MotW Workshop: Spartan

[lucho]

Here's the place to post ideas on what to do with the Spartan.

Starting off, here's an idea for a succession war era downgrade. The biggest blow is the loss of that massive 400XL engine; without it, you end up with just another low-end assault. Even so, swapping the pulse lasers for a pair of Large Lasers and doubling the number of SRMs makes for a credible threat without becoming just a WalMart Battlemaster. It even carries a half-ton more armor.

Code: [Select]

Spartan SPT-NA
IS Introductory Box Set
80 tons 
BV: 1,557
Cost: 7,749,840 C-bills

Movement: 4/6
Engine: 320
Heat Sinks: 16
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 122
Armor: 232/247
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Head                        3        9
Center Torso               25       37
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       26
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       26
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       26
Left Arm                   13       26
Right Leg                  17       27
Left Leg                   17       27

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
PPC                             LT    10
Large Laser                     LA     8
Large Laser                     RA     8
SRM 4                           CT     3
SRM 4                           CT     3

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
SRM 4 Ammo                      RT    25



[lucho]

A post-Jihad upgrade  that riffs off of the ComStar/WoB -N3 model. This could be an upgrade to existing mechs, or new production. With an extralight gyro and heavy ferro-fibrous armor this model lacks the C3I electronics but compensates with more lasers and Streak missiles, as well as a capacitor for the PPC. The cherry on top is the Targeting Computer. The only disadvantage is that it mounts only the original thirteen heatsinks, so heat buildup can be a problem for reckless mechwarriors.

Code: [Select]

Spartan SPT-N4
IS advanced
80 tons 
BV: 2,084
Cost: 22,376,940 C-bills

Movement: 5/8/0
Engine: 400 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: XL Gyro

Internal: 122
Armor: 247/247 (Heavy Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Head                        3        9
Center Torso               25       38
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       26
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       26
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       26
Left Arm                   13       26
Right Leg                  17       34
Left Leg                   17       34

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser                 RA     5
ER Medium Laser                 RA     5
ER Medium Laser                 RA     5
ER Medium Laser                 RA     5
ER PPC                          LT    15
Streak SRM 4                    LT     3
Streak SRM 4                    RT     3
TAG                             HD     0

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Streak SRM 4 Ammo               RT    25
Streak SRM 4 Ammo               RT    25

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
PPC Capacitor                   LT
Targeting Computer [IS]         RT
CASE II                         RT



[Sabelkatten]

My take on an introtech downgrade. The laser placement may be somewhat less than optimal, but that's the way it goes... ::)

Very good heat management, good armor, decent firepower. I'd consider using this myself. :)

Code: [Select]

Spartan SPT-01

Mass: 80 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: 2750
Cost: 7 613 040 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 509

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 320 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  PPC
    1  Large Laser
    1  SRM-6
    2  Medium Lasers
    1  Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     122 points                8,00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                320                      22,50
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             19                        9,00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 1 RT, 1 RA, 1 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               4,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 232                 14,50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           35       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  12       
                                           L/R Torso     17           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     13           26       
                                             L/R Leg     17           28       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM-6                                        CT        4         2         3,00
Machine Gun                                  RT        0         1         0,50
PPC                                          LT        10        3         7,00
2 Medium Lasers                              RA        6         2         2,00
Large Laser                                  RA        8         2         5,00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              HD        -         1         0,50
@SRM-6 (15)                                  LL        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 28

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 15
4          3       3       1       0      4     1   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

[wesharrisb]

Post Jihad --> Dark Age production level model. Does away with the extra electronics, introduces extra firepower at short ranges, and extra firepower at long ranges. It also loses it's ER capabilities, but gains armor.

Code: [Select]

Spartan  SPT-N4

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 21,243,840 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,828

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous w/ CASE
Armament:
    1  Heavy PPC
    1  Streak SRM-6
    1  Medium X-Pulse Laser
    2  Medium VSPLs
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   122 points                4.00
    Internal Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT, 3 LA, 4 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             400                      26.50
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             13(26)                    3.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 241                 13.50
    Armor Locations: 1 HD, 2 LT, 2 RT, 3 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
    CASE Locations: 1 RT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           38       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  12       
                                           L/R Torso     17           25       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  9         
                                             L/R Arm     13           25       
                                             L/R Leg     17           32       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium VSPL                                  RA        7         2         4.00
Medium VSPL                                  LA        7         2         4.00
Streak SRM-6                                 RT        4         2         4.50
Heavy PPC                                    LT        15        4        10.00
Medium X-Pulse Laser                         CT        6         1         2.00
@Streak SRM-6 (15)                           RT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 0

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 18
5          4       4       2       0      4     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA



[Sabelkatten]

Now that I think about it, it's a 5/8 80-ton close combat mech with a free left hand...

Code: [Select]

Spartan SPT-AX

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3070
Cost: 22 726 140 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 906

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 400 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h (64,8 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h (97,2 km/h)
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  ER PPC
    2  ER Medium Lasers
    4  Medium Pulse Lasers
    1  Hatchet
    1  ER Small Laser
    1  Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   122 points                4,00
    Internal Locations: 5 LT, 5 RT, 4 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             400                      26,50
    Walking MP: 5 (6)
    Running MP: 8 (9)
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             14(28)                    4,00
Gyro:               Standard                                               4,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
    TSM Locations: 2 LA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 232                 14,50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           35       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  12       
                                           L/R Torso     17           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10       
                                             L/R Arm     13           26       
                                             L/R Leg     17           28       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Laser                                  HD        1         1         0,50
2 ER Medium Lasers                           CT        10        2         2,00
ER Small Laser                               RT        2         1         0,50
ER PPC                                       LT        15        3         7,00
4 Medium Pulse Lasers                        RA        16        4         8,00
Hatchet                                      LA        -         6         6,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 4

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 19
5          4       4       1       0      4     1   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: TSM, MEL, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
 >:D

[lucho]

It is odd that ComStar gave their clanbuster model Black Knight  a hatchet and the Spartan got left out  ???

[Black_Knyght]

A  3075 era experimental variant of the Spartan assault battlemech for thoughts, opinions, and constructive input.



==========

Spartan SPT-4N

Code: [Select]

Spartan SPT-4N
-------------------
Base Tech Level: Experimental (IS)
Level: 4  Era: FedCom Civil War
-------------------
Experimental  3075-3080
Advanced        3081+ 
Standard          -   
Tech Rating: E/X-X-E-D

Weight: 80 tons
BV: 1,839
Cost: 23,548,740 C-bills
Source: TRO - Black Knights

Movement: 5/8
Engine: 400 XL
Double Heat Sinks: 17 [34]
Gyro: Compact Gyro

Internal: 122 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 224/247 (Light Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal  Armor   
----------------------------------------
Head                        3      9   
Center Torso               25     31   
Center Torso (rear)               12   
Right Torso                17     26   
Right Torso (rear)                 8   
Left Torso                 17     26   
Left Torso (rear)                  8   
Right Arm                  13     26   
Left Arm                   13     26   
Right Leg                  17     26   
Left Leg                   17     26   

Weapons              Loc  Heat 
--------------------------------
ER PPC                LT   15   
MML 7                 CT    4   
ER Medium Laser       RA    5   
ER Medium Laser       RA    5   
ER Medium Laser       RA    5   
Anti-Missile System   RT    1 
 
Ammo                           Loc  Shots 
-------------------------------------------
MML 7 LRM Ammo                  RT     17 
MML 7 SRM Ammo                  RT     14 
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS]   RT     12
 
Equipment      Loc 
--------------------
PPC Capacitor   LT 
CASE            RT 
CASE            LT

[Ruger]

For an even more BattleMaster-style Spartan, I would keep the 400 XL, go with 12 DHS's, give it endo-steel, drop the MPL's for a trio of standard medium lasers in each arm, along with 2 machine guns in each arm. Drop a ton of AMS ammo for a half ton of machine gun ammo. Switch out the Streak-2's for standard SRM-4's (ton ammo each), and keep all ammo in the right torso with CASE. In the left torso, keep the ER PPC and TAG, but add a Guardian ECM Suite...Increase leg armor to give the 'Mech 232 pts of standard armor...

That means when you're up close, you have 6 medium lasers, 2 SRM-4's and 4 machine guns with only movement heat...

Ruger

[lucho]

For an even more BattleMaster-style Spartan, I would keep the 400 XL, go with 12 DHS's, give it endo-steel, drop the MPL's for a trio of standard medium lasers in each arm, along with 2 machine guns in each arm. Drop a ton of AMS ammo for a half ton of machine gun ammo. Switch out the Streak-2's for standard SRM-4's (ton ammo each), and keep all ammo in the right torso with CASE. In the left torso, keep the ER PPC and TAG, but add a Guardian ECM Suite...Increase leg armor to give the 'Mech 232 pts of standard armor...

That means when you're up close, you have 6 medium lasers, 2 SRM-4's and 4 machine guns with only movement heat...

Ruger

Interesting idea; it lacks the Spartan's accuracy but makes up for it with raw punch  :o

[Sabelkatten]

Slightly off topic, but it worked so well... So the story goes that one of the last Spartans was finally destroyed, but the warrior didn't want to let it go. So he paid for a damaged Ostsol to be rebuilt into a budget copy of the original - a spartan Spartan. ^-^

Code: [Select]

Spartan Spartan

Mass: 60 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: 2750
Cost: 5 111 360 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 371

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  PPC
    3  Medium Lasers
    1  SRM-4
    1  Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      99 points                6,00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                300                      19,00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             13                        3,00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 CT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 192                 12,00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     20           29       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10       
                                           L/R Torso     14           21       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7         
                                             L/R Arm     10           20       
                                             L/R Leg     14           24       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM-4                                        CT        3         1         2,00
Machine Gun                                  RT        0         1         0,50
PPC                                          LT        10        3         7,00
3 Medium Lasers                              RA        9         3         3,00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              HD        -         1         0,50
@SRM-4 (25)                                  LL        -         1         1,00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 36

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

[JadeHellbringer]

It is odd that ComStar gave their clanbuster model Black Knight  a hatchet and the Spartan got left out  ???

It may simply be a case of it being so rare that no unified standard variant was brewed up, and the few out there got whatever mods (or not) the pilots/techs for individual machines had handy.

[Alsadius]

With the speed and the equipment load of TAG/AMS/ERPPC ,this looks like a good C3 master for a medium lance. Drop the MPLs to ERMLs, lose a ton of SSRM-2 ammo, and turn the TAG into a C3 master.

[lucho]

With the speed and the equipment load of TAG/AMS/ERPPC ,this looks like a good C3 master for a medium lance. Drop the MPLs to ERMLs, lose a ton of SSRM-2 ammo, and turn the TAG into a C3 master.

ComStar and the WoB agree, but they went with C3i  ;)

[Alsadius]

ComStar and the WoB agree, but they went with C3i  ;)

I know, but that seems less interesting. C3i doesn't incorporate the TAG, which is the first thing that drew me in that direction, and protecting a C3 Master with AMS is more useful than protecting a C3i unit with AMS. Also, I like being able to count to 12 - it just seems so much scarier than counting to 6.

[JadeHellbringer]

One of the things I found interesting to the MotW discussion was that people liked the PPC (valid), the missiles (ambivalent personally), the TAG (YAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS)... the MPLs weren't particularly loved (agreed). And that CASE problem is just misery.

I mentioned in the thread a switch to a six-pack of standard MLs in place of the MPLs, and I still think that would be a lot of fun, combined with the speed and SRMs. It also smells a lot more like a Battlemaster, which is great if you're a fan of that design, but doesn't really help differentiate its role- it's just a quicker BLR (BattleFaster?) at that point.

So what about taking it a different direction? What about dropping the MPLs and a ton of SRM ammo for a second PPC, perhaps dropping down to standards for both arms to alleviate heat? Yeah, now it smells like a fast Warhammer, but is that a bad thing? You're taking less hits due to the range making long-range weapons work to hit more, you're out of range of the short-range options you were in trouble from earlier (SRMs, MLs, etc.), the armor and AMS mean you're still not much caring about the hits you do take for a while, and you're fast enough that you can get some tough to-hit numbers going for you (and move quickly between cover locations, or keep the range as you pull back should that be a better option).

Yeah, we still lose some character from the original design, but we also make for a mobile sniper design that is hard to beat- sort of a Lancelot after a box of donuts.

[lucho]

A general tendency is that nobody likes std pulse lasers because their range sucks. This is fact, and even the pulse bonus won't completely overcome this  :-\

In one campaign during Operation Revival my group uncovered an old SLDF depot (gee, how original...  ::) ), and I ended up with a Spartan. The GM allowed me to do a field refit, using what was available at the time. Swaping the armor for 13.5 tons of FF and CASE, dropping the MPLs, Streak launchers, and one double heatsink for twin Large Lasers and twin Medium Lasers I got a mech with less ammo problems and somewhat better range bands. I also moved the ERPPC to the arm for easier punches

Code: [Select]

Spartan Spt-N5
IS TW non-box set
80 tons 
BV: 1,809
Cost: 20,797,440 C-bills

Movement: 5/8
Engine: 400 XL
Heat Sinks: 12 [24]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 122
Armor: 241/247 (Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Head                        3        9
Center Torso               25       36
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       26
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       26
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       26
Left Arm                   13       26
Right Leg                  17       32
Left Leg                   17       32

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC                          RA    15
TAG                             LT     0
Anti-Missile System             RT     1
Large Laser                     LT     8
Large Laser                     LT     8
Medium Laser                    CT     3
Medium Laser                    CT     3

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS]   RT    12
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS]   RT    12

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
CASE                            RT