(http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/thumb/7/74/Centurion_OmniMech.jpg/232px-Centurion_OmniMech.jpg)
By your will!
Earlier, JadeHellbringer covered the ubiquitous Davion cannon fodder trooper 'Mech, the Centurion (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=55037.0). (You may want to take a peek at the good article if you haven't already.) Today, our subject is the latest 'Mech in the Centurion line, the CN11-O series Centurion OmniMech.
this Centurion originates from the MechWarrior Dark Age where it gained new looks, and for reason or another got adopted as an OmniMech for standard BattleTech.
The Omni-Centurion, debuting in 3111, is manufactured by Corean Enterprises on New Avalon. The 'Mech is primarily used by the Federated Suns but also exported to their allies the Republic of the Sphere and Lyran Commonwealth, and sold to mercenaries. The Centurion also received new looks, with heavily stylized "helmet" and pauldrons, boosting its resemblance to its name sake, centurions of the ancient Rome.
Though it isn't stated, I suspect production on New Avalon has moved completely to this Omni Centurion, since it is more or less capable of doing everything the existing Centurion variants can, except perhaps having consistently high speed (not that the AFFS is lacking in this department). And, it might be replacing quite a lot of older medium 'Mechs with average speed (such as older Shadow Hawks and Enforcers, etc.) in the AFFS, moving to a single Omni platform simplifies logistics considerably.
The CN11-O is a 50-ton design like most of the previous Centurions, excepting the apparently stillborn CN10 series which were "up-tonned" to 55 tons. The internal structure is endo-steel as usual for post-Clan Invasion Centurions. The power plant is a Magna 250 XL fusion engine allowing for 86 KPH maximum speed, slower than most of the 31st century Centurions but faster than the original Centurion. These choices leave a lot of free weight and some of it was used to install a compact gyroscope, though its utility is slightly questionable when used with an XL-type fusion engine, and the space freed in the center torso isn't really utilized effectively. Covering all this is 9.5 tons of standard armor plate, the same StarGuard III nearly all Centurions use. 9.5 tons of armor is about 90% of the chassis maximum, and it is arranged quite evenly. Arms and side torsos share 16 points, legs and center torso have 20 and 21 points, respective, while all rear locations have 6 points. All of this leaves 24 tons of pod space, just under 50% of its weight, which is respectable for is weight class.
Finally, it seems the 'Mech is quite suitable for less skilled pilots, though how so isn't explained anywhere (Design Quirk: Easy to Pilot). Perhaps it has simple, intuitive controls, or maybe it has a tutorial program...
Configurations
The configurations for the Centurion share several features. All configurations carry CASE II with their ammo (typically in the right torso, often leading to a potential "torso bomb" due to amount of ammo there), and every configuration with a missile launcher has an Artemis IV module. Weapon placement follows a pattern: Main gun in the right arm, missiles in the left torso and secondary laser armament in the center torso. The left arm always has both lower and hand actuators. Exceptions will be noted.
Unfortunately the typical weapon placement makes the Centurion less than optimal for mechanized battle armor operations but the potential is there, and the Federated Suns is a big user of Battle Armor. Incidentally, carrying battle armor kind of addresses the anti-infantry shortcoming this design has in most of its configurations.
Prime
The primary configuration is very traditional. The main gun is an LB-10X autocannon, backed up by an LRM-10 and two ER medium lasers (one rear mounted). Both ammo consuming weapons have two tons of ammo. Very much a team player that works in just about any lance, and can deal with everything but conventional infantry. Good configuration when you don't know what you're going to meet.
A
The A configuration seems to be based on the CN9-D5. The main gun is an RAC/5 but instead of mere twin ER medium lasers, this one has an MML-9 and an ER medium. The RAC has the usual 3 tons of ammo, while the MML has only two, forcing the user to either pick standard load of each or doubling down on one type.
B
The B configuration is reminiscent of the CN9-AL in that its main gun is an energy weapon, the heavy PPC to be exact. For extra hilarity, the weapon is tied to a targeting computer. Backing up this is an MML-7 with two tons of ammo. For utility, a Guardian ECM suite is carried. An extra double heat sink is borderline pointless, allowing even running alpha strikes to cool down the 'Mech. No back-up lasers are carried which I find somewhat disappointing but I can't really complain about a heavy PPC and a targeting computer. A powerful configuration, blast holes to enemy 'Mechs and follow up with a SRM strike.
C
The C configuration is very much like the primary but trades the LB-10X for a plasma rifle, another excellent generalist weapon. The weight freed is used to install a C3 slave unit, a Guardian ECM and five jump jets, making this a rare (and surprising) jumping Centurion. Two tons of plasma is reasonable amount for most battles.
Compared to the primary configuration, this one loses a bit of range but the extra maneuverability and/or C3 link mitigate the loss of range. One must be careful about the heat though, a jumping alpha strike puts one at +9 heat. All these features do make this rather expensive in battle value though, some 400 points more than the primary config.
D
The D configuration is the odd-ball configuration (like the Templar III's B config). The main weapon is a hatchet, while the left arm carries a medium shield. An MML-9 is carried in the right torso rather than the left where its two-ton ammo bin is located. Center torso has a Beagle active probe and two ER medium lasers pointed front while the left torso has an ER small laser pointed rear. Finally, this configuration carries four jump jets.
All in all, this configuration is rather interesting. The shield reduces the 'Mech's speed to 64 KPH at most until it is destroyed but grants it considerable amount of extra durability if used correctly. Though the hatchet deals only 10 points of damage, melee weapons often have psychological impact and draw enemy fire. MMORPG players will recognize this as an archetypal "tank". Draw enemy attention and fire so that others can deal with the enemy freely. Ideal environments for this are canyons and cities, and the Beagle active probe makes sure ambushing this vanguard 'Mech is difficult.
As an aside, this configuration is certainly based on the second MWDA Centurion miniature which carries a hatchet and a shield.
E
The final configuration is the E. The E config is very simple: A Gauss rifle backed up by two ER medium lasers, both pointing front. The Gauss rifle has two tons of ammo. To make most of the Gauss rifle, this configuration also carries a boosted C3 slave, and for general utility or making the link effectively unbreakable, an Angel ECM suite.
Considering the existence of the B with its heavy PPC, I'm not terribly impressed by this configuration. Sure, it has a range advantage but a Gauss rifle and two ER medium lasers is simply somewhat boring in my opinion. Effective though, especially for boosted C3 units, and the Angel ECM certainly will come handy.
Closing thoughts
The 32nd century Centurion is pretty effective in all of its configurations. The base chassis is solid, offering good balance of endurance and speed though it doesn't excel at either. A team player that is unlikely to disappoint.
I wonder if the Easy to Pilot quirk is something of a meta-joke, since 5/8 medium 'Mech with a mix of weapons is something most players probably have used since the beginning of BattleTech (consider the 55-ton trio). Literally easy to pilot...
Looking at TRO3146 Federated Suns, the book's 'Mech content provide the AFFS very solid core for 'Mech companies (the only real omissions being C3 master platforms and a proper scout with high speed and Beagle/Bloodhound probe), with the Centurion doing a lot of grunt work. Indeed, I can see the 'Mech being the workhorse of Davion companies for the 32nd century, just like the older Centurions were in the preceding centuries.
The current configuration selection is reasonable, though it has some omissions: No mold-breaking configs like missile-boats, nor does the configuration mount advanced weapons or equipment like the re-engineered lasers, superchargers, TSEMPs or radical heat sinks, or FedSun's homegrown Clan-spec stuff. Perhaps we'll get configurations with those things in the future.
The Centurion OmniMech is covered in TRO3145: Federated Suns.
http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6339/centurion-cn11-o-base
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Centurion_(OmniMech)