(http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/he2aeg9464/Smoothdavid.gif)
Smoothdavid II PA(L)/Smoothgoliath II PA(L) - Technical Readout Vehicle Annex Revised page 197
Whenever I read about the Smoothdavid II (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5090/smoothdavid-pal-ii) or see one in a scenario, I can't help hearing the theme tune to the old Robocop movie in my head, together with Peter Weller's voice quoting "Come quietly or there will be... trouble." The Smoothdavid II and its Smoothgoliath II (http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5091/smoothgoliath-pal-ii) variant were designed to be the future of law enforcement in Old Detroit the Inner Sphere, or at the very least the Lyran Commonwealth, and as could be expected of a paramilitary design, it's also found itself in a combat role thanks to the Jihad.
Introduced in Technical Readout Vehicle Annex, the Smoothdavid II and Smoothgoliath II both entered production on Tharkad in 3064. What the mark I versions may be is unknown, they've never appeared in either stats or fluff form in any sourcebook, but presumably were just early prototypes or perhaps limited release first runs to iron out the kinks. The Smoothdavid III is later added, with the newly released Record Sheets Vehicle Annex - IndustrialMechs and Exoskeletons (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27_35_213&products_id=3369) giving us greater detail.
The fluff for the Smoothdavid II discusses how Inner Sphere police forces became interested in battle armor for their heavy response units in the aftermath of the Clan invasion. Cost and availability put the early battlesuits out of reach and it wasn't until a decade or so later that law enforcement had the opportunity to explore the possibilities presented by the armored suits. At first the experience didn't quite match expectations, with battle armor typically being overpowered or occasionally too clumsy.
The solution for the police forces' needs was an obvious one: if the available battle armor was too big and powerful, make one that is lighter. TharHes of Tharkad stepped up and fielded the Smoothdavid II and its variant, choosing the lightest possible battle armor chassis, which even then truly will be a goliath in the non-military environment. Built as a PA(L) - or Powered Armor (Light) - instead of an exoskeleton, that means that the Smoothdavid II is fully sealed, despite the artwork, and thus capable of operating in hostile atmospheres or even no atmosphere at all. While potentially useful for SWAT and similar heavy police units, that small step is one that is very useful for a suit hoping to later make the leap to the military market.
Oddly for a Lyran design, there isn't much talk of the Smoothdavid II/Smoothgoliath II being sold to foreign customers, but the fluff does at least mention the concept being copied. While technically not fully canon, you thus could field similar PA(L)s in other militaries and mercenary forces if the Smoothdavid II or Smoothgoliath II fits the troop mix you have in mind.
The question could perhaps be asked, just how much do law enforcement departments really need PA(L)s? Given their access to conventional infantry-style weapons and equipment, SWAT is already going to be more than enough to handle criminals. If you're dealing with terrorists, then you're probably already calling in the military anyway. Rule of cool, I guess.
With experience garnered from gladiatorial suits used on Solaris VII, TharHes at least managed to get the design right. Both the Smoothdavid II and Smoothgoliath II are capable of speeds of up to 32.4 kph, which will certainly enable them to outrun somebody on foot. The ability to move three hexes per turn allows a +1 Target Movement Modifier to be generated, and makes them great for running around inside buildings. The two suits are also equipped with armored gloves, a searchlight and a mission equipment bay.
The gloves are pretty much a no brainer for a PA(L), especially one with the mission role intended for the Smoothies. The operator doesn't have to worry about accidentally crushing a perpetrator in their grasp, plus it freely allows the use of any equipment usable by a person. If you're using the suits for a combat role, then heavy infantry weapons such as the Man Portable Plasma Rifle, Portable Machine Gun, Standard Two-Shot SRM Launcher, Heavy Grenade Launcher and David Light Gauss Rifle make for good choices.
The mission equipment is an interesting feature given how it’s described in the fluff. From the artwork, it's obvious that the suit doesn't have the bulk to hold the equipment internally, particularly not the Smoothdavid II with its 205kg bay. The write up in the Vehicle Annex instead attributes the mission equipment to multiple hardpoints that allow a variety of equipment to be attached to the frame. Examples given for the sort of equipment that could be used consist of a somewhat odd collection. The manipulator gloves are perhaps the least unusual, because it maybe wouldn't be uncommon for an operator to need even finer motor control than the gloves allow, only donning them for firefights and such. A counterpoint is that the Smoothdavid II and Smoothgoliath II should probably only be used when a heavy firefight is imminent anyway; the suits aren't really meant for the average beat officer. The mention of filter masks and armor vests as other options are a greater curiosity.
Technically it shouldn't be impossible to design extra-large armor vests that could be used by battle armor, particularly PA(L)s and exoskeletons. For suits that have the payload capacity it would be an easy way to provide greater protection without a complete rebuild. Of course, there is the little problem that we don't have any rules for this, although it’s something that shouldn't be difficult to house rule. The need for operators to carry filter masks is also something that doesn't mesh with the rules. All PA(L)s are already environmentally sealed, so any such mask is technically unnecessary. The most plausible solution is that - like the gloves - part of the facemask of the helmet can be removed to allow the suit to present a less imposing visage, again house ruling that the suit isn't sealed when the mask is detached. This would be more fitting for a police suit than a military design, plus it would neatly account for the artwork.
Where the Smoothdavid II and Smoothgoliath II part ways is in the remaining equipment. Whereas the former has an Anti-Personnel Weapon Mount installed on each forearm, the Smoothgoliath replaces them with a cutting torch and heat sensor. The Smoothdavid's weapon mounts would allow it to carry some lighter firepower to support the main weapon carried in the hands, perhaps a stunner or a pistol. They could also be used to carry the only firepower for when the operator is using other equipment or otherwise doesn't have a hand free to hold a gun. It should be remembered that in the default BattleTech rules, no matter what infantry weaponry a battle armor suit wields, they're all treated effectively as an Auto Rifle and that only one weapon can be used per turn. Even when using optional rules, only one AP weapon can be fired per turn, but at least you can use a mix to allow for different types covering different roles.
The Smoothgoliath's equipment suggests that it's intended for use in assaults. The heat sensor could be used in other situations, but the cutting torch is pretty clearly intended for cutting open access ways. The Smoothgoliath II also has heavier armor than the Smoothdavid II, which altogether accounts for it having around a third less mission equipment capacity at just 140kg. Even with two points of standard armor versus the Smoothdavid's one, the Smoothgoliath isn't well protected in BattleTech terms, although the two points are plenty in A Time Of War.
The Smoothdavid III first appeared as an entry in the Field Manual 3085 RATs, with rough details published in Technical Readout Vehicle Annex Revised, and more revealed in Record Sheets Vehicle Annex - IndustrialMechs and Exoskeletons. Introduced during the Jihad as a way of dealing with shortages of real battle armor, the Smoothdavid III is an upgunned suit, but the weapon chosen forces the design to pay a hefty price. The description in the Armed and Dangerous section of the Annex states that TharHes replaced one of the AP Weapon Mounts with a Medium Recoilless Rifle, together with lower speed and a smaller mission equipment payload. The mass requirement of the recoilless rifle means that the Smoothdavid III has been reduced to just a single Movement Point, which makes the suit much easier to hit and, when combined with the weak armor, the Smoothdavid III might be able to dish out the damage, but it definitely can't take it. The Smoothdavid III is the epitome of the glass cannon.
Like all PA(L)s, you can't really expect much of the Smoothdavid family of suits. They're cheap and disposable spotters and initiative sinks, and, in an urban environment in particular, the Smoothdavid II and Smoothgoliath II can make for a usable sacrificial scout. The small Marine Point Value provided by the Smoothgoliath's cutting torch isn't really enough to make it worthwhile for boarding purposes; even unarmored marines in good body armor would be superior. The Smoothdavid III can make for an ambush unit, although it works best against conventional infantry and other PA(L)s, which it can hopefully kill before suffering too many casualties itself. Against proper battle armor, even light suits, the Medium Recoilless Rifle simply can't inflict enough damage to prevent almost certain destruction of the ambushing PA(L)s.
The suits work best in RPG scenarios, where even a lowly PA(L) can be a tough cookie in a fight. A Time Of War also better allows players to fully utilize the flexibility offered by the armored gloves and mission equipment. The Smoothdavid is very well matched to the sort of player who likes to packrat, carrying every possible piece of hardware that might be required in a game session. When the mission equipment is offloaded, you also end up with a suit that masses under 200kg, which can be important if you're in an area with weak flooring and the GM is feeling evil.
Overall, like so many PA(L)s and exoskeletons, the Smoothdavid/Smoothgoliath is really a flavor piece for BattleTech games. Use it you feel like the variety or have a few BV points/CBills spare, but don't expect much and, as always for these lightweights, make sure you have mops, buckets and body bags ready. At least that'll give you something to carry in the mission equipment bay.