Are there any "Trooper" assault mechs?

[EPG]

I think the thin armor is what keeps the Cyclops firmly out of the trooper role.  At least before some of the upgraded variants started showing up post-Clan Invasion.

It’s got more armor than plenty of classic trooper mechs - centurion, enforcer, vindicator, and matches the warhammer.  All of which definately qualify.  It’s also got firepower roughly in line with this group.  I didn’t say it was a good or efficient trooper at 90 tons - just that it fills the bill.  Once the battle computer is gone, it’s not wasteful to use it for what it is.

[Starfury]

The Cyclops can function as a trooper, though it will suffer in battles until the tech upgrades catch up in the late 3050s.

[Starfury]

I'd also add in the Grand Titan. XL or not, they cam be fearsome to deal with, especially the 11 and 13Ms.
I'll add in the Marauder IIC , the Juliano and the Star Crusader as well. What do you all think about the Shrike? Does it qualify?

[DevianID]

The 2 LRM10 cyclops has ALL the armor and too few LRMs to be pure missile support, so while officially its a 'missile boat' it has more of an emphasis on close range.  Still, it feels more like a juggernaut/brawler then a trooper with 272 armor, so while I love the cyclops Q I dont think of it like a trooper like I do the zeus.

[Charistoph]

I think the thin armor is what keeps the Cyclops firmly out of the trooper role.  At least before some of the upgraded variants started showing up post-Clan Invasion.

Exactly this. 

There is a Cyclops variant that carries a lot more Armor in the Succession Wars, but it's firepower would be anemic for a Heavy, much less an Assault.  It barely carries more SRMs than a Dervish, and none of its mobility.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Honestly, the CP-10-Q with its heavy armor but unimpressive firepower actually does feel like a good trooper mech.  It doesn't excel at anything but it can do enough that it can't be ignored, either.

[Luciora]

10 tons of armor is still 10 tons.  The Hunchback, Dragon, Charger, Centurion, Crab,  Warhammer and so many others  are considered durable.  All it boils down to is placement.  Yeah sure, it should be carrying 17 tons, but for the era it was introduced, it has above average armor. 

[Ruger]

Honestly, the CP-10-Q with its heavy armor but unimpressive firepower actually does feel like a good trooper mech.  It doesn't excel at anything but it can do enough that it can't be ignored, either.

To me, that heavy armor and relatively light armament says “command ‘Mech” more than a lot of others. It can contribute to the fight, but the person driving it should be commanding. The heavy armor lets them do that a little better than most.

Ruger

[EPG]

To me, that heavy armor and relatively light armament says “command ‘Mech” more than a lot of others. It can contribute to the fight, but the person driving it should be commanding. The heavy armor lets them do that a little better than most.

Ruger

The cyclops 10Q isn’t usually worth shooting at to me.  Really heavy armor and limited offense.  I’d rather shoot at something I’m likely to actually take down.  Of course I don’t want one in physical attack range either, so if the opposition comes in close it will force me to do something about it. If they hang back shooting LRMs though I’m not going to bother.  Slogging through all that armor to get 2 LRM 10s out of the fight isn’t worth it - there’s usually better targets out there.

[Ruger]

The cyclops 10Q isn’t usually worth shooting at to me.  Really heavy armor and limited offense.  I’d rather shoot at something I’m likely to actually take down.  Of course I don’t want one in physical attack range either, so if the opposition comes in close it will force me to do something about it. If they hang back shooting LRMs though I’m not going to bother.  Slogging through all that armor to get 2 LRM 10s out of the fight isn’t worth it - there’s usually better targets out there.

Precisely; command ‘Mech.

Ruger

[Vonshroom]

In the Succession Wars Era I would classify several of the Assaults as Trooper Mechs.

Their faster 4/6 movement lets them keep up with a heavy or medium line and they "fit" or integrate well with other established "trooper" mechs from other weight classes. I also find them to fit the same niche as lighter weight trooper designs and all are solid units.

Zeus - Comes to the top of the list for obvious reasons
Battlemaster (Functions well as a trooper but is usually used as different role)
Banshee 3E / 3M / 3MC
Charger 1A5
Thug / Hatamoto Chi
Striker


The Crockett is a touch slow, but I would argue that its weapons suite and armor / flexibility comes the closest to a true "trooper" inspired loadout.

Of course in the later eras there are plenty of "Trooper" Assaults including several refits of existing succession wars designs that turn them into "Assault Class Trooper Mechs".

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I don't think I'd call the CGR-1A5 a trooper.  It's an armored brick that's designed to blast holes in an enemy line at close range.  Troopers are usually able to fight at just about every range, without being particularly biased towards one range over another.

[EPG]

I don't think I'd call the CGR-1A5 a trooper.  It's an armored brick that's designed to blast holes in an enemy line at close range.  Troopers are usually able to fight at just about every range, without being particularly biased towards one range over another.

I don’t think it qualifies either.  Its focus on short range only means, that like the Victor it’s a short range specialist. Moving 4/6 isn’t tue only trooper criteria.  The Goliath is likewise disqualified because it really can’t handle itself inside 4-5 hex range. 

[idea weenie]

I went through Sarna and picked out a few Inner Sphere 80-tonners that move 4/6.  3/5 seemed too slow for a trooper, and 5/8 had the engine take up too much tonnage.   The Mechs I chose and their weapons/reasoning are as follows:

• Hatamoto-chi - 2xPPC, 2xSRM-6.  Plenty of energy to annoy people at range, and plenty of smack if they get close.
• Rifleman II - 2xLPL, 2xLB-10X, 2xML.  Can have a variety of ammo for range, and if someone gets close this Mech can fire freely with its energy weapons
• Striker - PPC, LL, AC/5, 3xML.  Energy for range, autocannon for weird ammo, and energy armament up close.  I'd still be tempted to drop the AC/5 for more firepower though.
• Thug - 2xPPC, 2xSRM-6.  Again, a good combo of weapons
• Warlord - 2xHPPC, 6xERML.  Only energy weapons to keep the Quartermasters happy.  I'm sure there are variants that boost the HPPC firepower
• Zeus - 1xLL, 1xLRM-15, 2xML, 1xAC/5.  Autocannon and LRM allow for alternate ammos, though the single LL is only a tapping weapon at range.  I'd be tempted to change out the AC/5 to something else.

I also dropped all Clan and Republic-era designs, to make the Inner Sphere list.  Other designs that were not considered were those with only short-range weapons (i.e. the Victor with nothing above range 9).

The 85-tonners would need a 340-rated engine which is ~6 tons heavier than a 320-rated engine.  The XL version would be 3 tons heavier and at that point you are only gaining ~2 tons of space in a Mech 5 tons larger which to me is not worth it.

[Sabelkatten]

320 SFE is 22.5 tons, 340 SFE is 27. 4.5 tons difference. After structure a basic 80-tonner and 85-tonner have exactly the same weight left for armor and weapons.

[martian]

Titan II

It can conduct short-, medium- and long-range combat.

Also, it can handle enemy infantry and BA.

It is also pretty durable.