Part 133: Delaying Action - Contest Part 2
Due to the length of this, the contest entries must be shortened into bite-sized portions. For your viewing pleasure:Part 2
J.J.P. posted:
Faced with a need to quickly add gauss rifles to their 'mech inventories, the DCMS turned to their Catapult models. Having already made the conceptual jump of turning a missile-boat into a direct-fire support unit, they simply dismounted one of the twin PPCs, along with several of its associated heat sinks and the anti-infantry MGs, and
replaced it with the new gauss rifle.
CPLT-K2GR
Mass: 65 tons
Structure: standard
Engine: standard
Movement profile: 4/6/0
Armor: 10.5 tons, standard
Weapons and Equipment Location Critical Mass
Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
PPC
Medium Laser
Medium Laser
Heat Sinks: 12 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
I have no idea who you are J.J.P, but I like the cut of your Catapult. This is a cute remodel of the Kurita twin-PPC “baby Timberwolf” direct-fire catapult. I’d almost have liked to see two Gausses, but I’m not sure that’s mechanically possible (just checked: It’s not). This is another design I’d love to give those dirty, dirty Yakuza.
Cthulhu Dreams posted:
Gladiator Gauss Refit GLD-2RK
Mass: 55 tons
Cost: 4,547,907 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,421
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 275 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: 9.0 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
2 Medium Lasers
Heat Sinks: 10 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
I wasn’t expecting one Gladiator, much less two. This one strips out the small laser and a half ton of armor for some extra staying power. It’s solid, all around, and I could see both variants being produced in tandem.
Affi posted:
Dragon DRG-YG
Mass: 60 tons
Cost: 5,102,080 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,489
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 240 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43,2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64,8 km/h
Jump Jets: 4 Unknown
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: 9.5 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (8 shots)
4 Medium Lasers
Heat Sinks: 10 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Oh, wait, it’s Affi! Anyway, this is a pretty good refit of the Dragon. To quote the E-Mail “now the dragon can fly,” but I’m not sure I like the speed reduction. The Dragon’s always been an endurance fighter (its combination of speed and relatively low threat makes it a lower priority target, allowing it to win fights through attrition), and this refit trades that in. It’s a pretty solid design overall, but while there’re other 60-ton 4/6s that fly, there’re very few that are 5/8.A Non-Goon :o posted:
Created after a call for designs capable of using the fearsome new Gauss Rifle, and seeing the success of Warlord Samsonov's personal Atlas refit, Yori 'Mech Works decided to redesign one of their Atlas lines. Focusing on long range firepower and a desire to take the fight to the clans, the designers' result was the Kamikaze, named for the divine wind that saved ancient Japan from the Mongol hordes.
The Kamikaze is meant to be a long range fire support mech. Though keeping the slow speed of it's precedessor, the weapons loadout has been retooled
completely. Two Large Lasers and a Gauss Rifle provide the main punch of this warmachine, with an LRM-15 added for additional fire support if the large
lasers are out of range. This loadout allows a Mechwarrior to engage his enemy at longer ranges, a definite advantage when faced with the technology of the Clans.19 tons of armour let the machine survive withering amounts of damage,and a clever Mechwarrior can manage easily manage the heat with 20 heatsinks.
Kamikaze KAM-1K
Mass: 100 tons
Cost: 9.182.000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2.117
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.400000000000006 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: 19.5 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
1 LRM-15 (16 shots)
2 Large Lasers
Heat Sinks: 20 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Our second new ‘Mech (and our first ‘Mech designed by someone who isn’t a SomethingAwful goon) is a monster. With a reasonable level of firepower coupled with longevity, toughness, and good close-range punch; the Kamikazi would be an absolute nightmare in the 3032 battlefield. The biggest downside to this design is its weight: at 100 tons, production would be extremely limited and the price tag, while pretty reasonable for a ‘Mech this size, is still quite steep.
Another non-member :o posted:
Gausshopper Grasshopper
Mass: 70 tons
Cost: 6,112,973 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,522
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 280 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.80000000000001 km/h
Jump Jets: 4
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: 9 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
1 Large Laser
1 LRM-5 (24 shots)
Heat Sinks: 13 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Wow, I was not expecting any love for the humble Grasshopper! I’d definitely use a ‘Mech like this, it takes the Grasshopper’s speed issues and mitigates them with long-range firepower. Also, it’s oversinked enough to let it jump and fire most of its armament; and still has reasonable battlefield longevity. The only downside? Nobody’s producing the Grasshopper anymore, so it’s a pretty rare design. Sadpanda, because I really like this refit.
Sair posted:
Hatchetman HCT-4K
Mass: 45 tons
Cost: 3,138,090 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,094
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 180 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: 4
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: 6.5 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
1 Hatchet
Heat Sinks: 10 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Cheap, high-value, and it’s a Hatchetman I’d actually feel pretty good about fielding. It’s a pity Doctor Banzai never finished the Hatchetman design.
Arquinsiel posted:
Charger CGR-HTM.
It starts with a CGR-1A5 and removes the AC20 and ammunition. Then it puts the Gauss Rifle in the right arm, the Medium Laser moves to the left arm and the SRMs are split into the side torsos. The ammunition is put in the RT for both weapons. Obvious Samurai helmet added at no cost in weight or crits.
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Simple. Solid. Effective.
Mukaikubo posted:
ARC-3K Archer (Kyudo)
Chassis: Earthwerk Archer (standard)
Power Plant: VOX 280 (standard)
Cruising Speed: 43
Maximum Speed: 64.5
Jump Jets: none
Jump Capacity: none
Armor: 11 tons, Maximillian 45 (standard)
Armament:
2 Large Lasers
1 Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
Heat Sinks: 13 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
I wasn’t expecting to see an Archer, either. This is pretty stellar, honestly: it’s effective without being too efficient, and can leverage a lot of firepower if it needs to. I could see the combine fielding this.
jng2058 posted:
Type: GTL-4G Guillotine
Tonnage: 70
Cost: 6,237,073 C-bills
Battle Value: 1,451
Equipment
Internal Structure: Standard
Engine: standard Fusion
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 4
Armor Factor: 12 tons
Weapons:
Medium Laser
Medium Laser
Medium Laser
Medium Laser
Gauss Rifle (16 shots)
Heat Sinks: 14 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
I wasn’t expecting a Guillotine! … The downside? One gauss, four medium lasers. Efficient, but not really interesting enough to keep my attention. It’s a shame, I’d love to field more Guillotines.
Keru posted:
Introduced in the late twenty-sixth century, the CRD-
3R Crusader became the workhorse of the SLDF’s line regiments
as they battled Periphery troops during the Reunifi
cation War. With manufacturing plants across the Inner
Sphere, Kallon Industries manufactured the ’Mech in vast
numbers during the two centuries of the First Star League.
Even after the League collapsed, other manufacturers continued
to churn out Crusaders, making it one of the most
common heavy BattleMechs in existence. Many of these
have fallen during the Succession Wars, but a surprising
number of the surviving veterans remain in frontline service,
and the availability of inexpensive and easy-to-install
upgrade kits will ensure that they stay there.
The CRD-3L-G 'Gauss Variant' is a newer rebuild of this workhorse, opting to
remove it's old armament for an Imperator Automatic Weaponry 'Dragon's Fire'
Gauss Rifle, a Diverse Optics 'Type 30' Large Laser and two Diverse Optics
'Type 10' small lasers.
The reduced armor in the arms meant housing the weapons in the right and left
torsos would get greater protection, the drawback being a narrower firing arc.
It will run a little hot.
Crusader CRD-3L-G 'Gauss Variant'
Mass: 65 tons
Cost: 5,548,235 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 535
Chassis: Crucis-b Standard
Power Plant: Magna 260 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43,2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64,8 km/h
Jump Jets: 4
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: 9 tons, Riese 500 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (24)
1 Large Laser
2 Small Lasers
Heat Sinks: 12 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
No it won’t. 1 heat per turn generated by jumping and firing everything but the small lasers? This thing’s cool as a cucumber, especially since it can just not fire the laser every eight turns or so and drop down to 0 heat again. No, this Crusader’s a battlefield powerhouse: It’s got longevity, enough ammo that it can freely waste shots against long-distance targets it has only a marginal chance to hit, and enough maneuverability to make the Clans pay for getting too close. No, the only downside here is: I doubt I’ll ever field a map big enough to make this Crusader shine.
Arcturas posted:
A refit to the venerable, but slow and short-ranged, Hunchback 4Gs found throughout Kurita Space, the Hunchback 4K seeks to take advantage of newly deployed Gauss Rifle technology. Draconis engineers have stripped the AC/20 and ammo from the 4G, as well as three tons worth of heat sinks (mechanics-wise, this leaves the mech with 10 heat dissipation/round). In lieu of the hefty AC/20, the 4K sports a paired Gauss Rifle and Medium Laser in the Hunchback's Right Torso, with three tons of Gauss ammo in the Left Torso, taking advantage of the Hunchback's cavernous interior torso space.
While by no means as quick as Draconis pilots prefer, the 4K is a welcome replacement for the 4G, as it can keep pace with an provide supporting fire for slower assault mechs like the Cyclops. The 4K's three medium lasers, and generous armor plating, enough sufficient short-range defense that the mech's designers didn't believe the 4K needed the Dervish, Trebuchet, or Dragon's mobility.
Hunchback HBK-4K
Mass: 50 tons
Cost: 3,488,875 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,364
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 200 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: 10 tons, Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Gauss Rifle (24 shots)
3 Medium Lasers
1 Small Laser
Heat Sinks: 10 single
PoptartsNinja's Thoughts:
Here’s a ‘Mech I was waiting for, but… dear lord, that ammo capacity! This is a real beauty of a hunchback: It can linger in the back-field and potshot at anything that sticks its head out.