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04/07/18 10:03 PM
64.189.130.11
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The S-Series is part of an alternate history faction in the periphery, the Crossroadian Republic: A relatively high-tech but small-ish branch in the Periphery who originated from Kerensky's Exodus Fleet.
The S-Series is an ambitious project initiated in the 3080s by the Republic to create a standardized Omnimech set to outfit most of their Battlemech formations. The original project called for a standardized Light, Medium, Heavy & Assault Mech, which became the S35, S55, S75, & S95. Eventually, the project was expanded in both a heavier and lighter direction to include the Ultralight bracket (S15) and the Superheavy bracket (S125). The Battlemechs have been researched and prototypes since the 3100s, with the final models (S125 and S15) only finally reaching full production status in the 3140s.
The S Series all features XL Gyros, XL Engines, Endo-Steel frames and clan-spec ferro-fibrous armor. These components are advanced but the republic has had considerable experience in producing these components, so standardizing them is expected to lower the cost of production by making full use of the economies of scale. Sharing similar components, there is also significant cross-compatibility of parts across the entire S Series. Combined with the ease of component replacement inherent to omnimechs, the S-Series drastically cut on logistical costs of fielding dozens of different Mech models throughout the majority of the Crossroadian Republic's armored forces. Since they're all very similar with similar components, it's very easy for one Astech crew to get acquainted between one S-Series and the next.
In terms of Tactical performance, the S-Series are all characterized with excellent mobility, solid armor, and decent-to-very good payload for their weight classes. The lighter classes also include special equipment as standard to improve survivability and/or mobility. However, they are not cheap, and replicating these vehicles in either the homeworld Clans or the IS Great Houses would be prohibitively expensive due to the blend of clan-spec and IS-spec equipment.
One major objective of the S-Series was strategic usability: While the S-Series is not a major step above earlier Crossroadian 'Mechs in terms of tactical performance, the S-Series are all forgiving to inexperienced battlemech pilots with simple, intuitive and effective control systems, they're designed with large and easy-to-access ammunition magazines to assist in swift reloading and reconfiguring, and the commonality and standardization of components that are quickly becoming common equipment yields a series that is simple to maintain, at least for the Republic.
However, all of these requirements resulted in a protracted development cycle, with dozens upon dozens of prototypes being constructed for each of the S-Series, in order to weed out teething issues and to get them to their current iterations. This ultimately meant that only the least ambitious of the S-Series, the S-75, was operational by the time of the 1st Crossroadian-Jade Falcon war in 3110.
The S-75 is not particularly flashy and is visually similar to a beefed-up Timberwolf. In fact, the Timberwolf was the basis of the design, and only slightly differs with an armored cowl in the head to add survivability to heavy weapons and with an XL gyro. The Timberwolf look-alike is also refined and so has a slightly stabler structure. Interestingly, although based on the venerable Timberwolf, there are no Crossroadian configurations that seek to emulate any of its configurations.
The S-55 was the next of the series to hit the production line, shortly after the beginning of the Crossroadian-Falcon War. The S-55 focuses on a good blend of speed, armor, and firepower, and looked like a miniature, compact S-75, which gave it the distinct aesthetics of a smaller Mad Cat Mk.III. The S-55 is mechanically far more similar under the hood to the S-75 than the S-55 is to the Mad Cat Mk.III (or even the S-75 to the Mad Cat), which is simply a result of their parallel development and shared genesis in the S-Project itself, but the uncanny resemblance still results in outsiders raising eyebrows. The S-55 depends on its hard-mounted MASC system to maintain high mobility
The S-75 was first assigned to the Minneapolis Royal RCT. (Where the regiment originated is a bit of a mystery in most circles: There is no city named Minneapolis in Crossroads and the regiment itself seemed to pop up on the rosters only in the late 2820s). The unit was the first to encounter the first Falcons in battle, in a curb-stomp battle in part due to the pause seeing what looked like Timberwolves in what was thought to be a simple backwater periphery world, and in part simply to the Falcons not expecting a full regiment of resistance. The RCT was particularly brutal against the survivors (there were none), leading to the RCT commander being reprimanded by high command and reassigned.
The S-55 was a bit late and only made it in any significant numbers by the time that specific war was over. Over its short period in that war, the S-55 and S-75 were said to have performed very well, and feedback went into the rest of the S-Series Battlemech Projects after the war was over.
The S-35 was made based on feedback from the S-55 and is essentially a downscaled version. The S-35 sports a MASC and, additionally, a Partial Wing (which prevents the otherwise small battlemech from taking only half the space in a dropship Mech Bay, unfortunately), although only some S-35 variants carry the jump jets needed to use it, partially because the S-35's payload is reduced to 2/3rds of its original 12 tons when mounting jump jets. Its extreme ground speed can also be further augmented with a pod-mounted supercharger. It makes an excellent reconnaisance platform. However, the S-35's development was delayed due to the delay of the S-35's planned Beholder Sensor Augmentation Module, which would plug in to the S-35's sensor package or its active probes to increase their effectiveness, resulting in the S-95 being finished first.
The S-95 is developed from the S-75, and uses the same gyro and a slightly modified version of its 375XLE. The Assault Mech uses the same armored cowl to provide survivability against blasts that could otherwise head-cap the Mech and kill the pilot, and the Mech itself expands the S-75's available weapon-weight by approximately 50%, giving its configurations a deadly punch. The S-95 also includes the only common C3 Master command variant among the non-superheavy S-Series.
The 2nd war started just as the S-35 hit the field in 3130. The war was of a greater intensity than the 1st, which was little more than a series of skirmishes. The Falcons mustered several Clusters as part of an invasion force, with both sides suffering heavy casualties, especially with their slower vehicles and battlemechs. The Outnumbered Republic forces were generally swifter than their Falcon equivalents. S-35 and S-55 battle groups used that speed to strike at weak spots in the Falcon lines with tactical numerical superiority and retreat just as quickly into the friendly ranks of S-75 and S-95 when the lines were reinforced or on the rare occasion that the Falcons fielded something as fast as them. The Minneapolis Royal RCT, now refit with S-95s, also performed admirably, including the remarkable achievement of destroying a Union-C dropship in a counter-attack that had apparently hit some technical troubles. gained a few Battlemech Aces throughout the war (5 confirmed Mech kills in another Mech).
The Falcons eventually agreed to a ceasefire and pulled out in 3134 with no net gain in ground. With no gain on the front, exhaustion due to the Crossroadian whack-a-mole style of combat and seeing a much better opportunity to make gains in the Republic of the Sphere, and it's widely believed that the Falcons will strike yet again if they find a good opportunity.
The last of the S-Series, the S-15 and S-125, are not yet combat tested as of 3145.
The S-15 is an experimental ultralight battlemech intended more for utility duties than for actual combat. The Mech has a mere 4.5 tons of pod space for light equipment, but partially makes up for this limitation with low-obervability technology, which when combined with ECM The main imagined roles of the S-15 is as a prototype "APC Mech" for Battle Armor, an EW Mech for "ghost armies", or as a minelayer/minesweeper, although combat configurations do exist.
The S-125 is the last battlemech, and is a substantial departure from the series. The S-125 is a superheavy tripod that was developed from other faction's combat experiences with the Republic of the Sphere's new Ares & Poseidon Battlemechs, and a few acquired examples from unknown sources. The new S-125 Superheavy Command Mech is fairly compact for a superheavy but also fairly slow at 15 m/s at top speed, but it's still quite fast for a superheavy. It features the S-95's armored cowl design and even better armor protection than the S-95.
Unfortunately, the pod tonnage gain between the S-125 and S-95 is only around 5 tons, which is generally eaten by mounting a C3 Master and other electronics on the S-125, resulting in very similar payloads between the two vehicles. The main advantage of the S-125 compared to the S-95 is the additional space to put more bulky equipment and weaponry, like artillery pieces or a ton of heat sinks, and the variants of the S-125 are planned to make full use of this advantage.
The S-15 reached production status by 3145. The S-125 has not.
Both the S-15 and S-125 are heavily modeled off the existing S Series, which also means that both have a substantial resemblence to the Timber Wolf. The S-15 has been mused to look like a toy Timberwolf when its hand actuators are removed. The S-125 is a particularly ugly design, resembling a Mad Cat's head on a Poseidon's (125t RotS Mech) body. The S-125 test pilot affectionately dubbed his ride "The OctoCat", which is a nickname that seems to be catching on with the lower military personnel despite the fact that the S-125 has, in fact, three legs.
Whether or not the S-15 and S-125 prove to be as successful as the original S-Series battlemechs remains to be seen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
S15 Standard Ultralight Base Base Tech Level: Experimental Mixed (Base Clan) Level Era Experimental 3145+ Advanced - Standard - Tech Rating: F/X-X-X-F
Weight: 15 tons BV: 296 Cost: 3,689,200 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 13/20 Engine: 195 XL Double Heat Sinks: 10 [20] Cockpit: Small Cockpit Gyro: XL Gyro
Internal: 26 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 48/55 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 3 2 Center Torso 5 8 Center Torso (rear) 2 Right Torso 4 6 Right Torso (rear) 2 Left Torso 4 6 Left Torso (rear) 2 Right Arm 2 4 Left Arm 2 4 Right Leg 3 6 Left Leg 3 6
Equipment Loc Omni Chameleon Light Polarization Shield (IS) Fixed
Pod Space: 4.5 tons 1 crit per arm (+2 removable actuators) 7 crits in side torsos
Quirks: Easy to Pilot Easy to Maintain Fast Reload Narrow/Low Profile Compact Mech
Typical Configurations:
Prime 3x ERML 1x Micro PL 1x Targeting Computer Note:1st "combat" configuration, uncommon
A 1x Flamer 1x ERLL Note:2nd "combat" configuration, common-ish
B 1x Flamer 1x Improved Heavy LL 3rd "combat" configuration, uncommon.
C 1x MML-3 (3 tons ammo) Utility-oriented variant for minesweeping, minelaying, and other duties.
D 1x Flamer 2x Improved Heavy ML 1x Active Probe 1x ECM Suite Basic Recon Configuration
E 1x Flamer 1x Bloodhound Active Probe 1x Angel ECM Suite Advanced Recon Configuration
I 1x Protomech AC/2 (1t Ammo) Simple but not particularly effective supplemental AA variant
J 2x Laser AMS 1x LRM5 (1t ammo) Supercharger Experimental "APC Mech" variant
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S35 Standard Light Base Base Tech Level: Experimental Mixed (Base Clan) Level Era Experimental - Advanced - Standard 3145+ Tech Rating: F/X-X-E-D
Weight: 35 tons BV: 574 Cost: 10,911,263 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 8/12(16) Engine: 280 XL Double Heat Sinks: 11 [25] Cockpit: Small Cockpit Gyro: XL Gyro
Internal: 58 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 115/119 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 3 9 Center Torso 11 16 Center Torso (rear) 4 Right Torso 8 12 Right Torso (rear) 3 Left Torso 8 12 Left Torso (rear) 3 Right Arm 6 12 Left Arm 6 12 Right Leg 8 16 Left Leg 8 16
Equipment Loc Omni Partial Wing (Clan) LT Fixed MASC HD Fixed
Pod Space: 12 tons Side torsos: 3 crits each Legs: 2 crits each Head:1 crit Arms:5 crits each + removable actuators)
Quirks: Easy to Maintain Easy to Pilot Fast Reload Narrow/Low Profile Improved Sensors
Typical Configurations:
Prime 2x ER LL 2x SPL Targeting Computer Primary Combat Configuration
A 3x ERML Bloodhound Active Probe Angel ECM C3 Slave 8x Jump Jets High-end Reconnaisance & Electronic Warfare Unit
A2 3x ERML Active Probe Angel ECM C3 Slave 8x Jump Jets 1x TAG Slightly less capable Recon w/ Spotting secondary mission
B 3x MPL 2x SPL 8x Jump Jets Combat Configuration w/ Jump Jets
J 1x HAG20 (2t ammo) Ad-Hoc AA Configuration
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S55 Standard Medium Base Base Tech Level: Advanced Mixed (Base Clan) Level Era Experimental - Advanced - Standard 3145+ Tech Rating: F/X-X-E-D
Weight: 55 tons BV: 877 Cost: 18,580,238 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 6/9(12) Engine: 330 XL Double Heat Sinks: 13 [26] Cockpit: Small Cockpit Gyro: XL Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 182/185 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 3 9 Center Torso 18 27 Center Torso (rear) 8 Right Torso 13 20 Right Torso (rear) 5 Left Torso 13 20 Left Torso (rear) 5 Right Arm 9 18 Left Arm 9 18 Right Leg 13 26 Left Leg 13 26
Equipment Loc Omni MASC HD Fixed
Pod Space: 21 tons Arms: 7 crits each +removable actuators Side torsos: 6 crits each
Quirks: Easy to Maintain Easy to Pilot Fast Reload Narrow/Low Profile Compact Mech
Typical Configurations:
Prime 2x ERPPC 3x SPL Targeting Computer +3 DHS Primary Combat Configuration
B 2x LPL 3x SPL Targeting Computer 6 Jump Jets Combat Configuration w/ Jump Capability
C 2x LPL TAG Bloodhound Active Probe Angel ECM C3 Slave 6 Jump Jets Medium-based Recon Platform w/ TAG (pressed into service w/ delay of S35 model)
D 2x ERLL 2x SPL iATM-3 (2t ammo) TAG ECM Suite Active Probe C3 Slave Targeting Computer Supercharger Basic Ground-based Combat Recon Platform
F 1x UAC/20 (3t ammo) 2x ERML Targeting Computer C3 Slave Brawler/Urban Combat variant
I 1x Arrow IV (5t ammo) 1x CASE II 3x Improved Heavy ML 1x Light Active Probe Artillery Variant
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S75 Standard Heavy Base Base Tech Level: Advanced Mixed (Base Clan) Level Era Experimental - Advanced - Standard 3145+ Tech Rating: F/X-X-E-D
Weight: 75 tons BV: 1,066 Cost: 25,838,750 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 5/8 Engine: 375 XL Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30] Gyro: XL Gyro
Internal: 114 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 230/231 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 3 9 Center Torso 23 35 Center Torso (rear) 10 Right Torso 16 24 Right Torso (rear) 8 Left Torso 16 24 Left Torso (rear) 8 Right Arm 12 24 Left Arm 12 24 Right Leg 16 32 Left Leg 16 32
Pod Space: 29.5 tons Side torsos: 10 crits each Arms: 3 crits each + removable actuators Head: 1 crit
Quirks: Easy to Maintain Easy to Pilot Fast Reload Armored Cowl Stable
Typical Configurations:
Prime 2x ERPPC 1x Plasma Cannon (2t ammo) 1x Flamer +4 Double Heat Sinks Targeting Computer Bloodhound Active Probe Angel ECM C3 Slave Main Battlemech with an Electronic Warfare Focus
A 4x ERML 1x HAG/40 (4t ammo) Targeting Computer Light Active Probe C3 Slave Main Battlemech
B 2x ERLL 2x LRM20 w/ ArtV (4t ammo) Light Active Probe +4 Double Heat Sinks Main Battlemech
D 2x ERPPC 10x SRM4 (6t ammo) 1x Flamer 2x CASE II Close-Range Fire Support & Utility
G 2x ERLL 2x iATM12 (6t Ammo) 2x CASE II Light Active Probe Main Battlemech
H 1x Arrow IV (5t Ammo) 2x LPL CASE II Frontline Artillery
I 1x Thumper (5t Ammo) 2x ERLL CASE II ECM Suite High-Endurance Tube Artillery
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S95 Standard Assault Base Base Tech Level: Advanced Mixed (Base Clan) Level Era Experimental - Advanced - Standard 3145+ Tech Rating: F/X-X-E-D
Weight: 95 tons BV: 1,223 Cost: 34,451,300 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 4/6 Engine: 380 XL Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30] Gyro: XL Gyro
Internal: 145 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 288/293 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 3 9 Center Torso 30 45 Center Torso (rear) 12 Right Torso 20 30 Right Torso (rear) 9 Left Torso 20 30 Left Torso (rear) 9 Right Arm 16 32 Left Arm 16 32 Right Leg 20 40 Left Leg 20 40
Pod Space: 44.5 tons Side torsos: 5 Crits Arms: 8 Crits + Removable Actuators Head: 1 Crit
Quirks: Easy to Maintain Easy to Pilot Fast Reload Armored Cowl Variable-Range Targeting
Typical Configurations:
Prime 2x Gauss Rifle (4t ammo) 2x ERPPC +2 DHS ECM Suite C3 Slave Direct Fire Support
A 4xStreak LRM20 (4t ammo) 1x Flamer Missile-based Direct Fire Support
B 2x ERLL 4x iATM12 (8t ammo) 1x Flamer Advanced Missile-Based Direct Fire Support
D 2x HAG40 (8t ammo) 2x ERML C3 Slave AA Configuration
E 2x UAC10 (4t ammo) 1x ERLL 1x SPL 1x Laser AMS 1x Flamer 1x C3 Master w/ TAG Targeting Computer Bloodhound Active Probe Angel ECM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
S125 Standard Colossal Base Base Tech Level: Advanced Mixed (Base IS) Level Era Experimental - Advanced 3145+ Standard - Tech Rating: F/X-X-X-F
Weight: 125 tons BV: 1,995 Cost: 44,606,250 C-bills Source: Crossroads
Movement: 3/5 Engine: 375 XL Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30] (Clan) Cockpit: Superheavy Tripod Cockpit Gyro: Superheavy Gyro
Internal: 214 (Endo-Steel) Armor: 432/431 (Ferro-Fibrous) Internal Armor Head 4 12 Center Torso 38 60 Center Torso (rear) 16 Right Torso 26 40 Right Torso (rear) 12 Left Torso 26 40 Left Torso (rear) 12 Right Arm 21 42 Left Arm 21 42 Right Leg 26 52 Left Leg 26 52 Center Leg 26 52
Pod Space 51 tons Arms:8 crits + removable actuators each Legs: 1 crit each Torsos: 7 crits (all) Head: 1 crit
Quirks Easy to Maintain Easy to Pilot Fast Reload Command Mech Narrow/Low Profile Armored Cowl
Typical Configurations:
Prime +10 Double Heat Sinks 5x clan LPL Targeting Computer C3 Master Company/Lance Commander & AA/Anti-Light Mech
A 2x HAG/40 (7t Ammo) Targeting Computer C3 Master Company/Lance Commander & AA Mech
B 1x Long Tom (10t Ammo) 5x Clan ERML 1x Clan Flamer 1x Clan Laser AMS Clan Targeting Computer Angel ECM Clan Active Probe Clan CASE II Heavy Artillery Mech
C 2x Clan Arrow IV (12t Ammo) 5x Clan ERML C3 Master 2x Clan Case II Targeting Computer Angel ECM Clan Active Probe Front-Line Artillery Mech & Company/Lance Commander
G 4x Clan ERPPC +16 DHS Clan ECM Suite Clan Targeting Computer Company/Lance Commander & Fire-Support
H 18x iATM3 (12 tons Ammo) 2x CASE II
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AmaroqStarwind
04/08/18 04:57 AM
99.203.26.50
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Yikes. Crossroads, huh?
Any relationship with a world known as Median, by chance?
(Cool mechs, by the way.)
Discord: Amaroq the Kitsune#1092
Telegram: @Lycanphoenix
MechEngine (Alpha) -- On Hiatus
The Scientist Caste has determined that time travel is dishonorable.
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Retry
04/09/18 11:37 AM
64.189.130.11
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I've not heard of the world Median, so probably not.
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AmaroqStarwind
04/09/18 06:07 PM
99.203.155.94
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Inside reference, vaguely BattleTech related. Median is a sort of crossroads type of world. It is a bit outside the scope of this thread though...
As I said before, these are pretty cool mechs that you've designed. I can't wait to see more!
Some advice regarding Targeting Computers: If you do not have any weapons that can be used to make Aimed Shots, or if you primarily use weapons that can't benefit from Targeting Computers at all, then take a gander at the Actuator Enhancement System as an alternative.
A single Actuator Enhancement System mounted in the arm of a Light Mech will weigh 1 ton (0.5 tons in an Ultralight), and every weapon mounted in that arm will receive a -1 To-Hit, regardless of what type of weapon it is (even Missiles and Physical Weapons).
An Actuator Enhancement System is equal in mass to your mech's total tonnage divided by 35 (or divided by 50 in a Quad Mech), rounded up to the next Half-Ton, and doesn't increase weight as you carry more weapons. It also only occupies one Critical Slot per weight class.
Furthermore, if you install an Actuator Enhancement System in each leg, then you get a -2 to all piloting checks that don't involve Physical Attacks, and a -1 to all piloting checks that do.
It has a couple of downsides, though: Actuator Enhancement Systems are incompatible with Targeting Computers, MASC, and TSM, and they can only affect weapons mounted in the arms. Furthermore, you need to install a separate Actuator Enhancement System for each arm if you have weapons in both arms that you want to benefit from the increased accuracy, and any physical weapons that require both hands to operate will also need to a separate AES installed in each arm to see any benefit.
One example of an Actuator Enhancement System upgrade and Clan Tech Overhaul, using a generic, unnamed 35-tonner: A 35-Ton Inner Sphere mech with a PPC in the Right Arm and an LRM-10 w/ Artemis V in the Left Arm gets upgraded with experimental Clan Tech. The PPC is replaced with a Clan Large Pulse Laser, and the LRM-10 with Artemis IV is replaced with a pair of Clan LRM-5s, each with Artemis V. Finally, the weight saved by replacing the PPC with a Pulse Laser is allocated to an Actuator Enhancement System for the Right Arm (giving the Pulse Laser a total of –3 to Hit), and because there is free space in the Right Arm to mount it, the LRMs are moved over there as well in order to benefit from the AES (increasing the LRM's total bonuses to –2 To-Hit and +3 to Cluster, for each LRM-5 rack). Additionally, the switched from an LRM-10 to a pair of LRM-5s not only increases overall flexibility (Multiple Targets, Ammo Conservation, Brute Force with two chances to hit, etc), but also the chances of a successful hit with a majority of the salvo. As opposed to using Streak LRMs, this upgrade retains Indirect Fire capability, and the ability to use special munitions if needed.
If the mech previously had a Large Laser in the Right Arm, then this could be moved over to the Left Arm and upgraded to a Clan ER Large Laser, and paired up with its own Actuator Enhancement System and a Small Shield. And if there were a pair of Medium Lasers in the Left Arm originally, then this could be replaced with Clan Medium Pulse Laser, and it would also benefit from the increase in accuracy.
Now, if this example mech also started life with a regular cockpit and a standard gyro, this could be replaced with an XL Gyro and a Small Cockpit, while the armor would be upgraded to Clan Ferro-Fibrous. The weight saved by using a Small Cockpit and XL Gyro would go towards installing an Actuator Enhancement System in the legs, more than making up for the piloting penalties imposed by the Small Cockpit.
Discord: Amaroq the Kitsune#1092
Telegram: @Lycanphoenix
MechEngine (Alpha) -- On Hiatus
The Scientist Caste has determined that time travel is dishonorable.
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Retry
04/09/18 07:06 PM
64.189.130.11
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Quote: Some advice regarding Targeting Computers: If you do not have any weapons that can be used to make Aimed Shots, or if you primarily use weapons that can't benefit from Targeting Computers at all, then take a gander at the Actuator Enhancement System as an alternative.
Oh yeah, I know about AES, but I'm pretty sure as a mymoer enhancement it would have to be pod-mounted and can't be pod mounted (similar to MASC or TSM, or the Stealth systems).
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