Wasn't the slayer fluffed somewhere as being a complete turd in atmosphere?
Anyways, it's too early for FL armour, so everyone will more or less pick HFA.
I already did a Slayer in the update Mania Design Challenge, which would probably work for Ground strikes (who is suicidal enough to strafe?) by replacing reflective armour with HFA.
In short:
XL engine for tonnage, ER the lasers, double the heatsinks, replace AC 10 with LTC. In space, it's good against reflective armour, on the ground, it allows you to hit more targets.
I pretty much agree with Aterlosts approach on the Chip:
Range can be useful if you don't have armour, and flying artillery is something we need more off anyways. Though I would have gone with two launchers + token self defense weaponry - and even more fuel.
To contribute at least a little:
Shilone SL-17S1 Ground Strike Craft
Base Tech Level: Standard (IS)
Level Era
-----------------------
Experimental 3066-3067
Advanced 3068+
Tech Rating: E/X-X-E-D
Weight: 65 tons
BV: 2,039
Cost: 10,928,445 C-bills
Movement: 7/11
Engine: 325 XL
Heat Sinks: 14 [28] *6 damaged)*
Fuel Points: 400/560 (7.0 tons)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 228 (Heavy Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-------------------
Nose 71
Left Wing 55
Right Wing 55
Aft 47
Weapons Loc Heat
--------------------------------
ER Medium Laser LWG 5
ER Medium Laser RWG 5
Streak SRM 4 NOS 3
Plasma Rifle NOS 10
Streak SRM 4 NOS 3
Streak SRM 4 AFT 3
Anti-Missile System NOS 1
Anti-Missile System AFT 1
Anti-Missile System LWG 1
Anti-Missile System RWG 1
Ammo Loc Shots
-------------------------------------------
Streak SRM 4 Ammo NOS 25
Plasma Rifle Ammo NOS 10
Plasma Rifle Ammo NOS 10
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] NOS 12
Equipment Loc
------------------------------
CASE NOS
Targeting Computer [IS] NOS
ECM Suite (Guardian) AFT
Recon Camera NOS
I went for a bit of utility over raw damage here.
Extra speed and fuel allows it to be a bomb truck, with a plasma rifle to inconvenience whatever it hits, and a TC to reliably do so.
As groundstrikes don't require high range, I replaced the Shilones LRM with extra SRM launchers, streaks to be exact; A recon camera provides extra options for allied ground troops.
On the defense, ECM and several AMS systems provide sufficient cover for a strike or two - the Ammo on this one is low, but it's not expected to turn often.
A switch to HFA allowed me to place 11 points on every facing, which proofed the design against medium lasers and missile clusters and just cleared the 8 pt threshold on the nose.
