lasers                           RA        25        5         5,00
LB 20-X AC                                   LA        6         9        12,00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (15)                      LT        -         3         3,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 20

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 22
5          5       5       0       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, FLK 1/1/0


================================================================================
Loadout Name: D                                              Cost: 26 602 500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 957

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RT                                                     0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM-6                                        RT        4         1         1,50
    Artemis IV FCS                           RT        -         1         1,00
Targeting Computer                           RT        -         3         3,00
3 ER Medium Lasers                           LT        15        3         3,00
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6,00
ER PPC                                       LA        15        2         6,00
@SRM-6 (Artemis) (15)                        RT        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 27

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 30
5          5       5       3       0      4     2   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: E                                              Cost: 25 948 650
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 485

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: LT, RA                                                 0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Targeting Computer                           CT        -         2         2,00
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        1         4,00
Streak SRM-6                                 LT        4         2         3,00
Medium Pulse Laser                           LT        4         1         2,00
LRM-15                                       RA        5         2         3,50
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        LA        8         2         4,00
@Streak SRM-6 (15)                           LT        -         1         1,00
@LRM-15 (16)                                 RA        -         2         2,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 24

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 25
5          6       6       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: F                                              Cost: 26 102 775
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 122
Rules Level: Advanced Rules

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RA                                                     0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flamer                                       CT        3         1         0,50
Arrow IV Missile                             RT/RA     10        8/4      12,00
ER Large Laser                               LT        12        1         4,00
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2,00
@Arrow IV (Cluster) (15)                     RA        -         3         3,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 19

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 21
5          5       3       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, ARTAC, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: G                                              Cost: 27 022 800
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 502

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jumping MP: 5  (Standard)
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL                       5,00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             17(34)                    1,00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
    CASE Locations: RT                                                     0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ECM Suite                                    CT        0         1         1,00
2 Machine Guns                               RT        0         2         0,50
Large Pulse Laser                            RT        10        2         6,00
4 ER Small Lasers                            LT        8         4         2,00
Targeting Computer                           LT        -         2         2,00
ER Medium Laser                              RA        5         1         1,00
Active Probe                                 LA        0         1         1,00
ER Medium Laser                              LA        5         1         1,00
@MG (200)                                    RT        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 25
5j         6       5       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, ECM, PRB, RCN, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: H                                              Cost: 26 011 875
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 289

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RT                                                     0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flamer                                       CT        3         1         0,50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LT        10        2         2,00
Ultra AC/10                                  RA        3         4        10,00
ER PPC                                       LA        15        2         6,00
@Ultra AC/10 (30)                            RT        -         3         3,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 28

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 23
5          5       5       3       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


================================================================================
Loadout Name: I                                              Cost: 26 334 300
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 2 392

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-10                                       CT        4         1         2,50
2 LRM-10s                                    RT        8         2         5,00
2 LRM-10s                                    LT        8         2         5,00
ER Large Laser                               RA        12        1         4,00
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2,00
@LRM-10 (24)                                 RT        -         2         2,00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 LT        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 25

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 24
5          4       4       3       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, LRM 2/2/2, IF 2


Very nice Ice, a different fluff piece certainly.

When I began looking at how and why would someone build it I felt inspired to do something a little different.

Less than two days remaining on this one folks!

Half an hour remaining till midnight folks, tomorrow this contest will be closed!