From TRO:3075
Well folks, believe it or not - this is our final ProtoMech from TRO:3075. We’ve steadily worked our way through the original Smoke Jaguar Protos, and have now taken a look at most of the second generation designs. The Triton is the last of the bunch, designed by one of the Clan rejects, a pariah of sorts: the Goliath Scorpions. Now, it's known that the Scorpions were one of the Clans to end up with a good chunk of Huntress after the Jaguars’ fall. What's more of a mystery is whether or not they captured some production factories intact. One way or another, TRO:3075
does state that Scorpion development of their own unique Proto stalled and was put on hold until “…overtures to the Snow Ravens…jump-start(ed) their faltering ProtoMech program.”
The Triton is interesting in its design paradigm. Unlike many other Protos - made to work in large groups in standard Clan formations - the Triton was conceived to work as a support unit for individual Scorpion Seekers. They would typically be deployed in small Points alongside a handful (if that many) of Seeker ‘MechWarriors. Its initial wide-scale deployment within Chi Galaxy would follow this intent, but later obligations would force the Triton into second-line units as well. Here they would supplant “solahma” Elemental Points, replacing them on a 1 on 1 basis as the Elementals were shifted back towards front-line commands. This isn’t a bad call - Elementals require either a large number of dedicated troop transports or OmniMechs for aggressive use. Their redeployment towards Omni-heavy Clusters would reduce their logistical burden, while the Tritons would toughen up and increase the strategic flexibility of second-line commands.
One last thing to pay attention to is how the Triton is one of the extremely few "exclusive" ProtoMechs. The grand majority of ProtoMechs eventually beyond their manufacturing Clan, bringing in new variants or new methods of using them. The Triton, though, is 100% Scorpion. Don't expect to see many elsewhere, unless it's the result of salvage or
isorla.
TRITON
INTRO: 3067
FACTIONS: Goliath Scorpions
WEAPONS: Streak SRM-4 (10 shots), ER Micro Laser
ARMOR INTERNAL
(6) (2) Arms -> Cored: 27 pts
/ \ / \ Legs -> Cored: 34 pts
(4 / 13 \ 4) (2 / 8 \ 2) Torso -> Cored: 21 pts
| | | | | | Legs -> Destroyed: 13 pts
( 8 ) ( 5 )
MG (3) MG (1)
The base model bears comparing to the Hydra. Ground speed remains the same, while the SSRM-3 gets upgraded to a SSRM-4. Anti-infantry firepower is reduced after the Micro Pulse Laser is swapped for an ER Micro, but the most obvious changes (made possible thanks to the much heavier chassis) were the increased mobility brought by the jump jets and the vastly improved toughness of the Triton. What we see here is an assault ProtoMech, but one that is able to take even more punishment and function within broken or difficult terrain.
The Triton is excellent at its proposed role: supporting individual ‘Mechs. Scorpion ‘MechWarriors have a reputation of being “finesse” combatants, warriors with a love of precision weapons and pin-point accuracy. The Triton can easily critseek at impressive ranges, with a pure point shooting up to twenty SSRM missiles a turn. Their toughness also works well in this reduced combatant environment; chances are that the Tritons will be a higher priority target (due to the lack
of targets) so they have to be able to tank a hit or two. They also synergize well with three other ProtoMechs in use by the Scorpions: the Delphyne, Roc and Minotaur. A mixed point of two Tritons and three holepunchers can offer the same firepower as a decent Clan 'Mech, all while having respectable battlefield endurance.
TRITON 2
INTRO: 3067
FACTIONS: Goliath Scorpions
WEAPONS: ER Small Laser, ER Micro Laser (x2), LRM-3 (12 shots)
ARMOR INTERNAL
(6) (2) Arms -> Cored: 27 pts
/ \ / \ Legs -> Cored: 34 pts
(4 / 13 \ 4) (2 / 8 \ 2) Torso -> Cored: 21 pts
| | | | | | Legs -> Destroyed: 13 pts
( 8 ) ( 5 )
MG (3) MG (1)
As the first variant, the Triton 2 is a bit of a generalist. Its range is vastly improved, and the LRM-3 has an amazingly generous 12 rounds for its launcher. Using it to plink before closing in to take advantage of its armor and remaining firepower is a decent option if your enemy permits. A point of them can also act as bodyguards for something like a vehicular LRM Star. A personal favorite use is completely replacing its ammo loadout with Smoke-LRM rounds; they vastly help with closing in with the enemy and bringing the rest of your firepower to bear.
Of course, you can’t simply charge in and blaze with all of the guns. The LRM-3 is mounted in a main gun, meaning that you can’t shoot it and the two arm-mounted ER Micros in the same turn. This methodology is reminiscent of two ProtoMech variants: the Basilisk, and the Basilisk 2. Of course, you'll rarely have the chance to field one or another in a true "canon" game, but I believe the Triton 2 pulls ahead of both of those competing models (although the Basilisk's ER Medium still has its obvious appeal).
TRITON 3
INTRO: 3069
FACTIONS: Goliath Scorpions
WEAPONS: Heavy Medium Laser
ARMOR INTERNAL
(6) (2) Arms -> Cored: 29 pts
/ \ / \ Legs -> Cored: 37 pts
(4 / 15 \ 4) (2 / 8 \ 2) Torso -> Cored: 23 pts
| | | | | | Legs -> Destroyed: 14 pts
( 9 ) ( 5 )
MG (3) MG (1)
The next variant took advantage of the Scorpion’s love of heavy lasers, a weapon system that I personally find to be of very questionable use on ProtoMechs. There are two obvious advantages to it; firstly, the Heavy Medium Laser is the best holepuncher available to ProtoMechs unless you somehow have the tonnage for an ER Large, and secondly, BV is usually cut into because of the weapon’s naturally low cost and high tonnage requirements.
The result is a quasi-Roc (basically a spin-off of the Roc 2), a dangerous trooper ProtoMech that carries an absurd amount of armor. Jumping should only be used to close with your target, launch an ambush, or as a last resort. ProtoMech pilots are never the best out there, and jumping makes a gunnery 4 pilot need a 8 or better to land its shot - and that’s before range, cover, or enemy movement is taken into account. Even so, the relatively cheap 276 BV makes it a valuable asset to throw against tougher or slower targets. I think the Heavy Medium Laser works here; the Triton 3 doesn't have to sacrifice any other of its defining features to carry it; many second-line Clan BattleMechs or vehicles will have trouble against it.
TRITON 4
INTRO: 3069
FACTIONS: Goliath Scorpions
WEAPONS: Heavy Small Laser (x2), ER Micro Laser
ARMOR INTERNAL
(6) (2) Arms -> Cored: 28 pts
/ \ / \ Legs -> Cored: 35 pts
(4 / 14 \ 4) (2 / 8 \ 2) Torso -> Cored: 22 pts
| | | | | | Legs -> Destroyed: 13 pts
( 8 ) ( 5 )
The last model is the only to ditch the main gun mount. It carries no individually large weapons, instead, the Heavy Small Lasers are arm-mounted. The Triton 4 is in many ways a slightly-lighter version of the Minotaur and its descendant, the Minotaur P2. Where the Minotaur P2 uses its MagClamps for its mobility, the Triton 4 uses jump jets. And where the Minotaur P2 gains range with its SRM-4, the Triton has an…ER Micro Laser. Yikes. Alpha damage remains equal to the original Minotaur, but range and accuracy are vastly reduced in favor of a slight speed boost.
Heavy Small Lasers aren't the best on ProtoMechs. They weigh a crazy-high 1250 kg per unit, and have terrible range and accuracy that can only be exploited on faster chassis’. Which the Triton 4 isn’t. The jump jets can help close, but the only target it should attempt to tangle with are the heaviest and slowest of assault ‘Mechs. If your opponent is using Mars Assault Vehicles, Dire Wolves or the like, throw the Triton 4 against them. It does have the benefit of costing less than half of a vanilla Minotaur, making it absurdly cheap, but unless you can fully decide where and when you’ll be engaging your target, the Triton 4 is a difficult unit to field at best. In urban combat, though...it's not too terrible. Use the jump jets to move to/from defensive positions, and then camp and maneuver to trap and melt anything that stumbles across your position.
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I know the Scorpions aren't the most popular or most played Clan out there, but they do have the advantage of fielding this surprisingly useful ProtoMech. Even better, they currently remain in use within the Escorpión Imperio, making them one of the few ProtoMechs you can field alongside rickety MilitiaMechs, Word of Blake designs, and ancient Primitives with a straight face. Go nuts!
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Master Unit List:
http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5290/triton-standardCamoSpecs:
http://camospecs.com/MiniList.asp?Action=Detail&ID=1364Iron Wind Metals:
http://ironwindmetals.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6279