TDR-5MOC, the (very) Poor Man's Assault 'Mech

[ANS Kamas P81]

Thunderbolt TDR-5MOC

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-E-D-A
Production Year: 2505
Cost: 4,604,160 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,363

Chassis: Earthwerks TDR Standard
Power Plant: Magna 195 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Ryerson 150 Standard Armor
Armament:
    1 Parti-Kill Heavy Cannon PPC
    1 Delta Dart Long Range Missile 15 Rack LRM-15
    1 SureShot Mk VI SRM-6
    3 Diverse Optics Type 18 Medium Lasers
    3 Voelkers 200 Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Earthwerks Incorporated
    Primary Factory: Keystone
Communications System: Neil 8000
Targeting and Tracking System: RCA Instatrac Mark X

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     104 points                6.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                195                       8.00
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             17                        7.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               2.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 208                 13.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     21           30       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  11       
                                           L/R Torso     15           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     10           20       
                                             L/R Leg     15           29       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPC                                          RA        10        3         7.00
2 Machine Guns                               LA        0         2         1.00
LRM-15                                       RT        5         3         7.00
SRM-6                                        RT        4         2         3.00
3 Medium Lasers                              LT        9         3         3.00
Machine Gun                                  HD        0         1         0.50
@MG (200)                                    LA        -         1         1.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                  RT        -         1         1.00
@LRM-15 (16)                                 CT        -         2         2.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 19

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 14
3          3       3       2       0      3     2   Structure:  5
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1

The Magistracy makes Manticore tanks, so they've got access to PPCs and SRM-6s. I kinda went with the idea of a blend of the stock version and the Steiner model, and here's what popped up. A Manticore's main gun and SRM rack replace the Thud's big laser and 2-pack, while it manages to keep the triple mediums and LRMs. Heat dissipation improved a little, with two heat sinks added.  The engine's a 195; I fluff it mentally as a damaged 200-class engine that was mostly rebuilt and downrated slightly so it'd fit in the previous engine's place. Slowed the whole thing down, but the engine was cheap - 200s are everywhere in 3025 (gotta love those 4/6 50tonners) so "modifying" one slightly into a 195 rated design made sense to me.

I had a half ton left over; thought about putting the last 3 points of armor on but decided some flair was in order, and put an extra machine-gun mount on the head. Something like how tank commanders get a gun by their hatch so they can sit around up there and watch. Have some backseater in the 'Mech be useful and shoot up things that are annoying, perhaps. It's more flavor than anything useful, but it's the Periphery.

It can run and throw the PPC and LRMs for neutral heat, or get a closer target for a pretty good mix of firepower.  I'm not sure how well it'd handle against a more maneuverable opponent; it outguns the Griffin at range, for example, and dramatically outguns the Wolverine up close, and has plenty more armor than both of those. It's not great, but it's the next best thing to nothing, but then again so is beating your enemy to death with a foot long frozen horse turd, especially out in the Periphery where real assault 'Mechs are rarer than good pop music. Jump Jets would be nice, but then I'd give up my heat sinks, and probably some armor as well. Maybe I should.  Thoughts?

[Daryk]

Yes to jump jets... drop the third MG and a half ton of ammo along with the two extra heat sinks, and I think it works beautifully.

[Giovanni Blasini]

I like jump jets, but not at the expense of armor. I could see dumping the machine guns, letting another 'Mech handle antipersonnel work as an escort 'Mech, such as a 20-tonner.

[Sabelkatten]

I'd drop the 3rd MG and half the MG ammo for a 4th ML. Makes it an almost perfect bracket firer.

[Getz]

I actually think this is a jolly good idea, although I too would have sprung for the jump jets somehow.  The nice thing about 3/5 65 tonners is the the two ton gyro, which saves you a bit of weigh and a lot of money.  Personally I'd have maxed the armour, inefficient though it is - if you're going to try and roll with the big boys you need all the protection you can get.

Far be it from me that to plug my own stuff, but for a more advanced take on a similar theme, why not take a gander at this?
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=45362.msg1044672#msg1044672

[Decoy]

It looks like people found the 'mech breeding rules that were put on a previous iteration of the forum. I'd take one of the machine guns and a half ton of ammo and put in a flamer. That way you're carrying both the armament of a TDR-5S and a TDR-5SS.

[ANS Kamas P81]

It looks like people found the 'mech breeding rules that were put on a previous iteration of the forum. I'd take one of the machine guns and a half ton of ammo and put in a flamer. That way you're carrying both the armament of a TDR-5S and a TDR-5SS.

Never saw those.  Though, the flamer idea, that's inventive.  I like that.

[Giovanni Blasini]

That is a pretty awesome idea.

[Major Headcase]

Could i ask what program is being used to make these mechs that are posted here? Ive designed a few but the format of the TRO sheet generated wont post here... 😔 sorry to ask off topic question but i searched posts here and couldnt find the info and this is the most recent active thread.

[Daryk]

I use Solaris Skunk Works (SSW) myself.  It doesn't have all the latest equipment, but that's not a problem for me.  It has an option to "export to the clipboard" in the file menu, and then I paste that into code tags here on the board (the "#" button above the text box for posting).  The code tags put your text into a monospace font so columns and such look right.

[Major Headcase]

I use Solaris Skunk Works (SSW) myself.  It doesn't have all the latest equipment, but that's not a problem for me.  It has an option to "export to the clipboard" in the file menu, and then I paste that into code tags here on the board (the "#" button above the text box for posting).  The code tags put your text into a monospace font so columns and such look right.

Thanks! I'll find Skunkworks and try it out! 😁

[Snimm]

You could also try MegMekLab.

[ANS Kamas P81]

Solaris Skunk Werks here too.

[Liam's Ghost]

You could also try MegMekLab.

It's more up to date and regularly updated, but has a steeper learning curve, and the text output tends to lack detail and needs hand editing to be complete.

That said, Megameklab is what I primarily use. You can print-to-pdf record sheets and they turn out as smaller files than they would using SSW, small enough (in the case of mechs) that you can attach a pdf copy of the record sheet to your posts here. MegamekLab can also handle vehicles, battle armor, aerofighters, and conventional infantry.

[Sharpnel]

You could also try MegMekLab.

I wish I could. I can't get an Megamek progs to run on my comp.