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Summoner OmniMech
The 70 ton Summoner represents a significant step in the development of the OmniMech. First manufactured by Clan Jade Falcon in 2872. Jade Falcon was actually the first Clan to successfully trial for the right to Omni technology from Clan Coyote in 2863. The very first of the second generation of OmniMechs, the Summoner rides the high end of the Heavy weight class, without being as heavy as its younger brother, the Timber Wolf. The base chassis's combination of armor, speed, and firepower has secured its place in the Clans for centuries, and it is a particular favorite of the Jade Falcons, being one of the most common Omnis in the Clan's entire touman.
The rights to manufacture the Summoner design have remained relatively static since the design's inception, with the primary manufacturers being obviously Clan Jade Falcon, but also Clan Hell's Horses. The Hell's Horses facility is situated on Niles, where the design is produced at the St. Louis MechWorks factories. Until 3072, during the Ice Hellion incursion into Jade Falcon space, the design was most manufactured on Ironhold in significant numbers by the Eagle Craft Group. When the Group moved the majority of their facilities to Sudeten, the production runs of the Summoner were a casualty of the move, and the Group can now only produce the Heavy Omni in small numbers and at high cost through the 3080s. Fortunately for the Falcon touman, however, the design's production was taken over primarily by Olivetti Weaponry, also situated on Sudeten, granting further access to the design well past the Jihad.
Built on a JFS-703 standard chassis to save space at the expense of podspace. A Redline 350 Extra-Light fusion engine propels the 'Mech to the maximum speed for its weight, a respectable 54 kilometers per hour at a walk and 86.4 kilometers per hour at a run. In a questionable design choice, the Summoner also mounts a quintet of JF Standard jump jets permanently affixed to the base chassis, allowing the Omni to jump 150 meters at a stretch, although with four jets mounted in the legs and one in the center torso, this maneuverability is seriously impeded in aquatic or water-heavy environments. Rounding out the base chassis in another arguably odd design choice, fourteen double heat sinks are mounted as fixed equipment, although considering that all of them fit in the engine, it's not too much of a loss. Most configurations use the heat capacity exceptionally well for a Clan Omni, especially such an early one, so the fixed heat sinks actually save critical space that could very well be useful.
Nine and a half tons of J63-3E Clan Ferro-Fibrous armor protect the innards of the 'Mech, covering it with nearly 84% of its maximum possible armor level. The armor distribution is fairly intelligent, with all forward locations able to withstand a Clan ER PPC or Gauss Rifle shot without breaching, obviously excepting the head, which still mounts the maximum amount of armor possible for the location. After such a hit, however, the arms will be left with barely enough armor to withstand a single SRM hit, being the most weakly armored sections on the 'Mech. The torsos, only slightly less armored than the legs, will be able to take a Clan ER Medium Laser hit without buckling, and the legs will still have the barest amount of armor, although not even enough to stop a solitary SRM. The Center Torso, the most heavily armored location on the 'Mech, can withstand a full blast from a 20-class Autocannon from pristine condition, and then another Clan ER Medium hit on top of that before the armor is completely stripped. The rear torsos are armored acceptably for a Clan engagement, all able to take a Clan ER Medium hit before buckling, and the Center Torso (Rear) will still have the barest amount of armor even after such a hit. The above average mobility of the base chassis, combined with slightly lacking but intelligently arranged armor placement makes this Omni a solid defensive platform if the need arises, although obviously not able to take repeated high-powered hits without suffering for it.
Being an OmniMech, the Summoner is readily able to swap between configurations for the mission at hand, assuming the correct pods are available. Fortunately for a Summoner's pilot, there are fourteen distinct configurations for a Summoner to be outfitted as, which manage to fill just about every tactical niche a heavy cavalry Omni could conceivably need. Technically, being an Omni, it's possible for there to be an infinite amount of configurations beyond the most commonly seen, so this article will focus on the “standard” configs to save time. Due to the combination of fixed equipment and heatsinks, the Summoner enjoys a rather meager for its size 22.5 tons of podspace. When considering the fixed jump jets and heatsinks, however, the effective payload is really closer to 29.5 tons.
Starting off, the Prime configuration of the Summoner sets the tone for nearly every subsequent config by using a small number of relatively simple yet powerful weapons. Only three weapons adorn the Prime, and the visual centerpiece to the Omni is the LRM-15 mounted in the left torso. Aesthetically, the missile rack and offset cockpit are the hallmark of the Summoner, an easily recognizable feature. Against Inner Sphere opponents that know how powerful Clan weapons are, this recognition can easily be an advantage, intimidating shaken or nervous troops further. Two tons of ammunition also occupy the Left Torso, allowing the missiles to engage targets for nearly three solid minutes of continuous fire at a range of 630 meters. An LB-10X Autocannon occupies the left arm, fed by a highly questionable singular ton of ammunition. A 540 meter range allows the Summoner to project a significant ballistic warning bubble for any vehicles that might try to stray into the battle, and also helps seek out vulnerable weak spots. Alternately, it can hole punch with decent strength. Unfortunately, with only one ton of ammo, a pilot will have to choose which to use in any given battle. Personally, I'd recommend using cluster ammunition to make it easier to hit targets and seek out holes, mostly because of the last weapon on the config. An ER PPC graces the right arm with a solid hole puncher out to 690 meters. While the config as a whole won't win any awards for raw damage any time soon, the Prime is literally impossible to overheat without outside help, and projects a fair bit of power out to a long enough range to be useful.
The A config maintains much the same operational profile as the Prime. One long range energy weapon in the right arm, on long range ballistic weapon in the left arm, one missile weapon in the left torso missile rack. On this config, the long range energy weapon is a Large Pulse Laser, reaching out to 600 meters with deadly accuracy. Making up for the lower damage of the pulse laser compared to the ER PPC, the ballistic weapon this time around is a Gauss Rifle that can reach out to 660 meters with a single ton of ammo. Not near enough to sustain the rifle for an entire engagement, so any warrior will have to husband his or her shots to keep the rifle in action. Perhaps to make up for the new minimum range on the Gauss, at all of 60 meters, the missile rack mounts a single SRM-6 with two tons of ammo that can start contributing as far out as 270 meters. Yes, that's correct, the SRM-6 gets two tons while the Gauss Rifle gets one. It's the exact wrong combination, and the major failing of this config. The overall damage is also less than the Prime, which was already somewhat lackluster in Clan space. The SRM keeps the potential sandblasting, at least, so it's not a total wash. This config is even harder to overheat, quite literally able to bathe in inferno gel or Plasma Cannon fire at a run and not suffer any ill effects even while firing the entire payload of weapons. In the world of Clan 'Mechs, this most definitely qualifies as hideously oversinked.
Configuration B takes a radical departure from the first two. Instead of a balanced mix of weapons, the Summoner B mounts a pair of LRM-20s, one in each arm, with two tons of ammo each. Not terrible ammunition endurance, considering the Summoner's other configs. Backing up the LRMs are a pair of SRM-4s, mounted directly beneath the LRMs in the arms One ton of ammo each makes the SRMs once again over-ammoed for how long it is likely to last in a sustained engagement, fire support config be damned. However, that's not the end of the config. Occupying the customary missile rack is a decidedly un-Clanlike Narc Launcher with a single ton of homing ammo. By default, the LRMs and SRMs carry Narc-capable ammunition, making this variant most useful to itself at just around 240 meters. Finally, an Anti-Missile System and a ton of ammo share the missile rack with the Narc Launcher. Considering the nature of Clan duels, this config is a head scratcher. For one, it's a fire support config in a society that glorifies direct combat. Secondly, it mounts a Narc Launcher, which is most useful to more than one unit at a time, which is very at odds with the Clan ideals of single combat. However, it is at least conceivable that the purpose of this config is for the Summoner to tag a target with its Narc Launcher, and use the homing pod to make its own shots more likely to hit. This is probably the first config on the list that isn't hideously lacking in ammo for a main weapon, but it makes up for it by being hideously over-ammoed for everything else. Once again, this config runs cool by Clan standards.
Abandoning all pretenses of staying primarily of long range, the C configuration is a brutal short-range punisher. Gone is the long range ballistic or missile component of the previous three. In its place there is a single ER Large Laser for sparring at ranges up to 750 meters and supporting the main event of the config. An Ultra-AC/20 occupies the left arm and brings the pain out to 240 meters, fed by the now-typical criminally low two tons of ammunition. Going at full blast, the autocannon will exhaust its munitions in less than a minute. Providing crit-seeking support is a single Streak-6 rack in the customary missile rack fed by one ton of ammo that reach every meter as far as the UAC. Finally, at extremely short range, or simply to eat up a half ton, an ER Small Laser is mounted beneath the ER Large on the right arm, but it will only be useful once the enemy has closed to 150 meters. The Summoner C is notable for being the first Summoner that is actually even able to overheat at all, and by quite a bit, at that. Alpha-striking at a jump will build up enough heat to slow the Omni and also degrade targeting performance. Then again, alpha striking in this config is a questionable proposition at best, since the ER Small is highly situational, and the Streak-6 can easily fail to acquire lock. If the Streak-6 fails to lock and the ER Small is out of range, this config won't even overheat enough to slow down. On the other hand, this config comes the closest so far to actually dealing a respectable amount of damage.
Config D is almost as significant a departure from the Prime as the B is. The main armament is almost exclusively energy based. Two ER Large Lasers and two ER Medium Lasers are mounted in the arms, with one of each laser in each arm that can reach out to 450 meters. This heat load is significantly higher than any of the configs that precede it, a fact which did not escape the designer. Six extra heat sinks are added, three mounted in each arm bringing the total up to twenty double heat sinks for dissipating buildup. Backing up the lasers at very short range is a pair of machine guns for point blank shooting (90 meters or less), one in each torso. On the defensive side of things, a pair of AMSs is also split evenly between the side torsos, with one ton of ammo for each unit. Finally, a targeting computer is nestled into the right torso to make the lasers more effective at any range. Even with the much higher heat load and signature fixed jump jets, this variant runs cool. A jumping alpha strike will raise but the faintest blip on the heat scale, and just running is impossible to overheat. As a small note, this was the last config developed for the base chassis before Operation: Revival
Another combination of rather questionable design choices, the E config doesn't mount a single ballistic weapon at all. The main hole-punching equipment is a single ER PPC in the left arm, the arm usually occupied by the ballistic weapon. There are only two other weapons present on this configuration, two differently sized ATM launchers, both mounted in the right arm. An ATM-12 sits right above an ATM-6, both fed by three tons of ammunition. Naturally, this leaves the ATM-12 with a decent amount of ammunition, and the ATM-6 with more ammunition than it can ever hope to get rid of, at two and a half minutes and five full minutes, respectively. The decision to mount two mismatched is rather curious, considering that switching both to ATM-9s would allow for the same throw weight, and yet free up an additional half ton of podspace, while simultaneously reducing the ammo issues. New-toy syndrome clearly has its claws in this config, developed just as ATMs were being developed and produced in 3054. At any rate, this config is a superb long range skirmisher with ER ammunition, and an absolutely brutal infighter using HE ammo, nearly matching the maximum damage output of the UAC/20 toting C config. Firing all weapons at a run will start the unit on the path to heat, just barely, and a jumping alpha will let it know that its getting warm, even if no ill-effects occur immediately. Considering that all weapons are viable at all ranges, this strikes me as a rather decent balance of heat.
The next config down the alphabet, the Summoner F, vaguely echoes the Prime. Mounting a pair of Ultra-AC/5s, capable of reaching out to the same range as an LRM at 630 meters, one on each arm, and each fed by a single ton of ammo. Even though the UAC/5 is a lackluster weapon if ever one existed in Clan space, this is definitely a good amount of ammo for them, allowing the pilot to take whatever shots he or she may want. Three ER Medium Lasers back up the UACs, one nestled under each cannon and one sitting alone in the right torso. Rounding out the armament, an LRM-10 with a single ton of ammo occupies the missile rack in the right torso. This is arguably the most effectively ammoed config of the bunch, so far. A real shame that the weapons are so lackluster. This config is perfectly sinked for a jumping alpha, so don't be afraid, as with all other Summoner configs, to use it when the time arises.
Similarly ditching all ballistic weapons, Config G skips further along the timeline, being introduced in 3068 during the Jihad. An ER Large Laser in the left arm and an ER PPC in the right provide decent long range firepower, while a sextet of SRM-4 launchers fed by two tons of ammo provide absolutely wicked critseeking at short range. If anything, two tons of ammo isn't enough for this config, with just less than a minute and a half of engagement time on the missiles. Added as if an afterthought, a single Heavy Small Laser sits in the Center Torso, presumably trying to eat a half ton of excess weight but not contributing much due to needing to be within 90 meters to actually use. Four more heat sinks struggle to handle the increased heat load. On a running alpha, although not likely due to the short range of the Heavy Laser, this config runs hot enough to risk a shutdown in a single round of firing, so be careful. Without the heavy laser, however, the effects are “only” significantly reduced movement and a minor reduction in accuracy. All that aside, the Summoner G puts out the most damage of any config so far, making it at least useful in that tactical niche.
Moving further down the alphabet and moving a little bit back in time to 3059, the H config is up next. Eschewing all pretense at finesse, the H brute forces its way into the equation. Mounting a pair of Heavy Lager Lasers, one in each arm reaching out to 450 meters, supported by a pair of ER Medium Lasers in the same locations, the H is dedicated to punching huge holes in targets at close range, and nothing else. Helping the Heavy Large Lasers work is a targeting computer nestled in the Right Torso. Rounding out the defensive equipment is an AMS with a single ton of ammo in where the missile rack would be. In order to handle the vastly increased heat load, the heaviest of any config so far, a whole nine more heat sinks were added, and they still struggle with the load. A jumping alpha sends the Summoner H's speed down, although a running alpha manages to avoid all immediate downsides, although barely. While it's not the most damaging config in the Summoner's line up, the Heavy Large's huge hits will set any pilot back on her heels. It's not that much worse than an ER PPC, however, so don't fall into the trap of thinking you're the baddest thing on the field.
In a fit of stunning originality, the next config is designated the HH, perhaps for “Hell's Horses”, the primary users of this particular config, and is produced starting in 3070. The Summoner HH harkens back to the Prime in one major way: the reintroduction of a ballistic weapon. A Hyper Assault Gauss-20 with three tons of ammunition occupies the right arm. With one minute of fire per ton, this is abnormally decent ammunition endurance for a Summoner. The rest of the HH config is as different from the typical Summoner as it is possible to get and stay on the same chassis, mixing and matching no less than four additional kind of offensive equipment instead of the signature Summoner simple yet powerful motif. A Plasma Cannon with two tons of ammo occupies the right torso, reaching out to 540 meters, once again surprising in the reasonable ammo allocation. Two ER Medium Lasers, one in the Center Torso, of all places, and one in the Left Arm provide an additional mid-range punch. When an opponent ventures into short range, a Heavy Medium Laser and an AP Gauss, both of which can begin to accurately engage once an enemy is within 270 meters, with a single ton of ammo add a decent incentive to avoid getting too close. With enough ammo for nearly seven minutes of continuous fire, the AP Gauss is significantly overstocked, but seeing as that's not really possible to change and that the ammo isn't explosive, it is forgivable. No additional heat sinks grace the design, making it at least possible to overheat if a pilot really tries at it. A jumping alpha will slow the 'Mech down, but not impart any more significant penalties than that, and a running alpha will just make the pilot feel it a bit, but not enough to degrade performance.
Once again moving backwards on the timeline but forward in the alphabet, the Summoner M was the personal config of Star Colonel Nicolai Malthus of the oft-maligned Somerset Strikers dramatic holovid fame, but more on him in a moment. The configuration returns all the benefits, and all of the flaws, of the first pair of configs. The LB-10X Autocannon and the ER PPC from the Prime are still there, and still in their respective locations. The LBX even keeps the same paltry one ton of ammo. The LRM-15, however, has been ripped out and replaced by a Streak-6 pack, with two tons of ammo, both of them in the opposite, less populous torso. Yes, two tons of ammo. Whatever else Nicolai Malthus knew, he didn't seem to know how ammo in a 'Mech actually works. Filling the last half ton is an ER Small Laser in the left torso under the launcher. The Streak ammo is a bomb waiting to happen, although until the LBX runs out of ammunition, the config is reasonably effective. With the Summoner M, the Omni is back to never overheating without outside help.
Skipping more letters than is probably necessary, the Q config is up next, once again jumping back up the timeline to 3069. The Prime's ER PPC is still there in the right arm, and a Large Pulse Laser occupies the left. For whatever reason, the left arm has a lower arm actuator, but the right does not, making the Q unable to flip its arms, though this is ultimately a minor gripe. Heavily channeling the G config, the Q also mounts a sextet of SRM-4s with the same barely enough two tons of ammunition, split evenly between the left and right torsos. A Heavy Medium Laser fits into the Left Torso, while a Heavy Small fills the Center. Trying, and failing hideously, to manage the heat load, a single extra heatsink has been added, bringing the total to fifteen. This config holds the dubious distinction of being the hottest running Summoner config. Period. A jumping alpha-strike will put the reactor dangerously close to automatic shutdown, and it will definitely be a challenge to avoid exploding. At the same time, this config also holds the distinction of doing the single highest amount of damage in the shortest time, as long as the pilot is willing to pay for it dearly.
Skipping still more letters, and forward all the way to 3080, the Summoner U is perhaps the closest thing to a “What were they thinking?” config on the list. The U designates this config as an underwater fighter. With five fixed jump jets. Twin ER PPCs actually make this config a decently dangerous opponent at long range even above water. Making matter worse (for an opponent) is the targeting computer in the right torso. Rounding out the armament is a LRT-15 with two tons of ammo. That's the extent of the dedicated underwater equipment. Two extra heatsinks, mounted one in each torso, keep the Summoner U cool running on both land and in the water. Sixteen double heatsinks is enough to make a running overland alpha-strike run cool, and having both of them in the torso makes a “running” alpha underwater barely blip the heat scale. If not for the fixed jump jets, this config might make some legitimate sense. As it is, the U is an oddball with few real applications as a dedicated combat unit. Lack of UMUs makes this config not worth taking underwater, and twin ER PPCs just isn't enough firepower or variety to work overland in a 70 ton chassis.
The last configuration on the list, both alphabetically and chronologically, is the Summoner Z. Deployed exclusively by The Society in Clan space. The right arm mounts an experimental ER Large Pulse Laser. I've never been convinced that the extra 90 meters of range is worth losing a part of the accuracy bonus of pulse lasers and the increased heat, but it may be of some utility. The left arm plays host to a battery of fully eight AP Gauss Rifles fed by a single ton of ammo, officially for dealing with infantry, although that many of them is enough to threaten much larger targets as well. A single ton of ammo certainly plays right back into the bad ammo management of most Summoner configs, however. In the left torso resides another experimental piece of equipment, the iATM-12, fed by three tons of ammo. Two and a half minutes of fire is decent for the missile system, so no complaints there. The last piece of equipment is the signature Society Nova CEWS, which can coordinate up to three units at once in a manner similar to C3, but that can be rearranged on the fly.
It may be worth noting that the Summoner does not have any famous personalized configurations that we have access to, with the possible exception on the M config. The Summoner configurations for Aidan and Marthe Pryde, arguably the two most famous Summoner pilots to ever live, are both still unknown (and despite an entry on the MUL as existing).
On a similar note to personalized configurations, there are several notable pilots for the Summoner. Already mentioned previously, Star Colonel Nicolai Malthus piloted a Summoner, specifically the M config, during his campaign against the Somerset Strikers. It is unknown whether this config is a personalized config or just made famous enough by the errant warrior to warrant inclusion as a common config.
More excitingly, Star Commander Joanna of Clan Jade Falcon was piloting a Summoner during her duel with Wolf Khan Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow herself. Joanna ultimately killed the legendary warrior with the Summoner's jump jets. Normally, however, Joanna was more comfortable piloting a Mad Dog.
The sibkin warriors Marthe and Aidan Pryde also both piloted Summoners, to such an extent that Aidan piloted a Summoner for his entire career as a warrior, save only the Battle of Tukayyid. From (both of) his Trial(s) of Position to earning his Bloodname and beyond, Aidan piloted the Summoner. Marthe would eventually go on to become the Khan of Clan Jade Falcon, and was similarly skilled in the Omni. Unfortunately, neither of their personalized configs are known at this time, though Aidan was known to use a configuration very similar to the Summoner M during his first Trial of Position.
Using a Summoner is in most cases relatively simple. For any of the configs with long range energy weapons, spar at long range for as long as possible, using your superior maneuverability against most Clan Heavies and Assaults to exploit openings and get better shots. Husband your limited ammo if necessary, and it probably will be. Summoners are terrible about ammunition in most configs. If you don't have a long range energy weapon, or your opponent totally outclasses you in that department, use that same superior mobility to close the distance, using cover while you can to get the best shots. The Prime should never get closer than about 300 meters to any target, while something like the C should always strive to never be more than 300 meters from the current subject of pain.
The fixed jump jets make every brand of Summoner, with the possible exception of the U, an excellent city fighter, even if the Clans officially detest fighting in population centers. That said, five tons you can never reassign is over 20% of your podspace you can't get back, so keep that in mind. The Summoner does not have the podspace to go outright toe to toe with heavier, more heavily armed Omnis, so play it smart.
Fighting against a Summoner is similarly fairly simple. Stay the hell away from the C, G, H, and Q if you value your armor, but in general the Summoner does not get nearly as dangerous up close as other Omnis, and a good chunk of configs are just as effective at 600 meters as they are at 100, so don't be afraid to close on those that are primarily long range. Keep in mind the jump jets on every model, and keep hammering. The Summoner's ammo problems do have one good advantage for itself in a Clan fight: most of the time, the ammo is going to be gone long before there's a chance for it to explode, even if you're measuring your ammo expenditure. If you're trying to take one down, don't rely on taking out the ammo to take it down. Use big hits like Gauss Rifles and ER PPCs to punch through the armor fast, and follow up with whatever crits you can. Most Summoners have few weapons, so taking out one or two will severely cripple their impact on the battle.
As always, the
MUL has additional information, and CamoSpecs has
a bunch of minis on it.
