OBT Forum

Something like this, modified to an appropriate mass for whatever vehicle you choose, probably a tracked or wheeled type.  Note this is an omni; a standard trailer would reduce cost and a tow vehicle (ie, a tank) could tow it's own mass without movement penalty.  Since it isn't designed to operate alone it could save the mass required for an engine and favor heavy armor, a turret (a practical necessity - turn it, and show fresh armor to a foe), and massive weapon payload - in this case, 65% of the total mass is so dedicated.

Note that a trailer with only a 10-rated engine could still power to all energy weapons on the trailer (but not provide enough HS normally), power, house, and feed a BA unit for long-term deployment, then be removed when no longer necessary.  Or an AA position.  Or command trailer, or MASH, or - whatever you need.

You'd have to check, but I figure they can be carried as cargo, too - no need for a vehicle bay, just a shipping container.

In canon books, there are the Ballista Artillery Trailer (towed by the Destrier S-H tank), the Gun Trailer (10-35 tons), and the Tenmaku and Bokkusu (towed by the Teppo).  There are also no shortage of units with the trailer hook quirk.

Even if you only mount LRMs on a trailer without a turret for a cheap fire support trailer, I invite you to pick a standard combat unit of your own, and consult TM on how to build a trailer.  Then calculate the BPV.  You might also want to try a Megamek game or two to confirm the concept - they will have to choose to shoot either the tank or the trailer, but not both.  Note that even if the tank dies, a trailer would survive as salvage.


*edit - Oh, and by the way - that C3 concept, sharing information between vehicles of a Point?  That includes the weapons on the trailer.

Whats the rules on what can or cannot tow something? Does it have to be a certain size because I wouldn't expect a little 20 ton vehicle to be able to tow something of this size at all or at least not its full speed. If there are rules you could just specify the book and I'll go look instead of having you type them all up here.

Wheeled and tracked Tractors may pull one or more Trailers whose combined weight is less than or equal to the Tractor’s own weight. The weight of the Trailers reduces the Tractor’s speed as follows: if the Trailers weigh up to a quarter of the Tractor’s own weight, the Tractor must subtract 3 from its Cruising MP or half of its Cruising MP (round down), whichever is less. If the Trailers weigh more than a quarter of the Tractor’s tonnage, the Tractor may only move at half its Cruising MP (round down). Once the player has calculated the Tractor’s modified Cruising MP, he must also recalculate its Flank MP, multiplying that number by 1.5 and rounding to the nearest whole number (round .5 up).

Rules make sense for Tracked and Wheeled.

I guess Trailers can't be hover because these rules wouldn't make sense if they could.

You really could create a powerful force if you had had them all have trailers the downside would be mobility, but if you were smart and used them to set up ambushes you could drop off Trailers at one spot and use the actual vehicles as the hammer and the trailers as the anvil.

There's no shortage of options.  I prefer to use the trailers almost exclusively for long range, sacrificing armor for firepower - then abandon them to use them as C3 units, booby traps, or salvage them later.  RL-10s are a particular favorite given the lack of ammo to explode.

You really could create a powerful force if you had had them all have trailers the downside would be mobility, but if you were smart and used them to set up ambushes you could drop off Trailers at one spot and use the actual vehicles as the hammer and the trailers as the anvil.

this would be great idea to wipe out those pirates....

Why not both

Bored now - have I convinced anyone?

I'm on board. Just need to brush up on the rules for creating them now. Haven't had a chance yet.