Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread

[Giovanni Blasini]

Hey, do we know who built the primitive Archer during the period from the Jihad to the late Republic era?  That is also a design that drop to extinct on the MUL during the Dark Age era, implying somebody upgraded to a more regular production version, but I haven’t been able to figure out who made it.

[Niopsian]

Hey, do we know who built the primitive Archer during the period from the Jihad to the late Republic era?  That is also a design that drop to extinct on the MUL during the Dark Age era, implying somebody upgraded to a more regular production version, but I haven’t been able to figure out who made it.

I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Diplass Battlemechs was a RWR manufacturer that became wholly owned by House Amaris following the end of the Reunification War. Amaris poured lots of funds into establishing multiple production lines across the Republic. One of those lines was located on Erdvynn, a world relatively close to Niops. The Erdvynn plant produced Archers and Firestarters.

The planet itself was never grabbed after the fall of the Rim Worlds. It disappeared off the maps sometime between 2822 and 2864. There's no indication that the planet was sacked prior to disappearing off the charts, meaning something of the Diplass facilities may still be salvageable.

[glitterboy2098]

nice. so we have a source of factory equipment that could be salvaged (likely easily supplemented with the remaining PLAN workshop bits and open market manufacturing gear) that would enable at least low volume production of mechs. by using primitive and/or armed industrial designs you could maximize the output since those are less difficult to produce.

[Turaglas]

How is the Niops recovery going?

[glitterboy2098]

How is the Niops recovery going?

404: source material not found

[Giovanni Blasini]

How is the Niops recovery going?

Ask the Writers.  ;D

[Giovanni Blasini]

I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Diplass Battlemechs was a RWR manufacturer that became wholly owned by House Amaris following the end of the Reunification War. Amaris poured lots of funds into establishing multiple production lines across the Republic. One of those lines was located on Erdvynn, a world relatively close to Niops. The Erdvynn plant produced Archers and Firestarters.

The planet itself was never grabbed after the fall of the Rim Worlds. It disappeared off the maps sometime between 2822 and 2864. There's no indication that the planet was sacked prior to disappearing off the charts, meaning something of the Diplass facilities may still be salvageable.

Interesting.  What's weird though is that's even closer to the Lyran border, and on the other side of Circinus, which makes it odd that neither of those powers wouldn't have scavenged the production there.

[chanman]

Ask the Writers.  ;D

More like Re-covered-in bad times  :D

[Baldur Mekorig]

I couldn't find anything on the Jihad-era primitive Archer but my sleuthing on Sarna did come up with an interesting avenue to explore.

Retrotech (shotdown by 3079)
Xinyang - New Samarkand Metals - Archer
Arcturus - Arcturan Arms Refit Facility - Archer

Only places making the Retrotech Archer i could find.

[Giovanni Blasini]

Retrotech (shotdown by 3079)
Xinyang - New Samarkand Metals - Archer
Arcturus - Arcturan Arms Refit Facility - Archer

Only places making the Retrotech Archer i could find.

Arcturus is in Falcon hands in 3145, right?  So they're out.  New Samarkand Metals may still have the tooling available, though, at Xinyang, since the plant is shut down, and it's not like the Draconis Combine has never licensed production of their designs elsewhere - just look at Wakazashi Enterprises and the Slayer.

[glitterboy2098]

so we have the potential for the creation of a factory (possibly with more than one line) and at least 3 primitive mechs and a couple industrial militia-mechs as options

[Giovanni Blasini]

so we have the potential for the creation of a factory (possibly with more than one line) and at least 3 primitive mechs and a couple industrial militia-mechs as options

Likely potential sources of tooling to restart domestic military production:

Licensing from StarCorps of Son Hoa

• FL-366-MOD St. Florian FireMech MOD

Purchasing Tooling from Bermuda Combat Systems of Booker

• WSP-1 Wasp
• SHD-1R Shadow Hawk

Salvaging Tooling from Diplass Battlemechs on Erdvynn

• ARC-2R Archer
• FS9-A (?) Firestarter

The reason I'm guessing the FS9-A here is because it was available, including to the Rim Worlds, through the Succession Wars, briefly available to the Lyrans in the early Succession Wars, then dropped off to extinction.  If Diplass made the earlier Firestarter and never fully transitioned over to the new FS9-H, that might explain why that variant both lingered into the early Succession Wars, and also why it then dropped out of existence.

Licensing Design & Tooling from New Samarkand Metals of Xinyang

• ARC-1A Archer

Licensing from Wakazashi Enterprises

• SL-15 Slayer ASF

Crest Foundries, Raven Alliance

• Spad
• Issedone

The Ravens are building the Issedone here, which is just a fully-Omni Spad, and they're selling them on the open market to the Periphery.  The Sea Foxes are also building the design, and selling it to mercs.  it's possible Niops could either get a license for the design, minus Clan weapons or, alternatively, get a license to build the original Spad.

Restoration of Original Domestic Production

• Black Knight (BL-6-KNT?  BL-7-KNT?)
• Highlander (HGN-732?  HGN-733/733P?
• Burke Defense Tank
• Nighthawk XXI/XXII/XXX PA(L) Suit

Did I miss anything?

[DOC_Agren]

I would look at the Sabre Aerospace fighter, license not an issue..  they might have the plans somewhere

[Giovanni Blasini]

I'm seeing rumblings about possibly getting the local Alpha Strike game series (or even Total Warfare) going again, and I was rumbling around ideas for a Niops Militia force circa 3145-3150 based on some of the ideas we've talked about in this thread.  How's this look?

Niops Militia Company

'Mech Lance - 55 PV

• SHD-1R Shadow Hawk (4 Skill): 22 PV
• WSP-1 Wasp (4 Skill): 11 PV
• WSP-1 Wasp (4 Skill): 11 PV
• WSP-1 Wasp (4 Skill): 11 PV

Vehicle Support Lance - 26 PV

• Tracked APC (LRM) (4 Skill): 8 PV
• Tracked APC (LRM) (4 Skill): 8 PV
• Flatbed Truck (Mortar) (4 Skill): 5 PV
• Flatbed Truck (Mortar) (4 Skill): 5 PV

Infantry Platoon - 18 PV[/li]

• Motorized Infantry Platoon (Laser) (4 Skill): 10 PV
• Nighthawk XXII Squad (4 Skill): 8 PV

Total PV: 99

From there, I just adjust by fielding the number of companies needed based on the PV for the game.  If I want to even it out a bit, i could always drop the Motorized Infantry for something equivalent to the Motorized XCT Infantry Explorer Corps Hostile Environment Recon units, which are 9 PV, and bump the Nighthawks to skill 3, which makes them 10 PV, for an even 100 PV.

Thoughts?

[Daryk]

The infantry should be mounted in proper APCs.  That might mean foot infantry to keep the PV (whatever that is) even, but it's worth it, and Sniper Rifles will increase their usefulness.

[Giovanni Blasini]

The infantry should be mounted in proper APCs.  That might mean foot infantry to keep the PV (whatever that is) even, but it's worth it, and Sniper Rifles will increase their usefulness.

So for each ton of your infantry platoon you'd need one regular APC, since those carry a 1 ton infantry bay, right?  OK, let me work on that for a bit.

Meanwhile, a couple other NAM companies that may work, since these don't include infantry.  The first, hilariously, is a lance of WSP-1 Wasps, backing up two lances of CON-7M Carbine MODs (or CON-1 (RL) Carbines, same thing in this case), which comes out to a hilarious 100 PV.

[Giovanni Blasini]

The second company is a bit beefier, with a lance of SHD-1R Shadow Hawks, another lance of Burke defense tanks, supplemented by two Scorpion (LRM) tanks and two Hetzer assault guns, all for 250 PV.  If you prefer, the third lance has to come up to 58 points, so you could also swap for 2 Light SRM Carriers (16 pts each) and 2 Scorpion (SRM) Tanks (13 pts each) for close-in defense of the Burkes if you prefer, or a pair of Pikes backed by standard Scorpions (18 PV and 11 PV, respectively), all on the Periphery General list, if you prefer.

[Daryk]

Heavy APCs are FAR more efficient... 2 platoons in a 20 ton vehicle.

[Giovanni Blasini]

Heavy APCs are FAR more efficient... 2 platoons in a 20 ton vehicle.

Interesting.  And, with a 3-ton bay for the Heavy Tracked APC (LRM), you could carry a PA(L) squad, too, technically.

So...

• 4 Heavy Tracked APC (Standard)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APC (LRM)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APC (SRM)
• 8 Foot Laser Platoons
• 4 Nighthawk XXII PA(L) Squads

Skills: 4 across the board
Total PV: 150 (can't attach PDF, it's 979 kb)

So, any other thoughts on this madness?

[Baldur Mekorig]

Interesting.  And, with a 3-ton bay for the Heavy Tracked APC (LRM), you could carry a PA(L) squad, too, technically.

So...

• 4 Heavy Tracked APC (Standard)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APC (LRM)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APC (SRM)
• 8 Foot Laser Platoons
• 4 Nighthawk XXII PA(L) Squads

Skills: 4 across the board
Total PV: 150 (can't attach PDF, it's 979 kb)

So, any other thoughts on this madness?

A Nighthawk squad in AS is CAR4.

[Giovanni Blasini]

A Nighthawk squad in AS is CAR4.

Ugh.  OK, fine, let's try this.

• 2 Prowler Multi-Terrain Vehicles (Succession Wars) (Skill: 4, CT8 each, PV: 20 each)
• 4 Nighthawk XXII Squads (Skill: 4, CAR4 each, PV: 8 each)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APCs (Standard) (Skill: 4, CT6 each, PV: 5 each)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APCs (SRM) (Skill: 4, CT3 each, PV: 11 each)
• 2 Heavy Tracked APCs (LRM) (Skill: 4, CT3 each, PV: 10 each)
• 8 Foot Platoons (Laser) (Skill 4, CAR3 each, PV: 7 each)
• 4 Flatbed Trucks (Mortars) (Skill: 4, PV: 5 each)

Total PV: 200

[glitterboy2098]

threw together some Niopian vehicles using a cheap easily copied hull.. the Scorpion tank.
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/combat-vehicles/niops-militia-scorpion-support-tank/

Missile Support, APC/Recon, and Light Tank off a single base hull.

someone with better BA building skills should tackle the PAL suits, though i'd expect they'd be comparable to the old Comstar Tornado suit (basically a Nighthawk suit without the stealth features) i would presume something like the G12 or G13 variants of the Tornado, which were in production and use by the ROTS (G12, G13) and the FWL (G12), so should be obtainable either in purchase or via licensed production.

[Daryk]

Scorpions are pretty cheap when built as Combat Vehicles... not sure why you'd go that route...

As for PA(L), I have a couple of designs linked in my sig block (and previously mentioned)...

[glitterboy2098]

bringing them in line with niops's special conditions.. after all, the system isn't exactly a garden spot. many of its worlds are only barely habitable, and it has a bunch of stuff on unihabitable bodies.

and yes scorpions are cheap.. they are also super common and built by lots of places. so getting them is easy. plus they're basic in design, which would make reverse engineering the hull for local production easy.

the rest was just adapting them. fuel cell engine so they aren't reliant on atmosphere. environmental sealing so they can be used on the less habitable worlds in the system, or even on moons/dwarf planets to guard mines and other sites that don't warrant a mech garrison. cheaper production also means that you can build a fair number of them and can afford to spread them out like that. their main goal would be to tie up an enemy long enough for the mech and fighter forces to respond. their low cost and simplicity of manufacture also means they make a good "starting" unit for an army, one that can be replaced later on with bigger tougher units once the industrial base catches up.

the weapons were picked for commonality with the mech construction.. which would minimize the amount of import or manufacture needed, plus make spare parts easier.

using the single hull for multiple variants also makes sense.. the Support tank and light tank variants would almost entirely just be a case of mounting a different turret on the same chassis. the APV variant requires more reworking of the hull, but it still shares most of the important bits. so you only need to maintain one pool of spare parts for all the variants, with only a small amount of specialist parts.

plus at 25 tons you can fit them into small craft for easier relocations between outposts.

[Daryk]

I did a fusion powered Scorpion once...

[Baldur Mekorig]

Crest Foundries, Raven Alliance

• Spad
• Issedone

The Ravens are building the Issedone here, which is just a fully-Omni Spad, and they're selling them on the open market to the Periphery.  The Sea Foxes are also building the design, and selling it to mercs.  it's possible Niops could either get a license for the design, minus Clan weapons or, alternatively, get a license to build the original Spad.

Dont know about the Spad, but the Issedone is beign done by the Sea Foxes in Twycross (DS Aero Assembly Site Rho). The Crast Foundries mentioned in the TRO:Golden Century was in Lum, back in the HW.

[Giovanni Blasini]

Huh.  So the beta version of the Master Unit List listings for the ilClan era are out, including for Periphery General.  I'm curious to what we could put together, than, for a Niops-themed TO&E.  Figure the majority of these are going to be external acquisitions.

Aerospace

Since this is what keeps invaders from making landfall in the first place, it's kind of important. 

Light ASF: All versions of the Issedone are available to Periphery General, thanks, as @Baldure Mekorig pointed out, the Raven Alliance and Sea Foxes selling the design on the open market.  At 7/11 it's not the quickest ASF on the market, but it's a versatile one.

Medium ASF: Not sure I'd bother, but I'm open to suggestions.  If you like Vipers, the Corsair's available, otherwise the Hellcat 213 is a thematic choice.

Heavy ASF: Uh, oddly enough, the SL-15 Slayer is now on the Periphery General list.  This is still a pretty impressive heavy dogfighter and bomb truck.

Carrier DropShips: Only options here are the Leopard CV and the Vengeance.

Assault DropShips:  If you're looking to stick to the THAF/SLDF hand-me-down theme, your options are the Intruder or Achilles.

'Mech Transports:  The usual suspects, though I find it interesting the Fortress now makes the Periphery General list.  That's handy.


BattleMechs

Light 'Mech Options:

• STG-3P makes for an effective Bug 'Mech that doesn't need to get as close.
• PNT-10KA Panther joins the Periphery General list, making it a good option for a light trooper.
• Hermit Crabs.  Hermit Crabs for Everyone.
• Hey, both the UM-AIV and UM-R80 UrbanMech are on the Periphery General list.  In fact those, along with the UM-R69, are the only three variants on the Periphery General list, with the original having dropped off.
• If you want a speedy boy, the LCT-1E and LCT-5V Locusts are available, as are the SDR-5V and SDR-8M Spiders.

Medium 'Mech Options

• GRF-1N Griffin
• GRF-3N Griffin
• Griffin IIC if you're feeling spendy.
• CLN-7V Chameleon as a training 'Mech, which may well be the best choice here

Heavy 'Mech Options

• ARC-4M2 Archer if you can swing for it
• ARC-6W Archer if you can't
• WHM-6Rb Warhammer is also a nice thematic option

Assault 'Mech Options

• HGN-740 Highlander - the Highlander is literally the only unit type named as being fielded by Niops that's on the Periphery General list, and this is a very worthwhile version, which Niopscan import from not far away.

Battlearmor/PA(L) Options

• Groundhog.  Technically, the Leapfrog too, but I can't find published stats for it, just vague descriptions.

For Vehicles, I'm going to open it up to everyone else, since I'm less knowledgeable here.  I will not the Prowler has multiple versions available, though.[/list]

[Daryk]

Pikes are probably available from the Magistracy...  ^-^

[DOC_Agren]

the Fortress is now that available?

Slayer makes a nice heavy

[Giovanni Blasini]

the Fortress is now that available?

It is indeed, at least in its 2613 form.  So are the Vengeance (2682) and Excalibur (2786).  I was pretty surprised myself.

Slayer makes a nice heavy

It does indeed.  Between its appearance and performance, the Slayer's definitely my favorite heavy aerospace fighter, and seeing this hit the Periphery General list makes me just squee with joy.

Pikes are probably available from the Magistracy...  ^-^

Standard model's on the Periphery General list and, while three AC/2s do less damage than one PPC, the Pike's got more armor and is faster than a Burke.

The most Niops-themed choice on the vehicle list, though, would probably be the Prowler, which is on the Periphery General list in ECM, Sealed, Sucession Wars, Support and Standard versions.