Katydid ProtomechMass: 9 tons
Power Plant: 108 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 86.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 172.8 kph
Jump Jets:
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 Machine Gun
1 ER Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-E
Cost: 833,087 C-bills
Type: Katydid Protomech
Technology Base: Clan (Standard)
Tonnage: 9
Battle Value: 286
Equipment Mass (kg)
Internal Structure 900
Engine 108 3,500
Walking MP: 8
Running MP: 12(16)
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 2 500
Cockpit: 500
Armor Factor: 42 2,100
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 2 6
Torso 9 18
R/L Arm 2/2 4/4
Legs 5 10
Main Gun - -
Weapons
and Ammo Location Mass
Protomech Myomer Booster BD 225
Machine Gun Ammo (55) BD 275
ER Small Laser T 500
Machine Gun LA 250
Machine Gun RA 250
And here are the Alpha Strike stats calculated with the Companion + Errata.
Katydid Protomech
Role: Striker (?)
PV: 16
TP: PM (Protomech)
SZ: 1
TMM: 4
MV 20"
S/M/L: 1/1/0
Armor: 1
Structure: 1
No Special Abilities
So on a whim I designed a Protomech! I wanted to see if it was possible to make a Protomech that was equivalent to an Inner Sphere LCT-1V Locust, and came up with this - which I named the Katydid (which is another kind of chirpy insect. Apparently "Cricket" is already taken by a battlemech?). OK, so the Clans wouldn't ever field a LCT-1V themselves, but they'd probably go up against them from time to time... look, just roll with it, OK? 🙂 .
The Katydid has less than half the mass of a Locust, but almost 2/3 of the armour (the maximum it can hold), a torso-mounted ER Small Laser (as much damage as the IS Med Laser, but shorter range), and two MGs (one on each arm) with a total of 55 shots. It can move at 8 Walk and 12 Run like the Locust, and can also sprint with its Myomer Booster for 16 if necessary.
End result: Weapons and armour are slightly inferior to the Locust but speed is equivalent (and can be faster) and the Katydid is half as massive, with a a total BV of 286 (about 66% of the 432 Battle Value of a LCT-1V) and about half the C-Bill cost as a LCT-1V (which is about 1.5-1.6 million?). I think I'd call that "Mission Accomplished" for the design goal. I checked the design in Megamek and that validated it so the calculations should be correct. For Alpha Strike I used the Companion with errata, it didn't seem to fit any of the Role definitions because it was faster than 20" but I think Striker came closest?
Compared to other Protomechs, the Katydid is as massive as a Minotaur but has more armour and is waaaay faster and costs less BV, but it packs a bit less of a punch (9 vs 14 damage) and its weapons range is shorter (though its speed would probably allow it to get closer to its target to be effective). And it's almost as fast as a Siren (faster if using its Myomer) and can deal a lot more damage than one of those. So it seems pretty decent on that front too.
So have I designed a monster here? I think it seems pretty nasty for a Protomech, especially if you have a full Point of them (sure, it could probably have a better weapon load but I wanted it specifically to be equivalent to a LCT-1V).
Anyone got any thoughts?
