’Mech of the Week: SCP-*** Scorpion

[SCC]

I find it hard to believe that such a 'Mech wouldn't be equipped with DHS's

[ANS Kamas P81]

The -Cs were all field refits with Clan weapons, slapped together by the Clan technicians.  No armor or other changes; hence the ERPPC and SSRM volley.  Guess you could make it an ERLL and lower the heat, but...

[Headshot]

They mostly went with LPLs though, after all they were ment for the second line units.

[SCC]

That Scorpion LAM would have been nasty to fight, -2 to all PSR for a fighter? Yes please.

[Kotetsu]

Who knows? Maybe they'll be a write-up on it in the (supposed) XTRO: Star League. (At the least, if they are redoing all the old "Unseen", that would be a way to cover the Scorpion.)

[sandstorm]

That Scorpion LAM would have been nasty to fight, -2 to all PSR for a fighter? Yes please.

For some reason, it's hard to see the Quad Bonus to transfer to a LAM...

If it did, it'd be a darn big boost to LAMs, putting them close to surpassing ASFs, and that'd be hard to explain in-Universe.

[Kotetsu]

Actually it is rather simple to see how the Scorpion LAM would've failed. If the upper weight limit is still 55 tons, and the Scorpion starts there...

[SCC]

Actually it is rather simple to see how the Scorpion LAM would've failed. If the upper weight limit is still 55 tons, and the Scorpion starts there...

The original LAM was based on the Shadow Hawk which weighs 55-tons, so it's not really a problem, just that something will have to give

[Deadborder]

The Scorp will need to find 5.5 tons for conversion equipment and another few tons for Jump Jets. There's no way that it can do that without either slowing down or further degrading its already weak weapons and armour.

[Scotty]

Drop the SRM-6 and PPC for a Larger Laser.  You gain six tons, at least, and dropping it to a 5/8 gives you a lot more to play with.

[SCC]

Just drop the SRM-6 and turn it into what a Panther's supposed to be, a fire support 'Mech for light lances

[Nikas_Zekeval]

The Scorp will need to find 5.5 tons for conversion equipment and another few tons for Jump Jets. There's no way that it can do that without either slowing down or further degrading its already weak weapons and armour.

If you go the same route as the Phoenix Hawk LAM and drop the speed to 5/8/5 that gains 10 tons from the smaller engine and gyro, and eats up eight of them for the conversion gear and jump jets.  That leaves two tons, most likely heat sinks and/or armor.

[markhall]

Nice to see reasonable love for the scorpion.  i liked it as a support sniper back in the day. And the current partial cover rules just help make it so much better at that. I mean who wants to risk the shots being wasted when there's something your sure to hit one you connect.     the new hppc varient is no Blitzkerg but its a damn scary flanker or pursuit unit.

[Giovanni Blasini]

I always looked at the Scorpion and said, "This should have an infantry bay" - pity that isn't possible within the rules.

Beyond that, for the old SCP-1N, another option I liked was making it a bigger Jenner, dropping the PPC for a brace of mediulasers and heat sinks.  For an odd duck route, drop both PPC and SRMs, go with 4 MLs, a token LRM-5 for range, 12 SHS and another two tons of armor to help it survive in close. Don't like the LRMs? Really go bigger Jenner and run an SRM-4 in its place.

[Kotetsu]

Added a small write-up on the LAM. Not sure how well I did, since I never understood the concept...

[Diamondshark]

This mech's standard variant actually becomes tremendously effective in hilly terrain, with the hull down rules. Get into partial cover, go hull down, and don't move until you have to abandon your post for some reason. You will have just enough heat sinks to keep using the PPC, and you will be very difficult to hit in return, even though you're stationary.

[Kit deSummersville]

Once I specifically asked about the SCP-1O, and since all newer editions of record sheets show double heat sinks, we may take for granted that SCP-1O was equipped with "freezers".

It was corrected in the TRO 3050 errata, but that didn't get very good distribution.

[WarGod]

I've used the scorpion a few times.  In SW era play I use it as a mobile sniper, or "Bug Hunter".  Considering in SW play a PPC would cripple most lights.  if not cripple then severely damage.  The SRM was used strictly for if anything tried to get under minimum range for the PPC.

In Latter eras, its been hit or miss.  Honestly I'd rather HAve a ERPPC, with more heat sinks then the LB.  with a tough more armor, or add a second SRM 6 rack. 

[martian]

In Latter eras, its been hit or miss.  Honestly I'd rather HAve a ERPPC, with more heat sinks then the LB.  with a tough more armor, or add a second SRM 6 rack.

You can try SCP-10M Scorpion. That's a good 'Mech. Its Heavy PPC can't be ignored and if you fire LRMs too, you can force PSR.

[Weirdo]

No kidding. I cannot WAIT to try that thing out. 8)

[RichQ03]

I've used the SCP-10M twice...its evil...if you hit with both weapons, it forces a PSR...the HPPC tends to leave its mark, and its fast enough to get into a good position most of the time.

[Fallen_Raven]

No kidding. I cannot WAIT to try that thing out. 8)

Would you people quit giving him ideas!

[martian]

Would you people quit giving him ideas!

Why?  The SCP-10M Scorpion is really harmless, sure.    O:-)

Sometimes I turn it into U-Boot and move it along the river bottom. It's completely safe, thanks its Quad piloting bonus. And then I emerge from the river when and where my enemy is not expecting it, and I can sneak my Scorpion behind his group of 'Mechs.

Once I managed to nail an enemy 'Mech with my Heavy PPC and LRMs into it CT rear armor. It was as if you open a tin can ...   }:)

[glitterboy2098]

Once I specifically asked about the SCP-1O, and since all newer editions of record sheets show double heat sinks, we may take for granted that SCP-1O was equipped with "freezers".

It was corrected in the TRO 3050 errata, but that didn't get very good distribution.

using singles gave it an interesting dynamic, and fit the idea of a field refit by Scorpion fans. DHS would require a depot level rebuild of the engine, something not many 'warriors might be able to afford or obtain. a DHS swap might make sense from a gameplay perspective, but i could i have lived with singles and singles made for a more characterful vehicle.

[Wrangler]

I wish there was miniature of the SCP-10M Scorpion variant, it was pretty neat.

[garhkal]

I always wanted them to come up with rules for adding a 'stinger' like tail for mechs, to make this truely into a scorpion!

[Jimmyray73]

I always liked using the Scorpion in 3025-era play. It was good as a sniper or a bug-hunter, and after a few nasty fights with it my friend Jeffy tended to go off on some primal response "KILL IT!" jag whenever he saw one hit the board. Didn't matter what else was going on, he'd throw all his resources into killing that Scorpion, and eventually any quad he saw on the field...

[martian]

I always wanted them to come up with rules for adding a 'stinger' like tail for mechs, to make this truely into a scorpion!

Scorpion has no tail. But Fire Scorpion has a tail.

[Molossian Dog IIC]

I have an odd soft spot for quads. After I mule-kicked a hostile heavy (I think it was a Thunderbolt) with my Goliath (don´t ask why they got so close to each other) and it fell and died and that won me the game I´ve grown fond of them.

I always looked at the Scorpion and said, "This should have an infantry bay" - pity that isn't possible within the rules.
...

You are not alone in this. It always looked like an APC with legs to traverse difficult terrain to me. It could always go hull down to let the infantrymen leave the vehicle and stand up in a few seconds. The armament would be a good support too.

[XaosGorilla]

I always wanted them to come up with rules for adding a 'stinger' like tail for mechs, to make this truely into a scorpion!

Could be done by adding a turret maybe.  (my 2 cents.)