Paul.
A suggestion about faction mechs as an additional rewards for loyalist rank tree:
Make some (F) duplicates of mechs, and add them as a reward for certain ranks. (F) mech features its faction paint pattern as default, and a bonus, let's say 10% C-bills and 10% XP, or whatever bonus is more appropriate. (F) mechs are similar to (L) variants - supplied with their own mech bay. and cannot be sold.
As the foundation, let's take this table from "Historical - War of 3039". Somewhat outdated for our timeline, but good enough as a starting point.
With AFFS being Davion, DCMS - Kurita, LCAF - Steiner, FWLM - Marik, CCAF - Liao, and with IS FRR falling into Other category.
Clans will have a bit different approach, since i have no such table for them, and their weight class distribution will be generated from their most preferred mechs.
So let's make it 6 mechs total per faction rank tree, distributed from light to assault, as ranks rise.
Here's suggested models, and explanations. Sources - TRO 3039, 3050 Upgrade, other TRO to a lesser degree, Sarna, and mech availability lists from Combat Operations.
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Davion
Light 1 - Javelin JVN-10N - the main model of common Davion light mech. Alternative -
JVN-10F, as the only widely used variant.
With its long history, the Javelin has spread to every Successor State, but only the AFFS has embraced it and tried to employ every chassis it can. The Javelin appears in almost every Federated Suns ’Mech regiment, with several formations employing dozens of them.
Light 2 - Osiris OSR-3D. The only other distinct Davion light mech. Could have been the Wolfhound, as joined FedCom effort, but those are manufactured only in Steiner space. Osiris is of Davion manufacture (New Avalon).
Since first debuting in February of 3063, the Osiris has found its way to every corner of both the Federated Suns and Lyran Alliance... the majority ... have remained within the Crucis March*.
*Crucis March = Davion heartland.
Medium - Centurion CN-9A. Very tough choice, for the only medium slot, with Enforcer and Dervish being competitors. Alternative -
CN-9D, as distinct mass produced Davion model.
The Centurion is considered the unofficial ’Mech of House Davion’s BattleMech forces by most of Davion’s enemies.
Nuff said.
Heavy 1 - Rifleman RFL-3N. Since you don't have the Crusader. Alternatives -
RFL-5D,
RFL-8D.
House Davion possesses the largest concentration of Riflemen, and the machines have seen action all across Davion territory.
Heavy 2 - Jagermech JM6-S. Alternatives -
JM6-DD.
Like the Enforcer, the JagerMech is a BattleMech that has long been fundamentally associated with House Davion and its Federated Suns.
Assault - Victor VTR-9B.
...the bulk of Victors are to be found in the Federated Suns, where they remain one of the AFFS’s primary assault ’Mechs...
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Kurita
Light 1 - Jenner JR7-D. Alternative -
JR7-K, as the newer, upgraded model.
...the Jenner was a source of national pride for a single state, the Draconis Combine...
Light 2 - Panther PRT-10K. Alternative -
PRT-9R, as the older main model.
Every DCMS line unit has several Panthers in their rosters, mostly the PNT-10K workhorse design.
Medium 1 - medium mechs are really hard choice for Kurita, since they lack their distinct chassis. With following mechs, i suggest to outline the support of Draconis Combine by ComStar. So,
Crab CRB-20 (the downgraded model, supplied to DCMS).
The only variants of the Succession War era Crab were the models gifted to the Draconis Military by ComStar,..
Medium 2 - Kintaro KTO-20, for reasons stated above.
ComStar gave the Draconis Combine downgraded KTO-20 models...
Alternatively, it can be Wolverine WVR-6K or 7K, but it breaks the pattern, and despite not having the Marik model, WVR is more associated with Marik.
Heavy - Dragon DRG-1N. No brainer. The Grand Dragon would be more fitting, but game doesn't have it.
The Dragon appears in every Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery battalion and in almost every company. Indeed, there are several battalions that are made completely of Dragons.
Assault - Hatamoto-Chi HTM-26T. Hard competition with the Mauler, but samurai theme seems more fitting.
The Hatamoto-Chi has become one of the standard issue low-end assault BattleMechs of the DCMS, with nearly every battalion that employs assault-class ’Mechs containing at least one Hatamoto-Chi.
Alternative - Mauler MAL-1R.
Produced in massive quantities during the years of the Clan Invasion and again during Operation Bulldog, Maulers can be found in almost every DCMS unit still in service.
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Steiner
Light - Commando COM-2D. As the most used model of the distinct Lyran chassis.
Despite a production span stretching back before the time of the original Star League, the Commando has remained a distinctly Lyran design.
Medium - Bushwacker BSW-X1. A hard choice, Steiners lack the distinct medium mech. Closest competitor would be Griffin GRF-1S or 1N, but chassis is too heavily shared with Marik. Uziel is also an option, but it is shared with Davion more than Bushie.
...put in full scale production in 3053... Most of the Bushwackers in service belong to units of the Lyran Alliance,..
Heavy 1 - Thunderbolt TDR-9S. The most significant Thunderbolt model for Steiner.
The mech is a heavily shared design with Marik, but there are no better options, at least T-bolt is widely produced, and game doesn't have Marik models. Mmm, someone being inconsistent.. Oh well.
Used extensively by every military across the Inner Sphere and Periphery, Thunderbolts appear in heavy lances and even light assault forces. Houses Steiner and Marik are the ’Mechs primary users,..
Heavy 2 - Thanatos TNS-4S. Shared mech with Davion, but no better options are present.
Assault 1 - Zeus ZEU-9S. Iconic Lyran mech. The most significant model, that overtook 6T. 6S was also very significant, but only because Steiners couldn't produce PPC prior to 3039, so 6S steps aside.
Lyran signature ’Mech
Assault 2 - Atlas AS7-S. Steiner scouts are a meme, so Fafnir steps aside. The S model is produced only by Steiner, despite sharing its use with Davion. AS7-D-DC could be an alternative, but this model was assigned to militia units, which isn't something to be proud of.
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Marik
Light - Spider SDR-5V. The only distinct Marik light mech. Somewhat shared with Kurita, but not significantly.
The Free Worlds League managed to secure the Spider’s technical schematics from the ruins of the Terran Hegemony and tasked Nimakachi Fusion Products with building the design.
Medium 1 - Cicada CDA-3M. In odd position between light and medium mechs, Cicada is a good choice for Marik's extended medium list.
...Cicada was rapidly fading into obscurity. Free Worlds Defense Industries rescued the ’Mech from that fate by producing it in increasing numbers...
Medium 2 - Vulcan VT-5M. Not the most distinct Marik mech, but i think it is a good alternative to a very distinct Hermes II, which we don't have in game.
Often charged with dealing with civil unres twithin the Free Worlds League, the Marik Militia has always had a place in their ranks for the Vulcan.
Medium 3 - Hunchback HBK-4G. Despite being sold to everyone, it is of Marik manufacture.
...the only Hunchback factory situated in Marik space, the ’Mech is also used extensively by the forces of the Free Worlds League.
Heavy - Orion ON1-M. Very distinct Marik design.
... has been in production only in the Free Worlds League for centuries.
Assault - Awesome AWS-9M. Not only because it's awesome, but because it is very mass produced mech by Marik, with 9M being the most exclusive model for them.
Free Worlds League controls the only surviving manufacturing plants capable of producing the Awesome, it also operates the largest amount of Awesomes of any of the Great Houses.
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Laio
Light - Urbanmech UM-R63. As the high tech trashcan only Liao can be bothered with.
Unlike the other Successor States, the Capellan Confederation maintains a large number of UrbanMechs in its front line forces.
Alternatively, it can be Raven 3L. But c'mon, Urbie is love.
Medium 1 - Assassin ASN-23. Not very mass produced mech, but no better alternative for Liao.
The majority of Assassins are seen in the CCAF.
Medium 2 - Vindicator VND-1R. Capellan workhorse.
The Vindicator is almost exclusive to the Capellan Confederation.
Heavy 1 - Catapult CPLT-C4. Laio have the majority of Catapults, and C4 is their own model. Also A1 can be an alternative.
...most Catapults ended up in the Capellan Confederation...
Heavy 2 - Cataphract CTF-3L. Iconic capellan frankenmech.
...the 3L variant made up twenty-five percent of all of the CCAF’s newly acquired heavy Battle Mech designs.
Assault - Charger CGR-1A5. I know, Chargers are mostly Kuritan mechs. But there's no other option.
The CGR-1L was sold to the Capellans by Wells Tech via trade articles of the Kapteyn Accords. ... Considering the desperate mindset of CCAF warriors, however, it was an acceptable variant to the Capellans. The CGR-1A5 variant was a Capellan modification.
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If this gets any traction, i'll make FRR and clans later. Need a nap.