Author Topic: Black Knight IIC - 'Tis but a scratch.  (Read 294 times)

Breetai

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Black Knight IIC - 'Tis but a scratch.
« on: 21 September 2024, 04:05:20 »
Code: [Select]
Black Knight IIC

Mass: 75 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-D
Production Year: 3060
Cost: 7,869,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,426

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1  ER PPC
    2  Large Pulse Lasers
    2  Medium Pulse Lasers
    2  Heavy Medium Lasers
    1  Small Pulse Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                   114 points                4.00
    Internal Locations: 3 LT, 4 LA
Engine:             Fusion Engine                300                      19.00
    Walking MP: 4
    Running MP: 6
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             19(38)                    9.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 3 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 230                 12.00
    Armor Locations: 3 LT, 4 RT

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     23           35       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  10       
                                           L/R Torso     16           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8         
                                             L/R Arm     12           24       
                                             L/R Leg     16           32       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER PPC                                       RA        15        2         6.00
2 Heavy Medium Lasers                        LA        14        4         2.00
Large Pulse Laser                            RT        10        2         6.00
Large Pulse Laser                            LT        10        2         6.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        CT        8         2         4.00
Small Pulse Laser                            HD        2         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 6

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 24
4          5       5       3       0      3     1   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA


Colour me genuinely surprised that the Black Knight has never been done as a canon IIC design. This makes for a nice little heavy-hitting zombie of a second-line 'Mech. While it would be possible to boost the speed up to 5/8 with an XL engine I kinda feel that there's no need to - it's powerful at long range with the ability to constantly fire an ERPPC and 2 Large Pulse Lasers at a full run without building heat - which puts its consistent damage output capability up there with most Heavy omnis and some Clan Assaults - and it only increases its heat/damage ratio when in close, so it doesn't really need to worry as much about what range it's fighting at. 2,426 BV is somewhat pricy overall, but actually sits in about the middle of the curve for Clan heavies, and you'll probably get your BV worth.

As for the weapons package itself, while it would be very easy to design it as 'just the Inner Sphere Black Knight but with 'ER' in front of every weapon', I've gone with more of a variety grab-bag so that there's a number of different tools for a number of different jobs. As the fight closes to shorter ranges there's a variety of different fire plans you can use - drop the ERPPC for the Heavy Lasers at point blank, cycle it out for the twin Medium Pulse lasers (plus a heavy laser potshot because you might get lucky) if the enemy is being cute with range and attaching from 8 hexes. Or even ride the curve gauge a bit (or a lot) because there's a variety of different fire plans you can use to cool down after blasting away when a low to-hit presents itself. Mow down some infantry with the Small Pulse laser if you're feeling particularly spicy, too.

It's also fully armoured and very well crit-padded, and can take a beating. And it's designed specifically to take a beating and keep putting out maximal firepower.

Say you lose the arm with the PPC? Well, cycle in the Medium Pulse lasers and a Heavy Mediums as mentioned above instead.

Say you lose the arm with the Heavy Mediums? Use the PPC at shorter ranges instead.

Oops, you've lost the Left Torso entirely? You now sink 34 heat due to heatsink loss. Large Pulse + 2 Med Pulse + ERPPC is 33 heat, plus walking is heat-neutral.

You've lost the Right Torso instead? You now sink 32 heat. Large Pulse + 2 Med Pulse + 2 Heavy Mediums is 32 heat, you only build movement heat.

Lost both side torsos and absorbed 2 engine hits? You sink 18 heat meaning that you can still continually fire the 3 weapons left available to you right up until the enemy finally reduces you to a fine powder.

Basically, you'll have your opponents screaming this.


« Last Edit: 21 September 2024, 04:14:36 by Breetai »

Tyler Jorgensson

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Re: Black Knight IIC - 'Tis but a scratch.
« Reply #1 on: 23 September 2024, 13:18:33 »
Very nice!

I personally prefer the XL on anything but assaults because the save on tonnage can be used elsewhere but this is also one of those niche cases where I’d agree the slower speed works. It would work well with or replace Guillotine IIC’s.

 

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