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BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Praetorian (Nightwards Mech) PTO-1
Designer: The Grand Poobah
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 100
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Dark Age / 3150
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 9,233,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,961
Chassis: PTO Standard
Power Plant: GM 300
Walking Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Galax Type 2
Armament:
2 Shigunga LRM 15s
2 Large Lasers
3 Medium Lasers
2 Starflash Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Nightwards BattleMech Imporium
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: DanteCom-2
Targeting & Tracking: Dante-Trak X
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Overview:
The Marian Hegemony is a relatively powerful Periphery government and the Dragon has
realized the value in a short-term alliance with the Hegemony; in these times of trouble,
having a strong force within striking distance of the Lyran Alliance may serve as a brake
upon Katherine Steiner-Davion's aggression. The hegemony has, of late, been adding to its
MHAF 'Mech regiments, using old war materials bought at discount from the Successor States.
The Hegemony introduced two new 'Mechs designed within its own borders- the 40-ton Decurion
and the 75-ton Marius late last year and have since been at work on a new Light 'Mech and an
Assault unit. However, the Marian Hegemony's limited technological development has caused
significant problems designing an ultra-heavy Assault 'Mech, and progress with the light
'Mech has been slow because the Marian's want it to be an excellent recon 'Mech-and are
having difficulties with its sensor packages. The Marians eventually had to out-source the
projects to even hope to complete them, and decided to turn to a relatively close by firm,
Dante Enterprises of Loysville. This contact was cleared by the ISF, and the Marian techs
arrived not long ago with their specs and prototypes. The Dante engineers, more experienced
and with far superior facilities, quickly finished off the designs and worked up
prototypical designs. The first of the 'Mechs debuted to the MHAF High Command was the PTO-1
Praetorian, named after the elite Roman soldiers charged with protecting the Caesar.
Capabilities:
Massing an incredible 100 tons, the Praetorian stretches the manufacturing and maintenance
capabilities of the MHAF to the limits. However, this is balanced by the fact that the
mighty Praetorian is equipped with (for the Periphery) highly advanced weapons systems
allowing the machine to inflict serious damage against any foe.
A pair of Draconis Combine-built Shigunga LRM-15 racks occupy the Praetorian?s torso,
allowing the 'Mech to engage its opponents at up to 630 meters and cause significant damage.
These launchers are supplied with 16 reloads each, more than enough to last the typical
engagement.
Supporting the LRM racks are a pair of Large Lasers. As with the Decurion and Marius,
however, these weapons are a logistical nightmare. Although effective in battle, the lasers
come from such a wide variety of configurations as to make a technician?s life hell, because
the Hegemony purchased so many different types from the Successor states. To ease this
burden, the MHAF will group Praetorian's together based upon their laser configurations. In
any case, these weapons admirably back up the LRM racks, and are capable of inflicting heavy
damage in their own right.
Mounted beneath each Large Laser is a Medium Laser; one extra laser is also mounted in the
'Mechs head. These weapons are swapped in for the LRMs as ranges narrow, and allow for
impressive close-range firepower. Though the Medium Lasers are also of differing makes and
models, they are alike enough not to require extensive remodeling work to install or
maintain.
Finally, the Praetorian carries a pair of Small lasers, mounted in turrets over the 'Mech's
shoulders. These weapons allow for a bare amount of anti-infantry work in urban settings,
and with the LRMs are the only standardized armaments of the 'Mech.
However, speed on any 'Mech of this size is bound to be poor, and the Praetorian is no
exception. The MHAF cannot hope to maintain XL technologies for any length of time, so the
team used a GM 300 engine, allowing the 'Mech to move at a top speed of 54 kph. Although the
'Mech is little more than a slowly moving target, it boasts almost full armor protection-a
vital consideration, given the value of the Praetorian.
This weapons arrangement and design profile paints an unusual picture of the 'Mech. In this
age of warfare, most 'Mechs are outfitted for either excellent long-range accuracy or
blistering close-in firepower. The Praetorian, however, is expected to serve in more diverse
combat environments and so cannot afford such specialization. The LRMs allow the 'Mech to
supply long-range support fire, or to keep an enemy at bay until help arrives. These
weapons, when combined with the Large Lasers, make the 'Mech ideal for assaults against
static objectives where they can be employed to full effect. Enemies who attempt to close
with a Praetorian will likely find themselves outgunned, and if need be the Praetorian can
reduce the battle to one of simple attrition-one which, with its heavy armor and powerful
lose-combat attacks-will almost certainly come down in favor of the Praetorian.
Although the yardstick for a good Assault 'Mech is generally considered the venerable Atlas,
the Praetorian demonstrates that newfound knowledge and modern engineering is more than
sufficient to eclipse the greatest of old designs. A simulated-fire engagement at the Dante
Enterprises facility proved that the new kid on the block definitely has the goods to take
over, when the Praetorian seriously damaged the Atlas at long range before closing in to
administer the coup-de-grace with its laser systems.
Deployment:
Currently, only three prototypical Praetorian's exist; two are PTO-1 configurations and the
final is a PTO-2 (see PTO-2 entry). It is expected that the MHAF could produce 6 or 8
Praetorian's a year, and that they will be sent to augment units already deploying a Marius
as bodyguard 'Mechs for high-ranking commanders.
Variants:
There is a variant of the Praetorian intended to make maintenance easier. This variant would
remove all of the arm and hand actuator packages, making the 'Mech look somewhat stupid but
not degrading its combat ability.
There is also the second version of the Praetorian, the PTO-2. This variant incorporates a
much higher technology base, and consequently costs a great deal more. The Small lasers are
upgraded to Mediums, and the arm-mounted Large Lasers are replaced with Particle Projector
Cannons. An additional two Medium Lasers are added to the 'Mech, and Artemis IV is added to
the LRM launchers. Double Heat Sinks are used to aid in controlling the vast amounts of heat
this new weapons platform is capable of generating. High-tech CASE panels are wrapped around
the LRM ammunition bins, providing the pilot with exceptional protection. This variant costs
almost 163,000 C-Bills more than the original variant, but does not provide greatly enhanced
performance. This variant may be considered for the MHAF's most elite pilots guarding
high-security installations or protecting very high-level officers, but will not be
distributed widely.
Notable MechWarriors:
As is traditional at the Dante facility, the incomparable Graeme Southall was unleashed with
the Praetorian prototypes. Aside from managing to lock up the turrets when aiming at
Elementals and then discharging one of the lasers directly into his own cockpit armor
plating, Graeme managed to seriously damage a field test facility when he hot-loaded his
LRMs and then failed to check the safeties were on. One tech suffered minor burns and
concussion, but there were no fatalities.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 10.00
Engine: 300 Fusion 19.00
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Single): 24 14.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 304 19.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 31 47
Center Torso (rear): 14
R/L Torso: 21 32
R/L Torso (rear): 10
R/L Arm: 17 34
R/L Leg: 21 41
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser H 1 1.00
2 Small Lasers CT 2 1.00
LRM 15 RT 3 7.00
LRM 15 (Ammo 16) RT 2 2.00
LRM 15 LT 3 7.00
LRM 15 (Ammo 16) LT 2 2.00
Large Laser RA 2 5.00
Medium Laser RA 1 1.00
Large Laser LA 2 5.00
Medium Laser LA 1 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 51
TP: BM, SZ: 4, TMM: 1, MV: 6"
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 4 / (L) 2, OV: 1
Armor (A): 10, Structure (S): 8
Specials: IF2, LRM1/1/2
Distribution
Name/Model: Praetorian (Nightwards Mech) PTO-1
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 100
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
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Left ArmHeadRight Arm
1. Shoulder 1. Life Support 1. Shoulder
2. Upper Arm Actuator 2. Sensors 2. Upper Arm Actuator
3. Lower Arm Actuator 3. Cockpit 3. Lower Arm Actuator
4. Hand Actuator 4. Medium Laser 4. Hand Actuator
5.Large Laser 5. Sensors 5.Large Laser
6.Large Laser 6. Life Support 6.Large Laser
1. Medium Laser 1. Medium Laser
2. Roll Again 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1.LRM 15 1. Fusion Engine 1.LRM 15
2.LRM 15 2. Fusion Engine 2.LRM 15
3.LRM 15 3. Fusion Engine 3.LRM 15
4. LRM 15 (Ammo 8) 4. Gyro 4. LRM 15 (Ammo 8)
5. LRM 15 (Ammo 8) 5. Gyro 5. LRM 15 (Ammo 8)
6. Roll Again 6. Gyro 6. Roll Again
1. Heat Sink 1. Gyro 1. Heat Sink
2. Heat Sink 2. Fusion Engine 2. Heat Sink
3. Heat Sink 3. Fusion Engine 3. Heat Sink
4. Heat Sink 4. Fusion Engine 4. Heat Sink
5. Roll Again 5. Small Laser 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Small Laser 6. Roll Again
Left LegRight Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Heat Sink 5. Heat Sink
6. Heat Sink 6. Heat Sink
Large Laser 5. Sensors 5.
Large Laser 6. Life Support 6.
LRM 15 2. Fusion Engine 2.
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