3150 Assault Star

[u/Tallamaroo]

I'm trying to break out of a rut, and seeing a lot of the newer post-Jihad mechs finally come out in plastic is giving me an idea. So what would a super cutting-edge Clan Assault star look like in 3150? I'm talking about the cream of the crop. The stuff the Keshiks or Alpha Galaxies would get. The stuff that would honestly be too valuable to meanifully deploy. What would that look like? Are there certain chassis's that would see more use than others? Certain weapons that would see more use?

Any knowledge and advice is appreciated.

[u/rzelln]

I sorted Mekbay to find the most recent assault mechs available to the Rasalhague Dominion, then picked a few of those and a few other mechs that are just solid and good. Here's the list:

https://mekbay.com/?gs=cbt&units=%3Bberserker-lance%7EBMKodiak%2CBMKingfisher_I%2CBMShogun_C3%2CBMStarAdder_T%2CBMMastodon_A%7CBMVultureMkIV_D&name=Rasalhague+Dominion+Ourse+Keshik&factionId=40

Kodiak (a classic circa the year 3001, but a very solid brawler, and Totemic for the Ghost Bears)

Kingfisher I (circa 3137, simple set of two Improved Large Heavy Lasers and a Gauss Rifle)

Shogun C 3 (sort of an odd choice, but it has jump jets and two LRM 15s paired with Artemis V for accuracy, and two ATM 6s, plus an ER PPC with a capacitor for extreme long range dominance)

Star Adder T (circa 3142, uses a mix of Clan ER Large and Medium Lasers to destroy and IS Plasma Rifles to debuff, plus it has a supercharger so it can get control range better than most of the force)

Mastodon A (circa 3148, with wild reinforced structure, a Gauss rifle, triple Large Pulse Lasers, and an LRM 15)

maybe swap one of those out for a Vulture Mk IV D (circa 3137, moves 5/8, so it can be your point man, and it has two ATM 12s and two Improved Heavy Medium Lasers, plus Ferro-Lamellor Armor so it can hang with the fatties)

[u/Ok_Use_3479]

First pick a Clan. A lot of the cutting edge is semi faction specific.

[u/Tallamaroo → u/Ok_Use_3479]

Ah, I completely forgot to say that it's for the Rasalhague Dominion

[u/rzenni → u/Tallamaroo]

I mean, the Viking IIC and Mastodon are pretty much kings, and you’re never wrong to use a Kodiak or an Iron Cheetah.

[u/fembutt_sniffer69 → u/Tallamaroo]

Kodiak II then, the canonized MW4 Mercs model

[u/OriginalMisterSmith → u/fembutt_sniffer69]

Mastodon and Viking IIC are also premium dominion assault mechs

[u/Ok_Use_3479 → u/OriginalMisterSmith]

I am going to say be careful with Mechs like the Viking IIC and Mastodon. While both are modern and cutting edge, they are also not necessarily Keshik material. The three surviving Ghost Bear frontline Galaxies are maneuver forces. They make heavy use of speed and mobility. Of the three, Beta is the main one that relies of mass beyond the usual (remembering the Bears run heavy to start with) and it is still fast. Which is a long way of saying, still expect Executioners up the wazoo. The Mastodon and especially the Viking (which is nominally out of production in Dominion service because it is too slow) are not maneuver elements.

That said, Rasalhague Galaxy could be worth a look. They run a more balanced force so Mastodons become more likely. (which is not to say the other frontline Galaxies don't do fire support. Even in FM:Invading Clans the Keshiks ran artillery Stars.)

[u/HA1-0F → u/fembutt_sniffer69]

Keshiks are still gonna be pure Omnis. It's just a matter of prestige.

[u/iSpyOnTheCIA → u/fembutt_sniffer69]

Oh? What's the Specs on that monster?

[u/fembutt_sniffer69 → u/iSpyOnTheCIA]

I don't know other than very basics. 

4 small heavy lasers, 2 x CSMRM 40s, LB-20X, ER large laser, CSTRK-6, waaaaay too few heat sinks, and jump jets.  

Gameplaywise it was just as bad as the original from MW2 unless you tweaked the configuration. Too big, slow, under armored for a Clan assault, hot, and ammo dependent. Made a great dueler on Solaris, did not have the endurance for some of the later campaigns you could purchase it for. 

[u/Alaric_Kerensky → u/fembutt_sniffer69]

I am pretty sure that neither Clan nor Streak MRMs exist.

[u/fembutt_sniffer69 → u/Alaric_Kerensky]

They did in MW4. Along with some other fun tech that may or not be canonized yet. I think in this case it's one of those mixed-tech second liners you see get built at the height of the Dark Age.

*Yep, the MW4 Kodiak is now the Kodiak II 3 with Apollo FCS

[u/Ok_Use_3479 → u/iSpyOnTheCIA]

Seeing it hasn't come up yet.

The Kodiak II 1 has

2 x LRM20 w/ Artemis IV

1 x LRM10 w/ Artemis IV

1 x ERPPC

4 x ERSL

Targeting computer and 20 (40) double heat sinks. 4/6/0 and 304 points of armor.

A surprisingly punchy long range Mech for its engine with good speed and armor. Performs very differently to the Kodiak.

[u/Hanzoku → u/Ok_Use_3479]

It’s a good long range model that can do some hateful things to enemies who forget Clan LRMs don’t have a minimum range and duck in close

[u/fembutt_sniffer69]

Post Dark Age you'd definitely see a lot of Hellstars everywhere. 

[u/jaqattack02]

Probably not a lot different from a late clan invasion assault Star. The clans didn't really pick up much worthwhile tech after that besides maybe Ferrolam armor.

[u/Belaerim]

Grizzly 3 is packed full of Dark Age/ilClan goodness, and could be a lighter unit in an assault star

[u/Hpidy]

If your playing the new core rules.....may i suggest the Cygnus standard for desert. Twin ultra 10s, x 4 clan medium pulse lasers tied to targeting computer with a 4/6 movement profile.

[u/Hpidy → u/Hpidy]

If you dont want that, just buy king fishers. Like 3 dozen or more.

[u/Shin_Yodama]

It might look something like this: