A medium mech for bad pilots

[Isokrates]

Let's face it, most pilots are not the best. On the contrary military will also have to deal and use mediocre or outright bad pilots.
Enter the Ladybug.
You want stable for those that can't park a super market cart? How about an A.E.S equipped Quad.
They can't hit a target the size of a mountain? Pulse lasers help
Heat management optimised for the extra bold and/ or stupid in your barracks
Relative cheap without exotic structure and armour.

"A jelly donut? Why do you have a jelly donut in your mech private Pyle?"

Code: [Select]

Ladybug LDB-2M

Mass: 55 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Quad
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-E-D
Production Year: 3132
Dry Cost: 10.272.367 C-Bills
Total Cost: 10.272.367 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1.414

Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 275 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: Standard
    Jump Capacity: 150 meters (210 meters)
Armor: Standard Armor
Armament:
    5  Medium Pulse Lasers
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      99 points                5,50
Engine:             XL Fusion Engine             275                       8,00
    Walking MP: 5
    Running MP: 8
    Jumping MP: 5 (7) Standard
    Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT                                   2,50
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             11(25)                    1,00
Gyro:               Standard                                               3,00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3,00
    Actuators:      L: H+UL+LL+F    R: H+UL+LL+F
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 192                 12,00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     18           26       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  7         
                                           L/R Torso     13           19       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  4         
                                       L/R Front Leg     13           26       
                                        L/R Rear Leg     13           26       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.E.S.                                       FRL       -         2         1,50
A.E.S.                                       FLL       -         2         1,50
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        RT        8         2         4,00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers                        LT        8         2         4,00
Partial Wing                                 LT/RT     -         4/4       4,00
Medium Pulse Laser                           HD        4         1         2,00
A.E.S.                                       RRL       -         2         1,50
A.E.S.                                       RLL       -         2         1,50
                                            Free Critical Slots: 3

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      6    Points: 14
5/7j       4       4       0       0      2     0   Structure:  3
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA



[Frabby]

I read the thread title and thought, "Chameleon". And it's funny how similar this design is to a Chameleon, aside from being a quad.

Generally, I like your thinking behind this design down to the perfect name. I imagine the design will have extra-large screens and buttons in the cockpit, but not too many of them overall. :)

[Sabelkatten]

Accuracy? Swap 5 MPLs for 4 MXPLs and a TC!

[Vehrec]

"Relatively cheap" he says, for a 55 ton trooper with short range and an XL engine.

[Hellraiser]

Insert:   https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Rabid_Coyote

[Isokrates]

I read the thread title and thought, "Chameleon". And it's funny how similar this design is to a Chameleon, aside from being a quad.

Generally, I like your thinking behind this design down to the perfect name. I imagine the design will have extra-large screens and buttons in the cockpit, but not too many of them overall. :)

Thanks!

Accuracy? Swap 5 MPLs for 4 MXPLs and a TC!

A.E.S and TC are incompatible

"Relatively cheap" he says, for a 55 ton trooper with short range and an XL engine.

It is a Dark Age/ IlClan design

Insert:   https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Rabid_Coyote

Different kind of animal

[Daryk]

I was thinking more "Sentry"... ;)

[Tyler Jorgensson]

I never never approve of any mech that has Inner Sphere Medium Pulse Lasers: that range is too short. A X-Pulse or Clan Pulse I can use at range 9 max which is acceptable (not the best) but with 5/8/7 I have some maneuverability to get close enough. Now I’m not sure how much that would cost BV or C-Bills wise but that would be my only complaint on an otherwise decent and entertaining ‘trainer’/ beginner mech.

[idea weenie]

Pull the Medium Pulse Lasers, AES, one Heat Sink, and the Partial Wing to free up 21 tons.

Replace with 9 Streak LRM-5 (2 tons per), and 2 tons of ammo.  You get less than 6 shots per missile launcher, but you are only firing missiles if your to-hit roll succeeds.

The pilot is told to stay in the back line and roll to-hits every turn.  If they fail the to-hit roll, they don't use up any ammo.

So no heat unless it will hit, no ammo usage unless it will hit, and a decently mobile platform to stay away from the enemy.

The remaining ton can be used for something else, as the Mech will only build up a max of 23 pts of Heat if all 9 launchers lock-on after the Mech has Jumped its full distance.  One idea might be changing the Head armor from Standard to Hardened then adding another half ton of Hardened armor, so the Head can now take 16-18 pts of damage instead of 9.  This still leave a half ton to make use of.

[Sabelkatten]

No design program available, but I think this works. Dropping the PSR bonus by 1 to get better accuracy and firing arcs:

50 ton tripod
3 tons ES structure
9.5 tons 250 LFE; 5/8
2.5 tons 5 JJ
10 DHS
3 tons Gyro
4 tons tripod Cockpit
11 tons armor:
Head 9-3
CT 25/5-16
R/LT 19/5-12
R/LA 16-8
C/R/LL 19-12
3 tons AES R/LA
4.5 tons AES C/R/LL
3.5 tons Partial Wing
6 tons 3xMXPL (2 RA, 1 LA)