Challenge: Dirty 'Mechs Built Dirt Cheap

[Syzyx]

So here's the thing, in my current MechWarrior campaign one of the players had the idea to throw her share of the company's latest windfall into research about potential 'mech factories on near-forgotten worlds in the FedSuns Outback and the Periphery between the Taurians and Outworlds Alliance. C-Bills were poured into the coffers of ComStar, mercenary spies, area jumpship captains, tramp traders, local police offices, even the itinerant barflies. The goal being to find somewhere she can sucker the company into conquering for her to fulfill her desire to claim a real noble title for herself.

Given the amount of cash and well thought out spread of information sources she declared she was using I decided to heap upon her the inevitable deluge of red herrings and dead-ends but I also want to have a genuine nugget in the pile of slag. Sort of. And that is where this challenge comes in.

Goal: Build a combat capable BattleMech platform for one million or less C-Bills (Note: it has to be capable of a fight, not good at it)

Rules: Pretty much anything goes so long as the final C-Bill price of the 'mech is not above one million. Primitive tech, introtech, weirdly cheap advanced platforms, obscure rules (yes, Daryk, fractional accounting is perfectly acceptable ), whatever you can find to keep the price tag down while still putting forward something that can put up even a mediocre fight.

In the end I am hoping to let the players find a 'mech factory that has been jury-rigged into producing one or more of these oh-so-glorious designs. But, in fairness, the campaign is set in the LosTech era so any battlemech factory is a giant asset to whoever the character pledges fealty to.

[Andras]

That will be tough, a 3025 20t mech moving only 4/6 will be 963,200 with out weapons.

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Code: [Select]

Ebenezer Militiamech (Standard)

Mass: 15 tons
Chassis: Standard Biped
Power Plant: 45 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 43.2 kph
Jump Jets: Standard
     Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Hardened
Armament:
     1 ER Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3085
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-F-E
Cost: 998,085 C-bills

Type: Ebenezer Militiamech
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Tonnage: 15
Battle Value: 406

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  1.5
Engine                        45 Fusion               1
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 4
Jumping MP: 3
Heat Sink                     10                      0
Gyro                                                  1
Cockpit                                               3
Armor Factor (Hardened)       44                    5.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Head                    3         5     
     Center Torso            5         8     
     Center Torso (rear)               1     
     R/L Torso               4         7     
     R/L Torso (rear)                  1     
     R/L Arm                 2         1     
     R/L Leg                 3         6     


Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand

Weapons
and Ammo              Location  Critical   Heat    Tonnage
Heat Sink                LL        1        -       1.0   
Jump Jet                 LL        1        -       0.5   
Heat Sink                CT        1        -       1.0   
Jump Jet                 CT        1        -       0.5   
3 Heat Sink              RT        3        -       3.0   
Cargo (0.5 tons)         RT        1        -       0.5   
3 Heat Sink              LT        3        -       3.0   
Heat Sink                RL        1        -       1.0   
Jump Jet                 RL        1        -       0.5   
ER Medium Laser          HD        1        5       1.0   


Only a million is too tough. Can't we get the stock price of an Urbanmech R60?

[Daryk]

My "Budget Wasp" was close... I'll see if dropping it down to 5/8/5 will get it under in a few minutes... 

Overall, this sounds like an alternate telling of how the Watchman came to be... 

[Andras]

Code: [Select]

Battlepod BP-001

Mass: 15 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3070
Cost: 982,675 C-Bills
Battle Value: 428

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 90 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    2  Medium Lasers
    4  Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      26 points                1.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                 90                       3.00
    Walking MP: 6
    Running MP: 9
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 HD, 1 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Small                                                  2.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  54                  3.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            8         
                                        Center Torso     5            8         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     4            6         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     2            4         
                                             L/R Leg     3            6         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                                 RA        3         1         1.00
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
Small Laser                                  RT        1         1         0.50
Small Laser                                  LT        1         1         0.50
2 Small Lasers                               CT        2         2         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 39

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


eta-
Now with the Macross missile massacre

Code: [Select]

Battlepod BP-RL

Mass: 15 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3070
Cost: 994,175 C-Bills
Battle Value: 436

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 60 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    11  Rocket Launcher 10s
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      26 points                1.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                 60                       1.50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 HD, 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Small                                                  2.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  55                  3.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     5            8         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     4            6         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     2            4         
                                             L/R Leg     3            6         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Rocket Launcher 10s                        RA        15        5         2.50
5 Rocket Launcher 10s                        LA        15        5         2.50
Rocket Launcher 10                           CT        3         1         0.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 33

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


you can drop off three RL10s and replace with 3 SmLas for 981kcb

[Daryk]

5/8/5 at 15 tons works with Commercial Armor!  Even better, it combines a Stinger with an ersatz Wasp (an RL-10 in the leg)...

Code: [Select]

Budget Bug

Mass: 15 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-E-X-X
Production Year: 3025
Dry Cost: 983,571 C-Bills
Total Cost: 983,776 C-Bills
Battle Value: 283

Construction Options: Fractional Accounting

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 75 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Unknown Commercial
Armament:
    1  Medium Laser
    1  Rocket Launcher 10 PP
    2  Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      26 points                1.500
Engine:             Fusion Engine                 75                       2.000
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   2.50
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.000
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.000
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.000
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Commercial (BAR: 5)          AV -  55                  2.293

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     5            8         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     4            6         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     2            4         
                                             L/R Leg     3            6         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                                 RA        3         1         1.000
Machine Gun                                  RA        0         1         0.500
Machine Gun                                  LA        0         1         0.500
Rocket Launcher 10 PP                        LL        3         1         0.500
@MG (1/2) (41)                               HD        -         1         0.205
                                            Free Critical Slots: 30

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

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Anyway it seems that it is impossible with 20 tonner and only 15 tons would be the possible answer....

[Andras]

Ok, here's a dumb idea at 20t. Fuel Cell engine, commercial armor, 4 SSRM2s.

Code: [Select]

Factory Defender Fd-SSRM2

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3070
Cost: 987,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 302

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 80 Fuel Cell Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Commercial
Armament:
    4  Streak SRM-2s
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    33 points                1.00
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 2 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             Fuel-Cell Engine              80                       3.00
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             4(8)                      3.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Small                                                  2.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Commercial (BAR: 5)          AV -  69                  3.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     6            9         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  3         
                                           L/R Torso     5            8         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     3            6         
                                             L/R Leg     4            8         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Streak SRM-2s                              RA        4         2         3.00
2 Streak SRM-2s                              LA        4         2         3.00
@Streak SRM-2 (50)                           HD        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 30

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



[Natasha Kerensky]

AFAIK, the Hornet -151 is the cheapest true battlemech in the canon at 1.2M C-bills.  There are several Hornet and Flea designs below 1.5M C-bills.  I would use one or two of those.

If you really have to push below 1M C-bills, there are security mechs like the Copper and Guard in that range, as well as the Patron militia mech/patrol mech, but no true battlemechs.  I would also use one or two of those.

[Daryk]

The real problem is jump jets... at the low end, you really need them for survival.

[Dakkath]

Well, I managed to get a medium laser, 3 RL10s, and 5/8/5 on a 20 ton industrialmech.

Code: [Select]

Skeeter SKT-4P

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped IndustrialMech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-X-D-D
Production Year: 3070
Dry Cost: 963,410 C-Bills
Total Cost: 963,410 C-Bills
Battle Value: 443

Chassis: Industrial
Power Plant:100 Fusion Engine
Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
    1  Medium Laser
    3  Rocket Launcher 10s

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Industrial                    33 points                4.00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                100                       3.00
    Walking MP: 5 (54 kph)
    Running MP: 8 (86.4 kph)
    Jumping MP: 5 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   2.50
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Industrial                                             3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  64                  4.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     6            9         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     5            8         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     3            5         
                                             L/R Leg     4            7         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocket Launcher 10                           RT        3         1         0.50
Rocket Launcher 10                           LT        3         1         0.50
Rocket Launcher 10                           CT        3         1         0.50
Medium Laser                                 HD        3         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 32

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 4
5j         1       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: SRCH

[Daryk]

Don't you have to install Fire Control for Industrials?

[Dakkath]

Don't you have to install Fire Control for Industrials?

Ah, right, that does bump it up over 1 million

[Daryk]

Thanks for confirming... I'm much less familiar with industrial designs. 

[Speedbump]

For comparison I decided to go down the primitive mech route. Using standard armour and weapons on the basis that they're common in 3025, but the underlying mechs are all primitive.

Option one:

Code: [Select]

Ranger RNG-3R

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Primitive)
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Era Specific
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-F-E-F
Production Year: 3025
Dry Cost: 977,440 C-Bills
Total Cost: 977,440 C-Bills
Battle Value: 424

Chassis: Unknown Primitive Structure
Power Plant: Unknown 100 Primitive Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Primitive Structure           33 points                2.00
Engine:             Primitive Fusion Engine      100                       3.00
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Primitive                                              5.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  64                  4.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     6            9         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     5            8         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     3            5         
                                             L/R Leg     4            7         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Laser                                  RA        8         2         5.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 39

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

Options 2:

Code: [Select]

Ranger RNG-4R

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Primitive)
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Era Specific
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-F-E-F
Production Year: 3025
Dry Cost: 998,140 C-Bills
Total Cost: 998,140 C-Bills
Battle Value: 399

Chassis: Unknown Primitive Structure
Power Plant: Unknown 100 Primitive Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Medium Laser
    3  Small Lasers
    1  Flamer
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Primitive Structure           33 points                2.00
Engine:             Primitive Fusion Engine      100                       3.00
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 3 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LL, 1 RL                                   1.50
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               1.00
Cockpit:            Primitive                                              5.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  64                  4.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     6            9         
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  2         
                                           L/R Torso     5            8         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  2         
                                             L/R Arm     3            5         
                                             L/R Leg     4            7         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Laser                                  HD        1         1         0.50
Small Laser                                  CT        1         1         0.50
Medium Laser                                 RA        3         1         1.00
Flamer                                       LA        3         1         1.00
Small Laser                                  LA        1         1         0.50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 33

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 4
4/2j       2       1       0       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


[Syzyx]

Thank you all for your efforts. I am particularly unfamiliar with primitive tech so in particular thanks to you, Speedbump. If there are any further ideas out there I'd love to see them.

[Prospernia]

One can take into account the planetary-conditions:  I read an article that a planet with like, 30% + Oxygen, you wouldn't need fuel as you can just use the oxygen to power your engine and well, couldn't one design vehicles and mechs that run off of an ICB-Engine that weighs half as much and just uses the air for fuel?  Or perhaps, methane in the case of world like Saturn's satellite, Titan?

And come to think of it, Titan's so cold you may not even need heat-sinks.

Battlepod BP-001

Palladium's Zentraedi books was one the first RPG books I got; Battlepods, were so abundant and cheap, every soldier was issued with one, regardless.

[NomadicChronicler]

Heh.
I actually do have something similar that I've been using in my mess of a campaign that has been dragging on for a while now.

The facility is called "Anthill" by my players.
It's a SL era installation that is able to produce the bare/stripped versions of various "Ant" class mechs; HarvesterAnt, CarpenterAnt, HaulerAnt, ScavengerAnt, ScoutAnt, GuardAnt, WarriorAnt and a few other one-off or specialized limited production runs.
In game-play terms, the facility is a semi-blackbox installation that can produce various HarvesterAnt and variant chassis that are about 80% complete, lacking the industrial equipment and final integration.
The factory also comes with standardized blueprints (but not the hardware) and ikea level guides to build various standardized equipment to produce the needed modules, allowing the factory owners to expand the factory with lower tech production workshops & facilities.

The basic facility allowed my players to set up trade routes to acquire various additional tools to equip their production whose sales in turn allowed acquiring advanced equipment like Leenex60 Fusion engines, certain standard cockpits, armour packages and so on to build the scout, militia & garrison mechs of the family. Oh, and since they didn't have the infrastructure or the know-how to build anything but MGs, Mortars and Bombs, the eclectic mix of a grabbag from trade & salvage rolls become much, much more important


I find that giving the players partial tools and letting them work and sweat for the thing, starting at a garage-workshop level and building it up themselves is a much satisfying option for everyone (IF the game/players have time for a long running game)



Addendum: I gave them Quads because the poor things are the last choice by default and I had already used a similar setup with a Trooper factory in a oneshot.

[Daryk]

Medium Lasers are the ultimate unlock in that scenario...