Hand Held Weapons with Energy Weapons

[Wolf72]

I'd like to get an idea of the possible Hand Held energy weapons, including Chem Lasers, and what their requirements would be ...

something along the lines of:

HH: 1.5 tons (ER MiL @ .25, SHS @ 1.0, ... um (c) iOS SRM-2 @ .25, since you can't put .25 tons (4 pts) armor on).  Actually, this might make a decent 15 ton mook-mek/local police force.
       1.5 tons SL+SHS
       2.0 tons MiPL+SHS+ ... .5t for something else

       4.0 tons ML+3 SHS
       6.0 tons PML +4 SHS ... even better if you get a clan PML.  Check your local CSF kiosk for availability
                    ERML +5 SHS ... see above
       8.0 tons LPPC +5 SHS.  What kind of assault mech do you have? ... I'm thinking some big 'ol IM that can pick this thing up and help out in a pinch.

[Daryk]

The half ton of "something else" could easily be armor.  That would keep the hand held weapon from being erased by an AOE hit...

[AlphaMirage]

Unfortunately I think Hand-Held Energy weapons are of limited efficacy when there are so many better missile based options to chose from. Even with industrial TSM they are just to heavy and even then you could (and perhaps should) just make use of a better missile launcher.

That said the Large Chemical Laser might be useful as a medium range backup for a missile boat such as an Archer if you wish to bring one with you and you can get your hands on one (although reloading under fire is probably still better). It could be argued that a double Chemical Medium Laser is worthwhile on a 30 tonner like say a Powerman, Javelin, or Hankyu D.

[Wolf72]

 agreed, there is basically "only if" scenarios out there for energy weapons.  The best case scenarios I can think of are equipping multi-purpose mechs that have no ammo concerns and possibly remain mission ready/available for longer time periods ... sans damage.

would like to see the options.  The LPPC seems like it might work  ... it gives you an 18 hex range.

[AlphaMirage]

If you give a Charger (or a 1A5/5A5) another hand you can give it an LPPC but that's only 5 damage from an 80 tonner so its outgunned by a Clint/Hermes II. Instead it could have an LRM-15 which does an average of 9 from further away or a Thunderbolt 10 for 10. Now you have limited ammo with those but honestly by the time you burn through the 6-8 rounds the situation probably has changed and it might be time to 'Charge' or 'Withdraw' depending on what kind of Charger you have.

It unfortunately comes down to the range of the weapon's that can be mounted on the mech. Handhelds are best used to augment a bracket you can't shoot at which is why you see so many missiles as some mechs are knife-fighters and need a closing weapon until they can get into range of an AC/20 or Laser Array. Small Pulses could be argued for Anti-Infantry but SRMs do a better job at a longer range. The Chemical Large and LPPC are really the only viable options unless you are attempting to arm a group of Indimechs so they might be able to take on some Bugs.

[Daryk]

Unfortunately I think Hand-Held Energy weapons are of limited efficacy when there are so many better missile based options to chose from. Even with industrial TSM they are just to heavy and even then you could (and perhaps should) just make use of a better missile launcher.
*snip*

Not to mention 'Mech Mortars... ;)

[Wolf72]

... unless you are attempting to arm a group of Indimechs so they might be able to take on some Bugs.

sounds like a Periphery scenario or a Solaris-7 event ... possibly a training cadre too.