Mech Commander Part #69 - BattleMech Shadow Cat

Part 69: BattleMech Shadow Cat

MechCommander Gold: BattleMech Update 22 – Shadow Cat

Mech Name:   Tons  Speed  Armor  Space  Loadout
Shadow Cat-A  45   27m/s   ???    29     2 cER Large Lasers, 2 cLarge Pulse Lasers, Sensor-Basic
Shadow Cat-J  45   27m/s   ???    29     2 cER Large Lasers, 2 cLarge Pulse Lasers, Sensor-Basic, 83m Jumpjets
Shadow Cat-W  45   27m/s   ???   36.5    cER Large Laser, 3 cLarge Pulse Lasers, Sensor-Basic

Bearing little resemblance to it's BattleTech version, the MechCommander Shadow Cat represents such an improbable outbreak of common sense in the Clans that I find it hard to believe that they designed it at all. Mounting an array of pure energy weapons and high speed, the Shadow Cat can fight all day without respite or resupply, something that will serve it well on the front lines of the Inner Sphere, or here on Cermak where supplies can be short in coming.

However, the design is badly under-sinked, meaning that any Clan MechWarrior has more to worry about with killing himself on an Alpha Strike than the enemy. But any one who can keep the Heat management under control will make this BattleMech a force to be reckoned with.

The -A is a very solid design with good speed and high armor to protect the BattleMech from harm. A cunning MechWarrior can use the ER Large Lasers at extreme range to whittle at the enemy, then move to constantly running and firing the Pulse Lasers as the enemy gets to within their own weapon ranges.

Shadow Cat-A 

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 8,211,350 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,057

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 270 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  Large Pulse Lasers
    2  ER Large Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             270                       7.50
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 0 
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             11(22)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 153                  8.00
    Armor Locations: 1 CT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL

                                                      Internal       Armor      
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           21        
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  7         
                                           L/R Torso     11           17        
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  5         
                                             L/R Arm     7            14        
                                             L/R Leg     11           22        

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               RA        12        1         4.00
Large Pulse Laser                            RA        10        2         6.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
Large Pulse Laser                            LA        10        2         6.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 23

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

Adding Jumpjets to the -J just makes things even more unfair for anyone trying to fight the ultimate expression of 'hit and run' in MechCommander. However, colossal heat buildup only means that the 'Mech cannot express itself to its fullest without favorable terrain.

Shadow Cat-J 

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 8,594,150 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,241

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 270 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  Large Pulse Lasers
    2  ER Large Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 3 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             270                       7.50
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 6 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL                                   3.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             11(22)                    1.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV -  96                  5.00
    Armor Locations: 1 LT, 4 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA

                                                      Internal       Armor      
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           13        
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  4         
                                           L/R Torso     11           13        
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  3         
                                             L/R Arm     7            8         
                                             L/R Leg     11           11        

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               RA        12        1         4.00
Large Pulse Laser                            RA        10        2         6.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
Large Pulse Laser                            LA        10        2         6.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 17

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 22
6j         3       3       3       0      2     2   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SOA

The -W trades in an ER Large Laser for a third Large Pulse Laser. A 12th Double Heat sink isn't enough to offset the still massive effects of firing all these weapons.

Shadow Cat-W 

Mass: 45 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 8,096,800 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,897

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 270 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    3  Large Pulse Lasers
    1  ER Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    75 points                2.50
    Internal Locations: 3 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             270                       7.50
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 0 
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             12(24)                    2.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV -  96                  5.00
    Armor Locations: 5 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA

                                                      Internal       Armor      
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     14           13        
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  4         
                                           L/R Torso     11           13        
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  3         
                                             L/R Arm     7            8         
                                             L/R Leg     11           11        

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Large Pulse Lasers                         RA        20        4        12.00
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        1         4.00
Large Pulse Laser                            LA        10        2         6.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 20

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 19
6          3       3       3       0      2     2   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SOA

The Let's Play Archive

Mech Commander

by berryjon

Part 69: BattleMech Shadow Cat