OBT Forum

Good to see your entries Abele!

Just a general comment on the contest so far - I am surprised no one has gone Blitzkrieg on me here and tried a configuration based around the Ultra AC/20. Kind of an all or nothing variant for those crazy enough to try it.

Problem is with the Blitzkrieg idea is that the Kit Fox is both too slow and too fragile.  That big gun would attract a LOT of attention and folks would go out of their way to eliminate it.  And the Kitty can't move fast enough to get a decent TMM outside of flat, clear terrain, and its armour is far too weak.

Since it was requested...


The Kit Fox Foxtrot, sometimes simply the 'Kit Foxtrot' or the 'Kit Fox Foolhardy' to AFFC observers, is rarely seen engaging Inner Sphere forces. Instead, the design originated with Clan Star Adder and is primarily used in formal trials or combat against Clans who take a very stringent view of Zellbrigen. It's believed that the original use was for Trials of Refusal where bidding placed the challenger at a weight disparity rather than a numerical disadvantage. Star Adder Mechwarriors utilising a Kit Fox against heavier adversaries gambled everything on managing to outflank their foes and inflict crippling damage with the very limited ammunition available to the autocannon. As statistically unlikely as this may seem to succeed, the fact that the Foxtrot is occasionally seen in the Inner Sphere suggests that there have been some recorded victories. Without the autocannon, the Foxtrot is reduced to using a quartet of lasers - firepower that would be respectable for an Inner Sphere 'Mech of this size but far inferior to other configurations of the Kit Fox.


================================================================================
Loadout Name: Foxtrot                                        Cost: 5,423,438
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A                       BV2: 1,322

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CASE Locations: RA                                                     0.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA

Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultra AC/20                                  RT/RA     7         2/6      12.00
ER Small Laser                               RT        2         1         0.50
ER Small Laser                               LT        2         1         0.50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           LA        10        2         2.00
@Ultra AC/20 (5)                             RA        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 14

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 13
6          4       4       0       0      1     1   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

A variant of the Original A config, the Juliet simply replaces the Gauss rifle with an LB-20X and two tons of ammunition. The Warriors who have tested this variant believe it to be a death trap and would only use it as a last resort to achieve one last bit of Honor and Glory.

               BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model:    Kit Fox (Uller) Juliet
Tech:          Clan / 3050
Config:        Biped OmniMech
Rules:         Level 2, Standard design

Mass:          30 tons
Chassis:       Endo Steel
Power Plant:   180 XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets:     None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type:    Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:     
  1 LB 20-X AC
  2 ER Medium Lasers
Manufacturer:  (Unknown)
  Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:  (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System:  (Unknown)

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Kit Fox (Uller) Juliet
Mass:          30 tons

Equipment:                                 Crits    Mass
Int. Struct.:  51 pts Endo Steel             7      1.50
 (Endo Steel Loc: 1 LA, 1 RA, 2 LT, 3 RT)
Engine:        180 XL Fusion                10      3.50
   Walking MP:   6
   Running MP:   9
   Jumping MP:   0
Heat Sinks:     10 Double [20]               6       .00
 (Heat Sink Loc: 2 LT, 1 CT)
Gyro:                                        4      2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:                5      3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H    R: Sh+UA        14       .00
Armor Factor:   77 pts Ferro-Fibrous         7      4.00
 (Armor Crit Loc: 1 HD, 1 LA, 1 RA, 2 LT, 2 RT)

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Head:                      3          9     
   Center Torso:             10          9     
   Center Torso (Rear):                  5     
   L/R Side Torso:            7        8/8     
   L/R Side Torso (Rear):              4/4     
   L/R Arm:                   5        7/7     
   L/R Leg:                   7        8/8     

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 LB 20-X AC             RA      6   10     11     14.00
  (Ammo Locations: 2 RT)
2 ER Medium Lasers       LA     10           2      2.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         16          66     30.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          12       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        5,653,212 C-Bills
Battle Value 2:    1,159 (old BV = 1,083)
Cost per BV2:      4,877.66
Weapon Value:      800 / 800 (Ratio = .69 / .69)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 29;  MRDmg = 14;  LRDmg = 1
BattleForce2:      MP: 6,  Armor/Structure: 2/2
                   Damage PB/M/L: 4/3/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: ML;  Point Value: 12
                   Specials: Omni

Perhaps it was the sixteen tons of pod space but this contest really opened my eyes to more interesting possibilities than anyone that came before. With thirty (30!) possible configurations to choose from I boiled it down to ten (10) different loadouts for the 3050s. I do have to say that Abele’s plan to jump around really worked on me because I had always envisioned the Cloud Cobras in particular as fielding a highly mobile force. The Kit Fox being their main Omni it makes sense that some configurations would showcase jump jets. Very Nice! It also left me with another question given the obvious age of the Uller; should the Jade Falcons abandon production of it following the Quicksilver Trials (which would be a Secondary line) for some newer design (say the Quicksilver) they’d like to see proliferate their Touman faster? I had the Ravens discontinue production of the Kit Fox to dedicate manufacturing lines to other projects. It would make sense for the Falcons to do so as well - so I am leaning in that direction right now. Your opinion is as always welcomed!

For now, onto the contest. Point for overview was a close contest between drakensis and marauder648 that ultimately went to marauder648. Very tight race there but I felt his was the right feel this time out.

Primary Configuration – I think we could do better than the canon version here and we had many entries to choose from. Simply replacing the LB-5X AC with a Large Pulse wasn’t bad drakensis but I liked the generalist approach taken by marauder648 here better. Also loved Abele’s primary which I think you will see again but I also considered his G configuration based on the Wyvern for this spot as well. I enjoyed the comparison but ultimately it is marauder648 who wins this spot with his Primary Configuration (ER Large, ER Small, Medium Pulse, LRM 10 w/ Artemis, Streak SRM-6 and an ECM), nice job!

Alternate Configuration A – Probably the toughest canon variant to defeat in my eyes only marauder648 tried to take it down with an LB-10X AC configuration. Not bad at all and you’ll probably see it again as a winner for a supplementary spot. I considered drakensis simple move of an ER Medium to the torso but thought after transporting Elementals the other day into battle ‘well you can’t use it while their on board’. So as Abele said if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Besides this design inspired the Hollander and eventually the Blitzkrieg one of my favorite InnerSphere designs. So, point for canon.

Alternate Configuration B – The competition for this spot was probably the toughest in the entire contest. Canon’s Ultra AC/10 is horrible and it flat beat out Abele’s B which could have used only a single ton of ammo for his LB-5X along with some other changes for a better high accuracy anti-aircraft platform. On the bubble was marauder648’s B which narrowly missed the cut entirely. The closest to knocking off canon B was drak B in my opinion which is a terror for conventional vehicles. I decided to stick with canon in end for its second point but expect to see drak B again.

Alternate Configuration C – The concept of the canon configuration was indeed solid in my eyes but just flawed in execution and everybody took a shot at redoing it. I was a little confused by drak’s version which seemed to have two ECM Suites but otherwise was pretty good. Not bad marauder648 on a lot of small and medium gun C but I thought Abele took the best approach. I liked the big Large Pulse and the Jump Jets for a more mobile scout. Point to Abele!

Alternate Configuration D – For our long-range missile boat everyone decided to drop the Narc from canon which I heartily endorse. Jump jets didn’t off here Abele as I liked the twin LRM-15s in comparison to your 10s even though you had better secondary Pulses. Drakensis and marauder648 were very similar with their twin LRM-15s linked to Artemis IV FCS but I liked marauder’s version better with one less ton of ammo and 4 ER Smalls for backup. Point two to marauder648!

Alternate Configuration E – Lets start off with Abele F here who largely copies a configuration from the Adder with twin ER PCCs. Plus, three Double Heat Sinks to help cool them down with a Small Pulse for back up and you got perhaps my favorite new addition here. I did consider marauder648 single ER PPC with Jump Jets and a Targeting Computer but this one is just better. A nice partner for the Adder Prime with same speed and firepower equals point two for Abele.

Alternate Configuration F – Far reaching Abele Prime goes here with its twin ER Larges and single ER Medium tied to a Targeting Computer. Equipped with six Jump Jets and two additional Double Heat Sinks this highly mobile sniper is a fine addition to the Kit Fox possibilities. Also considered here was messed up but interestingly accurate drak C which could have been a solid competitor here. Point three Abele!!!

Alternate Configuration G – Here I placed drakensis B whose LB-5X AC reminds me a lot of the old Primary Configuration. With three SRM-6s, an ER Medium and an ER Small I love how it fits into the role of vehicle killer. Considered also were Abele H and J whose smaller and biggest LB-X variants just didn’t measure up to me. Point to drakensis!

Alternate Configuration H – Another LB-X AC I found useful was marauder648’s Alternate A featuring the model 10 along with 3 ER Mediums and two Flamers. Doesn’t quite have the punch of A or B does versus ‘Mechs but quite useful against vehicles, infantry and aircraft. Point three to marauder648!!!

Alternate Configuration I – Beating out canon S and drakensis E was the twin Streak SRM-6, dual ER Medium, Small Pulse, 6 (+2 from my mod) Machine Guns (half a ton less of ammo), and six jump jets from Abele. His Alternate E really seized my imagination as the final possible variation of the Kit Fox now widely available in Clan service. Congrats, point four to Abele!!!!

Narrowly missing the cut were canon Alternate Configuration W whose mix of two Large Pulse Lasers and two Medium Pulse Lasers was something easy sibkin training could use or was capable of underwater operations like the Peregrine BattleMech fluff eludes to. Also, drakensis F was a near miss with its Ultra AC/20 for death or glory warriors in Omnis that are facing elimination themselves. If I were going with two more it would have been them.

So, we have an overall tie for this one between marauder648 (four overall points thanks to his overview) and Abele (four configurations wins). Congrats guys, see you soon for the next contest!!

Right u are dark. I don't see the Clans doubling up on ECMs. ComGuards yes.