Argus WIP, Help me finish it.

[BirdofPrey]

I am working on this design to fit into a campaign I am playing in.  It is based off a design Steven Satak shared with me.  His design takes the AGS-2D, swaps the direct fire weaponry and increases the  armor to the same level as the 4D.  I have decided to go for a more mixed range fighter and have in turn traded the LRM 15s for MML-9s.  Since I run C3 heavy, I have also added a slave unit to the mech. 

You may notice I am a ton underweight, however.  I can't decide what would be the best option to fill it.  I could use up that last ton to maximize armor; I could add another ton of ammo for the MMLs; I could add a fourth ML and still be able to fire the MLs and MMLs at a run without overheating, I could reduce the armor back to the level of the 2D and link my lasers to a firing computer.  I even have access to experimental tech (I can get 2 pieces of equipment), so I could switch the slave out for a C3 Emergency master in the unlikely event my current master, an Ajax B, gets destroyed.  At the end of the day, they all seem like good choices, and I can't seem to pick one, though I am leaning toward the extra ammo to add a bit more variety (never have any trouble with endurance in our games).

I was wondering what everyone thinks of this design and what you think I should use that extra ton for, offense or defense.

Code: [Select]

Argus AGS-3T

Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3059
Cost: 12,163,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,492

Chassis: 1 A Type 12 Endo-Steel
Power Plant: GM 300 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: StarGuard II Standard Armor w/ CASE
Armament:
    1 Exostar ER Large Laser
    2  MML-9s w/ Artemis IV FCS
    3 Intek Medium Lasers
    1  C3 Computer (Slave)
Manufacturer: Archernar Battlemechs, Robinson Standard BattleWorks
    Primary Factory: New Avalon, Robinson
Communications System: Archenar Electronics HID-8.7
Targeting and Tracking System: Sync Tracker (39-42071)

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    99 points                3.00
    Internal Locations: 2 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             300                       9.50
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             12(24)                    2.00
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 192                 12.00
    CASE Locations: 1 LT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     20           28       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  9         
                                           L/R Torso     14           20       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  7         
                                             L/R Arm     10           19       
                                             L/R Leg     14           27       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MML-9                                        RA        5         5         6.00
    Artemis IV FCS                           RA        -         1         1.00
MML-9                                        LA        5         5         6.00
    Artemis IV FCS                           LA        -         1         1.00
ER Large Laser                               RT        12        2         5.00
C3 Computer (Slave)                          RT        0         1         1.00
3 Medium Lasers                              LT        9         3         3.00
@MML-9 (LRM Art-IV) (13)                     LT        -         1         1.00
@MML-9 (SRM Art-IV) (11)                     LT        -         1         1.00
@MML-9 (LRM Semi-G) (13)                     LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 9


[Onisuzume]

Flamer.
Or a MG with ½-ton ammo.
And we all know which is the better choice of the two.

[whistler]

a flamer or Small Pulse Laser would give you some anti-infantry weapons, making the mech a full-spectrum platform.

personally, i would sacrifice half a ton of armor for ECM capability.  with this variant's blistering short-range battery, i want to use it as a forward spotter.  ECM would make it much more difficult to jam, and thus a more deadly spotter.  i tend to run mechs with ECM, especially when i suspect C3, so if your regular opponents know to expect it then i'd say some ECCM capability would be helpful.  on top of that, ECCM would make the most out of your Artemis systems... you'll be able to cut out jamming that could otherwise make them wasted tonnage.

TAG is also an option, if you have Arrow IV tanks or infantry, or even semi-guided LRMs.

[packhntr]

Swap the CASE for CASE-2, use rest for armor.

[BirdofPrey]

I had briefly considered an anti infantry weapon, but inferno SRMs do a much better job, and are still useful against other targets.  There's also frag LRMs.
I also thought about CASE II, but I am not sure I want to do a class E refit.

An ECM doesn't sound bad, though.