Author Topic: mech of the week: Kabuto  (Read 4957 times)

Greatclub

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3036
mech of the week: Kabuto
« on: 14 November 2019, 18:03:27 »
Quote
Hey, what’s this in the bottom of the box?

When did I pick this thing up? How did I get that nice white? And what the wack is it?

*One Sarna dive later* Kabuto, TRO 3060. Probably picked it up at Chaos before they went under. (RIP)

OK, let's hit the Mech of the Week. No mech of the week?

Months later - “Oh, whatever, I’ll just write the thing.”

In a dissonance of lore, the DCMS had a lack of light mechs (Since when?) and wanted more. They liked the new Hitman, but not necessarily the price, so they commissioned a lighter Hitman.

At 20 tons, the Kabuto is half the C-bill price of its predecessor, despite the XL engine and endo steel. It can run fast enough to get a +4  under ideal circumstances or reliably get a +3 if you take care. The lack of jump jets really hurts in some terrain, but helps keep the BV down enough that you can get one for well under 600 points.

The weapons take up a whopping 7 tons,  35% of the total. What do you get for this? Two point hits, up to eight of them, maximum range 9

*Crickets chirping*

Ok, two SRM 4 streak isn’t overwhelming. It helps if you realize that it’s roughly equal to an old Javilin’s output. This firmly dictates the Kabuto’s role; going after soft targets, whether that is bugmechs, crit-vulnerable vehicles, ammo & coolant haulers, or heavier mechs that have had holes punched in them. The little guy will never be a superstar, but can be a good cleanup unit.

Defensively, it’s even more dreary. The thing is utterly allergic to Gauss and equivalent hits; one anywhere will wipe out a section, one to any torso and it’s dead. A PPC or equivalent will get through the armour anywhere, or an arm is gone. Fortunately the arms don’t contribute much besides punching or carrying things. An XL means you can get engine crits from a side torso, and single heat sinks mean that taking two of those hits is the next best thing to a mission kill. It’s got maximum armour for the frame, but it’s still a mere twenty ton mech.

In summery, you get what you pay for, or maybe a hair less in this case.

There is a variant that comes during the Jihad. Light PPCs replace the missiles, for less damage, more concentration, and double the range. There is a minimum range, which is less of a burden than you’d think since you usually don't want to get close anyway. An extra single heat sink means that a running alpha isn’t quite heat neutral, but holding back a shot every few turns will keep in running fine.

It costs about a hundred-ten BV more, but I think it’s the better of the two. Among other things, it can do a better job of watching a heavier mechs back

I don’t regret having a Kabuto in my collection, and have had opportunity to use it one or two times to acceptable effect. (Still haven't managed to get the nice white again though.)

Edit - apparently a Kabuto was a type of helmet. I google'd it half expecting a type of bug, so I could proclaim it an honorary bugmech. Mercer Ravannion would've loved them Edit second - see Decoy's post below.

In the event of forum crash or post loss, this post may be restored by any who have it.
« Last Edit: 14 December 2019, 17:37:33 by Greatclub »

Caedis Animus

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2129
  • How can a bird be sultry? Very carefully.
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #1 on: 14 November 2019, 19:29:10 »
Kabuto's 20 tons.

Otherwise, yeah, it's probably one of the most mediocre units, like a sort of barely-worth-mentioning Javelin minime.
« Last Edit: 14 November 2019, 19:34:25 by Caedis Animus »

Greatclub

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3036
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #2 on: 14 November 2019, 19:37:16 »
blink

Checks

20, right. ignore the man man behind the curtain, there have been no changes. *crossed fingers*

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25634
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #3 on: 14 November 2019, 22:17:15 »
I suspect that the Kabuto's reference to a lack of light mechs by the DCMS was supposed to be about how regularly they were burning through Raptors and Owenses in combat with the Jaguars rather than a lack of available chassis.

Only thing that remotely makes sense.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24881
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #4 on: 15 November 2019, 07:29:42 »
Well i would NOT like my character in my rpg campaign be in one those, it has the potential as raider be attacking enemy lines.  Its it also has high probably of hitting targets it shoots every time. It has rough speedy enough to harass large mechs but for money and bv its could be replaced easily by a combat vehicle. This guy came out during the time recurrence of new and upgraded vehicles.

Its okay flavor mech or just a filler machine when nothing available for the Combine. That punishment one to get rid of high spirited officers who can be rid of so easily.
« Last Edit: 15 November 2019, 21:59:17 by Wrangler »
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Fallen_Raven

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3719
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #5 on: 15 November 2019, 12:36:54 »
To me the Kabuto fits the Combine very well in 3060. They had spent the last 10 years churning out new tech upgrades trying to reach parity with the Clans, and they were spending money like crazy to do it. In the aftermath of Tukayyid they had a period of relative peace to begin deploying the new tech with an eye toward what could be sustained. They've also faced the losses of the Battle of Luthein, the Black Dragon Rebellion, and are preparing for Operation Bulldog, so light units are likely to be in high demand.

The Kabuto steps in with a solution to their problems having its advanced weight saving technology safely tucked inside the armor, and its weapons being powerful but ammo efficient. It doesn't have the killing power of a Panther, but it does improve over the classic bugs in many ways. The armor is an obvious improvement, not that max armor means much for a 20-tonner. And the firepower is enough to mock the bug 'mechs. An alpha strike with any TRO bug caps at 9 points of damage, while a single Streak hits for 8 points. Sure the hits are scattered, but a medium laser doesn't punch many holes either.

All of this considered means that the Kabuto does the job of filling the Combine's need for a light unit that could perform on the modern battlefield, and be produced in numbers without costing more than the planets they were fighting over.
Subtlety is for those who lack a bigger gun.

The Battletech Forums: The best friends you'll ever fire high-powered weaponry at.-JadeHellbringer


Colt Ward

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 28960
  • Gott Mit Uns
    • Merc Periphery Guide- Bakunin
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #6 on: 15 November 2019, 16:05:12 »
I always liked the Kabuto and the few times I got one on the MM servers I was happy with it . . . except it went splat pretty easy.  But yeah, to me it was a little backstabber or support hunter.  I have liked it since seeing it in TRO3060's first pages.

One other use would be to send it after battle armor- both launchers locking up gives you 12 SRM hits on a Elemental Point, for 24 damage on 55 points of armor.  Three or four missile lock ups and a Kabuto is going to lay waste to most of a Point.

Deployed on the other border, and its a useful skirmisher for taking down FedCom RCT's armor elements.  If it can catch a tank in the side with its spread of SRMs, its going to cause some hitches in the FedCom commander's plan of attack.
Colt Ward
Clan Invasion Backer #149, Leviathans #104

"We come in peace, please ignore the bloodstains."

"Greetings, Mechwarrior. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Daoshen and the Capellan armada."

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25634
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #7 on: 15 November 2019, 17:09:20 »
The Kabuto has Streak 4s, not Streak 6s.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

Colt Ward

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 28960
  • Gott Mit Uns
    • Merc Periphery Guide- Bakunin
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #8 on: 15 November 2019, 17:30:36 »
Sorry, the bit about matching the Jav's damage made 6s stick in my mind even if it sounded off.  So it means . . . 6 SSRM hits will mission kill a Elemental point (48 our of 55 damage) so the ammo load can deal with 3 or 4 points if it survived that long before heading back to re-arm.
Colt Ward
Clan Invasion Backer #149, Leviathans #104

"We come in peace, please ignore the bloodstains."

"Greetings, Mechwarrior. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Daoshen and the Capellan armada."

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25634
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #9 on: 15 November 2019, 17:33:55 »
And with streak launchers, it can afford to stay at 7-9 hexes and keep taking lousy shots until it hits something.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40758
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #10 on: 15 November 2019, 17:40:20 »
For toad hunting, I'd pair it with something with a big gun, even if only a large laser. One or two big hits into a Point means the Kabuto's missiles will kill suits a LOT faster. There's a Raptor with two large lasers, isn't there?
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Luciora

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5756
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #11 on: 15 November 2019, 17:51:16 »
I like the Kabuto. On a single hit, that's half a ton of armor removed.  A full ton if both launchers hit.  Damage like that adds up fast, even if it is being sandblasted off.  Not many lights can take that and mediums are not safe from that either.

Decoy

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2705
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #12 on: 15 November 2019, 23:19:58 »
One of the key reasons for TRO 3060 was to replace the Unseen. EG the Valkyrie was attempted to be replaced with the Garm. I think the Kabuto was meant to replace the Locust. As far as bug 'mech names, there is the Kabutomushi or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rhinoceros_beetle

Luciora

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5756
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #13 on: 15 November 2019, 23:52:43 »
That would need TSM no?  It would be amusing to see a Kabuto fliptoss another mech however.   :))

One of the key reasons for TRO 3060 was to replace the Unseen. EG the Valkyrie was attempted to be replaced with the Garm. I think the Kabuto was meant to replace the Locust. As far as bug 'mech names, there is the Kabutomushi or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rhinoceros_beetle

Nightsong

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 556
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #14 on: 16 November 2019, 00:05:10 »
For toad hunting, I'd pair it with something with a big gun, even if only a large laser. One or two big hits into a Point means the Kabuto's missiles will kill suits a LOT faster. There's a Raptor with two large lasers, isn't there?

Two of them if you count the clan salvage version with paired ERLLs.

Firesprocket

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2945
  • Broke the Bandwagon
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #15 on: 17 November 2019, 03:15:12 »
Never used one, but makes sense to pair up one up with Panthers, Raptors, Daimyo, P-Hawk 3K, and later Wights for crit seeking.

mbear

  • Stood Far Back When The Gravitas Was Handed Out
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4497
    • Tower of Jade
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #16 on: 18 November 2019, 12:59:26 »
For toad hunting, I'd pair it with something with a big gun, even if only a large laser. One or two big hits into a Point means the Kabuto's missiles will kill suits a LOT faster. There's a Raptor with two large lasers, isn't there?

Or you could make a lance with two of each official variant. Four Light PPCs and four Streak SRM-4s might be a good combo.
Be the Loremaster:

Battletech transport rules take a very feline approach to moving troops in a combat zone: If they fits, they ships.

You bought the box set and are ready to expand your BT experience. Now what? (Thanks Sartis!)

MoneyLovinOgre4Hire

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 25634
  • It's just my goth phase
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #17 on: 18 November 2019, 13:15:40 »
I think Weirdo was talking about when the Kabuto was first introduced, though that would be a good combo.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

"I think I've just had another near-Rincewind experience," Death, The Color of Magic

"When in doubt, C4." Jamie Hyneman

GreekFire

  • Aeternus Ignis
  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3881
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #18 on: 18 November 2019, 14:24:27 »
I would consider the Kabuto to be a mook ‘mech for PCs to easily take put without being seriously threatened by them - kind of like the Eagle, the Cossack, the Garm, the Duan Gung, etc. Sure, you can get some mileage out of them in a normal game, but ultimately, they make for a nice alternative to things like Wasps and Stingers for your players to kill in their well-armored heavy ‘Mechs.
Tu habites au Québec? Tu veux jouer au BattleTech? Envoie-moi un message!

UnLimiTeD

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2039
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #19 on: 03 January 2020, 06:36:26 »
Ah, Giants:Citizen Kabuto ... wait, wrong game.
So, I got a question here, in the name of all mechs of this weight class:
What place do they have, realistically, in a game? Pickup, sure, but also a campaign - of which I never played one - or maybe RPG?
It seems to make a lot of sense to me from a grand strategy perspective, but I sure wouldn't want to ever pilot one.
Is their limited firepower protecting them from shots, or does their fragility usually spell an early doom?
Savannah Masters are the Pringles of Battletech.
Ooo! OOOOOOO! That was a bad one!...and I liked it.

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24881
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #20 on: 03 January 2020, 07:09:21 »
Ah, Giants:Citizen Kabuto ... wait, wrong game.
So, I got a question here, in the name of all mechs of this weight class:
What place do they have, realistically, in a game? Pickup, sure, but also a campaign - of which I never played one - or maybe RPG?
It seems to make a lot of sense to me from a grand strategy perspective, but I sure wouldn't want to ever pilot one.
Is their limited firepower protecting them from shots, or does their fragility usually spell an early doom?
I would definitely have it rpg or scenario game.  It would likely be part of a Combine Militia whom needs to sends out scouts, this be fine one in there for it. Its original variant is 560 bv (2.0).  A the force it would be part of could be  Scout or harasser force, where it's would be working behind lines your boys in your campaign have find it and it's lancemates.   You Also can think how the do scenarios to run in the combine.  Such as some idiot some how got in command of a company, wanted see if the "Bug Swarm" tactic was really dead one, but they used Kabotos teamed with other under 1000 bv units to match whatever force.  It hilarious encounter for someone!  Especially the carnage that would ensue.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Fallen_Raven

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3719
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #21 on: 03 January 2020, 17:33:49 »
Ah, Giants:Citizen Kabuto ... wait, wrong game.
So, I got a question here, in the name of all mechs of this weight class:
What place do they have, realistically, in a game? Pickup, sure, but also a campaign - of which I never played one - or maybe RPG?
It seems to make a lot of sense to me from a grand strategy perspective, but I sure wouldn't want to ever pilot one.
Is their limited firepower protecting them from shots, or does their fragility usually spell an early doom?

I've found that the value of light 'mechs goes up when non-mech forces come into play. You don't want to waste a Warhammer on an APC, but a bug 'mech can be spared. This goes even more for infantry. So in larger games with more conventional forces light 'mechs are very useful for thinning out screening elements or flanking support positions. This is even more valuable in complex terrain where heavy 'mechs will be restricted in their movement.
Subtlety is for those who lack a bigger gun.

The Battletech Forums: The best friends you'll ever fire high-powered weaponry at.-JadeHellbringer


Greatclub

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3036
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #22 on: 03 January 2020, 19:37:10 »
In a BV matched game it isn't a horrible use of your last less-than-a-thousand points. Certainly not a good use of them, but I can think of worse.

It's also something you should run into fairly often in scenarios.

glitterboy2098

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 11991
    • The Temple Grounds - My Roleplaying and History website
Re: mech of the week: Kabuto
« Reply #23 on: 03 January 2020, 20:18:52 »
honestly i wouldn't be surprised if the intent with it was to provide an alternative light they could send to the units on the periphery and davion borders, so they could redirect all the Jenner, Spider, and other more effective designs to the big name units and those facing down the clan border.