BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Thorn THE-N
Designer: Catalyst Game Labs
Source(s): Record Sheets: Succession Wars
Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged, Clan & Star League
Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade
Record Sheets: 3050
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 20
Role: Striker
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Star League / 2549
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 1,617,120 C-Bills
Battle Value: 546
Chassis: Chariot Type II Endo Steel
Power Plant: GM 120
Walking Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Armorscale with CASE
Armament:
2 Hellion Spitfire Medium Lasers
1 Zeus LRM 5
Manufacturer: Ford Military Limited
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications: Opus I Ultrabeam
Targeting & Tracking: Orion 80
================================================================================================
Overview:
The Thorn is an older BattleMech design, incorporated into the Hegemony Armed Forces during
the late 24th Century. It was the first 'Mech to incorporate the Endo Steel II Skeleton. The
Thorn was unveiled with tremendous hype, but initial reviews were mixed. Commanders later
agreed that Endo Steel II had obvious advantages but would not be suitable for all 'Mechs.
The Thorn was designed to serve in front-line combat units. Its inability to jump was
not considered unusual for this type of duty, but commanders who tried to use all light
'Mechs as scouts found the Thorn to be useless. Once seperated from company mates, the
Thorn's heavier armor and greater firepower were no match for a quicker opponent.
Capabilities:
The Thorn has had mixed reviews for the entire length of its service. Supporters point out
that the design packs more punch per ton than any other 'Mech and that its armor is also the
best of its size. In a toe-to-toe slugfest, the Thorn can usually reduce an equal weight
opponent to scrap in minutes.
Opponents of the design note that a 'Mech cannot hit what it cannot reach. Although the
120 Class engine allows the 'Mech to run at a respectable speed, its lack of jump jets
leaves the Thorn in the dust of other light 'Mechs. The Zeus Long-Range Missile system only
partially offsets this lack of pursuit ability.
This favoring of armor and weapons over maneuverabilty has made the Thorn a favorite of
front-line light companies.
The weapon placement and ease of maintenance have given the design high marks in every
technician's manual. The arms and legs are completely accessible, allowing a service crew to
actually enter the limbs and work on repairs from the inside.
The Thorn's main armament consists of twin medium lasers. These identical weapons
further imrove maintenance and are extremely efficient. The design is noted as a "cool
running" 'Mech, but the placement of one laser directly under the pilot's feet makes the
Thorn seem to be running hotter than it really is. Extensive cooling is provided in the
cockpit area, but the lack of an effective venting system for the medium laser makes
repeated firing uncomfortable for the pilot.
The Zeus Long-Range Missile system is extremely accurate, and the arm mount allows the
pilot to switch targets quickly. If damaged, the entire system can be replaced in a few
hours, which is fortunate as the launcher can easily be destroyed if the 'Mech engages in
hand-to-hand combat. The missile-feed system, which passes reloads from the torso storage
compartment, is average at best. If damaged, reloads can become lodged in the upper arm,
where additional damage has been known to cause detonation, destroying the arm.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 1.00
Engine: 120 Fusion 4.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Single): 10 0.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 69 4.50
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 6 8
Center Torso (rear): 4
R/L Torso: 5 6
R/L Torso (rear): 4
R/L Arm: 3 6
R/L Leg: 4 8
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser H 1 1.00
CASE RT 1 0.50
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) RT 1 1.00
LRM 5 RA 1 2.00
Medium Laser LA 1 1.00
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Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 18
TP: BM, SZ: 1, TMM: 2, MV: 12"
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 0*, OV: 0
Armor (A): 2, Structure (S): 2
Specials: CASE, IF0*
Distribution
Name/Model: Thorn THE-N
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
==================================================================================
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. LRM 5
4. Hand Actuator 4. Medium Laser 4. Roll Again
5. Medium Laser 5. Sensors 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Life Support 6. Roll Again
1. Roll Again 1. Roll Again
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. Heat Sink 1. Fusion Engine 1. Heat Sink
2. Endo Steel 2. Fusion Engine 2. LRM 5 (Ammo 24)
3. Endo Steel 3. Fusion Engine 3. CASE
4. Endo Steel 4. Gyro 4. Endo Steel
5. Endo Steel 5. Gyro 5. Endo Steel
6. Endo Steel 6. Gyro 6. Endo Steel
1. Endo Steel 1. Gyro 1. Endo Steel
2. Endo Steel 2. Fusion Engine 2. Endo Steel
3. Roll Again 3. Fusion Engine 3. Endo Steel
4. Roll Again 4. Fusion Engine 4. Endo Steel
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again 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
Battle Value Breakdown
Name/Model: Thorn THE-N
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
===================================================================================================
Defensive Battle Rating
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor (Standard): 69 x 2.5 x 1 172.500
Internal Structure (Endo Steel w/ Fusion Engine): 33 x 1.5 x 1 x 1 (+) 49.500 = 222.000
Gyro (Standard): 20 x 0.5 (+) 10.000 = 232.000
Defensive Movement Factor: +3 (*) 1.30 = 301.600
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Final Defensive Battle Rating: 301.600
===================================================================================================
Offensive Battle Rating
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
6 (Base) + 10 (Heat Sinks) - 2 (Movement) - 8 (Weapons) = 6
Offensive Equipment:
Medium Laser 46.000
Medium Laser (+) 46.000 = 92.000
LRM 5 (+) 45.000 = 137.000
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) (+) 6.000 = 143.000
Total 'Mech Tonnage: (+) 20.000 = 163.000
Speed Factor: 9 (Run) + 0 (Jump) (*) 1.500 = 244.500
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Offensive Battle Rating: 244.500
===================================================================================================
BattleMech Battle Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defensive Battle Rating: 301.600
Offensive Battle Rating: (+) 244.500 = 546.100
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Final BattleMech Battle Value: 546
Alpha Strike Conversion
Name/Model: Thorn THE-N
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Unit Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Units: BattleMech = BM
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Final Unit Type: BM
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Weight/Size Class
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Tonnage: 20 (less than 40) = 1
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Final Weight/Size Class: 1
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Movement and Movement Modes
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Ground Movement: 6 (Walk) = 12"
Ground Target Movement Modifier at 12" is 2
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Final Movement and Movement Modes: 12"
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Short Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 8 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 6 = 4
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.150 = 0.150
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 0.650
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 1.150
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 1.2
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Final Short Range Damage Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Medium Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 8 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 6 = 4
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.300 = 0.300
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 0.800
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 1.300
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 1.3
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Final Medium Range Damage Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Long Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 2 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 0 = 10
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.300 = 0.300
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 0.3
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Final Long Range Damage Value: 0*
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Armor
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Standard: 69 armor points x 1 69.000 = 69.000
Armor Factor Conversion (/) 30 = 2.300
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Final Armor Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Structure
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Engine: Inner Sphere Fusion on a 20 ton BattleMech = 2.0
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Final Structure Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Special Abilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit is equipped with CASE = CASE
Unit is equipped with forward facing weapons capable of firing indirectly = IF0*
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Point Value
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Unit's Offensive Value:
Attack Damage Factor 2 (Short) + 2 (Medium) + 2 (Medium) + 0.5 (Long) = 6.500
Unit Size Factor 1 (Weight/Size Class) / 2 (+) 0.500 = 7.000
Overheat Factor 0 (Overheat) (+) 0.000 = 7.000
Special Ability Factor [IF0*] 0* (Ability Rating) (+) 0.500 = 7.500
Blanket Offensive Modifier 1 (Base) (*) 1.000 = 7.500
Defensive Interaction Rating:
Armor Factor 2 (Armor) x 2.0 (Non-Vehicle Unit) = 4.000
Structure Factor 2 (Structure) x 1.0 (Other Unit) (+) 2.000 = 6.000
Defense Factor 1 + {[2 (12" Move)] x 0.1} (*) 1.200 = 7.200
Final DIR Round to nearest half point = 7.000
Unit's Defensive Value:
Movement Factor 1.5 (0.25 per 2") = 1.500
Final DIR Defensive Interaction Rating (+) 7.000 = 8.500
Unit's Final Point Value:
Offensive Value = 7.500
Defensive Value (+) 8.500 = 16.000
Agile [2 (TMM) - 1] x 2 (Medium) (+) 2.000 = 18.000
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Final Point Value: 18
Cost Breakdown
Name/Model: Thorn THE-N
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
=====================================================================================================================
Structural Cost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor (Standard): (69 pts) 4.5 x 10,000 45,000.00
Internal Structure (Endo Steel): 20 x 1,600 x 1 (+) 32,000.00 = 77,000.00
Myomer (Standard): 20 x 2,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 117,000.00
Engine (Fusion): (5,000 x 120 x 20) / 75 (+) 160,000.00 = 277,000.00
Gyro (Standard): 2.0 x 300,000 (+) 600,000.00 = 877,000.00
Cockpit (Standard): 200,000 (+) 200,000.00 = 1,077,000.00
Life Support: 50,000 (+) 50,000.00 = 1,127,000.00
Sensors: 20 x 2,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 1,167,000.00
Arm Actuators: 20 x ((100 x 2) + (50 x 1) + (80 x 1)) (+) 6,600.00 = 1,173,600.00
Leg Actuators: 20 x ((150 x 2) + (80 x 2) + (120 x 2)) (+) 14,000.00 = 1,187,600.00
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Total Structural Cost: 1,187,600.00
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Weapons and Equipment Cost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASE 50,000 50,000.00
LRM 5 30,000 (+) 30,000.00 = 80,000.00
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) [Empty Bin] 0 (+) 0.00 = 80,000.00
Medium Laser 40,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 120,000.00
Medium Laser 40,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 160,000.00
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Total Weapons and Equipment Cost 160,000.00
=====================================================================================================================
BattleMech Cost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Structural Cost: 1,187,600.00
Weapons and Equipment Cost: (+) 160,000.00 = 1,347,600.00
BattleMech Cost Multiplier: 1 + (20 / 100) (*) 1.20 = 1,617,120.00
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Final BattleMech Cost 1,617,120.00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
3.00
Comment:
I have to agree with Nightrunner here. This was constructed even before the hightime of the Star League: The first Mech incorporating CASE (as i remember). The CASE and full armor makes this a tough target for a 20tonner. It suffers still from the standard speed/no jumpjets combination but in a battalion in can be of good (not excellent but good) use.
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Member Review - Sleeping Dragon : 08-Apr-2007 18:29
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
3.50
Comment:
Full armor, standard speed and far reaching weapons. This thing was probably meant to face conventional units, which were largely defenseless against LRMs and unable to close on the Thorn (of course that vees can do it, but there are two MLs and lance-mates). The Thorn is good when facing similar weight opposition or conventional forces. When something stronger moves in, the Thorn should be somewhere else or well covered.
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Member Review - Knightrunner : 29-Aug-2005 00:00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
3.00
Comment:
You really have to look at this one in context- it's not a new 3050 mech, it's an old Star League mech about five centuries old. It predates double heat sinks, the Clans, and other problems modern lights face. At the time, it was a rarity- a 20 ton mech with LRMs- and any light that dropped below minimum range has to face 2 medium lasers. At the time, ER weapons didn't exist; LRMs were the longest range weapons commonly availible.
So with more firepower than anything else in its class, and enough speed to keep out of the way of heavies a lance of these would be quite an asset to Star League forces. The Thorns the Com Guards pulled out of storage are less useful against Clan forces, but it is a tough little bugger; it can be useful if part of a larger group.
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Member Review - jfox61 : 15-Sep-2004 00:00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
2.50
Comment:
Take out the lrm's and add a little more armour and a 4 MG's and you will have an excellent city fighter would give this mech a 4 if that were to happen
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Member Review - Blackhand : 22-Aug-2004 00:00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
1.50
Comment:
Not a very useful design unless your a House Marik Commander looking to kill off rival mechwarriors by giving them the honour of piloting this machine.
Its too slow to be a 20 tonner. Too lightly armour and short ranged to be a medium Mech.
Its like a size 2.3459 boot. nobody can wear it but boy does it shine nicely in garrison.
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