Retry
05/20/18 03:13 AM
174.70.184.145
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Panther PNT-15X (Black Panther)
Base Tech Level: Experimental Mixed (Base IS)
Level Era
Experimental 3130+
Advanced -
Standard -
Tech Rating: F/X-X-X-F
Weight: 35 tons
BV: 1,743
Cost: 5,938,560 C-bills
Source: Republic of the Sphere
Movement: 5/8/5
Engine: 175
Double Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Cockpit: Small Cockpit
Internal: 58 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 119/119
Internal Armor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 11 17
Center Torso (rear) 5
Right Torso 8 12
Right Torso (rear) 4
Left Torso 8 12
Left Torso (rear) 4
Right Arm 6 12
Left Arm 6 12
Right Leg 8 16
Left Leg 8 16
Weapons Loc Heat
ER PPC (Clan) RA 15
Streak SRM 4 RT 3
Ammo Loc Shots
Streak SRM 4 Ammo RT 25
Equipment Loc
PPC Capacitor RA
Null Signature System
Chameleon Light Polarization Shield
ECM Suite (clan) HD
Quirks:
Improved Targeting (Short)
Nimble Jumper
Combat Computer
Improved Cooling Jacket (ER PPC)
Non-standard Parts
Difficult to Maintain
Flawed Cooling System
Prototype
Variants:
CASE Field Modification-Some PNT-15Xs were modified with clan-spec CASE systems to protect the chassis from accidental ammunition explosions.
RISC Upgrade-Intended to minimize the risks of overheating, it removes the Streak SRM-4 and ammo for a clan-spec ER Medium Laser, a RISC Emergency Coolant System, and upgrades the ECM suite to an Angel variant. Other improvements include the usage of the prototype RISC Heat Sink Override Kit and improvements to the life support system, gaining the Improved Life Support quirk.
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The PNT-15X, or "Black Panther" as it's known by its users, is an experimental RotS variant of the venerable Panther specifically designed for covert head-hunting missions.
Its development began in 3115 as limited cooperation with the Draconis Combine resulted in some purchases of Panther 10K models. Some of these designs were diverted for reasons unknown, reverse-engineered and reproduced in a very heavily modified form in a few factories on Terra.
The purpose of these new PNT-15X factories were unknown at the time, as none of the Panther frames were being assigned to main-line troops. Rumor has it these machines were being diverted for use by the mysterious Ghost Knights for extremely dangerous, clandestine missions.
The PNT-15X incorporated a combination of standard Inner Sphere production frames, rediscovered and recreated old Star League technologies and highly advanced clan-spec equipment that the RotS was starting to become capable of recreating reliably and economically on Terra. The new design was ambitious and highly specialized, and the technology incorporated was ahead of what the RotS could create reliably, causing substantial teething issues.
For one, the very first prototype suffered from a massive issue:When charging its capacitor, the prototype's cooling system was unable to sink the excess heat caused by its exotic stealth systems. Time had to be spent on developing a high-tech Battle Computer to help manage the heat while the Null Signature System restricted heat venting. However, even then, firing the PPC with the capacitors would cause a massive amount of heat influx that its heat sinks would struggle to handle. Despite further improvements like fitting the PPC with an excellent heating jacket, the coolant system was fundamentally flawed and purportedly subject to "hiccups" when the Mech stumbled into large-scale weapons fire or other sudden, heavy hits like physical attacks. There was a very real risk of the Streak Ammunition exploding when firing the capacitor-charged PPC while jumping to safety with stealth systems online, so much so that the pilots and their maintenance crews often "forgot" to load the streak bins.
Otherwise, the Battlemech's combination of "new" old Star League stealth technologies and "new" recreated Clan-spec technologies would give the average Astech fits: The parts for the exotic clan equipment and stealth equipment were nearly impossible to find at the best of times, and even with the parts the systems were a royal pain in the **** to keep operational for front-line crews.
The -15X is usually used as an Ambush 'Mech by elite RotS Mechwarriors. The Panther would wait in a dark alley with its PPC charged and stealth systems online, hiding for a high priority target, such as hostile weapons carrier, Command Vehicle/Battlemech, or other high priority targets. Once the target closed unwittingly into close range, the -15X would fire its PPC for a crippling or killing blow and jump away to safety and cool down, switching off stealth systems if no one was in the immediate vicinity to facilitate in cooling down, and then turn them back on and prepare for another strike.
The PNT-15X would cause a ruckus in the Draconis Combine when they first encountered them during their invasion of the Republic of the Sphere in the 3130s. Their company commanders suffered massive casualty rates during the initial invasion, with 6 being knocked out in the course of a month in 6 different instances on a world with otherwise minimal fighting, far higher than typical, with those lucky enough to survive often describing being shot in the head or the back by an "invisible 'Mech". Finally, a lucky hit from a Combine Atlas knocked out the PPC carrying arm of the mystery 'Mech, causing it to retreat. Combine officials were baffled by the sheer technological sophistication incorporated just in that arm: highly engineered, compact clan components linked to a capacitor and the remains of an extremely fancy, integrated stealth system, all on the arm that was unmistakenly a Panther's.
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AmaroqStarwind
05/20/18 09:29 AM
99.203.154.223
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Nimble Jumper?
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that quirk.
Discord: Amaroq the Kitsune#1092
Telegram: @Lycanphoenix
MechEngine (Alpha) -- On Hiatus
The Scientist Caste has determined that time travel is dishonorable. |
Retry
05/20/18 02:21 PM
174.70.184.145
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It's a new quirk, from the Battlemech Manual IIRC.
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AmaroqStarwind
05/20/18 07:35 PM
108.255.82.176
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The design quirks page has not yet been updated with the quirks from that book, sadly >.<
Discord: Amaroq the Kitsune#1092
Telegram: @Lycanphoenix
MechEngine (Alpha) -- On Hiatus
The Scientist Caste has determined that time travel is dishonorable. |
GiovanniBlasini
05/21/18 05:44 AM
75.80.180.163
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Ok, that's a brilliant take.
Member of the Pundit Caste
"Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We're evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that." -- Col. Saul Tigh, BSG2003
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