Exercise: Catapult Variants D + E

[=KoS=Zeus]

Currently the Catapult's role is defined as either long range artillery, MRM carrier, or jump capable energy boat for the IS. But there are other roles that it can fulfill that the IS heavy mechs currently don't, and I want to present 2 ideas for them here as the Catapult D and Catapult E variants. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Disclaimer: These variants are based off of my current grasp of the MWLL build system using CBT build rules as a basis for the designs. Using the Prime as an example, I figure that the Catapult has ~39.5 tons of pod space available to it. As such, the designs will utilize that tonnage as follows.

Catapult D - Short Range Missile Catapult
RA - DSRM6 - 7 tons
LA - DSRM6 - 7 tons
Torso - 2 ER Medium Beam Lasers - 4 tons
Torso - 2 Medium Pulse Lasers - 4 tons
4 Free Tons - 4 tons
6 Heat Sinks - 6 tons
MASC - 3.5 tons
Jump Jets - 4 tons

The Catapult D carries a hefty load out of 2 Dual SRM-6s with 4 free tons of ammunition to ensure that it can stay in the fight for a long time. At longer ranges it relies on 2 ER Medium Beam Lasers to reach out and touch the enemy, but these high heat weapons are really only there to provide it with some defense against aircraft and faster mechs that might think they can keep the catapult out of range. To supplement its SRMs in close range combat the Catapult D also carries a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers to provide accurate fire for finishing off damaged enemy components. A MASC system enable the Catapult D to reach speeds in excess of 90kph for short periods of time, allowing it to bring its SRMs to bear. 6 Heat sinks help to keep the Catapult D cool, but can quickly be overwhelmed if all of the lasers and SRMs are being fired continuously, especially if MASC is used too frequently or the Jump Jets have been used recently.

Catapult E - Self Reliant Artillery Catapult
RA - Arrow IV - 16 tons
LA - MRM30 - 11 tons
Torso - 2 Medium Beam Lasers - 4 tons
Torso - 2 ER Small Lasers - 1 ton
2 Free Tons - 2 tons
LAMS - 1.5 tons
Jump Jets - 4 tons

In order to combat the inability for the Catapult C to defend itself from enemy battlemechs that breached the firing line, the Catapult E removes one of the Arrow IV launchers and replaces it with an MRM-30 launcher giving it excellent firepower within the Arrow IV's minimum range and even overlapping it for a few hundred meters. To supplement the MRM-30 and reduce the machine's reliance on ammunition, a pair of Medium Beam Lasers are mounted in the nose along with a pair of ER Small Beam Lasers, proving the mech with a medium to short range punch to slice off damaged enemy components, while a LAMS protects the machine from return missile fire. As with all Catapult variants, the Jump Jets were retained, giving it good mobility into rough terrain and the ability to reach high ground where its artillery can be used to better effect. Paired up with a mech equipped with NARC beacons, the 'E' can inflict massive damage on a closing enemy with the Arrow IV and then finish it off with a tightly packed bloom of MRMs.

[(TLL) Heretic]

TBH I'd probably use the SRM Catapult once or twice especially in a city-fight, but I'm not a great fan of sticking short range weapons on an asset sub-86kph and/or sub-assault level armour.  I'd rather see a Catapult carrying MRM20s (would prefer dual MRM10 launchers for refire rate though) and a decent ~500M laser array, should still hurt at <350m but should be less of a one-way ticket than a SRM 'Pult.

I don't like the Self-reliant ArrowPult at all, nothing about it appeals, but that's just personal preference, not a crit really.

I'd like to see something completely different.......a Disco-Ball Catapult, 2LXPLs or 2LPLS and 4 medium XPulse with everything else in HS, I'd even remove the JJs from that build and pump it into AMS and armour...nasty walking disco-ball (Ok, so it's basically a Flashman type design, we need some of those IMO).

[Cherno]

Only one Arrow IV would mean that the single missile will get shot down by mechs with LAM, whereas the double Arrow IV catapult always hits with at least one missiles as long as only the targeted mech's LAM is shooting at it.

[=KoS= Saber15]

I like the concept of the E, but I don't think a single Arrow IV would be very effective. Maybe if it had a ELRM-15 instead of the MRM-30 to pepper the LAMS with weak targets. Shoot the ELRMs, then immediately shoot the Arrow. The LAMS will probably target the ELRMs first, allowing the Arrow IV to hit.

TBH I'd probably use the SRM Catapult once or twice especially in a city-fight, but I'm not a great fan of sticking short range weapons on an asset sub-86kph and/or sub-assault level armour.  I'd rather see a Catapult carrying MRM20s (would prefer dual MRM10 launchers for refire rate though) and a decent ~500M laser array, should still hurt at <350m but should be less of a one-way ticket than a SRM 'Pult.

He gave the SRM Catapult MASC. It'd be capable of quickly reaching the enemy.

[AXEL]

I think only dual lams is capable of destroying one missile.  Would it be possible to fit ballistic weapons on a catapult?  AC-10's come to mind.

[=KoS= Saber15]

I think only dual lams is capable of destroying one missile.  Would it be possible to fit ballistic weapons on a catapult?  AC-10's come to mind.

BLEEGhgh AC/10s? If you could put dual LBX/10s on it, I'd be a happy camper.

[=KoS=Zeus]

Theoretically you could put Heavy or Assault Weapons on the arms, but the Nose can only hold small or medium weapons.

I was toying around with an idea for a Catapult with 2 LB5X in the nose, but I have no clue what they weight in MWLL.

As for the critiques on the 'E' variant, the single Arrow does indeed have more trouble getting through LAMS, but a pair of these working in conjunction would have no such problem, adequately providing artillery fire for their team without needing someone to sit with them idly waiting for a threat to show up. If one does get to them, they have 2 MRM30s and numerous lasers to smack them with.

Saber, the suggestion for an LRM launcher defeats the purpose of the unit, which is to be able to adequately defend itself at close range. I suppose the laser weapons could be upgraded and a small ELRM10 launcher could be fit in to provide enough LAMS distraction for the Arrow to get through, but the image of an Arrow hitting a mech followed by a cloud of 30 MRMs was just all too appealing for me, especially if a NARC is involved.

Heretic, the suggestion for a Disco Catapult seems contrary to the exercise, which is to create new Heavy variants that fulfill a role that isn't currently filled by using the Catapult chassis. There is already a dual LXPL Warhammer that carries a Gauss Rifle as well as the Catapult A which has a pretty much all energy weapon load out similar to that. Having a Catapult equipped with dual LXPL and 4 MXPL feels too similar to those machines and doesn't fulfill a new role. That being said, I could see a Marauder variant (when that mech arrives) that would fit that bill (3 LXPL, 4 MXPL, 12 DHS), but it frankly bores me with all its boatyness.

[ShotgunSpiff]

Move the Thunderbolt missiles to the IS side and give a pair to the Catapult.

CBT launchers for reference: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Thunderbolt_Launcher
T-Bolt 5    3 tons, 12 shots/ton, 5 Damage
T-Bolt 10  7 tons, 6 shots/ton, 10 damage
T-Bolt 15  11 tons, 4 shots/ton, 15 damage
T-bolt 20  15 tons, 3 shots/ton, 20 damage

Just use the current Arrow IV launcher model.

[DFDelta]

Catapult D - Short Range Missile Catapult
RA - DSRM6 - 7 tons
LA - DSRM6 - 7 tons
Torso - 2 ER Medium Beam Lasers - 4 tons
Torso - 2 Medium Pulse Lasers - 4 tons
4 Free Tons - 4 tons
6 Heat Sinks - 6 tons
MASC - 3.5 tons
Jump Jets - 4 tons

I've been wishing for something like that for... one and a half year or so? 
Altough I'd use 4x SXPL in the nose.
More total DPS, less weight and less heat buildup, same range profile as the SRMs. The gained weight could be used for extra armor, as a compensation for the fact that it would have to keep facing the enemy for maximum pewpew.
DSRMs are seriousely underpresented (or SRMs as a whole) and the Catapult just screams "give me some" 

[=KoS= Tripod]

both sound great, the A4 one actually sounds like an upgrade from the current one, which roasts itself alive while firing it's A4s in pairs. Now you can fire one A4 and the MRMs to take the LAMs without burning yourself alive, and also use the MRMs and lasers up close

The SRM one also sounds juicy, I probably wouldn't like it if it didn't have MASC, but that little addon would make a ton of difference. It'd be a great BA squasher too

One other change I'd make to the catas though would be to give the Prime it's canon LRMs so it can hit the enemy with missiles and lasers at the same time (well it already can, but the ELRMs will be really close to the danger zone) If I'm lucky, the "downgrade" will knock it down a rank or two as well as making it more versatile, and more of them will actually show on the field (there pretty rare these days)

[AXEL]

I think only dual lams is capable of destroying one missile.  Would it be possible to fit ballistic weapons on a catapult?  AC-10's come to mind.

BLEEGhgh AC/10s? If you could put dual LBX/10s on it, I'd be a happy camper.

Well AC10's are supposed to be getting some attention soon, figured they will be usable again.

[xInVicTuSx]

I still want an Orion with one A4 instead of an LRM20/15...

[AlfalphaCat]

both sound great, the A4 one actually sounds like an upgrade from the current one, which roasts itself alive while firing it's A4s in pairs. Now you can fire one A4 and the MRMs to take the LAMs without burning yourself alive, and also use the MRMs and lasers up close

The SRM one also sounds juicy, I probably wouldn't like it if it didn't have MASC, but that little addon would make a ton of difference. It'd be a great BA squasher too

One other change I'd make to the catas though would be to give the Prime it's canon LRMs so it can hit the enemy with missiles and lasers at the same time (well it already can, but the ELRMs will be really close to the danger zone) If I'm lucky, the "downgrade" will knock it down a rank or two as well as making it more versatile, and more of them will actually show on the field (there pretty rare these days)

Shut it T-dogCow!!  The Cata Prime is great, as is.  A great counter to the LtGauss Fafnir.

And Heretic, I am pretty damned sure that all sizes of MRMs fire at the same rate.  I want to see the real Snake MRMpult, 2 MRM30s and 2 Medium Pulse, but I do like the MGs when BA do come a calling. 

Srry, all that^^^ sounded really harsh, just messin' about.

For some reason, the MWLL Catapult has really made me love it, but I do wish it had more variants, I don't get half of the Whammy ones, like LBX, or the Cheaphammer.  I used to like the AC10 one, for a while, but it's just too damned ammo dependent for the little hurt it seems to put out, in fact the MRM 30 is the only good thing about it.

All that I am saying is I am hoping for more variants, and these aren't half bad, though the Arrow one sounds a bit schizoid, but I would expect no less from you Zeus.

[Arghy]

I'd actually love a ballistic boating mech on any side, 2-3 AC10's chain firing from the side lines on a mobile mech would quickly dish out damage. Ac's make great cockpit destroyers as i found out with the demo prime--aim CT near the cockpit and watch as the cockpit gives out in no time flat from splash damage. I would love to sit back with lots of ammo smashing a mech with a near constant stream of explosive AC rounds while my lance mates tied the brawlers up.

The single A4 doesnt feel right unless its coupled with LRM's--i've never been overly threatened in the dual A4 pault and if i did get engaged strongly enough there was nothing that would have saved me. The single A4 would go well with a medium mobile support role though because no one would expect such powerful artillery out of position.

[=KoS=Zeus]

I really wish people would examine mechs with an array of weapons in pairs or lances. It is then that it quickly becomes obvious how powerful such load outs can be because all of your mechs become usable at all ranges, against any target, meaning everyone sticks together and fights together rather than having people scattered 1500 meters apart and only suitable for a single role ever.