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But the more I dig into the retconned Crossbow Battlemech, the more I want that one. And I think the reasons are pretty solid.
The biggest reason? I always like the basic feel and look of the Orion, but it's hitbox Geometry is BAD. Butt when I was doing a quick sketch of the IS Crossbow I had an Epiphany:
(rough WIP sketch)Most of the aesthetic elements I liked on the Orion are present on the XBow. Especially my cherished ON1-VA with it's big missile drum arms.
But the Xbow has way better hitbox potential with much more massive arms to torso ration, hinting at good tankability, a smaller profile at 60 tons, and as a stock 84 kph mech enough speed and base agility to be a solid twister.
Downside is no super high hardpoints that most people feel are mandatory. But with it's hitboxes and mobility, it has a lot of Centurion like hit and fun skirmisher potential, especially with traditional IS Hardpoint inflation.
360 max engine (104 kph) and enough potential hardpoints to utilize larger number of lighter weapons. A few mock ups:
-CROSSBOW CRS-6B:
JJs: No
ECM: No
Equipment:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: PPC x1
-LT:
-RA: LRM10 x1, Ammo (LRM) x1, Medium Laser x1
-LA: LRM10 x1, Ammo (LRM) x1, Medium Laser x1
-RL:
-LL:
Hardpoints:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: E x2
-LT:
-RA: Mx2, Ex1
-LA: Mx2, Ex1
-RL:
-LL:
.... just adding Endo and a 325-350 XL, then swapping the LRM10s for paired SRM4s in each arm, and you have a mean machine.
(Remlab being for TT only allows TT legal engine sizes, so imagine with a 325-350 all the extra tonnage)-CROSSBOW CRS-6C:
JJs: No
ECM: No
Equipment:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: PPC x1
-LT:
-RA: AC10 x1, Ammo (AC) x1
-LA: Medium Laser x1
-RL:
-LL:
Hardpoints:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: Ex3
-LT:
-RA: Bx2
-LA: Ex3
-RL:
-LL:
-CROSSBOW CRS-X(P):
JJs: No
ECM: No
Equipment:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: Large Laser x1
-LT:
-RA: LRM5 x2, Ammo (LRM) x1, Medium Laser
-LA: LRM5 x2, Ammo (LRM) x1, Medium Laser
-RL:
-LL:
Hardpoints:
-H:
-CT:
-RT: Ex1
-LT:
-RA: Mx2, Ex2
-LA: Mx2, Ex2
-RL:
-LL:
.... Here either PGI makes a home brew based off the Obsolete "X" version. Either the lower speed is ignored, or comped thru better quirks/ ECM, extra hardpoints, etc. One could also give it a higher torso mount. Whatever.
I think the IS Crossbow battlemech has the potential to vie for best IS 60 tonner, with better hitboxes than the DRG, Lancelot, etc, better speed than RFLs, and such.
And it would look good doing it.
The downside, it's all but extinct. Not that the Highlander or Kintaro are actually common. And well, yeah, PPGI would need one of their PGI Specials to have enough variants. I freely admit this is a Rule of Cool (it looks neato) meats potentially good in game, rather than a Lore Correct "want".
But there is room for 1-2 more IS mechs potentially at the end of 2016, and I would love to see a cavalry mech like this or the Lancelot (or even just adding the Grand Dragon variants to the DRG) instead of a Heavier, slower mech or worse, an Assault (not that the Nightstar or Gunslinger would be bad by any means, or that I would complain about them. I'd just personally prefer lighter, I tend to like 40-60 ton bracket)
For the other potential IS slot, I'd really prefer a 40 ton and fast Assassin or Vulcan.
Thoughts?
