What's a good assault mech for a mercenary force in the early Jihad?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'm in a mercenary campaign right now and yesterday we lost our Devastator and need to replace it.  The mission went rather badly, so we're a bit short on funds and looking for something tht's a bit cheaper without sacrificing too much firepower or durability.

Any recommendations?  We're at roughly 3070 in terms of availability.  I myself am thinking of trying to get an AS-7S3 Atlas (light engine means cheaper and more durable, and it's got nearly the same firepower) but I wanted to ask here and see if someone thought up something interesting the group would have otherwise overlooked.

[ANS Kamas P81]

You're needing something to provide long range heavy-gun fire, if you're replacing a Devastator.  What's your price model and rough budget?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

"Cheaper than a Devastator," basically.

Our only other assault mech is an Imp.  Most of the mechs in our group are heavies.

[Baldur Mekorig]

The Stalker is always a good option. MUL said that by the Jihad, the upgraded versions avaible for mercs are the -5M, -5S and -6M.

[ANS Kamas P81]

Banshee 3S might be an old ride, but it's got some damn solid punch and if you have spare salvage it'll upgrade well.  Same with the MAD-4A, or the LBX Annihilator.  Not the best replacement for a Devastator, but at least they're out there.

Totally seconding the Stalker as a good choice, I'm just thinking of big-gun mechs that could do the direct-fire long-ish-range combat.

[Ruger]

Banshee 3S might be an old ride, but it's got some damn solid punch and if you have spare salvage it'll upgrade well.  Same with the MAD-4A, or the LBX Annihilator.  Not the best replacement for a Devastator, but at least they're out there.

Totally seconding the Stalker as a good choice, I'm just thinking of big-gun mechs that could do the direct-fire long-ish-range combat.

I would second virtually all of these options, depending on if you want direct fire big hitters or some missile spam...

Ruger

[Sartris]

No cost on hand but here are a few ideas

Pillager 3Z
Marauder II 4A
Black Watch 9R
Sunder

[ANS Kamas P81]

Nightstars are also on the merc list, though they're kind of pricey with the XL.  Still a pretty good standin for a Devastator, with two GRs and an ERPPC, and the MWO concept art looks brutal.

[Icerose20]

Early Jihad will be problematic about getting new or used Mech as the Wobbies are bombing major industrial Centers left and right. 

(Almost seems like the Wobbies like to read by the light of Atomic Fire)

But as important is what you want out of it and what you are willing to pay for.  That may make the decision easier.

[glitterboy2098]

No cost on hand but here are a few ideas

Pillager 3Z
Marauder II 4A
Black Watch 9R
Sunder

pillager is actually about the same price as a Devestator.
the -4A Marauder II is a huge savings since it is introtech, but its firepower is rather anemic for the Jihad period
Blackwatch -9R is pretty uncommon, and not all that good.
sunder is far more expensive than a Devestator.

[Nav_Alpha]

The M model Awesome comes to mind. Cheap, seeing as it’s 3050 tech and probably plentiful in terms of picking up a used one.
Three ER PPCs can reach out and touch anyone.

Or try and capture an upgunned Thug from the Word?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'm debating seeing if I can get the GM to allow a Mad Cat Mk II, even if it's pricier.

Also, I notice that according to the MUL, the Titan II becomes available in 3071.

[glitterboy2098]

The M model Awesome comes to mind. Cheap, seeing as it’s 3050 tech and probably plentiful in terms of picking up a used one.
Three ER PPCs can reach out and touch anyone.

Or try and capture an upgunned Thug from the Word?

nah.. the AWS-9Q Awesome would probably be better for him. quad standard PPC's you can almost tape the triggers down on (Running Alpha Strike is only a +4, you can keep a 4/3/4/3 pattern going indefinitely), and Guardian ECM, which will be real useful in the jihad battlefields.

[Icerose20]

Devastator DVS-2 is about 22.3 Million C-bills
Awesome 9Q is 7.5 million C-bills

[Nav_Alpha]

nah.. the AWS-9Q Awesome would probably be better for him. quad standard PPC's you can almost tape the triggers down on (Running Alpha Strike is only a +4, you can keep a 4/3/4/3 pattern going indefinitely), and Guardian ECM, which will be real useful in the jihad battlefields.

That's true, the 9Q is nice. But you miss the ER PPCs

[Elmoth]

Considering the I crease in heat and not amazing range increase of you at ekot playing in a soccer field, I count the normal PPC as the superior weapon. YMMV.

[Sartris]

pillager is actually about the same price as a Devestator.
the -4A Marauder II is a huge savings since it is introtech, but its firepower is rather anemic for the Jihad period
Blackwatch -9R is pretty uncommon, and not all that good.
sunder is far more expensive than a Devestator.

typo on the MAD. I meant the 4S

[Minemech]

 The Light Gauss Rifle Sirocco is cheap, and reasonably useful for support fire. While not as sexy as a Devastator, it does its job, and survives. More importantly, you can get a pair of them for less than the cost of a Devastator.

[Wrangler]

Have you though of trying to use a Light Engine version of the Thunderhawk?  It's cheaper than the original, but I'm not fan of it since it has limited ammo of your doing merc campaign with it.  Optionally you could use a kit do a trade the gauss for AC/10s if one damaged.  I had to merc campaign for years (real time) with based model ThunderHawk, it was good fire support mech when you running light on reloads between missions (40 rounds, no waiting)

If you were pushed to replace it with a twin gauss firing machine,  their going be expensive.  Most of the twin-gauss mafia of assault mechs were xl machines.  Such as the Cerberus and the Gunslinger.  Both are sturdy machines, with good fire support/sniper fire, their still XL engines, go likely super slow for what you maybe looking for.

If you want go cheap, I'd look for early versions of the Mauler or even the AC/10 packing Devastator the Taurians managed to swindle. Since it has standard engine, ac/10s, just replace the acs with gauss your likely not to worry about the heat issues since it has single heatsinks.

[Colt Ward]

Only thing I can think of not mentioned is the Awesome 10 KM, with 2 HPPC and a Snub . . . but it might be pricy with new tech, and supposed to be hard to get though . . .

[Arkansas Warrior]

Speaking of Awesomes, the AWS-9Ma is a great choice.  At 4/6 it should be better able to keep up with the rest of your force.  3 ERPPCs isn’t quite Devastator-level power, but you gain a bit of range.  Then there’s the Command Console and Communications Equipment, which are a great addition to any force.  It is a bit on the pricier side, since it has an XLFE, but the lack of ammo-based weapons will make up for the initial investment in the long run, I think.

[Colt Ward]

You want a Atlas?  What about their economical replacement- the Akuma?

[Sartris]

Especially if you can get your hands on the -2X that carries the Apollo system for the MRM-40 and a C3 slave

[Kit deSummersville]

Especially if you can get your hands on the -2X that carries the Apollo system for the MRM-40 and a C3 slave

Well, that's the 2XC. I'm partial to the 2XK with the Heavy PPC and RAC/5, also C3-ing it up.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

You want a Atlas?  What about their economical replacement- the Akuma?

No way are we spending money on something with that much ammo, that kind of heat issues, and no CASE.

Also, no MRMs.

[Sartris]

Well, that's the 2XC. I'm partial to the 2XK with the Heavy PPC and RAC/5, also C3-ing it up.

both the 2x and 2xc have the apollo. the latter ups the ante with even more advanced tech including a boosted c3

No way are we spending money on something with that much ammo, that kind of heat issues, and no CASE.

Also, no MRMs.

the -2X has CASE and the apollo removes the +1 penalty. I'd rather take a bunch of other options listed here, but the -2X isn't nearly as dangerous to use as the original.

[Kojak]

Have you considered the Fafnir 5B? I find it's often overlooked, but it's got pretty solid firepower, ECM and a standard fusion engine, so you could score it for a little over half the price of the Devastator.

[Kit deSummersville]

No way are we spending money on something with that much ammo, that kind of heat issues, and no CASE.

Also, no MRMs.

You're in luck! The 2XK is a great bracket-firer with only two ammunition dependent weapons and CASE! And no MRMs but rather MMLs! Sure, thinks might get a bit toasty firing everything but the other guy will probably wet himself with a potential 98 points of incoming damage.

[Colt Ward]

What about some of the '55 or '58 assaults?-  guess it comes down to, do you want 15 point hits or range?  how sturdy?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Have you considered the Fafnir 5B? I find it's often overlooked, but it's got pretty solid firepower, ECM and a standard fusion engine, so you could score it for a little over half the price of the Devastator.

The GM vetoed any and all Fafnir variants outright.  The GM is also limiting us to pre-Jihad era tech, so no Akuma 2XK and, despite my joking about it earlier, no Titan II.

Actually, one budget option I was considering was the Cyclops 11-B model.