Catalyst 35XT003 - Experimental ...

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INTRODUCTION
As I’m sure his Celestial Wisdom realizes the delagration of the conlict with the Word of Blake is not cause enough for us to
lessen our search for more advanced weaponry to defend the Confederation. In concert with the Capellan Science Foundation
and the Ministry of the Military we have identiied a number of project foci that should bear plentiful fruit to the Capellan
Confederation Armed Forces.
Our development of the plasma rile provided us with a powerful new weapon which we put to good use during the
Federated Suns’ unprovoked attack on our worlds, and when combined with the BattleMech Taser ofered our forces a signiicant
advantage. It is this advantage our program seeks to continually revive, and now that the shadow lances are an undeniable asset
it is time to shift our focus.
The Jihad ushered in an orgy of weapons development and, although Stone and his cronies would wish otherwise,
the Maskirovka has gained a considerable trove of technology which is even now being experimented upon at BattleMech
and vehicle manufacturers across the Confederation. New types of armor, new types of structure, even newly-enhanced
engines are being applied to prototypes on Grand Base, Sian, Capella, and Victoria, and thanks to the Strategios’ prescience in
constructing a full-scale experimentation division on Victoria after the damage sufered several years ago—our most recent
successes have come from there.
One law we must be aware of in our tactics and our design philosophies is the newest-toy phenomenon: each of the major
militaries in the Inner Sphere has become overrun with new technologies in very narrow areas. Our development of stealth armor
led to nearly every class of ’Mech produced in the Confederation being redesigned to take advantage of it. The Davions have
retroitted their rotary autocannons onto almost every chassis they ield; the Steiners, heavy Gauss riles and light fusion engines,
and the remnants of the Free Worlds League are overrun with extended-range lasers and more kinds of missile ammunitions than
one has time to count.
In partnership with the CSF, Ceres Metals facilities across the Confederation, but headquartered in the main oice on
Capella, began in 3076 far-reaching research and development projects in all aspects of military technology. Although funding
is beginning to be drawn away from the project to support the burgeoning hostilities along the Tikonov border, many impressive
prototypes and design projects have appeared and are listed here. It is our belief that through experimentation we may uncover
advances unknown to the Confederation’s enemies, and so we beg the Chancellor to continue funding our programs.
Most humbly and respectfully,
Dr. Veronica Baxter, Capellan Science Foundation, 3079
1
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The ’Mechs, combat vehicles, and i ghters described in
Experimental Technical Readout: Liao
provide players with a sampling of the various
custom designs that have arisen in the technical divisions of the military manufacturers of the Confederation. The designs featured in this book
rel ect limited-run prototypes and “one-of s” that have yet to reach full factory production—and most likely never will.
The rules for using ’Mechs, vehicles and i ghters in
BattleTech
game play can be found in
Total Warfare
, while the rules for their construction
can be found in
TechManual
. However, the experimental nature of these designs also draws upon the Experimental-level rules presented in
Tactical
Operations
. Thus, none of the units featured in this volume are considered tournament legal, and their use in introductory games is discouraged.
Furthermore, the extreme rarity of these machines is such that none of them should occur in a
BattleTech
campaign as a chance encounter, but the
capture or destruction of any one of these prototypes could be potential objective for
BattleTech
scenarios, tracks and role-playing adventures.
Project Development
: Herbert A. Beas II
Development Assistance:
Randall N. Bills and Jason Schmetzer
BattleTech Line Developer
: Herbert A. Beas II
BattleTech Assistant Line Developer:
Ben H. Rome
Primary Writing
: Jason Schmetzer
Writing Assistance:
Herbert A. Beas II
Production Sta
Cover Design and Layout
: Matt Heerdt
Evolved Faction Logos Design:
Jason Vargas
Original Illustrations
:
Doug Chaf ee
Brent Evans
Chris Lewis
Jim Nelson
Justin Nelson
Factchecking/Playtesting
: Joel Bancroft-Connors, Roland
“ColBosch” Boshnack, Joshua “NCKestrel” Franklin, William “Mad
Capellan” Gauthier, Keith “Xotl” Hann, Johannes “jymset” Heidler,
Daniel “DarkISI” Isberner, Chris “Alexander Knight” Marti, Luke “Jellico”
Robertson, Chris “Chunga” Smith, Peter Smith, Chris Wheeler, Patrick
Wynne.
Record Sheets
: “BV Smasha!” Sebastian Brocks, Christopher
“Chunga” Smith, “Techno Wizard” Jason Tighe
Special Thanks
: Jason would like to thank Herb, for having a sense
of humor.
©2010 The Topps Company, Inc. All
Rights Reserved. Experimental Technical
Readout: Liao, Classic BattleTech,
BattleTech, BattleMech, ’Mech and the
Topps logo are registered trademarks and/
or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc.,
in the United States and/or other countries.
Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game
Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes
Productions, LLC.
CAT35XT003
STAR LEAGUE
STAR LEAGUE ERA
ERA
CLAN INVASION ERA
CLAN INVASION ERA
JIHAD ERA
Under License From
SUCCESSION WARS ERA
CIVIL WAR ERA
CIVIL WAR ERA
DARK AGE ERA
DARK AGE ERA
®
2
 RVN-3X RAVEN X
Field Testing Summation:
Prototype RVN Reit
Producer/Site:
Hellespont Industrials, Sian
Supervising Technician:
Abel Mencius
Project Start Date:
3078
Non-Production Equipment Analysis:
Type:
Raven X
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Tonnage: 35
Battle Value: 1,050
Composite Structure
Equipment
Mass
Apollo Fire Control System
Internal Structure:
Composite
2
Bloodhound Active Probe
Engine:
210 XL
4.5
Angel ECM Suite
Walking MP:
6
Medium X-Pulse Lasers
Running MP:
9
Laser Anti-Missile System
Jumping MP:
0
Heat Sinks:
10 [20]
0
Overview
In the 3020s the
Raven
was a source of great pride for the
Capellan Confederation. One of the few new BattleMech designs
since the fall of the Star League to reach standard production, it
was a jewel in the Confederation’s crown even if it was saddled
with substandard technology. It wasn’t until the CSF was able to
unlock the secrets of the Helm memory core that the
Raven
was
given the technology it needed to compete on the battleield, but
those secrets also rejuvenated the entire warmaking industry of
the Successor States. Since the 3050s several upgrades have been
performed on the base
Raven
chassis, but in 3078 Hellespont
Industrials revealed a new prototype
Raven
that mounted the
most advanced equipment yet found on any battleield.
Built on a cutting-edge composite frame and using an
extralight gyro to free mass, the
Raven X
is powered by an
extralight fusion engine and continues the
Raven
-class’ long
tradition of battleield electronic warfare. Outwardly the
Raven X
is
similar to the stock -3L model made famous on the battleields of
the Liberation of 3057, but the insides are revamped as far above
the 3050 model as it was above the 3025.
An Angel ECM replaces the older Guardian model, while a
more powerful Bloodhound active probe replaces the Beagle.
The standard medium lasers of the -3L are upgraded to medium
x-pulse lasers, and a prototype laser anti-missile system provides
solid antimissile defense. The real treat of the
Raven
’s arsenal,
however, is a large twenty-tube medium range missile launcher
mated to a stolen Apollo ire controls system. Given the
Raven
X
’s fragility, Hellespont designers wanted to make sure it could
engage any enemy discovered from a distance and still have time
to escape.
Although the speciications of the
Raven X
are impressive,
Strategios planners have discovered in simulation that the
BattleMech is just as susceptible to damage as the 3025 model.
Its build ofsets its increases in productivity and potential: the
extralight engine is thinly armored, as is the soft composite
structure. Most damning is the
Raven
’s speed, which hasn’t
increased since 3025, and is now almost slow compared to
other states’ reconnaissance BattleMechs. It seems unlikely that
the Strategios will approve the
Raven X
for anything more than
demonstration purposes.
Gyro (XL):
1.5
Cockpit:
3
Armor Factor (Ferro):
89
5
Internal
Armor
Structure
Value
Head
3
9
Center Torso
11
13
Center Torso (rear)
3
R/L Torso
8
13
R/L Torso (rear)
3
R/L Arm
6
8
R/L Leg
8
8
Weapons and Ammo
Location
Critical
Tonnage
2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
RA
2
4
Laser Anti-Missile System
RT
2
1.5
Angel ECM Suite
RT
2
2
Bloodhound Active Probe
RT
3
2
MRM 20
LT
3
7
Apollo FCS
LT
1
1
Ammo (MRM) 12
LT
1
1
CASE
LT
1
.5
3
VND-3LD VINDICATOR DAO
Field Testing Summation:
Custom VND Hybrid Reit
Producer/Site:
None
Supervising Technician:
Dao
Project Start Date:
3078
Non-Production Equipment Analysis:
often using this unexpected velocity to get near enough to use
his Taser. A laser anti-missile system mounted where a standard
Vindicator
carries a medium laser provides close-in defense.
Although he has refused all ofers of purchase for his ‘Mech, the
Capellan Science Foundation urges the Chancellor to require the
Maskirovka to acquire this ‘Mech for disassembly and examination.
Clan Endo Steel Structure
Clan Ferro-Fibrous Armor
Clan Double Heat Sinks
Type:
Vindicator Dao
Technology Base: Mixed (Experimental)
Tonnage: 45
Battle Value: 1,814
Actuator Enhancement System
Supercharger
Clan ER PPC
Laser Anti-Missile System
BattleMech Taser
Equipment
Mass
Internal Structure:
Endo Steel (C)
2.5
Overview
The anger amongst Capellan citizens after the withdrawal
and destruction of the Word of Blake is at levels unseen since
the Andurien invasion of the 3030s, and this atmosphere has
bred a massive pool of funds and people seeking restitution
and vengeance wherever they can. In the remnants of the Liao
Commonality especially, a horde of bounty hunters have
appeared, taking contracts to right old wrongs and settle old
scores and proit in the doing. One of them, a former Capellan
national who goes by no other name than Dao, pilots a customized
Vindicator
claimed from a renegade MechWarrior. He is good
enough at his job—and proliic enough in taking contracts—that
he’s managed to outit his
Vindicator
specially for his purposes.
The Maskirovka was able to copy the maintenance logs for this
powerful ‘Mech and extrapolated its design parameters.
Although appearing much like a conventional VND-
3L
Vindicator
, Dao’s machine is anything but. He’s taken full
advantage of the appearance of Clan technology in the area and
had his BattleMech completely rebuilt. Dao’s
Vindicator
uses Clan
double heat sinks, endo steel internal structure, and ferro-ibrous
armor in addition to several weapons. This makes it extremely
hard to kill, and his most recent upgrade further strengthened its
near-invulnerability. Stripping parts from a graveyard of Federated
Suns BattleMechs, Dao replaced his engine with a compact fusion
engine and his gyro with a compact gyro—making the actual
target area of his
Vindicator
much smaller. Penetrating weapons
ire in the
Vindicator
’s torso is much less likely to strike valuable
components, making his ‘Mech appear unkillable.
Since many of his contracts are wanted-alive bounties, Dao’s
Vindicator
carries a BattleMech Taser in its left arm, which he uses
to shut down enemy BattleMechs and vehicles so he can capture
their pilots. If the Taser fails to cripple his enemy the PPC inside the
Vindicator
’s right battleist is a Clan-made weapon, half-again as
powerful as comparable Inner Sphere weapons—and Dao doesn’t
miss. It was only in the last month that we managed to conirm
actuator enhancement systems on both the
Vindicator
’s arms—
making his aim that much more deadly.
Despite its average speed Dao’s
Vindicator
is an excellent
hunter-killer BattleMech. He retained its jump jets for dealing with
terrain obstacles and has installed a supercharger for burst speed,
Engine:
180 Compact
10.5
Walking MP:
4
Running MP:
6 [8]
Jumping MP:
4
Heat Sinks (Clan):
10 [20]
0
Gyro (Compact):
3
Cockpit (Small):
2
Armor Factor (Ferro (C)):
153
8
Internal
Armor
Structure
Value
Head
3
9
Center Torso
14
22
Center Torso (rear)
6
R/L Torso
11
18
R/L Torso (rear)
4
R/L Arm
7
14
R/L Leg
11
22
Weapons and Ammo
Location
Critical
Tonnage
ER PPC (C)
RA
2
6
Actuator-Enhancement Sys. RA
2
1.5
Taser (BattleMech)
LA
3
4
Ammo (Taser) 5
LA
1
1
Actuator-Enhancement Sys. LA
2
1.5
Supercharger
CT
1
1.5
Laser Anti-Missile System
H
2
1.5
Jump Jets
RL
2
1
Jump Jets
LL
2
1
4
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