Figured I might as well have a single thread to slap down all my ideas for 'mechs, lord knows I have plenty of bad ideas. But I digress, let's start with my take on a 'mech heavily inspired by the Lyran Commandos: The Soldier 3R.
Soldier SOL-3R
Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 3051
Cost: 1,943,542 C-Bills
Battle Value: 725
Chassis: SOL-3R Standard
Power Plant: GM 200 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 86.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 129.6 km/h
Jump Jets: Twitch 200
Jump Capacity: 60 meters
Armor: Alumi-lite Standard Armor
Armament:
4 Defiance B3M Medium Lasers
2 Defiance A-1 Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Cyber Mech R&D Co.
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Fren-Ship
Targeting and Tracking System: Seeker Mk. V
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 43 points 2.50
Engine: Fusion Engine 200 8.50
Walking MP: 8
Running MP: 12
Jumping MP: 2 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 1 LL, 1 RL 1.00
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 48 3.00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 8 7
Center Torso (rear) 1
L/R Torso 6 6
L/R Torso (rear) 1
L/R Arm 4 4
L/R Leg 6 5
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Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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2 Medium Lasers RA 6 2 2.00
2 Medium Lasers LA 6 2 2.00
2 Small Lasers CT 2 2 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 37
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 2 Points: 7
8/1j 3 2 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
The SOL-3R is a 'Mech built for the purpose of what the head designer of the Cyber Co. has referred to as "Tactical Obnoxiousness" in which the Soldier positions itself while heavier members of it's lance attract attention of dangerous foes. Then once given the chance it can pop out from cover to drill into an unlucky foe with it's array of beam weaponry, and proceeding to hightail it out of the area before they can flatten it like a roach. In it's "default" loadout, the SOL-3R brings to bear four Medium Lasers, two in each arm and a pair of Small Lasers in the torso in the event that it's arms are put out of commission. A standard 200-rated engine brings it to a dizzying 130 kph, and to top it all off both legs have a Jump Jet mounted in each of the 'Mech's "thighs" to offer the Soldier a fair level of burst mobility. It is is fairly delicate for it's role, however, with a piddly three tons of normal armor spread across it's body.
The Soldier was designed as a fairly inexpensive, mass-production-friendly 'mech that could function well out of the box, and requires a high degree of instinct and skill to gauge when to strike and when to retreat to it's hopefully much-heftier comrades. However, it was also designed with an eye for ease of modification: with a bit of love, elbow grease and some duct tape, an aspiring Mechwarrior swap the engine and mount whatever they please on the Soldier's modular arm pylons (weight permitting, that is!), giving the Soldier a good level of identity for those in the Solaris circuit. Of course, sacrifices and upgrades may have to be made, but being reasonably simple to mass-produce and spare parts being common, a smart pilot can put whatever he can fit on a Soldier and still have the mobility to hightail out of sight at a moment's notice.
Is it a wise investment? No, probably not. Is it very strong or practical? I doubt it. Is it worth casually moonwalking up to an Atlas, slapping it's ass and proceeding to pull a Michigan J. Frog dance right in their face as your friends take advantage of the distraction even if you get reduced to a greasy smear in the process, just to see how he might react?
Absolutely.
