Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: BTECH: The Lawman LWN-2K
From: taia_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: 9 Sep 92 15:32:51 NZST
Organization: Welligton City Council, Public Access.
NNTP-Posting-Host: kosmos.wcc.govt.nz


 After reading the TR3055, I came across several designs that displayed all
the wrong things to do in producing a mech. One that especially irritated
me was the Gunslinger! it had everything wrong going for it!
 It had an XL engine, only two jump jets, leg mounted weapons and no
max. armour! AAARRRGGGHHHHHH! I was very angry at this and what's worse
it was a Kuritan mek (OK, a fedrat/Kuritan mek :). So I got out my trusty
pen and paper and designed this mek that proves that you don't always
need an XL engine etc.

 So you know who to call when the Gunslinger comes to town, the Lawman! :)

Lawman LWN-2K
85 Tons                 Criticals  Locations  Tonnage
IS Endo-Steel              14     6LA/6RT/2RA   4.5    (actually 4.25)
Strand 255                  0          -       13.0
 Walk  3
 Run   5
 Jump  3
Gyro and Cockpit            0          -        6.0
Heat Sinks     10 ( 20 )    0          -        0.0
Armor           263         0          -       16.5 NB: Use Crockett stats.

Gauss Rifle                 7         7RA      15.0
Ammo (Gauss) 32             4     2RT/1CT/1H    4.0
LB-10X                      6         6LT      11.0
AMmo (LB) 30                3      2LT/1LL      3.0
CASE                        1         1LT       1.0
ER PPC                      3         3RA       7.0
Guardian ECM                2         2CT       1.5

Overview:
 After the Gunslinger design was approved by the DCMS. Several problems
emerged that were unique to the Combine. Unlike the Federated Commonwealth,
the Draconis Combine lacked it's own Gauss Rifle production facility. The
Free Worlds League being the only supplier of the Gauss Rifle for the Combine
is under considerable pressure to provide adequete numbers of this deadly
weapon. So while the Gunslinger is a viable proposition for the Fedcom, the
Combine started looking for alternatives. A redesign was made and the result
was the Lawman.

Capabilities:
 Since there was to be an expected shortage of Gauss Rifles in the forseeable
future, it was decided that the Imperator LB-10X would replace the second
Gauss. The medium lasers and pulses were also removed to allow for a Lord's
Light 2 ERPPC to be installed. With the extensive tonnage begin saved, it
was decided to use a cheaper fusion engine instead of the costly XL.
 Since multiple complaints of the low armour rating were voiced by all the
testpilots, an endo-steel frame was made to allow additional armour. The
savings in tonnage also allowed CASE protection, an additional jump jet and
extensive ammo bins for the Dragon's Fire Gauss Rifle and Imperator LB-10X.
 The Lawman proved to be superior in movement and in long range engagements
compared to the Gunslinger. Though in simulations it lacked the close-range
firepower that the Gunslinger possess, that made it the bane of Clan Ryokens.
The additional armour allowed the Lawman to stay in combat longer and the
lack of the XL engine allowed it to survive longer. The lower price tag
was an additional bonus, allowing the Combine to field double the numbers
of Lawmen to Fedcom Gunslingers. Sadly production allows only a limited
number to be produced.

Battlehistory:
 The various Swords of Light Regiments are been issued Lawmen now and the
Clans should be facing these mechs by late September.

Variants:
 Only one variant exists that retains the medium lasers instead of the ERPPC,
it has 6 medium lasers and one additional heat sink.

NB: This isn't a flame to the original designer of the Gunslinger, but just
  showing how a design can be improved.

(c) Tony Taia 1992

This has been.....
 Tony Taia
  TAIA_A@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz, tai-shu@kauri.vuw.ac.nz
3067: When the Combine takes Twycross! :)