125 replies to this topic

[TheArisen]

The Lightray is a 55 ton speed demon. An IS battlemech with a 385xl stock, it can mount any engine you want all the way up to a 400. With a tall but narrow frame that takes it even further with a very thin frontal profile, it'll be a very tanky and fast energy boat. It also features variants with extra missile hard points. Essentially a better Griffin Sparky but for cbills.

Of course it will need some HP inflation but aside from that this mech would provide the IS with a solid 55 ton energy boat skirmisher.

Sarna page: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Lightray
Battletech Encyclopedia: http://ebt.trueborn....y=name,%20model

To help us further visualize the mech here is some excellent artwork by some talented members of our community.

By jjm1/user 000000000001
https://www.devianta...ser000000000001



By Bishop Steiner
https://www.devianta...m/bishopsteiner

By Fed0t
https://www.deviantart.com/fed0t




By GiorgioEspino
https://www.devianta.../giorgioespinos


Lightray mini



A big thank you to the artists for sharing your talents. Be sure to give them a follow on Deviantart! If anyone has some artwork or anything related to the Lightray I'd love for you to share it with us and I'll be sure to add it to the OP.

Shout out to Will9761 for typing up the in-timeline variants.
Lightray Variants

Lightray LGH-4Y
Weapons and Equipment:
Head - N/A
Center Torso - ER Small Laser
Right Torso - 2x SRM2s
Left Torso - 2x ER Medium Lasers
Right Arm - N/A
Left Arm - Large Pulse Laser
Engine: 385 XL = 124.7 KPH
Debuted: 3064
Estimated Hardpoints
HD - N/A
CT - 1E
RT - 2M
LT - 2E
RA - N/A
LA - 1E

Lightray LGH-4W
Weapons and Equipment:
Head - N/A
Center Torso - ER Small Laser
Right Torso - N/A
Left Torso - 2x ER Medium Lasers
Right Arm - Large Pulse Laser
Left Arm - N/A
Engine: 385 XL = 124.7 KPH
Debuted: 3065
Estimated Hardpoints:
HD - N/A
CT - 1E
RT - Targeting Computer
LT - 2E
RA - 1E
LA - N/A


Lightray LGH-5W
Weapons and Equipment:
Head - N/A
Center Torso - ER Small Laser
Right Torso - N/A
Left Torso - 2x ER Medium Lasers
Right Arm - ER PPC
Left Arm - N/A
Engine: 385 XL = 124.7 KPH
Debuted: 3065
Estimated Hardpoints:
HD - N/A
CT - 1E
RT - Targeting Computer
LT - 2E
RA - 1E
LA - N/A

Lightray LGH-6W
Weapons and Equipment:
Head - N/A
Center Torso - ER Small Laser
Right Torso - N/A
Left Torso - 2x ER Medium Lasers
Right Arm - ER PPC
Left Arm - N/A
Engine: 385 XL = 124.7 KPH
Debuted: 3067
Estimated Hardpoints:
HD - N/A
CT - 1E
RT - N/A
LT - 2E
RA - 1E
LA - N/A

As I said before, HP inflation will be needed to fully flesh out the mech but I think 6+ HPs to bring the energy boat variants in- line with the missile variant would be a baseline for this mech.

As far as MW5 goes, it's true that the Lightray would not be in it's timeline but introducing the Lightray and others from later eras is a good way to get ready for post-clan invasion era DLC.

Thank you to those that have gotten this far in the OP and I hope you like this mech enough to support it here, in polls, tweeting Russ & co or on reddit.

Vote here! Forum Poll
https://mwomercs.com...mech-pack-poll/

Lightray reddit page:
https://www.reddit.c...support_thread/

NGNG thread:
http://www.nogutsnog...ic=4747.new#new

Edited by TheArisen, 18 February 2019 - 03:25 PM.

[FLG 01]

Of course, one would usually reduce the engine rating a bit, but having the option is nice.

What I see is a great geometry: small frontal profile, especially small CT and STs, plus large limbs (using a lot of mass, making the torso smaller).
Weaponry may not be Champions' League but it is enough, and with inflation it is good.

I can see this working.

Also, it is about time that we get a WoB Mech, adding a very important part of the lore to MWO. (And yes, even before the Jihad, the WoB was a major player in the 60ies - bigger than some of the factions we have...).

[Vellron2005]

So lemme get this str8..

You want a 55tonner laservomit mech that can do 118 Kmph by default?

So basically, you want a laservomit Assassin..

Can you say broken?

How about no?

It would make Stormcrow and Viper directly obsolete..

Edited by Vellron2005, 22 November 2018 - 01:07 AM.

[TheArisen]

Vellron2005, on 22 November 2018 - 01:06 AM, said:

So lemme get this str8..

You want a 55tonner laservomit mech that can do 118 Kmph by default?

So basically, you want a laservomit Assassin..

Can you say broken?

How about no?

It would make Stormcrow and Viper directly obsolete..

Umm what?

The Lightray is an IS mech and the Vapor Eagle already is better than the Stormcrow. The Viper is 40 tons so I'm not sure how it fits here.

[jjm1]

Vellron2005, on 22 November 2018 - 01:06 AM, said:

So lemme get this str8..

You want a 55tonner laservomit mech that can do 118 Kmph by default?

So basically, you want a laservomit Assassin..

Can you say broken?

How about no?

It would make Stormcrow and Viper directly obsolete..

Take a Black Lanner, give it an IS-XL, delete is MASC, swap all its viable omni weapon combos for just four energy points and add some of those useless hand actuators to seal the deal... That's the mech that crosses the line for you? rofl.

[LordNothing]

if we get c3i, xl gyros and mmls out of it then why not.

[Dark Wooki33 IIC]

jjm1, on 22 November 2018 - 01:51 AM, said:

Take a Black Lanner, give it an IS-XL, delete is MASC, swap all its viable omni weapon combos for just four energy points and add some of those useless hand actuators to seal the deal... That's the mech that crosses the line for you? rofl.

Look at his Sig. Dont be to hard with him.

Thingy looks sweet with the cockpit/toplaser placement from an archer and the body from the viper.

[Battlemaster56]

Look like a tough little bugger to take down, and love the design I say go for it!

Edited by Battlemaster56, 22 November 2018 - 05:10 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Vellron2005, on 22 November 2018 - 01:06 AM, said:

So lemme get this str8..

You want a 55tonner laservomit mech that can do 118 Kmph by default?

So basically, you want a laservomit Assassin..

Can you say broken?

How about no?

It would make Stormcrow and Viper directly obsolete..

lolwut?

Yeah, cuz insta-death XL engine, weak firepower, etc is massive OP. *SMH*

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 22 November 2018 - 06:19 AM.

[FLG 01]

Well, while the firepower won't be great (unless its hardpoint count is inflated), it is alright.

And since it is a BattleMech, nothing stops you from changing the engine to whatever you like. You can literally use every available IS engine.

The strong point is geometry. Its torso is a bit like the Bushwacker's turned upside down (which, btw, makes XL engines a serious option). I really think it will be a potent addition to the IS medium line-up.

[Bishop Steiner]

FLG 01, on 22 November 2018 - 06:37 AM, said:

Well, while the firepower won't be great (unless its hardpoint count is inflated), it is alright.

And since it is a BattleMech, nothing stops you from changing the engine to whatever you like. You can literally use every available IS engine.

The strong point is geometry. Its torso is a bit like the Bushwacker's turned upside down (which, btw, makes XL engines a serious option). I really think it will be a potent addition to the IS medium line-up.

my point is less about hardpoints (which likely would be inflated) than available tonnage. If one is keeping it at 118 kph (as appears to be the complaint), then one has very very little tonnage for weapons and heatsinks. And if one slows it down to have more firepower, then the speed whinge is negated. The simple fact it's IS negates his comment, lol.

[TheArisen]

Bishop Steiner, on 22 November 2018 - 07:44 AM, said:

my point is less about hardpoints (which likely would be inflated) than available tonnage. If one is keeping it at 118 kph (as appears to be the complaint), then one has very very little tonnage for weapons and heatsinks. And if one slows it down to have more firepower, then the speed whinge is negated. The simple fact it's IS negates his comment, lol.

Exactly. The Clans just got the Vapor Eagle which can use a 400 if you want plus JJs and clan XL.

Inflate it's HPs and then it's a Sparky with a big engine cap and better geo.

[tutzdes]

Eh. Am I the only one who basically sees here a slightly upscaled Crab CRB-20? Do we need it?

[Xeno Phalcon]

Looks like a bushwacker went to a chiropractor.

[LT. HARDCASE]

55 ton knuckle dragging Crab? That's all I see.

[Bishop Steiner]

tutzdes, on 22 November 2018 - 02:18 PM, said:

Eh. Am I the only one who basically sees here a slightly upscaled Crab CRB-20? Do we need it?

with as many mechs as we have it can be asked do we "need' ANY specific mech added? In truth? No. *shrugs* But selling mechs keeps the servers running. So yes, we need, this, as much as we need any mech, anyhow.

[TheArisen]

tutzdes, on 22 November 2018 - 02:18 PM, said:

Eh. Am I the only one who basically sees here a slightly upscaled Crab CRB-20? Do we need it?

Well I don't think there is any such thing as "need" in the game today but this mech provides a 55 ton energy boat which is currently only available in the form of the Sparky Griffin Hero.

[tutzdes]

TheArisen, on 22 November 2018 - 06:55 PM, said:

Well I don't think there is any such thing as "need" in the game today but this mech provides a 55 ton energy boat which is currently only available in the form of the Sparky Griffin Hero.

There is also a Wolverine 6K. I'd prefer getting a distinct mech with several interesting variants, than mech which niche can be filled with adding one extra variant to existing chassis. In addition to that, unlike Ballistic-boat Cyclops or Warhammer heroes, I don't see energy heroes being particularly popular (Sparky, Paralyzer, Jester).

As for me, I'd rather have Men Shen added. Big engine, MASC primary variant, ECM variant, energy, missiles, ballistics, including MG-boat variant. The only reason it is not here already is it's IMO omni nature, hence extra coding to make it more competitive.

[Spheroid]

LordNothing, on 22 November 2018 - 03:16 AM, said:

if we get c3i, xl gyros and mmls out of it then why not.

That's not going to happen. They would make a standard pack with the three current tech variants, invent two fake variants for the reinforcement and make another non-canon hero.

[LordNothing]

Spheroid, on 22 November 2018 - 10:22 PM, said:

That's not going to happen. They would make a standard pack with the three current tech variants, invent two fake variants for the reinforcement and make another non-canon hero.

of course its not going to happen. that would take a dev team that gives a damn.