Man, battle armor construction sure does involve some tough decisions. Here are medium, light, and heavy designs from my Corona Expanse setting.
Fun campaign fact: In the MDF tankers and mechwarriors refer to regular infantry as "squishies" while battle armor are called "crunchies."
Enjoy.
Code:
Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Nihoto
Tech/Era: Inner Sphere / 3178 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type: Humanoid
Weight Class: Medium Battle Armor (751 - 1,000 kg)
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Ground Speed: 10.8 km/h
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor Type: Standard
==Overview:==
Merseia has spent the last century building infrastructure capable
of replicating pre-Jihad technology. One area where Merseia was
able to restart production with little delay was is in battle armor
development. This is, of course, mainly because the Fleet took
with it every bolt and beam of the Cavalier production line on New
Syrtis just days before the Blakists cleansed the planet. But the
fact that the Merseian Defense Force has continued to refine
battle armor design over the last century is also a practical
decision. Merseia would quickly
depopulate itself trying to field vast infantry formations.
Battle armor technology allows the MDF to field infantry units
that have greater mobility, greater firepower, and greater
survivability than conventional infantry. Most importantly, this
comes at a fraction of the manpower.
Furthermore, Merseia is the *only* world in the Expanse capable of
producing battle armor. Intelligence indicates that the Sahelians
and Medeans have virtually given up on battle armor research,
while the Akkadians are still 25 years away from developing a
primitive, fully functional prototype. Therefore battle armor
gives the MDF an additional battlefield asset that simply cannot
be matched. MDF battle armor troopers are highly trained, highly
motivated, and they rightfully view themselves as an elite force.
It should be noted that the Inner Sphere tended to design its
battle armor units with very specific missions in mind. However
100 years of experience has shown that battle armor units must
instead be designed with maximum mission flexibility. So where,
for example, an Inner Sphere battlesuit might have been little
more than a glorified platform for a small laser MDF battlesuits
are designed first and foremost as true "armored infantrymen."
The Nihoto medium battle armor exemplifies this philosophy.
==Capabilities:==
Compared to pre-Jihad battle suits the Nihoto forgoes flashy
technology in favor of practical design features. The modest
armor protection allows for a fully articulated range of motion
while still being able to withstand a large laser hit. With a
minigun on one arm and a Firedrake needler on the other the Nihoto
is a severe threat to infantry. The Nihoto's fearsome magnetic
boarding claws also enhance the suit's effectiveness during
swarming attacks against Mechs and vehicles. A 90-meter jump
capability makes this form of attack particularly deadly in
difficult terrain.
The boarding claws function in conjuction with a system of
magnetic clamps that allow the Nihoto to "hitch a ride" on any
friendly mech or vehicle. This allows Nihoto units to quickly
redeploy without being tethered to APC units.
A backup power pack enhances the Nihoto's operational time to 34
continuous hours without a recharge. This can be considerably
extended by running the suit in standby when full power is not
needed. The power pack is thus particularly useful for
long-duration missions when no other support is available (which
Nihoto troopers would argue happens quite frequently). Finally,
the Nihoto features a small mission equipment locker capable of
holding a few reasonably-sized items such as tools, a bit of extra
ammo, extra MREs, or even explosives.
The Nihoto has a weakness shared by all battle armor types:
weight. Although the 2.2-meter tall suit can navigate through
most doors and hallways the operator must always take care not to
collapse a stairwell or fall through a bedroom.
==Variants:==
The Nihoto does not have any true variants. However the Firedrake
needler can be removed to accomodate other pieces of gear such as
a light TAG, mine dispensers, or sensor dispensers.
==Deployment==
While the industry needed to produce battle armor is very exacting
such production does not necessarily require huge factories full
of massive equipment. As a result, Merseia has produced more
battle armor suits than all other combat units in its inventory.
The MDF can field 6 regiments of battle armor (almost 3000 armored
infantrymen) and is outfitting a 7th regiment as of this writing.
The Nihoto is by far the most common type.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Nihoto
Equipment: Slots Mass
Chassis Type: Medium Class Humanoid 0 175
Motive System: Ground Movement (1 MP) 0 0
Jump Jets (3 MP) 0 150
Armor Type: 8 Points Standard 0 400
Manipulators:
Left Arm: Battle Claw (Magnets) 0 35
Right Arm: Battle Claw (Magnets) 0 35
Weapons and Equipment Loc Shots Slots Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun RA 50 1 100
Firedrake Support Needler LA 30 1 50
Magnetic Clamps Body 2 30
Power Pack Body 1 25
Mission Equipment (0kg Capy) Body 1 0
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 6 1,000
Slots & Mass Left: 4 0
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 591,100 C-Bills, Including Trooper
Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value: 35 (140 for 4) Weapon Value: 14 (Ratio=.40)
Cost per BV: 12,602.86 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 1 MRDmg = 0 LRDmg = 0
Mechanized: Can travel on all 'Mechs & Vehicles
Attacks: Can perform Swarm and Leg attacks
BattleForce2: Class: IB MP: 3J Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/- Overheat: 0
Point Value: 1 Specials: xmec, car4
CBT:RPG Data: Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 9/7/7/7 Coverage: Full
IR: 0, ECM: 0, Camo: 0
Melee AP: 3, Target Size Modifier: -1
Movement Modifiers:
Walking: -1, Running: -2, Sprinting: -3
Jump: 90 m/turn
Attribute Modifiers: STR: +3, DEX: -4, RFL: -1
Equipment Rating: E/E/E
Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor
Code:
Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Hachi
Tech/Era: Inner Sphere / 3178 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type: Humanoid
Weight Class: Light Battle Armor (401 - 750 kg)
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Ground Speed: 10.8 km/h
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor Type: Basic Stealth
==Overview:==
As the MDF's Kage battlesuits suffered losses over the decades due
to wear and combat the decision was made to develop a new type of
light battle armor. The design was to be stealthy, highly mobile,
well-armed, and equipped with the best sensor gear possible.
Following the example of the Nihoto, this new power armor was also
to be designed for mission flexibility and long endurance.
After years of development the new Hachi light power armor debuted
in 3165.
==Capabilities:==
The Hachi is primarily designed to be deployed by aircraft or
spacecraft to areas deep behind enemy lines. Once inserted these
units act as roving assets to observe and report enemy movements
and attack targets of opportunity. Usually each squad will
operate independently but it is not uncommon for a whole platoon
or even a company to be brought together for higher-value targets.
Hachi squads will mine roads, attack supply points and rear-area
support units, and call in Arrow IV strikes from overflying
Valkyrie attack shuttles. In this way the MDF forces the enemy
commander to allocate a disproportionate amount of force away from
his front lines.
Even then the odds are usually in the Hachi's favor. Its stealth
armor system defeats every active sensor system currently in use
in the Expanse. The only sure way to find a Hachi squad is with
the Mark I Eyeball. Even then a Hachi squad is perfectly capable
of leaving a headless mech or the bloodied remains of an infantry
company as a calling card before moving on to another location.
==Variants:==
Typically each Hachi squad will have 2 suits equipped with mine
dispensers, as shown. The other 2 suits in the squad will
be equipped with a remote sensor dispenser and light TAG,
respectively. These suits are also responsible for carrying the
squad's additional supplies and mission gear.
==Deployment==
Of the 3000 battle armor suits fielded by the MDF approximately
500 are of the Hachi type. These are all assigned to the 1st
Light Armored Infantry Regiment (Night Stalkers).
------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Hachi
Equipment: Slots Mass
Chassis Type: Light Class Humanoid 0 100
Motive System: Ground Movement (1 MP) 0 0
Jump Jets (3 MP) 0 75
Armor Type: 6 Points Basic Stealth 3 330
Manipulators:
Left Arm: Basic Manipulator 0 0
Right Arm: Basic Manipulator 0 0
Weapons and Equipment Loc Shots Slots Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun RA 50 1 100
Mine Dispenser LA 2 50
Improved Sensors Body 1 65
Power Pack Body 1 25
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 8 745
Slots & Mass Left: 0 5
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 494,000 C-Bills, Including Trooper
Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value: 31 (124 for 4) Weapon Value: 14 (Ratio=.45)
Cost per BV: 11,096.77 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 1 MRDmg = 0 LRDmg = 0
Mechanized: Can travel on OmniMechs and OmniVehicles
Attacks: Can perform Swarm and Leg attacks
BattleForce2: Class: IB MP: 3J Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 4/-/- Overheat: 0
Point Value: 1 Specials: mec, srs, car4
CBT:RPG Data: Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 8/7/6/6 Coverage: Full
IR: +6, ECM: +6, Camo: 0
Melee AP: 1, Target Size Modifier: 0
Movement Modifiers:
Walking: -1, Running: -2, Sprinting: -3
Jump: 90 m/turn
Attribute Modifiers: STR: +2, DEX: -1, RFL: -2
Equipment Rating: E/E/E
Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor
Code:
Classic BattleTech Battle Armor Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Daimyo
Tech/Era: Inner Sphere / 3178 / CBT Rules
Chassis Type: Humanoid
Weight Class: Heavy Battle Armor (1,001 - 1,500 kg)
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Ground Speed: 21.6 km/h
Armor Type: Advanced
==Overview:==
The Daimyo is a new, highly advanced heavy battle suit just
entering service with the MDF. While the Nihoto medium battle
armor is an exemplary design, the MDF still wished to have a
heavy battlesuit capable of going toe-to-toe with Battlemechs in
ranged combat. To this end Merseian engineers briefly considered
the idea of resurrecting the Kanazuchi assault armor. However,
while the Kanazuchi featured superb firepower and protection it
was ridiculously slow and not easily transportable.
By chopping 500 kilograms off the Kanazuchi and installing the
same magnetic clamp system found on the Nihoto, MDF engineers
created a truly deadly heavy battlesuit that could use *any*
friendly mech or vehicle as an impromptu transport.
The Daimyo entered producted in 3177.
==Capabilities:==
The Daimyo attains much of its capability from the use of
weight-saving armor alloys that have only recently become
available thanks to completion of the new Independence orbital
factory. Although it is not quite as tough as the Kanazuchi the
Daimyo's armored shell can still shrug off fire up to and including
PPCs and AC/10s.
The Daimyo's medium laser makes this suit a very dangerous
mid-range threat to opposing mechs and vehicles. The Daimyo is
also well equipped to fight infantry. The minigun is capable of
wiping out whole squads in seconds, while a built-in assault rifle
provides less indiscriminate firepower when needed.
The Daimyo's key feature is, of course, its ability to utilize any
friendly mech or vehicle as a transport. Like the smaller Nihoto
the Daimyo ensures that friendly units are never without infantry
support. While the Daimyo is still a bit too heavy to perform
anti-mech attacks the suit's armor and firepower more than make up
for it.
==Deployment==
72 Daimyo suits have been produced to date. These suits will
eventually replace one Nihoto battalion per regiment, which will
thus give every regiment a "heavy" battalion. This will in turn
free up enough suits overall to form a new regiment.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Daimyo
Equipment: Slots Mass
Chassis Type: Heavy Class Humanoid 0 300
Motive System: Ground Movement (2 MP) 0 80
Armor Type: 12 Points Advanced 5 480
Manipulators:
Left Arm: Basic Manipulator 0 0
Right Arm: Basic Manipulator 0 0
Weapons and Equipment Loc Shots Slots Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser Body 30 3 500
Machine Gun RA 50 1 100
Anti-Personnel Weapon Mount LA 1 5
Rifle, Assault, Imperator AX-22 LA 60 0 0
Magnetic Clamps Body 2 30
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 12 1,495
Slots & Mass Left: 0 5
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 584,212 C-Bills, Including Trooper
Training Costs of 150,000 C-bills
Battle Value: 59 (236 for 4) Weapon Value: 70 (Ratio=1.19)
Cost per BV: 7,359.53 (w/o Trooper Training costs)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 5 MRDmg = 1 LRDmg = 0
Mechanized: Can travel on all 'Mechs & Vehicles
Attacks: Can not perform Swarm or Leg attacks
BattleForce2: Class: IB MP: 2 Armor/Structure: 3 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 2/2/- Overheat: 0
Point Value: 2 Specials: xmec, car4
CBT:RPG Data: Armor Value (M/B/E/X): 9/9/8/8 Coverage: Full
IR: 0, ECM: 0, Camo: 0
Melee AP: 2, Target Size Modifier: -2
Movement Modifiers:
Walking: -1, Running: -2, Sprinting: -3
Attribute Modifiers: STR: +3, DEX: -2, RFL: -3
Equipment Rating: E/E/E
Created by HeavyMetal Battle Armor
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