The Let's Play Archive

Battletech

by PoptartsNinja

Part 198: Capellan Confederation Entries 1

Capellan Entries 1

1) Felime’s Entry

quote:

Baba-Yaga BYA-2X

With the sudden rapid development in 'mech armaments and the seccession of the belligerent Duchy of New Syrtis, the CCAF solicited bids for new battlemech designs. In a collaboration between the Tikonov and Keystone branches of Earthwerks Incorperated, the company has designed the Baba-Yaga.

Designated the BYA-2X, the 100 ton behemoth is designed to act as the backbone for any force. With an armament consisting of a pair of the rediscovered gauss rifles, two prototype MRM10s configured to fire Listen-Kill missiles, and a large laser, it is quite capable of preforming that role on any battlefield, from open terrain to close urban combat.

The Baba-Yaga's initial prototype, retroactively designated the BYA-1X, did not have the mech's distinctive legs. The 1X was mounted on a pair of heavily modified Battlemaster legs, but with the weight of the Baba-Yaga's torso, any attempt to move faster than roughly 20km/h risked the massive mech tearing itself apart. With the 2X, the legs were designed from the bottom up to carry the Baba-Yaga's blocky torso. The new appearance and avian legs earned the Baba-Yaga its name, though with the amount of firepower it can put out, the 'mech is more fortress than witch's cabin.

Baba-Yaga BYA-2X
PoptartsNinja’s Notes: Weight: 100 tons (Assault)
Movement: 3/5
Heat Sinks: 10
Armor: 288/307 (93%)

Weapons:
Gauss Rifle - LA
Gauss Rifle - RA
MRM-LK 10 - RT
MRM-LK 10 - LT
Large Laser - CT

Ammo
Gauss Ammo – 2 tons LT, 2 tons RT
MRM-LK 10 Ammo – 1 ton LT, 1 tons RT

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: A silly amount of ammo, even for an Assault `Mech. 24 turns of fire for the MRM-10s is pretty wishful thinking, but it does mean nobody has to feel bad about shooting every turn. It probably would’ve been beneficial to strip out a ton of MRM ammo and a ton (or two) of Gauss Rifle ammo and sneak in some backup firepower.



2) Rorac’s Entry

quote:

Name: Qiang

60 ton Heavy 'Mech
Movement: 5/8/0
10[15] improved heat sinks

Armament
MRM-40 – LT

Ammo
MRM-40 Improved Listen-Kill Ammo – 2 tons
Hatchet – Right Arm

This 'Mech is designed to be a cheap as hell enemy face remover. The numbers I'm getting put it at about 5.15 million C-bills, so I guess that's pretty good in terms of needing a mech that falls under 'cheap but powerful'. I would like a bit more armor but FF hasn't been invented yet so v v.

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: The Hatchet isn’t a legal weapon for the Capellans (yet); but I’m letting it slide since it’s no longer Steiner-only now that Skye has them too.




3) Picard Day

quote:

Capellan Design: Po

This 'Mech was designed with ambushes in mind and has the low profile to accomplish that goal. It was also designed as a test bed for the new Advanced Listen-Kill MRM system - a weapon system that could change the tide of any war with an unprepared Duchy of New Syrtis, and cheap enough to produce in large quantities. In appearance it is quite similar to the Raven, with chicken-walker legs and non-humanoid arms (which are primarily just MRM pods). However, unlike the Raven the torso lacks the elongated "Beak" of the design, and mounts an additional under-slung MRM pod below the center torso. (You may notice the name is the same as the Po Heavy Tank from the canon storyline. However, as this timeline is quite different and the tank was originally Romano's brainchild, it seems appropriate that she might give the name to an entirely different design.)

Po PO-2L

Mass: 40 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Cost: 2,575,067 C-Bills
Battle Value: 828

Movement: 5/8/0
Heat Sinks: Improved Heat Sink 12[18]
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 120 7.50

Armament
MRM-10 - CT
Flamer - RT
Flamer - LT
MRM-10 - RA
MRM-10 - LA

Ammo
@MRM-10 (24)Improved Listen Kill - 1 ton RT, 1 ton LT

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: I really like this one. It’s both high-tech and cheap, and would be a right bastard to fight against.



4) The Merry Marauder

quote:

BLR-1T BattleMaster

Feverish activity at the primary Earthwerks facility on Tikonov have caused a great deal of speculation of late, but initial rumors regarding an entirely new 'Mech design were proven incorrect today, as Earthwerks announced a variant of the venerable BattleMaster, incorporating the most advanced technology available to the Confederation.

Spurred by the campaign against the Free World League, Capellan missile technology has taken great strides, and it seems only prudent that innovations such as the MRM and Listen-Kill warheads be employed on survivable and proven designs, able to leverage their technological advantages over not just a battle, but a full campaign.

Earthwerks seems to have used the 'missile boat' BLR-1S variant of the BattleMaster as a starting point, and the powerful engine and ample armor protection remain unchanged. Still present as well are the famous quadruple battery of Ceres Arms Medium-class Lasers, spread along the broad torso of the 'Mech. The hand-held PPC is gone, however, replaced by an enormous MRM-30 missile pod, slung under the left arm. Designed for use with the bleeding-edge 'Listen-Kill' system, these MRMs will give the BLR-1T fearsome close-range power, especially combined with the Ceres Mediums. To moderate heat, thirteen of the latest Improved Heat Sinks are fitted to the VOX 340 that powers this engine of destruction. To engage targets while closing in, this BattleMaster mounts an LRM-15LK over the left shoulder, where you would see the SRM-6 on a basic model.

Analysts believe that the BLR-1T variant will be produced both as a refit of serving BattleMasters, and in new units from the renovated Tikonov line. There may soon be a breakthrough on the Marik front as these mighty missile boats are brought to bear, and heads will certainly turn in New Syrtis as well!

BLR-1T BattleMaster:
Movement: 4/6
Armor: 14.5 Tons
13[19] Improved Heat Sinks
Weaponry:
MRM-30LK (LA)
2 Tons Ammo (LT)
LRM-15LK (LT)
2 Tons Ammo (RT)
2xMLAS (LT)
2xMLAS (RT)

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: I like refits, they’re logical. Especially since it’s not a huge stretch for the Battlemaster. I wasn’t expecting to see a Battlemaster, but every great house builds them—they’re pretty much your go-to assault for everyone but House Kurita (who get the Charger instead).



5) Leperflesh

quote:

Gôngjî GJI-A (Rooster) GJI-A
PoptartsNinja’s notes: If this `Mech wins, it’s being called the ‘Rooster’ for the sake of my own sanity.

Mass: 60 tons
Chassis Config: Biped
Cost: 5,000,960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,213

Movement 5/8/0
Primary Factory: Nanking

Overview:
The Gôngjî, which means "Rooster," is an experimental mech designed to field
three new technologies developed by the Capellan Confederation. Named after one
of the twelve members of the traditional chinese zodiac, the rooster is the
first mech in the inner sphere purpose-built to carry the new MRM medium-range
missile launcher. It also debuts the experimental NARC missile beacon, and the
Capellan's Improved Heatsinks.

Capable of launching 30 missiles at a time and with the respectable speed and
armor to allow it to close, the Rooster, it is hoped, will prove to be quite
the surprise to the forces of the Duchy of New Syrtis.

Capabilities:
The Gôngjî fields three torso-mounted MRM-10 launchers, fed by two one-ton
NARC-capable missile bins. A medium laser in each arm provides the mech with
back-up weaponry in case it runs out of ammunition, or for firing into its rear
arc to deter flankers.

Additionally, the mech can fire the Capellan's new NARC homing beacons,
allowing both it and its lance-mates to significantly improve missile accuracy
(provided they also carry NARC-capable homing missiles, of course).

Despite carrying 11 tons of armor, the Gôngjî has a respectable speed for a
60-ton mech, a necessity to bring the MRMs into range.

Battle History:
The very first run of Gôngjî has only just been completed. Although the mech
performed well during prototype trials, it has yet to be tested in combat.

Variants:
Early prototypes of the Gôngjî lacked the NARC system, instead carrying more
armor and an additional medium laser. However, despite its improved-efficiency
heat sinks the Gôngjî was prone to overheating particularly when
alpha-striking. When the NARC system was completed a few months prior to the
first planned trials of the prototype, it was seen as a perfect fit for this
mech's planned medium-range support role. A few of the earliest prototypes of
the Gôngjî equipped with three medium lasers and two additional tons of armor,
along with one more heat sink, may still be developed into an alternate
configuration.


Heat Sinks: 1.5-capacity Heat Sink 11[16]
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 176 11.00

Armament
MRM-10 - CT
MRM-10 - RT
Narc Launcher - RT 0 2 3.00
MRM-10 - LT
Medium Laser – RA
Medium Laser – LA

Ammo
@Narc (Homing) (6) – 1 ton RT
@MRM-10 (48) – 2 tons LT

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: It’s a super-raven, and it’s name probably translates more precisely to ‘Cock.’



6) Hob_Gadling

quote:

Some believe the Liao bloodline is cursed. Madness runs within the incest-riddled family lineage and manifests itself every now and then. Sometimes it is a massacre, other times a strange strategic-level order. Fortunately for Capellan Confederation the ruling family has largely stayed out of the practical aspects of building the mech forces. That is, until new prototype tech was located researched.

No one knows exactly why the listen-kill missiles created such a strong reaction in the Chancellor. Some theorize it's the inherent paranoia, although not out loud and certainly not anywhere the spies of the regime could hear. Once LK technology was available, on the order of the Chancellor a mech would be designed and built that took maximum advantage out of them.

The interventions did not end there. A whole new type of missile weapon was forced into the same test bed, despite protests that it would be impossible to know what was caused by the missiles and what by the weapon itself. After a feverish nightmare, the mech was to drop all energy weapons because of "divine commandment". Larger missile racks were ordered to compensate for the lack of firepower. Originally based on the Shadow Hawk chassis, this made the mech extremely lopsided. The MRM rack takes up so much space that cockpit was out of necessity positioned right over the right shoulder of the mech. This in turned caused the loss of all fine control in the arm, so designers in the end decided to drop all the actuators and move LRM tubes to right arm. To some the final proof of insanity was the order to redesign the mechs legs into the chickenwalker retrograde configuration of Marauder and Catapult. Why this was commanded, no one knows. It caused yet another problem for the engineers to solve.

Typically the mech can not stand while gyro is not running. Pilots leave it leaning against buildings or trees, or in the absence of those simply leave the engine running. The lack of mass-produced LK missiles has caused ammunition shortages, and the mech can never wander too far away from supply lines. Ejection mechanism is unreliable to the point that many pilots rather pop open the cockpit and leap out, hoping to survive the fall.

A scant few pilots, mostly former Locust jocks, really like the mech. Once in the right hands it can pull of some seemingly impossible maneuvers. It is also generally considered to be the coolest running mech in the Inner Sphere. These factors aren't enough to save the mech from withering criticism. Just never where the spies of the Throne can hear.

Type: ASE-1 Illuminati, "Liao's Folly"
Tonnage: 55
Cost: 4,637,316 C-bills
Battle Value: 805
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 [15]
Armor Factor: 134 8.5

Weapons and Ammo Location
LRM 15 RA
MRM 40 LT
Ammo (LRM 15 LK) 8 3 tons RT
Ammo (MRM 40 LK) 6 3 tons LT

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: That’s… a lot of missiles. And a loooot of ammo for such a small `Mech. It’s also funny as hell.



7) KnoxZone

quote:

Wyvern WVE-7C

Mass: 45 tons
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 3033
Cost: 3,214,215 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,064

Movement: 4/6/4

Overview:
Even Maskirovka was caught off guard by the rapidly changing political landscape of 3033. It was decided that a series of quick refits would be needed to get their newest technology onto increasingly hostile borders as soon as possible. One such refit was the Wyvern.

Capabilities:
The WVE-7C removed both the LRM and SRM launchers from the original Wyvern. In their place is a new 30 rack Medium Range Missile launcher. Two tons of Listen-Kill missiles allow the Wyvern to be used in both range and in melee. Ten improved heat sinks still struggle to keep this mech cool.

Heat Sinks: Improved Heat Sink 10[15]
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 136 8.50

Armament:
Large Laser RA
2 Small Lasers RA
MRM-30 RT
@MRM-30 Improved Listen-Kill (16) RT 2 tons

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: That’s actually quite a lot of firepower for a medium `Mech. Sure, the Wyvern’s slow, but in a city…



8) Ferrosol

quote:

Vindicator II VND-2R

Mass: 55 tons
Chassis Config: Biped
Cost: 4,722,824 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,291

Overview:
An upgrade to the venerable Vindicator that is the backbone of the capellan
medium mech forcer The Vindicator II is 10 tons heavier than its parent design
and uses a more powerful engine to drive it to a maximum speed of 86 KM/h.

Capabilities:
The Vindicator II mounts similar firepower to the old Vindicator 1R but
upgrades the lrm 5 to a brand new MRM 20. While the MRM 20 is less accurate and
has a shorter range the CCAF figure the trade off is worth it for the increased
damage it allows its pilots to output.

Battle History:
The Vindicator II has undergone little live fire testing at the moment as
plans to send it to the front against the FWL were disrupted by New Syrtis's
declaration of independence.

Deployment:
This mech is currently being field tested by the loyal mercenary house unit
McCarron's Armored Cavalry and should the design prove successful it will be
assigned to the rest of the CCAF.

Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Improved Heat Sink 11(16) 1.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 152 9.50
CASE Locations: LT 0.00 PoptartsNinja’s Notes: NOPE. Nice try, though.

Armament
Medium Laser - HD
MRM-20 - LT
PPC - RA
Small Laser - LA
@MRM-20 (24) LT - 2 tons



9) Vlad Antlerkov

quote:

Essentially an upgraded PLG-1N, with MRM-40s replacing the AC/20s and the heat sinks upgraded to Improved. Also has 19 tons of armor instead of 17. Retains the jump jets and the most important distinguishing feature of the PLG-1N: that goofy rear-mounted head mlaser.

Pillager PLG-2X

Mass: 100 tons
Chassis Config: Biped
Cost: 9,744,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,987 PoptartsNinja’s Notes: Holy shit!

Targeting and Tracking System:
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 2 Standard
Heat Sinks: Improved Heat Sink 18[27]
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 304 19.00

Armament
Medium Laser - RA
Medium Laser – LA
MRM-40 – RT
MRM-40 – LT
SRM-4 – CT
(R) Medium Laser – HD
@MRM-40 (12) – 2 tons RT
@MRM-40 (12) – 2 tons LT
@SRM-4 (25) – 1 ton CT

PoptartsNinja’s Notes: Holy shit! I mean, it’s nothing like a Pillager but still, holy shit!



10) Captain Foo

quote:

Red River RRV-2I

65t 5/8
iLK MRM-30 RT
Ammo iLK MRM-30 RT
LLAS LT
iHS LT
iHS CT

Armor 10t

This mech was built to leverage the new Improved Listen-Kill MRM system
in a package that didn't sacrifice speed. 30 Missiles per shot seek the
holes opened up by the laser on the other side of the mech. While ammo
may be limited, the Red River maintains flexibility with empty hands
for bashing opposing mechs in the head. The Red River was named after the
lead designer Ivan Chen saw the torrent of fire tearing out of the speedy
mech.