'Mech of the Week: SPR-XX Spector

[Demon55]

The SPR-XX Spector

The Spector is a thirty five ton battlemech that is according to the fluff based on the Exterminator and they share the same mission occupation specialty.  That MOS was to hunt and kill lighter enemy command mechs.  The first Spector came off the assembly line in 2639 and several hundred were constructed and they were all believed to be lost with the end of the Star League.  The Spector was reintroduced in 3053. 
The Spector is produced by Norse-Storm Battlemechs Incorporated which is the producer of the Maelstrom, Nightstar, Devastator and the Thunder Hawk.  This makes the Spector the runt of the liter, but small does not mean low quality. 

Equipment:

All Spector chassis are made with the Norse XT-Light Type AE Endo-Steel internals.  All variants of the Spector have 11 double heat sinks which over-sinks the 5F variant and the 5S variant, but not the ST which can Alpha Strike and not overheat if it does not run or jump. 
The Spector also carries the Norse Guardian ECM suite mounted in its right torso.  The ECM allows it to disrupt enemy electronic systems.  NARC missile beacons can be rendered useless by the ECM.  Active probes are not going to help against a Spector or other ECM equipped mech.  Fire control systems like Artemis IV will be ineffective against ECM.  Also the Spector’s ECM allows the Spector to cut off a C3 unit from its network. 
Tactical Operations adds two capabilities to the ECM suite.  One is defeating other ECM units and the other is the ability to generate ghost targets. 
The 5S and ST variants of the Spector mount stealth armor which requires the ECM to be used.  The Stealth Armor provides the same amount of protection that is provided by standard armor.  The Stealth Armor takes up two critical slots in each arm, leg and side torsos.
 The downside of Stealth Armor is that it builds up ten points of heat each turn.  These ten points of heat are built up for every turn that it is active.  So the mech not only has to deal with heat build up from movement, jump jetting and weapons fire, but also from the Stealth Armor. 
The advantage of Stealth Armor is that is adds to the hit penalties.  Stealth armor adds a +1 to hit at medium range and a +2 to hit at long range.  There is no to hit modifier in a weapon’s close range bracket.  Also when the Stealth Armor is active the battlemech using it cannot be a secondary target so long as the Stealth Armor is active. 

Users:
The Spector started out life as a Star League mech.  In modern times it is used by the Lyran Alliance, Federated Suns and Mercenaries.

Movement:
The Spector’s Magna 245 XL engine gives it a movement curve of 7/11/7 which allows it to rapidly cover terrain and to clear obstacles.  The seven jump jets are produced by HildCo. 

Armor:

The Spector is protected by 7.50 tons of Starshield Light standard armor.  This is 119/119 points of armor so the Spector has maximum armor protection for its weight class. 
The head has the full 9 points of armor.  The front center torso has 17 points of armor and the rear center torso has 5 points.  The front right and left torsos are protected by 12 points of armor.  The rear right and left torsos are protected by 4 points of armor.  The arms are covered by 12 points of armor just likes the side torsos.  Each leg has 16 points of armor. 

Variants:

SPR-5F:

The Spector is armed with a Nightwind large laser in its right arm which allows it to hit targets four hundred and fifty meters out.  The large laser is backed up with two Defiance B3M medium lasers which are both in the left arm.  It also carries a small laser which is mounted in the head.  The 5F variant of the Spector is the only version to not carry stealth armor. 

SPR-5S:

The creation of this variant was demanded by Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion.  Norse-Storm entered negotiations with Shengli Arms to purchase stealth armor for this particular light mech.  This variant of the Spector retains the large laser in the right arm as well as the head mounted small laser.  A medium pulse laser is mounted in the left arm.  The 5S mounts stealth armor in the left leg.

SPR-ST:

The armament of this variant is an extended ranged large laser mounted in the right arm along with two extended ranged medium lasers mounted in the left.  The ST variant also mounts stealth armor in the left leg.  Other additions to this variant are a Targeting Computer in the left torso.  Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuitry is mounted in the right torso. 

[Scotty]

I'm running with this little guy in a campaign at the moment, and I must say I like it.  The 5T isn't oversinked; it's perfect.  Heat neutral exactly on a jumping alpha is just what the doctor ordered for a small, fast harrasser.  If you're playing him right, this guy doesn't do enough damage to warrant being an important target, but he's useful enough to tip that battle with his pinpricks and mobile ECM bubble.  If he were more deadly, he'd be a target.  If he were slower, he'd be a target.  If he were more lightly armored, he'd be a target.  Fortunately, he's none of the above.

My only gripe is the range.  A 15 hex main gun just doesn't cut it in the post-Clan Invasion battlefield.  If I had my way, I'd swap the standard Large Laser for an ER variant.  Keeps the heat low enough to be workable (+4 on a jumping alpha), but adds some much needed range to the main gun.  Total energy weapon loadout means it's A) completely ammo independent for those long-term campaigns and B) invulnerable to ammo explosions.  Sure, the XL engine makes him less survivable than otherwise, but the gain in speed and weaponry is well worth it, in this case.

My rating: 8/10

[Demon55]

I have often used a pair to escort a pair of Spiders or Venoms.  They are easy to get attached to, well until you have to pay for a new one.

[worktroll]

At 7/11/7, is it worth considering pulling the LL (or ERLL) for a snubbie or LPL? Yes, there's an extra ton to pay for, but would turning it into a pocket Wraith be a viable alternative, particularly with the ECM present?

W.

[Kojak]

The Spector is one of the handful of IS2 light 'Mechs that I think is still worth taking on the modern battlefield.

[Scotty]

At 7/11/7, is it worth considering pulling the LL (or ERLL) for a snubbie or LPL? Yes, there's an extra ton to pay for, but would turning it into a pocket Wraith be a viable alternative, particularly with the ECM present?

W.

Personally, I wouldn't.  As it is, my biggest dislike about this 'Mech is how little range it has.  Both snubbie and LPL would cut that still further.  The extra ton has to come from somewhere that can't really spare it, too.  Taking armor suddenly makes this guy uncomfortably vulnerable to single gauss shots to the CT, ten point hits to the side torsos, and gauss shots to the legs.  Taking heat sinks while adding high heat weapons doesn't hurt as bad, but it will cut down on overall firepower brought to bear on an average turn, which was the whole point of the trade.  Taking it from the engine (ha, as if) slows it unacceptably and makes it a more enticing target.

[Nodachi]

It's a good mech and the speed profile is very nice. I normally run the NPC that uses one in the game I am in and it is also nice that he has nat/app gunnery. }:) With a good pilot and backup, this mech can perform well when lighter mechs gang up on a heavier mech.

[wantec]

At 7/11/7, is it worth considering pulling the LL (or ERLL) for a snubbie or LPL? Yes, there's an extra ton to pay for, but would turning it into a pocket Wraith be a viable alternative, particularly with the ECM present?

W.

In my mind, hells yes on the Snubbie, 50/50 on the LPL (I'd probably go for a PPC/ERPPC at that tonnage). On the -5F, to get the Snubbie all you have to do is drop the SL and shave some armor off (which could be replaced by going to Light Ferro). To get the 7 ton weapon you have to drop the ECM and the SL, in which case it'd probably be better to keep the LL and just add 2 more MLs.


And you forgot the -4F variant from RS3058Uu. It drops the Endo-Steel chassis, the SL, and one DHS, but it gains Chameleon LPS and Null-Sig. The only problem is now you generate 16 heat just running the two camo systems. If you need to jump, fire weapons, or cool off, you've got to shut one of those two systems down, otherwise you'll just build up heat. This Mech seems more like most cloaking devices from Star Trek, use them to sneak into place or to run away and hide, but when it comes time to fight, you just gotta drop it.

[Martius]

This Mech seems more like most cloaking devices from Star Trek, use them to sneak into place or to run away and hide, but when it comes time to fight, you just gotta drop it.

Which is true for most stealth designs but fire support units. There is no benefit from SA  in close combat anyway.

OT:

The Spector is one of the best light Mechs, all of its incarnations have ther uses. It performs well as a Harasser but also to hunt down other fast units.

[A. Lurker]

Which is true for most stealth designs but fire support units. There is no benefit from SA  in close combat anyway.

Well...not in single combat, anyway. Once your opponent has buddies who might also draw a bead on you in the vicinity, mind, things may no longer be so clear-cut.

[Martius]

Medium range is still +2 and long range +4, even with stealth armor shut off. Thats good enough for me.  ;)

I prefer offense to defense in most cases and so I tend to use the heatsink capacity I get from shutting off the SA to fire more weapons- but YYMV of course.  :)

[Scotty]

In my mind, the Spector is that perfect balance of good on the field and not munched out that makes it legitimately fun to use no matter what kind of battle you're playing.

[Kotetsu]

Isn't there a variant walking around with the original Null Sig on it? I seem to recall one...

[Wrangler]

Isn't there a variant walking around with the original Null Sig on it? I seem to recall one...

Yes, there is a SLDF variant that has the Null Sig, the 4F.  Its only given stats in the Record Sheets for the Upgrade, but barely mentions it in TRO:3058 Upgrade.

[Dark_Falcon]

Yes, there is a SLDF variant that has the Null Sig, the 4F.  Its only given stats in the Record Sheets for the Upgrade, but barely mentions it in TRO:3058 Upgrade.

It also has the Chameleon LPS.  With both systems engaged, its damn near impossible to hit.  If it runs for a +4 to-hit mod with both stealth systems engaged, even Natasha Kerensky couldn't hit it at range.

[jymset]

Interesting thing about the -4F: it basically is the first-ever canon Spector, straight out of the pages of the Big Mac's Source/Scenario Book. Only, the old book does not explicitly feature the (weightless) electronic systems.

[gyedid]

Is there now an official experimental-tech version that features both the null-sig system and the Chameleon LPS?
Crit-wise, is it actually possible to mount both systems on the Spector?

And did the Spector's fluff also ever suggest it had reflective armour?

cheers,

Gabe

[jymset]

Well, as stated above, the -4F Star League Spector does have both Null-Sig and Chameleon. It lacks Endo Steel, 1 DHS and the SL of the -5F, which creates a whole lotta room.

Nothing that I'm aware of for Reflec Armour, but I'm pretty sure I know where you got that idea from. Check out the "Oolytic" in Fanjoy's heavy 'Mech section.

[Sharpnel]

For me the Spector is a member of the Triumviruate of Light Mechs, along with the Osiris and Talon. They are the kings of the hill.

[gyedid]

Well, as stated above, the -4F Star League Spector does have both Null-Sig and Chameleon. It lacks Endo Steel, 1 DHS and the SL of the -5F, which creates a whole lotta room.

Nothing that I'm aware of for Reflec Armour, but I'm pretty sure I know where you got that idea from. Check out the "Oolytic" in Fanjoy's heavy 'Mech section.

Well no, I was going on the impression that the Spector was supposed to be the Exterminator's little brother, and a fully-kitted Exterminator should feature all 3 of those high-tech systems.

cheers,

Gabe

[Iron Mongoose]

While the Spector is closely linked with the Exterminator, and the Exterminator does mention some armor reflectivity in its fluff (though in a somewhat difrent way than normal reflective armor, since the fluff long predates that tech as we know it now), the Spector never claims to have that bit of gear itself.  Just the other two.

That said, I use the 3058 veriant quite a lot, and to quite good effect.  I'm in the camp that wouldn't mind an ER laser for the large, so that you could chouse to jump around at range and snipe, but even as is it can do a meaningful bit of harm and take little enough return fire in the process.

I've tried the SL veriant, and its really the sort of mech that all the old talk about how awesome the SLDF was makes you think they should have.  Its really very good, heat or no heat.

[TigerShark]

The SPR-4F is without a doubt one of my favorite units in the game. :)

[Kit deSummersville]

Movement:
The Spector’s Magna 245 XL engine gives it a movement curve of 7/11/7 which allows it to rapidly cover terrain and to clear obstacles.  The seven jump jets are produced by HildCo. 

The ST lacks the jump jets in order fit in all the goodies.

SPR-5S:

The creation of this variant was demanded by Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion.  Norse-Storm entered negotiations with Shengli Arms to purchase stealth armor for this particular light mech.  This variant of the Spector retains the large laser in the right arm as well as the head mounted small laser.  A medium pulse laser is mounted in the left arm.  The 5S mounts stealth armor in the left leg.

...as does every other stealth armored 'Mech.

[Ian Sharpe]

I don't often use Inner Sphere light mechs, but when I do, I prefer the Spector.  Stay jumpy, my friends.

[Demon55]

I don't often use Inner Sphere light mechs, but when I do, I prefer the Spector.  Stay jumpy, my friends.

They are a might bit useful aren't they.

[Kit deSummersville]

Even the non-jumpy one is good. With the TC and stealth, I kept running around, plinking GWA in a game. It took forever, but I finally brought down that Crusader he was using.