[gurps] A spaceships Mecha - the Chessmaster

[Clinton N. Fell]

Here is another of my experiments in the 4e spaceships designed mecha. 
This one is a Command/Control design and is slightly more battle ready 
than the previous ones.  I hope.  Be careful with the formatting I 
imported this in from my spreadsheet so don't know how it is going to 
format on everyone's screen.  I didn't have much time to play with the 
formatting either so don't know how close to the standard format it is.

Clint






The M-CCM1 (Manned - Command and Control Mech 1) from Nelson Mechworks was 
developed specifically to coordinate the growing line of unmanned drones 
that Nelson was producing.  The sensor and comms array was specifically 
designed and tuned to work with the Nelson proprietary battlefield 
networking system used by its drones.  Technicians and procurement 
personnel from the major buyers complained so Nelson compromised by 
splitting this array into two arrays.  The first array is tuned to their 
proprietary datalink and thus allow great performance when working with 
Nelson Mechwork drones and swarms - the manufacturer advertises that up to 
20 swarms may be networked together with a single Chessmaster.  The second 
array is an "off the shelf" tactical comm sensor array from a third party 
vendor that is much easier to work into whatever battlefield networking 
solution the operating force is using.  Nelson reused both the point 
defense laser system from their L-DAS system and the core of the L-DAS EM 
cannon in the weapons battery of the Chessmaster.  This allows parts 
commonality and interchangeable ammunition supplies.  The Dual control 
rooms both have the same "soft controlled" control systems - this allows 
either operator to control either crewstation.  One crewstation is usually 
occupied by a Pilot who operates most of the Chessmasters systems.  The 
other crewstation is usually for a field commander who uses  the extensive 
comms and sensors to coordinate the activities of both drone swarms and 
any other tactical elements in his command.  Nelson Mechworks also offers 
their "Queen 7" option on the Chessmaster, where they replace the 
conventional missles used by it's 200mm launcher with 25K-ton fusion 
warheads and upgrade the armor to hardened armor (this adds about 710,000 
to the total price and 350,000 to the reload price).  Despite the heavier 
and more expensive armor used by the Chessmaster than most of Nelson's 
drones, many militaries still feel that the machine is underarmored and 
understealthed, especially considering it's status as a high value target 
on the battlefield.  This criticism hasn't stopped other forces from 
utilizing it for forward mobile command roles however.




Title   Chessmaster                     Nelson Mechworks M-CCM1 
TL      SM      dST     dHP     Mass    Height  Crew    Price Reload 
9       5       20      20      30      45'     2       4327500 1487500
gSR     gHND    gAccl   gSpd    aSR     aHND    aSpd    Op Time Range
3       3       10      10      0       0       0       50 yrs indef
 
Armor   Type    dDR             Weapons:        30KJ vrf point defense 
laser (turreted) 
Upper   Ad Met Lam      10                      10cm EM Cannon (turreted)  
 
Middle  Ad Met Lam      10                      20cm Missle Launcher 
(turreted) 
Lower   Ad Met Lam      10 
 
Special Features:       None                    Switches:       None  
 

Hull    Upper 
        1       Enhanced Sensor/Comm Array      (Sensor/Comm 5) 
        2       Tactical Sensor/Comm Array      (Sensor/Comm 5) 
        3       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        4       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        5       Robot Arm 
        6       Robot Arm 
        core    Control Room C6 comp Com/Sensors 3 
        Middle 
        1       Fission Reactor 
        2       Fission Reactor 
        3       Fission Reactor 
        4       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        5       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        6       Medium Weapons Battery 
        core    Control Room C6 comp Com/Sensors 3 
        Lower 
        1       Defensive ECM (with area jammers) 
        2       Robot Leg 
        3       Robot Leg 
        4       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        5       Armor, Advanced Metallic Laminate dDR 5 
        6       Soft Landing System 
 
 
Weapon                  ROF     Dam             Range   sAcc    Acc Rcl 
Shots
Point defense laser             20      1dD-2           C       -       18 
1       inf
100mm EM Cannon         1       3dDx5 (1,2)     S       -7      11      3 
70
200mm Launcher          1       6dDx5 (1,2)     L       1       19      1 
7