Zaku
01/07/22 03:50 PM
82.40.9.192
|
Kasdan Smart Mine Mk I Smart Mine
Mass: 10 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 100 ICE
Cruising Speed: 108 kph
Maximum Speed: 162 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: XXXX
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-F
Cost: 166,833 C-bills
Design Quirks
Bad Reputation
Gas Hog
Low Profile
Lore
Built in 3XXX by renowned mechanic and mech tech Augustus 'Trucks' Kasdan, the Kasdan smart mine represented a new weapon in combat warfare. A fully automatous, highly destructive guided munition in the form of a 10 ton track vehicle, fitted with state of the art robotic guidance technology which could receive and most importantly interpret orders. This allowed units to make combat decisions without being micromanaged by a offsite commander, and made them a terror due to their ability to remain inactive for long periods scan for potential targets and blindside them suddenly.
The design was ruggedly simple. A 10 ton vehicle made for high speed, given all terrain tracks and then given enough explosives to demolish any defensive structure in the inner sphere. Indeed the Kasdan Smart Mine was a suicide drone, meant to charge the enemy and defensive positions, then detonate with considerable force, demolishing small mechs and combat vehicles in a single blast and considerably damaging larger heavier units, and the surrounding area.
The Drones proved their worth in early combat, being able to rush opponents due to the ability for such units to be deployed in small numbers, and thanks to their robotic nature prevented any friendly casualties from their use.
However design issues began to appear when the units were exposed to enemy ECM, and caused a series of irregularities, ranging from units shutting down and not reactivating, prematurely detonating, and even the unit going berserk, beginning to charge and detonate near friendly units, and at least one 'rumoured' case of a unit declaring itself 'Charlie' and working with several children to escape government control and going to work as a farm vehicle... who wrote this?
The run of accidents caused by the Kasdan 'Smart' Mines led to a drop off in sales, and the entire design concept gaining a dubious reputation. Still investigations into the units struggled to explain why the units became so aggressive against allies when exposed to ECM. Still following several explosive ending to investigations, where units seem to tr and self terminate rather than have their code examined Kasdan Mechanics chose to simply ship the units with warnings, cautioning deploying the units near enemy ECM, and at least escort the units with allied ECM and a distance.
Production units are still shipped to this day, and are incredibly cheap to manufacture, buy and field.
Notes
Okay its a simple concept. Unit runs at enemy. Deals 100 damage in the same hex, 50 damage in all surrounding hexes, 25 in all hexes 2 hexes away and 12 damage to the hexes, 3 hexes away. So yes this is a lot of bang per buck.
Still the armour is paper mache, so it needs to move fast or blind side a opponent.
Cheap and inexpensive, though there may be a flaw in the concept I am not aware of.
Type: Kasdan Smart Mine Mk I
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 69
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 1
Engine 100 ICE 6
Cruising MP: 10
Flank MP: 15
Heat Sinks: 0 0
Control Equipment: 0.5
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Armor Factor 16 1
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 1 5
R/L Side 1/1 5/5
Rear 1 1
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
Trailer Hitch Rear 0.0
Booby Trap Body 1.0
Smart Robotic Control System Body 0.5
Kasdan Smart Mine Mk II Smart Mine
Mass: 20 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 140 ICE
Cruising Speed: 75.6 kph
Maximum Speed: 118.8 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-F
Cost: 500,000 C-bills
Design Quirks
Bad Reputation
Gas Hog
Low Profile
Lore
Built as a response to the proposed faults in the Kasdan Smart Mine Mark I, the Mark II bulks up the frame to include more armour, explosives and even features a Guardian ECM. Slower than its Mark I counterpart, its 120KPH top speed was nothing to sniff at, and its tracks provided superior manoeuvrability and avoiding the risk of skidding.
The Guardian ECM allowed the unit to act as both a fast and cheap ECM screen for the Mark I mines, and also prevented the known flaws of the Smart Robotic System from acting up by counteracting enemy ECM. To prevent it getting overwhelmed by multiple enemy ECM units the Mark II is programmed to move in a overlapping layer with at least two other Mark II
Still the Mark II cost a full three times the amount of the Mark I, and was meant to be deployed as a support unit for the mines, screening them to their target location before detonating themselves. At 500,000 C-bills the unit was considered costly but expendable, given its own ability to devastate a city block.
Idea
More expensive, but at 500K it is not massively costly for a disposable unit.
As for damage it deals 140 damage in the same hex, 70 in all hexes 1 hex away, 35 in hexes 2 hexes away and 17 damage at least 3 hexes away.
Type: Kasdan Smart Mine Mk II
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 20
Battle Value: 236
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 2
Engine 140 ICE 10
Cruising MP: 7
Flank MP: 11
Heat Sinks: 0 0
Control Equipment: 1.0
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Armor Factor 40 2.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 2 15
R/L Side 2/2 10/10
Rear 2 5
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
Trailer Hitch Rear 0.0
Booby Trap Body 2.0
Smart Robotic Control System Body 1.0
ECM Suite Body 1.5
|
Karagin
01/07/22 06:00 PM
70.118.172.64
|
Won't this be better as hovercraft? That way you could get a bit more speed out of it?
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
|
Cray
01/07/22 08:04 PM
71.47.208.18
|
I like it. I used to make 10-ton conventional fighters like this, back when bombs were variable size. You could fit a lot of 100-point bombs under a speedy fighter, more than enough to evaporate an Atlas.
It's a trick that works once, though. After that every opponent drops what they're doing when the bombers show up and make sure they die.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
|
ghostrider
01/07/22 10:54 PM
45.51.181.83
|
So with the conversion of 5 bucks to a c-bill, the mark one is about 800,000, while the mark 2 is about 2.5 mil. Sad that the game doesn't have normal missiles that do this, such as an air to ground or ground to ground.
It is also sad that game makes it so remote control up until the SDS was needed, doesn't work well.
Other them the games limitations, I do like the concept of the unit.
Though I do have to ask if the mine is the vehicle itself, or if the vehicle is a mine layer?
Sounds like the vehicle is the mine.
In this case, what is the range of the command box? I don't see where gas hog would be a problem if the unit only goes say even 40 hexes. I would also think using an electric motor with a battery would help keep it hidden until it is activated for use. This would remove the need for ECM.
It might also allow you to hide it among vegitation, and just explode it when the enemy gets near it or travel a few hexes quickly.
Yeah, it sounds like it would get a little munchie, but something that would be more realistic.
Could counter some of this by a limited range of movement, like no more then 20 hexes or even less. Maybe even have it have to be commanded by a console that has to be on the battlefield, much like a guided missiles, with ecm interferring with the control.
Part of this is my definition with a mine. Buried in the ground, or a hole used to get resources.
Edited by ghostrider (01/07/22 10:59 PM)
|
Zaku
01/08/22 05:56 AM
82.40.9.192
|
Hey guys thanks for the comments, as for your feedback
I have tried hovercraft design and its not bad just not stellar for what it needs to do. It Can go 12/18, with the cost going to 202,000 C-Bills for the Mk I and a BV of 62 (slightly easier to field, though more costly), however the due to hover engine weight savings the engine rating only goes to 80. Booby trap damage is based off of engine rating if it has one, not just speed. Still if you want just speed, wheels in this case work best going to 12/18, 159,250 and the same BV of 69, it also has a engine rating of 100, so its better, however it does work better, I just chose tracks to make sure it is not inconvenienced by rough terrain or woods.
Same can be said for the Mk II, though it does not match up as well, wheels may work better if you want pure speed without sacrificing engine rating.
To answer your question Ghostrider, there are cruise missiles, which I think are MUCH more expensive, but can be fired from REALLY far away.
Its also is the mine, in that it drives up to the enemy and then explodes, it doesn't lay mines; as for its range I have no idea. I called it a mine largely as in universe I felt they would not call it a suicide drone for marketing purposes.
|
ghostrider
01/08/22 12:10 PM
45.51.181.83
|
BV does NOT tell the story of a unit like this. In this case, the ability to wipe out an Atlas with a single shot is far more dangers than a Locust. But it is a onetime shot.
With the area of effect, you can effectively remove a lance from play with this. Figure 30 meter spread, so 1 hex apart. The outer most unit may just be legged, but enough to cause it to retreat to be repaired.
The question of how damage is figured on the target has come up. Is it groups of 5 like most, or against one location such as a single leg? Given the land based movement, I would think legs would be the primary location damaged.
I would also think making a camo cover, so the unit can remain stationary while units move into an area, and use it like a point blank ambush unit.
Given the nature of the unit, I would think the trailer hitch, even though adds no weight, isn't going to help any. Not sure if it adds to cost. I know it looks good to have one.
Unless you can tow other mines with a single unit, or other vehicle to the area they will be used at. Hmmm..
You could call the unit the Daisy. Make it sound innocent. 
|
ghostrider
01/11/22 11:30 AM
45.51.181.83
|
Introducing the new Daisy Maker.
This astounding weapon of war, will put your enemies in the ground, causing their next actions to be peacefully pushing up the daisies where they lay.
For less then the cost to buy a Locust, you can remove several nasty pirates in one go. Don't let them pillage your homes, family and friends again.
Get the Daisy Maker to show the universe, not to mess with you.
|
happyguy49
01/21/22 12:17 PM
191.96.185.203
|
I like it, it would spice up a game for damn sure!
It reminds me of some near-suicidal stuff I fiddled around with, involving massed M-pods. An Epona and Zibler configuration, and a custom Mech I named "Oddballs". I'll repost it, as well as a "production" version.
|
AmaroqStarwind
12/30/22 11:43 PM
104.28.234.80
|
You had me laughing with "Charlie". I think that one should be a hero variant.
Discord: Amaroq the Kitsune#1092
Telegram: @Lycanphoenix
MechEngine (Alpha) -- On Hiatus
The Scientist Caste has determined that time travel is dishonorable. |
|
|
Extra information
|
1 registered and 84 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Nic Jansma, Cray, Frabby, BobTheZombie
Print Topic
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Topic views: 5299
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
