What SHOULD the Nexus have been? Design.

[Cowdragon]

So, I have a love affair with a couple mechs. The Wasp ( as I've repeatedly stated ) but almost as much, the Nexus. That awesome blue artwork one from the original Comstar Sourcebook was pure sexy! It looked great! It was also an illegal design and it ALSO sucked pretty bad.

It was sort of fixed in the TRO 3058...but not really. It got slower. It's stated to be a scout, that can move around quickly collecting intel. Now since it didn't have any ECM or BAP, I'm just going to assume it has some quirk advantages...that aside, what should it have had to make it better? It has very VERY light armor. But heavier than the successful Hussar. Of course the Hussar never had to get close to it's targets. The Nexus can hit hard, but it'll probably get blown to bits before it gets close enough to use them. What I'm saying is, you would think it would be at least as good as the Super Wasp! But it's not. It is cheap though. What could it do to be a better mech?

I'm guessing for the light armor, it should have at least one long range weapon. An LRM-5 or ERLL, as those were what was available at the time. Then ERML's or LPPCs as time progressed. It only takes 5 tons of FF armor to max out a 25 ton mech. Endo steel. You don't even need an XL engine, although may as well. Let's see what you've got!

[Cowdragon]

here's my submission. It sticks with being a close ranged heavy hitter. Had to go with the XL engine to get the mass to work with, but I think it works ok. If everything hits it can force a PSR, and that's pretty good for only 25 tons. It's also capable of operating outside of supply lines as the Streak is ammo efficient and the lasers just don't use ammo, lol. Fast enough to get around the battlefield, with the same jump jets as the original. I also chose the Streak-2 as a nod to designs from that time period mounting excessive amounts of the little buggers. Still better than an AMS in this case. A Commando would still probably kick its butt though. :(

Code: [Select]

Nexus NXS-025-KLE

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-E
Production Year: 0
Cost: 3,965,625 C-Bills
Battle Value: 766

Chassis: Unknown Endo-Steel
Power Plant: Unknown 225 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 97.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 151.2 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
    Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Unknown Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    2  Medium Lasers
    1  Streak SRM-2
    2  Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel                    43 points                1.50
    Internal Locations: 1 HD, 1 LT, 3 RT, 5 LA, 4 RA
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             225                       5.00
    Walking MP: 9
    Running MP: 14
    Jumping MP: 4 Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 2 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT                                   2.00
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV -  89                  5.00
    Armor Locations: 2 LT, 3 RT, 2 LA, 3 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     8            12       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  4         
                                           L/R Torso     6            9         
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  3         
                                             L/R Arm     4            8         
                                             L/R Leg     6            12       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                                 RA        3         1         1.00
Small Laser                                  RA        1         1         0.50
Medium Laser                                 LA        3         1         1.00
Small Laser                                  LA        1         1         0.50
Streak SRM-2                                 RT        2         1         1.50
@Streak SRM-2 (50)                           RT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 2

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      3    Points: 8
9/3j       2       2       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA