Choose your Black Knight

[martian]

Let's pretend that your state has a 'Mech plant producing Black Knight BattleMech. During Star League it was standard BL-6-KNT, then the Succession Wars downgrade BL-7-KNT. With the recovery of Lostech the production of regular BL-6-KNTs resumed. But now, for modern era, something better is needed. Your intelligence service gained access to plans for three different high-performance models:

a) BL-6b-KNT
- originally earmarked for SLDF Royal Divisions. Primary armament consists of Kinslaughter ER PPC and two Large Pulse lasers. For short-range defence you can use four Medium lasers and one Small laser. Beagle Active Probe protects you against ambushes.

b) BL-9-KNT
- ComStar upgrade for Battle of Tukayyid. Magna Sunspot ER PPC gives the 'Mech good reach, but the medium range is where this 'Mech really shines - it is armed with three Large lasers - two standard ones and one pulse model. There are four Medium pulses for point-blank defence. To capitalize on Clan disdain for physical attacks, left-arm hatchet was mounted. It deals 15 points of damage with each swing. The only weak point is extralight engine which was needed to free mass for weapons and added armour. This variant has the best protection of all three models.

c) BL-12-KNT
- House Davion model, it has all weapons of standard Black Knight (except Small laser) but with PPC and Medium lasers upgraded to ER models. Targeting computer adds -1 bonus, but weighs six tons.

Heat is no longer the problem it used to be since a) and c) are equipped with 16 DHS. b) has 15 DHS.

So which one will you select for your 'Mech factory?

[gooseman]

For my factory? The Clanbuster. XL engine ensures I'll be seeing repeat business.

[hawkins180]

My choice is the 6b-KNT, my "House" is the SLDF  O0

[Ian Sharpe]

Davion model.  I want to make tarcomps too.  Diversify. 

[Wolverine-7SK]

I chose the "Royal" version. XLs are too expensive and make you more vulnerable. The BAP makes for a superior command mech. Of course the LPLs are really not great back up weapons for long range,but awesome when you get close and personal.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Someone needs to make one with ERLLs and ERPPC.  Until that time, I'll take the Davion -12- model.  I'd rather have a -1 for all my weapons than a few pulse lasers.

[Martius]

I want a BAP to monitor my remote sensors. I also want my 'Mechs to be cheap and plenty.

[evilauthor]

Chalk me up for the Davion model. I like both reach AND good TNs and I prize better TNs over greater firepower. The Davion BK seems like the best compromise.

[ckosacranoid]

i chose none of the above. my idea for the knight is he is sitting with no arms and legs screaming about ripping your legs off with his teeth.....sorry. had to post it.

[Saint]

BL-12-KNT . tcomp ,range and SFE. Repeat customers only come if they are happy.

[Neufeld]

The Davion variant. The Royal is too slow for having only an ERPPC outside 10 hexes, and the Clan-buster does not gain enough to justify the cost of the XL engine.

[calendraug]

 Have used all of them clanbuster on tukkyid , bknt 12 during jihad and now using royal version during operation chieftan all good O0

[imperator]

I like the clan buster.  To me it has a great range profile and I love close combat.  It's armor is nothing to sneeze at either.

[Deadborder]

The -12KNT wins for me hands down. Best reach, best endurance, best to-hit numbers

[JoeJones]

I went with the Clanbuster.

I enjoy close combat (the Ti Ts'ang is my favorite mech, after all), and the thought of a 'mech specifically designed to annoy & destroy the Clans is not a bad thing, either.

[Rorke]

Got to be the 12 tbh, it's served me well enough to know i can trust it.

[markhall]

Clanbuster. Ain't no Finer model.

And If I can source some TSM. Then a few limited editions should help increase sales.

[Demos]

Tarcomp-12.

For marketing purposes the royal would be a close second.

[House Davie Merc]

Easily the Davion 12 with the targetting computer .

Standard engine and a -1 to hit at range 23  Yes please .
The 6 KNT has no ER weapons T/C or pulse lasers .

The 9 has an XL engine combined with a bunch of pulse lasers  and
an axe.
In terrain where long range shots can be made it'll have that XL engine destroyed
before it get's a chance to close to pulse laser range .

[avon1985]

I'm a sucker for the Royals.  The Davion one can be argued is better but I like the Royals!

[Terrion]

I voted for the -12. I don't like the LPLs on the Royal or Clanbuster.  The IS LPL is a niche weapon, and that niche is not slow, ground-bound heavies.

Someone needs to make one with ERLLs and ERPPC. 

I used to think this as well, but it's hard to fit enough sinks to handle that much heat in a 4/6 mech with ES. Plus, I think that the ER PPC and ER-LL are really awkward to use in practice - they're too similar to have distinct brackets or roles. Using the ER-PPC at long, LLs at medium and MLs at short actually works out better IMO. I'd also take triple-ER LLs (with the attnedant weight savings) or three standard PPCs instead.

[Demon55]

The -12, because I do not like the LPLs on the Royal or the Clanbuster.  Also I consider 4/6 to be too slow to use a hatchet except in close terrain.

[Dread Moores]

The Royal. I find the Davion version to be a very cynical design, and of a style I would prefer to see less of added to the game.

[Minemech]

 I could sell the Clanbuster to the Free Worlds League, Lyran Commonwealth, mercenary units and the former Republic states quite easily right now.

[Colt Ward]

I would say the -6b.  Granted it does not have the reach, but you should also have your techs work on a nifty after-purchase market modification kit to replace the LLs for ERLLs.  Depending on the timeframe, the after-market modification could also include LFF armor though perhaps instead of ERML in the arms, MPL would do better.

The main reason?  Folks who are buying on the open market are probably not looking for a flashy (XL/rare weapons) design, instead something durable but well armed will be what gets attention.

[Giovanni Blasini]

My personal preference is the -6b, though, honestly, I'd love to see the LPLs swapped out for snub-nose PPCs for extra SLDF Royal Goodness.

[Cyc]

Clanbuster, works very nicely in its sweet spot range wise

[Scotty]

I'd absolutely love the Clanbuster if it would drop that Hatchet for another standard Large Laser.  I've never liked physical attacks, even if a 15 point is nothing to sneeze at.  With three LLs, you can still engage with the ERPPC and two of the LLs at range without overheating significantly, and as soon as the range drops to ten hexes, you've got three LLs and a LPL to lay into the opponent.

Although, playing around with the design, I think my favorite thing to do would be rip out everything larger than two tons and replace them with large lasers, max the armor, add a heatsink, and fill the last two tons with a fifth MPL.  Turns it into a withering energy boat of death.  Five LLs isn't anything to sneeze at, especially if firing all five of them only puts up 8+ on the heat scale, which is a fairly manageable heat spike for putting 40 damage down range.

[Dave Talley]

I'd absolutely love the Clanbuster if it would drop that Hatchet for another standard Large Laser.  I've never liked physical attacks, even if a 15 point is nothing to sneeze at.  With three LLs, you can still engage with the ERPPC and two of the LLs at range without overheating significantly, and as soon as the range drops to ten hexes, you've got three LLs and a LPL to lay into the opponent.

Although, playing around with the design, I think my favorite thing to do would be rip out everything larger than two tons and replace them with large lasers, max the armor, add a heatsink, and fill the last two tons with a fifth MPL.  Turns it into a withering energy boat of death.  Five LLs isn't anything to sneeze at, especially if firing all five of them only puts up 8+ on the heat scale, which is a fairly manageable heat spike for putting 40 damage down range.

thats just WRONG!
I like it!
Still have room for TSM? Then you dont need a hatchet, just punch twice or kick a leg off

[dirty harry]

The -12, because I do not like the LPLs on the Royal or the Clanbuster.  Also I consider 4/6 to be too slow to use a hatchet except in close terrain.

+1
I even consider 4/6 too slow to use the LPLs effectivly, especially if you are aiming for faster targets.