That's not a cannon. THIS is a cannon!

[marauder648]

I'm going to fluff in that in the Zhukov AU, the Mackie never really went away. Whilst its production lines and general design may have been old, by later (IE Succession War) standards, the 'Mech is comparatively simple, its chassis is a big, roomy box with arms and legs and so during the 3rd Succession War, the Great Houses started building these 'simple' 'Mechs again, with their own national flavour for weapons of course.

House Steiner would produce what was basically the 9H (renamed to the 9S) to replace holes torn in their formations and keep their traditonal top heavy formations equipped with Assaults.

This however isn't a standard 9S, instead this is designed for what would be the planned assault on Dieron and the heavy fortifications there, as well as those on other worlds in the Combine. To that end the original weapons are altered to include something that can crack bunkers and fortifications as well as dig out the most well protected infantry with raw explosive force.

This is a WIP by the amazing Matt Plog.

[Kerfuffin(925)]

I like where this is going

[Daryk]

Please tell me that's an LTAC...  :D

[marauder648]

Please tell me that's an LTAC...  :D

Or yes, I will comment and yes that is a Long Tom Cannon, sadly you can't fit the full fat artillery version on it as that's 30 crits.

[Maingunnery]

Looks great, and an interesting change with the cockpit cover.

[marauder648]

Yeah the physical changes are because I figured that whilst the Mackie is quite a simple 'Mech in terms of design and layout, the carefully done curves etc would slow down production or require plant specifically for those sections. So they were largely eliminated. This would simplify construction and keep the hull as roomy as before, and allow it to be built with more simple material as you don't have to worry about curving armour, just having it welded and cast into large single chunks. The head remains and Matt added the 'visor' to help eliminate the big SHOOT ME HERE that the huge faceplate presented.

[Daryk]

Awesome!  LTACs are just cool as hell, no need for an actual Long Tom, especially if you use thermobarics...  ^-^

[marauder648]

Awesome!  LTACs are just cool as hell, no need for an actual Long Tom, especially if you use thermobarics...  ^-^

Sadly the Long Tom can't fire anything but bog standard HE - https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Long_Tom_Cannon they fixed it in the errata. The full scale arty piece can but not the 'short barelled' version here.

[Daryk]

Wait, which errata?  IO was later, so should prevail on that point...

[marauder648]

Wait, which errata?  IO was later, so should prevail on that point...

Not entirely sure, I could ask in the rules thing :)

[Daryk]

I just finished a quick skim of all the most recent errata, and don't see anything barring Artillery Cannons from using Thermobarics...

[marauder648]

Well that's useful :D And as these have 4 tons of ammo aboard they can carry some thermobaric shells.

[marauder648]

Long and short range missile support.



(note there is a minor error with this, the SRM's on the lower torso are suppose to be 2 shot, not 4)

Based on the Archer commanded and owned by a former Free Worlds League noble, who's daughter in turn inherited her father's 'Mech the machine was retrofitted by Irian Technologies Inc thanks to the new Baroness' husband being a member of Irian's board and her having the technological aptitude to tinker and refine her Father's 'Mech.

This would then be sold as a variant to the FWL and eventually other Great Houses in the early 3050's.

(yes it's basically Agincourt from MW5)

[Daryk]

That thing will be a terror once MMLs are a thing!  8)

[marauder648]

One of the MA-9KG Mackie 'Karl-Gerät' attached to an AFFC unit. Deployed in Company sized 'Breacher Companies' these were usually broken down into Lance sized 'Batteries' for operations and training. Each Battery would operate together and wasn't parcelled out, as the firepower of four Long Tom Cannons could smash any fortification with ease without emperilling any of the 'Mechs.

By the amazing - https://www.deviantart.com/mattplog

[Daryk]

Love the finished version!  :thumbsup:

[namar13766]

Are these part of a new upcoming project?

[Red Pins]

Are these part of a new upcoming project?

 :bang:  Probably.

Only 120 more Technicals/Auxiliaries, Drones, Vees, and Mechs.

Ah, well.  Keep them coming!

[namar13766]

:bang:  Probably.

Only 120 more Technicals/Auxiliaries, Drones, Vees, and Mechs.

Ah, well.  Keep them coming!

BTW, how's progress on that front? You considering asking others like Marauder648 or Willis for help?

[willis]

I got the time....let me know when the stats are done and fluff....

[David CGB]

One of the MA-9KG Mackie 'Karl-Gerät' attached to an AFFC unit. Deployed in Company sized 'Breacher Companies' these were usually broken down into Lance sized 'Batteries' for operations and training. Each Battery would operate together and wasn't parcelled out, as the firepower of four Long Tom Cannons could smash any fortification with ease without emperilling any of the 'Mechs.

By the amazing - https://www.deviantart.com/mattplog

Please, such a good mech needs stats

[Daryk]

One of these days, I'll have to commission Plog to draw our unit's Orion with an LTAC.  That thing was pure MONEY in every scenario we got to use it!  :thumbsup:

Hopefully, I'll get Spacekat to post a picture of the awesome mini he made (and painted)... it's a literal work of art!  :)

[marauder648]

From: Chief Engineer O'Hara.

To: Hauptmann Cristoff

Well! She didn't blow up, and the adjustments we made to the engine shielding, replacing that museum piece with one salvaged from Teasin' Tina seems to be working fine. Yes we had to replace the wiring, but that was to be expected as most of it had rotted away after so long outside with the only care being more layers of paint being added over the years.

In regards to your previous message about the Freezers...well if i'm being honest Sir, your predecessor didn't need them after we got their Cyclops recovered, the damage was too severe to be worth a rebuild and she was declared a TCL and we filled out all the paperwork regarding that.

The computer core was easy to update and we're going to take her out onto the ranges later this week. I know that some of the guys and gals have been a bit worried about the myomer that we put in there, but there was only one small fire and we fixed that along with several other issues with the ammo feed for the LRM.

I know you've been taking a lot of flak whilst running cover for this pet project, but I swear we'll make it up to you. A buddy of mine in the Ordinance and Logistics branch said we've still got several hundred of these old ladies in storage following the 4th when they were finally put out to pasture or are deployed at OTU's and as OPFOR or range targets for those in the worst condition.
If we can get this to work, and we shall, think of the reward and promotion you'll get for turning out a viable combat unit on the cheap! And, as I said at the start of all this, you won't ever need to get yourself any whiskey or brandy again.

First range day is scheduled for the 18th at 0900.

See you there Sir.

[namar13766]

So are these designs going to be part of the Zhukoverse?

[marauder648]

So are these designs going to be part of the Zhukoverse?

Yes, yes they are :)

[marauder648]

Your Highness,

The folks at DOOMR have come up with something that's pretty promising. I know that quite a few in the General staff view the DOOMR people as little more than 'a collection of mad scientists, garden shed inventors, young troublemakers, pyromaniacs who had been locked up in a place full of spare parts and told if they come up with something useful to fight the Clans that there would be more warehouses full of spare parts for them.' But I think they're onto something here.

And no, unlike MUSE MARY this does not involve jump jets, thank god.

Instead this is a fairly normal upgrade package on the Brutus, the big change as you'll notice is the main gun. The Blazer whilst doing less damage that two large lasers overall can deliver a more concentrated punch in a single area, allowing it to punch through armour. And, against something like a Loki or the lights and mediums the Clans employ, it could be more effective, and outside of a heavy AC or a Gauss rifle, its pretty much the only weapon we've got that can reliably headcap a target which means more salvage if we control the field.

There's some other changes too and they're on the attached file, prototyping has been successful thus far, and Dr Hawkwood has said she'll update me when more tests are carried out, but despite several...'interesting' lines of development, and only a few explosions, they're onto something here.

[Maingunnery]

What is DOOMR?

[marauder648]

What is DOOMR?

Department Of Ordnance and Military Research.

[namar13766]

From the descriptions, I’m guessing these are Clanbusters in various fashions.

[marauder648]

From the descriptions, I’m guessing these are Clanbusters in various fashions.

Pretty much, without going too advanced and instead having them be more quirky solutions rather than "Put gauss rifles on it." :D