Improving the Sloth

[arcangelS7]

As one of the first Inner Sphere Battle Armours introduced, the Sloth has a several problems, most of which as well known, but one I didn't noticed until I added up the numbers in TRO3058U is that is weight only 1230kg. Since it is a Heavy BA, it is 270kg under the maximum weight (1500kg). To a battlemech designer, 270kg may not seem like much, but that's a lot for a BA. So, my question is: How would you improve the Sloth?

My suggestion:

• Replace the Pop-Up Mine and Small Lasers with a Medium Laser (-100kg)
• +1 Ground Movement Point (80kg)
• +5 Armour Points (250kg)
• Add an AP Weapon Mount (5kg)

Leaving 35kg leftover, making the Sloth as fast as the Fenris and as tough as an Elemental while carrying a medium laser(!).

[Davion_Boy_74]

Well here's what you suggested

Dave.

        Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
                            VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Sloth arcangelS7
Tech/Era:      Inner Sphere / 3055 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type:  Quad, Earthwerks QUAD
Weight Class:  Heavy Battle Armor (1,001 - 1,500 kg)
Rules:         Level 2, Custom design

Ground Speed:  43.2 km/h
  Propulsion System:  Omni mini-5
Armor Type:    Star Shield A Standard
R&D Start Date:  July 3053
Prototype Design and Production:  November 3055
Standard Production:  December 3058

------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Sloth arcangelS7
Equipment:                                          Slots    Mass
Chassis Type:  Heavy Class Quad                       0       300
Motive System: Ground Movement (4 MP)                 0       160
Armor Type:    10 Points Standard                     0       500

Manipulators:
  Left Arm:    None                                   0         0
  Right Arm:   None                                   0         0

Weapons and Equipment                Loc     Shots  Slots    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                         Body      30     3       500
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                               3     1,460
Slots & Mass Left:                                    6        40

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:     540,000 C-Bills, Including Trooper
                Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value:   64 (256 for 4)  Weapon Value: 58 (Ratio=.91)
Cost per BV:    6,093.75 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 4   MRDmg = 1   LRDmg = 0
Mechanized:     Cannot travel on any 'Mechs or Vehicles
Attacks:        Can not perform Swarm or Leg attacks
BattleForce2:   Class: IB   MP: 4   Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
                Damage PB/M/L: 2/2/-   Overheat: 0
                Point Value: 3    Specials: car4

CBT:RPG Data:   Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 9/8/8/7    Coverage: Full
                IR: 0,  ECM: 0,  Camo: 0
                Melee AP: 2,  Target Size Modifier: -1
                Movement Speed:   45 m/turn
                Attribute Modifiers:  STR: +5,  DEX: -4,  RFL: -4
                Equipment Rating:  E/F/E

                Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor


Then if I switch the Armour to Advanced and add a David Light Gauss Rifle (only 1 crit left though 140kg was there) gives us this (what do you think ?). :


        Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
                            VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Sloth arcangelS7-2
Tech/Era:      Inner Sphere / 3055 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type:  Quad, Earthwerks QUAD
Weight Class:  Heavy Battle Armor (1,001 - 1,500 kg)
Rules:         Level 2, Custom design

Ground Speed:  43.2 km/h
  Propulsion System:  Omni mini-5
Armor Type:    Star Shield A Advanced
R&D Start Date:  July 3053
Prototype Design and Production:  November 3055
Standard Production:  December 3058

------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Sloth arcangelS7-2
Equipment:                                          Slots    Mass
Chassis Type:  Heavy Class Quad                       0       300
Motive System: Ground Movement (4 MP)                 0       160
Armor Type:    10 Points Advanced                     5       400

Manipulators:
  Left Arm:    None                                   0         0
  Right Arm:   None                                   0         0

Weapons and Equipment                Loc     Shots  Slots    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                         Body      30     3       500
David Lt Gauss Rifle                 Body      20     1       100
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                               9     1,460
Slots & Mass Left:                                    0        40

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:     587,750 C-Bills, Including Trooper
                Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value:   70 (280 for 4)  Weapon Value: 67 (Ratio=.96)
Cost per BV:    6,253.57 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 5   MRDmg = 1   LRDmg = 0
Mechanized:     Cannot travel on any 'Mechs or Vehicles
Attacks:        Can not perform Swarm or Leg attacks
BattleForce2:   Class: IB   MP: 4   Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
                Damage PB/M/L: 2/2/-   Overheat: 0
                Point Value: 3    Specials: car4

CBT:RPG Data:   Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 9/8/8/7    Coverage: Full
                IR: 0,  ECM: 0,  Camo: 0
                Melee AP: 2,  Target Size Modifier: -1
                Movement Speed:   45 m/turn
                Attribute Modifiers:  STR: +5,  DEX: -4,  RFL: -4
                Equipment Rating:  E/F/E

                Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor

[Shatara]

Seems like such an extensive modifacation might as well be a whole new suit. It's a good idea nonetheless.

For added evil, that last 35kg can fit light TAG..  }:)

[Davion_Boy_74]

Seems like such an extensive modifacation might as well be a whole new suit. It's a good idea nonetheless.

For added evil, that last 35kg can fit light TAG..  }:)

I wish I could add tag on to the 2rd suit design....no crit spaces left...oh hum  :'(

I agree about it better to totally (re)design a new suit though.

Dave.

[arcangelS7]

Yeah, it would be easier to implement as a redesign rather than a refit.

How about leaving the armament the same, but switching to stealth armour and increasing the speed?

[Sabelkatten]

As one of the first Inner Sphere Battle Armours introduced, the Sloth has a several problems, most of which as well known, but one I didn't noticed until I added up the numbers in TRO3058U is that is weight only 1230kg. Since it is a Heavy BA, it is 270kg under the maximum weight (1500kg). To a battlemech designer, 270kg may not seem like much, but that's a lot for a BA. So, my question is: How would you improve the Sloth?

Actually, it's only got 20 kg left - The standard Sloth has primitive armor (100 kg per point).

Anyway, I like the simple upgrade I came up with. Upgrade the armor to 10 points standard, drop all the weapons for a 7-slot configurable turret. 500 kg and 7 slots for all kinds of fun. :)

ML
LRM2 w/ 12 rounds, LRR
SRM5 w/ 4 rounds
Twin MRRs
Twin Magshots, Flamer
NARC w/ 4 rounds, Magshot, MG
.
.
.

[arcangelS7]

Actually, it's only got 20 kg left - The standard Sloth has primitive armor (100 kg per point).

I just checked my copy of TRO3058U, where the Sloth has Standard Armour; Primitive armour would make more sense considering when it was introduced. Does this need to be reported in the Errata thread?

The Sloth is a fun design to tinker with in my opinion. The basic design is flexible enough to suggest several upgrade paths.

[Sabelkatten]

I just checked my copy of TRO3058U, where the Sloth has Standard Armour; Primitive armour would make more sense considering when it was introduced. Does this need to be reported in the Errata thread?

The Sloth is a fun design to tinker with in my opinion. The basic design is flexible enough to suggest several upgrade paths.

Huh? The TRO says that?

Well, all I've seen was a comment from one of the designers way back in the days. The primitive armor was supposedly designed specifically for the Sloth!

Maybe they've changed the design since then, but I think it should be an errata.

[Davion_Boy_74]

It does in deed state "Standard" Armor in TRO3058U, though perhaps it is meant this way as it also say's Quote :

the Sloth actually shares more in common with vehicular and miniaturized BattleMech designs than proper battle armor. /end Quote.

So as you say perhaps this is a question for Ask The Writers ?.

Dave.

[Psyckosama]

Code: [Select]

        Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
                            VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Chupacabra  
Tech/Era:      Inner Sphere / 3062 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type:  Quad, Earthwerks QUAD
Weight Class:  Heavy Battle Armor (1,001 - 1,500 kg)
Rules:         Level 2, Standard design

Ground Speed:  32.4 km/h
  Propulsion System:  Omni mini-5
Armor Type:    Star Shield A Standard
R&D Start Date:  3050
Prototype Design and Production:  3050
Standard Production:  3051
Manufacturer:  Defiance Industries
  Location:    Hesperus II
Communications System:  Neil 6000-b
Targeting & Tracking System:  Angst Accuracy

==Overview:==
The CHB-01 Chupacabra is nothing more than a heavily modified
version of the often maligned SLH-X Sloth.

Using her connections in the Lyran Alliance Military, Queen
Desdemona was able to obtain the specifications for the Sloth
Battle
Armor. Dissatisfied with its weaknesses but interested in its
potential,
she turned it over to Los Circonios Military Systems with orders
to
redesign the armor into something that would better fit their need
for a
heavy support battle armor capable of destroying light vehicles
and
foot infantry.

To create the Chupacabra, the development staff stripped off the
twin small lasers and the mine launcher. In place of the bulky
lasers they mounted a set of twin pack SRM launcher with a
generous
magazine of 16 short range missiles. In place of the mine
launcher,
they mounted a lightly modified version of a the common Defiance
UA572 Semi-Automated Sentry Turret armed with two Support Machine
Guns and and 300 rounds of ammunition. The remaining free mass
was
enough to mount an additional quarter ton of standard armor, more
than doubling the Sloth's rather anemic protection.

The Chupacabra has proven to provide the same stable support
platform as the Sloth with a minimum of additional workload
offered
by the turret due to its semi-autonomous nature. Care should be
taken though when setting the turret to autonomous as the
pre-installed
friend or foe protocols are far from flawless and can lead to
friendly fire incidents if the pilot is inattentive. Despite its
imperfections, the Chupacabra has become a relatively well liked
suit and is commonly attached to elite conventional infantry
companies as organic fire support.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Chupacabra 
Equipment:                                          Slots    Mass
Chassis Type:  Heavy Class Quad                       0       300
Motive System: Ground Movement (3 MP)                 0        80
Armor Type:    11 Points Standard                     0       550

Manipulators:
  Left Arm:    None                                   0         0
  Right Arm:   None                                   0         0

Weapons and Equipment                Loc     Shots  Slots    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Modular Turret Mount (4 slots)                        5        70
 Machine Gun                         Body     150    (2)      110
 Machine Gun                         Body     150    (2)      110
SRM 2                                Body       8     4       280
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                               9     1,500
Slots & Mass Left:                                    0         0

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:     525,320 C-Bills, Including Trooper
                Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value:   50 (200 for 4)  Weapon Value: 43 (Ratio=.86)
Cost per BV:    7,506.4 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 3   MRDmg = 0   LRDmg = 0
Mechanized:     Cannot travel on any 'Mechs or Vehicles
Attacks:        Can not perform Swarm or Leg attacks
BattleForce2:   Class: IB   MP: 3   Armor/Structure: 3 / 0
                Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/-   Overheat: 0
                Point Value: 2    Specials: car4

CBT:RPG Data:   Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 9/8/8/8    Coverage: Full
                IR: 0,  ECM: 0,  Camo: 0
                Melee AP: 2,  Target Size Modifier: -1
                Movement Speed:   45 m/turn
                Attribute Modifiers:  STR: +5,  DEX: -4,  RFL: -4
                Equipment Rating:  E/F/E

                Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor


[Giovanni Blasini]

I still think my favorite Sloth mod was the Sloth Utility Vehicle done by, IIRC, Worktroll.  Drop the guns, add a point of momement.  That leaves 420 kg for cargo, extra batteries, etc.  I'd probably throw a pair of AP mounts in the chin, and another battery pack, personally, though the standard 24-hour endurance gives it a 1000 km range.

[boilerman]

Why try to improve the Sloth?  Just use find a niche for it.  Strip out the weapons and a couple of points and it call carry just over 1000 kg of cargo.  This is a design of mine from way back when:

Code: [Select]

        Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
                            VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Pack Sloth 
Tech/Era:      Inner Sphere / 3055 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type:  Quad, Earthwerks QUAD
Weight Class:  Heavy Battle Armor (1,001 - 1,500 kg)
Rules:         Level 2, Standard design

Ground Speed:  32.4 km/h
  Propulsion System:  Omni mini-5
Armor Type:    Star Shield A Standard

==Overview:==
By 3059 the Sloth was considered an outdated design, which isn't
surprising considering the fact that is was more of a proof of
concept design than true production design.  The fact that it ever
went into production is simply a testament to how truly desperate
the Inner Sphere was for a counter to the Elemental.  But by 3059
the AFFC had hundreds available and was expected to replace those
Sloths with newer battle armor designs within a decade.  So the
question was, what to do with them?  An off the cuff remark by a
logistics officer about replacing pack mules led to a study to
adapt the Sloth to carry 1,000 kg of supplies.  And yes the AFFC
still used pack mules in certain situations, mostly in mountain
warfare where they were still among the best, and cheapest all
terrain "vehicles" around.  The Pack Sloth was the result of the
study.  Unfortunately few Sloths were converted due to loses
during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War.


------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Pack Sloth
Equipment:                                          Slots    Mass
Chassis Type:  Heavy Class Quad                       0       300
Motive System: Ground Movement (3 MP)                 0        80
Armor Type:    2 Points Standard                      0       100

Manipulators:
  Left Arm:    None                                   0         0
  Right Arm:   None                                   0         0

Weapons and Equipment                Loc     Shots  Slots    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission Equipment (1020kg Capy)      Body             1         0
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                               1       480
Slots & Mass Left:                                    8     1,020

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:     395,000 C-Bills, Including Trooper
                Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value:   6 (24 for 4)  Weapon Value: 0 (Ratio=.00)
Cost per BV:    40,833.33 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 0   MRDmg = 0   LRDmg = 0
Mechanized:     Cannot travel on any 'Mechs or Vehicles
Attacks:        Can not perform Swarm or Leg attacks
BattleForce2:   Class: IB   MP: 3   Armor/Structure: 1 / 0
                Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-   Overheat: 0
                Point Value: 0    Specials: car4

CBT:RPG Data:   Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 4/5/6/5    Coverage: Full
                IR: 0,  ECM: 0,  Camo: 0
                Melee AP: 2,  Target Size Modifier: -1
                Movement Speed:   45 m/turn
                Attribute Modifiers:  STR: +5,  DEX: -4,  RFL: -4
                Equipment Rating:  E/F/E

                Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor


[Giovanni Blasini]

Digging the Pack Sloth, though I'd still like to see the faster, longer range SUV version at my local dealerships.