The Tessen, from TRO:3067 and FM:Comstar
You know, figuring out a ‘Mech usually isn’t very hard. Once you know what the weapons are, how different movement profiles work, and the basics of critpadding, you’re basically good to go. One glance at a record sheet, and I find I can usually predict how 95%+ of units will play out. I’d imagine it’s the same for many other seasoned players, although the occasional feature like the Gotterdammerung's empty side torsos or the Stalker II’s Torso-Mounted Cockpit/Hardened Armor PSR penalty combo can still sneak by the best of us. One exception to this rule is when rarer weapon systems come into play - and that can be compounded if they’re combined with other force multipliers or tactically unusual weapons. The Tessen is, for me, a great example of that. I went into my test games with a basic idea of how to use it in mind, and left with a completely different one. It’s a very interesting ‘Mech.
To be honest, I never would have covered it had it not been requested of me. It’s a ‘Mech that first appeared in Field Manual: ComStar, a product that I personally failed to get until relatively late in my BattleTech “career”. It would later be reprinted in TRO:3067, but it remains one of the few ‘Mechs that was designed by ComStar (as per usual, in collaboration with another State - in this case, the Draconis Combine) as opposed to the very design-happy Word of Blake. After all, ComStar only had a few ‘Mechs that it could truly call its own. Of course, this wouldn’t mean that the design would stay with ComStar - as with nearly all of their ‘Mechs, the Word of Blake would quickly lay their grubby hands on it as well.
The Tessen, at its core, is very much a streamlined version of a key Combine ‘Mech: the Grand Dragon. Each variant is powered by a 300-rated XL engine, moving the universal Endo-Steel frame the 6/9 speeds that make the heavy cavalry ‘Mech so dangerous. The Ferro-Fibrous protection is a reoccurring element as well, laid out as follows:
--- Armor: 161---------------------------------------------
--- Internal: 83-------------------------------------------
FRONT REAR INTERNAL
( 9) (**) ( 3)
/18|25|18\ / 6| 7| 6\ /12|16|12\
(16/ || \16) ( | | ) ( 8/ || \ 8)
/ /\ \ / \ / /\ \
(20/ \20) / \ (12/ \12)
This is interesting when compared to the Grand Dragon, especially the DRG-5K/C variants the Combine had at its disposal when the -1C made its debut in 3061, or the -C3 in 3062. Notoriously light on armor, these Grand Dragons mount almost the same amount of protection, although instead distributed as:
--- Armor: 160---------------------------------------------
--- Internal: 99-------------------------------------------
FRONT REAR INTERNAL
( 9) (**) ( 3)
/16|27|16\ / 8|12| 8\ /14|20|14\
(14/ || \14) ( | | ) (10/ || \10)
/ /\ \ / \ / /\ \
(18/ \18) / \ (14/ \14)This does mean that in a frontal assault, the Tessen can withstand the exact same amount of punishment as the Grand Dragon on its side torsos, arms, legs and head. With both designs mounting an XL engine, the chances of the center torso getting cored is significantly less than the ‘Mech getting a side torso popped first; this makes the Tessen ever so slightly tougher due to its heavier armor instead of tougher internal structure. The lack of the Grand Dragon’s two bins of LRM ammo in the Left Torso is another boon in its favor, making the Tessen a surprisingly durable customer when used to replace Grand Dragons in their traditional roles.
The -1C continues the parallel to the Grand Dragon by mounting an ERPPC in its Right Arm. With the same right hook as the heavy ‘Mech, the secondary LRM weapon of the Grand Dragon is instead replaced by an iNarc. This is the core weapon of the Tessen, the gun the entire design was built around. Found in the left arm, it is fed by four tons of pod ammo. The original Medium Lasers of the Grand Dragon were swapped for a Medium Pulse Laser mounted underneath the ERPPC in the right arm, while a head-mounted TAG makes the Tessen an even better team player. As if that wasn’t enough, a C3i computer is found in the Center Torso, while CASE in the Left Torso prevents catastrophic ammunition explosions. A single extra double heat sink means the Tessen runs very cool, only overheating after an engine hit. BV comes in at 1162, a bargain for what you’re getting. More on that later.
~ ~ ~
The Combine TSN-C3 replaces the C3i with a standard C3 slave, with the weight savings being combined with the dropped CASE in order to add a second Medium Pulse Laser in the Left Torso. Losing the CASE is a non-issue - in all of my testing (and trust me, I tested it a lot) I failed to lose a single Tessen to an ammo explosion; the four shots per ton of ammo for the iNarc means that its more than easy to burn through those bins to add extra critpadding to that Left Arm. BV jumps up a bit, to 1234, but its a solid variant and one Combine players should definitely look into.
This variant is a steal when compared to the DRG-C. In my opinion, there is no reason to take the DRG-C when the Tessen is available. It might lose out in LRM damage, but makes gains in short ranged and anti-light firepower, gains the versatility of the iNarc, has TAG...this is very nearly a no-brainer.
~ ~ ~
3069 saw the first Tessen refit appear, with the TSN-1Cr combining features from both the -1N and the -C3. The C3 Slave reappears, but in the Left Arm this time. CASE remains, but a Guardian ECM suite now sits in the Center Torso. The second Medium Pulse Laser of the -C3 fails to make a return, making this variants an even more valuable support ‘Mech. BV is a tad more expensive (ECM can do that, at times), putting the -1Cr at 1241 BV.
~ ~ ~
The TSN-X-4 would be an experiment for an even rarer piece of technology. It would also be the first Tessen to toy with with a different formula, moving away from the iNarc in an attempt to greater fill other secondary roles. Its engine, the Endo-Steel chassis, the Medium Pulse laser and even the TAG, ERPPC and extra double heat sink remain...which must make a few of you wonder how this Tessen stands out from the others. Firstly, the iNarc was replaced with a C3 Remote Sensor Launcher. Probably one of the rarest pieces of hardware ever introduced to the game, it can draw from a total of 16 shots spread throughout four ammo bins, mimicking the original -1C’s weapon/ammo distribution. An Angel ECM Suite in the Center Torso follows the path first laid out by the -1Cr, while a Bloodhound Active Probe makes an unexpected appearance in its Right Torso. Finally, the armor gets slightly reduced, with a total of 152 points of Light Ferro protecting this model.
~ ~ ~
The final variant, appearing in 3077, would be the Combine’s -C3M. The standard formula remains - speed, XL engine, Endo-Steel, 161 points of Ferro, the ERPPC...but the support systems are completely revamped. The TAG and C3 system remain, but are condensed into a single C3 Master Computer. The Medium Pulse Laser and iNarc are themselves replaced by a Snub-Nosed PPC, while a Small Pulse Laser fills a dubious role as anti-infantry or last ditch weapon. MASC ties the lot together, letting the -C3M sprint forward for short bursts and making it a surprisingly useful command ‘Mech for DRG-7K/7KC formations. Just watch your heat - you only have those same old 11 double heat sinks, so you’re gonna run hot. A 1/2/1 pattern with the main guns works great, following that should work well.
~ ~ ~
Now, more about that iNarc. It’s a steal. You’re paying 75 BV for the gun (a surprisingly low amount), and subtracting 60 BV because of that ammo found in the left arm. That’s a total of 15 BV (unmodified) for an amazingly useful gun, and part of why the Tessen is such a good team player. It is absurdly easy to fit a 1250 BV (or cheaper) unit into a force, and more importantly, into a C3 or C3i lance. And that, I feel, is where the Tessen shines the most.
You see, the Tessen is almost tailor-made to dismantle enemy and support allied C3/C3i formations. Load up some ECM pods, and you can quickly take the slower long-ranged gunboats out of your opponent’s C3 net. Throw out some ECCM pods, and your own network is now untouchable. Almost nearly as dangerous against Wobbie forces is the use of Nemesis pods - ever notice now many Blakist designs use Artemis IV? You will after the first Nemesis pod lands. And Haywire pods are the golden ticket against any force. In my testing, Haywire pods prevented an average of 65 points of damage per game - is that worth 15 BV? Certainly is in my book. And of course, you can always go for classic iNarc pods. Land one, duck for cover, and let the missiles rain down.
Since you aren’t paying much for the iNarc, you’re pretty much only paying for the ERPPC, 6/9 movement, and armor. Medium Pulse Lasers are cheap on BV, the TAG and C3 will only cost you if you choose to use them...so its quite a streamlined ‘Mech. Don’t underestimate the Medium Pulses, though. The -C3’s twin MPLs proved to be immensely useful at taking out enemy spotters in C3 vs C3i/C3 confrontations, letting the -C3 remain in its forward position while smacking down faster interdictors and ECCM podding slower ones. Hanging back with one at the beginning of the game can be a smart move - let those pods build up on the biggest, baddest target on the board and only close in once your initial spotter goes down and your opponent is suffering from stacking iNarc penalties.
The -X-4...well, it embraces the heavy scout role, that’s for sure. I definitely bemoan the loss of the iNarc, and I’m not much of a fan of the C3 Remote Sensor Launcher. The twin advanced electronic systems are great, as is the TAG, but it feels much more railroaded into that scout role than the other variants. I can’t help but feel like there are better options for what it does, and color me unsurprised that it never reached full production.
The -C3M suffers from the same loss of the iNarc, and I’m really not a fan of what it was replaced with. The Combine has a problem where:
a) It doesn’t have a lot of fast Masters, and
b) The fast Masters it does have are hampered by short-ranged weaponry.
Just take a look at them: the Bishamon -4K, with an MRM-10 as its longest-range weapon. Then the Grand Dragon -9KC, Scorpion -12K, and...Tessen -C3M, all three with Snub-Nose PPCs. A weapon that works well on brawlers and spotters, but with a damage drop-off at longer ranges (if you can call the 15-hex max range “long”) that isn’t ideal for a C3 Master unit. It works, sure, the speed and MASC helps it dance at ideal ranges, but...it’s dangerous. And the Small Pulse Laser just feels awfully out of place on this unit. In universe, I can understand how it was a simple swap to replace a hard to reload fringe weapon with something more practical, but overall, I'm personally not very impressed. The real bummer is its BV cost - at 1547, it costs a fortune.
Overall, the Tessen is definitely one of the "hidden gems" of TRO:3067, and I would highly recommend that players take one for a spin. It's pretty easy to fit one into a game, and if you want a ComStar unit that feels a bit more unusual, the Tessen is a good bet. I promise you won't be disappointed.
~ ~ ~
Iron Wind Metals:
https://store.ironwindmetals.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4724Camospecs:
http://camospecs.com/IWM/Details/389/tessen-tsn-1cMaster Unit List:
http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Filter?Name=tessen
