The Gravedigger, from Technical Readout: 3150 / TRO:3145 - The Clans
Although the Second Combine-Dominion War was remarkable for its large and noticeable economic and societal impacts on Clan Nova Cat, it would be a bit of a stretch to claim that the Rasalhague Dominion escaped completely unscathed. Heavy combat on Orestes in 3099 demolished the massive Odin Manufacturing 'Mech lines. With those lines having already suffered considerable damage during the Jihad, this effective reset threatened to bankrupt the company, one that had previously built up a solid reputation with popular designs such as the
Beowulf,
Karhu, and
Ostscout. The
Gravedigger was a last ditch attempt to quickly build up enough liquidity to keep the company afloat.
The only line that had been reactivated by the end was 3099 was producing small numbers of
Shadow Hawks for the KungsArmé. This is where we can start to infer certain things; the
Gravedigger uses the
Shadow Hawk SHD-12C's Kallon Type VII Endo-Steel Chassis, while its Dash-2 Communications and Blade 12 Targeting systems had seen additional use on the
Beowulf and
Karhu BattleMechs. We can guess that Odin was able to keep manufacturing larger numbers of those systems even if most of their other major production lines were destroyed. Dropping the
Gravedigger's chassis weight down to 50 tons allowed Odin to fit a Spheroid-spec Nissan 200 XL onto it, giving it a relatively slow top speed of 65 kph (4/6). This engine could be imported from the Republic (where it was used for their
Hunchback HBK-7R) or from anywhere, really, since it was an engine commonly used for the mass-produced
Blackjack OmniMech. Even the armor composites were widely available, having first seen use on the venerable
Arcas; here there was no corner cutting, and a full eleven tons (169 points) of the standard plate were mounted.
The result base chassis was likely rather cheap for Odin to start a line for. Hitting production in 3102, the base weaponry of the GDR-1C reflects a continued austerity in the 'Mech's design. A standard Large Laser was mounted in the left arm, while a LRM-15 was fitted in the right torso. The most advanced piece of hardware is the still somewhat simple Rotary AC/5 installed in the right arm. Two tons of ammunition per weapon were all kept in the CASE II-protected right torso, giving decent endurance for the LRM launcher but poor endurance for the RAC. The all was easily kept cool by ten double heat sinks.
Taken as a whole, this 'Mech is somewhat unimpressive for its era. Although the TRO entry namedrops another 50-ton 'Mech, the
Hunchback, I was reminded more of other generalist troopers such as the much-heavier
Orion ON1-M or the slightly faster
Grim Reaper. Even so, the combination of an XL engine and only 19 points of armor per side torso means that this trooper should stay in more of a support role, never attempting to close before most of its LRM ammo has been expended. The Large Laser and RAC-5 don't mesh well with long-ranged combat, however, whereas pulling into shorter ranges highlights the vulnerabilities of such this slower 'Mech. As a result, combining firepower with other 'Mechs is essential to get the most mileage out of this 'Mech; FWL players should feel right at home at the helm of this
Gravedigger. But attempts to follow Zellbrigen—or engaging in any sort of duel—should be avoided.
The GDR-1D variant didn't do much to change this paradigm. Appearing in 3105, the spheroid XL engine, armor, and structure were left untouched, with only the armament and equipment being revisited. A Clan ERPPC was a substantial upgrade for the Large Laser, while a Clan LB 5-X AC stepped in for the RAC and a Streak LRM-15 replaced the bog standard missile rack. A heavy electronics package was added via an Angel ECM Suite and an Active Probe, and ammunition was reduced to a single ton of ammo per weapon. It's interesting to note that this variant appears to be the 'Mech that finally solved Odin Manufacturing's previous problems with combining Spheroid and Clan technologies, with none of the technical glitches that plagued the
Beowulf C,
Beowulf IIC, or
Karhu making a reappearance.
This
Gravedigger, instead of struggling to find a niche like the GDR-1C, is instead a rather potent direct-fire sniper. I don't really have any qualms with this variant; though the LB-X is forced to choose between cluster or slug rounds, two tons of ammo would feel excessive on the design. Here the
Gravedigger becomes an excellent complement for the
Ursus,
Hunchback, or other tougher brawlers. Just keep in mind that even if the weapons on the GDR-1D are Clantech, the engine is still a Spheroid XL, and you will instantly lose the 'Mech if a side torso is destroyed. I would suggest using it similarly to the old
Loki (Prime) - they're both rather vulnerable, so taking care to eke out an advantage by using its range and above-average electronic suite is important.
Both variants were widely sold on the open market; the
Gravedigger GDR-1C was largely credited with saving Odin Manufacturing from bankruptcy. Only available to mercenaries, they seem to have taken a particular liking to this variant. I personally feel like the design goes firmly against most mercenary principles, with its ammunition-hungry weapons, lack of ammo for the RAC, and vulnerable XL engine. But there's always the in-universe price-point that we'll never know, however, so it's possible that GDR-1C's were offered at amazing prices. The GDR-1D is available to mercenaries as well, but is also the variant fielded by the military of the Rasalhague Dominion. No matter the variant, both pack a punch for their size, but - and I will continue to emphasize this until the very last word - do NOT let the
Gravedigger attract too much attention. Let it hang back, support other units, and only come in to finish the job once everything else on the field is well damaged. It's slow speed and fragile XL do not allow for many mistakes, so play them cautiously.
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Iron Wind Metals:
https://store.ironwindmetals.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=9475&osCsid=srti52i34r3g4ke145bi1a3ac1- Note: The Gravedigger is currently only available as part of the Undead Lance pack.
Master Unit List:
http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6264/gravedigger-gdr-1dCamospecs: There are currently no painted
Gravediggers on Camospecs, so feel free to post your own!