Too good to be true- what mech would overcome that?

[Colt Ward]

Your command, a middle weight mech company (you know 1-3 heavies, 6-9 meds, 2-4 lights), is kicking back on whatever mercenary world you call home, having successfully completed your last contract.  Or at least successfully enough to keep creditors away, which is sufficient unto the day.

It is after hours, and you are at your favorite watering hole with a few friends.  You know in the next few days you have to start making a serious effort to find a new contract as well as the replacements for lost personnel.  While you are belly'd up to the bar, someone you do not know plops down on the stool next to you.  After ignoring the interloper for a bit, you notice they keep looking at you, almost as if they want to be invited into a discussion.

Finally, so you can get back to your busy plans of doing nothing you decided to confront the intruder.

"Can I help you?"

Your un-invited guest at the bar wants your company's help to restore them to their position (a minor throne, the CEO's seat, captain's chair on a dropship, whatever) that was robbed from them by some pretender.  The un-invited guest presents a pretty work-able plan to get their position back, and yeah it does look like you company can execute the mission with little fuss.  But it sounds too easy . . . too good . . .

 . . . and then they throw out the topper . . . they do not have many funds up front for this mission- enough to cover your initial operating expenses (think JS/DS rental and supplies) but they will give you a lot of cash . . . and, the topper, a mech . . . fully functioning and in great shape.  It may not be brand new, but it's condition is well above standard.  You do not believe them, but they show you a holo with the mech sitting in a dropship cubicle with a old fashioned printed paper from that day with a current headline!

What is the mech that would convince you to take the contract in . . .

 . . . 3025?

 . . . 3045?

 . . . 3055?

 . . . 3065?

 . . . 3075?

 . . . 3135?

 . . . 3145?

 . . . 3150?

Edit- Nothing outrageous like a Clan mech in 3025 or

[DevianID]

In 3025, a Marauder, or a Cyclops, or a Stalker, something with quirks and lore that said 'If you find one with a working battle computer, you hit the jackpot'.

In 3045, The cyclops 11A gets a Gauss rifle, first new gauss rifle i think?

3055+, its different shades of 'shiny new toy' for the year in question.  In 3055, the brand new 3055 Wraith, or Black Hawk Omnimech, offers a lot of value that just didnt exist before.  Like, before the Wraith in '55 the merc companies fast jumper was an Assassin, MAYBE they were lucky enough to get a 3052 8 jump Cicada.  And the Black Hawk is just a premium 5/8/5 with lots of armor, and you can reconfigure it to replace any of the old 55 tonners.

[thedancingjoker]

All Eras: Stalker-3Fb.

This machine is a beast in all eras.  Ok, it does get surpassed by 3150, but even then it holds it's own, just not top of the line.

[Wolf72]

3025: A Striker! ... only b/c I want one.

[Saint]

. . . 3025?  Marauder II  a good trooper assault mech

 . . . 3045? Archer 4M the improved heat dissipation and Artimus make this an easy pick.

 . . . 3055? Rakshasa I know many people hate it, but it works great when you don't treat it like a Mad Cat.

 . . . 3065? & . . . 3075?  Warhammer 8D again just a great trooper

 . . . 3135?, . . . 3145?, . . . 3150? This one is difficult but I'd go with a Anzu G60. Basically a Thor Prime with none of the problems of finding Clan tech for repairs

 

 

[Elmoth]

A Marauder II wouold certainly catch my attention. But a regular Marauder would as well.
Now, I will try to find a more secure payout first, even with that in front of me, since "wish contracts" may not pay the bills. If nothing comes up, yes, we can talk.

[guardiandashi]

I am not really familiar with the post 3075 units

my preferred mechs would be:
Marauders
Marauder II
Archer
Warhammer
Phoenix Hawk

and one that his highly specially specialized:
phoenix hawk LAM

if you have the opportunity for the T&T computer
Clint (the mech itself is pretty junk but if it has its slone 220 Lockover (from the battletechnology T&T computer article)
a 2750 Sentinel its T&T computer is mostly not that great, but it added 5 hexes to the long range for all weapons on the unit

[Colt Ward]

my preferred mechs would be:
Marauders
Marauder II
Archer
Warhammer
Phoenix Hawk

But which one at which time?  I mean do you want a Warhammer 6D over a Marauder 3M for 3025?

[Caedis Animus]

3025, a Cyclops 10-Z, or a decent mech that can be resold for operational costs.

3045, a Cyclops 11-A or 11-A-DC, or a decent mech that can be resold for operational costs.

3055, either the new hotness Cyclops, or a Clan Mech that can be resold for more than our normal operation costs.

3065, A Madcat MkII or Sagittaire, or a significantly expensive variety of mech that can be resold for more than our normal operation costs.

3075, A Hauptmann or a mostly intact Blakist Archangel-preferably with some work towards making the latter useable for a normal person and a few free cans of paint. Failing that, resold for operational costs.

3135 on, pretty much anything that can be resold for more than our normal operational costs. Anything that would be kept basically needs to be top of the line Clantech, or we aren't making our overhead.

Personally, I'm more in favor of designs that would fit a role that isn't going to be fit by something we already have-that means either rare but incredibly useful, or rare and durable. End of the day, keeping the company afloat is more important than the Commander's shiny new toy-People who work for Merc Commanders got mouths to feed, too. Clan mechs are mostly off the table unless the Sea Foxes or this would-be contract giver are offering ammo or technician's guides, and in the case of the seller, we better get the tech guides up front.

[Paul]

Cool setup, appreciate the added details.

a pretty work-able plan to get their position back

I'd have to know a bit more about this, even if just in vague terms.
Crude example: let's say the job is wrecking a couple of Scorpions and infantry. Odds of nothing worse than minor armor damage are very high. I'd probably do it for a Wasp.
But if you want me to knock over a competitive company of Mechs, never mind one that's heavier, well, that does change the math quite a bit...

So without getting in to detailing opfor, can you phrase it along the lines of:
This fight will be easy, hard, or extremely hard
The opfor is green, veteran or the worst SOBs this side of Terra
Target requires total defeat, or can something asymmetrical be done to complete the job, like assassinating the usurper?

You do not believe them, but they show you a holo with the mech sitting in a dropship cubicle with a old fashioned printed paper from that day with a current headline!

I like this touch, might use it.
Provided the 'Mech is included in the written contract, I'd likely accept this. With some stipulations, like, can walk under their own power, no crit damage. Barring that an inspection by my lead tech and his small escort to make sure this isn't a ploy to shanghai my tech.

[Colt Ward]

Clan mechs are mostly off the table unless the Sea Foxes or this would-be contract giver are offering ammo or technician's guides, and in the case of the seller, we better get the tech guides up front.

Not really a problem after 3085 . . . for the rest of your remarks, the mech is supposed to be the cherry on top that makes the deal un-resistable, a signing bonus.  The prize mech does not need to be sold to fund the contract, but yeah I figured we would get some 'sell expensive X mech to buy a lance of Stingers/Firestarters/Watchman" type answer.

Cool setup, appreciate the added details.

*snip*

I like this touch, might use it.
Provided the 'Mech is included in the written contract, I'd likely accept this. With some stipulations, like, can walk under their own power, no crit damage. Barring that an inspection by my lead tech and his small escort to make sure this isn't a ploy to shanghai my tech.

Thanks, that last part I was trying to figure out how to prove the mech actually exists w/o easy chance for it to be stolen and the ol' proof of life method came to mind.

[Natasha Kerensky]

Instead of picking the best mech in each timeframe or the best mech for the unit, another way to play this would be the mech with the most resale value possible in each timeframe.  Sell the rare SLDF survivor, or Goon exclusive, or LAM, or captured Clantech, or Blakist Superheavy and use the funds to outfit another lance or upgrade the company or buy a dropship or whatever.  (Or just retire to Herotitus, which is what every millionaire merc should be doing after selling their mech.)

FASAnomics is all supply driven, so it would probably be a bunch of mechs with XXL engines in the later timeframes instead of what’s actually in very limited supply but very high demand.  But still a useful thought exercise.

FWIW...

[Paul]

Thanks, that last part I was trying to figure out how to prove the mech actually exists w/o easy chance for it to be stolen and the ol' proof of life method came to mind.

Yep, solid move.

now what about my question concerning how hard the mission is?

[Colt Ward]

*shrug* Too good to be true scenario . . . so you know SOMETHING is wrong/off, but the point is the what mech might be enough for a CO to ignore the warning bells going off in their head?

[Wasteland Warrior]

Running a medium company, mobility would be a key selling point.

Pre clan invasion, the Exterminator would probably be king - bonus marks if that stealth system is in tact.
3055, the Falconer packs a punch for it's mobility.

Worst case, both mechs boast impressive resale value.

Post 3060 the options become a little too broad, for me at least, to nail down anything that would give as distinct an advantage.

[Caedis Animus]

Not really a problem after 3085 . . . for the rest of your remarks, the mech is supposed to be the cherry on top that makes the deal un-resistable, a signing bonus.  The prize mech does not need to be sold to fund the contract, but yeah I figured we would get some 'sell expensive X mech to buy a lance of Stingers/Firestarters/Watchman" type answer.

I mean, I wouldn't buy a Stinger lance or something-that'd be just poor business sense, because, y'know, I'm just gonna put myself in a deeper financial bind. I mean more resale to afford food, ammo, parts, and paychecks. It's a hell of a boring answer on my part though.

[ThePW]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231816445983251&set=gm.1774287336332522&idorvanity=845406525887279

THIS overcomes all...

[Paul]

*shrug* Too good to be true scenario . . . so you know SOMETHING is wrong/off, but the point is the what mech might be enough for a CO to ignore the warning bells going off in their head?

Got it, tracking.
In all of the below scenarios, the unit would be on the 'clock' in the sense that there's definitely a pain threshold of how much armor damage is sustained before retreats begin.

. . . 3025?

 . . . 3045?

Any Lostech Mech, or rare Mechs with very interesting capabilities like the OstScout.

. . . 3055?

 . . . 3065?

Just about any Clan mech.

. . . 3075?

Any good Clan 'Mech or rare 'Mechs

. . . 3135?

 . . . 3145?

 . . . 3150?

Top of the line stuff with advanced equipment installed. TSEMPs very desirable for a Merc, but with Sea Foxes in play, the more exotic tech also becomes appealing.

[Prospernia]

If I'm the commander?  I'd want to live to get paid and fight another day; so, an Assault Mech, 5/8 movement, jump-jets, lots of armor or better yet, an 50-ton LAM so I could just transform and GtFOoD.

I really only know 3025, but, I'd like to play in 3150.

[klarg1]

3025: Battlemaster, possibly BLR-1D or BLR-1G-DC

Why? It’s too expensive to go looking for, but in the force description provided it’s a very tough command ‘mech which is also fast enough to keep up with your typical late SW heavy lance.

(Obviously something higher tech fished out of an old SL depot would be shinier, but not practical in that era.)

3045: Similar to above, and for the same reasons, but now I want one of the swanky upgraded models supposedly passed to the DC back in ‘39.

3055: Hellhound/Conjurer

This is where it starts to get much trickier. There are many more options, and by this time the clans have significantly changed the dynamics of the modern battlefield. Anything with a decent mix of speed and armor is an option. I’m making an assumption that maintenance of clan material is expensive but feasible at this point in the time line too. My pick is a little arbitrary, but it fits the mold. I could just as easily said “Timberwolf” because it’s hard to go wrong with that, but I’m embracing the medium company theme here.

3065 and beyond: not sure - too many options to choose. If something comes to mind, I’ll update this post later. Clan tech or rare ‘mechs with cutting edge technology will feature prominently.

Edit:

3075: Banshee BNC-8S

Why? Because it’s a 4/6 Banshee with TSM and an axe. I’m gonna paint it bright Ferrari red with yellow pinstripes and laugh like a maniac the whole time I’m using it.

[Colt Ward]

3075: Banshee BNC-8S

Why? Because it’s a 4/6 Banshee with TSM and an axe. I’m gonna paint it bright Ferrari red with yellow pinstripes and laugh like a maniac the whole time I’m using it.

Seems legit.

[BrianDavion]

  Like, before the Wraith in '55 the merc companies fast jumper was an Assassin,

err you're forgetting the Phawk, sure it's slower then the 7/11/7 wrasith at 6/9/6 but it's still pretty good.