Author Topic: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett  (Read 34713 times)

Colt Ward

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #30 on: 23 October 2013, 09:50:01 »
Seeing as you are using 5 . . . some Marian academy training cadre?  I say Starslayers and some 4/6/4 heavy the Marians would get . . . ooo, maybe the Crusader 7W, more Blakist salvage just like the Crocketts.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #31 on: 23 October 2013, 09:57:56 »
Nah, looking at an actual Star League-era unit. The reinforced lance formation would be solely for these training units, since assigning an instructor to only three cadets seems a tad wasteful(but for some reason 4 cadets seems okay, I dunno). There are other advantages. Since the majority of the troopers in the force will be extremely inexperienced(the cadets), having the extra firepower of a fifth 'mech would balance things out if/when they find themselves in a real fight. Also, it gives the instructor the option of stepping back and letting the cadets handle some situations by themselves and learn lance-level tactics at the same time. The instructor could even put different cadets in charge at differeing times, giving each one lance command experience.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #32 on: 23 October 2013, 14:05:09 »
Call it the two Crocketts, a pair of Chameleons (even though they're archived), and... er, a Black Knight for the instructor?
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #33 on: 23 October 2013, 14:49:47 »
That was my initial thought. Thing is, I'd prefer something a bit more combat-ready than a Chameleon since they'd be undertaking field ops. The Black Knight is also a very good idea, but I'm leery of putting the instructor in something ground-bound when all the cadets can jump.
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Kotetsu

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #34 on: 23 October 2013, 15:00:07 »
2 Crockets and 2 TBA mediums(P-Hawks, Crabs, Starslayers?) for the cadets, and some sort of mobile heavy for the instructor. Sound fun?

Chameleons?

Col.Hengist

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #35 on: 23 October 2013, 16:06:01 »
Chameleons?

 Helbie already suggested that.

What about a guillotine for the trainers mech? It's a good general mech and for the smaller mechs.... Hermies?
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Colt Ward

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #36 on: 23 October 2013, 16:12:13 »
I think the Chammies are fine . . . but you may want something like a Royal or SL Executioner.  It can move the same as the Chameleons but is a bit better suited.  I actually still like Starslayers more, since part of the Chameleon was also supposed to train the operator about heat and bracketing weapons.  I am not sure you want to put a unit that has heat issues in the line when it can be helped, the 'slayer is more heat friendly.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #37 on: 23 October 2013, 16:19:48 »
Yeah, I'm really thinking I'm going to go with Starslayers on that end. Guillotine's pretty good, but I kinda want the instructor to have more ranged firepower than that. Highlanders or Emperors seems like overkill....at this point, I'm actually looking at the classic Griffin.
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JadeHellbringer

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #38 on: 23 October 2013, 16:35:22 »
OK, call it the CrocKatanas (that name is catchy, isn't it?), a Starslayer, a... Whitworth, some fire support?... I guess the Guillotine is the best bet, the Grasshopper wasn't really common quite yet, was it?
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #39 on: 23 October 2013, 16:47:18 »
Given that I own two Crockett minis, I really should find a good use for them. Perhaps a reinforced cadre lance consisting of four recently-graduated cadets that still need in-the-field seasoning, with a fifth 'mech for the veteran instructor that has to ride herd on them. 2 Crockets and 2 TBA mediums(P-Hawks, Crabs, Starslayers?) for the cadets, and some sort of mobile heavy for the instructor. Sound fun?
I'd suggest Chameleons for the other two trainees, preferably one of the upgrade version that tries to make it combat worthy, as for the trainer a proper command 'Mech, like that Warlord variant

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #40 on: 23 October 2013, 17:00:03 »
I'd suggest Chameleons for the other two trainees, preferably one of the upgrade version that tries to make it combat worthy, as for the trainer a proper command 'Mech, like that Warlord variant

...you missed the rest of the thread, didn't you... ???

Eh, enough of this sidequest. I'll find something. Back to the Crockett itself!
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #41 on: 23 October 2013, 17:18:44 »
...you missed the rest of the thread, didn't you... ???

Eh, enough of this sidequest. I'll find something. Back to the Crockett itself!

...Indeed.

So we have a jumping assault Mech here... which, in its day, is a pretty rare thing- that puts it in company with the Highlander, the Victor, the Emperor, and... ah, anyone else? I can't think of anything else prior to 3055 that fits the bill. That makes it a pretty interesting customer to consider, particularly with its long-ranged laser attacks giving it an advantage over the others in terms of range. It's an interesting chassis to tinker with- it doesn't quite have the muscle of the Emperor, but the long range lasers combined with the LBX and SRM crit-seeking make it a great pairing with the Victor, covering the smaller Mech as it approaches and then sending cluster attacks into the AC-20 holes opened up by the Victor. Great pairing.
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Kotetsu

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #42 on: 23 October 2013, 17:36:05 »
...Indeed.

So we have a jumping assault Mech here... which, in its day, is a pretty rare thing- that puts it in company with the Highlander, the Victor, the Emperor, and... ah, anyone else? I can't think of anything else prior to 3055 that fits the bill. That makes it a pretty interesting customer to consider, particularly with its long-ranged laser attacks giving it an advantage over the others in terms of range. It's an interesting chassis to tinker with- it doesn't quite have the muscle of the Emperor, but the long range lasers combined with the LBX and SRM crit-seeking make it a great pairing with the Victor, covering the smaller Mech as it approaches and then sending cluster attacks into the AC-20 holes opened up by the Victor. Great pairing.

The Pillager was a Star League design. And the Shogun was borderline, though I think (going off memory of the article I wrote on that one) they were only coming off the prototype stage as the Amaris Coup happened.

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #43 on: 23 October 2013, 17:52:39 »
The Pillager was a Star League design. And the Shogun was borderline, though I think (going off memory of the article I wrote on that one) they were only coming off the prototype stage as the Amaris Coup happened.

Yeah, I thought about the Shogun, but like you said it was still so new I'm assuming few units actually had one. How common was the Pillager though by the time of the Amaris coup? I never really had the impression it was in regular service, but my books are packed for moving at the moment so I'm going off my memory... which is increasingly addled with old age and past inebriation  ;D
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But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

Kotetsu

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #44 on: 23 October 2013, 18:06:53 »
Yeah, I thought about the Shogun, but like you said it was still so new I'm assuming few units actually had one. How common was the Pillager though by the time of the Amaris coup? I never really had the impression it was in regular service, but my books are packed for moving at the moment so I'm going off my memory... which is increasingly addled with old age and past inebriation  ;D

The -3Z model appears to have entered service in the late 2600s... So perhaps prevalent enough. Thing is its such a beast, it may have been more of a command ride.

Col.Hengist

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #45 on: 23 October 2013, 18:08:50 »
Could you imagine whole battalions of them?  [drool]
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #46 on: 23 October 2013, 19:00:07 »
How common was the Pillager though by the time of the Amaris coup?

Well, it saw service during the Reunification War...
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UnLimiTeD

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #47 on: 24 October 2013, 01:57:54 »
I think a Pillager is a fitting ride for a commander :P
In any case, 85 tons is the sweet spot for jump jets, and if not for the lack of CASE, I'd call it munchy for the age.
Is the Royal Upgrade actually better than the original, aside the extra equipment afforded by the Endosteel?
Strikes me you don't really gain all that much.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #48 on: 24 October 2013, 07:44:16 »
Not to be a jerk, but we've wandered pretty far from the focus of this article, which is the Crockett. Maybe you could take your deliberations regarding a training force composition to another thread in say Ground Combat or General Discussion?  O:-)
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #49 on: 24 October 2013, 08:02:02 »
The poster right above you was asking about the crocket...

To answer yoir question... i don't think it's better. Just another version of really good. I prefer the original with a small laser taken out and case added.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #50 on: 24 October 2013, 08:29:44 »
I think the primary difference is the Royal is all hole-puncher, the gauss rifle for the big holes and the ERLL to make a bit smaller holes.  IF you do get into the SRM range than it can exploit those holes.  I would prefer the LBX variant with CASE refit over the gauss rifle, since 3/5/3 makes it hard to exploit the holes with SRMs.  Also, the cluster ammo benefit is nice when you jump and lacks the minimum range of the gauss rifle.

I am really liking the idea of a dual HPPC and LB-10X Crockett/Katana, but the SRMs are definitely going to be shrunk and perhaps better with MMLs.  However, after looking at HMP, if you are going that route the LBX has to be shrunk down to a Class 5 to get secondaries.  Which is OK since it still critseeks and gives you a long range AA and armor option.

I might revisit this design if my mercs pick it up as salvage against the ComGuards for the 3/5/3 assault lance.  It would be interesting grouped with a Highlander, Emperor and jumping Viking.
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JadeHellbringer

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #51 on: 24 October 2013, 08:47:47 »
Dropping those (let's be honest, useless) small lasers gains a ton... dropping the SRMs down to four-racks gains two more tons... that would gain me two AMS and two tons of ammo... that could be entertaining as well, making an already- difficult to kill Mech even more of a pain to get rid of.
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Col.Hengist

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #52 on: 24 October 2013, 09:25:36 »
Yea, i spent some time yesterday on HMP myself. HPPC varient, snppc with 3 mml 7's... without getting into custom designs here... that snppc one i made was really nasty.

 The thing with the royal is you really don't need the JJ'S since it's become a long range FS platform. Take off the JJ'Sand add... something.
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Colt Ward

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #53 on: 24 October 2013, 09:39:47 »
Hmm, would the same hold true for a HPPC variant?
Colt Ward
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #54 on: 24 October 2013, 10:50:41 »
Hmm, would the same hold true for a HPPC variant?

I'd keep them on that one, otherwise you might as well just sell the damned thing and buy a Thug.

(Not that I'd be opposed to doing that anyway, I've long been a Thug fan)

If anything, twin-snubbies and IJJs might be fun too- leap over terrain to get into short range and let the cannons fly, leap back out if things get hairy.
"There's a difference between the soldier and his fight,
But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

Colt Ward

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #55 on: 24 October 2013, 10:56:41 »
Oh yeah . . . IJJ, snubbies, LB-10X and MMLs . . . I bring the PAIN!
Colt Ward
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #56 on: 24 October 2013, 12:25:05 »
Oh yeah . . . IJJ, snubbies, LB-10X and MMLs . . . I bring the PAIN!

Write that one up for the fan design area, and I'll promptly give it a hug and the Hellbie Seal O' Approval  O0

(Plasma rifles are intriguing as well, for some reason I keep thinking a twin-plasma, IJJ, stealth armor Capellan version would be fun. Which means I've spent waaay too much time talking to cavingjan lately.)
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #57 on: 24 October 2013, 16:43:32 »
Dropping those (let's be honest, useless) small lasers gains a ton... dropping the SRMs down to four-racks gains two more tons... that would gain me two AMS and two tons of ammo... that could be entertaining as well, making an already- difficult to kill Mech even more of a pain to get rid of.

Alternately, drop the smalls, and ONE SRM, upgrade the other to a streak 6 pack, which still nets you 3.5 tons saved, which can get you 2 AMS's and 2 tons of ammo and Case for a torso.
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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #58 on: 24 October 2013, 21:32:50 »
Alternately, drop the smalls, and ONE SRM, upgrade the other to a streak 6 pack, which still nets you 3.5 tons saved, which can get you 2 AMS's and 2 tons of ammo and Case for a torso.

I hate it when someone comes up with a better idea than mine. I'm banning you for a week. Jerk.  :D

Nah, I like it- I was leaning more towards what could be done with 2750 tech, but if we go with modern tech that's a pretty simple swap, one would think. I'm all for it- keeps the crit-seeking the design does so well, becomes a bit more survivable against modern missile technology, and doesn't really lose all that much combat potential. Sometimes simple upgrades are the best upgrades.
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But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
+Larry and his Flask, 'Blood Drunk'+

"You know, basically war is just, like, a bunch of people playing pranks on each other, but at the end they all die."
+Crow T. Robot+

UnLimiTeD

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Re: ’Mech of the Week: CRK-500*-* Crockett
« Reply #59 on: 25 October 2013, 03:59:12 »
Well, you should be able to do it with SL tech.
I think SSRM-2s were available?
Use 4, same weight, save a ton of ammo for case, and with the small lasers removed you still get the weight for an ams.

... I think we're really moving past discussion the original design here... :P
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