Discussion: Mech Chassis

I'm surprised how heavy a lot of the mechs are that they produce

Included links to the Snow Raven and Outworld industry. They actually make quite a few mechs that we could work from

 

For the assault, I think we should build a frankenmech Merlin IIC, using parts from the Deimos and Omen and the Merlin chassis and whatever clan weapons are locally sourced, to get it near to the loadout the current Merlin has. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at it.

After reading the description, I think we should use the Stinger IIC for the scout, as it is a symbol of the merging. Maybe make a IIIC? Either way, 20 tonner Stinger based.

Shadow Hawk IIC 7 is built local and seems like a good medium. Stormcrow is built local, makes sense for the omni. We could do a Stormcrow II, make it actually feature jump jets.

 

Ugh. Dark Crow. So ugly. No arms.

 

haha, of course not. you guys are just building mechs faster than I can lay the ground work. there is a lot of info I just haven't been able post yet

Also, don't forget that almost ANY mech qualifies for use as a LancerMech. they are almost all custom tailored to the pilot's preference.

The Clan Snow Ravens you are familiar with are a far cry from what they have become 200 years later. Both Clan Snow Raven and the Outworld Alliance have always maintained a mech force, it was just smaller in number than their contemporaries. You are right that their focus was historically more on their navy. However, they are the ones who revolutionized Orbital Insertion and Drop Pod technology. As a result, their mech forces have become their "marines" that we know in modern terms today as an elite fighting force that can fight over land, air, and sea. It is the Raven Alliance that begins the production of what would be known as LancerMechs. Their exclusive use of Clan Tech is intentional. Their mech forces are still relatively small compared to most factions, but they are incredibly dangerous. The smaller size of the Raven Alliance and the strength of their navy allows them to strike almost anywhere efficiently and with dangerous force. This has been enough to discouraging their enemies from getting any expansionist ideas. The Raven's strength and influence has become roughly equivalent to that of Clan Wolf at the height of their power. Basically, you do not fuck with the Ravens.

see here for more info on the Ravens:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?threads/project-prometheus-teaser.6986/page-2#post-142272

Drop Pod tech:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?threads/project-prometheus-teaser.6986/page-2#post-142466

 

The Tassa Kay version is okay. I'd prefer to stick to a medium mech, myself. Leave the heavier end for the rare.

Horned Owl is good, but the Stinger IIC, or the Goshawk II even, has the benefit of being built in the Raven Alliance.

Edit: HMMM, Magnus makes me think. I think we should make all new versions for RA, since they are leading the charge as it were. Maybe a 20 ton scout. 50 ton Support. 70-75 ton Assault?

 

Remember that the Republic of the Sphere sits square in the middle of the Inner Sphere and during the long period of "Fortress Republic" all contact was cut off from the outside. The fractious nature of the Dark Ages and the resulting Reclamation War would have forced all factions to look domestically for supplies. Long supply chains were an impossibility with the main HPG network down. I like the Venom, but given the information you gave above, it is unlikely the Venom would have remained in favor compared to other more local designs like the Rokurokubi.

 

I'm picturing the Scout as something really light with a partial wing. The first test subject for the orbital drop and pickup. Speed most important, with an anti infantry focus. Hands for grabbing objectives. Drop in where the enemy isn't, destroy the flesh before they can react, and then scoot out of town and up into the sky before they knew what hit them.

Maybe a Stinger refinement. Pick up the speed (8/12?), add a wing. Give it an ER Small and 2 machine guns? MASC if there is room.

 

yeah, sorry it took me so long to establish that:

DroneMechs were first created and used by the Republic of the Sphere against the Inner Sphere Houses in the Reclamation War of 3160. The other Houses eventually perfected the technology after the war and that (combined with political changes) is what saw the decline of the traditional "Mechwarrior". I will address this more in the timeline later.

LancerMechs were first created and deployed by the Raven Alliance. DroneMechs were great for massive army engagements, but they were ineffective in small numbers for special operations. In fact, all the Clans were resistant to developing drone technology, but it was the Ravens that were the first to come up with a counter to the DroneMech. Standard Battlemechs were not sufficient since most were too slow and relied too heavily on DropShips for deployment. Thus, from this desire to create the perfect special forces unit, the LancerMech was born. Like the DroneMech before it, eventually the other factions caught on to the idea and began building their own versions.

Again, a lot of this will be explained in the timeline.

 

Sure thing

Also, sploosh. 8/12/10 may be too slow.

 

look to Dihm and Skwi for that. I would help, but I'm scrambling to get the timeline backstory and framework up so you guys don't have to keep re-doing your designs

 

I still love my trinity damnit

Just so we are clear:
RA regular mechs - clan tech, no omni
RA Lancer mechs - mix tech, omni

 

As appropriate, yes. Not required as far as I know

 

The Raven's field ONLY Clan Tech Omnimechs. These are used entirely for offensive operations. They have no need of standard Battlemechs or secondline mech forces as their large conventional armies and naval assets are more than enough to discourage all but the most suicidal attacker. Also, while all of the Clans were slow to adopt DroneMechs, by the time of our campaign, all have since begun using them in at least a defensive capacity (some more than others).

UPDATE: it is likely that the Raven's would retain a small number of standard battlemechs for training purposes, but these would be in such small numbers you are unlikely to encounter any.

correct. Targeting Computers only help direct firing weapons. a missile boat shouldn't be forced to use one. They are not "exclusive" to LancerMechs, but their use in the regular army would be extremely limited.. most likely reserved for officers and special teams. DroneMechs NEVER have them as their TC is essentially "hardwired" into their programing