Conventional wisdom usually states that light battlemechs are best used in the recon role. However, I would argue that scout mechs are actually outclassed in this role by combat vehicles such as hovercraft or VTOLs. I would also argue that using *any* mech in a purely recon role ignores the core concept of the Battlemech as an elite shock unit.
It is, however, possible to design a light mech that is fast enough to keep pace with heavier units, while at the same time featuring generous armor and a weapons array that simply outclasses most other units in its weight range (Mech or otherwise). Take, for example, the LNC-3R Lancer. It is only half the weight of the Po tank, but it is 50% faster, has more than twice as much weight of firepower, and is arguably just as durable. All this is achieved for a relatively modest increase in unit price compared to the Po. Such a Mech would be a deadly threat to virtually any combat vehicle. More importantly it would simply beat the crap out of most comparable light mechs.
The Lancer would have a role similar to the Commando but it would be a much tougher nut to crack. Unlike the pitiful Wasp or Stinger, other mechs are unable to simply ignore it, which takes some pressure of its lancemates. Its durability would allow it to approach medium or heavy opponents and inflict serious damage with accurate salvos of laser fire. Successive generations of this mech would employ increasingly deadly technology, so that by the 3070's a single Lancer would be carrying firepower equal to an entire lance of Po tanks. A comparable Clan model would be even deadlier, and could easily outshoot an upgraded Inner Sphere mech of twice its tonnage- a truly frightening proposition.
In short, the Lancer is a tough but flexible light attack mech. Not too bad for a "mere" 30-tonner.
3025
Code:
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-3R
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
4 Medium Lasers
1 Machine Gun
1 Small Laser
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-3R
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 13 Single 6 3.00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LT, 2 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 15
Center Torso (Rear): 4
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Lasers RA 6 2 2.00
2 Medium Lasers LA 6 2 2.00
1 Machine Gun RT 0 100 2 1.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Small Laser LT 1 1 .50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 13 40 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 38 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,101,775 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 780 (old BV = 661)
Cost per BV2: 2,694.58
Weapon Value: 549 / 549 (Ratio = .70 / .70)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 17; MRDmg = 2; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 3/2/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 8
3055
Code:
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-4R
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3055
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
4 Medium Lasers
1 Anti-Missile System
2 Streak SRM 2s
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-4R
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Endo Steel 14 1.50
(Endo Steel Loc: 1 HD, 3 LA, 2 RA, 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Double [20] 9 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 LT, 2 RT)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 15
Center Torso (Rear): 4
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Lasers RA 6 2 2.00
2 Medium Lasers LA 6 2 2.00
1 Anti-Missile System RT 1 12 2 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
2 Streak SRM 2s CT 4 50 3 4.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
CASE Equipment: RT 1 .50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 17 60 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 18 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,503,800 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 930 (old BV = 837)
Cost per BV2: 2,692.26
Weapon Value: 663 / 622 (Ratio = .71 / .67)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 21; MRDmg = 3; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 3/3/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 9
3060
Code:
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-5R
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3060
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 180 GM XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
4 ER Medium Lasers
1 Anti-Missile System
1 Machine Gun
1 Streak SRM 6
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-5R
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Endo Steel 14 1.50
(Endo Steel Loc: 4 LA, 4 RA, 2 LT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
Engine: 180 XL Fusion 12 3.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Double [20] 9 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 2 LT, 1 RT)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt.: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 15
Center Torso (Rear): 4
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2.00
2 ER Medium Lasers LA 10 2 2.00
1 Anti-Missile System RT 1 12 2 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Machine Gun LT 0 100 2 1.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Streak SRM 6 CT 4 15 3 5.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Targeting Computer HD 1 1.00
CASE Equipment: RT 1 .50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 25 69 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 9 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,252,950 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 1,073 (old BV = 862)
Cost per BV2: 3,963.61
Weapon Value: 911 / 836 (Ratio = .85 / .78)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 24; MRDmg = 10; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/1
Damage PB/M/L: 4/3/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 11
3075
Code:
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-6R
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3075
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 180 GM XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
4 ER Medium Lasers
2 Streak SRM 4s
2 Machine Guns
1 Anti-Missile System
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Lancer LNC-6R
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Endo Steel 14 1.50
(Endo Steel Loc: 5 LA, 5 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL)
Engine: 180 XL Fusion 12 3.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Double [20] 9 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 2 LT, 1 RT)
XL Gyro: 6 1.00
Small Cockpit, Life Supt.: 4 2.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 15
Center Torso (Rear): 4
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2.00
2 ER Medium Lasers LA 10 2 2.00
1 Streak SRM 4 RT 3 25 2 4.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Machine Gun RT 0 100 2 1.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Streak SRM 4 LT 3 1 3.00
1 Machine Gun LT 0 1 .50
1 Anti-Missile System HD 1 12 2 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Targeting Computer HD 1 1.00
CASE Equipment: RT 1 .50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 27 71 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 7 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,499,950 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 1,062 (old BV = 841)
Cost per BV2: 4,237.24
Weapon Value: 928 / 834 (Ratio = .87 / .79)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 26; MRDmg = 10; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/1
Damage PB/M/L: 4/3/-, Overheat: 1
Class: ML; Point Value: 11
Clan
Code:
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Lancer Clan
Tech: Clan / 3058
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 180 XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
4 ER Medium Lasers
2 Streak SRM 4s
2 ER Small Lasers
1 Anti-Missile System
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Lancer Clan
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Endo Steel 7 1.50
(Endo Steel Loc: 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 CT, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Engine: 180 XL Fusion 10 3.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 11 Double [22] 8 1.00
(Heat Sink Loc: 2 LT, 2 RT)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt.: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 105 pts Ferro-Fibrous 7 5.50
(Armor Crit Loc: 2 LA, 1 RA, 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 15
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2.00
2 ER Medium Lasers LA 10 2 2.00
1 Streak SRM 4 RT 3 50 3 4.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT)
1 ER Small Laser RT 2 1 .50
1 Streak SRM 4 LT 3 1 2.00
1 ER Small Laser LT 2 1 .50
1 Anti-Missile System CT 1 24 2 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Targeting Computer HD 1 1.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 31 66 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 12 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,554,550 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 1,744 (old BV = 1,407)
Cost per BV2: 2,611.55
Weapon Value: 1,499 / 1,380 (Ratio = .86 / .79)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 36; MRDmg = 22; LRDmg = 2
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/2
Damage PB/M/L: 5/4/-, Overheat: 1
Class: ML; Point Value: 17