Cave Bear (re-work)

[marauder648]

By equipping front line Mech’s like the Karhu with a melee weapon, the Dominion was officially catering to the Spheroid members of its Tourman.  The Kungsarmee had a history of embracing melee combat and designs like the Karhu were seen as an official sanction of this heritage.  Whilst Clan pilots preferred the longer ranged Karhu A, the Prime was almost always the ‘ride’ of a Freeborn. 

Sensing an opportunity, the designers at Alshain Weapons sought to design a heavy assault and command unit for the predominatly Spheroid Clusters of Omega Galaxy and its associated formations.  This in turn would mean that the Kodiak and Kodiak II could in turn be given to the Trueborn Warriors to keep them happy. 

The design was just reaching a prototype phase and awaiting approval when the Khan was killed by unknown attackers along with many of the Bloodnamed.  During the period of mourning there was a huge surge in production that slowed construction of the prototypes but five where complete and formed up for testing by the time the Liberation of Vega was launched.

The result was a 100-ton assault Mech based on the Kodiak chassis but intended for bruising close quarter action unlike the more recent Kodiak II. 

There were structural changes to the Mech and whilst it retained the same base skeleton as the Kodiak family as well as the huge 400 rated XL-engine the design was still renamed so not to offend Trueborn Warriors and instead would be designated as the Cave Bear after a long extinct Terran bear species. 

Similar to the standard Kodiak the Cave Bear uses a mixture of medium lasers supported by an ER PPC as its long-range weapon.  A heavy bore LB-20 autocannon fed by a somewhat limited 2 tons of ammunition provides heavy firepower at shorter ranges but firepower is not the Mech’s primary strength.
The Mech's real purpose and strength comes when it at point blank range, where it can bring its massive claws to bare on a target, and when affected by the TSM a single hit could devastate all but the sturdiest of Mech's and two would almost guarentee its destruction.

Clan Warriors and Officers aware of the programme decried it as a waste of resources and that facilities used to create it should be put to better use, but the Scientists and Engineers argued from a point of Rasalhague nationalism, which would be at a peak following the apparent assassination of their popular Khan and Prince. 
Under the stipulation that the Mech’s future depended on its performance in the coming offensive, and that it would only be issued to Freeborn Commanders who would recognise the respect and honour they were being granted by being allowed to command a Mech that was blatantly a totem, the five were deployed with Omega Galaxy prior to Operation MONSTER.

Code: [Select]

Cave Bear

Mass: 100 tons
Tech Base: Mixed
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: X/X-X-X-A
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 39,585,733 C-Bills
Battle Value: 3,333

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h (54.0 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h (108.0 km/h)
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  (CL) ER PPC
    1  (CL) LB 20-X AC
    4  (CL) ER Medium Lasers
    2  Clawss
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   152 points                5.00
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 2 LT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Engine:             XL Engine                    400                      26.50
    Walking MP: 4 (5)
    Running MP: 6 (10)
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         (CL) Double Heat Sink        12(24)                    2.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
    TSM Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 295                 18.50
    CASE Locations: LT, RT                                                 0.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            0         
                                        Center Torso     31           46       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  15       
                                           L/R Torso     21           32       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     17           33       
                                             L/R Leg     21           42       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supercharger                                 CT        -         1         3.00
(CL) LB 20-X AC                              RT        6         9        12.00
(CL) ER PPC                                  LT        15        2         6.00
4 (CL) ER Medium Lasers                      LT        20        4         4.00
Claws                                        RA        -         7         7.00
Claws                                        LA        -         7         7.00
@LB 20-X (Slug) (5)                          RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (5)                       LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 0

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:     10    Points: 33
5          4       4       1       0      4     2   Structure:  5
Special Abilities: TSM, MEL, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, FLK 1/1/0


So this is a 100 tonner, who can run at 10, and if he gets into melee and TSM is working, will slap you for 30 points.  Twice.



Art by the AMAZING Matt Plog.

And ya just know this thing would have some big ass speakers on it to broadcast noises like this

https://soundcloud.com/mechwarrior/warhorn-clan-bear

[Sigmarr]

This is an amazing machine. I love the concept and the artwork!

[packhntr]

This would make a Berserker think twice...

[marauder648]

I combied three things that the Dominion seems to like, speed, size and for Spheroids, melee capabilities.  Sure firepower is light for a machine its size and its pretty specialized as its whole life revolves around getting into punching range where it can deliver possibly two 30 point slaps or a single 40 point leg snapping kick. 

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Again amazing art... a nice alternative to a Kodiak

[Requiemking]

Damn, now I want one. Although, I would probably swap out the LB20 for another PPC and more Mediums.

[marauder648]

I was tempted to add a heavy laser instead of the LB-20, but the Kodi almost always has a heavy bore autocannon and it just feels right to retain it.  An ultra would be more effective but the LB-20's really there to fill any holes made by the 30 point pimp slaps this thing can provide, or weaken a foe so that when a punch does land it WILL rip an arm off or cave in a torso. 

[Dragon Cat]

I like it but I'd have dropped the LB-20XAC and replaced it with a 10-X, an ECM suite and Laser AMS the ECM and Laser AMS help the BattleMech close on target even if it is a 100 ton BattleMech running at 108kph!!

[marauder648]

I like it but I'd have dropped the LB-20XAC and replaced it with a 10-X, an ECM suite and Laser AMS the ECM and Laser AMS help the BattleMech close on target even if it is a 100 ton BattleMech running at 108kph!!

Code: [Select]

Kodiak II (Standard)
 Mixed (Base IS)
100 tons 
BV: 3,369
Cost: 40,759,833 C-bills

Movement: 4/6(8)
Engine: 400 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 152 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 304/307
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               31       46
Center Torso (rear)                 15
Right Torso                21       32
Right Torso (rear)                  10
Left Torso                 21       32
Left Torso (rear)                   10
Right Arm                  17       33
Left Arm                   17       33
Right Leg                  21       42
Left Leg                   21       42

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC (Clan)               RT     2
ER PPC (Clan)                   LT    15
ER Medium Laser (Clan)          LT     5
ER Medium Laser (Clan)          LT     5
ER Medium Laser (Clan)          LT     5
ER Medium Laser (Clan)          LT     5
Laser AMS (Clan)                RT     5
ER Small Laser (Clan)           HD     2

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC Ammo                 RT    10
LB 10-X Cluster Ammo            RT    10

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Claw (Clan)                     LA
Claw (Clan)                     RA
Supercharger (Clan)             LT
Angel ECM Suite (Clan)          CT
Standard                       None
TSM                             RA
TSM                             LA
TSM                             RL
TSM                             LL
TSM                             LL
TSM                             RL



There ya go LAMS and an Angel ECM to really ruin someone's electronic day :p

[Hptm. Streiger]

Do you think that the TSM is a good option. A single hit of a "common" Plasma Rifle and your speed is gone, not to mention that you can't shoot as accurate as before.

And don't forget from 9 its a small step to the first test for shut down or even an ammo explosion.
So it might be a good option either to "loose" your explosive ammo or the TSM.

I always loved the combination of deadly physical attacks and extreme range weapons (with minimum range) - so what about a GaussRifle instead of the LB20X?

[Firesprocket]

Do you think that the TSM is a good option. A single hit of a "common" Plasma Rifle and your speed is gone, not to mention that you can't shoot as accurate as before.

And don't forget from 9 its a small step to the first test for shut down or even an ammo explosion.
So it might be a good option either to "loose" your explosive ammo or the TSM.

I always loved the combination of deadly physical attacks and extreme range weapons (with minimum range) - so what about a GaussRifle instead of the LB20X?

Shouldn't be a huge issue unless it gets freight trained by a dedicated force running plasma.  The first ammo explosion isn't until +19.  The first shut down is at +14.  -3 MP isn't until +15.  At the range a plasma cannon is effective he has a ER PPC which at a run will generate 17 heat total.  At the same ranges a plasma rifle he has 4 ER Medium's to mix it up.  At most he should hit 32 heat a turn assuming his opponent get full heat effects on this thing.  A Gauss Rilfe, while helping when closing range, would be a waste once it closes in to knife fighting range.

[marauder648]

Shouldn't be a huge issue unless it gets freight trained by a dedicated force running plasma.  The first ammo explosion isn't until +19.  The first shut down is at +14.  -3 MP isn't until +15.  At the range a plasma cannon is effective he has a ER PPC which at a run will generate 17 heat total.  At the same ranges a plasma rifle he has 4 ER Medium's to mix it up.  At most he should hit 32 heat a turn assuming his opponent get full heat effects on this thing. A Gauss Rilfe, while helping when closing range, would be a waste once it closes in to knife fighting range.

Bolded for emphasis. Indeed, the whole point of the Cave Bear is to throw itself across the battlefield hooting, gibbering and flailing before getting into melee to apply pimp slaps to hostiles.  The guns are there to soften up and activate the TSM, and there's a nice big autocannon to punch holes or fill them with buckshot.